Taurus junk or my bad luck

R

rallyhound

New member
I have had 3 Taurus revolvers.
38 special lightweight--Firing pin spring broke at round 100.
454 Bull-- Cylinder stop failure at round 10.
M44 mag-- rear sight fell off at round 25.
Am I cursed?
 
I've had good luck so far. You're marginally more likely to get a lemon from Taurus than most other brands and service isn't the best, but I fix all my own guns, so that never bothered me a whole lot. My 1st Taurus, a 669, is one of the finest shooting guns I've ever owned.

When I got my new Taurus 455 Ti it had sand in the action. The whole thing was coated. Made for a gritty trigger feel and the trigger didn't want to reset in DA a couple times. After I took the side plate off and cleaned it I haven't had any problems that aren't realated to it being so damn light (hard to hold steady and bullet pull).
 
Sounds odd...

Both of my Taurus revolvers have been near perfect.

I had to "adjust" my forcing cone (just lightly removed the bur on the one end) for it to shoot and not buildup lead. This is on a new 608SS4, which is "right on the money".

My Mode 66B6 has been flawless. (I had to put a drop of locktite under the cylinder release button screw...same thing on my S&W though.)

I have heard bad things about early Raging Bulls made in the 1990s. The latest ones have had a good rep, from those that I know that shoot them. (a guy witha 2003 and another with a 2004 in 44mag and 454 respectively)

I truely believe the 1990s was the year of inovation for Taurus, but not the best years of production.

The current models are much better made, IMHO. (having shot other peoples revolvers)

You may be getting factory reconditioned pieces...I have heard that they exist.

-W
 
Yes they are junk

I've had two taurus revolvers a 85 ti and a tracker .44. I've had timing issues, cylinder lockup, extremly sticky extraction, warped ejection rods. Best of all it takes them at least two months to fix them. And don't be surprised to send them back a second time. I would never recommend them even to my worst enemy. Save the extra few dollars and get a ruger or a smith.
 
No problems to report with my Taurus 450 in 45 LC.

I used it quite a bit this summer as I'm fortunate enough to be part owner of what is likely the most snake-infested chunk of PA you can find, though a nice place to hunt deer and turkey. We tore down the cabin and built a new one, which involved clearing foundation, and I was constantly running CCI shot through the gun without a single problem. Shot shells during the day, then box or so af PMC cowboy loads after work was done for fun, I all in all used the gun quite a bit, with no real problems.
 
I had a taurus .357 mag with a ported 6" barrel. it fired all right, but the cases were not bulged, but were way bigger than when they went in, and the spent cases would not fit into any other gun I had. Sold the gun. they seem nicer now.
 
Cursed? No. Just don't step outside in a thunderstorm. :D

I haven't bought all that many Taurus revolvers. 4, I think. The only one I have the least little doubt about is a 431 I bought used. Looks to be new, but at full lockup it is possible to move the cylinder back to the previous chamber (you have to play with it, but it will happen). Haven't shot it, so I'm not sure if it will happen under actual recoil. A few have suggested taking the sideplate off and making sure there's not a bunch of gunk obstructing spring movement. Another possibility is that the spring involved is weak. Still another is that the cylinder stop notches are too shallow. It's not a carry gun, so it not real important to fix. Of the 3 remaining revolvers, I've kept 2. Wish I'd also kept the 85 I sold 10 years ago. My 85TI and 650 have been excellent guns (bought both new BTW). I've got the hankerin' for a Taurus 94 at the local shop and I've wanted a .22 revolver for a while, so maybe....
 
Given my personal experiences with Taurus pistols...if I was cornered against a wall, with bad guys coming towards me, and at my feet was a loaded Taurus and a rock...I'd take my chances throwing the rock.
 
I have owned a taurus .44 mag for over ten years now and the only thing I have ever had a problem with was the extractor rod which is threaded, loosened up. Tightened it and been flawless since. Good gun for the price IMHO. Course I cant speak for the newer ones as I dont own any of the newer models.
 
It is intriguing to me how much the experience with Taurus seems to vary so significantly. This seems if and of itself, to be a bad sign, and makes me leery of buying another, even though my experience has been good.

I'm just a little suprised, though, partcularly as mine behaved so well this summer under nearly daily use, and with CCI shot-shels on top of that, which are fairly inconsistant and certainly did a good job of regularly getting stuck in my friend's 45 LC S&W mountain gun, which is inarguably a much better made weapon.

Well, anyway, my revolver worked very well for the reason I bought it. Worse than a rock? Well a couple dozen rattlesnakes would probably disagree, I'm just not sure how many shooters would... ;)
 
Taurus quality control...

Taurus has had alot of quality control problems over the years. They have some really nice designs and good prices.

But, there have been hit-n-miss production runs. No doubt.

I flinch every time someone says, "Taurus is all junk", when I have had nothing but good luck.

I know Colt has had issues. I know S&W had some bad years. Ruger, well, their 357maximums had forcing cone issues as well.

I can say with great confidence that Taurus today is far better than they were just 5 short years ago. As far as their service quality, I can't speak to that, as I have never had a gun into them myself. (but then, I don't beat the piss out of of my equipment either)

My $.02

-W
 
Unfortunately, one of my Taurus revolvers in in the hospital as I speak. It is a .454 Raging Bull that I bought new about 6 years ago. Recently, the cylinder flops open in recoil. This problem began as an occasional minor "unlatching" that only prevented cocking, then progressed to the point where it flopped open and dumped 4 loaded rounds at my feet. I really like the gun, it's tight and a good shooter, so I hope it's repaired when I get it back. I also own a 4" .357 magnum and a .44 special. No problems with either of those.

What really torqued me was the fact that it cost me $54 to ship it to Florida for repairs! UPS has decided that all handguns must be shipped second day air.
 
I have sold them, but never owned them

And all I can say is what one very smart man said to me.
"Fool me once, shame on you.
Fool me twice shame on me."

I own smiths
 
I have two Taurus revolvers that work quite well. I carry one of them.
Am I gunna take my chances on a third?? Prolly not!! ;)
 
It is intriguing to me how much the experience with Taurus seems to vary so significantly.
Click to expand...

Yes, me too.

This seems if and of itself, to be a bad sign.
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Well, either that, or some gun-snobbery-induced stretching of the truth about their supposed shortcomings. Or, OTOH, could be some ownership-snobbery-induced stretching of the truth about their flawlessness. Or, just wildly differing qualities. :dunno:
 
454PB,

I am surprised you got UPS to send it for you at all. UPS has recently denied many of my customers who wanted to send guns to the manufacturer, telling them that they have to go to a gun store to have the item shipped. This of course is incorrect in the case stated. When you are shipping a gun to the manufacturer you are allowed to ship it directly to them, and then they can ship it back to you. Another option is to ask Taurus to send you a box with a shipping label and bill you for the charges. You will need to send a check in for the shipping when you ship your gun, but it gets around the UPS issue as well. Good luck.

.44mag
 
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