Taurus Quality: Objective Opinions...?

My experience with Taurus has been mixed. All of my positive experience has been with older Taurus guns, my experience with newer production guns has been all bad. Lets see:

-669 .357 Revolver, functioned fine, but very inaccurate, off the paper for everyone that tried it at 25 yards (and by paper I mean a silhouette target, not a bullseye target). A trip back to Taurus, at my expense, didn't sold the problem. I can't remember what happened to it as it was nearly 20 years ago.

-85CH .38 Special, functioned fine and reasonably accurate, eventually sold it to a friend who wanted it more than I did, no complaints about that gun. ~1995.

-431 .44 Special, functioned fine and nicely accurate, it was eventually sold to someone who wanted it more than I did, no complaints about that gun. Its was a mid 90's production I bought used. ~2008

-327 .327 Federal, cylinder would bind, trigger pull was rough and uneven, chambers were oversized causing bulged brass and nearly impossible extraction, rough tool marks on extractor star, trigger would lock up, and cylinder would fail to close about 25% of the time. It was so bad my dealer took it back and got me a second 327 to replace it at no charge. 2009

-327 .327 Federal #2, same problems as above, though slightly less pronounced. It too was junk. Dealer ended up taking it back as well and I got a S&W 431PD to replace it for a bit more money.

I've never owned a Taurus auto, so I can't comment on those. I can say that the dealer where I got my two junk 327 revolvers told me that for years he didn't see many returns on Taurus products. In the last couple of years he told me that all of a sudden returns for defects have increased significantly, and he has gotten quite a few defective guns in that he ordered new from distributors. One of his employees has a 605 that has the exact same problems that my 327 revolvers had. Its gone back to Taurus for service. We will see if it comes back fixed.

Given my recent experience with Taurus, I'll never buy another. While their prices are lower, its generally about $100-$150 to move up to a quality, American made revolver from a company with a reputation for excellent customer service. Why waste the time and effort on a Taurus? I can't think of a reason.

One will note that no serious competition shooter (IDPA, USPSA, Bullseye, etc.) uses a Taurus to compete. There is a reason for that.
 
I have owned three in the last three years. The first, a 24/7 c 45 has been completely reliable for 800 rounds. The other two, a PT745 and 709 Slim were bad right out of the box, and Taurus couldn't or wouldn't fix them. Both were sold back to the dealer.

One for three is not a good record. I doubt that I will ever buy another.
 
Just to clarify something about the following statement that LashLaRue made in the "other" Taurus quality thread that got locked:
Their 92fs is the pistol of choice for half dozen countries army's. They modified the Beretta design, put the safety in the frame rather than on the slide.
Click to expand...
This is not true. The original Beretta 92 had a frame mounted safety. Taurus recreated the earliest incarnation of the Beretta 92 when their factory was set up.
 
For those of you who have ACTUAL, recent experience with Taurus, what think ye?
Click to expand...
I have a Taurus Gaucho, bought new just a few years ago. It has proven to me that it actually is possible to polish a ****. (the finish on it is really nice.) Very poor fitting, and critical parts were not heat treated. I tried to send it back for repair after it failed at the first range session, but the receptionist wouldn't put me through to Customer Service so I could get a return authorization number.
 
have had a 605 and a 709 and no problems with them at all.... in fact i regret selling the 709 and will probably get another one... neighbor has one of the taurus PT92's (the beretta 92 copies) and he has 5000 documented rounds through it with no problems other than he did swap out the springs with a wolf complete spring kit last year (nothing wrong with stock, just wanted to the wolf kit).
 
I've had my PT1911 for four years now. I consider it to be a fine gun that has never given me an issue in the 2.5k rounds that I have fired through the gun. My only complaint would be the thin finish.
 
I bought a 20+YO 669. So far so good. Decent fit & finish. CB gap is .007 but it shoots OK. It'll go all day without tightening up.;)

As good as my N frame Smith? No. I didn't pay $300 OTD for the Smith, tho...
 
709 works fine,,,and I am an owner!

First, if you don't currently own, or have never owned a Taurus product, you have no business posting on this thread. Nothing irritates me more that the old "a friend of a friend's cousins' brother heard about this gun..."

With that said, I have almost 400 rounds thru my PT-709 and havent had any issues or problems, using a wide variety of wadcutters, hollow points and +P 9mm ammunition. It functions every bit as reliably as my Glocks.

yes, the early versions had an extractor issue, which has been resolved. I don't know of anyone having issues with the 709 with the new extractor. I also owned a Taurus model 66 revolver, and never had any issues with it. It worked just fine, but it was a 4" barrel and I wanted to get a smaller weapon more easily concealed.

I have seen and owned other weapons that have had issues. FTE, FTF, and breakage. Those brand names include Smith and Wesson, Springfield, and Kel-Tec.

The funny thing is I don't see many threads calling them junk, or being banned from use at gun classes... Taurus quality is on par with everyone else's quality. Far better than Davis, Bryco, and Jennings... and probably equal to the manufacturers of similar size. In any production process, a percentage will have problems. I have not experienced ANY issues with Taurus, but know that they are not exempt from having the occasional problem. But I also know they are not deserving of the bad rep that some people want to throw at them.
 
First i'd like to say hello, this is my first post after lurking for a little bit.

Secondly, I'd like to add my personal experience with Taurus firearms. I currently own a Taurus 856 Hy-lite (Magnesium frame 6 shot) that I pocket carry everywhere at all times (that I am allowed by law). It is my backup gun mostly, but it often becomes my only gun when I'm out biking. It has a Magnesium frame and weighs in at about 12.5 oz. I bought it because it is light weight and holds 1 more shot than other small frame revolvers. It weighs about the same as the S&W with scandium frames but was by far more affordable at about $300. It is limited to standard pressure .38 special however.

I've had it for a couple of years and so far it has functioned flawlessly for me during practice. My only complaints are that the double action trigger is stiff and the finish/paint has scraped up in a couple of places and the overall fit and finish of the parts isn't perfect but those are minor for a gun I keep in my pocket and expect to function, not look pretty.

I've also got a buddy who owns a couple of Taurus guns that I've shot on various occasions. His Taurus 94 .22 revolver functions fine and is a blast to plink with. It's stainless and my buddy has no complaints except for the silly Taurus hammer lock but you pretty much get that sort of thing with any new firearm these days. He also owns a PT92 in stainless that is his personal carry gun. It's an accurate shooter, but I have witnessed it jam on cheap practice ammo after it got hot and dirty but I'm not sure how much of that was the gun's fault.

Overall my impression of Taurus is that they are an innovative company who provides good value (Function over form per dollar). I've fortunately have never needed to use their customer service so I can't speak to that but over all I would buy a gun from them again and am a satisfied customer. I don't buy a Taurus expecting a safe queen that will impress my friends or to customize at a top gunsmith with bling extras and a match trigger. So far all examples I've used have performed what was asked of them and I can't really expect much better than that. I also don't pretend that a Taurus isn't something it's not.
 
As far as quality, I've said it before and I'll say it again. I love my PT1911. It eats whatever I feed it and begs for more. It's accurate and reliable. I'm often tempted to buy another one just like it for no other reason than to double rig them when I get my CCW,
 
Hi,
My beef with Taurus is not their handguns. Its their customer service. Plus they can't seem to fix a handgun after many attempts at it.

roaddog28
 
I work at a gun shop and 80% of warranty issues are with Taurus handguns. Seems like that shows alot about the quality.
 
I love my 44 mag stainless revolver. I liked the look and feel of it better then the S&W and after shooting it couldn't be happier. Never owned one of their autos though.
 
Taurus Model 17 5" (M94 in 17 HMR) - Had for 4 years. Nice revolver. Do not shoot it much.

Taurus 605 3" - Had it for 6 years and 1,500 rounds (50% .357 Mag). Nice gun. No Problems.

Taurus M 94 4" - Spit lead. Sent in for warranty work. 6 weeks later, got it back. Works fine.

Taurus M 94 5" - Firing pin barely striking the rims. Many miss fires. Sent in for warranty work. 8 week turnaround. Works fine.

So I am batting .500 with Taurus products.

I can say that all my Taurus revolvers have one thing in common. They are all quite accurate.
 
tooldawg99 said:
First, if you don't currently own, or have never owned a Taurus product, you have no business posting on this thread. Nothing irritates me more that the old "a friend of a friend's cousins' brother heard about this gun
Click to expand...

Have you even read this thread or did you just pop in to tell everyone that you think Taurus might be better than Jennings? Just about everyone who posted in this thread posted actual personal experience. Just like every other thread about Taurus quality.

That being said, I still will never buy another Taurus due to their horrible customer service and hit or miss quality. That is my personal experience. I do like my M44 though, it's one of the "good" Taurus and I'm keeping it
 
"I have almost 400 rounds thru my PT-709 and havent had any issues or problems"

i just got a 709 myself. after cleaning it i took it out and put 200 rounds of wwb and remington hp's thru it without even one problem. no break in needed and good combat accuracy too. i know i need to put more rounds thru it to be totally confident but i'm off to a good start.

i also own 3 different taurus revolvers and 5 different semi auto pistols and i have never had a single issue with any of them. they always work when i pull the trigger and hit the target too.
 
I have three Taurus hand guns. I've had my pt111 Mil. Pro for 3 years without a single hiccup. I've owned a Judge Ultra-lite for almost 2 years now and again it has been perfect. I purchased my pt738 TCP this summer and have shot 200+ rounds through it so far with no problems either. I use good judgement when I go to buy a gun. I make the salesman break down the gun and reassemble it. I inspect the parts while it is broken down. I also dry fire it before and after it is broken down. I have weeded out several problem guns this way. Just use common sense. I'm just saying...
 
I read all these good and bad comment and like some people say, is a hit and miss. I was one of those who didn’t own one but had a bad taste about them, then I got one last week @ a gun show, I got a Taurus Millennium P140 PRO and I have to say I love it, it was used when I got it and the PO said it never jammed on him and so far it hasn’t on me...... :D I like the fact that is compact and specially I got a hell of a deal on it. I do have a Q? and I don’t mean to thread jack this thread.... What and who makes a good Holster for the P140 and do they make any accessories for it?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top