Taurus Quality

[dahermit]

I don't spend my money on hit or miss products.
You get what you pay for (99% of the time) in gun world.

My new Colt Commander came with too weak of a recoil spring (caused stoppage), firing pin spring (causing firing pin stop to drop down on firing, tyeing up the gun), and grips that looked like a shop project from an insane asylum. My wife got a new Colt Commander that had a burr on the barrel in the ejection port that kept the deputy sheriff who was trying to inspect it, from opening the action. I Got a new blue, 8 and 3/8 barreled S&W that had a burr on the firing pin bushing that kept the cylinder from turning after firing it. I got new S&W revolver that had to have the hammer bushings shimmed because the hammer was hitting/rubbing on the frame when fired.
And no, I did not pay extra for those features, so I disagree that it is a matter of, "...getting what you pay for...". Colt and S&W must be hit or miss.

 

[DBLAction454]

My new Colt Commander came with too weak of a recoil spring (caused stoppage), firing pin spring (causing firing pin stop to drop down on firing, tyeing up the gun), and grips that looked like a shop project from an insane asylum. My wife got a new Colt Commander that had a burr on the barrel in the ejection port that kept the deputy sheriff who was trying to inspect it, from opening the action. I Got a new blue, 8 and 3/8 barreled S&W that had a burr on the firing pin bushing that kept the cylinder from turning after firing it. I got new S&W revolver that had to have the hammer bushings shimmed because the hammer was hitting/rubbing on the frame when fired.
And no, I did not pay extra for those features, so I disagree that it is a matter of, "...getting what you pay for...". Colt and S&W must be hit or miss.

So you went out and bought some Bersas and Taurus instead?

I never said that paying more was a guarantee to zero defects. But AS A WHOLE you cannot tell me Taurus makes a product on the same level as S&W and Colt. Period.

And who knows if those guns you purchased were used or how many guns your purchase. The more you buy the more chances are that you've have some type of issue or stoppage.

 

[alex0535]

The only Taurus I can give an opinion on is my Tracker .17 HMR with 6.5" barrel.

I hated the ribber grips that came on it. A pair of Hogue Monogrips remedied this. The revolver has functioned flawlessly over the 8 months I have owned it. Feels like its build really solid. I can't think of anything negative to say about it. I have not had any reason to have contact with their customer service to have much opinion on that.

 

[Mosin44az]

This sounds a little like an AA speech, but I confess I have owned FOURTEEN Tauruses, and still have one--a PT1911 that my gunsmith fixed after its hammer and thumb safety broke after 300 rounds, then tuned into a rather accurate and smooth 1911 that has given no trouble since and can't be sold without taking a huge beating....I had my gunsmith do the repairs, replacing the broken ones with quality aftermarket parts rather than waiting 8 weeks for Taurus to put the same crappy replacement parts back in.....

My own view is that a number of manufacturers are slipping in terms of QC these days, including Ruger, Smith and Wesson, and SIG. Not sure they have slipped to Taurus' traditional level, but they are not that much better any more.

The difference is that Ruger and Smith provide exceptional service if you find you have problems with your new gun. They pay for shipping BOTH ways, and the turnaround time is very fast. Smith's turnaround is a week, and they have FedEx pick it up at your house and deliver it back to the local Fed Ex, and pay both ways no questions asked.

My current understanding is that Taurus makes YOU pay the rather high price of shipping to them, and that their turnaround time is generally several weeks rather than the very fast Ruger or Smith time. If this has changed, I would like to know, because this is a major argument against buying a Taurus--you lose much of your cost savings on purchase each time you have to ship to the factory, and waiting weeks for what may be your only gun would be very frustrating. One reason I would never recommend a Taurus to anyone as their only gun...

My favorite is actually the M85 series (I have owned SIX), and if you know a local gunsmith like I do, who will work on Taurus revolvers, 1911s, and Beretta-type pistols, you can have him do the work if need be, rather than waiting endlessly for Taurus to MAYBE fix your piece. This is one approach to the Taurus conundrum, if you find one of these types of guns to be appealing to you.

These days I would only buy a Taurus my gunsmith would be willing to work on. If you get one of the more modern ones, it might be good, and you'd be happy. If you are unlucky, you are in for an unpleasant experience, unless their service has dramatically improved.

 

[dahermit]

So you went out and bought some Bersas and Taurus instead?

Bought one Taurus, a M85 in stainless steel. It is my primary carry gun.

I never said that paying more was a guarantee to zero defects.

But, were you not implying that by evoking the platitude: "...you get what you pay for..."?

But AS A WHOLE you cannot tell me Taurus makes a product on the same level as S&W and Colt. Period.

Based on what? Anecdotal evidence or do you have the metal-working and engineering knowledge to give credibility to your opinion? Can you give examples of personal experiance?

And who knows if those guns you purchased were used or how many guns your purchase.

They were new, many guns over the years. The faults I stated were from factory new guns.

The more you buy the more chances are that you've have some type of issue or stoppage.

There were other problems with S&W and Colt (factory new) guns that I did not mention. Addendum: A (new) Series 70 (collet bushing), Colt Government .45 that did not have the proper bend in the extractor so that it malfunction frequently. (took me awhile to figure that one out inasmuch as there was no INTERNET then). In short, for most of my life I only bought mostly new S&W and Colt guns and they (along with later purchases), all had some fault that had to be corrected. According to your logic, I should have paid more to insure quality. Or, I could have done what I did...study metal processing, machining, and study the internals and workings of firearms so that I could contend with the lack of workmanship (S&W revovers...rough bosses, lateral play in hammers, burrs, etc.), or Colt's lack of quality control (weak springs, extractor profile incorrect, etc.). However, I can find no mechanical fault or any issue with my Taurus 85...I must have paid too much.

 

[mquail]

I have a Taurus 66 and an 85. Both revolvers are great. I've had more problems with Ruger autoloaders than anything else. Maybe I'm lucky with Taurus and unlucky with Ruger. Those two Rugers are gone where as the Taurus's are still here.

 

[dgludwig]

This sounds a little like an AA speech, but I confess I have owned FOURTEEN Tauruses,

My name is Mosin44az and I am a Tauraholic...

But, on a more serious note, I have owned only one Taurus, a Model 415 snubbie. On the one hand, I really like the revolver and have found it to be well-made and finished, reliable and accurate. On the other hand, I have shot only about 200 rounds or so through it at this point in time (.41 Magnum ammunition can get pretty expensive if you're not reloading for it) and the jury is still out, so to speak, in terms of determining its long-term durability and reliability. We'll see.

 

[Eppie]

I have owned two Taurus, my first one was PT92FS, a great shooting pistol. No problem at all with it, except the design. Unfortunately getting to the firing pin to clean it was a nightmare. So I sold it.

Last December I decided to add a 9mm stainless to my 1911 collection. I looked around for a Kimber, Springer or Colt but none were available. I looked in the used market and found a guy selling a Taurus, he said it was only a few months old and it was, but I suspected something was wrong. I offered him $500 if he took then I knew something was wrong. He accepted and I bought it.

When I got home I found that the firing pin block was frozen in place. After a good whack with a hammer I got it out. I put the firing block on a polishing stone, rubbed back and forth for a minute or two and it dropped in perfectly. The pistol is now a favorite and one I won't ever sell. I even pimped it out with some new Army grips last week.

Having said all of the above, the firing pin was improperly forced in at the factory, so there is a problem there.

 

[RsqVet]

Having shot and worked on a number of Taurus guns I think Hit or miss is an apt way to look at it. And a hit simply means that one has a working gun, nothing more.

I have to admit I really like some of the concepts that Taurus comes up with, say their 5 shot large bore guns. Sadly looking closely at and working on friend's Taurus guns has me cured of any real desire to own one unless it was at an utter giveaway price.

Removing the side plate or a Taurus gun does not inspire one, instead poorly fit, poorly finished and machined parts abound. Some of these things will affect performance, others are simply indicative of the craftsmanship involved in making the product however I would venture to guess most gun folks would expect a higher degree of craftsmanship especially at the prices some Taurus go for new.

 

[DBLAction454]

Having shot and worked on a number of Taurus guns I think Hit or miss is an apt way to look at it. And a hit simply means that one has a working gun, nothing more.

I have to admit I really like some of the concepts that Taurus comes up with, say their 5 shot large bore guns. Sadly looking closely at and working on friend's Taurus guns has me cured of any real desire to own one unless it was at an utter giveaway price.

Removing the side plate or a Taurus gun does not inspire one, instead poorly fit, poorly finished and machined parts abound. Some of these things will affect performance, others are simply indicative of the craftsmanship involved in making the product however I would venture to guess most gun folks would expect a higher degree of craftsmanship especially at the prices some Taurus go for new.

And....

Once again. You get what you pay for. Usually.