Taurus vs. S&W?

E

evenflow

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i'm interested in a .38 special revolver.

how is the taurus model 85 ss and titanium vs. s&w 637?

for the taurus, is the titanum worth an extra $200 just for 5oz lighter? does it wear better?

reliability? durability? overall feel?


thanks.
 
I would buy a Taurus 38 Special in stainless or blue. The Taurus M85 in blue steel would be nice. The S&W M637 I had was a POJ.
 
I'm tempted to say "yes" it's worth the difference, but if you feel comfortable with the revolver check out (top of forum) then you might give Taurus a try. I understand their quality is spotty and many leave the factory in less than ideal shape. I hear their quality is getting better.

Resale/heirloom quality lies with S&W hands down.
 
I personally saw a Taurus with the top strap half eaten through form a few boxes of 357 --- this was one of their titanium models. I would stay away form the Ti, probibly taurus all together.
 
I don't know what is the hype with Titanium, yeah it's lighter but the durability is not there. I read all the reviews on how strong titanium is, but I just don't have good experience with it. Go with the S&W if you want a higher quality firearm and one that will maintain resale value. If you just need a gun for home defense that and would like to save money then the Taurus will be fine. josh
 
regardles of what the S&W fanatics claim, Taurus does build some decent guns. One on my list of new guns to buy is a Rossi 851 .38 special, made by Taurus. Hey S&W guys, how's that for taking a risk! A Rossi made by Taurus, by S&W standards I'm doubly screwed.

My experience with Taurus so far has been good and I've been happy with the Taurus products I've bought and the ones I haven't bought but have had the oppurtunity to shoot.
 
I don't know what is the hype with Titanium, yeah it's lighter but the durability is not there.
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Ti is extreemly strong and hard but it has no give which makes it brittle. Steel will flex and give enough not to break under extreem pressures. Look at it this way. Pine trees can survive extreem wind speeds yet they are very tall and top heavy. Why?, because they bend. If they were stiff they would break like toothpicks. Go with the steel. Titanium is just the newest fad.
 
I'd choose the S&W 637 in a heartbeat, evenflow. In fact, I have. ;) In my view, you really don't gain much with the Ti revolvers. Yeah, they're a couple ounces lighter, but in a snubbie that's not enough difference to really matter significantly. I've been extremely happy with my S&W 637 and carry it more than any other weapon I own.
 
An extra $200 to lose just 5 oz??? I would just deal with the slight difference in weight and pocket the $200. I hear bad things about the Ti taurus guns too, plus I don't like the blueish hue , makes the gun look a little fake (I don't want to pull any gun on a bad guy with a knife and for him to say, "that aint real"). I also hear there are timing problems with Taurus revolvers. And this is coming from a loyal PT92 owner .
 
plus 1 to what kymasabe said. I have several taurus firearms, and all have been very satisfactory. My taurus 605 ss has been very reliable, and the fit and finish is excelent. I'm thinking on another one. Maybe even a Rossi.:p
 
I am a S&W fan myself, but I own a Taurus and have nothing bad to say about it as far as reliability and durability. I would recommend the S&W for the long run based on resale value and the fact that all the Taurus owners at the range likely wish they had your S&W instead :D (not that there is any good reason for it).


After thinking about it for a minute the only thing I will say against the Taurus is if you intend to carry or practice reloads with speed loaders then buy the S&W as the Taurus cylinder doesn't swing out enough for the loader to clear the grips. I don't think after market grips will alleviate this problem to well either.
 
thanks

thanks for all the info.

i'm most likely going with the s&w 637.

since the frame is alloy/ss, is cleaning a problem? is there a lot of discoloring on the barrel after firing?

also, just for target shooting, are reloads ok? or semi-wadcutters? will there be much difference in feel between a semi-wad and a bullet comming out of the gun?
 
Use good quality practice ammo. Full metal jacket preferably, it keeps the gun cleaner. Find a good carry ammo that will shoot satisfactorily from whatever snub you decide on. They can be finicky. Make sure you practice with your carry ammo at the end of your range session, maybe 10 rnds or so, so the last rounds you remember shooting are those. Snubs aren't really range guns, they are for SD. It's important to practice, but if you want to go to the range and shoot hundreds of rounds, get a full size pistol as well. Your hands will thank you.;)
 
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