That Taurus Thread ... 2008-2010
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SuperRuger
New member
Good idea and i am sure there have been issues with them as well
but the Taurus guys probably wouldn't like the overall results. Taurus simply can't compare to either one of these in the end.
but the Taurus guys probably wouldn't like the overall results. Taurus simply can't compare to either one of these in the end.QuarterHorse
New member
When Ruger and Smith make budget guns like Taurus I suppose it'd be a fair comparo too....... 
How Do I Vote?
Not sure how to vote.
My one Taurus (PT945) did "work" perfectly...well at least in a mechanical sense. It would feed any brand of ammo, and simply never mal-functioned, but it was not accurate. It was all over the target, even on the edge of paper. I traded it in on a Glock G36.
It functioned great, just couldn't hit the side of a barn.
Not sure how to vote.
My one Taurus (PT945) did "work" perfectly...well at least in a mechanical sense. It would feed any brand of ammo, and simply never mal-functioned, but it was not accurate. It was all over the target, even on the edge of paper. I traded it in on a Glock G36.
It functioned great, just couldn't hit the side of a barn.
Cheapshooter
New member
Of course a S&W or Ruger thread of the same poll will result in more than the 67% that answered that they had no problem. The question is what is it worth to you to be near certain that you will get a perfect firearm out of the box. Is it worth the 33% chance you will have to send it back in order to save $300 or $400 dollars over the price of the S&W. Granted, function is not the only issue, fit and finish, long term reliability, and re-sale value can all play a part, as well as intended use. It's all part of an individual's preference. A finely crafted heirloom to be handed down generation to generation that costs hundreds of dollars more, or an informal plinker that gets a hundred or so rounds shot through it per year.
I think it's fair to add the last two categories together. Multiple failures and never fixed properly, added together that's over 27%. At least for me, that's a troublesome number.
I know very well that all brands have their failures, but I think 27% for multiple & never fixed is higher than most other major brands.
Unfortunate, because I think Taurus has a lot of good designs, features, size, etc....particularly in their semi models.
Added: I never bought in to the money equals quality concept. I know from experience that many times good quality control really costs no more in manufacturing than poor QC. It's more about company discipline and a strong culture in quality control than it is about money.
I know very well that all brands have their failures, but I think 27% for multiple & never fixed is higher than most other major brands.
Unfortunate, because I think Taurus has a lot of good designs, features, size, etc....particularly in their semi models.
Added: I never bought in to the money equals quality concept. I know from experience that many times good quality control really costs no more in manufacturing than poor QC. It's more about company discipline and a strong culture in quality control than it is about money.
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Cheapshooter
New member
I didn't figure in the never fixed. I wonder if they really were never fixed, or the owner just gave up on trying to get them fixed. That 15% is still problematic though. In the 12% that had multiple fixes, is it now considered that they are fixed, and working satisfactorily. Also, has it been multiple problems, or multiple attempts to fix the same problem?
I would like to hear from some of the owners because I am still thinking of getting a Tracker Rimfire 990SS4 rather than a S&W 617 with a MSRP of $940 for a range "plinker".
I would like to hear from some of the owners because I am still thinking of getting a Tracker Rimfire 990SS4 rather than a S&W 617 with a MSRP of $940 for a range "plinker".
Cheapshooter
New member
My faith in that direction is with a SA XD40 Subcompact, Ruger LCP, or Colt 1991A1 Compact. A Taurus would be a range plinker.
Gary L. Griffiths
New member
I've had my stainless Taurus PT-145 Millennium Pro for about 6 years now, and it has worked flawlessly after a few FTF issues within the first hundred rounds. It's 100% reliable, and has had only two issues: The front sight came loose a couple of times. A drop of Loc-Tite on the screw fixed that permanently. Also, the plastic plug at the rear of the slide flew off (I have it) but that in no way interferes with the function of the weapon. Just have to make sure dust and debris doesn't collect in the hole after extended periods of carry.
Wish my $900 Kahr had been as reliable.
Wish my $900 Kahr had been as reliable.
Shot a Taurus 1911 yesterday...
One of my nephews, Clyde, is about 24 and in the Army Reserves. He is also is a certified gun nut. Clyde has sorta adopted me as his 'gun dad' and every couple of months he comes draggin' in here with his most recent acquisition. Yesterday, it was a Taurus 1911 with a rail on it. He had purchased it used.
When he got back from the sandbox the last time, he picked me up & we went Colt shopping. Found him a purty, new Colt 01991 for about $750 and it is an excellent, accurate and reliable 1911. Trouble is, he don't want to carry it much because because carried guns get sweated on, skint and generally lose their luster pretty fast. Hence the Taurus, which had already been rode hard and put up wet. It was pretty much this gun with some real rough carbon fiber grips..
http://centermassguns.com/catalog/images/27388.jpg
I was anxious to look a Taurus 1911 over and it wasn't in my hands long before it was in pieces on the outside workbench. The barrel is larger in diameter, 3/4" back from the muzzle, as is the custom with better-grade 1911's where accuracy improvements are sought. A once over with the calipers, however, revealed that muzzle to be about 0.578 as opposed to the 0.580 we are used to seeing. Weird. Also noted was the ample bushing dimension, running about .0583- weirder still. Finally I measured the slide stop crosspin and found it to be 0.198-0.199 across its length. Not bad, although I generally replace these with a full 0.200 match unit for consistent support of the bottom lugs. Sometime this alone will shave an inch or better from 25 yard groups.
The frame and slide rails were smooth, consistent in dimension and really well-executed. The barrel to frame bedding was good and proper with the expected 0.030 or so space between the barrel and frame ramps, with the barrel linked down to its rearward limit. The barrel itself had nice sharp top lugs, uniform bottom lugs and an excellent wadcutter throat- all good news. The rifling didn't look like what I'd find in a big-name match barrel. No shocker there.
The gun comes with large, ambidextrous thumb safeties, and adjustable trigger with a light, but not match, pull. I didn't have time to weigh it but my calibrated finger calls it four pounds or a tad less. It's worth mentioning that Taurus used the Colt 80 firing pin safety in these guns and the contact surfaces of same were nearly mirror bright. This had obviously been done at the factory to improve the trigger pull. You literally couldn't tell it wasn't a 70 Series arrangement, by dry-firing it. I was impressed.
The trigger stop screw was turned in too tight; you could feel the sear rub the half-cock notch when letting the hammer down slowly. We fixed that and discovered Clyde has been a quarter turn from having a pistol that wouldn't fire at all.
My main carry guns these days are all .40 caliber; in fact I'd given Clyde a big pile of .45 ACP brass & bullets when he got the Colt. So all the 'sacrificial 45 Auto ammo' I had on hand was about 30 rounds of my garden pest load; a 200 grain LSWC loaded to 1.250 for 626 fps. It is almost a cat-sneeze load but perfect for its purpose- and good 1911's will feed it. The first factory mag, loaded with 8 rounds, stuffed a bullet into the case on the feed ramp. The factory mag don't impress me, but loaded with 7 rounds we got it to run. There were no other malfunctions to report.
My first five rounds were fired at 25 yards, two-hand unsupported. The gun shot about 5" right for me, and that threw me a tad, but four of them went in three inches. The next five I fired from offhand, or bullseye, stance. Four of them went in just over two inches with the fifth stretching the group to 2 3/4". Dang... I was impressed. Clyde burned the rest of the ammo and we headed back to the house for fireworks and a few cannon shots.
This Taurus 1911 shot way better than my mics said it should have shot, and a little tweaking here & there would make it a real shooter. For those of you who are interested, I don't think they are a bad gun at all. It is a very 'shootable' 1911 and the combination of a good trigger, checkered front strap and mainspring housing, and rough grips all made it real easy for this old handgun crank to shoot well. I don't know what they're selling for w/o the rail, but if a cheap used one comes my way, I'm gonna be really tempted to buy it.
So you heard it here first. Sarge actually blessed a Taurus for purchase.
One of my nephews, Clyde, is about 24 and in the Army Reserves. He is also is a certified gun nut. Clyde has sorta adopted me as his 'gun dad' and every couple of months he comes draggin' in here with his most recent acquisition. Yesterday, it was a Taurus 1911 with a rail on it. He had purchased it used.
When he got back from the sandbox the last time, he picked me up & we went Colt shopping. Found him a purty, new Colt 01991 for about $750 and it is an excellent, accurate and reliable 1911. Trouble is, he don't want to carry it much because because carried guns get sweated on, skint and generally lose their luster pretty fast. Hence the Taurus, which had already been rode hard and put up wet. It was pretty much this gun with some real rough carbon fiber grips..
http://centermassguns.com/catalog/images/27388.jpg
I was anxious to look a Taurus 1911 over and it wasn't in my hands long before it was in pieces on the outside workbench. The barrel is larger in diameter, 3/4" back from the muzzle, as is the custom with better-grade 1911's where accuracy improvements are sought. A once over with the calipers, however, revealed that muzzle to be about 0.578 as opposed to the 0.580 we are used to seeing. Weird. Also noted was the ample bushing dimension, running about .0583- weirder still. Finally I measured the slide stop crosspin and found it to be 0.198-0.199 across its length. Not bad, although I generally replace these with a full 0.200 match unit for consistent support of the bottom lugs. Sometime this alone will shave an inch or better from 25 yard groups.
The frame and slide rails were smooth, consistent in dimension and really well-executed. The barrel to frame bedding was good and proper with the expected 0.030 or so space between the barrel and frame ramps, with the barrel linked down to its rearward limit. The barrel itself had nice sharp top lugs, uniform bottom lugs and an excellent wadcutter throat- all good news. The rifling didn't look like what I'd find in a big-name match barrel. No shocker there.
The gun comes with large, ambidextrous thumb safeties, and adjustable trigger with a light, but not match, pull. I didn't have time to weigh it but my calibrated finger calls it four pounds or a tad less. It's worth mentioning that Taurus used the Colt 80 firing pin safety in these guns and the contact surfaces of same were nearly mirror bright. This had obviously been done at the factory to improve the trigger pull. You literally couldn't tell it wasn't a 70 Series arrangement, by dry-firing it. I was impressed.
The trigger stop screw was turned in too tight; you could feel the sear rub the half-cock notch when letting the hammer down slowly. We fixed that and discovered Clyde has been a quarter turn from having a pistol that wouldn't fire at all.
My main carry guns these days are all .40 caliber; in fact I'd given Clyde a big pile of .45 ACP brass & bullets when he got the Colt. So all the 'sacrificial 45 Auto ammo' I had on hand was about 30 rounds of my garden pest load; a 200 grain LSWC loaded to 1.250 for 626 fps. It is almost a cat-sneeze load but perfect for its purpose- and good 1911's will feed it. The first factory mag, loaded with 8 rounds, stuffed a bullet into the case on the feed ramp. The factory mag don't impress me, but loaded with 7 rounds we got it to run. There were no other malfunctions to report.
My first five rounds were fired at 25 yards, two-hand unsupported. The gun shot about 5" right for me, and that threw me a tad, but four of them went in three inches. The next five I fired from offhand, or bullseye, stance. Four of them went in just over two inches with the fifth stretching the group to 2 3/4". Dang... I was impressed. Clyde burned the rest of the ammo and we headed back to the house for fireworks and a few cannon shots.
This Taurus 1911 shot way better than my mics said it should have shot, and a little tweaking here & there would make it a real shooter. For those of you who are interested, I don't think they are a bad gun at all. It is a very 'shootable' 1911 and the combination of a good trigger, checkered front strap and mainspring housing, and rough grips all made it real easy for this old handgun crank to shoot well. I don't know what they're selling for w/o the rail, but if a cheap used one comes my way, I'm gonna be really tempted to buy it.
So you heard it here first. Sarge actually blessed a Taurus for purchase.
Gary L. Griffiths said:
There is always a Taurus out there that does function great and gives reliable long term use. In fact, my one Taurus was reliable. It just seems that Taurus does have more than it's share of QC issues. Also, it's rare that you read good things about their customer relations.
Having said that, I think Taurus, like all mechanical devices, tends to have failures up front, so if you have a Taurus that has a number of rounds down range with no issues then you are probably OK.
I had a Taurus Tracker 4 inch barrel. I bought it because of the recomendation from the salesman. He was a ex officer. I came in to buy a Ruger GP100 but he suggested the Tracker because the porting and the size and weight of the revolver. After handling the revolver I agreed and bought the Tracker. When I picked up the revolver I took it to the range the next day. I took my Smith and Wesson 686 to shoot too. The Tracker worked well except the casings were sticking after firing the revolver everytime. The rounds were a pain to get out. I was shooting 357 158g reloads. Its the only ammo availiable at the range. After I was done, I went back to gun store and complained to the salesman. He went and got their gunsmith. The gunsmith looked at the revolver and stated the cylinder bores looked a little rough. But he wanted to at least try some factory ammo before he sent the gun back to Taurus. I went back to the range and fired all seven rounds. Again the casings were sticking so bad I had to pry one out with a knife. So I went back to the gun store. I gave the gun to my gunsmith with the cases still in the cylinder. He boxed the gun up and overnighted the gun to Taurus.
Weeks and weeks went by without any word or indication when Taurus would repair the revolver. After two months I finally went by to the gunstore and expressed how unhappy I was. The owner of the shop and the gunsmith decided to give me credit on the revolver. I then bought a nice Smith and Wesson 28-2 from them.
Long story short, I was in my gunstore again looking for ammo and the gunsmith said the Tracker had finally arrived back to their store four weeks after I traded it back. He also stated the casings are still sticking after the gun is fired. I can not recommend Taurus revolvers to anyone. Its better to pay a little more and buy a Ruger or Smith revolver.
Weeks and weeks went by without any word or indication when Taurus would repair the revolver. After two months I finally went by to the gunstore and expressed how unhappy I was. The owner of the shop and the gunsmith decided to give me credit on the revolver. I then bought a nice Smith and Wesson 28-2 from them.
Long story short, I was in my gunstore again looking for ammo and the gunsmith said the Tracker had finally arrived back to their store four weeks after I traded it back. He also stated the casings are still sticking after the gun is fired. I can not recommend Taurus revolvers to anyone. Its better to pay a little more and buy a Ruger or Smith revolver.
BusGunner007
New member
I didn't vote because I've never owned a Taurus.
I posted because I shot a brand-new Taurus Raging Bull in .480 RUGER and it literally locked itself on the 12th round.
Had to use the key to unlock it.
I don't trust a firearm with a lock on it or in it.
That's all I can contribute here.
I posted because I shot a brand-new Taurus Raging Bull in .480 RUGER and it literally locked itself on the 12th round.
Had to use the key to unlock it.
I don't trust a firearm with a lock on it or in it.
That's all I can contribute here.
roaddog28 said:
Yeah, looks like a clear case of a rough bore job on the cylinders. When the case expands it tends to fill into the rough areas and is hard to remove. Not an issue of material, just somebody at the factory running the boring machine too aggressively, or with a dull tool.
Why can't Taurus learn the lesson that it cost's no more to do it right?....I will answer my own question....not until their sales suffer.
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Bat Masterson
New member
bump!