Few revolver questions...

[ChrisO]

Thinking of buying a .357 to pair with a .357 lever gun for a bug out SHTF truck set up possibly even 44 mag. I want something around the 4 inch mark and a nice handling combat revolver type. I plan on selling my AR to fund this Im tired of the AR and it's just not worth it to me in I figure I can be very effective with a levergun and a revolver and they are fool proof. I was considered a few revolvers some in the ruger line like gp100 or a S&W 686 possibly. My main question is, What do you revolver shooters think of taurus? They have some attractive pistols but as far as reliability. My main concern is it going boom everything and the pistol not breaking. Any help is appreciated or recommendations.

[1JimMarch]

Then you do not want a Taurus, period.

Horrible QC compared to S&W or Ruger.

Look here:

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=380352

And here's "the checkout":

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=57816

[ChrisO]

Cool, Thanks for the info Im thinking a gp100 would be a wise decision for a good price...

[RedFord150]

I bought a Taurus .38 with a 2" Barrel back in 1994. I NEVER used +P in it. One day I am at the range using plain old .38 range reloads. I load a full cylinder and on shot #2, I hear a strange sound as it goes boom. I try to open the cylinder to check it. The cylinder refused to open PERIOD. I fired the last rounds and took the gun to a local 'smith. He could not open it either. We decided to ship it back to Taurus with a letter explaining why it was full of empty cases.
Taurus fixed it and sent it back after about 6 weeks. No report, no explanation, no charge. I paid for the original shipping to their location.
I called Taurus more than a dozen times while they had it. I never spoke to a live human being once. They never returned a message I left, ever.
After I got it back, I sold it to a local dealer. I would never trust a Taurus with my life.
Many 'Gun Experts' (who apparently like Taurus) I have told this story to accused me of feeding too many + P's through it. 'That little gun is not capable of handling + P loads' they tell me. Of course, I always ask them how ZERO can be too many...
I currently own a Ruger GP100 in .357 and a Speed Six in .38. I have previously owned a Security Six in .357, a Single Six and a 22/45 in .22, and a P85 in 9mm. I would trust any Ruger with my life. In fact, the Speed Six is the one I keep accessible loaded with JHP's. My wife can shoot it just as well as I can. This is why I make it my first choice.
FTR, I also own a Colt Double Eagle in .45, A CZ40B in .40S&W (for sale on CalGuns), a Bersa Thunder in .380, and a 12GA Beretta O/U. The Ruger is my primary by CHOICE, not because it is my only.
BOTTOM LINE: Ruger over Taurus anyday. The S & W fans wll tell you their own stories.
Good luck.

[CHS]

As far as functionality, reliability, and strength, nothing beats a Ruger. Period.

S&W's are fancier and a little bit lighter, but they can get finicky and have timing issues over their life. But S&W's are great guns.

Taurus's are Brazilian copies of S&W's, and are definitely thought of as being pretty low-grade. I've never been happy with any Taurus revolver I've played with.

Ruger is going to get you the absolute best bang for the buck. The GP100's are GREAT guns. I've got a 6" GP100 in .357mag with an action job and I absolutely love the thing.

[RedFord150]

...The GP100's are GREAT guns. I've got a 6" GP100 in .357mag with an action job and I absolutely love the thing.

Agreed!
I did get an action job on my 4" GP100, as well. I also added Hogue wooden grips and a Red Millett Front Sight (no gunsmith required).
The Speed Six is my HD gun because it has fixed sights and Nylon Hogue grips and a 2 3/4" barrel and my wife and I are both great with it. However, the GP100 is our favorite range gun. After the action job, I think it could be the best trigger I have personally ever owned.
Good luck.

[rgs1975]

S&W's are the best, plain and simple. If you're looking for a combat revolver in .357 any one of the below S&W models would be appropriate. They are not cheap but is a "combat" weapon that you'll be trusting yours and your familys life to something to pinch pennies on?


568-7 (7 shot, Steel, 4" barrel)
327PD (8 shot, Alloy/Titanium, 4" barrel)
327 M&P R8 (8 shot, Alloy/Steel, 5" barrel, rail on top and bottom for sights and lights)
586-L Comp (7 shot, Carbon Steel, 3" barrel)
686+ (7 shot, Stainless, 4" barrel)

[SIGscout]

S&W's are the best, plain and simple. If you're looking for a combat revolver in .357 any one of the below S&W models would be appropriate. They are not cheap but is a "combat" weapon that you'll be trusting yours and your familys life to something to pinch pennies on?


568-7 (7 shot, Steel, 4" barrel)
327PD (8 shot, Alloy/Titanium, 4" barrel)
327 M&P R8 (8 shot, Alloy/Steel, 5" barrel, rail on top and bottom for sights and lights)
586-L Comp (7 shot, Carbon Steel, 3" barrel)
686+ (7 shot, Stainless, 4" barrel)

+1 SW 686. had it for about seven years, love love love it! for just over $600 after Dros and taxes. I shoot +P in it all the freak'n time and have never had any problem. My friend has the 5" 6 shot and I feel he likes mine better but won't admit it lol.


686 is in right hand, friends 5" in left

[powaybob]

I am a Ruger revolver guy. Have a Security Six 4 inch and GP 100 6 inch in 357, as well as SA Blackhawks in 357 and 45 LC, not to mention my Single Six in .22. Utterly reliable and strong.

The Security Six must be 25 years old know and who knows how many rounds through it and still works flawlessly.

My only suggestion on the GP-100 is get the colored front sight, or some kind of fiber optic front sight if your eyes are as bad as mine.

[paul0660]

Taurii are fine revolvers, but if you are going to buy something you are going to keep forever, what's another $200 bucks in the front end?

[ChrisO]

Im not looking for dirt cheap just a good value and seems like the ruger GP100 is the best value around. My ladies dad has a 686 4 He told me he would sell me CHEAP it has never been fired but you guys now how it is to get a busy man to get the ball rolling. I have been asking him for about a year now so maybe ill get a random birthday present .

[Trapper]

The trigger on my Taurus Model 85 cracked just above the pivot pin and may have gone unnoticed if I hadn't taken off the side plate for cleaning. The trigger was replaced free of charge but I lost faith in the revolver. I purchased it new in 1992 and had only fired a few hundred rounds of light target loads before the trigger broke.

[ChrisO]

I have heard a lot of taurus horror stories of catastrophic failures. I definitely won't be getting one.

[glockman19]

IMHO Taurus is a POS. I'd get a Ruger or S&W.

My setup is a 686+ 4" with a marlin 1894C and a 629 Classic 5" with a 1894SS.

[Buck'emDown78]

Best combat revolver str8 out of box is any Performance Center revolver from Smith & Wesson. It may cost a little more, but guarantee you'll never need to buy another revolver in your life. Unless you are shooting $2000 customized revolvers, there aren't any revolvers out there than can even come close to the quality and feel of something that comes out of their custom facility. I'm not that big on revolvers myself but I would say their .357 Magnum version with the factory trigger job is one of the smoothest triggers I've ever shot in any firearm.