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The above ad appeared in SHOT Business magazine. While it’s aimed at gun dealers, the underlying message applies to consumers. The Brazilian gunmaker’s promising better quality, competitive pricing, new products (the Hanging Judge?) and a lifetime warranty. Clearly, Taurus is taking its rep for lower-quality products by the horns – and standing behind their new, improved products ’til death do you and your gun part. What’s not on the list: . . .

Customer service. We’re still hearing horror stories from Taurus buyers bemoaning their abject inability to get anyone Taurian on the phone. The previous CEO was all about customer service. His replacement is singing the same song. Bottom line: whether you’re a previous or potential customer, would you buy a Taurus handgun? If so, why? If not, why not?

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142 COMMENTS

  1. I have no issue with their revolvers and have nothing but positive experiences with them. One of my favorite guns I own right now is the Taurus 605. As far as semi auto’s, the only one I would ever buy and trust would be the PT-92 and that is simply just a Beretta 92FS clone.

    • Never had a problem with my taurii revolvers. Wife insisted on a Rossi even tho I wanted to get her a smith. Never had a problem with the Rossi either. Wife wants a judge but we live in CA so I can honestly tell her I can’t buy it for her.

      Never shot a taurus auto so I won’t comment on those. But if money is tight and you want a sock drawer revolver in case of trouble in the night a Taurus beats a sharp stick every time.

    • How can I give a grain of credence to someone who says the only semi-automatic firearm they would ever buy and trust is a Taurus clone of the Beretta 92? I’m not talking about Taurus’s quality, but about Sovereign’s closed-mindedness.

    • I have owned a PT1911 for several years and it has functioned without a problem. I saw a PT-111 G2 on sale at a local shop for $219 and did some research. A number of reviewers (recent reviews that is) including a couple who perform serious reviews gave it a good review. Functioned well with a couple of different perspectives on the trigger take up. My experience to date has been good. Handles well, fits in my hand nicely, easy to shoot with good results and I had no malfunctions. Admittedly it’s been a limited test/review but good so far. Other handguns I own include the following, CZ 75BD, Springfield XDs, Bersa CC380, Colt Mustang, Ruger SR22 and Secuity 6. So I’ve had some experience w/ handguns but I would not categorize myself as an expert. Bottom line, I like it and if it continues to operate the way it has during a longer more stressful test I’d recommend it.

    • I can’t agree with you more on this one. I have owned several Taurus revolvers as well as Ruger and S&W, and the one I reach for to go “shooting” or to carry into the bush is the M44SS. I have owned Ruger and Smith .44 Mags., and the Taurus is the one I prefer. It fits my hand perfectly, has less felt recoil due to the porting, and is the most accurate revolver I have ever owned, and has remained tight after many (as in lots) of +P handloads. Living in Alaska the bigger bores are tools, and I shoot this one enough to stay competent with it. The finish is great, and the action and lockup are precise. The only revolver I have ever had a mechanical issue with was a Ruger SP101 – right out of the box it would literally lockup, wouldn’t shoot, and the hammer was impossible to pull back with two thumbs – not the quality I expected from Ruger, and I took it back to the store and got a replacement, didn’t bother sending it back to Ruger – I expected a NEW gun to work. The Taurus, however, has been exceptional. I realize ALL guns can and eventually will have issues, but so far my Taurus M44s have been the most reliable. Good and safe shooting to all!

  2. Pay a hundred dollars or two more and you got a smith and Wesson. Quality is a lot better. So no, I’d never buy a Taurus.

        • I have a written warranty from S&W that says Lifetime warranty on my Smith version of the 99 that they refuse to honor, saying it is Walther’s problem even though Walther never made it in .45acp. Walther customer service has been great with parts they can with shipping only on my end. But even with NIB M&P problems Smiths customer service stinks. We spent $20k last year & I have been to armorer classes at the factory was treated like a bother when I asked for service or purchase parts. My Taurus 101 .40cal has lasted 10 years & a few thousand rounds more than Beretta 96, customer service has sent me a dozen recoil springs for free. My 608, 8 shot .357 has held up as well as my Ruger Security 6 & several snubbies over the years no problems. Taurus, Walther, Fn, Glock, Springfield, Colt, DPMS (before buyout), Ruger have all treated me like a valued customer & they want my business. Smith & Wesson, Kel-Tec, Remington have all acted if they could care less about my money. I have made sure departments and companies that I have any influence with do not spend a dime with them. I have 4 S&W all older and issued 4506, 4006, 1006 ad a model 19 snub.

          Also nearly all companies warranty the weapon for life to 1st or 12th owner but not Smith. I can’t commet on Sig as never had to contact customer service.

      • Taurus needs a lifetime warranty, If not, most of their pistols wouldn’t be in functioning order after a couple of years and a few thousand rounds. Smith & Wesson, Glock, Beretta, HK, Walther, et al sell guns based on proven performance and a solid record of taking care of their customers.

    • I have owned Model 29s and one Model 629. When you read the information on a lot manufacturer labels for the heavy-duty .44 magnum +P loads, S&W is NOT listed as one of the revolvers that will stand up to the higher pressures. I have to admit, and enjoy doing so since I still own a Model 629, that the finish is beautiful, the blueing so deep a blue it almost looks black. However, it is not as heavy as my Taurus Model M44SS – one huge, heavy hunk of steel cut from the same large-frame block of steel as the Raging Series, which are tough, tough revolvers. Although I must agree with you – if you put my M44, Ruger Super Blackhawk, and S&W side-by-side, the Smith is the one people reach for to handle. Beautiful revolver.

  4. I currently have Taurus 66,( a seven shot .357 stainless with a 4″ barrel), as well as a Taurus 605 (with 2 ” barrel). For reference I also have a S&W 686plus, a S&W air weight, a Ruger GP100, a Blackhawk, and a Security six among many other handguns. I never once had an issue with any Taurus I ever owned so I could not expound on their customer service. Although the Taurus handguns are not of the same quality finish as the Rugers or Smiths, I purchased them during times of less cash on hand. I personally think they are fine, shoot well and again never had an issue with any of them. Because of their lower cost, I also tend to reach for them as a carry piece when fishing or when there is a possibility of getting them knocked around. (And yes, when traveling in a less than friendly, gun restrictive state, where it MAY get confiscated, the less expensive Taurus comes along for the ride) So, yes, I would consider Taurus anytime I am looking for a less expensive but reliable handgun, but I check them over with a fine tooth comb (as I do any other gun purchase). Are these guns ‘works of art’ like the Smiths or Ruger’s? No. but they seem fine to me in my humble opinion.

  5. I own 3, .44 spc snubby 5 shot wheelgun i picked up 20+ years ago, and a pair of PT111’s in 9mm last year or so.. Not a complaint about any of them. But haven’t needed to contact the company for anything either.. as they just do what they are intended.

  6. My dad had a Rossi revolver (made since Rossi was bought out by Taurus and became their own “budget” brand). He never had any issues with it. It has since passed to my son–he hasn’t had any issues with it. In between, I shot it a very few times, I never had any issues with it. So I would probably trust a Rossi or Taurus revolver. Also had a PT-22 for awhile, it shot just fine. But maybe I just got lucky on that one. I might buy another if the urge to have a .22 pocket semi ever strikes me again and I find one on sale.

    • Mine either hangs from the door of the safe or on the rail of my bed… and once we get open carry in Texas, it’ll hang from my belt from time to time!

      • FTF, light strikes, stove pipes, you name it…

        PT709 9mm, I couldn’t get it to run for the life of me.

        People say the revolvers are ok, but I’m a semi-auto guy, so I couldn’t care less.

        • I bought a pt709 in 9mm for my wife a few years ago. I had numerous issues as well with this pistol to include FTF, stovepipes, and most damning, a magazine catch failure that i sent it back to Taurus for twice before it was fixed with any kind of permanence. I would insert a magazine, ensure it was seated firmly, then lightly jiggle the magazine base plate with two fingers. The magazine would pop right out in my hand. This would also happen within the first shot or two causing a FTF. Just gripping the pistol during the shot would cause the magazine to pop out. I found I could not trust it for daily carry for her, and so I sold it and bought her a springfield xdm in 9mm and later an xds in the same caliber. These guns are much, much much better. She loves them. With that said, i have an old SF vietnam vet friend who swears by Taurus’s 1911 pistols. Those I’ve had only good experiences with. Taurus revolvers and Rossi firearms, i have little experience with. However, their striker fired pistols i will never buy again. Not when i have smith and wesson, springfield or glock as alternatives.

  9. I have shot a Taurus .357 Magnum and didn’t care for any aspect of it. Since their reputation for lack of customer service is so renowned, I won’t even look at one to buy.

  10. My FFLs won’t handle Taurus firearms because of the poor customer service and variable quality — when you get a good one, it’s really good, but when you get a bad one you can’t get it fixed. So, no Taurus for me, until the company builds a solid rep for service and quality.

    • I’ve heard several gun store owners, who back what they sell, say they will not stock Taurus, due to the frequency and hassle of returns on Taurus products.

    • I work at an FFL that sells to soldiers and their dependents. We refuse to carry Taurus semi-auto’s because of their problems. We’ll special order them, but those are non-refundable needing deposits, so we don’t take any risk. Their revolvers are just fine, though the SW Governor has killed the demand for the judge at our shop (an extra shot, 45acp capability, better trigger and finish for only a couple hundred bucks more? Done)

    • I got one with a problem and the customer service was as good as I could hope for. This was… oh, around 2012? Maybe they’ve changed?

    • I have a 738 TCP, a tiny pocket 380. Works fine for that role so long as you dont limp wrist it (causes FTEs)
      One problem is you can’t find OEM mags for the TCP online or in stores. So i called Taurus customer service. Literally 10 minutes after dialing I was off the phone, a new mag on the way I paid for with a card over the phone. that was Tuesday at 530pm, the mag arrived Friday.
      YMMV, but so far my experience has been positive.

      • If you don’t mind me asking, how much are they asking for the TCP magazines?

        Midway says they’ll be ~$20 if they get then in stock. I’ve missed the alerts a couple times, but they’re supposed to get some this month.

        Otherwise they run $40+ on auction sites.

      • I also have a 738 TCP, and have 200 rounds through it of cheap Prvi Partizan without a single hitch. It was a review on this website that got me to consider it, wherein the reviewer said that his local range rented it out along with the other popular pocket .380’s, and it was the most reliable of the bunch. Keep in mind it’s manufactured in the USA to circumvent the ’68 gun control act. I’ve never owned a Brazilian-made Taurus. It fills the role of a weekend “throw in the pocket (in a proper holster, of course) to run to the store” gun perfectly.

      • I considered a TCP but was put off by the unexplained disappearance of the OEM 8 round mags by the end of 2014.

  11. No, I wouldn’t buy one. Every Taurus that I’ve had the displeasure of firing, has failed to go bang, multiple times, and it wasn’t the ammo.

  12. Judge has been good to me. But I find that I shy away from all the semi-autos for the perceived reliability difference. My father in law’s Taurus 1911 is a fine gun, so I’m on the fence.

    • I hear that the 1911 is a great pistol, but then from one manufacturer to the next, they are all nearly identical with respect to finish. I also hear from one of the salespeople at a local chain outdoor equipment store that the pistols returned most for repair are Taurus, and that is why they are excluding them from their inventory. The revolvers are another story, but I do hear the semi-autos are not nearly as reliable. From my perspective, it is all hearsay, but that is the beginning black eye of any product – negative word of mouth is damning.

  13. The gun snobs come out in droves when you mention Taurus an other inexpensive handguns. I bought several “affordable” guns to see how bad they were according to the gun snobs. I bought a Hi-Point, Phoenix HP-22, Heritage Rough Rider and a couple of Taurus’. They have all proven to be reliable and accurate. I bought my first Smith and Wesson in January. I nope it is as dependable as my cheap guns. It is the first one I paid over $200 to buy. The only other gun of the 10 I have that cost over $200 is my little Henry lever action 22 (half long and half hand guns).

    • Never owning one and hating them makes your a snob.

      Owning one or two, and subsequently, coming to the conclusion you don’t like them and find their quality lacking, makes you a realist.

      • Concluding that it is a POS after handling one and dry firing one, does not make you a snob, it makes you a prudent buyer.

    • The HP-22a is a great little gun, gunsnobs can’t bear to not say how wimpy and crappy it is and bitch about it’s safeties. So I bring up how much I like it whenever I can when talking to any just for entertainment.

    • A lot of people don’t understand quality. A brand with poor quality doesn’t mean every item will fail. It means they have an unacceptable failure rate. Back in the bad old days of crappy American car most of them worked just fine.

    • So instead of owning 1 or 2 high quality handguns, you opted for 10 cheap weapons that you’d be foolish to bet your life on?

  14. I had a PT709 for a while and had no complaints about it. I bought it when I first got my weapons carry permit and thought I had to have something tiny. When I found that I could comfortably carry and conceal a much larger handgun I sold it to help fund a carry pistol for my wife (Beretta PX4 Storm Subcompact).

    I’ve had gun counter people tell me that half of the Tauruses they sell go back and I don’t believe that for a second, but I do believe the stories that everything has to get back a second time to get it right. I’ve owned quite a few Rugers and have only had one issue and I can attest that their customer service is outstanding. Taurus makes some innovative stuff at rock bottom prices, but you get what you pay for. I’m mostly a revolver guy and their revolvers may function fine, but they’re basically shoddily constructed Smith & Wessons, so I have no interest in any of their revolvers. If I wanted a 19th century DA revolver I’d spend the extra coin to get a Smith and have a nicely polished piece of art/weapon. But if I was looking for a cheap semi-auto I’d have no problem with Taurus. I’d keep my fingers crossed that it wouldn’t have to go back though.

    • I am a FFL dealer with years of experience and I can attest to the fact that taurus has SERIOUS quality control and customer service issues. I will not stock taurus guns on those two factors alone and try highly to recommend an alternative whenever possible. Just this week I spent 35 minutes on hold with them for a customer to finally get connected to an obvious call center to talk with a woman who apparently Did not know a pt22 from a slap-chop. After 15 minutes I was told that a little pt22 ships from the factory with a 12-14 lb. Trigger pull, full of grit and was told thats the way they are supposed to be, for “safety reasons” …nice,huh? Do yourself a favor, spend the extra money…If you’re not willing to eat ramen noodles for two weeks to be able to defend yourself reliably, you have bigger issues than taurus ownership.

      • Can’t blame you. That’s unacceptable, especially when they’re dealing with a dealer. The Ruger folks couldn’t be nicer. I had a Mini-14 that was having a lot of failures to eject. They emailed a shipping label to me, got it back in about 2 weeks and the repair order said they replaced the barrel, slide and bolt – no cost, not even shipping. If they replaced anything else it would have had to go to my FFL. Not bad for a company that doesn’t even have a warranty. My biggest complaint was they left it dirty, but then if they didn’t I wouldn’t have known that they must have shot at least 100 rounds testing it to make sure it was fixed right.

        That said I have seen some deals on Tauruses that were so cheap I thought about picking one up even though it wasn’t even anything I particularly needed or wanted. If you can only afford one gun for self defense I’d look for a better quality used gun over a new Taurus though.

        • I’ve owned dozens of different brands of pistols and I have had both the best and the worst of customer service from the same manufacturers over the last few decades.

          Case in point : I had a very low mileage LCP that was having numerous FTE. Called twice Ruger about sending it back and they said “sorry, it’s out of warranty (!), and no matter what I would have to pay shipping before we can even look at it”. I should point out that I work with my company’s customers on a daily basis and was very polite, patient, etc. and made my case … no deal.

          I had another (older) Ruger pistol that had an issue (which was my fault entirely). Called them, admitted my error, and they not only fixed it for free, but paid shipping as well.

          I’ve come to believe that when it comes to customer service for firearms, it’s much more a function of who you get on the phone than the company’s policies. In this respect, Taurus is no different than any other manufacturer I’ve dealt with.

    • My PT709 wouldn’t run.

      It only half a$$ (as in, I could at least make through one mag) ran 124 +p ammo, everything else would jam up the gun after a few rounds.

      Easy to carry gun, absolutely. Did I feel confident in carrying it, negative ghost rider.

  15. I love all my Taurus guns. My PT1911AR has always had a problem popping it’s safety out, never shot it much. Called. Got a human in under a minute. It’s on the way back. I simply can’t find a bad thing to say about them… I have so many of their other guns… This is the only problem I’ve had, and they handled it instantly. Of the Slim models (PT740 PT709); better than Glock. These days, what isn’t? Wish I could find a CT9 or CT40 second-hand…

  16. I picked up a taurus tcp 738 on the recommendation of th his site. I also could not find a bad review of the pocket pistol, even reviews started with “I hate Taurus”…

  18. I own a Tracker 625 stainless 357 and have never had any problems with it. I also purchased a PT1911 and with in the first 20 rounds through it the ambidextrous safety broke I called customer service, firstly I was on hold for more than 30 minutes. When I finally was able to speak to someone they were very rude and defensive. They told me send it in and that it would be about 8 to 10 weeks to get it back. I asked why they just couldn’t send me the replacement parts and I would send them the broken ones. They said they would not do that . I decided to order a Wilson Combat replacement. After I received it and fitted it I took it back to the range. After 2 rounds the magazine lock broke. I again went through the same process with Taurus.

    At that point I decided that I would strip the gun and replace all the internals with Wilson Combat parts. I also cleaned up all the burrs and rough edges. Since that point I have not had any issues.

    I have no issues with their wheel guns, but I will not purchase another Taurus semi. Their quality and customer service are horrendous. I’d rather spend more money a day buy a quality piece .

  19. The only Taurus I would (probably will at some point) purchase is the PT-92. All of my semi-auto handgun that I actually shoot have frame mounted safeties (up is safe, down is hot). I have an FS92, but because it has a slide mounted safety (up is hot, down is safe) I will never put it into a SD application. I have a number of the 80 series Beretta 380 ACP (’84, ’85, ’86) all with frame mounted safeties and love them. The FS92 just fills a spot in the collection as far as I am concerned. The PT-92 is essentially a Beretta ’92 with a frame mounted safety (safety/decocker) so I could see it in the collection and actually use it. If Taurus had not put in the TSS key lock, I would already own one.

    • If you don’t like the slide mounted safety, Beretta has come back out with a G model 92, decocker only. I carried my FS for a while and the safety never bothered me, but with the DA trigger pull it’s not really necessary. Switched to revolvers, so now the 92 sits in my safe waiting for the zombies.

        • Here’s another tip- https://www.gunwatcher.com/

          Bud’s has a deal going on right now. In the ‘deals’ section it says $495 but when I looked Beretta 92G in the search part it said $476. You have to add it to your cart to see the price. I’m guessing with Bud’s the lower price is the cash price. Pretty good deal if you’re ready to buy.

          Anyway, I always use Gunwatcher to keep the folks on GunBroker honest.

      • Yes, agree have to do comparisons. I use gunbot for ammo.
        Just bought one for $499 on GB so not too bad. I have only had one bad experience buying on GB. A dealer that liked to sell what he didn’t have. Got that resolved painlessly.

        Thanks again for the tip. I read that Beretta is only making 500 of these in a run this year. Do you know if that is accurate?

        • Congratulations. I love my FS. I thought about trading off on a new G model when I saw that, but I have a few upgrades on mine and I’d have to spend a half a day swapping out my parts to sell the old one. And mine’s still in nice enough shape.

          Hadn’t heard anything about it being a limited run. You’d think they’d charge more if it was, there seems to a lot of people who’s only gripe with the 92 is the safety.

          I’ve only had good experiences on GunBroker. Still a great price and I’ve heard a few gripes about Bud’s. I’ve found that in some cases you can get stuff way cheaper on GB and others there’s a much better deal from an online dealer.

      • Yeah, but he was describing a 1911/Browning Hi Power/CZ cocked and locked style safety, and a decocker, even mounted on a slide, isn’t that.

        Beretta going to a frame mounted decocker on the 92G solved half the problem, for those used to that kind of safety. And if you hate having distinct double/single action pulls, it’s the wrong half of the problem.

        The Taurus, with its cock and lock safety, is still ergonomically superior to the B92, though quality almost certainly favors the Beretta.

        • Might have to get a Taurus PT-92 to add to the collection as well. Then I can do a real world side by side comparison to know for sure. Never can have too many. I’m a lucky guy, my wife likes to help me pick out guns to buy too.

        • Most people who have an issue with the 92 safety have an issue disengaging it and I’ve heard some people complain that they tend to engage the safety when racking from the back of the slide (I usually use the scallops at the front of the slide unless my fingers are sweaty). The G model eliminates the first issue and the worst that can happen with the second is that the gun is ready to fire in DA. Now if you want to carry cocked and locked that’s fine, get a CZ75. I personally prefer the safety of the DA trigger and if I need to make an accurate shot I’ll treat it just like my revolvers and cock the hammer manually. No one system is going to make everyone happy.

        • Agree with you Gov. I have 1911, Hi-Power, Beretta 84BB… all frame mounted safety. Also have CZ 75BD, 84/85FS, FNX45 all with decocker, all frame mounted. I’ve never been a fan of cocked and locked even though it is probably just fine if you carry that way exclusively. I prefer to carry decocked in DA mode with those handguns also just fine with DA only like my Glocks, Kahr, & revolvers. Will be interesting to try racking the slide on the 92G and see how the decocker feels. (yes I buy before I try – I figure that the value of guns I buy will retain their value better than the US dollar).

        • Generally the people who bitch about the safety being on the slide, and which direction it goes, are 1911ers. (Obviously there are exceptions.) Simply moving it to the frame won’t satisfy them. That’s what I was attempting to point out, in my own clumsy way.

          “Now if you want to carry cocked and locked that’s fine, get a CZ75”

          That’s precisely what I did. Made sure it was a 75B, not BD. (D stands for decocker.) That having been said, the 75BD decocker, I think is better than Beretta’s. The lever returns to disengaged automatically, and it actually leaves it at half cock, lessening that first pull and providing a slight additional safety factor. Of course it goes down to decock, which will still seem backwards to some people. (1911 people who try a BD end up cursing at it; I end up cursing at the range (no, not really) for not having a 75B available for those folks to try.)

    • It’s less of problem if your first carry piece is a Beretta. My wife doesn’t have an issue because an M-9 is her first carry piece. I won’t carry it because I have been programmed by John Moses Browning.

  20. I have had good and bad experiences with Taurus. Their revolvers are generally decent quality, their semis are hit and miss. I had an 840 that I initially loved that just wouldn’t stay fixed. I bought a 740 that I ended up giving to my dad that he uses as a snake gun when mountain biking. AFAIK it still works.

  22. I own several tauri, and I have to say I really don’t have any but minor issues with any of them.
    My .357 is a fine shooter, and reliable, my tcp is quite accurate for a pocket gun and has
    never had any issue. it feeds, fires, extracts, and ejects no problem. Little thing runs like a top.
    My 24/7g2 in .40 does the same, but does have an issue with the sights, which might be just me.
    Aftermarket adjustable sights aren’t easy to find, either. All in all I’ve had positive experiences
    with Taurus, and I plan on buying more. Now if they would just come out with some click adjustable
    sights for the 24/7g2, that would be nice.

  24. My first Taurus was a PT-92 from ’92… some years later I acquired a ’92 Ford Taurus… and both ran well. Traded the ’92 Ford, plan to keep the 9mm 92 as I prefer the safety location and lack of tupperware DNA. I’d certainly consider another Taurus someday.

  25. I own 2. Both worked reliably out of the (more than I can say for my Keltec). Both have been reliable. I did have to send in the 24/7 after about 5,000 rounds and 2 years, when it started striking light. I choked a bit on the $75 shipping and quoted 4 week turn. In the end, it was returned in 2 weeks, working better than new. The gun smith went through it from stem to stern and replaced fire pin and what looked like every spring in the gun.

    Bottom line, it an economy gun. Build is OK, quality is OK, price is great. If I have a choice to shoot my XDM or Ruger or other quality gun at the range, it loses, mostly I hate the trigger. It still fill a niche for people. I keep my 24/7 in my bed side drawer, it has proven it is reliable and good enough for that purpose with a 17 round mag, night sights and light on the rail. I would not shoot it in IDPA or competition due to the trigger.

  26. A few years ago I bought a Taurus revolver and liked it enough to buy two more within a short period. ALL of them started having troubles, the third one within a few days of purchase at it’s first range trip. When I finally got in touch with them Taurus customer service essentially implied that I must not know how to maintain and use a firearm, an interesting theory since all of my SIG, CZ, and Smith & Wesson guns seemed to be doing fine with my use and care routine.

    I dumped all Taurus at a loss just to get rid of them and won’t touch them again ever.

  27. Phuck no.

    Look I know they’re not terrible. In a pinch I’d take it. But generally speaking I live in an LMT, Glock, FN, HK, Ruger, Savage family. I suppose pretty much everything but Taurus.

  28. I own two, a small frame 38 special, and recently, I purchased a TCP 380 auto. I bought it after watching several reviews, all of which favored the little gun. My shooting buddy has an LCP, and we each shot each others pistols, and it is true what they say in the video’s, the TCP has a much better trigger. The TCP runs about about a century note, less expensive too.

    • A couple reasons immediately come to mind:

      1. Euro-style heel magazine release on that Beretta
      2. Frame-mounted (as opposed to slide-mounted) safety on the Taurus

        • Espeically since the Beretta safety is really a decocker + safety, not a cock and lock safety. It’s not just that they put it in the “wrong” place and it turns the “wrong” way (I put those in quotes, because really “wrong” here depends on what you’re used to), it does something different. And if you don’t like a different first trigger pull, you won’t like the difference no matter where they put the thing.

  30. Being of the “buy once, cry once” persuasion, I’d rather have a few guns that are excellent quality and that I enjoy, than a bunch of guns that are “meh” on both counts. Taurus falls squarely into the latter category for me. Plus, you have to factor in the value of your time. Might you get lucky and have one with no problems? Absolutely, but if you’re not so lucky you very well might end up selling it back to the dealer at a significant loss or spending hours and hours on the phone trying to get it repaired. At that point the price difference between a Taurus and a Glock, FN, Sig, Ruger, S&W, or even H&K might seem negligible. Think of the price difference like insurance; it doesn’t guarantee that nothing will go wrong, but if it does that money will be well spent in terms of reduced hassle and frustration.

  31. I got a PT24/7pro in .40cal on the cheap. Hundreds of rounds fired and no issues. None. The trigger feels all squishy and it’s not a really sexy thing but it reliably goes bang.

    I got lucky.

  32. I have a 1988 taurus 66 back when it was a 6 shot. It has a broken firing pin spring (my fault) it’s piting a little but it has the best single action trigger I have ever shot. I love it and I know many people who are happy with their G2

  33. Bought 2 Taurus 85’s when my wife and I first started concealed carry. Other than having to relieve the grips for speed loaders, no mods were necessary, were carried them until we could afford better, and semi-autos. My Taurus Slim 709 always shot low. Sold it.

  34. I’ve got a few. Two revolvers (a stainless 85 and a blued 83, both over 20 years old), a TCP, and a Millennium G2. I just picked up the G2 last week more or less on a whim when Cabela’s had them on sale for $200. My revolvers and the TCP have been solid performers, and I couldn’t find any honest negative reviews of the Millennium G2, so I figured I couldn’t go too far wrong for two bills. Haven’t shot it yet, but the build quality seems pretty good and it feels great in the hand.

    The 85 was my first revolver, and it hooked me on wheelguns. It’s got one of the smoothest DA trigger pulls I’ve ever felt.

    There’s a lot in Taurus’ product line that doesn’t interest me much, so these four that I have probably will be the only Taurii that make it into the collection for now, but I don’t have any complaints so far.

    • I own a G2, have for about nine months, picked up new at a local show for a really good price. I wanted something comfortable in 9mm for EDC, but was a little tight on cash. Read a lot of reviews, nearly all positive. I’ve probably put 1000 rounds through it at the range, and it’s held up well. I’ve had the occasional FTF, which I blamed mostly on the target ammo I used; usually a second pull made the gun go bang without a problem.

      I’ve never had to deal with their customer service, so I can’t comment on that.

      Would I buy another one? Maybe. Now that I’m more experienced with other weapons, I might by something else next time. But for a good quality, low-priced nine, I think they are just fine. If I had to pull it out and use it, it would hit what I needed to hit.

  35. I bought a mod.85 38 snub around when they first came out still have it.
    Never one problem, plus P and all.
    I will say back then cost was a factor for me.

  36. I have a .357 snubby (605) and it is very reliable for me. I did replace the ‘boot grip’ with a longer Houge. I don’t like the bark of the .357 though, so I use .38s mostly. Yes I have a S&W J-frame .38 and S&W 629 .44 Mag, a Ruger GP100 and Blackhawk, both .357. I also have a Charter Arms Pitbull revolver in .40 S&W, love it! My Taurus is fine by me, I have owned it for about a dozen years, I do like most of the others I own better. I was not happy with the ‘Boot grip’ and the Houge, while a lot better, still is not satisfying. I am Waiting on ATI to get off their duff and release their new Small frame Taurus grip.

    My so has at least four models of Taurus pistols, a G2 and 709 for sure, and a couple others. He is a twenty year LEO, He likes Taurus.

  38. I’ve had 4 Tauri-one was a used 85. All ran perfectly. And my next pistol will probably be a millenium g2 in 9 or 40. The only problem I have is scarce magazines. I also got 3 free NRA memberships. I can’t address customer service as I never needed it.

  39. I can’t speak for older Taurus guns, but it looks to me like the latest generation stuff is a pretty good deal. I bought a PT111 G2 Millennium and couldn’t be happier. I could not find a bad review of the thing anywhere. It eats any 9mm I have tried and has never once failed. Also feels like a much more expensive gun in the hand. I trust mine as an EDC (and have better specs than comparable-sized options). I just figured that companies can get worse (lookin’ at you Remington) but can also get better. I think Taurus is on the right track.

  40. after owning 2 revolvers and 3 plastic auto’s the answer is Never again.

    Poor quality and workmanship….No customer support and They are forever in the same pile as Rossi and Hi Point.

    Not at any price point.

  41. I’ve only shot but have never owned any Taurus revolvers, although I have enjoyed my experience with them. Can’t find a single complaint with the PT111 G2, and believe me, I have tried. Kudos to the company for identifying its flaws and promising to get better. I hope Tauruses’s’s actions speak as loud as its words.

  42. I have a PT-99 that i bought in the late 80’s. Mfg. in Brazil, likely on the old Beretta machinery. Only now having minor problems, but only due to over 20 yrs. of shooting. The mag release needed some adjustment. It has served me well, and maintains it’s accuracy. Would I buy a newer one? Based on what I’ve read and heard, no way.

  43. I have a 431 that after two dozen rounds the trigger would fail to return. It was my first and last Taurus. The culprit was poor machining of the trigger. I fixed it with a new part from Numrich, and it’s ok to this day BUT……..

    Anyone who believes in Taurus revolvers should sit down and take the side plate off, and the side plate of a S&W, and examine them side by side.

    One looks competently machined, the other looks like it was done with a flat file.

    Ask a competent revolver-smith for a quote on a trigger job for a Taurus revolver, and see what you get. If he’s polite, you will get silence.

    Are there some good ones out there? Sure. If they pick a week where some sort of quality control was imposed. Taurus seems to go through periods like that, then it’s right back down the tubes again.

    I want to like Taurus, but they just won’t let me.

  44. I saw the PT111 G2 on sale locally for $219. Looked at reviews and all were positive. I am quite happy with it. Other than a hi-point I don’t know what compares to it in that price range.

  45. I’ve had OK luck but I’ve had enough friends have trouble with Taurus firearms that I’m really skeptical of them in general, particularly when paired with their CS issues. It’s one thing with Rock Island–I know one or two out of a dozen plus that had some problems (and they weren’t that major). It’s another when probably 20-30% of the people I know with tauruses have had problems. If I had money to burn I might roll the dice, but I don’t.

  46. No. Precisely because they have a history of crap quality control and crap customer service. If I pull the trigger there had better be a bang. Taurus can’t promise me that every time, and for those that are incapable they aren’t willing to fix them. I might as well have a lump of steel in my hand for all the confidence it inspires. I can’t think of a reason to buy one.

  47. My first gun was a Taurus Tracker in .357 Magnum. Never had problems, and I liked the 7-shot cylinder. Sold it to a coworker for a Ruger GP-100 because I did not like the ported barrel of the Taurus…he still shoots it regularly and has no no issues. Also had a Judge Public Defender that I sold to another coworker because I didn’t like having to carry a wooden dowel around to knock the .410 shells out of the cylinder after firing. Only later did I realize that smooth exterior shells existed that would have prevented this issue, but the guy who owns it now keeps it as as SHTF bed gun so it shouldn’t be an issue there, either. Still have a Rossi Ranch Hand in .44 Magnum that runs fine…well, as fine as it can.

    So I never really had any quality issues with the ones I owned. That said, I know enough people who have had major issues with them in the past that I didn’t want to keep them. Well, except for the Ranch Hand, which I keep for novelty’s sake.

  48. Own a Rossi Circuit Judge. Had to replace the springs after 300 rounds because of ftfires. Kind of skeptical of Taurus/Rossi. Think I’ll avoid their products in the future.

  50. Why buy one? There are many more brands at the same price points of Taurus that are worlds better. Makes no sense.

    My uncle bought a PT709 and couldn’t wait to show it to me. It was a classic Jam-o-matic right out of the box, and he paid a whopping $50 less than he could have bought an XDSC for, and could have bought a Shield for the same price. Makes no sense.

    • If he could have bought a Shield for the same price as that PT-709, he either overpaid drastically for the 709 or you’ve got a line on a really smokin’ deal on the Shield. I’ve never seen the Shield within a hundred bucks of the 709’s price.

  51. Pt111 g2 for 200 shipped. Has replaced my SIG P938 as my EDC. Fit and finish are excellent, trigger is great and its proven reliable after four months and 500 rounds.
    Eventually I hope somebody makes tritium sights for it though.

  52. No problem with the Revolvers.
    Owned a Rossi 22 and now a small Taurus stainless 22…..used, no less.
    Friend had semiauto….problems even after a return to factory, so no to that item.

  53. Had a pt92, flawless but was ready for something else, I sold it for 350, bought a bodyguard 380 no regrets. I had a judge public defender liked it a lot, but too heavy for carry and .45colt was too expensive at the local in door ranges to shoot, traded for a m&p9c, no regrets. Plan on buying a larger judge in future.

  54. I’ve owned and sold several dozen Taurus revolvers and semi-auto pistols over the past three decades. So far, only one of them has ever given me any serious trouble, and that was a PT1911. After 50 rounds of standard factory hardball, the pistol completely seized up with the slide partway back. It wouldn’t move forward or aft. Using a rubber mallet to position the slide correctly, and several small screwdrivers to pry the slide stop loose, I eventually got the pistol apart and the empty shell casing out. I called Taurus without any trouble and was sent a UPS return label (they would not provide USPS labels even for a FFL). While not an issue for most folks, I had to drive 30 miles to a UPS Center that was open to the public for one hour twice a week. Six weeks later I got the pistol back with a new slide stop, slide, and barrel. It still had the same frame that I had scratched while trying to get the slide stop out. Overall, it was not bad service, nor great service, but it was within what they warranted.

    As for their DA revolvers, my only complaint is that you can’t tune them like a S&W. Very few parts are available (grips and springs) and even fewer gunsmiths will work on them. Those that do will invalidate your warranty. Taurus is really missing the boat on this potential market (as is Ruger). Since Colt has been long out of the game, that leaves S&W as the only major DA revolver maker with a strong aftermarket custom tuning industry.

  55. The first handgun I ever bought was a Taurus PT58S, a full size double stack .380. I’ve had it 25 years and its never misfed or misfired that was the guns fault. And its a damn good looking gun.

  56. I own a TCP .380 myself, have never had a single issue with it. It’s the only Taurus I’ve ever bought, and I haven’t had to contact their customer service for any reason yet. Can I assume I just got lucky here? I donno, but I really like the TCP.ccc

    • I bought a TCP not long ago. The Ruger LCP “may” be a better quality gun, but the trigger pull is far superior on the TCP.

  57. I bought a Taurus PT145. Neat little gun with great capacity for it’s size, but it had a bug. Called Taurus and they had it shipped back and forth within three weeks on their dime during the gun bubble- worked fine afterwards. I would have preferred the gun worked perfect to begin with but I can’t fault the service I received.

  58. I bought one the last production PT 24/7 Pro LS DS 9mm. pistol (Dec. 2010). I bought it April 2, 2011. Over 3000 rounds Factory and reloaded ammo and the only thing that has gone wrong is 2 chipped extractors. I replaced the first one and now the second one is chipped. Does not affect operation so not going to bother replacing it again. It is chipped at the very top where the extractor slips into the cartridge base groove.

  60. My Rossi .357 revolver fails to fire about one in six attempts. Second strike on the misfired cartridge always fires, but still.

    My Taurus TCP .380 is ok, but you must keep it exceptionally well lubed, or else it may stovepipe after the the first round. I carry it in a back pocket holster, as a BUG, but I don’t count on it for more than one round. My Glock 26 is my primary.

  61. I’ve got a 90’s 357 65 that I am quite fond of. Big old frame and wood grips make 357 feel like 9mm. Plus it just looks awesome, like an old S&W.

  64. I can’t see buying a Taurus period, not because they’re not “good enough” because I don’t want a Taurus. If I want a thing, and I settle for a lesser thing that’s “as good as” the first thing, i usually end up with both anyway, and sell the first thing as a loss.

  65. I really don’t see the savings in buying a Taurus. A Taurus might be 10% less expensive than a proven model. It is a no brainer to me, get the real gun. Thanks but no thanks to Taurus. Maybe after 10 years of a steady stream of happy customers. Right now for everyone that loves Taurus products there is another person who wen through hell dealing with Taurus.

    • I’m not sure where you’re shopping, but around here, the price difference between Taurus and comparable models from bigger name companies is usually a lot more than 10%. For example, the TCP is usually $80-$100 cheaper than the $300 LCP.

  66. I own two Taurus pistols. I got a pt-22 as a gift. Only had one ftf and that was my fault not loading the round properly (tend to nose dive if you don’t do it right). Idk if I got a good one but no grit in the trigger and has a crisp break. The second one I bought was a pt845. Haven’t had a problem yet or a bad thing to say about it. It eats anything I put through it from cheap WalMart brass to federal aluminum to tula steel case. I personally delt with there customer service twice once when I needed my rough rider fixed( bad finish and tooling marks on the cylinder got it at a good price because of that and sent it back with free shipping) and the other when while working for an ffl they sent the wrong fore arm for a single shot spent ten minutes on the phone shipped free and was there in two days. No complaints about their costumer service on this end. Note this has been within the last year and a half can’t comment on the past

  67. I own 3 Taurus (PT145 Millennium PRO 45 APC, 605 .357 mag and a M-94 .22 LR) the 605 works fine but the M-94 has the worst 500 pound double action pull there is. (will give me a new project to work on) and the PT145 rocks! Very loud with the short barrel but will be happy if I can fine a decent holster for it, especially one that will allow a Tru Glo laser mounted on the rail.

  68. Have owned two Taurus pistols. One revolver one pt-1911. Revolver was reliable, but nothing to sing about. Paid like 285.00 back in 1999. Pt-1911 in 38/super was a steal at under 500 bucks and I was beyond excited! Then shot it…..! The safety lock on the hammer was dragging so badly on the frame the pull felt like 10 lbs. I have worked on many many 1911’s so I figured no problemo!! Here is the problem: THEY ARE NOT EVEN CLOSE TO BEING MIL-SPEC!! So after changing EVERYTHING but frame slide and plunger tube, I now have a semi reliable 1000.00 Taurus with custom parts and hand fitting!! I used top of the line wilson baer brown nighthawk and a few others. Not a single part would drop in with out major stoning and fitting!! Safety sear and disconnect holes were so far off that any other parts jam up the gun!!Never could get Taurus to ever respond to their warranty number? Do yourself a favor if your buying a 1911- buy a reputable 1911!!!! Whether you plan on shooting it out of the box, or customizing it yourself, unless you have a mill CNC or are a custom shop it really is a crap shoot!!

  69. I had a Pt1911FS that nearly ruined me for ol’ slabsides. The first time I opened the box I had to take it to a gunsmith because all four screw bushings came out when I tried to replace the grips. The first time I fired it (50 rounds of white box or so) the safety worked its way out and I never could find it. Both times I took it out to fire it wouldn’t go through a full magazine without nosediving at least two rounds, jamming the bullets back into the casings pretty far. When I field stripped it later to clean and replace the safety with a Wilson Combat, the lower tab on the sear spring snapped off in my hand (not my first time working in that area). I ended up taking it to my gunsmith to help me fit the safety and he told me that the sear spring looked weak and brittle to him. I wanted to email Taurus because I loathe dealing with call center agents, but apparently they don’t have an email address! I spoke to a rep who told me that no, they can’t just send a new spring, I would have to ship them the pistol, and it would be around 10 weeks turnaround time. I told them that they needed to get me a new pistol that would actually function correctly with various brands of ammo, and they said they couldn’t guarantee function! I threw it away on Gunbroker and I’m glad I did!

  70. I like Taurus’ ideas, they are often a bit out there. I appreciate some creativity, that being said I’ve owned many a Taurus, and could never trust for self defense. This isn’t a hate post but I’ve owned the following Taurus revolvers
    Judge – broken cylinder lock
    Poly Protector – Trigger would randomly lock back and stay back
    Taurus 45 colt snubnose, can’t remember model number – hammer wouldn’t lock into single action all the time
    Taurus 38 (85 i think) cylinder would lock up randomly
    Taurus model 66 would only fire in single action

    Taurus PT11 (Automatic) never had a single issue

  71. Yep, a Taurus PT92 was my first “official” pistol, and it never let me down. I own a few now and they’ve all been solid. If they’d ever produce a compact 1911 *hint hint. I’d buy on 1st sight.

  72. I have a PT709 that I absolutely love and shoot well…..but the shortage of additional magazines is just BAD. I am now thinking of trading it with the 3 magazines I was able to get for a Ruger LC9s so I can use it in IDPA BUG class.

  73. I have owned two Taurus guns, both revolvers and both duds. A snub .22 that had 2 cylinders badly out of time, would spit lead back in my face. How can just 2 be off as far as they were? Also had a goucho in .45 colt that the ejector rod fell off of after a few shots. Had a difficult time getting the screw to put it back on from them. I replaced it my self but still waited several weeks and many calls to get one from them. I have taught ccw classes and have seen far too many problems with their autos. I won’t buy from them again. I’ll take any used top tier gun over one of their new ones.

  74. Sent a Taurus in for service over a year ago – not back yet !
    Think I’ll buy another one ?

  75. Being a stocking dealer I have carried a lot of Taurus guns. we are located in the poorest state of the country and I am located in one of the poorest parts of the state. My customers can not afford brand new Smith’s. ect.
    Taurus has provided a good value until recently. I used to be able to send a gun in for repair and get it back in 2 weeks. Now they send the shipping label but do not return the gun. I have one customer who has been waiting a year and a half. They now are offering complete replacement, if they have one on hand. This makes for angry customers and as a businessman, I can not afford angry customers. I will no longer stock Taurus products.

  76. Sent my Taurus to the factory for service after the firing pin broke while I was shooting it. This was 4/12/15.
    They called me a month ago and said they were replacing the gun with a newer model.
    Today is 7/20/15 and they have NOT shipped the gun out. When I called they told me that they did NOT KNOW when it would ship.
    Will NOT own another Taurus and when it arrives (new gun) I will trade it in at the gun shop.

    • Had a PT104 that had a firing pin that broke while shooting it. Returned the gun for service and they decided to replace it with the newer model.
      The newer model is more cheaply made than the original. It can’t hit anything. The trigger pull stinks. I now have a weapon I can not use. It is JUNK.

  78. taurus handguns are junk there revolvers are the worst and there semi autos are not much better. now they are recalling a million guns that fire when dropped or putting on the safety no major police depts will issue them and whats worse there not made in the USA if you want a good gun buy a smith wesson or ruger. they work and they dont jam I know there 100 bucks more expensive and i know its 4 more pizzas in price but least u got a good american made gun u can be proud of that works. and i know taurus has a life time service policy so if u buy one get u a smith or ruger so youll have a gun to carry while the taurus is going back and forth to the mail i owned 2 taurus handguns a revolver the cylinder was out of time that would lock up. a taurus mil pro that would drop the magazine if u blew on the release and that is the one being recalled i learned my lesson dont trust ur life to save a few bucks on a junk gun and if u really want to sell out america buy a glock or hk.FN, walther or sig there good guns but not american

  79. I would never purchase a Taurus. If someone gave me one, I would shoot it to make sure that it functioned and immediately sell it for $50 bucks or whatever I could get for it. It would be like selling a Yugo.

  80. I have owned a PT709 Slim for quit a few years & over 1000 rds fired ..
    It is a hidden Gem ..(I also own Colt,Sig,FN, CZ)
    I’ve read many articles about it since, that backed that claim. ..THEN in Dec 2016(Black Friday Special) I decided to buy another at a very good price. When i took possession, I took one look and asked myself, what the H happened at Taurus? It looks similar, but the machining, fit, finish is pure crap.. And the trigger catches something halfway back… I’ve had better Cobra’s, Ravens & Jennings with more quality. I contacted Taurus & sent it to the factory immediately, in box un-fired because of the unsafe trigger. Can’t do anything about the quality. Been waiting over a month now. Bottom line Don’t buy a Taurus.. POOR Customer Service

  81. I have a Rossi 22lr Plinker, 8 shot revolver. Purchased it four years ago. Best trigger of any 22lr revolver I have
    ever shot. Accurate enough, beautiful blue finish.
    Everything was fine, until it hit the 5000 round mark, when I started getting many light strikes. I just sent it in to
    Rossi (Taurus) for repair.
    We will see how things go.

  82. I have an unfired Taurus PT111. Nice looking for the money.. I have worked in customer service many years. I had to contact Taurus about the magazine release button is falling out. I was advised that they were aware of the problem and that a replacement magazine release with a bigger button was required but they were on back order. No availability date…. I had contact with 3 different reps….horrible customer service, its like they dont care to look for information. In my line of work I would crimge if I have a customer with something on back order that did not have an availability date..I also would go out to try and get the information. Never again will I purchase a Taurus made firearm. Quality and Customer Service are important.

  85. I have owned 3 M44S revolvers. One I sold to a friend, my son has the other, and I have the oldest model. None of them have been an issue with function or quality. I have friends who have had issues with the pistols, the exception to that being the 1911s. I hear that version of the old warhorse simply keeps kicking out brass. My three revolvers have been flawless in the way they work, are huge, massive pieces of steel that have had the hottest factory loads available for that gun. The only revikver I have that I have had to return was a .357 Ruger SP101 – out of the box it wouldn’t lockup – not sure how it squeaked by Ruger quality control.

    I do own one other Taurus that shoots a more potent cartridge, and that is the Raging Bull in .454. We live in Alaska and a heavy duty handgun is useful, but the Raging Bull with the hand-bruising .454 is not my gun of choice – maybe the gun of necessity – but not the one I enjoy shooting. Since all of my guns have been trouble free I can’t comment on the quality of repairs or service, but I am very happy with the choices of revolvers I have. I will again buy Taurus if I need another revolver

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