Are Taurus Snub Revolvers Reliable?
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- Опубликовано: 11 авг 2022
- I've owned, shot and carried a lot of Taurus snubs and sometimes these budget friendly firearms can be quirky. I believe taking out and putting back in the roll pin in the frame so to change the rubber grips to a more traditional Taurus handgun grip had something to do with the problem I had with the cylinder stop.
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You can contact Greg at Lionquestfitness@gmail.com
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I have over 40 years experience with Taurus firearms, gained not only as shooter, but having owned a small gun shop, and a firearms training company that served 28,000 students before I sold it. I also spent a year in coastal Brazil training the Policia Militar in Santa Catarina. I've probably owned a dozen Taurus handguns personally as well. From this experience, I can say that Taurus quality has been for me a mixed bag, and has a lot to do with which model you buy, where it was made, and when. I'll explain for those who may be interested.
My first experience with Taurus handguns was in the mid-70's. We used to see a lot of private security guards carrying Taurus revolvers back then because they were super cheap. These were the very early models that had fine lines visible in the cylinder flutes, and most of these I saw and handled were okay for what you paid for them, but would not stand up to hard use. We used to say, "That gun will do anything you ask as long as you don't ask too often."
Next, let me say that I had very good experiences with Taurus sidearms actually made in Brazil when I was there in the early 90's. At the time Taurus was making over 90 percent of the small arms being used by the various Brazilian police agencies and the military. This was a real point of national pride, and at the time, if you wanted to trade a Smith and Wesson on a Taurus in Brazil, you would actually have to kick cash into the deal. Taurus had retail stores there that looked like fine jewelry shops. Taurus made some interesting firearms we've never seen here, such as a 9mm submachine gun modeled after the old M3 "Grease Gun", and a DA/SA automatic in .32 ACP that looked like a Beretta double stack .380 but held 17 shots. In the agency I trained my rank and file patrol officers carried the 4-inch Model 82, commissioned officers (who went to six years of training) and SWAT guys got the PT-92, and officers assigned as ambulance attendants carried the Model 85 on their belt, backed up with a sub gun in the truck. That little Grease Gun worked great and was a lot of fun to shoot.
I was privileged to visit their two plants at the time, one in Sao Paulo which made the Taurus PT-92. This was a former Beretta plant purchased lock, stock, and barrel from Beretta and most of the Beretta staff was hired over as well. As an interesting aside, a lot of the staff had blonde hair, blue eyes, and spoke German as their first language. The other plant made revolvers and was in Belo Horizonte. Both plants were modern, and kept so clean that you could have eaten off the floors. Quality control was strict, and in the year I spent there training cops hard, I never saw a Brazilian made Taurus break.
In the US later, things were a bit different. Although Taurus was using excellent materials (except for a run of revolver hands that were made too soft), quality control was indifferent. Their attitude here seemed to be, "We have a lifetime warranty, so if it's broken, the customer can just send it back." This resulted in quite a few guns not working, right out of the packaging brand new, while others were perfect. Many people bought Taurus due to good pricing, but I spent far too much time sending them back for service such that I stopped carrying them in my store. We had a joke behind the counter that went, "Taurus guns come in two flavors, Cherry and Lemon. The problem is that they don't mark the boxes." This was in the late 90's and early 2000's. The only models that seemed immune to failure were the PT-92, and the all-steel Model 82, 66, and 85 revolvers. Another problem is that during that time, and up through the late 2000's, Taurus was a bunch of trifling bastards about accepting a warranty return, wanting you to pay shipping, and used to take forever to return a firearm. Often the "repaired" gun would be just as broken as when you sent it in. I personally had an 85 Ultralight that went back four times before Taurus replaced it. My issues were generally with light or off-center primer strikes, lead shaving on revolvers, and free-spinning cylinders. But I've never seen one "blow up" as some have claimed. Timing issues on new revolvers are generally due to using unskilled or semi-skilled labor in final fitting and inspection. I'd say that whatever reputation Taurus got for poor quality, they earned fair and square. I hope those days are over for them.
Taurus had an awful run of their early polymer framed automatics, many of which were supplied to Brazilian police, that had the nasty habit of firing when carried in a holster and a number of officers were wounded, usually non-critically in the thigh. Many of them who were personal friends paid out of pocket for a PT-92 rather than carry one of the early pieces of Taurus polymer crap, and I didn't blame them. Taurus spent a long time trying to deny this problem existed, until it happened in the US and a very committed attorney here sued. In 2015, Taurus settled for 39 million dollars, and recalled almost 1 million pistols made between 1997 and 2013. In fairness, such problems have even happened to top-dollar makers such as SIG Sauer, and they too were slow to admit the issues even existed.
I think to a certain extent Taurus has been a victim of their own success. When lots of people want your products, there is a tendency to radically ramp up your production to catch the market while it exists. A mechanism such as a DA revolver takes time to produce technicians who can fit it correctly, and a commitment to full final inspection that just can't be rushed. A new auto pistol design requires extensive testing and you simply cannot rush into production. I've recently been playing with some Taurus G-series auto pistols, and none of them have given me any trouble. I'd bet my life on a PT-92 or PT-99, and have shot a Taurus 1911 quite a lot and it's been great. I'm tempted to buy an 856 Defender 3-inch all steel revolver and work it hard, just to see if Taurus has gotten their act together in their new digs over in Georgia.
I'd just say that if you buy a Taurus (or any gun for that matter) that you plan to use for defense, get it out to the range for organized testing. If you see a problem, contact Taurus and get it fixed at once. That is just the nature of gun buying in 2023. Sorry about the long comment, but it is hard to be fair without details. Cheers!
Lot of good info. I'll add one other thing. Post Covid, as with many firearms manufacturers, I'd say QC is slipping. I recently returned to an FFL a Taurus 65 revolver I had not shot yet because it wouldn't lock up on one cylinder. Up to recently, I'd never had any problems with their all steel revolvers, and I've owned many.
Thank you for an exhaustive but necessary review of the Taurus firearms. I learned a lot. --Old Guy
I saved your entire post. Thanks for confirming most of my suspicions. I have come to expect a Taurus to arrive pre-broken from the factory and the cost of saving money on a revolver is having to put some work into it. I also don't use Taurii for anything vital. Smith & Wesson haven't exactly been well-behaved of late, either and Ruger, well Ruger never met a bad trigger it didn't like!
Greg hit the nail on the head when he called in anti-Taurus “mania.” I’ve personally had experience with more than one S&W Performance Center that has had issues with quality control, which required return to the mothership for repairs. Most important to me when acquiring a new firearm is the manufacturer’s customer service reputation; not the rumors propagated on the internet by gullible, and often dim-witted folks.
It is a follow the herd mentality.
they aren't internet bullshits. I believed they were rumors until I ask people at gun stores and people who are gunsmiths. so many Taurus with timing issue. I'd rather buy a Taurus revolver manufactured in the 80s or 90s. heck, I'd rather buy Charter Arms or Rock Island Armory
what about Taurus auto pistols? I'd have no problem. they have gotten so much better in quality. that surprised me
I used to sell photo equipment to retailers. BEWARE OF REVIEWS. One of the other sales guys would regularly post about problems with competing products and how great his key dealer was.
Had a Taurus 357 magnum as my bedside gun for almost 30 years. Never had a problem.
I carried an 856 stainless for a number of years off duty. Worked just fine.
"Carrying" is not "working". How many rounds did you put through it without failure?
Appreciate you sharing and keeping us informed. Now that I finally have a J frame, the 637-2 with some extended grips and have taken it to the range, I can appreciate all your shooting videos even more along with your other snubbies. I still think I am likely to get a Taurus revolver of some kind as any manufacturer can have issues. However, if it is not 100%, then your defensive expectations are already compromised and puts it on hold as EDC from my perspective as well until proven otherwise. Thanks, Greg!
This video reminds us how important it is to bring your firearm to the range and practice with it. I’m sure you have a similar experience - several people I know have a gun have the proper permit to carry but have never tested the gun or ammo. !!!
This is also an example of why, if you can, you should own a second (backup) firearm.
Good points. I cringe at people who never shoot the firearm they carry or have for home defense.
I have had my Rossi 462 and my Taurus 82 fully disassembled myself, My father bought the Austin Highway Gun Shop,when I was younger I can remember a lot of his mechanical prowess.The spring on the Taurus cylinder stop plunger could be a bit stronger.
Those are good skills to have.
I appreciate your unbiased honesty . My wife has been lucky with her 856 other than the barrel being permanently stained by the dye from her leather holster
Thanks Richard - I'm glad it is working for her.
4:45 lol! I trust GunSam’s opinions on revolvers and was referred to your channel. I appreciate having experienced opinions, which can be rare on the internet.
Thank Greg, I did try this after I watched the video with no change with mine. The hand is simply not coming in contact with the ratchet, which I explained to them. They argued with me that the gun was fine and I was short stroking the trigger, I had to push them to take a second look before they sent it back the first time it was with them, and the first time they replaced the barrel for some reason with no fix of the issue. Then I turn around and send it in again, their response was to replace the sideplate screws, not addressing the problem. I have been emailing them about a 3rd trip back to the factory since July 19th and they refuse to respond. My 605 runs just fine, but after all of this I couldn't recommend Taurus even if they were the highest quality in the world, because if you have a problem they do not stand by their warranty.
Good point.
My 856UL will be a range toy until I hear they've made your issue right. I also have a 692, ditto for it.
@@traumajock If they run and you've vetted them with practice I wouldn't worry too much. The main thing I've found with Taurus snubs is clean and lubricate them when you first get them, keep an eye on the cylinder screw for tightness, and don't shoot ammo with a lot of smoke and fouling. All three things can bind a cylinder. I'm thinking what happened with this one was all the banging I did on getting the roll pin out to change grips.
I'll go look up a video on where and how to lubricate a revolver. Ive actually never done it.
@@traumajock Main places are under the cylinder latch, and on the ejector rod. Just a drop or two. I had a matte black 605 come out of the box bone dry as if it had come out of a vacuum heat treatment and the cylinder jammed from dry firing it. After oiling it the gun worked fine although I did rub oil into the frame as a whole periodically so the gun didn't feel so dry to the touch.
Great information with this vid. Always solid content, information and opinion. A friend at work ask me about Taurus revolvers because he is looking at one for himself. Recommend that he watch your channel because you have much more experience with them than I do. Keep putting vids out. Thanks.
In general I've had good luck with the Taurus snubs I've owned, but try to be open and honest about possible short comings.
love my 856, ccw here in CA (i know)
Thanks for the information , I had a problem one time with my 856 when I only had 3 rounds in it .
I’ll take another look at it
Keep up the good work
Thanks Steve.
Appreciate the info Greg. Have a good day brother 👍👍
Thank you Lance!
I've had several Model 66 and 85 Taurus revolvers over the years and only had one break! I'd still buy one!
I'll take notice of this said roll pin if I change my grips on my new 605, thank you for your insight Greg. Sam had issues even after a service request through Taurus but I think he's worked it out. My 605's trigger was gritty and seemingly excessive right out of the box, so I load up snap caps and dry fired at least 1000 DA pulls plus hundreds SA before I even shot it. It’s gotten smoother and I obviously became adjusted to the pull. ( I almost bought a spring kit immediately, and might yet just get the Wolf trigger spring but leave the factory main)
Another one of those little quirks!
Good video Greg! I still want to pick up another snub revolver and it will probably be a Taurus. The issues that some are having (like Gun Sam) are discouraging but won't keep me from buying one. Sometimes just a little tinkering, cleaning, and general use will loosen things up and make a firearm work better than when it was just bought. I hope your 856 continues to function well and that will be the last of your problems with it.
"Sometimes just a little tinkering, cleaning, and general use will loosen things up and make a firearm work better than when it was just bought."
Hi Marc! That is what I meant about Taurus revolvers being quirky. The second part of this video is to be about my experiences with some of the tinkering and cleaning I've had to do with my Taurus snubs.
I carry my 856 all the time and shoot it a lot. Never had this issue but I did put in a spring kit and notices how rough the insides were. It's not a hand tuned Colt after all. Smoothed the rough spots and polished the rest and it runs great. In Sam's case after being back for the same problem so many times Taurus would put his serial # on a new gun and junk the old one.
I've always had pretty good luck with Taurus firearms in general. They are budget, but they don't strike me as being "cheap". The only brand I've ever bought that really felt poorly made was a Rock Island Arms Revolver. They eventually swapped it out for me. The replacement works well, but you can tell it was made to be sold cheap.
Tron Magnum I received a new RIA M206 as a gift and I thought it seemed to have a good quality feel to it except the grips. It is very smooth and tight. I haven’t shot it much so time will tell.
Great video as always thanks. Great channel keep up the good work.
My 2 cents I've had an 856 for a year now with a few hundred rounds no problems. The original grips bit my hand a couple of places, but I like them, so I just took some sandpaper to those areas. My only knowledge of issues is from here on youtube and I have noted all include aftermarket grips?
The 856 has been my EDC since the first range day with hollow +P.
That's an interesting observation.
Thanks for the info Greg. Had to borrow a punch to change the grips on my 605. Eventually put the factory grips back on and couldn't get the roll pin all the way back in. Haven't fired it a ton but put some hot magnums through with no problems. Guess they had a "reason" for not using a screw in the middle.
Hi Cleon it is cheaper to do rubber grips with that sheet metal roll pin than wood and a screw and probably more secure. I had a black polymer set shaped liked the original square Taurus grips. They looked good, but I have to admit it. Those rubber grips they use now are a much better fit for accurate shooting.
Ty 4 the video !
Greg sometimes just a little grain of unburned powder can wedge itself into a place on a revolver and cause a problem. Under the ejector star usually. Causing the star to not fully seat and the cylinder not closing. It's a good idea to have an old toothbrush around for these little surprises. You have a good day sir.
Thank you Michael.
I am not here to bash Taurus, nor to praise Taurus. Taurus revolvers are budget made guns that make up an estimated 61% of the revolver market in America. They practice “lean” manufacturing which means economy of motion in assembly and saving costs. They don’t have the best finish or fit and in my experience they can be quirky when you first buy one.
There is also a percentage of people who have had quality control issues. However, I’ve found the Taurus snub revolvers to be surprisingly accurate and well made for what they are - a less expensive, utilitarian handgun. In particular, the 856 is the closest thing you can get these days to a round butt, snub-nose Model 10.
As of this writing, my 856CH is working fine now. I had an older 856, and the S&W 640 at the range today with the CH and all three worked and shot exceptionally well. At this point I tend to believe the problem with the Cylinder Stop was caused by me striking the roll pin with a hammer and punch to remove the grips.
Here is a link to Saturday’s 30 yard shots with the 856CH.
ruclips.net/video/W060vBned_Q/видео.html&lc=UgwtO1m1KHP9Nun7-a14AaABAg
I swore off Taurus's a long time ago...the .22 revolver I tried spit unbelievable amounts of lead out the sides of the cylinder gap...then a .38 Spl Model 85 broke so badly the factory said it was beyond repair & just replaced it..& the gun shop I worked at sent back more new in the box Taurus's back to the factory for defects than any other brand...back then Taurus offered a lifetime warranty & the joke around the shop was that's because their guns NEEDED one...their semi autos seemed to be fairly well made, but the quality control on their revolvers is terrible...every now & then they mess up & make a decent firing one, but most are crap.
@@jefflockaby702 Maybe they need to go back to that lifetime warrantee.
A question, have you hade the sideplate off for lubing it or to make aure there are no manufacturers chips or defects that may have stopped the cylinder stop?
@@niadhf I'm going to try tonight. Sometimes the metal in the Taurus screws is soft and malleable and are easy to bugger up. Also I had a matte black 605 that had red loctite under the screws from the factory, and this can cause you mess a screw up.
@@LionquestFitness I admit, I did a "fluff & buff" on both my 856 and the replacement 605 as soon as I got them.
But, I do the same to my Smiths & Rugers.
I am considering (meaning I will when I have the time) shimming the hammer and trigger on the 856,also. For me, I can consistently keep tighter groups with my Taurus, than with my Smiths (of the same barrel length.) I think that is because the sight trough is larger on the Taurus revolvers.
Red locktite on the sideplate screws, yikes!
Most people always fail to realize that anything manufactured can potentially break there's a lot of moving parts even in a revolver lots small parts that can easily break. Anything concerning timing on the cylinder I would definitely have checked out. Good video my friend
Thank you Scotsman!
Greg, l have the 942 22lr stubby and is the same size as my 856. Means a lot of practice at low cost. Be safe and have a blessed day 🙏......... thanks 😊 🙏
A very good reason for having one!
Thanks for sharing that.
Mine is and it seems to be well fitted and reliable any problems I've ever had with the Taurus I have had trouble with were very minimal
I'm not sure how I missed this video, Greg. I enjoy your videos and try to watch them all.
I've never had any issues with my Taurus revolvers, but I'm a bit suspicious of the newer production 856s. It's a shame... I love the features on the 856. Thanks for the video, even if I'm a bit late!
In the move from the 85 to the 856 and by trying to keep the weight the same, I believe there are potential design flaws that can effect cylinder turn. For one, the notches in the cylinder that allow the cylinder to lock are very shallow compared to the 85, the 605 and other revolvers.
@@LionquestFitness That's an interesting observation. I'm as far from a gunsmith as you can get, but I can say my 85s have been 100% reliable. I'm comfortable with 5 shots, so problem solved! Happy Thanksgiving, Greg!
I own two taurus guns, one revolver one pistol, never had a problem great guns.
Thanks for another great video. In my experience the only new guns that I've bought that had no problems were my Glocks or my Tisas M1911a1. Taurus is not the only manufacturer that's having quality control issues. I had an SP101 that cylinder locked up on after 10 rounds, a 10/22 that I can't believe left the factory. S&W I had a 6 inch model 19 that spit lead. I've had 2 Taurus revolvers that had problems. I took your advice on getting an all steel 856 and I'm glad I did it's a good revolver.
Thank you very much for that input. Too many people give the higher end companies a pass and a praise for poor QC and customer service when it is a general malady throughout the gun industry.
Given a choice, I'd choose the S&W 640. Good video, Greg.
Good point about all brands having issues. Over the past 12 years, 3 SP101 357s I owned had serious lock up issues. One had ejection problems. (All after shooting plain 38 specials). I had an EAA Windicator that I couldn’t get rid of fast enough. I check the screw on the cylinder release of my Smith 642 daily to make sure it isn’t loose. Have already replaced the screw and button once. (Maybe some lock tight?)
Use the blue. The red is more permanent. The blue you can heat with a blow dryer to take out if you need that screw out.
@@LionquestFitness Thank you!
I’ve been curious about the Taurus revolvers but haven’t bought one b/c during my LEO career we were only permitted to purchase Colt or S&W. Range guys told us anything else was junk, but I retired in ‘97 and things may have changed since then. Thx Gregg, this old man may have gotten past my fear of Taurus.
Yep, any off duty gun had to shoot the issued round and you couldn't carry it unless it was Colt or S&W.
My first off duty was a Colt Cobra purchased for about $85 in 1968. I still have but don’t carry it anymore.
A nice memento from times gone by.@@oldcop18
glad to say my 856 runs great so its in my carry rotation. liked it so much i bought the 3 inch 856. i kept the factory grips on until i see what happened with yours. i also have the 605 but its a safe queen right now.
So far so good. I've got a pair of wood grips that are shaped like the factory grips on it. I shoot it a lot and carry it a lot.
On my Defender where my cylinder fell out I think I figured it out. It was new, I was shooting very hot Tula ammo which kicked much harder than +p and even almost as much as 357 even though it was supposed to be just regular 38 special. I think it just rattled that screw on the side out and then the cylinder fell out. My pawn shop sent it back to Taurus as well and it was back in a week. I have since put some rounds through it and it seems to be working well. The snub nose 856 has always worked well. I guess you just have to test whatever firearm no matter which manufacturer it is. Watch out for that Ruskie ammo though. It's cheap and hot!
Thanks for that input. It makes sense.
I love my Taurus snubby and never leave home without it. I've shot thousands of rounds through it and it just gets smoother day by day.
You can't ask for better than that!
I have a Taurus 85 Ultralite I trust. Lots of +P 38spl thru it. I spin the cylinder and throw the cylinder back into action while spining and still never had an issue.
My 605 was doing that and I shipped it back to Taurus and when I got it back, which by the way only took about 2 weeks free of any charge, they had changed the spring and cleaned the lock, pretty sure it was just dirty and oil gunked from years of use, now I use carburetor cleaner on it.
For every bad report on Taurus customer service there are good reports. Not dissimilar to my experiences with S&W customer service which is 50/50. On the other hand good or bad, S&W service is very slow.
No Weapon is immune to issues or problems. Even King Arthur broke Excalibur. "Even the finest sword plunged into salt water will rust" - Sun Tzu. Work with whatever gun you can get and just be aware of maintenance and cleaning and it'll serve you well. As always it's a pleasure watching your videos Greg.
Thank you for those words of wisdom.
My 856 done the same thing I took it apart and it had a bunch of lube dried around it cleaned it works great now!
With mine the cylinder release spring got kinked up. Originally I thought it was from rough handling from banging the roll pin out, but now I believe it was how I was dry firing and shooting the gun with the finger pressure at the end of the trigger instead of solidly in the curve.
Ya that pin was hard to get out of mine also I got mine used and was not sending it to taurus my cylinder just kept spinning 🤣
I haven't experienced any problems with my Taurus, 605 yet, but there is no doubt it is not the gun that my S&W 640 is. What a great little gun. I bought it new about 25 years ago (for about $275), butter smooth trigger from years of use and never a problem. The best self defense gun ever made (in my opinion).
25 years is some pretty dog gone service!
I think Taurus revolvers are better now then ever. I hope that they have overcame their problems. I also have seen a lot of shotty manufacturing issues from Smith recently
A lot has changed in the last couple of years
Agreed. I've a positive update on the Taurus coming.
Hey Greg, We have chatted on another thread about the 856. I have since sold mine as I discovered something about it that I did not like. I found that if there was any resistance to rotation introduced the indexing pawl would disengage and fail to index the cylinder. This does not happen with any of my other revolvers, those being Smiths and Charter Arms. I believe that in a close contact situation it would be easy for the 856 to fail to fire, particularly if grabbed by an attacker. For this reason and the recent event south of Indianapolis that demonstrated the importance of ammo capacity and distance shooting I have gone back to a semi-auto for EDC. BTW the lockup on my particular 856 (new gun) was never that solid.. always a little play there. Probably withing tolerance but it was no Smith or Charter.
Hi Mike - thanks for sharing your experiences.
I hope this fixes the issue. I have an 856 ultra-lite with no problems at all so far with 7 different types of ammo (3 different+P's). It is increasing becoming my favorite carry gun.
I think a lot had to do with the way I was manipulating the trigger with the square butt grips I put on it, as well as the rough handling in changes grips. I haven't had any problems since then, and I carry and shoot that gun a good bit.
What +p ammo do you recommend for the 856?
I have dropped my Taurus 856 UL loaded from a table and waist high. It fired after I took it out shooting and it fired well. The times I dropped it were by accident and one time my holster came off. I have also added the houge grips to fit my large hands. It's been my edc since I bought the snubby.
Edit: The only revolver that I had issues with due to the small pin that stops the cylinder from spinning like you said, was the Heritage Rough Rider. It jammed up and it kept it from spinning leaving me with a jammed revolver and a loaded cylinder. Somehow it won't do it with the 22lr cylinder but when the 22wmr cylinder goes in it jams like no tomorrow.
Those Heritage Rough Riders are very rough fitted. My daughter has one that took a lot of oiling and working the action of the ejector rod to finally get it to eject the empty shells. It also won't turn the magnum cylinder.
Thanks for the video.. I also saw those "GUN SAM " Taurus 856. Videos where he had problems..
I myself own a 3-in barrel 856 defender the one with the tungsten cerakote and the beautiful Altamonte wood grips
No problems here! There was also many many other people on RUclips shooting the Taurus 856 both 3 in and 2 in.. that had absolutely NO problems with that revolver!
Gun Sam also had the problem with the sites not shooting point of aim... But all the other videos I've seen of the 856 test ( mix-up videos included ) their sites shot point of aim! So perhaps gun Sam got a lemon? .. please keep us up to date on any further problems you have with this gun as I know you will be shooting it extensively to see if this happens again.. thanks again for the video
In hindsight it was the way I was shooting the gun. I had put some square butt grips on the gun and was using a grip with my pinky under the edge of the grips which necessitated my index finger pressing low on the trigger instead of in the curve. I was shooting at the range like that, and I believe this is what caused the spring to crimp up. So chalk this down to operator error.
great vidio Greg. Food or thought, 😀
Over two years I've had the 605 Defender 357mag/38 and 5 months the 856 Defender 38 6rds. I'm waiting for the new 605 Defender 357mag/38 3"barrel in cerakote finish Altamont wood grips. Can't wait there's nothing wrong with the taurus revolers SWEET 👍🏿👍🏿🎯
You're right, usually they produce a good product.. It was my fault with the 856 concealed hammer version. Maybe rough handling in changing the grips. In retrospect though, the grips I changed to were versions of the old square grips. I was doing a lot of dry fire and practice pressing the trigger low because of holding the bottom of the grip with my pinky finger underneath the grip. I think this was probably the cause of that spring compressing.
Hi Greg, I had issues with high-end guns, such as smith & wesson and Anchutz, they were fixed. No big deal.
Smith has been 50/50 for me.
You've about got me ready to buy one of those Taurus revolvers.
I don't like the Smith & Wessons with the Hillary Hole.
Good shooting there at the end buddy!
Thanks Harold.
Howdy. Good info. I’ve had guns act “peculiar” after messing with safeties, etc. Sometimes you never find out why and the gun works great forever thereafter. Also, those goldface skelators are getting out of hand. They need to reopen the season on them…..
🤣 You never know what's going to come out of the woods!
I’ve owned many revolvers over the years, had minor issues with Taurus, Ruger and S&W. The worst was with the S&W. The Ruger had to be sent in twice, the Taurus was just a “break-in” issue. I’m not sour on any of them, these were all only “one time” problems with these revolvers out of the many of each brand that I own/owned.
Because of the Lean Manufacturing method Taurus uses to produce competitive priced firearms, there is probably more need for a break-in period. At least that has been my experience.
I have a S & W Model 10 from 1968 that has to go back to the gunsmith. It's hard to open the cylinder and is totally inoperable after a few rounds unless I can open the cylinder and reclose it (not something I want to worry about on the two-way range!). I collect older S & W revolvers, but two of the Model 10s have had issues. My five Taurus revolvers have all performed flawlessly. Any firearm can have issues.
Thanks for that input and the other side of the coin. With S&W revolvers you have a higher quality of steel and most of the time a higher quality of fit and finish, but not always, especially in the more modern guns. You also have to look out for clocked barrels. At least for me, and this will be heresy to some, the Taurus revolvers are designed for better accuracy.
Make sure the ejection rod is turned down tight (a drop of clear fingernail polish will hold it). Common issue with revolvers and will make opening and closing, often locking the cylinder up tight.
@@rampantcolt1684 I had a S&W model 66 doing that. I fixed it with blue loctite.
I just bought some pachmayr renegade grips off ebay for my 856. They're the rosewood smooth grips and they fit perfectly. I had to ream the pin hole in them just a little to get them to fit, but after I did that I was quite happy with the fit and look. Some people are trying to keep up with the Jones's, But I'm just trying to keep up with Lion quest Fitness. hahaha...
Greg, I have Smith's, rugers,glocks, and yes Taurus. Bought my wife a model 85, 25 years ago, got 856 and will buy a hammerless 856 soon. All steel revolvers. Never any problem
Thanks for that good report.
The 640 is a great choice. I pocket carry a S&W 649 and I am very accurate with it. In fact, I did very well on my last HR 218 qualifications with it. Bear in mind we have to fire 4 rounds from 25 yards.
That is cool! And the 649 is an excellent tool.
Taurus is a wéll made revolver. Was my very first gun purchase in 1994. Wish that I still had it. Model 66 .357 6 inch
They are. Any problems I had from the 856 was from my own making.
In my time I've had to return Smith and Wessons, Rugers, Mossbergs, Walthers (wasn't it's fault really), Glocks and a Colt Python back to the factory for repairs. Yep, even a Glock!!
It's really not so uncommon to have problems with a gun.
Temos que aplaudir sua honestidade . Parabéns 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
Obrigada. Em breve terei um vídeo de acompanhamento.
@@LionquestFitness obrigado 🤜🤛🇧🇷🇺🇲
Thanks for the video. I used to own a model 85 that ran great, and I trusted it for edc for a couple of years.
One thing I've realized is that I only owned the Taurus because that's all I was willing to pay for a revolver at that time in my life, not because they had a high reputation, or years of proof of reliable service for law enforcement.
I've since weeded out my budget firearms and stick with ones that have years of proven quality with actual service.
Yes, the more expensive firearms can and do have problems, but they are much fewer and farther between.
To each his own, but my carry guns need to be the most reliable and proven that I can afford, and I have to trust it 100%. You can pick up used smiths and rugers for around the same price as a new 856 or 605.
Thanks for the comment. I do have to disagree in part. Quality and customer service should be guidelines in purchasing a firearm. However, modern firearms makers don't always have good quality control or customer service and have found this to be true of S&W. I have heard this numerous times from Colt owners.
Secondly, I collect older S&W revolvers. Price wise you are still going to pay two to three hundred dollars less for a new Taurus equivalent. As well some of the Taurus revolvers are better designed for shooting and use. The craftsmanship is not the same, and the quality may be slightly less, but the functional design is better
@@LionquestFitness
Thanks for the reply and sharing your thoughts. I respect your knowledge and opinions very much.
In defense of my comment, I think it's universally agreed upon that Smith and Colt have much longer term and proven service track records, and enjoy a more favorable widespread reputation for quality than Taurus.
In the last few months, I've picked up a used model 642 for $299, and an early 90s model 640 38sp for $389. These prices are comparable to new prices for the Taurus models I mentioned.
I enjoyed my model 85 when I owned it, and have no problem with the Taurus brand. I just prefer and trust the other brands more. Thanks again, Sir.
@@B_R_ I own both firearms you mentioned and they are good carry options. The 640 is a particular favorite of mine
I’ve never owned a Taurus revolver but
I think shooting .357 out of small frame cheaper revolvers will eventually mess them up. Where as S&W, Colt, Ruger, etc are made a tad better and can withstand the beating better.
Writing this I can’t remember if your Taurus was a .38 or .357, either way glad it fixed it self. Also maybe the grip you had on there was messing it up somehow. Maybe taking it off relieved a stress point due to grip being screwed on to tight. Maybe it was a fluke thing. Hell, who knows hopefully it will continue to function properly.
I am pretty sure you were correct about the grip exchange.
I have several different Taurus firearms. Never had any problems.
I've had issues of some kind of another with different makes. Walther, Ruger, sccy...but so far my Taurus has been reliable no issues.
Overall I've had more problems with new S&W's than Taurus.
Excellent video, as always. Anything man-made can fail. It goes back to Genesis 3. (That's why I never take my wife's "suggestions" on what to eat).
Have you put the wood grips back on? Would you like me to evaluate them for you on my 856 Ultra Lite? 😀
At this point I'd say keep the originals on. They actual work better for accuracy. But, the actual grips I had on were black polymer, but shaped in the Taurus wood configuration.
My wife has a 22LR revolver. She loves that gun. She shoots it well. I, myself ran about 400 rounds through the gun BEFORE I let her carry it. No issues, and she does extremely well with it. I bought 4 model 82 foreign import police sales 38spl 4" police model 82 revolvers. Three are superb shooters. The 4th is a parts gun for the other three. I bought an additional model 82. It is superb in condition and accuracy. I recently bought a Taurus G3XL. it is outstanding. Taurus? I am a fan.
Hi Mike - thanks for the good report. I think with Taurus there are problems like with any other manufacturer, but because Taurus firearms are designed to be budget friendly they take more heat than they should.
I just got my 856 CH yesterday. I changed the grips out before even shooting it. Seems to work well. The trigger isn’t as nice as my 85 though. I like a 6 shooter in this size gun though. Ruger and Smith need to step up.
I agree. Today I looked at an old Model 12-2 which was one of the first S&W air-weights from the sixties. That series is a six shot snub based on the K-frame, but slightly smaller - more like a Detective Special. It not like they couldn't do that again with modern design strength.
I'm thinking of getting the 856 CH for the wife, how has it been performing for you? Anything I should consider with the setup for her?
Thanks!
@@matthewfisher3201 mine is working fine. The only things I would recommend are some paint on the front sight and maybe grips. Grips are a personal thing so what feels good to her might differ from what I like. I have VZ grips on mine now.
I bought a Tarus 856 and it did the same thing. I sent it back to Tarus and they sent it back and said it was fixed. I went to my gun range and it did it again. I can’t trust the reliability of this revolver to save my life. I got rid of it.
Wise thing to do.
i guess i'm glad i got the 85 instead of the 856. the executive 856 looks nice, though.
That brings up a point that kept me from buying a 856 at first when they came out. The 85 at 22 ounces was sturdy and ran plus P. The 856 with a bigger cylinder weighed 22 ounces and at first Taurus tapped danced around shooting plus P in the gun. Was there a structural compromise with the 856?
My pocket pistol is a Smith & Wesson 342 centennial air light TI (titanium cylinder aluminum alloy frame) 38sp 11oz !!! I installed rubber hogue monogrips..(covers the back strap and cushions my hand from recoil gets all my fingers on the grip for maximum control).. I carry this in my right front pocket and a DeSantis Superfly pocket holster with velcrod on flap to prevent printing.. I can draw from my pocket faster than I can draw from a iwb.. I load with Federal HST + p 38 130 grain.. do you feel like shooting a lite 22 magnum out of my 11 oz gun.
605 Taurus.357 snub is my everyday carry. My second, never a Problem. Hundreds of rounds fired.🇺🇸✌🏽🤙🏽👍🏽😎
Great report!
I just recently purchased a new Taurus 942. Revolver in 22LR. It was defective out of the box, would not ignite any primers. Sent it back to Taurus, after waiting 3 weeks for an update they finally answered their customer service line. They said the frame was so defective they would need to destroy the firearm and issue me a new one, replacing the serial number. Wait 8 weeks for delivery and I have to do an FFL transfer AND pay for it. Just a heads up. Still waiting 6 weeks later. I also had to send the Taurus GX4 back to them TWICE for repair.
Not good. Something seems to be seriously amiss with Taurus QC post Covid. The frame out of spec seems to be a current mantra.
@@LionquestFitness update: it's been 14 weeks now. nothing
@@krashdude1 I've found with Taurus you have to be the squeaky wheel. Time to call again.
Out of curiosity, I know you've mentioned the different pistol shooting stances every now and then, but do you have a video demonstrating and explaining all of them?
Stay safe and best wishes from Guam.
Nothing specific although I mention it from time to time. I tend to recommend isosceles for beginners and most shooters, although Weaver has it's applications. You adapt to what works for you.
@@LionquestFitness Thanks for the reply and the advice. Also, if you don't mind suggestions, I do think it would make for a cool video idea in the future!
Did crud get in the bolt channel and block it down? Then when you pulled the grip off, maybe you jarred the crud loose and the bolt started working again. Maybe every once in a while the side plate needs to come off and the gubbins need to be cleaned and lubed?
I think what happened had to do with how I was dry-firing and shooting the gun. I'd put a set of square butt grips on the gun, was holding it low in the hand and was squeezing low on the trigger. I believe this caused the plunger spring to kink up.
I've got two Taurus model 65 revolvers one made in the late 70's and a newer production one that both shoot just as good as any Smith or Ruger I own, the newer one Taurus just gave me because I had an old Taurus 731 in 32 H&R magnum that locked up on me so I sent it back, they couldn't fix it so they gave me a 550 dollar credit and told me to look at their online catalog and pick a gun I wanted so I picked a newer 65 since I've had great luck with my old 65, but that being said I had a 637 Smith and Wesson that broke out of the box in the first 5 shots and a SigSauer P230 that absolutely fell apart on me, the decocker broke along with the trigger so I sent it back they fixed it and then when I went to shoot it after I got it back the rear sight fell off, I firmly believe if it's made by mankind there's gonna be some lemons no matter what it is.
Absolutely correct on the lemons. Thank you for sharing.
Tor-us or tar-us?
Oklahoman here. I say tar-us.
Good video
I do like the Taurus’s. One thing though, smith j frames are smaller than even the old 85 and and even bigger difference from the 856.
The 856 is an interesting concept in that they took the beefed up J frame of an 85 and put a K frame cylinder in it.
As always ALL gun manufacturers have problems and I can't be helped with mass production.something is going to go out that shouldn't have. car's,guns, and everything else.iam very blessed that all my firearms collection works flawlessly everytime with my reloads.whether made in America or not, the cheapest to the higher valued weapons. I have 3 Taurus semi auto pistols and one revolver a tracker 44 mag that's considered a compact. they work flawlessly all my weapons. my parts gun's not included. I want another 357 magnum. it will be Taurus, probably fixed sight 2 1/2-3 inch barrel. I highly recommend Taurus products the same as any outher brand's I have.i enjoy your videos.nanna and papa wishing you well
Hi Johnny! Thanks for your input. Tell Nanna and papa hi for me.
What is the best grips for a Taurus 605 I mean the 605 is great with Winchester white box 110 Grain ammo but when you try Remington 158 grain that little tiny rubber handle feels like it's ripping the Palm out of your hand thanks for the video I enjoy the information you provide
A lot of people like the Hogue rubber grips.
Viridian makes a rubber laser grip that makes the 605 shoot very comfortably...even with 357. And having a laser turns the 5 shot into a 6 considering just putting the laser on target might scare someone off😃
I’ve seen this happen when someone put aftermarket wooden grips on a S&W revolver. Maybe it was a trigger pull issue. Regardless…a similar issue is documented on RUclips. I swear I thought it was on your channel.
That makes sense the way guns are designed now. I haven't covered that though until that video, but I mentioned it in the two prior videos.
Sounds like a cleaning issue. Possibly something loose in the revo that cleared when you were knocking the roll pin out. I am a fan of Taurus revolvers , currently have a Model 65 and a Model 85 UL and looking to add a 44sp to that list. I have always completely disassembled every weapon I have bought to clean and inspect . At the end of the day you are still relying on a human being to not make a mistake while assembling . I want to "know" what the condition of the equipment is in when I touch off a small explosion in my hand.
Could be. I've been using an different cleaning spray along with Hops. Thanks for your input.
Sportsman's Warehouse will return firearms to manufacturer for repair. They will even send a customers firearm back to the manufacturer if the customer purchased the firearm some where else. And is will to cover shipping charges.
I researched it in their policies and could only find that they "may" assist you with the paperwork.
I have a S&W Model 36 Classic, and the action was very stiff from time to time during the first range visit. I popped the sideplate off, and shook at the metal shavings(!!!!). It’s been 100% ever since. Most revolver owners I know are terrified about removing the sideplate, and I just don’t understand that. Maybe your Taurus had a piece of shaved bullet/jacket drop in to cylinder stop opening, or even the hand window.
Hi Frank! That brings up a good point in difference of quality. I'll take an S&W side plate off, but am less likely to take the sideplate off a Taurus due to the quality of the steel in the screws they use. They bugger up very easily. They also use red loctite to secure those screws some of the time, but not all of the time. Some of the one's I've had do and some don't.
@@LionquestFitness Good Info!
great vidio ir glad she started working maybe a peice of brass jammed her up
I need to take it apart and give it a look under the hood so to speak. Thanks!
I like your style. Issues with anything. Reviews I usually look at the negatives first. No matter what the product is. A negative review often the reviewer is someone that is not happy with anything. Far as negative reviews on the Taurus 856. Often like other products the same person will post the same problem in several places under the same or different pseudo-names. I have an 856 in Stainless. Purchased 4/2024. Mine is marked Bainbridge Ga. (Georgia)
It does not say made in USA. Not sure why. In STAINLESS I paid $303. The black one was $20 less. Price and value. Perhaps, you can find it for less mail order. I think LANDED COST. Mail order would cost ME Roughly $50 more than the listed price $20 shipping, $30 FFL fee oh and likely 2-3% credit card fee. In person, I paid with credit card and got 1 or 2% back on everything I buy-so mail order is 3-5% for using my credit card. I've not altered anything other than applying nail polish to the back of the front sight-my eyes aren't what they once were. Mine works FINE.
I was carrying the hammer version of that gun today. It's still a keeper.
Somewhere on youtube, someone mention the same issue being resolved by putting the original grips back on. I don't know what the connection is.
I believe the cylinder spring got jammed. I was doing a lot of dry fire and practice fire with my finger low on the trigger.
@@LionquestFitness
Don't get why having your finger low on the trigger, would cause that issue.
I also have an 856, with original grips, and never had any issues. Banana concerned about holding the trigger too low.
Taurus uses their own internals for the most part. At least my Taurus 669 is very different from my S&W 66-8 on the inside. The cylinder lock probably uses a small mouse trap spring to push it back up when the trigger moves forward a sufficient amount. For what ever reason, perhaps that piece was out of position and fiddling with the grip pin vibrated it back into place. That's just wild speculation on my part of course and should be treated as such. Sam seems to have a problem with the hand and pawl engagement. Those being out of time is potentially a very big deal because of the precision of their fitment. I'm no armorer, but I can see a number of potentially expensive things being out of sorts for that to be an issue. The very worst case scenario I can think of would be the frame window being just a thousandth or so too long, making the entire line bad. That seems unlikely though.
I've got the 605. I installed some nice pachmyr wooden grips on it. It has not been fired yet. I bought it pre-pandemic for particular reasons. I want someone else to have the honor of firing the first shots through it. I have no idea when that will happen. I've had no cause to open it up, so I don't know what it looks like on the inside.
Good advice and observations.
Have you ever given the charter arms revolvers a try. They don’t get as much attention as other brands.
Many decades ago I did. I've shied away since then. I've been keeping an eye out for another. You don't see them much around here.
As GW i don't think I recall a taurus failing. I own 3 of them and one of them is an 856 with about 1000 rounds through it. Was it the Taurus grease they coat the gun in??
This one wasn't coated and I had already shot and cleaned it several times. Now I tend to believe the hammering I had to do to get that roll pin out might have knocked the cylinder stop just enough out of position to go out completely when I was shooting it.
Taurus is one of the only gun makers I trust for reliability
Does this revolver have a keylock? I am bit concerned now as i have the old 856 and 605. Couldnt afford the Smiths. I had a g2 that the lock self locked when firing 1 time. I think it wasnt fully unlocked when i bought it from the store. used the key to unlock and it worked like a charm after that but those locks worry me. i heard there were similar issues with smiths as well. Now i wonder if i should only carry my kahr cm 9. no safeties/locks and it flat works. love my revolvers but call me concerned....
Hi Jeff - no keylock and I've never had an S&W or a Taurus with a keylock go south on me.
I am not planning on purchasing one. Right now we own two Rugers and a Smith and Wesson and that is the way we like it. "You have to wear the coat that fits."
Good saying.
Anyone have opinions on the EAA Windicator? I found one for the same price I paid for my Taurus 605, and it holds one more round and nickel plated.
I've been waiting to catch a used one. I missed one a few years ago. Like Taurus, they can have some quirks, but most reports I've seen show they are a sturdy gun.
I had one for awhile before gifting it to a family member. German made, rugged, good value. Not a S&W or Colt, but comparable to Taurus in my opinion.
Hell yeah love mine
Greg what do you think about a Taurus 2" s Stubby,In 22 long RIFLE
I don't know. I've never handled one. Push comes to shove it could be used for self defense. I've seen ragged wounds from .22 LR.
I have one and it's the same size as my 856 Taurus ..cute little 22..shoot well and can practice a lot..
Anything mechanical could and will fail in time. I would still have it checked out.
Good advice.
If the gun blows up in your hand it sounds like an ammo issue
More than likely.
Oil my Taurus 856 when think it needs it & works just fine.100%
Greg what do you think of a 3 inch 856 ?
Good question Mike. I'm still taking a wait and see attitude. It is my personal taste, but I don't like the Hogue grips or the tritium sights available with some of the three inch 856's. It is also like my feelings toward the current three inch S&W Model 60. I just don't like the lines of the gun.
On the the other hand I have an older Model 36 with a three inch barrel I absolutely love. And, as far as three inch revolvers go, I've been waiting to catch a used SP101 in three inch the next time one comes through one of the FFL's I frequent.
Carrying a taurus for many many years no problem
Good report!