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Post by reflex264 on Jan 19, 2023 8:50:28 GMT -5
The older ones built by Bangor-Punta were quality pieces. Not the best pic but this scoped 441 killed more deer than most hunters. Never a mechanical issue and shot 1.5" 100 yard 5 shot groups.  This is a Taurus 66 next to my 19-5. Quality is very close and the 66 is just as accurate.  |
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jeffh
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,745
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Post by jeffh on Jan 19, 2023 10:54:31 GMT -5
The older ones built by Bangor-Punta were quality pieces....
If this was the mid-eighties to mid-nineties(?) time frame, I handled/sold a bunch of them when I worked in a small gun shop. I also owned two of the 44 Specials of that period and an adorable little six-shot, 4" 32 Mag*.
They were great guns, accurate, reliable, decent triggers and very nicely finished - and very affordable. I was paying something like $225 for new ones.
Rossi, though no one asked, also had some nice guns at the time, with REALLY nice triggers. I've owned two or three of the 44 Specials of that period. I have a M711, 6-shot 357 on my bench at the moment with the affliction of the rebound slide not raising the hammer enough to let the hammer block come up, but overall, it reflects a lot of value and it too is a good-looking gun as well. Let me say this, at least about EITHER brand from THAT period - if you DO happen to need a part, it's going to cost you, but such is the case even for the out of production Rugers.
*Full-disclosure: and I think this was a fluke, but the chambers on the 32 Mag were way oversized - split new 32 Special cases (factory loads) on the first firing. 32 Mag cases split from the mouth to the base on first firing of moderate reloads. Sent it back to Taurus with sample cases (the factory 32 cases) and described the problem. The revolver was returned pretty promptly, with a test target, which had a note penned on it, saying "we fixed your front sight!" and a little smiley face. So someone who had a front sight problem probably got a new cylinder. I traded it to someone who did not handload and was apprised of the situation, but the gun was so cute that he didn't care about the brass. As I said though, it was a fluke, because the others were all top-notch revolvers.
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Post by taffin on Jan 19, 2023 11:18:17 GMT -5
The early Federal .32 Magnum loads were very prone to split cases the matter which gun they were shot in.
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jeffh
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,745
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Post by jeffh on Jan 19, 2023 11:47:17 GMT -5
UPDATE: Not to drag the thread further off track, but in defense of the Rossi 711 I mentioned, I just resolved the hammer/rebound slide issue. It was ham-handed, shadetree-gun-smithing. Someone had bent the "post" the hammer pivots on, upward. I only needed .006" less between the rebound slide and hammer to correct the issue, which was even less on the post. The post the cylinder stop rides on was bent as well, which I had already corrected. Everything I've seen inside points to someone having tried to get the rebound slide out without the right tool (which I made in about ten minutes), so none of this was the fault of the Rossi.
My apologies fro dragging this away from Taurus, but since I mentioned a fault on this particular Rossi, I felt it only fair to mention it WASN'T the Rossi's fault.
To Mr. Brashaw's point about not working on Taurus revolvers, I mentioned in another thread a CURRENT ERA Taurus, small-frame 605. While taking some sharp edges off the hammer spur, which were chewing up my thumb, the file "skated" for the first stroke, but "bit" on subsequent strokes. MY take-away on this is that the current Taurus internal parts are not through-hardened and doing any kind of stoning or polishing on critical surfaces could result in Mr. Bradshaw's "fugitive trigger job," wherein you might get a really nice trigger - for a while, but it will wear/degrade to a dangerous point.
I am NOT a gun-smith, nor am I a metallurgist. My observations/experience simply lead me to this conclusion - current Taurus revolvers seem to have taken a leap UP in terms of features and quality, but they are what they are and I wouldn't go in and do a "proper trigger job" on one. My 605 has a much heavier trigger than I like, but the SA is crisp, the DA smooth - just heavy. ALL other aspects of the gun are spot-on. I love the size, the feel, the weight, clean/crisp fixed sights, even the ugly, sticky robber grip feels perfect.
Taurus is taunting me. I really like the looks of that 685, 38 Special too now. I think they are getting closer to being more like they were 30 years ago - pretty danged nice guns, and affordable at that.
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Post by needsmostuff on Jan 19, 2023 11:53:20 GMT -5
and an adorable little six-shot, 4" 32 Mag*. [/div] [/div][/quote] Not at all pertinent to the thread or question asked but, Just because it got mentioned (I think this is the one Jeff is referring to) I have to show Y'all this. Somewhere between J and K frame sized it checks off so many boxes for a packable 32 mag.   No bad cyl. holes here, it's a dandy shooter. It was the only thing I had like it around but semi-retired now. Its duties have been taken over by a 4" 327 SP-101. |
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Post by reflex264 on Jan 19, 2023 12:01:20 GMT -5
The older ones built by Bangor-Punta were quality pieces.... If this was the mid-eighties to mid-nineties(?) time frame, I handled/sold a bunch of them when I worked in a small gun shop. I also owned two of the 44 Specials of that period and an adorable little six-shot, 4" 32 Mag*. They were great guns, accurate, reliable, decent triggers and very nicely finished - and very affordable. I was paying something like $225 for new ones. Rossi, though no one asked, also had some nice guns at the time, with REALLY nice triggers. I've owned two or three of the 44 Specials of that period. I have a M711, 6-shot 357 on my bench at the moment with the affliction of the rebound slide not raising the hammer enough to let the hammer block come up, but overall, it reflects a lot of value and it too is a good-looking gun as well. Let me say this, at least about EITHER brand from THAT period - if you DO happen to need a part, it's going to cost you, but such is the case even for the out of production Rugers.
*Full-disclosure: and I think this was a fluke, but the chambers on the 32 Mag were way oversized - split new 32 Special cases (factory loads) on the first firing. 32 Mag cases split from the mouth to the base on first firing of moderate reloads. Sent it back to Taurus with sample cases (the factory 32 cases) and described the problem. The revolver was returned pretty promptly, with a test target, which had a note penned on it, saying "we fixed your front sight!" and a little smiley face. So someone who had a front sight problem probably got a new cylinder. I traded it to someone who did not handload and was apprised of the situation, but the gun was so cute that he didn't care about the brass. As I said though, it was a fluke, because the others were all top-notch revolvers.
I just had to work on a Taurus model 81 38 Special for a co-worker. It was made prior to them building guns like the 66 I pictured. The 81 was very crude inside and prone failure due to very little dirt and debris. Parts are a pain for these guns. Fortunately some of their parts are similar enough to their newer stuff so that they can be modified to work. Still not cheap though. |
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jeffh
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,745
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Post by jeffh on Jan 19, 2023 12:01:39 GMT -5
That's the one!! What an amazing little revolver.
(the 32 Mag)
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jeffh
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,745
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Post by jeffh on Jan 19, 2023 12:06:27 GMT -5
I just had to work on a Taurus model 81 38 Special for a co-worker. It was made prior to them building guns like the 66 I pictured. The 81 was very crude inside and prone failure due to very little dirt and debris. Parts are a pain for these guns. Fortunately some of their parts are similar enough to their newer stuff so that they can be modified to work. Still not cheap though. Yeah, I ditched a slightly earlier M85 Lightweight for the very same reason. One of the things which did NOT impress me was the DA hammer dog and how much of a task it is to get it in or out without wrecking the spring. THEN, I noticed Smith is doing the exact same thing on at least one model I saw the guts of.
The more recent 605 IS better than that M85 and actually was quite clean on the inside from the start. Time will tell and I will watch for what you mention, so thank you.
Knowing which parts interchange between models would be nice. With a Charter, many parts interchange across the whole line and across MANY years. Easy enough.
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Post by reflex264 on Jan 19, 2023 14:04:23 GMT -5
I just had to work on a Taurus model 81 38 Special for a co-worker. It was made prior to them building guns like the 66 I pictured. The 81 was very crude inside and prone failure due to very little dirt and debris. Parts are a pain for these guns. Fortunately some of their parts are similar enough to their newer stuff so that they can be modified to work. Still not cheap though. Yeah, I ditched a slightly earlier M85 Lightweight for the very same reason. One of the things which did NOT impress me was the DA hammer dog and how much of a task it is to get it in or out without wrecking the spring. THEN, I noticed Smith is doing the exact same thing on at least one model I saw the guts of. The more recent 605 IS better than that M85 and actually was quite clean on the inside from the start. Time will tell and I will watch for what you mention, so thank you.
Knowing which parts interchange between models would be nice. With a Charter, many parts interchange across the whole line and across MANY years. Easy enough. You can take the new model hand (Two pin) and remove the central pin. They clung to the basic design as their transfer bar evolved. If it is one of the older ones with the firing pin on the hammer it just has the lower pin. It is a pain to put back with the trigger spring housing. If you had to work on them often a simple jig would solve part of the problem to keep from damaging the spring. It is kind of a deal where you don't want to work on them anymore than you have to. I love working on Charters. I have never had problems getting parts from Charter Arms. As you said, a lot of them interchange. |
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Post by ezekiel38 on Jan 19, 2023 19:10:40 GMT -5
I know Taurus is selling a lot of the 856s, both lightweight and all steel, 2 and 3 inch models. Pistol-Forum has a 59 page thread running on the Taurus 856 in their revolver section. And those PF guys are DA revolver snobs. I know cause I are one! General consensus on the 856 is positive.
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jeffh
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,745
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Post by jeffh on Jan 20, 2023 8:05:12 GMT -5
Yeah, I ditched a slightly earlier M85 Lightweight for the very same reason. One of the things which did NOT impress me was the DA hammer dog and how much of a task it is to get it in or out without wrecking the spring. THEN, I noticed Smith is doing the exact same thing on at least one model I saw the guts of. The more recent 605 IS better than that M85 and actually was quite clean on the inside from the start. Time will tell and I will watch for what you mention, so thank you.
Knowing which parts interchange between models would be nice. With a Charter, many parts interchange across the whole line and across MANY years. Easy enough. You can take the new model hand (Two pin) and remove the central pin. They clung to the basic design as their transfer bar evolved. If it is one of the older ones with the firing pin on the hammer it just has the lower pin. It is a pain to put back with the trigger spring housing. If you had to work on them often a simple jig would solve part of the problem to keep from damaging the spring. It is kind of a deal where you don't want to work on them anymore than you have to. I love working on Charters. I have never had problems getting parts from Charter Arms. As you said, a lot of them interchange. That's good information - thank you!
I found that a properly formed popsicle stick, inserted from the bottom of the opening in the trigger, to push the rear leg of that spring up, while inserting the two-legged hand from the side is almost reasonably practical for someone with six digits on their weak hand.
The trigger-return spring on the Charters is the only real challenge and it's not that bad once you learn to hold your mouth right. I probably could have bought a few "box-o'-parts" Charters over the years, cheap, in lieu of helping someone out. Small price to pay for the simplicity and light weight (even with a steel cylinder frame), so I'm not actually complaining. Ruger knocked it out of the park when they resolved that on their version, but at significant cost.
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Post by 375supermag on Jan 20, 2023 13:28:45 GMT -5
Hi...
I have owned exactly two Taurus revolvers.
I own a five shot .44Spl adjustable sighted with a 3" barrel in stainless steel. It has been a very dependable and accurate revolver that has on occasion been carried for self defense on evening trips to the local convenience store.
The only other handguns I CCW are 1911s in .45ACP so that might tell you how highly I consider my Taurus revolver.
The other Taurus I owned was a horribly inaccurate blued steel 66 in .357Magnum.
It sprayed bullets all over the targets even as close as 15yds.
It was the only firearm I ever sold (other than when I was forced to sell some due to a divorce). I traded it and some cash for a Dan Wesson .375SuperMag which I believe was a pretty good deal at least on my part.
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Post by reflex264 on Jan 20, 2023 17:35:17 GMT -5
Hi... I have owned exactly two Taurus revolvers. I own a five shot .44Spl adjustable sighted with a 3" barrel in stainless steel. It has been a very dependable and accurate revolver that has on occasion been carried for self defense on evening trips to the local convenience store. The only other handguns I CCW are 1911s in .45ACP so that might tell you how highly I consider my Taurus revolver. The other Taurus I owned was a horribly inaccurate blued steel 66 in .357Magnum. It sprayed bullets all over the targets even as close as 15yds. It was the only firearm I ever sold (other than when I was forced to sell some due to a divorce). I traded it and some cash for a Dan Wesson .375SuperMag which I believe was a pretty good deal at least on my part. Was the 66 the 7 shot version? Those came after the really good ones. My six shot 66 with a 6" barrel shoots 1.5" or so at 50 yards with my bad eyes. One of my favorite .357s. |
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