[Bernie Link]

I'm going to buy a 357 revolver and want to spend about $400. I've been looking at the Rossi 972, 6", 357, ss, new, for about $425.

Also looking at the Taurus 66, 6", 357, ss, new for about the same price.

Before you say it: I know that S&W (have the 22a), Ruger (have the SR9), and many other $600 to $900 revolvers are the best. I also know that a Cadillac is a better car than my Honda CRV. What I'm saying is I'm wanting the best revolver THAT I CAN AFFORD and these were the right price and feel pretty good in the gun store. I don't sell guns and seldom trade them and I don't care if (when I die) my kids get a dime out of them. So with that in mind, what's your take on my choices? Also, I live in Roswell, NM (about 50,000 population), 2 gun shops that want an arm & a leg for there guns, seldom a gun show, and never a revolver advertised in the newspaper, so I have little choice but the internet. I've had advise to look for a used S&W or Ruger on the web but all I can find are guns that look like they're worn out for the price I want to pay. I'm open for suggestions! Thanks, Bernie

 

[JPaulF]

Pay what you are willing to spend on a used S&W or Colt or Ruger. In my opinion, the purchase of a Rossi is a waste of money (granted I haven't shot one in years) and Taurus is always an iffy proposition.

 

[brushedchrome]

The Taurus and the Rossi are basically the same pistol. Rossi contracts their revolvers through Taurus. Taurus has a lifetime warranty which isnt a bad thing. Like any gun, go to your dealer and handle a few of them in your price range, new and used to see what you like best and go with that. More likely than not, the pistol you choose will shoot better than you and unless you plan on shooting multiple thousands of rounds through it you wont break it. As in anything, even Smiths and Rugers, you can get a lemon, but if you keep your choices in any of the better known names this will keep that possiblility lower.

 

[3cl3c71k0r]

I have a Taurus 607 6.5" .357 Magnum revolver. It's accurate, and the barrel ports tamp down the recoil. The sights are wonderful and solid. There are only two things I don't care for - the trigger pull is nowhere near as crisp and light as a good S&W or Ruger, and the barrel ports make the gun extremely loud. I will only shoot it with doubled hearing protection.

I wouldn't be surprised if Taurus has fixed the trigger by now, but I recommend that you ask around. My model is kind of old.

 

[gunchamp]

Rossi and taurus are fine. My brother in law has had a rossi for about 10 years now in 357 and has never had a problem. The gun is accurate and goes boom every time. I have owned many taurus revolvers and have found them to be reliable and accurate. I presently own a raging bull in 454. Buy what feels good in your hand. Buy what you like.

 

[curiousgb]

I think your Honda is a better car than a Cadillac.

 

[ezduzit]

Taurus

Go for the Taurus. They aren't the same gun.

 

[brushedchrome]

exduzit, go to Rossi's website and look who their subcontracor is for some of their firearms. This includes their revolvers.

 

[mac266]

The Taurus and the Rossi are basically the same pistol. Rossi contracts their revolvers through Taurus.

Yep. They're the same junk. My suggestion is to buy a used S&W or used Ruger. You can get used quality guns in your price range, and they will be better than a new Rossi or Taurus. Case in point: I bought a used S&W model 29 for $425. The only way to know it wasn't new was a tiny bit of blueing wear near the muzzle and on the cylinder edges. It shoots like a dream, especially now that I've come up with a great load for it using bullets I cast.

 

[akcopnfbks]

I'd second (or third) the suggestion that you eschew the Taurus/Rossi in favor of a Ruger or a Smith....in that order....Ruger then Smith. Grab a set of the Wolf replacement trigger/hammer springs & have fun.

 

[MMichaelAK]

a used GP100 or a used Security Six would be my personal first looks. I already have both so its not an issue for me. I have had a few Taurus revolvers and Never had a problem with them. I have friends who have had them as well and the only Taurus I can think of withan issue was a Millenium Pro .45 acp that the polymer trigger group had a break. Taurus repaired it within 3 weeks shipped to and from them.

 

[horseman 1]

I had a Taurus in 44 mag. It was an excellent shooter but the ported barrel made it wau=y too louf for my taste. definitely a plugs and muffs proposition. I sold it and got a super blackhawk. Improved the noise level a lot. Both guns shoot better than me so I can't really give a comparison there. No data on the Rossi other than they used to make a fine levergun.

 

[Nite Ryder]

By now you have figured everyone has an opinion. I have several S&W handguns and just bought another, I have many Rugers, both single action & one double action, and I have more than one Taurus. My 627 Taurus recoils so much it hurts your hand, but it's really light weight and one of my favorite guns. I have an Ultra Lite Judge, and a Raging Hornet, and a 689 in 357, they are all good guns, and I've never had a minutes trouble with any of them. My S&W 629 is the lite weight w/4" barrel, also many J frame S&W's with 2" barrels, and my Ruger Redhawk has a 7 1/2" barrel, all of these are good guns. If I were you, I would buy what I could afford, there is only one person you have to make happy with your purchase, and it isn't any of the people on here telling you what to buy.

 

[ricpat356]

I've owned a Taurus 669 with a 4"barrell for over 20 years . Great gun, no problems. Perhaps I was lucky, or perhaps all handguns from all manufactures , other than Glock, may have issues NIB.

 

[Terry Koupe]

I've had a Taurus Tracker 44 for several years, couple thousand rounds of easy stuff...kinda light to be pushing full house loads. Trigger was a little gritty and creepy at first, pretty smooth after a few hundred rounds, still a little creepy but rather smooth at a few thousand. I like it. Downright sweet spot with a 200-240gr. rnhc(gc) at about 900fps. Ribber grips feel good, makes control easy. Betcha a 140-158gr. at around 900 would be just jolly-good from that gun.....

 

[surjimmy]

You can pick up a nice used S&W19 for under $600

 

[Buckeye!]

A good used Ruger Security Six ...

 

[jimg]

I have owned two Taurus revolvers, a blued 669 which my ex wife sold and a stainless 669 which I still own. I never had a problem with either one. I have seen and heard hundreds of complaints about Taurus quality over the years, but I would bet the majority of the detractors have never owned one. I've also owned or own Ruger and Dan Wessons, those are top shelf guns in every respect. Of the Smith and Wessons I've shot, none have been any better than the Taurus. The only way to get a Smith and Wesson that has a better feel, smoother action, and presumably better accuracy than the Taurus is to go with their custom shop offering and spend three times as much.

As far as the Rossi goes, I've shot hundreds of rounds through an older one that belongs to my brother. I don't like the fixed firing pin; they have a reputation for breaking. They earned it. It is a decent gun, but it's not as good a gun as the Taurus.

 

[jmortimer]

I just picked up a new 6" GP 100 for $499
Look around, don't settle

 

[Cheapammo]

I have a SS Taurus. Not that particular model, so keep that in mind. The trigger was unacceptable to me. It was gritty and heavy. I had a gunsmith do a trigger job on it and now it is a good shooting gun. Not equal to my Dan Wesson, but a good shooting gun. Unless you can do your own trigger work, I would include the cost of a trigger job in the total cost of the gun. I also got a better grip for it, but that's just me.