[chucksolo69]

My Star Model B has never had an issue and it is over 60 years old!!!

[big shrek]

I'd suggest an old Star...freeking great pistols, but because they're relatively unknown & discontinued...low low prices

Fun part is, the parts are still available, for the most part...
http://star-firearms.com/info/parts.shtml

[big shrek]

Taurus quality is kinda like Ruger quality...on some models they're bulletproof...on others they suck wind.
(Can we say...Ruger Vaquero first edition?? I knew we could...not to mention all the recalls lately...)

And during the 80's & 90's...probably even to today...the Smith & Wesson folks are STILL peeved at Taurus about stuff that happened
over 50 years ago...and they TRAINED a lot of the Taurus workers!!

In the meantime, Smith & Wesson had been purchased by a conglomerate named Bangor Punta. In 1970, Bangor Punta also purchased 54% of Taurus. Thus, the two companies became "sisters". Smith & Wesson never owned Taurus. They were both independent companies. However, during the next seven years, a great deal of technology and methodology was passed between the two. What may come as a surprise to some is that more of what was "right" in Porto Alegre was sent to Springfield than was sent from Springfield to south of the equator.

In reality, Taurus only really suffers from really long repair times due to having to send the gun back to Brazil...
as Taurus has yet to open a US repair center...so if you do get one that has an issue...its gonna be about a 9-month repair time.

Bottom line, unless you know how to inspect a used gun...you may end up with someone else's headache that they neglected to fix.

[HOSSFLY]

Originally Posted by big shrek

(Can we say...Ruger Vaquero first edition?? I knew we could...not to mention all the recalls lately...)

And during the 80's & 90's...probably even to today...the Smith & Wesson folks are STILL peeved at Taurus about stuff that happened
over 50 years ago...and they TRAINED a lot of the Taurus workers!!


In reality, Taurus only really suffers from really long repair times due to having to send the gun back to Brazil...
as Taurus has yet to open a US repair center...so if you do get one that has an issue...its gonna be about a 9-month repair time.

Bottom line, unless you know how to inspect a used gun...you may end up with someone else's headache that they neglected to fix.

Pretty fair example

[big shrek]

And then there's this from Taurus...

There was cause for celebration in 1994 when Forjas Taurus received the prestigious ISO 9001 designation from the International Organization for Standardization for superior manufacturing and marketing practices. Only one other firearms company in the world has obtained this designation. Currently, Taurus U.S.A. is at work to share this honor with the parent company.

It ain't easy to meet or surpass ISO standards...I've worked with a company that dealt with 'em...its tough.

That being said...the mid-low price guns that work pretty well are fairly well known...
as is the fact that most of them benefit greatly from a little hand-polishing & precision fitting...
that's why sites like Firearmstalk, Rimfire Central, & Goldenloki are so valuable...
each site usually has multiple hundreds of threads on tweaking and repairing old guns,
and the tweaks you use on one semi-auto are pretty much useable on ANY semi-auto...
http://www.goldenloki.com/gunsmith/keltec/fullrp.htm


Why doya think 1911's are so popular now??
You could hardly GIVE them away in the 60's & 70's...then Magnum P.I. came on in the 80's and interest resurged...bigtime!!
After a nice aftermarket got rolling to help resolve the issues with the Original 1911 & 1911A1 models,
you started seeing skeleton triggers & other practical accessories...
then, with all the CNC machinery coming out cheaper & cheaper, dang near every fool who could run a machine is making parts...
so you've got super-tight tolerance 1911's now that only bear form in resemblance to how the originals functioned.
WW2 series 1911's are more like AK47's, while new Caspian 1911's are like AR's that need high maintenance due to tight tolerances.


And that's usually the difference between low-cost guns and high cost...is the finishing done or not done in the factory.
What is not done by the factory can be done by the end-user...since you save a bundle by getting a low-med cost weapon...
you can afford to spend a few hours polishing the slide & rails...the hammer...the trigger/sear mating...the magwell...etc...
Plus, it teaches you MORE about the weapon you choose than ANY other method of instruction.
Those who can do a complete teardown, soup-up, and re-assembly on their guns are infinitely well ahead of those who can't


Much like car/motorcyle guys can hot-rod an engine over a weekend...
good gun guys do the same, and get to do it to multiple varieties of guns...
A car guy usually only works on One Brand...and often specializes in One Model...
Motorcycle guys usually specialize in engine varieties...like one, two, three or four cylinder motors...or V-twins/V-fours...
Gun guys...once the basics of Hot-Rodding semi-auto's are learned...can do pistol, rifle, AND shotguns
Not to mention a lot of the stuff creeps over...into slide-action, lever-action, and bolt-action!!
Besides, gun repair is addictive as heck...it crosses brand lines and styles so you end up with a few favorite models in a 12-rifle safe...
and a 48-rifle safe filled with everything else...LOL

[big_blue79]

My dad has the Hi Point JCP-40 which is the .40 S&W the only problem with the Hi Point is the clip I guess you'd say "Tabs" or whatever hold the cartridge in the clip on top let the cartridge jam, all it needs is them bent out a little. Bought it last month for $197.99 with a Discount, came with a Laser and mount, it is 10+1 capacity, I've shot it and would trust my life with it. The only thing I would change on the Hi Point is the stupid plastic grips, they let it slide around in your hand, I'm ordering a Hogue slip on for it next month.

You can buy it with the Laser mount for $218.99(it was $201.99) or without it and it comes with a Hard Case for $167.99 in .40 S&W or .45ACP.

[USMC-03]

I bought a Taurus Raging Bull in 44 mag and never even got to shoot it. The cylinder would only rotate on 5 of the 6 chambers...not that it would have mattered because when you put rounds in the gun the cylinder wouldn't even close. Luckily the guy at the gun store was great and let me just exchange it for store credit and said he would deal with Taurus. My father in law has several Taurus handguns and has only had a problem with one. He bought two TCP .380's...one of them is great, the other broke halfway through the first mag. Plus side is they replaced it quickly.

[shihan59]

I have had a problem with my taurus millennium pro semi auto. But I own many taurus revolvers and never had a problem.

[tCan]

This thread has failed entirely.

[Snubshooter]

If you watch J+G Sales they often have police trade-ins for around $200 for a Smith .38. If you want new, try Kel-Tek they are a little above your price point but are a reasonably good choice.