Taurus 856 Second Unboxing from Warranty Work (NOT FIXED) and Why a 3" .38 Special is Perfect

[@GunSam]

After I complained and sent the video to them 3 days ago, they replied via email today with a very short email basically saying sorry for the inconvenience and they are logging it for me? That's basically it.

[@mikey3800]

you should tell Taurus about the extractor......the repair facility does not inspire a lot of confidence

[@mikey3800]

what the heck is logging it for you?

[@GunSam]

I would assume that it means putting into their computer that I need it sent back in.

[@mikey3800]

@@GunSam ok thanks Sam

[@mikey3800]

@@GunSam Taurus service dept leaves a lot to be desired

[@CarolinaRimfire]

I had to send a revolver back to charter arms recently for some warranty work. They paid for UPS shipping both ways, fixed my point of impact issue, polished the chambers, and polished the front sight after grinding it down. Had the revolver back to me in 6 days. And I bought it used for $280 cash out the door. PLUS, it’s 100% American-made. I’d choose a charter over a Taurus any day

[@patrickrossetti7109]

Good to know👍!

[@anangryranger]

Bought a new Charter Arms Undercover Lite in 38Spl in December. Began misfiring in less than 35 rounds. Would often not even fire a full cylinder! Warranty repairs went into effect. Got it back a month later. After 3 rounds, the multiple misfiring returned. I no longer have that paperweight. And I'm not going to say another word about it.

[@CarolinaRimfire]

@@anangryranger That’s rough, buddy. I wish they had fixed it for you.

[@michigunsanta8680]

I’ve got a Bulldog a Pitbull in 40s&w and “the Professional” in 32H&R magnum. All 3 Charter Arms revolvers are awesome, zero quality problems at all. 👍🏻

[@glenmo1]

I have a older charter arms off duty made in 1980s never had a problem.. I purchased a charter arms mag pugs 357 couple years back never a problem

[@yukon065]

Poor customer service will keep me away from a company every time. I was seriously considering one of these revolvers; not any more. Thanks for saving me a lot of headaches!

[@UziRyder1]

I think there is a lesson to be learned about Taurus firearms here.

[@cw2a]

AMEN NEVER EVER STAKE YOUR LIFE ON ONE!!

[@alantoon5708]

There is a reason why they cost less. Quality does not cost much more...

[@alantoon5708]

And...how much is your life worth?

[@inlandindieP35]

Every time I am tempted to get a Taurus revolver I see videos like this one and the urge goes away.

[@kuro_b5978]

I had a different problem related to cylinder rotation with my Taurus. I got the same response from Taurus. They insisted nothing was wrong even though the cylinder would clearly stop rotating before indexing into place. Like yours it was only a problem in double action. I kept sending it in and they kept sending it back unfixed. 25 years ago, my first handgun was a used Taurus model 66. I still have it and still love it. But based on that bad one I bought 5 years ago, I'll never buy another Taurus.

[@Ed-ig7fj]

Thanks. I was seriously considering buying a Taurus. I will be very cautious if I do, but I'll probably stick to S&W. --Old Guy

[@georgeveneziano2754]

Ya know go and at least look at the new Taurus they are nice. Fit an finish has come way up but you be the judge.

[@scubaguy007]

It is very frustrating when a company doesn't listen to a customer's issues correctly.

[@Uberragen21]

I kind of understand the general idea of where the gunsmith is coming from, but... There's a big BUT in there. As an IT professional, replicating the issue experienced by the end user can often be an chore. We amusingly call it _user error_ or use another acronym less becoming of the user. But in all honesty, if the issue is unable to be replicated by the technician or in this case the gunsmith, I can understand why they would claim no issue found. Here's the BUT... That being said, there was a video showing exactly what the problem was. It could be replicated by anyone who is competent. I'm guessing Taurus hires novice or incompetent gunsmiths. Customer service is HUGE in today's world if the company wants repeat customers. Scare off a customer with a horrible customer service job and you lose repeat business. Piss off a guntuber and you are risking scaring off dozens or hundreds, maybe even thousands of potential customers. It's very poor business model to run a company...any company.

[@scubaguy007]

@@Uberragen21 Exactly! I think I said the same thing with fewer words. 😁😉🥸

[@mikey3800]

@@Uberragen21 Taurus needs to upgrade their service dept.....you dont use the forcing cone to push the cylinder to engage the ratchet better, you can stretch or shim to do that....now with that tight 002 cylinder gap he will bind up from carbon fouling after prolong firing

[@Uberragen21]

@@mikey3800 agreed. That revolver will be going back to Taurus in no time.

[@AmericanMusc11e]

I had a 3" 856 for a while. Didn't like it that much. Now I have a new production 3" colt King Cobra and I love it.

[@Uberragen21]

That's probably why there are so many Taurus revolvers on the second hand market. You've probably heard that old saying, "Buy once, cry once." It certainly holds true in so many things in life.

[@la_old_salt2241]

Better revolver, but really apples to oranges.

[@Jleitte]

Thanks for this video! I was thinking of purchasing a Taurus and now not so much!

[@arnoldcohen1250]

Years ago I had a Taurus 66 4" SS 357. When firing a long string it would heat up and the cylinder would bind. The cylinder gap was very tight. Sent back, told nothing was wrong. Traded it back to my dealer. He later stopped selling Taurus. To many returns.

[@GunSam]

I debated trading it in, my problem is I have everything I want already.

[@frankhinkle5772]

@@GunSam Its like your Glock 10mm/.45ACP pistol; it will be a decent range gun, but not a carry gun.

[@cgsimons1187]

I also had a Taurus revolver many years ago. It was a snub nose .357 Mag (forgotten model.) That was the harshest handgun I ever fired. The recoil was painful and flames shot out from the cylinder and burned my hand. That Taurus was in my custody for a very short time. I've fired much more pleasant .357 Mag revolvers made by Ruger and S&W since then.

[@arnoldcohen1250]

Try to find a 3" Smith and Wesson Model 65. 357 and trade in the Taurus then. It is my answer to "if you could only have one handgun".

[@frankhinkle5772]

@@arnoldcohen1250 Roger that! And there is a certain elegance to a 3" K-frame. Sexy!

[@judsonm1231]

That’s weird and disappointing. I like the new Taurus designs, but I’m scared off by QC concerns.

[@onedaycloser2death224]

As well you should be, Taurus old or new suck. The only revolver one should have their eyes on should be Smith & Wesson.

[@judsonm1231]

@@onedaycloser2death224 I’ve had good luck with Colt and Ruger as well.

[@johngriffiths118]

Same old story surely ?

[@onedaycloser2death224]

@@judsonm1231 I personally never have fired a colt, they feel uncomfortable in the hand, are unappealing to the eye, and am not a fan of the cylinder release mechanism. Smith is hands down top tier artwork in it's function and appearance.

[@onedaycloser2death224]

@@judsonm1231 ruger also are uncomfortable and have terrible break on the trigger and have a strange weight ratio, unbalanced feeling in the hand.

[@sissydreams7494]

That Taurus revolver is broken. Clearly, their customer service is horrible and they do NOT stand behind their products. This is not the first Taurus review I've seen like this. While I love their designs and WAS very interested in acquiring SEVERAL of their revolvers, after yet another dismal review, I will NEVER buy a Taurus product. Thanks for your honest & objective review SAM! 🙂

[@adamb2619]

I had one sent back, and returned with a brand new firearm with no issues or headaches at all 6 months ago......

[@1717jbs]

Me either!

[@Brett235]

I've never had to send any of mine in for repair. I have a g2c that's been great and a tracker in 357 magnum that has been great also. I've had several Taurus firearms over the years and never one problem.

[@brianwest5348]

@@Brett235 You should go to Vegas. At 50/50 odds you came out great. LOL!

[@jamesjoung2793]

Good decision. Don’t get one. I got my first and last Taurus this year. Never again. It’s still with Taurus after sending it in 8 months ago.

[@jaredw289]

Bought a 605 5 years ago and put several hundred rounds of mixed 38 spl and 357 mag through it with no issues! I'd say the 605 is a winner! Thanks for the review!!

[@GunSam]

My 605 has been decent.

[@petergraziosi9716]

Sorry to see that you are having this problem with Taurus. I presently have a TX 22, GX4, G3C, and a Raging Hunter. I had an issue with the RH when it was new, cylinder was binding after 250-300 rounds. I sent it in turnaround time was 3 weeks and after 100 rounds same issue. I sent it back CS said they couldn't duplicate the problem and returned it to me. I have put through another 300 rounds and dry fired it (with snap caps) about 500 times and haven't had any issues. Guess the Fed-Ex guys fixed it when they were throwing my package around. My G3C is 22 months old and had about 7000-8000 rounds fired from it before the trigger broke. They put in a new trigger "group" and it appears fine after 200-300 rounds. Taurus prepaid my shipping for both guns and didn't charge me for anything. My TX22 has about 15000 rounds fired from it and my GX4 has 2000 rounds fired from it with no issues. Thats my experience with Taurus and this is what I tell people when they are considering a gun purchase. Hope you get your issue resolved.

[@SuspiciousGanymede]

I'm a gunsmith by trade and what they did by replacing the barrel was a half-assed maneuver. I don't specialize in revolvers, but why not take the faceplate off and actually replace the part/spring that controls cylinder lock tension?

[@GunSam]

That was my thought. I inspected the 605 and 856 stops with the plates off and couldn't distinguish the difference or why it would drop. I know it's the problem but I don't know enough about them to know why. To my untrained eye it looked small and sloppy, like touching the trigger threw the stop forward causing it to drop free rather than it slightly moving downward slowly.

[@faryldaryl3975]

Try completely disassembling the lock work, and see if the loose hand passes easily through the slot in the breech face. In Smiths a slow hand (or cyl. stop) is often just a dirty gun and a tired spring, I wouldn't be surprised if this Taurus had some rough machining causing the hangup. Might be a bit of polishing is all you need. Personally I don't mind this kind of prob in cheap guns, I'm in the habit or tearing down every gun I buy and checking for stuff like this before I shoot them. I figure a bit of a tune up is the trade off for hundreds of dollars off the price.

[@PatRMG]

On your side on this one.

[@GunSam]

Thank you

[@anthonyguidas2012]

The Taurus motto “ 50 percent of the time it works every time “ 😂🤣

[@jacknasty6940]

Lol like my marriages

[@christineshotton824]

That is spot on. A good Taurus is a great pistol. A bad one is a worthless POS made by a company whose warranty consists of "tough luck, pal. We've already got your money".

[@1776Angry]

I had a Ruger that did that. After 65k+ rounds. I sent it back and asked for a bill for the fix. In 7 total days I had the gun back with all the internals replaced. Under warranty.

[@JimsRustyOldNuts]

Ruger is fantastic like that...I sent in a .357 Blackhawk that I bought used..between my friends and myself there were untold thousands of rounds thru it..who knows how many before I bought it..had developed a timing issue..this was in the mid-late 80s..what I got back was pretty much a brand new gun..all parts except for the original frame and grips were replaced..even the ejector rod! Still a loyal Ruger customer to this day..and that .357 is still chugging along.

[@frankhinkle5772]

Thanks for posting this re-unboxing return from Taurus Warranty Service. I am very disappointed; I was expecting more from Taurus Warranty, especially for a KZbin content creator with 40K subscribers. For God's sake, they can watch your past videos and see the problems and listen to your commentary about the issues right there as they are happening! I had high hopes for this gun; I really like the 3" medium frame revolver and wanted to be able to recommend it. It will be a nice testbed for you to use, but I would not carry that particular firearm as a defensive handgun. Not unless those issues are addressed.

[@StoicHippy]

Cylinder shims (increasing the now closer cylinder gap) might fix the hand engagement as it would move the cylinder closer to back of the frame

[@TobaccoRowe1960]

That was my thought to

[@W1ldt1m]

It's that free spin. The cylinder is dropping down and keeping the hand from reaching the star.

[@GunSam]

Yeah. There should be a little cylinder stop with just enough friction to prevent that, like in every revolver ever made. This was the first thing I brought to their attention the day I sent it in, that the stop drops free. The refused to even acknowledge or respond to pointing out the issue.

[@The1jonnyz]

My 627 was a timing nightmare out of the box! I had to file and polish the hand, which made it better but it would still hang up. I figured it was the ratchet. I had to slightly file some burrs on each individual gear. I finally got it where it never jammed again. What shoddy workmanship out of the factory!

[@wolfhuntersarmory]

Makes me thankful I got a good version of the 627. Not a single issue out of mine. If I do develop any issues, I'll be sure to check the items you had problems with.

[@gud2go50]

That is why I have never owned a Taurus. I worked at a gun counter on an Air Force base for many years and I heard nothing but complaints from the customers about them. Especially guys that shoot a lot. If you shoot now and then you will not discover a problem until later, but some had problems right away.

[@GunSam]

Exactly. I have posted videos in the past with Taurus issues and people got enraged like "I have had a Taurus 5 years and no problems!!!". But that says nothing, says they have had it sitting and probably shot it twice.

[@stuartstuart866]

I just sent my Taurus TX22 in for repairs for jamming, for the second time. I wonder how much time they spend re-repairing firearms but i’m going to keep sending it back until they get it right. It is so comfortable in my hand, I love everything except the reliability. I’ve been shooting .357, 9mm and 38’s. I’m kinda liking the .38’s, they are comfortable to shoot but still have sufficient power for home defense. I’d like to find a reliable/durable .38 is a lightweight frame. My GP100 is a bit heavy for my wife.

[@GunSam]

Taurus reminds me of a cheap desktop computer. If you take the shell which is pretty good, rip out all the internals and put good stuff in there, it might work pretty good. Taurus handguns should be listed as 80 percenters in the gun case lol

[@pecosjane]

40.5 K Subscribers. 6,520 Views. “Taurus is a 50/50 chance of getting a gun that works.”. I just called my 401K manager and told him to dump all my Taurus stock and any mutual funds that have Taurus holdings. Ya know, I do hate the Hillary Hole Infernal Locking Schlock on my S&W revolvers, but they go bang every time I pull the trigger. (… and they actually FIX stuff if I have to send one in, oh, and, I own a 640 and a 442 that don’t have the ILS!). Great video; PERFECT demonstration of the Failure on the Taurus. Too bad they’re not paying attention.

[@GunSam]

Yeah I have owned probably 6 or 7 Smiths over the years and I have never once had an issue that wasn't my fault. I have lost sear spring once by opening the side plate, which I did fix myself easily with a Brownelle's part. I also marred one up by tapping out a squib without taking the cylinder off, but again my fault and that didn't impede function. Same with Ruger, never had a single problem with 4 or 5 of their revolvers I have had. But funny, thinking back I had two Taurus 94's in 2009 and both of them had the transfer bar snap off and also another issue that locked them up. I have told the story of them before, with people saying "Taurus has improved try them again"...I did with the 856 lol

[@pecosjane]

By the way, I am in complete agreement with you as to: 38 Special with a 3” barrel as an ideal self defense option. I don’t want to shoot a lot of 38 through a 357 because I don’t want to deal with the chamber fouling caused by the shorter cases. I hand load my range ammo in 357 brass at 38 pressures. I wish S&W would reissue the Model 36 with a 3 inch barrel.

[@jbhickok7796]

Wow. I feel you bro. I wonder if they realize that this is and will continue to cost them in customers and sales.

[@StacyHagerty]

I've had zero issues with my Taurus G2C. The 856 2" I bought new went out of time after about 150 rounds. Got rid of it. Replaced it with a Ruger LCRx3 (.357). Now thinking about getting rid of the G2C and replacing it with a Ruger Security 9. Like I said no issues with the G2C just don't trust the brand. Lack of competent customer service the driving factor.

[@GunSam]

I have the G2C and Security 9. Both are about equal, however the Security 9 is way more ergonomic and balances better. The issue is that the trigger group could potentially snap if you yank the Security 9 trigger, as where the G2C has second strike capability and this could never happen. Both are about equal but I do sometimes carry my Security 9 as it carries well, better than the G2C even though the G2C is shorter.

[@jeffreylocke8808]

I feel your pain and I am a itinerant refiner of my revolvers and semi-auto pistol because that is my nature. Hope all works to your satisfaction. Smith and Wesson has a new 2.5 inch revolver with built in comp offering. Model 19 I think. A Performance Center model chambered in 357 Magnum with 6 capacity. Over $1100 retail but it is a Performance Center S&W. I would shoot 38 Special +P though chambered for 357 magnum.

[@frankhinkle5772]

HRFunk got one and had Warranty issues with it! I think he's satisfied now... but didn't expect that from a PC gun. I have a 30 year old 3" Model 65 and I'm at least the 3rd owner. It's a great carry gun!

[@cw2a]

Taurus quality EVEN AFTER BEING RETURNED. NEVER NEVER EVER TRUST YOUR LIFE TO THESE...

[@briank.7937]

Update for mine; didn't send it back after inspecting a few at LGS. Mine doesn't spin clockwise at all. At about 300 rounds through it, and no issues with timing. I also tried it loaded imbalanced like yours and it's all good.

[@erikjensen6503]

Yeah i think this says alot about customer service and quality control.

[@patrickrossetti7109]

I'll spend the extra $ and a real gun. Don't need the headache. Thanks for the update👍!

[@robertseafield5810]

A 3" or 4" 38 Special revolver is perfect for someone who wants a house gun and is not really into guns. I bought a 3" HB S&W Model 64 in 1982. It is not going anywhere. Good video.

[@chrisgabbert658]

Well you summed it up at the end there, the reason I didn’t own any Trurus guns 🤷‍♂️😁. I do agree that a 3” stainless revolver but in 357 and I would use your 38’s in it for carry.

[@donnyarmstrong9559]

wow.. just wow.. at this point in time it's now on principle pretty tough for them to argue with that video you shot

[@Cavemale2000]

Auto loading pistol barrel length is measured from the back portion of the ejection port to the end of the barrel (so it includes the chamber itself). Revolver barrel length is measured from the back portion of the barrel port itself to the end of the barrel (It does not include the chamber in the rotating cylinder). So a revolver with a 3" barrel can have about the same barrel length as a auto loading pistol with a 4" barrel - depending on the caliber or size of the round.

[@maluco132]

I sent a email in Portuguese to the headquarters in Brazil about your issue. It's sad and i got the feeling that they didn't even bother to fix it at all. I know a lot of guns Smith here that would take that problem and fixed it in a heartbeat. If i get any update i will try to let you know.

[@jackhook4192]

The only Taurus guns I have is their g series. I have the g2c g3c and the g3. I have never had any problems with them whatsoever. My edc is the g3 and my backup is the g3c. My g3 has over 10 thousand rounds through it now still working great.

[@GeographyCzar]

15:28 - fully agree. Properly loaded 38 +P is plenty for concealed carry. Woods/Trail carry maybe not… somebody destroyed their Suburban hitting a 575 lb black bear six miles from my house last week, just one week after I saw a pretty large bear cross the road just over half a mile from my place. I’ve been taking another look at .357 lately!

[@Uberragen21]

Bear populations have been exploding in North America over the past decade. There aren't as many hunters taking bears and some States are arbitrarily issuing less bear tags out of some misguided PETA type of nonsense ideology. The reality is what we have these days, bears invading suburban areas and then we have bear attacks and need to hunt them down to remove them.

[@wsc31]

I have a S&W model 66 2.5" bbl with which I qualified using 158gr SJHP ammo until the department went to Glock .40 S&Ws. I still use it for my annual LEOSA qualifications and it still shoots better than I do.

[@imeprezime1285]

I would always prefer revolver over pistol. I consider possibility of jamming makes pistols less reliable than revolvers. Issue with Taurus you showed makes me kind of worried. Thanks for the video.

[@AKS-74U]

​@@jmichaelcarbonniere9549it is definitely old school thinking. Eventually the older generation who hold the "semi autos will jam! And revolvers are fool proof!" opinion will die off and we won't hear that outdated thought process anymore.

[@evocati6523]

A revolver is a pistol... where did that odd argument come from? Look at a patent from the 1800s and it's called a revolving PISTOL. Even flintlock handguns were called pistols

[@evocati6523]

@@AKS-74U any instructor worth anything will still teach how to clear a malfunction on a semi because semis will always jam at some point in ways that revolvers don't. So yea they're reliable but never foolproof so that thought process will always exist

[@FlightRisk1516]

Gun Sam short stroking? That's a good one! Much more accurate than the previous unboxing, but man, that .002" cylinder gap and cylinder spin: no bueno. Got a 3" Taurus coming in this week. Wish me luck!

[@GunSam]

You got a chance that it will work

[@FlightRisk1516]

@@GunSam 50%? Of all the reviews I've seen, you're the only one who's had a bad experience. My 856UL and 605 are good; hope this one will be as well.

[@FlightRisk1516]

@@rbm6184 Problem is, as good as a gun might be when you inspect it, the thing can still malfunction. I had a 642 that froze up on me after 100 rounds down range. S&W repaired it, but man, it's a good thing it locked up on me during dry firing. Good case for a BUG!

[@thefleaflop]

Wow... Never saw that issue before!... You are correct and have demonstrated the problem clearly. The gun is out of specification and does not inspire confidence to shoot it... I'm with ya brother, keep after them and make them fix it... Good luck!

[@elblancobasura]

"I have a dream...." Still have a dream in fact, still after all these years. Ruger LCRx in .38 Special in 3" with a 6 round cylinder. How hard could it be??? Sam, THANK YOU for reaffirming my commitment to never buy Taurus products. I'm glad that mostly they work for you and others. I will never buy a Taurus, ever. I don't care how innovative (and they are, too) they are, they simply can't be trusted. (By myself at any rate.) I don't have the patience you demonstrate. Thank you for the video. I'm glad they fixed this issue for you finally.

[@Rushshooting67913]

I had a Taurus Raging bull 454 casull and was having timing issues. I couldn’t figure out what was going on and I didn’t want to send it back because I used it for hunting season. After inspecting it several times I finally figured out it was the depth of the cuts in the cylinder. 2 out of 6 were cut deep enough the others I could spin the cylinder locked up. I ended up getting rid of it and getting my dream gun a smith and Wesson 460xvr. Now I also bought a 4” Taurus 357 mag about a month before that and it was the worst accuracy I’ve ever had on a firearm. My wife and I both couldn’t hit a can at 10 yards. Maybe 3 shots out of 30. That gun got traded in on a ruger Blackhawk and that was the last Taurus revolver I will own.

[@cw2a]

Hey man good ta hear from ya!!

[@bennoah9780]

This sounds like my experience with Smith N Wesson, I had to send my S&W 617 back 2 times. After about 50 rounds it would stop working due to being clogged up with lead build up and I have to dig all the lead out, so I sent it back, they told me I need to keep it clean. When I got it back it would not lock up into battery when firing and still excessive leading up. sent it back 2nd time, after it came back it did sort of work but never was accurate. I finally gave up and sold it to a man who does not shoot but only collects them. I really want to like S&W and I have had some good ones but in my opinion you are just rolling the dice if you get a good one or bad one and they do not really fix them very well so I am afraid to buy another S&W.

[@jh5869]

I would make sure the cylinder is locking up tight, or I wouldn’t shoot it. If it’s shaving your projectiles, we got big trouble here in River City!😂🤠

[@sammyprestwood3182]

The lead round nose Mars up the rifling they did in my 605 and I had to wire brush the lead out of the rifling there wasn't much but it doesn't take much to get the gun to shoot off Target they should have gave you a new gun to replace the 856 with I own the 856 in the 2-in barrel and never had no problem with it thanks for the video

[@brianmoore1164]

That is a shame. A gunsmith that understands how the hand and bolt work together to create proper timing would have picked up on that problem right away. If you plan to keep the gun, I would recommend you get it into the hands of a good gunsmith.

[@faryldaryl3975]

I was surprised Revolver Aficionado didn't know that this was a timing issue, and of course even more surprised that the GD factory didn't realize that.

[@brianmoore1164]

@@faryldaryl3975 Taurus bought a lot of their tooling and equipment from Smith & Wesson many years ago. Smith was selling it off because it was worn out. If Taurus is still running that ancient stuff today it's no wonder they have these kinds of problems.

[@500mos]

I agree100%. I have a 3inch smith model 64, smith model 36, smith model 37, smith model 13 and a model 686 us customs gun. It is a great carry size.

[@YellowHammer26]

Well I know you can have a problem with any make of firearm but I’ve always stuck to buying s&w and ruger revolvers. I did buy an ria model 200 and while it’s not on par with my other revolvers it has functioned quite well and I’ve had no issues with it. I agree about the 3” 38 special being perfect for that caliber. Thanks for the video Sam 👍👍

[@GunSam]

Thanks. I have owned about a dozen S&W and Ruger revolvers over the years. Never had a single problem with one ever.

[@MAG-li5jo]

I am pretty much stuck on Smith & Wesson Revolvers. I would rather just pay the extra money and have something that is backed by lengendary customer service and known for outstanding reliability. I did look into some Taurus models including their seven shot 357 Mag, but it was not on the approved firearm list for California. I just got another Smith which is a 686+ with the four inch barrel and I am glad I went with S&W again. Love the thing. California seems to not approve many more afforable firearms I believe intentionally in order to make it harder to purchase a firearm here. Someone might be able to afford $500 but not $1000 for a gun.

[@timrobinson6573]

Just today I got a box of Remington HTP 158 gr. +P SWCHP for my 856. Mine has a 2" barrel. Thankfully I haven't had the issues with mine that you've been having.

[@GunSam]

That was one of the ammo types I had an issue with. I feel like if I were to not fix it, 110 or 125 gr is going to be my ammo now just to lighten up the cylinder.

[@richardphillips2251]

And I was thinking of buying one not now.

[@lanedexter6303]

That is a very interesting malfunction, but also a DEFINITE malfunction that CAN be repeated. Taurus should have fixed that. Well, Sam, LOL, right now you are selling S&W and Ruger (if not Rock Island and EAA). Let’s hope Taurus is watching.👍

[@GunSam]

I should do a video with my Ruger and S&W problems over the years. Would be the shortest video I ever made!

[@d.mangham5204]

@@GunSam , Yes, Sam, you really should!!

[@smartacus88]

I just love your channel. You're a kindred spirit.

[@tomspencer3048]

No Taurus for me. It's to bad. Back in the early 80s I had a P 92 9mm that was fantastic, and shot many rounds. I won't be buying any new ones, and I was thinking of a 357 snub revolver from them I believe it's the model 605. Not now. Thank you Sam excellent video as always

[@nathanlambshead4778]

My 2 Taurus revolvers have not had any issues. Knock on wood. Neither have any of my Smiths or Rugers. But one can never 'champion' a brand just because you like it. 2 friends of mine with Pythons both experienced serious timing issues, with no more rounds through them than my S&W 686-2 Classic Hunter, which is still running smooth and accurate 30 years later. At a LOT less money.

[@justinharris5834]

I had the same problem same firearm...... took it back to the dealer...... and got a G3

[@PBVader]

From my experience on older revolvers when the hand is no longer contacting the pawl for a full timing event, the hand window must be eased back closer to centerline. Cylinder lockup key will not show proud until the last bit of timing event, except on exotic wheel guns. So the cylinder must remain free spool 80% of the time. I think they got the hand window too far off centerline, or the pawls were not long enough from centerline, or there's too much slop side to side in that hand window. Either way, I will be meticulous in any Taurus revolver inspection.

[@scottphipps3577]

I have had similar results with Taurus revolvers, but there is one taurus gun I must confess to liking a lot.. My girlfriend's TX-22. I ask her if I can borrow it fairly often.

[@christophernemeth421]

Very interesting. I have a Circuit Judge that does basically the same thing. With rounds in the cylinder, after 2 or 3 rounds are fired the cylinder will stop rotating. Dry firing it always seemed to work properly. I had assumed it was due to the gun heating up, it never dawned on me that the now unbalanced cylinder was the issue. At times I could get the CJ to fire properly by pulling the trigger off center, meaning not straight back. I bought the Circuit Judge right with the pandemic started so finding any, let alone cheap, .410 or 45 ammo stopped my experimenting.

[@christophernemeth421]

I finally got a chance to test this out on the Circuit Judge and had your experience. With only 2 fully loaded rounds in the bottom of the cylinder the cylinder would not rotate when pulling the trigger in DA. It was identical to your video. With the rounds at the top and gravity assisting them the cylinder would rotate when pulling the trigger, at least until the rounds reached the bottom again. On rare occasions the cylinder would decide not to rotate at all, which is due to this problem combined with the heavy judge cylinder.

[@LA_Commander]

Damn that's some good shooting, especially from a defective revolver! Kudos man. Your channel is very underrated you should have a lot more subscribers.

[@GunSam]

Thank you.

[@Tom-cp6yj]

I had my eye on the 2in 856 for some time due to the 6 round instead of 5 in most others.. I really wish Smith or Ruger would introduce something like a LCR "max" with slightly larger cylinder holding 1 more round.. I would be all over that!

[@P.HATHCOX]

It's disappointing that the Taurus customer service department responded like that. I had a PT111 a few years back that I had to send in for service due to the firing pin malfunction. Sending it to Taurus getting the firing pin replacement and getting it sent back to me only took about a month. Sounds like service may have gone downhill since then. Good to know.

[@semlohde1]

Very good review and you pointed out your problem. I'm convinced I have enough Taurus with the g3 and g3c.

[@GunSam]

Thanks. My G2C has been pretty good.

[@davepayne1915]

Thanks for the follow up video Sam. You convinced me re going for .38 special 3", but will now be looking for a different make.

[@zdub8438]

Loved my 2" so I ordered a defender and waited 10 months for my FFL to get it. Figured that extra inch of weight would tame recoil and increase accuracy. It increased recoil significantly since the powder can burn longer and build more pressure and I couldn't hit the broadside of the barn because it was patterning a mile low. I'm an ace with my 2" so it's not me. I made it through maybe 60 rounds before the cylinder, trigger, and hammer locked up completely. The gun was completely bricked. Took an hour to get the half cylinder of live ammo out of the gun. I don't think I ever got rid of a gun so fast.

[@lutherpayne9957]

If I had gunsmiths working for me that did that, I would question what their credentials are and send them back to school.

[@SuspiciousGanymede]

It's a bunch of Brazilians in a 3rd world toolshop. What do you expect, 21st century quality? The semi-auto handguns are produced in modern facilities while the revolvers are all done by hand.

[@GunSam]

@@SuspiciousGanymede The company is in Georgia now, and that's where they are repaired.

[@SuspiciousGanymede]

@@GunSam oh wow that really is bad, the last time i had to deal with taurus was 4 years ago and I ended up milling the replacement part myself because of absurd international wait times.

[@beardedrancher]

Charter arms makes a professional 357 3 inch 6 shot. They have great customer service

[@timshelley8635]

Great video! Thanks for the advice, I've had pretty good luck with Taurus semiautos lately and was considering a revolver, but....

[@dangerman007]

That's frustrating. Personally, I own several Taurus handguns and they all have worked great right out of the box...If it were my gun, I would send it back until either they fix it or replace it. The squeaky wheel gets the oil. I like the three-inch barrel as well (I use a magnum myself). The sight acquisition is lighting quick and you really don't loose much in velocity compared to a snub.

[@Johnny-jr2lq]

I have to agree with you Sam in regards to the recoil with 38 compared to 357. I have fell in the rabbit hole of reloading. And of course the first thing I want to reload is the hottest 357 mag I possibly could find data for. And yes a full house 357 mag load is loud and lots of recoil. However you can’t hit anything with that kind of load. Now if I load up a 38 with a mid range load I can chew out the center of whatever I’m shooting at. I have noticed this across the board with both pistol ammo and rifle ammoz

[@johnray9088]

Certainly is frustrating to see this happening. I'm in a battle with Savage over a .350 bolt i got for hunting. At first the last round wouldn't feed. So, I sent the magazine in. It came back but still having the same issue. Next time it came back but now won't feed at all. Now they want me to send the rifle in on my dime. I'll be giving them another call tomorrow.

[@cgsimons1187]

Maybe you're right. I kind of like a Ruger SP101 with a 3" barrel in .357 Mag. Though that is heavier than a typical 5 shot revolver. The accuracy seems sufficient for close range encounters which are more likely to happen. Though perhaps a .38 Special would be easier to fire with greater precision especially at longer distances. I have to wonder about the .327 Mag revolvers since they have less recoil than the .357 Mag and add an additional round in the cylinder compared to either .357 Mag or .38 Special.

[@basedyt6485]

I had two Model 85s in the 90s. No complaints. Taurus QC since 98ish seems spotty. I don't buy their products. LCR all the way! I've seen ONE LCR with a funky barrel crown, out of 20 examined & 4 purchased.

[@Half-Fizzbin]

Thanks for the video... I'm sorry you're having problems. I do not currently own any Taurus firearms, and your experience helps confirm that I should probably never purchase a Taurus product. For revolvers I will probably stick with either Ruger, S&W, Kimber, Colt, Chiappa, and possibly EAA Windicator. Besides saying no to Taurus products, I would probably also be hesitant to get a revolver from either Charter Arms or Rock Island Armory. I'm a believer in the consumer philosophy of 'you get what you pay for'.

[@sstritmatter2158]

I've got a Taurus M44ss .44 mag I use in black bear country. I've run it through the tests and holds up. Happens to be a rugged gun and haven't seen much on that particular modiel having issues. I've heard of problems happening with older Taurus's but thought they had fixed their issues. Obviously on some they could use a bit more quality.

[@markbotta8567]

Clearly there was no short pull on the trigger. Well, let's hope Taurus enjoys their "free" advertisement.

[@GunSam]

If they had responded to me I would have released a different video. They stopped responding so I released it.

[@mkshffr4936]

I am looking at RIA as they have a reputation for customer service and the problems I have heard of have been minor ones solved with a dab of thread lock.

[@SuspiciousGanymede]

Rock island is very much quick to blame you for issues with your firearm as well. Luckily 1911s are easy enough to service and the majority of problems are magazine related.

[@YellowHammer26]

I have an ria model 200 38 spl and have had no problems with it.I’ve had it about3 years and it has functioned flawlessly.

[@mkshffr4936]

@@SuspiciousGanymede Are the 1911s also Armscor built?

[@SuspiciousGanymede]

@@mkshffr4936 yes, I have three of them in different calibers. The only issues I had were because they use cheap magazines in them. I swapped to better magazines and they have been going strong. The 10mm 2011 I have took a lot of tuning to handle max power loads without problems.

[@coldsteelbill.9089]

When I purchase my Raging Judge Magnum. Model.513. I was getting extreme shavings off of it. To the point where I had a couple of large slithers of copper jacket and bedded in my face. I sent the revolver to Taurus for repairs. They shot it three times said nothing was wrong with it and sent it back. As you experienced. Unrepared. So I bit the bullet took it to a gunsmith and had it fixed. By the way. If you got yours back in 3 weeks. That was fantastic.

[@jfannin6036]

Hey I had a 856. The exact same thing happened. But the firing pin fell out one day. Sent it in n they said it was un-fixable n sent me a new one without the problem. My advice would be break the gun. send it in n get a new one. Sucks but it may fix ur problems

[@jaredpeterson380]

I recently bought a 605. Only problem so far is the cylinder release doesn't release the cylinder. Takes a strong push on the cylinder to get it open.

[@GunSam]

I guess in some respects, not the worst issue to have. At least if you get into a close up fight you got 5 rounds not falling out!

[@jaredpeterson380]

@@GunSam very true.

[@R_K_S2401]

Sorry to hear about your Taurus and their crappy customer service. But I do agree with you with a 3 inch barrel snub nose. I carry an INA tiger revolver chambered in 38 special. And since it's not rated for plus p I usually run 158 grain lead round nose by federal as my defensive load. Nice little gun to conceal.

[@jesseboutdoors]

I bought my first two Taurus guns cause I heard their service was better. Now I hope I don’t have any issues with mine.

[@dcidci1012]

For revolvers I recommend Smith, Colt, Ruger. For semi auto Colt, Smith, Beretta also Browning & a PPK from Walther & no one should especially a beginner ever own a semi auto with out a manual safety, Glock stands at the forefront of accidental shootings.

[@GunSam]

In all my years of shooting I have found that the most consistent company is S&W, owned many revolvers and autos from them, some of them 30 years old with zero problems. Ruger is good too, but I have had a problem or two. Glock can be okay, but I have had a problem or two, Taurus I have had nothing but problems.

[@guilleive]

I own a S&W 36-3 in 3 inch, square butt, I love it. Also own a Taurus 85 from de 90's 2", very heavy trigger but never a fail. I hope You can fix your 856

[@oldtanker4860]

That is pretty definitive. If any Taurus administrative folks are watching I betcha they are not liking the taste of crow.

[@crankygunreviews]

teh cylinder is releasing off the stop, but the hand is not engaged so it is not advancing the cylinder. Ask for a new revolver or a credit towards a new gun. Their repair swapping the barrel may fix the issue, but realistically, it probably needed a new cylinder, or a longer hand... not sure... You're right, 3" 38 special is about perfect. Even in a 357, shoot some good +p 38 special., and it is amazing to shoot. I really like the 158 grain rounds as well. You seem to shoot almost just like me with a revolver- i seem to adjust my grip of my left hand after every shot- i notice you do the same. I shoot so many revolvers, I tend to teacup or grip my semi-'s the same way. I don't like the "thumbs forward" grip on semi's - feel unnatural.

[@GunSam]

I will readjust depending on what I am doing and the gun. If I am fast shooting like a defensive drill, I never readjust. If I am running ammo through the chronograph, testing for accuracy potential or something similar I readjust to make sure my aim is dead on.

[@crankygunreviews]

@@GunSam I don’t even know I’m doing it when shooting- only notice when I go back and watch my videos

[@bglk2310]

Was always a bit learry of buying a Taurus revolver so just saved and spent the extra on SW. Had a problem with a 657 years ago , called SW ,dropped it off at the factory ( I only live an hour away) , got it back by the end of the week no issues. I can't believe they try and say your short stroking the trigger! Major insult to you my friend. Keep the vids coming love the channel.

[@GunSam]

Thanks. I felt the same way awhile back, bought several S&W revolvers. It's just like, for me I just want something I can afford to add variety to the channel, so a $350 3" revolver sounded about right.

[@LionquestFitness]

@@GunSam Plus S&W isn't making much in the way of three inch revolvers these days. I'd love to see the three inch Model 10 and Model 36 make a comeback.

[@Lampsha]

Just took my brand new 856 to the range. Does the same thing. I had a Rossi 351 that got replaced by the 856 due to the Rossi recall. Wish it did not get exchanged.

[@matthewtalich9989]

That's to bad that gun really filled a niche and there's just not any firearms manufacturers making anything like it. I think Ruger offers a 3" version of the LCRX in 38 special +p but it's a five shot. Then all the other 6 shot 3" guns I can think of are 357 magnums. Jerry Miculek also really advocates 38 special for defensive use and carry though he often promotes doing it in a 357 Magnum. But on the subject of quality control Sadly with gun sales as high as they are at this moment in time quality control at many companies has gone out the window.

[@frankbutta9344]

I remember seeing the awful groups before the barrel was replaced. HUGE DIFFERENCE! 👍👍👍👍

[@ronaldarchie7276]

I have worked on older and newer revolvers for many years including the make of yours from 22 to 357 mag the only time I have seen this problem is either a worn or wrong hand or hand spring. I have a H&R 32 S&WL revolver with that problem right now the hand is worn and needs to be replaced I will replace the hand and the spring as soon as I get the parts from Numrich in NY.

[@shadowwolf2524]

I just sold my G2C yesterday. I bought it new and never fired it. Nothing wrong with it- except it was a Taurus. I do like some of their guns. But their customer service SUCKS !!! I know from more than one experience.

[@theparalexview785]

Looks like the Taurus revolver, by design, has a slight problem with hand timing and/or length. With my Ruger SP101 and S&W J-frames it is *possible* to rotate the cylinder by slowly staging the trigger and stopping just as the cylinder bolt drops -- but the hand drags the cylinder, and there's enough spring pressure on the hand to provide friction to prevent the cylinders from spinning freely. It's necessary to push the cylinders past the friction between the hand and cylinder (which isn't a good practice, but done only for comparison). As the trigger is pulled slightly farther the cylinder bolt pops up again to re-engage the next chamber notch in the cylinder. At that point the cylinder will not turn regardless of whether it's unbalanced by having only one or two rounds chambered. Unfortunately I no longer have Colt revolvers for comparison (sold most of my collection to family several years ago), but as I recall from referring to Kunhausen's excellent shop manuals (highly recommended, BTW), the classic Colt revolvers had two lockup points for the cylinder when the trigger was fully depressed, so it did lock up tighter than the Ruger or S&W revolvers. Anyway, it's possible an experienced gunsmith could modify the Taurus to reduce the risk of the cylinder spinning while staging or slowly pulling the trigger. Perhaps by using a heavier spring on the hand, or a slightly elongated hand. I've never owned a Taurus or checked the exploded parts diagrams, so I don't know how close they are to the S&W or other revolvers internally. Unfortunately, judging from quality control problems reported by other guntubers -- hrfunk, on his new S&W Performance Center Combat Magnum, IIRC; mixup98's Charter Arms -- the era of experienced revolver craftsmen is over. S&W, Taurus, Charter Arms and Colt may be willing to at least consider fixing problems with new revolvers, but those guns should never have left the factory in less than fully functional condition. In decades of buying revolvers from the early 1900s S&W and Colts, through the 1980s-'90s Rugers and S&W, I never once encountered a revolver with mechanical problems, even with well worn military surplus S&W 1917 models -- unless the gun had been butchered by a kitchen table "gunsmith," as was the case with an old S&W 1905 that had originally been chambered in .38 S&W for the Hong Kong police and later badly modified to .38 Special. I bought that gun on impulse from a pawn shop without first inspecting it thoroughly.

[@gus9376]

my brand new 856 cylinder was binding on it straight out of the box never even fired a round through it , i sent it in and they said i needed a replacement gun that they couldnt fix mine . I got a new revolver from them and it seems ok but have had a chance to try yet .

[@baird329]

I bought the new Taurus 327 mag and had a plunger/cylinder stop issue. I took it apart to try fixing it myself and later paid a whopping 22 dollars to a gunsmith to fix it because I figured I'd voided the warranty. He replaced the plunger spring and I have a great little 327 magnum that is okay with 327 mag and loves 32 ACP and 32 S&W long ammo. The older I get the more I love the mouse gun calibers. Being a lefty of a certain age I love revolvers and never really got into the semi auto thing. You miss one of the main reasons for young shooters to carry a revolver. Some people don't practice enough or any and a revolver doesn't fail to feed from limp wristing or jam because of pocket lint from being carried for years and never cleaned or practiced with. I know the party line is tell the ccw person to practice more, but that's like telling someone to do anything. They won't do it even though its good for them.

[@peterreily1490]

I get it. Eh, spotty QC and even spottier CS. Hopefully my 627 6.5” never has an issue. Also have a 605 as a back up bed side. I really don’t mind firing 357 mag out of my 605. I do drills with it but don’t really notice any difference in impact as 38+P and recoils manageable. I do agree with a 3” 38 loaded with +P though. It’s kind of that sweet spot. Then again my charter pitbull in 45 acp came with the smooth as silk, glass trigger. Everyone always asks what I did to the trigger. Nothing it came as a “performance” trigger. While my fathers bulldog 44 Spl trigger is like dragging concrete through broken glass and rocks. Luck of the draw.

[@dbryant7040]

I had a Protector Poly 38+P doing the same thing. Taurus said send it back, then they sent me a new 856 in its place. Sent in a 5 shot, got a 6 shot back. So far no problems.