I have a Taurus .357 revolver. I would NOT purchase another. It came (from the factory) with two minor defects; one defect in the rifling (which I did not notice for a long time), and the other being slightly sub-optimal cylinder timing (which I did not consider a problem until the cylinder lockup started loosening). I'm guessing I've probably put somewhere between 500 and 1,000 rounds through it, some .357 and some .38... It still shoots fine but is not as accurate as it could be (defective rifling), and not as reliable as it should be (I had some off-center primer strikes last time out. It always goes bang but it seems to be getting worse). That said, I will never take this firearm to the range again - the way I figure, there may only be another 50-100 rounds left in her before she becomes unreliable, and I'd rather save those rounds for when I might really need them.
True, Taurus offers a lifetime warranty, and I could send it back anytime - but you have to ship the firearm to Taurus, overnight, at a cost of about $75-$80. Then you have to wait for them to fix it. Then you have to be at home to sign for it when it comes back. Pretty big hassle, when I could have just spent an extra $100 or $150 on a better revolver.
My theory on Taurus/Rossi revolvers is this: If you're looking for a nightstand gun that will be fired only a few dozen times then put away until (God forbid) you have to use it to save your life - Taurus/Rossi revolvers fit the bill. But if you're looking for a range gun, or if you like to practice and plan to put several hundred rounds per year through it - buy a Smith or Ruger.
