Brand discussion

So I am in the market for a new 44. I really don't want a master piece I just want something that will shoot well and last. I have Blackhawks and SW's, I wanted something new/different. I was wondering what people thought about the Taurus Raging Bull line. I see they have added a new line called," Large frame," which appear to have a single cylinder latch and a one piece barrel. I have heard mixed opinions on the company. They are good looking guns with their porting and matt finish. I know they are not American made but at least they are not made in China. I have a pocket revolver from Taurus that is always on me but never messed with their large frames. Though I am still leaning toward a Ruger Super Redhawk I like giving every company a fair chance. I am not into buying something for a name. I like sh*t what just works well.

If ya like stuff that works, you won't like the raging bull.

I have had 3 Taurus snubnose revlovers, 2 out of 3 were crap, to the point of being unsafe to shoot after maybe 100 rounds. save your money.

Buy a Ruger or S&W

Guess it didn't take much of a discussion.

I had a Raging Bull in 454. Hated it and traded it for a 44 mag super Blackhawk.

Have you thought about a double-action Ruger? Redhawk or Super Redhawk?

I had a Raging Bull in 454. It was great when it didn't loosen up. I returned it 3 times before I finally gave up.

I'd opt for a Ruger or another S&W. I've been drooling over the S&W 29 with 4 inch barrel for sometime.

The Redhawk was first on the list. Just wanted to hear thoughts on the Taurus. Not a very popular gun I guess. I have several SW's already.

Maybe Ill look into a TC with the 14inch 44mag barrel. I have got multiple revolvers but I don't have a TC pistol. I have read people getting good results from the longer 44mag barrel. Probably a really fun gun to shoot. Thoughts on this combination. Any first hand experience?

I just bought a contender in 223 with a 14 inch barrel. Have been thinking about another barrel to deer hunt with next year.

I figure that if I ever wanted to go the 357 or 44 route, I'd get an Encore barrel. You'd definitely be able to get quite a bit more performance out of a single shot than a revolver.

Good choice.

So what the actual difference between the TC pro hunter and the Encor.

Pro Hunter has a fluted barrel and swing hammer.

I have three Raging Bull pistols an 8 3/8" .454; an 8 3/8" .480 Ruger, and a 5" .454 Casull. I have shot these quite a bit (over 1,000 rounds through the 8 3/8" 454 and over 500 rounds through the 480), and have experienced no problems. I have found them to be both accurate and reliable.

Nope. Not at all. Saying "Taurus Raging Bull" in this forum is like cursing in front of the preacher!

I had a Raging Bull in 454 and loved it. Killed several animals with it and never had a problem with it. I only sold it to help fund one of my single shot projects. I've owned and shot Freedom Arms and Ruger 454's, neither was as accurate or easy to shoot as the Raging Bull. Wvhitman has one in 500 S&W and loves it. He has probably taken more game with his handguns than everyone else combined on this site. Who knows, maybe we just were lucky, but some of us never had a problem.

Yeah, sorry Franchise. I'm probably a little hard on Taurus cause I had a couple buddies that bought them at the same time and both had problems with them from day one.

You're right though. There are some out there that will shoot, and will shoot well. There are custom guns out there that have problems and need worked on as well. Mine was one of them!

Anything mechanical can break. Just facts of life.

GG,

Have had and still have many Taurus handguns. Had a problem with rough chambers in a model 627, 357 Tracker. Sent it back and it was returned in short order, satisfactorily repaired. Of the 20+ Taurus handguns, that was the only one with a problem. I have Colts, S&W, Freedom Arms, Ruger, T/C, etc. Use and like them all! Have a slightly used, excellent blued Encore 44 Mag, 12" barrel with Weaver base for sale. If interested, PM me.

Doc

I knew this topic would have very mixed opinions but I think I may try out a TC of some variation. Like I said, I have several nice wheel guns but never had a single shot. And you can't argue with American Made

I am definitely a Ruger fan but, we all stray a little. I bought a Magnum Research BFR in 475L and was totally impressed with the revolver. Well built and very accurate. I am not trying to take away anything from Rugers SRH, as a matter fact I just purchased one in 44 mag. IMHO the BFR deserves a look.

GG,

I forgot about my BFRs, x2 dhom.

Doc

My impulsivity gave in. I ordered a TC Encore 44 mag with a 15 inch barrel in stainless. I went with the Encore bc it is the stronger of the two frames in case I want to get a larger mag one day. I know the longer barrel may be a little excessive but it will probably make the gun really fun to shoot and my dealer found one in stock. It should be here by Monday or Tuesday. The price was $700OTD. I didn't get any deal but looking online that is about what they are if I were to order from a website and get it shipped to the Keys and transferred.

I bet you'll be able to get some crazy high velocities with that barrel. Be sure to post some pictures when you get it in.

That's gonna be fun!!!

SO the gun came in today and the barrel is not drilled for a scope. My dealer said he believed it was supposed to be and called Thompson and was told by a rep. they don't offer drilled handgun barrels anymore. Anybody know anything about this. Every picture I see of TC's they have a scope. Are they all aftermarket or do many send them out to a Gun Smith to be drilled?

Does it not have a rear sight? The scope bases have always used the same holes as the rear sight.

It does. I haven't seen the gun yet. The dealer called me and told me it wasn't tapped.

I just called TC and they don't tap their handgun barrels for scopes. I thought the holes for the open sights were the same holes for a base. Am I wrong?

Same holes.

Simply remove the rear sight and install a scope base for a TC Contender or Encore (depending on what you have).

Yes, unless they are doing something different these days, there should be 4 holes under the rear sight.

All the T/C barrels I've messed with used the same holes for the open sight as for the scope base.

Three Cheers for the Redhawk!

I picked the TC up. I locks up a lot tighter then I thought it would. It feels like a really solid weapon. I cant wait to shoot it. My dealer had never ordered a TC before so he didn't know the holes for the base were under the sight. When I showed him he was a little embarrassed. I have a Weaver scope and Leupold rings waiting to be mounted. The base wont be here until Monday.

When you get it completely put together, we need some pictures!

Finally put the 44mag together. The wife took it when it came in and didn't let me play with it until Christmas.

Anyway, got it to the range yesterday and it shoots great but the ejector doesn't seem to catch the casings. It slips under and doesn't pull them out. I briefly read online that this is not an uncommon problem with these guns. This is the first TC I have shot or owned. I played with it later and noticed the ejector seems like it's free floating in the track. It seems like it should have a spring to give it some upward tension on the casing. Any thoughts?

Also, how many screws is everybody using to mount the bases onto the barrel? I could only use two of the four threaded holes. The two which heald the open sight seemed shallower then the remaining two.

I'd want all four with a 44. Is it posssible that there is just something in the bottom of other two holes, like threadlocker or epoxy?

I've never owned an encore but if it's anything like a contender you will want to find a way to use all four screws. Get that problem solved and you will really like it. It may not take you long to decide since you are carrying something that long and heavy you might as well be shooting a cartridge with more range like a 308 or one of the magnums. Then you'll want something cheaper and easier to plink with. In comes the 223 barrel. That's just the fun of the TC platform.

GG, you should be able to use all four. Refer to s4s4u's suggestion.

Ill take it apart and take a look at the remaining threaded holes. Does anybody have any input about the ejector problem?

My Encore has the same issue about the ejector slipping off the cases. It does it rarely enough that I'm not too concerned, but I'm interested in any suggestions that might correct it.

I have a TC Contender with a 14" bbl, shot one deer with it. 75 yard shot, 1st doe I'd ever shot, and flattend her right there with a head shot. Bull bbl, and open sights. 245 grain Keith type SWC.