I have bought S&W guns all my life and never had a problem with them. So I see no reason to change that habit. I would buy a Taurus at any given time if I find one that strikes my fancy. I use to do a lot of trading around with guns and I have had more than a few Taurus and there was nothing wrong with them. It's just I could make more with the Smiths,Colts and Rugers.

The S&W more for the resale/market value than anything else. I have 3 Taurus revolvers and I have never had a problem. I have the 617 and have placed many HOT 357 full Magnum rounds downrange with the only problem being the web of my hand absorbing all that recoil. I have 2 S&W's, but I tend to gravitate to the older smith's like my 57 or model 10.
Either way you will be happy.

If your'e on a tight budget, get a Taurus. Otherwise buy a Smith.

taurus has the better price, smith has the better quality. what's more important to you? have you looked at rugers yet? they have a great selection of top notch revolvers too, my choice for 357's.

I have gone through many .357 Magnum revolvers, and I believe the S & W Model 586 Distinguished Combat Magnum to be the finest DA .357 Magnum of all, including the original 357 Magnum, the Model 27. I found the Model 27 and the Colt Python to have cylinders slightly too short to handle some of my heavy bullet handloads.

In the '60s, custom smiths were putting Python barrels on the Model 19, with good results, though somewhat short lived. The 19 couldn't hold up to a steady diet of heavy magnum loads, which prompted Smith to introduce the L-frame. This, in my opiniion, became the perfect match of gun frame to cartridge.

As to single actions, the pre-73 Ruger Blackhawks and current flattop Blackhawks are pretty hard to beat.

Bob Wright

Don't discount Ruger's GP100 or Security Six(if you can find one).

out of all the da pistols, I have to choose the S&W. It has a much better trigger.

Colt and Ruger make nice revolvers, but my favorite will always be S&W. Taurus isn't even close in my opinion.

Originally Posted by hberttmank

Colt and Ruger make nice revolvers, but my favorite will always be S&W. Taurus isn't even close in my opinion.

I concur

I like them both but picked the Taurus. They are accurate, reliable and affordable

My Taurus .... I have never had a single problem with it.

Originally Posted by a1huntingsupply

I like them both but picked the Taurus. They are accurate, reliable and affordable

My Taurus .... I have never had a single problem with it.

same here.. I found the Taurus to be a wonderful handgun.

I chose Taurus because of price. I don't have anything against S&W. They are fine guns by all accounts. I'm just more price sensitive when it comes to revolvers.

I choose the S&W because there wasn't an option for Ruger. If it were a woods or house gun it would be a GP-100 and if a carry gun an SP-101. I own both S&W and Taurus but don't feel they hold up like a Ruger.

Currently have three Taurus, three S&W, and had a SP101. Never a problem with any of them. Traded the 642 I had for a Taurus 651 because I prefer the shrouded hammer for DA/SA.

I surely don't have enough information. New? Used? Models? Use? And prices?

Personally I would buy a Taurus. If money was no object, I would probably get a S&W. Unfortunately money is always a consideration.

I love my taurus. It's a blast to shoot and the price was unbeatable.

Originally Posted by Theprofessor

What would you choose and why?

S&W has a long standing reputation for quality, backed by quality Customer Service/Warranty Repair.. Excellent resale value.

Taurus has a long standing reputation for "iffy" quality, back by Poor Customer Service/Warranty Repair. Not so excellent resale value.

No brainer.....

Just personal opinion/YMMV.

J. Pomeroy

For investment an S&W, to carry and really shoot, A Dan Wesson Model 15 or 715.

Taurus isn't in my future, it was in my past though, what a nightmare.

I've had a S&W 686. I have a Taurus 608 and a Ruger SRH. They are all fine revolvers. The Ruger is a tank and rough and over sprung out of the box. Drop lighter springs and a bit of filing and polishing and the thing becomes butter...butter!

The S&W is a damn fine gun but honestly the Taurus is so comparable that I really would not buy another S&W given their higher prices...unless you are going to sell it. My 608 has the best action out-of-the-box I have ever felt on any other revolvers and the amount of polishing and filing needed was minimal and the springs are almost dead-on. The 608 has a smoother action than my former 686.

The Ruger SRW is my favorite large revolver and the 608 my favorite .375 followed by the Ruger GP. I'm not a huge fan of the Raging Bulls.

I like old S&W's. I don't care for the quality of the new ones I've seen lately. I don't like Taurus at all. I had one that malfunctioned right out of the box. I sent it back and they never did get it to work right. I've found Rugers to be of very high quality and very strong. Ruger has greatly improved the action on their GP models to the point I think they are better than the new S&Ws.

Neither, I prefer Ruger or Colt. Exclude the Colt since they dont make em anymore. I only own one S&W, no issues with it as of yet, but its pretty new. I never have owned a Taurus, but I have never heard anything good about them either.

My CCW is a S&W Mod. 19 Combat Magnum in 357. I never ran the s# but it I think built in the late 60's or early 70's. It's rode hard and put up oiled and works 100% (it's a 2") I like Tauras' autos, but don't care for their revolver.

Get a Ruger and be happy.