Does anyone have experience with this gun in .44 Mag?
I am in the market for a .44 Mag revolver as protection from bears. I noticed the Taurus are much less expensive than a Smith, but I don’t know why???
I guess I’d like to hear your opinion on the Taurus; the good, the bad, the ugly.
From what I gather the Taurus versus S&W seems to me more of an interal quality issue, Most people will agree S&W makes a higher quality gun, though tauruses usually look very nice, seems the interal components and such are not as refined. Basically it would take more money to bring a Taurus up to a S&W fit and finish than it would for you to buy a smith right off the bat. This is the impression people keep giving me, so take it for what it’s worth.
OK, now that being said, seems they (Taurus) do make guns that work perfect from day one, never an issue, I’ve also seen a fair amount of complaints, mostly on the Customer service once someone sends a gun in, apparently it’s not so great, nor do they always fix the problem the first time or a timely mannor, but they do offer a lifetime warranty…
I guess for me it came down to our smith is used for CC, we bought a revolver because they are the most reliable guns, so we went for the “best” ( in our price range) in .38 the price difference isn’t a whole lot either. In general I got them impression you can’t go wrong with a smith, and a taurus can be hit or miss, generally their revolvers are pretty good though.
Not sure that helps any 
, my gun experince is very limited, at very least hopefully my impressions will stir some more feedback. 
From what I gather the Taurus versus S&W seems to me more of an interal quality issue, Most people will agree S&W makes a higher quality gun, though tauruses usually look very nice, seems the interal components and such are not as refined. Basically it would take more money to bring a Taurus up to a S&W fit and finish than it would for you to buy a smith right off the bat. This is the impression people keep giving me, so take it for what it’s worth.
OK, now that being said, seems they (Taurus) do make guns that work perfect from day one, never an issue, I’ve also seen a fair amount of complaints, mostly on the Customer service once someone sends a gun in, apparently it’s not so great, nor do they always fix the problem the first time or a timely mannor, but they do offer a lifetime warranty…
I guess for me it came down to our smith is used for CC, we bought a revolver because they are the most reliable guns, so we went for the “best” ( in our price range) in .38 the price difference isn’t a whole lot either. In general I got them impression you can’t go wrong with a smith, and a taurus can be hit or miss, generally their revolvers are pretty good though.
Not sure that helps any , my gun experince is very limited, at very least hopefully my impressions will stir some more feedback.
I don’t have a raging bull any longer but grew up shooting one, it made every bwca trip I was on, always reliable. There is nothing wrong with them, they shoot well, the sound, look and feel are impressive. That gun NEVER failed, always BARKED!! Purchasing another raging bull is high on my gun list. The Taurus is a fine weapon for the money. It’s not a weapon that’s made for plinking or goofing off, although I did a fair amount of that exactly. I miss that gun!! Some day I’ll have another. Tough to beat for the price.
BIRDDOG
I don’t have a raging bull any longer but grew up shooting one, it made every bwca trip I was on, always reliable. There is nothing wrong with them, they shoot well, the sound, look and feel are impressive. That gun NEVER failed, always BARKED!! Purchasing another raging bull is high on my gun list. The Taurus is a fine weapon for the money. It’s not a weapon that’s made for plinking or goofing off, although I did a fair amount of that exactly. I miss that gun!! Some day I’ll have another. Tough to beat for the price.
BIRDDOG
I don’t know much about the Raging Bull series but I have a Taurus 9mm 24/7 Pro and I’m very happy with it. I can find 115 grain up to 1550fps in barrel velocity so I’ve been using 17 shot clips as my choice of deterrants. I know, I know…… makes a lot of guys shiver but the energy at that speed is good enough to get the job done if you’re not trying to make a one-shot poke through the helmet. The gun can shoot multiple rounds per second without jamming up and with 17 shots, well……. it’s going to put a serious hurt on whatever’s getting the barage. If I get a chance to load clip #2, it’s hamburger.
All that being said, it’s because I’m only dealing with black bears. Encounters are rare, deadly encounters are very few and far between. I actually have a greater concern over cougar sightings than I do the presence of black bears. If I need to ward off a bear, chances are I’m not being ambushed and will have ample opportunity to crack off all the rounds I need to achieve it’s retreat…… if not it’s death. I’ve seen this accomplished with a 16 gauge shotgun, with #6 shot, and a .38 Special on two seperate accounts. High performance 9mm will out perform either one of these two. Close range shooting is the key.
If I were to feel the absolute need for more firepower, I’d go to a .41 mag. All the same performance of a .44 without all the recoil. I’ve had too many injuries as a youth and recoil is a real issue for me. I’d find a .41.
I don’t know much about the Raging Bull series but I have a Taurus 9mm 24/7 Pro and I’m very happy with it. I can find 115 grain up to 1550fps in barrel velocity so I’ve been using 17 shot clips as my choice of deterrants. I know, I know…… makes a lot of guys shiver but the energy at that speed is good enough to get the job done if you’re not trying to make a one-shot poke through the helmet. The gun can shoot multiple rounds per second without jamming up and with 17 shots, well……. it’s going to put a serious hurt on whatever’s getting the barage. If I get a chance to load clip #2, it’s hamburger.
All that being said, it’s because I’m only dealing with black bears. Encounters are rare, deadly encounters are very few and far between. I actually have a greater concern over cougar sightings than I do the presence of black bears. If I need to ward off a bear, chances are I’m not being ambushed and will have ample opportunity to crack off all the rounds I need to achieve it’s retreat…… if not it’s death. I’ve seen this accomplished with a 16 gauge shotgun, with #6 shot, and a .38 Special on two seperate accounts. High performance 9mm will out perform either one of these two. Close range shooting is the key.
If I were to feel the absolute need for more firepower, I’d go to a .41 mag. All the same performance of a .44 without all the recoil. I’ve had too many injuries as a youth and recoil is a real issue for me. I’d find a .41.
I can recommend the stainless Raging Bull 44 Mag. The one with the 8-3/8″ is very accurate out to 50 yards. My buddy has a Taurus model 44 with the same barrel length. Slightly different looking barrel and no red stripe on the grips. He uses his for deer hunting and plinking. I’m thinking about using mine for deer? but mostly for plinking 
You should be able to find them for $400 used to $600 depending on extras.
Drawbacks…at 65 ounces it very heavy and not a CC option.
Ammo runs around $27-$30+ a box of 50 and it seems as though everyone is continuously out of the cheaper plinking stuff.
It kicks pretty good with Magtechs so I start flinching after a few wheels.
Pros…cheap(relatively), dependable, troublefree, Dirty Harry used a .44Mag 
I also have 2 buddy’s with S&W’s .44Mags who have no problem with theirs either…except the price!
Good luck with your decision,
Ferny
I can recommend the stainless Raging Bull 44 Mag. The one with the 8-3/8″ is very accurate out to 50 yards. My buddy has a Taurus model 44 with the same barrel length. Slightly different looking barrel and no red stripe on the grips. He uses his for deer hunting and plinking. I’m thinking about using mine for deer? but mostly for plinking
You should be able to find them for $400 used to $600 depending on extras.
Drawbacks…at 65 ounces it very heavy and not a CC option.
Ammo runs around $27-$30+ a box of 50 and it seems as though everyone is continuously out of the cheaper plinking stuff.
It kicks pretty good with Magtechs so I start flinching after a few wheels.
Pros…cheap(relatively), dependable, troublefree, Dirty Harry used a .44Mag
I also have 2 buddy’s with S&W’s .44Mags who have no problem with theirs either…except the price!
Good luck with your decision,
Ferny
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