Taurus 92 vs Beretta 92

[TMan]

While in the gun store yesterday, a guy brought in two guns that he wanted to trade. The owner wasn't there so the guy behind the counter looked at them and then told him they would have to come back. One was a Taurus 92 and the other was a Colt Trooper III in .22LR. (I think it was "trooper"; know it was Colt and had a III on the barrel. It had after market grips and was a real handful. After the guy left, the counter guy whipped out his "blue book" and looked them up. He made a face at the Taurus, and then said he wouldn't give him anything for the Colt without the original grips.

I really like my Taurus 608 revolver and I've kind of wondered about his reaction to the semi-automatic. Does anyone have any experience with the pistol? They any good? I've shot the Beretta 92FS, and decided against it, but with the price on this used Taurus version

[5ontarget]

Tman-

The fact you do not like the Beretta, you probably won't like the Taurus clone of it....depending on what it was you didn't like. Trigger, grip, and that kind of thing can be changed, as you know.
One of my shooting partners has one and I shoot it very well. Recoil wasn't bad, but a little more than I expected from a full sized metal 9mm. Trigger was smooth and easy in SA, sorry I can't remember what it was like in DA. I've read a couple of chapters on gunsmithing the 92 and it seems "smith friendly" for a number of mods. (Don't ask why I read about smithing a gun I don't own)
I shoot it as well, maybe better than my trusty ruger P89 (I know, it seems like an odd comparison, but it is the only other 9mm I currently own.) He shoots my ruger better than the taurus, hmm maybe a trade. Nah, I like the old ruger too much, despite popular opinion. I just can't seem to get rid of a gun that I shoot well, and enjoy shooting. But maybe a friendly purchase....

I will tell you after he shot my XD .357sig, he bought the .40 within a couple of weeks. Since then his Taurus hasn't seen the action used to. I have to ask him to bring it out so I can shoot it.

I don't think it will compare to some of your recent 9mm purchases but it is fun to shoot. Around here, they don't stay on the shelves too long, very popular guns. Also have a lot of military/retired military, and these are the guns/clones of the guns that they are issued. If I had one, and didn't like it, I could sell/trade it with little to no loss.

[5ontarget]

Hey didn't you just buy a new browning this past week, and a that kimber 9mm a month or so back, and the infamous stampede, and 2-3guns for Christmas, and the, and the..... Don't you have enough guns to break in....save some for the rest of us ;D

Kidding, of course. Happy & Safe shooting.

[TMan]

5ontarget said:

Hey didn't you just buy a new browning this past week, and a that kimber 9mm a month or so back, and the infamous stampede, and 2-3guns for Christmas, and the, and the.....

I know, I know, I just had a good year in the stock market so I made some other "investments". This year will be different - there isn't that much else around that I want. Maybe another Beretta Stampede, but Color-Case Hardened vs. nickle. Concerning the 92, I'm always willing to give a gun a second chance. I just thought if the Tarus was like the used Tanfoglio I once bought I'd be better of spending the money on ammo.

I enjoy, buying, shooting, working on, and even cleaning with the exception of those pesky revolver cylinders. That 10 round cylinder .22LR revolver I bought - I shot and cleaned once and shipped it off to storage. Buying that was a dumb move.

["DoubleAction"]

TMan said:

Maybe another Beretta Stampede, but Color-Case Hardened vs. nickle.

TMan; Look real good on the offerings of the Stampede; I think it is case colored, rather than color case hardened.

www.berettaweb.com/Beretta%20Stampede/Stampede.htm

[TMan]

DoubleAction said:

... I think it is case colored, rather than color case hardened.

Good thing I don't have any pride: okay, what is the difference?

[logical]

I still own the second gun I ever purchased.....a Taurus 99. It's the adjustable sight, stainless version with the de-cocker/safety.

I like this gun as much or more than any other 9mm I have shot. It's a little big for my small hands and I'd probably never CCW it for that reason but it's reliable, very well made and accurate. Mine was made in the 1980's I believe. I am not so sure the newer Taurus autos are such fine weapons.

["DoubleAction"]

TMan said:

Good thing I don't have any pride: okay, what is the difference?

TMan; Case Colored is a procedure done to duplicate the surface's appearance of true color case hardened steel. I have Ruger Vaquero with a colored case frame, and although it's cosmetic appearance might fool some, it is obviously not the real thing.
The Uberti revolvers had the true color case hardened frames, but it's apparent that Beretta might be using the less expensive cost cutting process to increase the profit margin, while remaining in the competitive market place with price control.
I'll let a man named Oscar Gaddy tell you more about the process of color case hardening of steel.

gunshop.com/doublegunjournal_v7i4_9.htm

[TMan]

Okay DA, now that I know how to make a watch: ;D

The article was only half of the equation. What about the process now being used by Beretta? Does it produce a thiner layer? A layer that is less hard? Will the coloring wear off? Is it like the "blonde" next door?

It was the deluxe model that I was thinking about getting, but that was before you threw cold water on it. Well, quenched it in cold water would be more appropriate. ;D

We don't have a local dealership with a bunch of these in their show case to pick from. Therefore, I'd have to order it and take what I get. I'm a little nervous about doing that because apparently there are a lot of differences in the looks from one to the next because of the process. Boyd Bears were quite popular in some local stores for awhile, and we bought several of them. One of the things I noticed about them was that of half-a-dozen of the "same" teddy bear, no two looked exactly alike.

So are "color-cased" guns rated by their coloring like opals? I remember being in a local jewelry store and the owner showed me the two most beautiful opals I'd ever seen. They were only about 3/8", but the colors were unbelievable. They would have made great ear-rings. Most opals are whiteish with little color, but the color on these was exquisite. I would have paid 3 times what he was asking for them, but my wife didn't like them. Before you think what a wonder wife I have, she instead got diamond earings that cost more than twice what my entire gun collection cost.

["DoubleAction"]

TMan; The Case Colored is attrcative to the eye but a good example of color case hardened frames will be found with the Colt Single Action Revolvers. The case colored will hold up as well as blueing but it is more of a novelty act in comparison to the true thing. Other than the color cased hardened triggers and hammers on my Smith & Wesson revolers, I have only one color case hardened frame revolver. My father has an older Colt Single Action and my brother had a matched pair with stag grips; It's all part of the true art in manufacturing firearms.
You can find much more on this in our link pages.

www.triplebreakproducts.com/Olympic/Westerner.htm

[TMan]

Thanks DA. Wow, you have done a lot of work on the link pages since I last looked at them.

["DoubleAction"]

TMan; Questions regarding things like Color Cased Hardening has me looking for better answers than I can provide. One thing I do know is how to recognize it when I see it, especially with the Colts and some of the older rifles. I did learn that Colt was having trouble duplicating it's age old process at one time because there were no records kept by their more skilled employees, everything was in kept between their ears.
The links provide some good examples and history behind this age old historical process.

[KyJim]

I've owned a Taurus PT 99 (the adjustable site version) for many years and have never had a problem. Like Logical, it is a little big for my hand so I eventually purchased a .45.