Is the TAURUS PT908 even worth having?

[Behemoth]

I have a Taurus 9mm PT908 pistol that was my fathers. I've gone down to the range to plink around a few times and I just can't seem to get the hang of this gun. My accuracy with it compared to my Ruger .357 is attrocious. The trigger is so stiff that I end up with sore forearms. is there any hope for this gun? Can I have trigger work done or is the gun even worth the time, money and trouble? Any opinions?

[TMan]

I doubt that I'm going to answer this the way you want, but... Your question is it worth having? My answer is: yes, yes, yes. In excellent condition it might bring you 300 to 400 dollars. It is sort of a Sig look alike and used their locking system. Is it worth shooting? Probably not. However, it is worth keeping because it was your fathers. Many years down the road you will look at it and it will bring fond memories (you forget bad memories).

I can't envision a trigger pull being so bad that it hurts your arm. My finger would give out first. So, I'm thinking there is something wrong with the gun. Perhaps someone used some Water Displacement 40 "oil" at some point in time.

A complete disassembly and cleaning may be all that it needs.

As far as it being a Taurus. Well, they had a less than steller reputation at one time, but I've got a revolver made by Taurus and is becoming one of my favorite guns to shoot. (If you are reading this DoubleAction, yes I'm shooting it more than the Beretta Stampede.)

So, I strongly advise holding onto the gun, if you don't feel comfortable disassemblying it and cleaning now, and you don't want to put any money into it, just wait.

I'd give anything to have the Karmen Ghia that used to be my dad's. I kept it for a year after he died and then traded it for a Dodge Charger (wish I still had it too).

[Behemoth]

Tman, what year was your Charger? I own a '69 that I'm currently restoring...

Yeah, I should keep it, but it's not really fun to shoot..probably why HE never shot it either.

[TMan]

Hey Behemoth, I forgot to say "Welcome to the Forum". When I saw your Behemoth handle, I recognized it and thought you had been here before. Ever watch "Robot Wars"? There was a really neat robot named Behemoth.

Oh, you have the "Dukes of Hazzard" vintage Charger. Mine was a 67, and was a bright yellow. They only made the fastback for two years and came out with the new body style in 68. I only kept it for two years. It had the 318 engine and was automatic. Alas, my ex-wife couldn't drive standard. With my expanding family, it wasn't too practical, and I traded it in on a 69 Chrysler Newport with the 383. That only lasted a year when I got the 70 Chrysler 300 with the 440 engine. I regret never getting a car with the hemi engine. I'm careful with handguns that when I'm laying on my death bed I'm not thinking: "You know I sure wish I had bought...". I have a Sig P210 and a Colt Python. ;D

[Behemoth]

Yeah, mine is the Dukes body style...or Bullitt...take your pick. I've been restoring it for 3 long years now and the body is almost ready for paint. A few things happened to hinder my progress, but I'm back on track for now... Can't wait to fire up that engine and drive off. I'm building a 500hp to 600hp 440, not a Hemi. Hemi's are so expensive and tempermental, and I just want to have fun with it. I like the "wow" factor of a Hemi, but not the pricetag.

TMan, somehow I don't think that ANYONE preparing to take their last breath even thinks about the things they own or didn't own, so you'll be OK there. My father had very few regrets, he was only 53 when he passed away from cancer 2 years ago but he lived a full life. My mom said that he later regretted not being closer to me and my sisters and doing more with us, but I never felt gyped in any way, except in the fact that he was dying so young. He knew where he was going next, and he was comforted in that, and the THINGS he accumulated in life had no value those last few months. It's all about perspective...family and friends are far more important than anything else. I want to have fun while I'm here, but I also want to have an impact on the lives around me...that's most important IMO.

Thanks for the input about the Taurus...I'm going to see if there is something hanging it up that's making the trigger so hard to pull.

[TMan]

Behemoth, thanks for the thoughtful answer. I messed up, but I corrected it by modifying my above post. I added the little grin face - I meant it tongue in cheek. However, it is true that there are some things that I have wished I had bought, and a few I wished I hadn't bought.

My step-father died at the age of 52. We never got along - nothing open, never any confrontations, just that he treated me totally different than he did my brother who was 10 years younger than I. The night I graduated from high school I left home. He wanted me to stay there and go to Syracuse University, but I wanted out from under the roof. Something was wrong, but I couldn't put my finger on it. It was more than 10 years after his death that I found out he wasn't my real father. Now I look back at it and think what a great guy he was and how hard he tried to be a father to me. I do resent the fact my mother kept the secret from me.

Now that I know your father is no longer with us, I know you will take care of that gun. In time it will become a prized possession.