Taurus Raging Hunter
This is the revolver you buy when you can't quite choke down spending 1300+ on the Smith & Wesson 629 .44 Magnum Stealth Hunter. Oh sure S & W has other optic ready 44 mags for about 1100 but still you have to typically add the cost of divorce papers to that purchase. The raging hunter still isn't overly cheap at about $700 at Grab-A-Gun + FFL cost. Add a red dot and your probably at about $1000. I set mine up with a HIVIZ front fiber optic sight that originally is intended for a S&W 617. Some fitting required and it needs the pin hold drilled in it. Not real hard if you have a drill press, proper files, and the correct amount of patience. I only shot it a few times with open sights and the fiber front sight is a huge improvement over the factory black blade. However I did buy this revolver for the rail and put a vortex venom 3moa red dot on it. I love the combination as far as sights go but it does take a little to get use to getting your point of aim to where the red dot is visible when the pistol is brought up on target.
SPECS (taurususa.com link)
COLOR: Black Oxide (read: flat black) also available in "stainless" but only the cylinder frame is stainless so it is really a two tone. Large frame, 6 rounds, double or single action shooting, fixed front sight & adjustable rear sight. The weight is about 55 ounces so it isn't exactly light but nor is it overly heavy. Uses the transfer bar safety
IMPRESSION
I really like the look, feel, & balance of the pistol. The 8.3 inch long barrel isn't overly front heavy due to the use of a tensioned barrel sleeve like the old Dan Wesson revolvers used. The ported barrel and rubber grip help keep recoil reasonable and the muzzle flip very manageable. I'm able to shoot full power Remington HTP 240g ammo for 24-30 rounds before I start feeling the recoil in my palm. The Fiocchi 240g ammo is softer on the palm and I could easily shoot a full box or two if I didn't think of the cost. My biggest complaint is that the trigger pull is in my opinion crazy heavy. When shooting single action the trigger breaks somewhere north of 72 ounces where my trigger gauge limits out. YES, that means I was able to dangle the gun on the trigger gauge and it wouldn't fire since the gun only weights 55 ounces. (obviously this was empty)
ACCURACY
Keep in mind my eyes suck and I'm use to shooting light triggers on target rifles. Pistols is not my strong suite and that is why I'm so impressed over all especially since I was doing all of testing in the pouring rain. I'll try to upload the group pictures in a response since I think we are limited to 5 pictures. It took me 6 shots to get the red dot centered, then I shot 5 shot groups. Only had time to shoot three groups that average out to 1.5 inch 5 shot groups at 25 yards.
Remington HTP 240g group1 = 1.11 inches group2 = 1.92 inches / Fiocchi 240g SP group1 = 1.74 inches
OVERALL
I'm left wondering if I should have bit the bullet and paid the extra $300 for the Smith & Wesson CMPD HUNTER because in the store the trigger felt better than the Taurus. Then again the Taurus didn't feel all that bad in the store. I can't help but think how much better the groups could be with a 3-3.5 pound trigger. If you are use to the heavy trigger I can highly recommend the Raging Hunter. I can't wait to get some reloading done for it and put some rounds down range, that has always helped smooth out new triggers in the past. If not I might have to see what is available for doing a trigger job but over all I really like the gun, I really like the Vortex Venom red dot on it and I'm really going to like using it for hunting this year. NOTE: In the pictures the red dot looks much bigger than it does in person, it must be how the picture was taken.
This is the revolver you buy when you can't quite choke down spending 1300+ on the Smith & Wesson 629 .44 Magnum Stealth Hunter. Oh sure S & W has other optic ready 44 mags for about 1100 but still you have to typically add the cost of divorce papers to that purchase. The raging hunter still isn't overly cheap at about $700 at Grab-A-Gun + FFL cost. Add a red dot and your probably at about $1000. I set mine up with a HIVIZ front fiber optic sight that originally is intended for a S&W 617. Some fitting required and it needs the pin hold drilled in it. Not real hard if you have a drill press, proper files, and the correct amount of patience. I only shot it a few times with open sights and the fiber front sight is a huge improvement over the factory black blade. However I did buy this revolver for the rail and put a vortex venom 3moa red dot on it. I love the combination as far as sights go but it does take a little to get use to getting your point of aim to where the red dot is visible when the pistol is brought up on target.
SPECS (taurususa.com link)
COLOR: Black Oxide (read: flat black) also available in "stainless" but only the cylinder frame is stainless so it is really a two tone. Large frame, 6 rounds, double or single action shooting, fixed front sight & adjustable rear sight. The weight is about 55 ounces so it isn't exactly light but nor is it overly heavy. Uses the transfer bar safety
IMPRESSION
I really like the look, feel, & balance of the pistol. The 8.3 inch long barrel isn't overly front heavy due to the use of a tensioned barrel sleeve like the old Dan Wesson revolvers used. The ported barrel and rubber grip help keep recoil reasonable and the muzzle flip very manageable. I'm able to shoot full power Remington HTP 240g ammo for 24-30 rounds before I start feeling the recoil in my palm. The Fiocchi 240g ammo is softer on the palm and I could easily shoot a full box or two if I didn't think of the cost. My biggest complaint is that the trigger pull is in my opinion crazy heavy. When shooting single action the trigger breaks somewhere north of 72 ounces where my trigger gauge limits out. YES, that means I was able to dangle the gun on the trigger gauge and it wouldn't fire since the gun only weights 55 ounces. (obviously this was empty)
ACCURACY
Keep in mind my eyes suck and I'm use to shooting light triggers on target rifles. Pistols is not my strong suite and that is why I'm so impressed over all especially since I was doing all of testing in the pouring rain. I'll try to upload the group pictures in a response since I think we are limited to 5 pictures. It took me 6 shots to get the red dot centered, then I shot 5 shot groups. Only had time to shoot three groups that average out to 1.5 inch 5 shot groups at 25 yards.
Remington HTP 240g group1 = 1.11 inches group2 = 1.92 inches / Fiocchi 240g SP group1 = 1.74 inches
OVERALL
I'm left wondering if I should have bit the bullet and paid the extra $300 for the Smith & Wesson CMPD HUNTER because in the store the trigger felt better than the Taurus. Then again the Taurus didn't feel all that bad in the store. I can't help but think how much better the groups could be with a 3-3.5 pound trigger. If you are use to the heavy trigger I can highly recommend the Raging Hunter. I can't wait to get some reloading done for it and put some rounds down range, that has always helped smooth out new triggers in the past. If not I might have to see what is available for doing a trigger job but over all I really like the gun, I really like the Vortex Venom red dot on it and I'm really going to like using it for hunting this year. NOTE: In the pictures the red dot looks much bigger than it does in person, it must be how the picture was taken.
