Maybe I'm being unreasonable but this incident just torqued me off too much to continue to use their products. I have a 605 Poly Protector chambered in .357 magnum that I used as my EDC. I routinely put around 300 rounds a month through for close to three years. Except for about 200 of those rounds they have all be my own reloads loaded for .38 SPL +P pressures. This is with the intent to save money as well as save wear and tear on the pistol AND my wrists. About three weeks ago I noticed I was getting some lead blow back on my cheeks while shooting it. Upon closer inspection it appeared as if there were some lead chunks around the forcing cone. I also checked the tightness of the cylinder lock up and sure enough it appeared as if the cylinder mechanism was getting out of time. I opened up a service request with Taurus USA and sent the pistol in for repair/service under their limited lifetime warranty. Just this morning I was informed that because I had shot reloads/hand loads out of the pistol there would be a $50 "bench fee" to address the issue. I chatted with one of their reps and no dice. That charge was non-negotiable! Well, I told to just ship it back. That if I decided to continue to use the pistol I would have it repaired by my local gunsmith. I'd prefer to give them business. They said "fine" and they would contact me in a couple of days to arrange the return.
How'd they know I used reloads/hand loads out of pistol? I told them in the service request form. In order to give them as much information as possible so they could diagnose and address the issue I put the following in my service request:
I was shooting my reloads. They are 38 SPL +P loads. The recipe is 5.0gr of Unique behind a 158 grain lead semi-wadcutter. I cast the bullets myself and they have a BHL of 12 - 13.
This pistol is my everyday carry and I routinely shoot about 100 rounds a week at a local range. Hence the reloads and home casted bullets. I am approaching about 10K rounds through this pistol.
I hope that this repair falls under your lifetime product warranty.
Anyway, a long post I know.
But TL;DR - I'm done with Taurus!
How'd they know I used reloads/hand loads out of pistol? I told them in the service request form. In order to give them as much information as possible so they could diagnose and address the issue I put the following in my service request:
I was shooting my reloads. They are 38 SPL +P loads. The recipe is 5.0gr of Unique behind a 158 grain lead semi-wadcutter. I cast the bullets myself and they have a BHL of 12 - 13.
This pistol is my everyday carry and I routinely shoot about 100 rounds a week at a local range. Hence the reloads and home casted bullets. I am approaching about 10K rounds through this pistol.
I hope that this repair falls under your lifetime product warranty.
Anyway, a long post I know.
But TL;DR - I'm done with Taurus!