Bapak2ja:
I've got over a thousand rounds of many types of FMJ and JHP through my 709. It IS a good gun. Let's leave out the 'All Taurus guns are crap' threads - it is just not true. The main failure mode for the 709 seems to be the extractor. If you go through the posts on TaurusArmed, you'll see that it is not a rare event based on the posts. But based on the number of 709s sold, it's probably not a major design defect - more of a part QC issue. Winchester White Box seems to be the most problematic ammo - more folks have trouble with it than any other. The Hornady Critical Defense has, based on posts in several forums, a spotty record of non-fires in sub-compact semis.
I have had no trouble with WWB, but I've had two non-fires with CD. Both rounds fired on the second pull of the trigger. I would not condemn the 709 based on the Critical Defense. The fact that you seemed to have had trouble with 1 round of several types of ammo might indicate that it could also be a magazine problem. There are some posts that suggest you might need to polish up the follower and the body of the magazine if you have this problem, particularly if it's always the last round that is the problem.
The other major factor in keeping a 709 running seems to be cleaning. The lower seems to collect all kinds of crap and you really need to pick and poke around in there to get it squeaky clean. I've noticed that the trigger action gets 'gravelly' after about a hundred rounds. Unless your gun was THOROUGHLY cleaned when it was new or after you got it, it is highly likely that functionality could be affected by the white gunk that Taurus puts in their guns when they are manufactured.
If you have cleaned the gun, had someone else shoot it, checked the magazines, and still have the problems, send it back to Taurus. From the posts in various forums, MOST of the extractor problems are fixed when folks get their guns back.
swmp9jrm,
THANKS for a solid reply. I agree that the "Taurus is trash" line needs to be ignored. I appreciate, and sought, advice on how to make this work. Obviously, this one is a bit more sensitive than my Glock, and I will have to learn how to handle it. I have cleaned it. I will test it again, and have my sons test with me in case I am not handling it correctly. I will try some different ammo. Then I will evaluate if it needs to go back to the factory.
I knew there was a reason I joined INGO!