RE: taurus vs. smith & wesson
I own a Taurus new model 66(7 shot, 6"). In the 1 year that I've had it, it probably only had 50 rounds through it(My fault, not the guns) From what I can tell, it's a nice reliable firearm, thats not to bulky, and recoil is mild. And the price was good, too.
the only thing I don't like is that the gloss finish is almost too shiny. Any, and I mean any smudge, fingerprint, or streak stands out like a turd in a punch bowl, untill you wipe it down.