[CAnnoneer]

What do you guys think of the Taurus 1911?

http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details.cfm?model=1911SS&category=Pistol

A new stainless 1911 for 620 bucks?

I am so very tempted :D

[Shipwreck]

That's the suggested retail price. It will be at least $100 cheaper at the store, I'll bet. For $620, you can spend a tiny bit more and get a nice springfield.

In the $500 range, it might be a good deal. I'd wait and see what the reviews say here for a while, though

[Black Majik]

Holy moly! :eek:

Thats expensive!

I definitely wouldn't go for the $620 price tag, now I know in stores should be about $100 cheaper, but that's still too expensive. I was thinking "maybe" $400 for a Taurus. Now... nothing wrong with Taurus, but I honestly dont see their handguns to pass the $500 mark.

Hell... I paid $625 for my NRM Colt Government, and that was in CALIFORNIA!

$same price for Colt Government or a Taurus... Hmm..... :D

Sorry but NWIW a Taurus for $600, or even $500.

[Moonclip]

Correct, no deal at the price. I got a Rock Island 45auto for $300 in CA in mid 2003 and I didn't buy one later, a display model for $260!

Will be hard to compete with RIA and SA and Charles Daly at that price.

[Rob1035]

on paper, it seems to compete with the Springfield Loaded series, in so far as list of goodies goes....whether or not the quality is there, that is the $64k ($340million?) question

[KaceCoyote]

The "out the door price" I was told was 385. I'm interested!

[PCRCCW]

For 400$ give or take..they will be less than Colt/SA loaded etc. From what Ive read they are decent for the price...but will wait to play with one in person.
Shoot well.

[Leonardo]

Anyone seen this? http://www.shootingtimes.com/handgun_reviews/pt_080505/

[HighVelocity]

Anyone seen this? http://www.shootingtimes.com/handgun_reviews/pt_080505/

If the gun is half as good as that article makes it out to be then I'll be buying one.

[waterhouse]

Dealer price through wholesalers on the stainless is pretty much right at $400, give or take, before shipping. I don't know if Taurus ships directly to some dealers (which would lower the cost slightly) but it doesn't look like you'll be getting out the door for $385.

It should still end up being a lot less than MSRP though.

[js2013]

Checked out the Shooting Times article. Very first picture shows an idiot mark. :rolleyes:

[orangeninja]

You know...the cuts on those cocking serations on the slide look an awful lot like the Armscor guns....you don't think?....nah....


Nice looking gun...can't wait to see what they sell for. At that price their going to head on with Springfield....which I bet they'll lose that war. Kind of like how Auto Ord is losing with their WW2 1911 that is going head on with the GI.

[BluesBear]

That's because it's easier (and therefore cheaper) to cut a few big ridges than it is to cut a lot of smallerones.

Several other companies use the larger serrations.

[orangeninja]

Ding......I have been educated. Thanks BB.;)

I was wondering why they do that. It certainly doesn't look better. I've always hated forward cocking serations on 1911s anyway.

[BluesBear]

It certainly doesn't look better. I've always hated forward cocking serations on 1911s anyway.Once again, or rather twice again, I agree with you 100%.

John Browning & Colt tried them around 1902 and gave up on them around 1903.

[HighVelocity]

3 laps through the gunshow today and didn't see one. When are these things supposed to hit the shelves?

[Kamicosmos]

I'm hoping they sell in the 4-500 range. I've been kind of wanting a 1911 lately, but don't feel like dropping out the normal 800-1200 for a Kimber, Dan Wesson, Colt, etc.

Guess the waiting continues...

[Black Majik]

I got a confession to make....

As I keep looking at this Taurus 1911, I can't help to think how cheap this gun looks. Obviously I'm just looking at the picture only and not readily infront of me but dang... it just doesn't look like a real gun.

Maybe its the blocky looking wanna-be looking ext. thumb safety, or the blockly looking frame with the melted looking slide. Or maybe its the cheap looking grips with the plastic looking screws. Something about this gun just doesn't flow together.

Now, I'm aware that Taurus has bumped up their quality considerably, but I'm still not impressed by how this gun looks. It doesn't even look much like a 1911. Feable attempt at best.

[f4t9r]

I am wanting to check one out
we will know soon , right here on THR

[Stevie-Ray]

It looks so pretty all dooded up with the skeletonized trigger and hammer, non-snag sights, ambi safety and beavertail. Can't say I want one, as I'm about done with Taurus. But I certainly couldn't fault anyone for wanting one of these. After all, you get a lot of custom features for the price of a beat-up GI gun. Oh wait, you got that with AMT also.:uhoh:

Taurus simply HAS to be better than AMT.

[MachIVshooter]

I got a confession to make....

As I keep looking at this Taurus 1911, I can't help to think how cheap this gun looks. Obviously I'm just looking at the picture only and not readily infront of me but dang... it just doesn't look like a real gun.

Maybe its the blocky looking wanna-be looking ext. thumb safety, or the blockly looking frame with the melted looking slide. Or maybe its the cheap looking grips with the plastic looking screws. Something about this gun just doesn't flow together.

Now, I'm aware that Taurus has bumped up their quality considerably, but I'm still not impressed by how this gun looks. It doesn't even look much like a 1911. Feable attempt at best.

My thoughts exactly. For a ~$500 1911, I'd much prefer the Springfield GI stainless.

[MrTuffPaws]

My thoughts exactly. For a ~$500 1911, I'd much prefer the Springfield GI stainless.

With the resolution on that pic you couldn't tell if your name was engraved on the slide, and you are still judging?

[BluesBear]

As I keep looking at this Taurus 1911, I can't help to think how cheap this gun looks.YES!

But don't forget this one little fact.
So far, as least as far as I can discern, ALL of the guns reviewed have been the same TWO pre-production, tool-room samples shown at the 2005 SHOT Show.
What really turns me off is that oversized watergun looking triggerguard.
Hell's Bells™ my old Johnny Eagle Lieutenant pistol looked more graceful.

And is it just me or can anyone else envision Ernest Borgnine and Tim Conway doing an advertisment for the PT-1911? :neener:

So far no one has written a review of an honest to goodness production model.
Because so far no one know how many if any have actually been produced.
Has anyone actually seen one?
Has any distributor actually said they have them stacked in their warehouse?
Who knows when they will actually see the light of day.

[George Frye]

I don't know what you guys are looking at that call the gun cheap looking if you think that way then all 1911s must look cheap to you. I guess some say it looks cheap because they (like me) have paid 1400 dollars for a Kimber or some other high dollar 1911. I paid $449.00 for mine and it out shoots my Kimbers, (i have three) Springfields, (i have three) and my two Charles Dalys and several off brand 1911s.

Cav Soldier..........................ALLONS

[Spackler]

I went and checked one out. It was blued and priced around $450. It seemed well made and well finished. It handled well and the trigger and safety had a nice feel. The trigger was heavy - 6lbs 8oz, but it was clean. Nothing a trigger job wouldn't fix. It has nice sights

[KaceCoyote]

I'll buy one when it comes out.

Why pay 700 on a gun that needs tweaking to be reliable, when I can get a 3-400 dollar gun that does but has a lifetime warranty.

[George Frye]

I don't know why some have a heavy trigger pull and others dont. I use my RCBS spring scale and mine breaks at 3.5 lbs every time. The review in American Rifelman stated his test gun had a 6.5 lb pull. I am happy with the pull on mine, everyone that shoots it tells me the trigger feels like a custom trigger job.

Cav Soldier..........................ALLONS

[Hawkmoon]

That's because it's easier (and therefore cheaper) to cut a few big ridges than it is to cut a lot of smallerones.
An interesting hypothesis, but incorrect.

Pretty much all the manufacturers do the slide serrations on a CNC machine these days. Once the slides (they do about a dozen at a whack) are set up on the machine, the machine doesn't care if it's doing a lot of small serrations or a few large serrations. The bottom line is that they do those ugly, wide serrations because they think that's what we (the gun buying public) want.

[JRLaws]

Jeff Quinn over at gunblast.com reviews a production Tarus 1911.

I don't care much for the forward 'groves' but I do like the laundry list of features for such a low price.


JRLaws

[jfanzen]

hey guys im a noob and this is probably a really stupid question but what caliber bullet does a 1911 take? is it a .45?

[BluesBear]

Yes, the original and most often encountered caliber in a 1911 pattern pistol is .45acp.

[vynx]

Hey Jfanzen - a 1911 like this Taurus is less than a new glock and the 1911 is a nice first gun.

[KaceCoyote]

Let us just hope that they choose to produce a variant in 10mm!

[wuchak]

Since my Taurus 627 Titanium 4" 357 Tracker is going back to the factory for the third time to fix the same problem, flame cutting of the cylinder face, I'll never buy another Taurus product. This time it happened on third shot after I got it back from them. I've now spent as much in shipping costs as the difference in price between the Taurus and the S&W Mountain Lite. I should have bought the S&W to begin with. I'd trade the Taurus after it gets back this time but I hate to stick someone else with the problem.

I'm looking for a .45 but since I learned my lesson with Taurus I'll go with a Springfield.

[possum]

A new stainless 1911 for 620 bucks?

The ss is going for less than that back home, and since i am gonna go with blued i'll be able to save a little more. I am very excited and pumped about the commander size in .40s&w!

hey guys im a noob and this is probably a really stupid question but what caliber bullet does a 1911 take? is it a .45?

the original 1911 was in .45acp, but other calibers can be had, for exapmle .38 super, .40s&w,
10mm, 9mm,.45gap and of course you can get the conversion kit for .22lr if you really want to!

[Lennyjoe]

Let us just hope that they choose to produce a variant in 10mm
Oh my, I'd buy one in a skinny minute:D

[copdills]

if the gun looks as good as the article makes it out to be , it may not be too bad but still it sounds a little on the high end for now, WE'll all have to check this one out
copdills:)

[Panthera Tigris]

All I can say about Taurus in general are the 2 24/7s I own have been the best 9mms I've ever had, and I've owned all makes and models.

[jeepmor]

With it being offered in 40S&W, I'm wondering if the mags will take the 10mm round.

A little more ejection port, heavier spring, and a ream job....and boom, 10mm power. I'm sure there's more to it than this, but the 45acp round is the same length as the 10mm, IIRC, so we may have a new 10mm option and one in the value price range. I can only hope.

jeepmor

[AirForceShooter]

I was at a gun show Saturday and finally got to fondle one. Quite frankly I didn't like it. The grips were rough as hell. All the checkering was sharp!!! you could have used the grips for sandpaper. I didn't like the Heine sights at all.
For some reason the gun didn't feel "right" to me.
I'll pass.

AFS

[hatterasurf]

I went to the gun store to get This Taurus 1911, and all three stores didn't have one and was unable to get one. They said it was one of the top three hardest guns to get. Two stores said that they had gotten one in and it sold within a day. I never thought getting a Taurus gun would be this hard. One store did have a Kimber Custom II for $637 which i think i could get for a even 600. Anyone have one of this and what do you think? (not to change the thread or anything)

[the pistolero]

The grips were rough as hell. All the checkering was sharp!!! you could have used the grips for sandpaper.
For me, that's where a set of Hogue rubber wraparounds (with the finger grooves) come into the picture. To me, they've made a world of difference in the way a gun feels; they may not be much to look at to some people -- I think they actually make a gun look better -- but to each his own.

I didn't like the Heine sights at all.
Me neither. That would have been the second thing I changed. All the time I was fondling the gun, I was thinking (and musing aloud), "you know, a set of Meprolight three-dot night sights like what come on a lot of the Kimbers would be perfect for this puppy..."
I'd like to get one of the Taurus 1911s eventually...if it (in general) turns out to be anywhere near as good as the one Michael Bane put up against his $3500 custom 1911 (http://www.shootinggallery.tv/articles/publish/article_81.shtml), all I can say is, it'll be a deal not to be missed. Mr. Bane, did you have to send that gun back?

[kansas45]

I've had my PT1911 for a month now. 800+ round's & it hasnt missed a beat yet. I hated the grip's & replaced them with a pair of Hogue palm swell rubber's. My trigger pull was 6.75 lbs. It didn't feel that heavy to me, But my gunsmith lowered it to 4lbs Saturday. It made a big difference, just like it should. I like the sight's but will install some night sight's before long. I don't know what one's yet. I have heard some complaint's about the finish, But mine hasn't shown any wear yet & it has been in & out of the holster plenty of time's.

[XDKingslayer]

What's the idiot mark?

[EdLaver]

looks nice to me minus the beretta hammer. I will have to take a look at one next time I take a trip to a show. I wouldnt mine one if it feels OK. I would definetly add the hogue grips and would like to see it with an original skeleton hammer replica of some kind... (maybe my 'smith can help me out with that one)

[10-Ring]

I was reading an article on the pt1911 last night. I would think that for a beater, it would be pretty nice.

[tegemu]

"Idiot Mark," = a scratch on the left hand side from improper or careless installation of the Slide Release.

[olivehead]

mine has been excellent. 2 FTFs in 300 rounds, at least one operator error (i.e., i limpwristed it within the first 20 rounds not being used to the light trigger on mine). the only really weak point for me are the plastic factory grips. hogue's actually dress it up a bit. fit and finish on mine was quite good, but having seen about 3 other samples, QC needs some work. you could also get one with a looser slide and heavier trigger than mine. my trigger is easily among the best i've seen.
i can also say that at least some after market parts will drop in, in my case a stainless wilson's full length guide rod and plug, and a springfield stainless barrel bushing. the wilson's bushing i have on my SA 1911 would not drop in the taurus without minor fitting. overall, i could recommend the taurus over a low end springfield or kimber if you're only going to have one 1911, and it would run you about $200-250 less than their "low end" models with the same features.

[Shrike360]

Gunblast seems to be dumping praise on this gun. I've started looking at 1911's now, and this one is on the top of the list.

[EdLaver]

Has anyone seen the video on Gunblast.com of the PT 1911 being rapid-fired? Very nice! I have been holding off on 1911's due to price but this may be my 1st one.

[George Frye]

Taking mine to the range again tomrrow, this gun is great I like shooting it better than any of my 1911s.

Cav Soldier...................ALLONS

[anthillsinrome]

Are stainless models as readily available as the blued?

[George Frye]

I have not seen the stainless in my stores yet, However I plan to buy the stainless to go with my blued version as soon as they show up. I playned to trade my blue in when they came out but this one shoots so good I don't want to give it up.

Cav Soldier.........................ALLONS

[TimboKhan]

I put one of these on layaway today. I am a Taurus apologist, since I have had very good luck with 4 different Tauri pistols. This pistol represents the opposite of what I have long held against 1911's with similar "custom" features, and thats the price. I have railed on at length about how overpriced these factory "customs" are, and how I don't understand why the cost must be so high. Now, time will tell how well this pistol holds up. My initial excitement and impression may be vastly different a year or 10 from now, so keep that in mind when you read this.

[CAnnoneer]

Now, time will tell how well this pistol holds up.

Excellent! Let us know!

I am salivating over the 9mm version more, but I figure the mechanics should be the same.

[Geno]

$400.00 for a forged frame and a forged slide? Seems pretty good to me. Take out the MIM parts, replace them w/ billet steel and shoot it until it breaks. I venture to say it would out last many others. I may be proven wrong. I'll wait and let others try first. I just keep shooting my Colt 1911s. AT the same time, I'm watching here for reports.

Doc2005

[daysleeprx]

I'd like to know if anyone has any experience fitting custom parts into these guns yet. Keep us posted!

[Jamie C.]

Take out the MIM parts, replace them w/ billet steel and shoot it until it breaks.

Why not just shoot it 'til it breaks, then replace whatever broke?

Might be surprised at how long those MIM parts last. ;)


J.C.

[Geno]

MIM has 98% the strength of forged billet steel when properly manufactured, this in spite of not having grain-effects. However, MIM, unlike forged is prone to air bubbles internally that can compromise its integrity.

My concern is how good of quality at that price? That plays out to being what side-effect damage could result from one of the pieces letting loose at an inopportune time.

What made up my mind actually had nothing to do with Taurus. It was STI that changed my mind about buying a Taurus. Last night I saw that STI out of Texas sells "forged frames" at a reasonable price, I would turn the Taurus down cold and opt for a US-made, forged billet steel frame made by STI. So, for me, Taurus is officially out of the running.

But, this is still an interesting thread. Much better to participate, learn and make an informed decision.


Doc2005

[esrevnoc]

While this is an interesting thread, I will weigh in with my .02 on the Taurus. I own and shoot my first 1911, which is a Springfield WW2 Mil Spec Model to which I have added Hogue wrap around grips and nothing else( I like reliability). I have acquired a Taurus 1911 in Blue for basically $500 (+ Uncle Sam's cut)and shot the h__l out of it along with my Springfield and a good friends customized Colt( Acurized, trigger job, mag well, and very nice engraving).

Lets put it this way, my friend who owns the Colt has already purchased a Taurus. My Springfield Mil Spec is a VERY relaible shooter with 230 GR Ball but it has hiccups with anything else (hollow points, etc), so I just feed it ball ammo and everything is fine. My friends Colt does take the misc ammo OK but it does best with ball also.

The Taurus will take basically anything that I feed it. The pistol is more accurate than I am (Which I am working on, I still only hit the coke can about 50% of the time at 25 yards). The pistol works seamlessly and without a hiccup, including rapid fire and mag changes. For the amount that I paid, I can't say a thing about it and would HIGHLY recommend it to anyone that is looking for a good value in a serious pistol. Sure you can spend a ton of $$ on a custom pistol, but the Taurus has all the features and the performance to boot for a decent price. My trigger pull feels about the 3.5 lb area, but I do not have a gauge to be sure. The pull is clean and crisp, fires the same place every time. The mags are quality, and the gun also feeds with the menagerie of mags that I have with no problem.

In short, I think the Taurus is an EXCELLENT value for the $$, and while there are people that bash Taurus in general, I buy my weapons for function and relaibility, not re-sale value and name. I will Keep my Taurus and add at least one more......or two......or three......:)

[George Frye]

As the post above states my Taurus handles all brands of ammo just fine, it also is not pickey on magazines. I have at least six different brands of mags including a hi-cap (15 round) no name brand and I allmost never have a problem if I load the 8 round mags at 7 and the 15 round at 14. I find that to be the norm with all my 1911s. Most of my rounds are my own reloads.

Cav Soldier............................ALLONS

[Grayrider]

I will get one of the models with rail in 40 or 38 Super when they are out. Seems like a great base gun for a 10mm or 9x23 project.

:D

GR