Just Got A Taurus 1911...Have Small Problem

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Olympus

If your Taurus is blued, you might want to try some Flitz Metal Polish on it. It won't do any harm to the bluing (and despite some who will claim it is abrasive; it is not), and it might take care of the spots on the slide. I used Flitz once on a gun that I had sent out to be reblued. It came back looking like a flat black wrought iron fence. So I thought, since I was going to have it refinished again, why not try Flitz on it. The Flitz actually polished the surface bluing, giving it a great looking semi gloss shine.. That was probably 10 or more years ago and it still looks great to this day.
 
Well I just took it to the range today for the first time. Wow was I impressed! That little gun like a tack driver. 35 yards was the longest shot at this indoor range and they were all in the 9 nine with most in the 10. Put a few in the X as well. I really like the way it shoots.

As for the finish, let's just say I'm less than impressed. The spots on the finish are really a sore spot for me, but after taking it to the range today, I get home and start cleaning. I notice that at the top rear of the ejection port, there are little shiny tick marks were the ejected brass has hit the slide and nicked the blueing. It's not horrible, but I'd say there are proably 10 to 15 little nicks right in the top corner. So I'm basically going to have to do something about the slide, especially since I'd like to conceal it and I'm sure it wouldn't take long before a holster wears it clean off. I might buy an aftermarket stainless slide or duracoat like some have recommended.

Performance-wise, I'm more than impressed with the Taurus. Cosmetically, and I can't speak for the stainless, but the blued model is on the bottom end of poor.
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If it is this accurate, don't mess with it.
 
I took a serious look at Ahrends grips. I decided to go with a set from Gun Grip Guys. I couldn't really beat the price and they looked like good quality grips. I would have went with Ahrends but they were a little higher and I didn't really want any checking on them so I went with Gun Grip Guys. I went with the Afzelia Burl so I'm hoping they look good. I really like the Esmerelda grips but wasn't looking to spend that much money on a set of grips just to put on a Taurus. Maybe down the road when I get a little more expensive 1911, I'll go with her.

As for the finish, I'll probably keep the original blued slide. But I'll probably end up buying a stainless slide because I like the two tone look and should work better while in a holster. Thanks to everybody who has given me all this information. I appreciate all the help from everybody.
 
I have said it before and I will say it again. The finish on the Taurus 1911s SUCKS. However mine has been flawless function wise. So I just have it in the shop being duracoated.
 
I contacted Taurus Customer Support after hearing all the horror stories about how bad their customer service was. The guy I talked to was more than helpful and I didn't have a very long wait time. He said to just send the gun back to them and they'd take care of everything. I told them about the finish being the main problem and about the brass ticks as well. I also was having some issues with the ambi-safety getting stuck about halfway and wouldn't fully engage or wouldn't move back down either. It pretty much locked the whole gun up. I could work the levers up and down or push the two pieces together from both sides and get it back down again. But it's less than perfect so I'm hoping they can fix that too. Shipped it Fedex today so I'll give the update when I get it back.

What about an inside the waist holster? Anyone have any recommendations? I'd like to have one that is a behind the back that clips. I've got several nylon ones so I was thinking about getting a leather one if there is such a thing.
 
Trying to replace grips

After much reading of reviews, I recently purchased a blued Taurus 1911. I also purchased a set of Cocobolo grips from http://www.woodgrips.com/, but I've run into a small problem. In backing out the upper screw on the RH side, it unscrewed the threaded insert in the frame instead. The other three screws came out fine. I don't want to potentially damage the insert by grabbing it with pliers to get the screw out. Any ideas? I was thinking about carefully applying some Loctite to the insert and then giving it a try again. Thanks
 
I don't know, . . . . if I had a thread about something visual, . . . . .I believe I'd be posting a picture! :scrutiny: *hint hint*

If you get new grips for it, post before and after pics too! ;)
 
I tried taking pictuers of it. The flash on my camera put too much glare on the slide and the spots wouldn't show up. I tried turning the flash off and then the picture would be too dark. But I already sent it back to the factory so I'll take some pictures of it when I get it back if the spots are still there.
 
What about an inside the waist holster? Anyone have any recommendations? I'd like to have one that is a behind the back that clips. I've got several nylon ones so I was thinking about getting a leather one if there is such a thing.
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I have this one ( left-handed model ). I like it. Other options include single clip holsters but the 5" framed PT1911 is a bit heavy for them IMO. Also you need to wear loose pants and an distracting overshirt (read: Hawaiian tropics distracting...) for the barrel and handle. Least I think so. Its pretty big for concealed carry, but its doable.

I've had good luck with Packin' Heat Leather finding what I'm looking for by way of leather holsters. I'm not associated with them. I've just had good experiences with them on several occasions.
 
Update on the 1911:

I got fed up with the white spots all over the slide that wouldn't come off so I called Taurus about it. They said to send it back to them and they would reblue the slide. I was also having some problems with the ambi-safety. If I pushed up on the right side, it would go about halfway up and get stuck then it would lock the gun up. No moving the slide, no moving the hammer, and no moving the trigger. I'd finally have to wiggle stuff and move stuff and the same time and it could down. So they replaced the ambi-safety as well. I had a pretty decent experience with their customer service department. They were plenty helpful and paid for all the shipping as well. As the gun was at the factory, I ordered a set of custom grips for it because the gun was just too black with the plastic grips. It needed something to make it pop. I ordered a set of afzelia burl grips from The Gun Grip Guys. Taurus finally sent my pistol back today and I put the grips on for the first time. They made a world of different! Finally the gun looks as good as it shoots. I went with a slightly less popular wood because I just didn't want to get a set of cocobolo grips because there are so many of them out there. They're pretty, don't get me wrong, I just don't like having something that a bunch of other people have. Here are some pictures of the gun I took tonight. Just overlook all the excess oil that's in all the cracks. Taurus shipped it back in a plastic baggie just dripping with oil. I've rubbed it off and cleaned it but more just keeps seeping out.


P1010896.gif

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P1010908.jpg

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The path the brass follows leaving the ejection port is determined by the shape of the face of the EJECTOR and can be changed by altering the angle on the ejector's face. Your complaint is common and easily corrected.

If you send the pistol off for refinishing, consider using an outfit that can perform this very minor task. Without correcting it you will have the same thing with a new finish.

My advice: shoot the hell out of it for a few months and then decide. I don't recommend getting Taurus to fix it because they will think it ain't broke and might break it.

You have a really nice gun.
 
I agree that she does make some really nice grips. But putting a set of her grips on a blued Taurus 1911 is kind of like putting a set of 22in wheels on a Chevy Malibu. I got the look I was going for without spending a ton of money as compared to the price of the gun.
 
loosecannon,

I'll be the one to tell you .....The pistol has already been back to Taurus. They not only fixed it but paid his shipping both ways.

These things can be discerned quite easily by a little bit of reading before letting loose your load of sage advise.
 
Olympus,

Those grips don't need any apologies.....they're georgous!

are those grip screws? They look like general hardware rather than the usual wide headed screws used to mount grips.
 
krs...

Thanks for the grip compliment. It's my first 1911 and those were the first set I've ever bought. I'm sure as my collection grows, I'll experiment with other grips as well. As for the grip screws, they're standard factory screws. Came on the gun straight from the box. The grips have factory sized holes for the screw heads and they fit inside with no gaps. Here's a link to a desktop background of the Taurus straight from the Taurus webpage. Go to the page and click on the "1911-Feature" link and it will open up an image of the 1911....same exact screws.

http://www.taurususa.com/imagebank/index2.cfm
 
Olympus,

Looks great. Glad Taurus took care of you. Got my grips from the same place you did. Very happy with them. I need to get more.

Tuckerdog1
 
Just came back for another look at those grips. That's mighty pretty wood.

Tuckerdog1
 
Thanks tuckerdog....appreciate it. I'm thinking about doing a set for myself. I've got a block of spalted maple that a friend of mine gave me a long time ago and I've never found a use for it. I think it might give it another different look. And it will give some experience on making my own grips.

Don't know though...thinking about doing a custom Encore stock from Osage Orange as well. Can't quite decide. Don't anyone steal my Osage Orange idea for a stock now either!
 
I e-bay scored a super nice set of maple burl grips for $10 from gungripguys.com

I guess no one liked maple cause the other woods were bid up to$40

pt1911.jpg
 
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