Taurus 1911 .38 super

Status
Not open for further replies.
F

Fat Boy

Member
Joined
Sep 23, 2007
Messages
753
Location
Kansas Plains
I am considering the purchase of a Taurus 1911 in .38 super.

I am hesitant because of all the bad things I have read about Taurus firearms on that most authoritative source; the internet. (seriously, I believe there is probably some concern about quality here, but not as much as I read... :)

But past that, I am curious about the ergonomics the the gun- having handled one it seems a bit heavy in the front end. I'm not sure if this is a symptom of the ergonomics so much as my not having handled a steel 1911 recently as opposed to a polymer-framed gun that is much lighter. Sometimes a less-expensive product will be less of a quality design; part of my wondering is to do with the idea that Taurus may be producing something without as much R&D, etc. and therefore the gun doesn't handle as well compared with more expensive firearms.

What do you think?
 
I haven't shot one made by Taurus, but I hear they got this one right. CDNN usually has 'em super cheap if you can deal with the "bling". The ones they have are blued with gold accents.
 
Taurus pt1911 38 super

Despite the lack of great finishing on the Sprinfields and Colts, the Taurus performs like a champ. I've got two and they have never had a "hiccup". Shoot straight as an arrow, which is better than I shoot.
 
Fat Boy said:
I am considering the purchase of a Taurus 1911 in .38 super.

I am hesitant because of all the bad things I have read about Taurus firearms on that most authoritative source; the internet. (seriously, I believe there is probably some concern about quality here, but not as much as I read... :)

But past that, I am curious about the ergonomics the the gun- having handled one it seems a bit heavy in the front end. I'm not sure if this is a symptom of the ergonomics so much as my not having handled a steel 1911 recently as opposed to a polymer-framed gun that is much lighter. Sometimes a less-expensive product will be less of a quality design; part of my wondering is to do with the idea that Taurus may be producing something without as much R&D, etc. and therefore the gun doesn't handle as well compared with more expensive firearms.

What do you think?
Click to expand...

Quality can be an issue with Taurus, as with any mfg. If you can try before you buy I would. Definitely handle it, have the shop field-strip it so you can look it over. Look for obvious signs of poor manufacture.

1911's do feel a bit front heavy compared to poly guns. It's not a Taurus thing, its a 1911 thing. If you shoot it for a while you will get used to it.

A friend of mine had a Taurus 1911 in .45 that he liked initially, but he eventually traded. I shot a Taurus 1911 in .38 Super recently and it was a very sweet shooter. Accurate and recoil was nil.

Taurus did not deviate from the standard 1911 design, so I wouldnt worry about that.

I have only seen/handled/shot a few, but those have been functionally good. Accuracy that I have seen has been acceptable as well. I suspect that if you are not really picky, you will be pleased. If you are expecting a high-end gun at a mid-ranged price, you will probably be disappointed.
 
Fat Boy, the only issue I see, is the cost (sometimes) and availability of .38 super ammo. If you reload, both of these conditions can be negated, but if you don't then they are something to be considered. Online, you can find plinking ammo for about the same price as .40 S&W ammo, but you won't find it on the shelves of your local wally world or academy (at least mine don't stock it). If you have a Bass Pro or Cabelas nearby, that would help to find some locally.

If you intend to use it as a defensive gun, whether that be for carry or as a home defense gun, know that the selection of premium JHP rounds is very limited. A quick online search of ammunitiontogo.com (which stocks a lot of ammo), only turned up 4 types of JHP ammunition (all produced by Corbon).
 
Fat Boy

One nice thing about the M1911 design in .38 Super is that it's readily converted to 9mm. with the addition of a barrel assembly and a magazine. That way you can practice more with less expensive 9mm. ammo. Not sure if the Taurus is an exact copy of the M1911 so that aftermarket parts will fit and function properly, but I'm sure you could contact them to find out.
 
The availability of commercial 38 Super is limited. No doubt about it. The round is in the same class as the 44 Spl., 10mm and the 41 Mag (niche rounds) and as a result good commercial loads are limited. They are there but not as abundant as 40S&W or 9mm.

However, the number of manufacturers offering loads for the Super has increased markedly in the last 10 years or so. Used to be only Winchester and Cor-Bon offered jhp rounds for the Super. Now several other companies do as well.

If one reloads though, there is no limitation. Bullets for the 9mm and 38 caliber bullets can both be utilized. Most commercial rounds use 9mm bullets as it is and modern 38 Super barrels are made with this in mind.

tipoc
 
If one reloads though, there is no limitation. Bullets for the 9mm and 38 caliber bullets can both be utilized. Most commercial rounds use 9mm bullets as it is and modern 38 Super barrels are made with this in mind.
Click to expand...

Absolutely! If the OP reloads then the .38 super is a fantastic choice!
 
I bought a stainless Taurus PT1911 .38 Super with rail (and yes, all the gold bits too) from CDNN for $450 (including S&H!) and have nothing but good to say about it. OK, I could live without the gold trim (it is very soft and very thin, a good sneeze knocks the gold off) and the rail too. I wanted a stainless 1911 (LOVE STAINLESS!), a railed 1911 (hate the rail, but now I know. Might need to get one of the rail adapters with three rails on it, so I can mount a flashlight, red/green laser and bayonet on it at the same time. THAT should scare off any intruders!) and now I have one. Add a 9mm barrel for dual cartridge use.

Down side? OK, the plastic grips LOOK neat, but feel cheap, no where as nice as this gun needs or deserves (not a problem with Pachmyer grips going on anyway as soon as I buy another set, which is probably why they come with the grips they do), and the polish on the top of the slide was a bit wavy if you hold it in the light just right, which is a "so what?" issue.

As to the quality of the slide, barrel and frame, they sell the slides and frames to Springfield Armory and no one calls them a poor quality gun!
 
How do the dimensions of the frame compare to a standard .45 frame? Is it a ramped barrel design? I know it's fairly easy to swap to 9mm in a 1911 if you have a ramped barrel but not sure how the .38 Super deviates if at all. I've always wanted a 9mm 1911 and having a swap between .38 Super and 9mm may not be a bad way to go.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

G
  • Locked
Taurus 1911 38 super
Replies
4
Views
460
Chuck Perry
C
S
  • Locked
Taurus 38 super
Replies
3
Views
428
BluesBear
B
E
  • Locked
  • Poll
Looking for another 38 super
Replies
15
Views
796
wally
wally
C
  • Locked
Taurus 1911?
Replies
6
Views
3K
Croyance
C
D
  • Locked
Video - Taurus PT1911 in .38 Super
Replies
0
Views
235
duelist1954
D
Back
Top