Taurus 1911

stainless is non ferrous, meaning it has no iron. therefore, doesn't rust and in non magnetic. same for aluminum, titanium, gold, lead, copper, tin, etc.

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Off topic from the OP, but this needs attention. Stainless steel WILL RUST, and is indeed ferrous and magnetic. It is acombination of lower carbon content, and higher content of elements like chrome, molybednum, and vanadium amongst others that contribute to the alloy's rust resistance. Note also I said rust resistance. Stainless steel is not stainless; it simply stains, or rusts, less than non-stainless alloys. You should still care for stainless like you would any other steel.

$100 for grips? Pick some nice Cocobolo's at CDNN for around $20.

12many, that price really isn't bad for a PT1911 WITH the lasergrips. Search around but I believe the going price for a set of the grips is around $250. So that $700 gun is really a $450 gun with $250 grips, not bad at all really. When the PT's first came out some big dealers were selling them for $400 but finding one for less than $500 is pretty tough now.

As far as the plastic hammer goes, it's funny some of the things you read on the internet.

Don't want to buy a pistol made in Brazil so it'd be "Springfield Armory all the way" to be sure of buying American. The Springfields come from Brazil.

i wouldn't waste my cash on a taurus 1911, I like 1911's but the taurus just looks cheap...a SA Mil-Spec would be a better choice.

Looks can be deceiving and are very subjective. It's an awesome gun for the price.

to each his own...

Was looking at one before I bought my latest kimber. My buddy pointed out they hadn't put the site on straight.
If their quality control cannot catch crooked sites I don't want to even GUESS what else they missed.

Also heard about the hammer locks breaking...

Not an option.

Here's a review I did after Christmas 06 of the PT1911.

Got a Taurus PT 1911 on 12/27/06 and it's a very nice pistol for the money.

Field stripped it, cleaned and oiled it when I got it home. Their ads say they are hand fitted. I could tell from looking over the parts that this one was hand fitted. The extractor, barrel hood, slide stop, and slide showed filing and polishing marks.

The fit and finish are very good. Not quite as good as my Kimber Pro Carry II, but very nice. The checkering is machine cut and a little uneven on the front of the grip but not bad enough to send it back to Taurus. The slide is tight and doesn't rattle. There is very very slight movement of the barrel when in lock and pushing down on the barrel hood. The trigger measured 4 1/4 lbs (out of the box) with about 1/16 in take up and slight creep, crisp release. The pistol comes with two mags, brush, and a barrel wrench. Didn't need the barrel wrench as the barrel bushing moved easily with hand pressure. Because it has a full length guide rod the spring plug has a hole thru it. I used the base of one of the mags to depress the spring plug.

Took it to the range today and fired 250 rnds thru it. It fed Independence 230 grn FMJ just fine. I used some HSM 230 grn JHP and it choked on it some. As I shot more it seemed to have less of a problem. But the JHPs were not reliable at this point. Will try some better JHP after a few hundred more rounds of FMJ. My best group was 4 shots into 1.5 in at 35 ft two handed grip. For comparison my best group with the same ammo out of my Kimber is about 1.25 in.

All things considered I am very pleased with the PT 1911. Well worth the $540 that I paid for it. It is a big step up from the RIA, SA, Charles Daly, Hi Standards that I looked at. There are cheaper prices out there if you look hard enough. This was my first Internet purchase. I usually like to purchase locally, so I can fondle the gun before buying it. But couldn't find any local dealer that could keep one in stock long enough for me to buy it. I got mine thru Red's Trading Post in Twin Falls, ID. I highly recommend them, quick and very good service.

http://www.redstradingpost.com/

UPDATE

Since I did this review about 3 weeks ago; I have run 400 more rounds thru the Taurus. Remington UMC 230 grn JHP feed reliably. WWB 230 grn JHP will feed reliably if I only load 7 rnds in the 47D or Taurus mags. It doesn't like my HSM 230grn JHPs at all, they are loaded shorter than the other ammo I've tried. Just have to find out what the Taurus likes.



Since I did this review I sent my PT1911 back to Taurus because the primers on the casings from my gun had a unusual ring around the firing pin indentation. Some of the posters on the net recommended that anyone with that problem send their guns back to Taurus for repair or replacement. So I sent mine to Taurus. Taurus shipped me a new pistol in 2 1/2 wks. I'd say their customer service is excellent!!

After I got my new PT1911 from them, I found out why the firing pin hole is chamfered. It's to impove reliability, so the casing won't catch on the firing pin hole. A number of gunsmiths do this as part of their reliability packages. Looks like Taurus just chamferes it more than some of the smiths do. So this was a lot of concern over nothing, that's what I get for listening to some of the know-it-alls on the web! I should know better by this time.

The new pistol looks great. The checkering on the front strap is even and just fine. The trigger pull on this one is 5 lbs out of the box. There's no creep in this pistols trigger and it has a crisp break with no overtravel. So I'll probably do some fluff and buff to get it down to about 4 lbs. By the way, if you take the firing pin block parts out of the slide the pull will drop about 1 lb and it works just fine. Pushing down on the barrel hood results in NO movement, tighter than my first PT1911. Slide fit is just fine with no rattle when shaken. Accuracy is very good, the best I can do is 1.5 in four shot groups at 35-45 ft. That's the same as I can do with my Kimber Pro Carry. Like I said in my original review it's not quite up to Kimber standards but it's not very far away from them. Not bad for the $540 that I paid for mine. And the price is going up quickly as people find out how good they are. YMMV

No need to spend $100 on new grips. My Wilson Diamondwood grips only cost me around $40.
Having ordered around half a case of MagTech ammo (230gr ball) I took my PT1911 back out to the range. A 1911 from Brazil with ammo from Brazil.
Even though I only had tme to shoot 100 rounds, this makes a total of 200 rounds I have fired through it. The first time I shot 50 rounds, and I put it up without cleaning it. Next time, 50 rounds, put it up without cleaning. And the last time, 100 more rounds from a dirty pistol. It fired perfectly. Good accuracy, good feel, & good, consistent ejection. The MagTech ammo shot well, also.
Someone metioned something about the history of Taurus. Can someone elaborate?

Someone metioned something about the history of Taurus. Can someone elaborate?

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It's really ANCIENT history. But I'll help. Once upon a time....

Taurus has been making guns for a long time. in the late 70s and early 80s they did not have a reputation for high-quality guns. Going into the late 80s they really ramped up their quality control and development and their guns became better and better. They partnered with S&W on revolvers and make some great ones. Their PT92/99 version of the Beretta has probably sold a zillion copies.

I would like to say the PT1911 is the happy ending to the story. But I think they will just keep getting better.

Story time is over. Let's get some milk and cookies.

I'll take on. Matter of fact I did!

I spent the better part of 4 months looking for a new 1911. Visited all the local gun dealers, spent to much on admission to gun show after gun show only to be dissapointed at my findings. I was looking for a gun in the 500 to 600 dollar range. After fondling everything from SW 1911 SC, Springers,Kimbers, Para's and every other model I could get me meathooks on I settled in comfortably with the new Taurus. Weight, feel, material, options and warranty were major factors. I know there are a bunch of people who love to bash anything with the Taurus name on it. I think years ago they had a legitimate arguement that hold no watter today. Remember the time when nobody wanted a Toyota because they were not reliable? Times change. Could not come to purchase the plain jane GI SA with spur hammer, GI sights, non beveled magwell, no lowered ejection port for $550. Kimbers in my price range (obviously used) had plain black on black sights that were hard for me to line up well in a well light showroom. Why spend 600 bucks on a gun I have to spend another 100 on for decent sights. I guess time will tell, but since new my Taurus has not missed on anything. Feels good (needs grips) shoots better than most 1000 dollar guns based on reviews. My groups at 10 yds are in the 2 inch range off hand and I aint a very good shot. For the price I don't think you can go wrong. If you can afford a 1k to 2k gun great. But don't bash a gun just cuz it's cheap. Remember cheap innaccurate guns won the WW2 cuz they worked. Mine Taurus works great.

I just picked one of these up. I haven't had a chance to shoot it yet and I haven't broken it down and checked out the internals of the gun. I will say this, the fit and finish of my gun is top notch. Unlike some on here who have stated the Taurus is basically a POS, my sights were installed perfectly with no gap between them and the slide, my checkering on all parts of the pistol is clean, tight, and aligned correctly. Lockup is nice, but not too tight. My father in law has probably put 500 or so rounds through his since he bought it and no issues at all. While I haven't shot it yet, I think it will be a great gun. Oh, and to those saying that Springfield simply makes a better gun.....the SA frame is made in Brazil in the same factory that cranks out the Taurus frame. Something to think about......just my two cents

This might be a one off(LOL, I hope so, the Colt was DOUBLE $ the Taurus!), but I had my used Taurus PT-1911ss along with a VERY mint , mid 90's Special Combat Government Hard Chrome high end colt .45 1911 at the range yesterday. I shot the taurus first. 7yds for both. The taurus just went and went and went. POA/POI we're on. I use full size silhouette targets from law enforcement targets(usually SPP9). Rapid fire and slow fire we're gr8. Slow fire, I'd say around a 2" group with 7 or 8 shots very close.

OK: now it was the Colt's turn. Forgot to mention I used Blazer Brass 230gr ball in both. Don't know whether it was the sights, firmer trigger or what, but I couldn't hang with ANYTHING I did with the taurus earlier on in the session. A friend that was next to me saw it all and has a policy"If it's more $$$ it's not always better" Again, in THEORY, the colt SHOULD be better...but it wasn't on this day. The Taurus has Heinie sights(I'm one of the few who likes them) vs Bomar adjustables(jet black, no dots) on the colt. Never been a fan of adjustable sights...so maybe that was the difference. Next time, I'll use the Colt first and see how I do.

The taurus does just fine for a low cost 1911. "IF" you get a good one. I've read and seen my share of bad one's.

After I got my new PT1911 from them, I found out why the firing pin hole is chamfered. It's to impove reliability, so the casing won't catch on the firing pin hole. A number of gunsmiths do this as part of their reliability packages. Looks like Taurus just chamferes it more than some of the smiths do. So this was a lot of concern over nothing, that's what I get for listening to some of the know-it-alls on the web! I should know better by this time.

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I'm just curious, if there was no issue then why did they send you a new gun?

Rock Island is my first choice in a lower priced 1911.
I would look at a taurus also.
I spend a lot of time at the range, most 1911s I see that have malfunctions are kimbers.


Jim

I voted third choice. In that price range (in order):

1) Springfield
2) Rock Island
3) Taurus

It cracks me up when "green furniture" TRIES to say Taurus PT1911 has plastic hammer. It's an physical impossibility for the hammer to be plastic. It IS STEEL. WAKE UP-I have 1 in front of me right now, and DID stone the STEEL hammer when performing the usual trigger job.

My PT1911 has about 3,000 rounds fired through it already and hasn't had the 1st malfunction of any kind-regardless of what bullet/load it's fed.

As to the sights, they are Taurus made licensed from Heinie, and ARE of NON-STANDARD dovetail dimensions. At this time you cannot order adjustable sight for the PT1911, but Champion will very shortly have them on the market. I was HIGHLY disappointed to discover no adjustable sights were factory made to fit it.

Do you all know this thread was starting on December 15th, 2006?

I paid $490 otd for my new Taurus PT1911, Very accurate, has been very reliable, (the only time it has not been is when I ran some very weak reloads of mine through it, I bump the charge up a bit and the problems went away)

I would not pay over $550 for it, because I feel in that price range you can get something better, but for the sub-$500-$550 dollar range Taurus is a winner

As far as 1911's, the Taurus would be my first choice in that price range. Sure, I can probably buy a Springfield Mil-spec in that price range, but this southpaw would be investing more money on an ambi safety,plus the installment of this part. In fact,that is exactly what I did back in 1999. Both the Springfield and Taurus are are made in Brazil, so the "American made" issue is a moot point.

Man, this is an old thread. I don't even have my PT1911 anymore. I couldn't warm up to the 2-dot sights. Yeah, I know, I coulda changed out the sights. I sold it and got a Rock Island Tactical...which I really like.

Actually, no you couldn't have changed the sites as the Taurus PT1911 have an oddball size dovetail groove machined in the rear of slide for rear site. The Heinie sites are made by Taurus and licensed from Heinie-they aren't the same size however.

I'm not into 1911s so I'm not sure what I'd consider 1st in that price range but I own a Taurus and it's a great gun so I have no problem buying one.

Actually, no you couldn't have changed the sites as the Taurus PT1911 have an oddball size dovetail groove machined in the rear of slide for rear site. The Heinie sites are made by Taurus and licensed from Heinie-they aren't the same size however.

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By gummy, you're right!
It was a nice gun, but I like my Rock.

You can now buy the PT1911 with Novak sights, as well. I have 5000 rounds through mine, with no problems. EDven with the OEM mags.

Taurus never built a clone of the Beretta, the Beretta company sold Taurus the tooling for the Model, 92 Beretta, before the US pistol trials. The PT92 is NOT a Beretta Model 92 today, or even back in 1986.

Taurus revolvers aren't clones of S&W either, as they use transfer-bar technology, something that S&W has never done.

I've never actually seen, or heard of, a problem with the Taurus safety, unlike the S&W piece.

What kind of intelligence is it that would post that Taurus has a plastic hammer? Even the rawest gun-shop sales staff/ mall-ninja wouldn't fall for THAT crap.