I know this question has been answered in many forms on this forum and other forums and I have spent a lot of time contemplating my first 1911 purchase. I considered quality, cost etc etc My friends shun me when I make purchases that are other than the brands sig and kimber etc but I am contemplating a new PT1911 Stainless Taurus which is going for $600 + tx at a local dealer which I by all my guns from or a slightly used Blue one for $450 + tx. from the same dealer. I like stainless guns but rarely opt for the additional $ (figure I could put it towards another gun purchase). For comparison I believe the same dealer is selling the RIA new I believe 369 or 389. The best price online for a taurus pt1911 blue is around 500 delivered plus transfer fees. My reasoning for the Taurus is it seems like a decent gun for the price but before I purchase either of the (2) guns above any suggestions on a decent 1911 in the same price range ? Thanks.
Contemplating 1911 Purchase...Taurus
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XDKingslayer
member
There are many guns in that price range, but they're all basic 1911s. No bells and whistles. The Taurus comes with a nice package of upgrades that most people end up doing on a basic 1911 anyways. Better trigger, beavertail, hammer, sights, ejection port work, stipling on the front and back strap.
My dad just picked one up a new one for $450 (blued) so they can still be found cheap.
It seemed well built, solid, no rattles, trigger was awesome, finish was decent. The sights are Heine-type sights but they seem to be smaller than normal and don't look over-sized and hokey like most Heini style sights do on a 1911.
They usually come with regular black plastic grips, but this one came with wrap around pachmyer style rubber grips with finger grooves. The grips had the taurus logo in them so I don't know if it's something Taurus is offering or if they've changed. I still don't think their website shows the railed model and it's been on shelves for a while now.
The model with the rail is my next purchase.
My dad just picked one up a new one for $450 (blued) so they can still be found cheap.
It seemed well built, solid, no rattles, trigger was awesome, finish was decent. The sights are Heine-type sights but they seem to be smaller than normal and don't look over-sized and hokey like most Heini style sights do on a 1911.
They usually come with regular black plastic grips, but this one came with wrap around pachmyer style rubber grips with finger grooves. The grips had the taurus logo in them so I don't know if it's something Taurus is offering or if they've changed. I still don't think their website shows the railed model and it's been on shelves for a while now.
The model with the rail is my next purchase.
Technosavant
Member
I would lean towards the Taurus over the RIA. Reasons being, the Taurus has a number of useful upgrades (sights, checkering), and a lifetime warranty. It also has a forged frame and slide, whereas I believe RIA uses cast frames & slides (I could be wrong, I'm sure someone will correct me if I am wrong; if I am, please be gentle...). That means the Taurus will be "tougher" in the long run.
Besides, I have a Taurus PT1911 AR (blued, railed) waiting for me at a local shop, so I do need to be consistent. I wanted a nice railed 1911, and the Taurus seemed to be a great value and a quite decent gun.
Besides, I have a Taurus PT1911 AR (blued, railed) waiting for me at a local shop, so I do need to be consistent. I wanted a nice railed 1911, and the Taurus seemed to be a great value and a quite decent gun.
kwelz
Member
I am selling quite a few of the Taurus 1911s right now. While I have not personally shot one yet the one I handled was top notch and the feedback from my dealers has been great.
berkbw
Member
Ria has a lot of models with a whale of a lot of aftermarket things that fit. The current ownership and tech management can't be beat. I think that RIA has the best bang for the buck, if you are a shooter. There is a good Armscor forum on m1911.org. Can't hurt to check it out.
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possum
Member
STI Spartan is around that price range.
tuckerdog1
Member
I was out shooting mine today ( blued ). Still don't have enough rounds down the tube to bet my life on it ( maybe 800-900 rounds, including the 100 today ). But it has been 100% for those rounds. I really like it. As to price, do some shopping around. They seem to vary quite a bit around here. There is one guy at a gun show I go to each month. He wants ( I'm not kidding here ) $850 for a standard blue PT1911 ( and no it's NOT the HD model with the Crimson Trace grips ). That's the high end. But I've also as recently as about 3 months ago seen them at a different gun show, going NEW for $430. A lot of folks have been waiting a long time for the SS model. So I doubt you'll see much of a discount for that one.
Happy hunting,
Tuckerdog1
Happy hunting,
Tuckerdog1
fubb
Member
I'm buying 1 the first of month from a gun show about $500 for a blued finish. was considering ss but it is only ss finish, not stain steel.
XDKingslayer
member
Another difference I noted is that Taurus' website says that the sights are "Straight 8" type sights. The ones on my Dad's are 3 dots.
There seems to be a few differences in what Taurus sells and what's on their website. Or it could be options that they are now including and haven't updated their website. They don't seem to update it very often as the railed model STILL isn't on their site and it's been on shelves for a few months now.
There seems to be a few differences in what Taurus sells and what's on their website. Or it could be options that they are now including and haven't updated their website. They don't seem to update it very often as the railed model STILL isn't on their site and it's been on shelves for a few months now.
Hoffy
Member
Bud's has them for $504...DELIVERED: http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/495/products_id/17285.
That's where I got mine and I'm very happy with it. My only complaints are that the finish isn't premium quality and the factory magazines are a little stiff at first. However, if I had to do it all over again...my choice would still be the PT1911.
Good luck with your purchase process,
Hoffy
That's where I got mine and I'm very happy with it. My only complaints are that the finish isn't premium quality and the factory magazines are a little stiff at first. However, if I had to do it all over again...my choice would still be the PT1911.
Good luck with your purchase process,
Hoffy
Another +1 vote for the PT1911. You'll always get the non-Taurus folks no matter what the gun, but for the money you'll spend, and the extras you get for the price of a plain Jane GI model, you can't beat it. I'm well over 1,600 rds, with 3 basic quick cleanings, and it's still going strong.
I'm seriously considering the stainless version, Bud's has them for $ 625.00. The hammer looks different on them also.
I'm seriously considering the stainless version, Bud's has them for $ 625.00. The hammer looks different on them also.
greener
Member
PT1911B. The only thing I didn't like about the pistol was the grips and those were replaced with Hogues. The only ammo it has balked at was my first attempt at reloading. No mechanical problems. Makes me look like I know how to shoot. I think it is an excellent pistol and the fact that it was under $500 makes it even sweeter.
Seems like Buds has the best prices around. That is the site I use to get a price before I buy one locally. $504 + dealer transfer fees of about 35 brings it to 540 out the door. If I would order 1 new at the dealer it would be approx 540-550 + tx; slightly higher OTD but then I get to get it locally. My local gun shop seems not to like to do transfers anyway and sells 400-600 guns a month and the store is not even that big so they tend to keep the prices reasonable.
This one has the "straigt 8" and I took alook at it again Fri...like brand new mabe shot a few times, came with everything even the original bag that the gun was wrapped in. I decided to get it and took it to the range that day. I really like it !! I might be hooked on the 1911 and this may just be the beginning !!
weisse52
Member
The Taurus has a forged frame and slide. All the bells and options that seem popular. They are made in Brazil, but then again, so is SA. The reviews and feedback from everyone seems very good.
I just cannot get past that BILLBOARD on the slides. The added cost over an RIA is very much worth it if you EVER plan on upgrading the pistol. Upgrades add up fast.
I just cannot get past that BILLBOARD on the slides. The added cost over an RIA is very much worth it if you EVER plan on upgrading the pistol. Upgrades add up fast.
DougW
Member
My soldier son bought a PT1911 while home on leave this past Christmas. He put around 600 rounds down range with no issues. The pistol is a sweet shooter.
Technosavant
Member
That's probably why I'd recommend a Taurus to somebody looking into a 1911. While I'd probably expect a Springfield MilSpec to maybe be a little nicer in refinement (little less gritty feel out of the box, no useless firing pin block), generally you're going to end up wanting better sights, and tweaking of various small parts, and that adds up. The checkering on the front strap and under the trigger guard more so. Refinement can always be added by a gunsmith for not too much money; doing a basic detail strip and clean, with maybe a minor trigger job isn't horrendous. However, adding "custom" features gets expensive fast.
exdetsgt
Member
Hi, all. I'm a newbie here and this is my first post.
Just bought a blue PT 1911 Friday and have put 250 rounds through it at the range so far. Operates flawlessly. Paid $500 at a nearby gunshop but got $400 allowance on a High Standard so it didn't hurt too much.
Two areas of concern:
1. Pistol shoots slightly to the left even though Heinie sights have been adjusted left, apparently by the factory. Seemed to do so less after 150 rounds, though I may have been compensating, even though rangemaster and I were trying to sight it in, me firing from braced benchrest position. I removed the set screw and attempted to move the sights a bit further to the left, but couldn't do it even though there was still some space. Those sights are really in there! Good news: Very tight groupings. If I can't solve this problem I guess I can always buy a set of fully adjustable sights (Heinie's are drift only).
2. Don't like the ambidexterous safety even though it's considered a plus. Why? My concern is that heavy clothing or bumping into some object while carrying concealed could push the safety down. Perhaps I'm just worrying over nothing in this regard.
Having said that, Can a standard safety be fitted?
Just bought a blue PT 1911 Friday and have put 250 rounds through it at the range so far. Operates flawlessly. Paid $500 at a nearby gunshop but got $400 allowance on a High Standard so it didn't hurt too much.
Two areas of concern:
1. Pistol shoots slightly to the left even though Heinie sights have been adjusted left, apparently by the factory. Seemed to do so less after 150 rounds, though I may have been compensating, even though rangemaster and I were trying to sight it in, me firing from braced benchrest position. I removed the set screw and attempted to move the sights a bit further to the left, but couldn't do it even though there was still some space. Those sights are really in there! Good news: Very tight groupings. If I can't solve this problem I guess I can always buy a set of fully adjustable sights (Heinie's are drift only).
2. Don't like the ambidexterous safety even though it's considered a plus. Why? My concern is that heavy clothing or bumping into some object while carrying concealed could push the safety down. Perhaps I'm just worrying over nothing in this regard.
Having said that, Can a standard safety be fitted?
Technosavant
Member
Personally, I can do without ambis, but I haven't removed them from my two 1911s. In theory the safety can be pushed off, but it is a very rare thing (and you still have the grip safety, and with a Taurus and some others, the firing pin safety keeping it from going bang as well). In the last couple years of regularly carrying my SA 1911, I think I've only checked it and found the safety off a total of twice. Heavy clothing won't deactivate it; you'd have to brush it against something rather firmly.
And yes, a standard safety can be installed, but it will need to be done by a competent gunsmith (it has to be fitted to the sear).
Prince Yamato
Member
Don't forget that Taurus has a good warranty plan as well. Taurus makes pretty good guns. And for what it's worth, the Springfield 1911 frames are made in Brazil as well.
possum
Member
i think it is, i would go for the taurus.
exdetsgt
Member
Thanks Technosavant and Prince Yamato. Think I'll quit worrying about the safety and instead figure out what to do about the sight situation.
If you carry regularly, what do you recommend for a holster? Right now I'm just using a Fobus but prefer leather.
If you carry regularly, what do you recommend for a holster? Right now I'm just using a Fobus but prefer leather.
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