Messing with my PT 1911

[Levan9X19]

I recently purchased a brand new Taurus PT1911 .45 for some change I got in my pocket. This gun is my project gun, dehorning in process, tomorrow I will apply some duracoat but I also really really do not like this MIM extractor. I bought a Wilson Combat series 80 Bulletproof extractor but it looks different than original one and seems that firing pin safety is not willing to install where it originally belongs, so idea came to my head just throw it out and assemble slide without safety. just like series 70! There are no legal issues here with such modification so is it ok or not ok? I mean will the gun shoot reliably? From my point of view besides a hole in the slide where dirt will get in there should not be any problems?

 

[Jim Watson]

As long as the frame lawyer lever does not snag in the vacant firing pin obstruction hole, it will do ok. There is a frame filler plate made for neutered Colt Series 80 but I do not know if it will fit Taurus. The design is the same, but the dimensions are not.

 

[Levan9X19]

thanx for reply. I think I will leave factory extractor and have spare Wilson. If original part will brake I will do the "conversion". I think I can make the plug for myself.

also I would like to say a few pleasant words about Taurus. The gun is tight, shoots very good but needed a lot of sight adjustment. it shot way to the right and low. all in all a lot of gun for a very little money.

 

[triggerman770]

pt 1911

the Wilson will not fit the Taurus. Haven't found any that will. Taurus makes them not to colt spec. best bet is call Taurus and after a couple of days on hold order a couple of spares:banghead:

 

[1911Tuner]

The TJ's frame blank was designed for Colt pistols. It may or may not be file-adaptable to the Taurus. I've never tried and don't know anybody who has.

There are no legal issues that I'm aware of, except possibly in California. You'd have to do some research to get the answer to that.

There may be civil liabilities should anyone who handles the pistol shoot himself in the foot with it...even if the intact lawyer parts would have made no difference, and even though there are other 1911-pattern pistols without the system.

Choose wisely.

And "Series 70" has nothing to do with the fire control group.

 

[jhop73]

a wilson extractor fits my pt1911 just fine, after i switched extractors i put in a titanium firing pin ans the series 80 filler plate from brownells. everything was pretty much drop in.

 

[cuba]

What leads you to believe that the Taurus extractor is made through a MIM steel process?

I've had my PT1911 since 2008 and to date I have over 20K round through the gun with out having an extractor problem.

Best way I know to identify MIM parts is that there is usually a circle indentation left on the surface where the injection process was administered, if you check your extractor you will not find this mark, as you will on the sear and disconnector, MIM technology has improve since its inception, and like its been pointed out if your MIM part is going to fail it will do it in its early stages of wear, I honed my sear about the 10K round count, and disproved the theory made by some that say that after removing the hardened tip by honing the sear the finish will not last, because the metal is softer toward the inside, well I can tell you that this has not been the case in my experience, because my sear has held its finish for over 10K and I have no noticeable creep.

I've made it a ritual to break down my PT1911 and inspect the steel on steel wear points with a magnifying loop at around every three thousand round, and I can vouch that the steel parts used on the PT1911 are made with steel that will last just as long as those that aren't made by MIM, I still have all my original fire control parts and I'm not looking to change them out any time soon because premature wearing.

I lost the safety block spring on my PT1911 at about 12K and I re-assembled it with out the block and ran it that way for about 5K rounds without any ill affects to the slide, the trigger did get lighter and the lever never jammed into the slide hole.

I know that some aftermarket 80 series extractors, will not hold the safety block on the PT1911, but they all will fit and function and extract in the PT1911 with out the block, If you want to change your Taurus extractor with an aftermarket extractor I understand that the ED Brown 80 series extractors will work on the PT1911 and will hold the block in.

shoot safe, shoot straight and have fun

 

[jhop73]

My oem extractor broke within my first 500 rds, I could see what looked like a small void right where it broke.

 

[Levan9X19]

I believe its a MIM part. and it broke today! two shots and than failure to eject, one by one, each and every time.

so I installed Wilson part and thrown off firing pin safety. will test the gun tomorrow.

Cuba and Tuner, special thanx for your posts