PT145 is rock steady

[marshall3]

I've had this gun (Taurus Mil Pro PT145) about a month now and really like the trigger. For a DAO gun, it is amazing. The pull seems light to me, much easier than my KelTec P11 or SW40GVE. The gun stays steady in my hand when pulling the trigger. Really nice pistol:
http://www.mouseguns.com/ratguns/pt145/pt145.htm

 

[PCRit]

Pt145

Yep, as I've said in other threads, 11rnds of .45ACP in a small, light package. What's not to like

 

[john from md]

I love mine as well. Lite and easy to conceal, mine has proven very reliable. Tomorrow I am even going to shoot an IDPA course with it. If there is a drawback, it is that my gun is more accurate with 230gn ammo. This makes for a slower follow-up shot.

Regards,

 

[ShelbyV8]

Love mine.

 

[CougarRed]

Looks like Taurus has worked out the bugs that plagued earlier versions of this gun.

My only remaining problem is that 230 gr rounds only travel 700 fps out of that 3.25" barrel. This has been documented by GunBlast and Gun Tests.

Don't know about you, but I wouldn't feel safe at that speed. Moreover, the owners manual says don't use anything heavier than 225 gr, so its not like 230+p is a good solution.

The only alternative is going 200 gr or 185 gr. I don't know of any 200 gr 45ACP rounds that are worth their salt, and if you go 185 gr (Taurus Hex or DPX are good rounds), now you are in 40S&W territory in terms of weight.

Life is a compromise, and the compromise for 10+1 rounds of 45 ammo in a small PT145 package is that you just can't use full weight 230 gr 45 ammo.

 

[Old Dog]

tt's the only plastic pistol allowed in my house these days.

 

[ranger7]

Not sure the Taurus owners manual is being interpreted correctly. It says "Taurus pistols were designed to use cartridges loaded to the limits shown below.
.45 ACP...Bullet weight 225 gr....Muzzle velocity...900fps."

This sounds to me like a pressure limit, not that a bullet can't weigh more than 225gr or a lighter bullet can't have a muzzle velocity greater than 900 fps.

If 230 gr bullets only have a muzzle velocity of 700fps out of the MilPro , then they are probably well within the limits specified, unless you consider the individual limits as maximums-individually. I don't.

(Also, without trying to be overly "picky," Taurus specs the barrel length at 3.30 inches.)


+++++++++++++++++++++++
CougarRed said:

"Looks like Taurus has worked out the bugs that plagued earlier versions of this gun.

My only remaining problem is that 230 gr rounds only travel 700 fps out of that 3.25" barrel. This has been documented by GunBlast and Gun Tests.

Don't know about you, but I wouldn't feel safe at that speed. Moreover, the owners manual says don't use anything heavier than 225 gr, so its not like 230+p is a good solution.

The only alternative is going 200 gr or 185 gr. I don't know of any 200 gr 45ACP rounds that are worth their salt, and if you go 185 gr (Taurus Hex or DPX are good rounds), now you are in 40S&W territory in terms of weight.

Life is a compromise, and the compromise for 10+1 rounds of 45 ammo in a small PT145 package is that you just can't use full weight 230 gr 45 ammo."

 

[Humble Texan]

I'm read for a move toward the Corbon 160 gr. standard pressure, DPX round (designed for short barrels) or the 185 gr. Taurus standard pressure DPX round. Have seen some impressive numbers with both in terms of penetration and expansion. Some believe this is THE defensive round. I'll take the Cor-bon +P DPX in my USP.


I have consistently used 230 gr. wwb from ww. My '02 PT145 is now in Florida for a second grip assembly breakage and other issues. Photos on request. I see a PRO in my future.

Humble Texan
Always take the free odds!

 

[lunde]

This is a very timely thread, because my thirty days were up this morning at 11:15AM, and I was able to start the transfer of a pistol among those in my one-handgun-per-thirty-days "queue." I decided that the pistol whose transfer I would start today would be the Taurus PT145 Stainless, which will be my very first Taurus pistol. I am looking forward to picking it up in ten days. What encouraged me to spring for one was not really it's price, but rather its remarkable DAO trigger combined with its good ergonomics.

 

[Dave R]

I believe Ranger7 has interpreted the Taurus manual correctly.

I load mine with a handload--185 grain Gold Dots running about 800fps. Could probably run it a little hotter, but I believe they will work fine at that velocity.

Besides, what would a 185gr. .40 be running from a 3" barrel?

ETA--I'm really enjoying my PT-145. I agree with the comments here, and add that I have been surprised with accuracy.

 

[ranger7]

Thought the quoted 700 fps sounded a little low for the PT-145 so I decided to chrono my preferred carry ammo (230 gr Remington Golden Saber) out of my Millenium Pro., avg. velocity @ 6ft from muzzle - 734.8 fps

That sounds pretty good to me for such a compact pistol.

 

[john from md]

I just ordered 200 rounds of the Hornady 200gn personal defense ammo. This may be a decent compromise between the 185's and the 230's.

My gun does not like 185's and groups them to the right. 230's hit spot on but have excess muzzle flip and slow velocity. When I get a chance, I will chrono the Hornady stuff.

I shot my 145 MIl Pro in an IDPA match on Sunday and did very well. I was only 11 points down for the whole match and that included missing a 20 yard head shot. The match was about 70 rounds. After the first string, I settled in with the trigger and started shooting two to three inch groups. Being old and arthritic, I managed to place number 4 in the SSP division and in the middle of the pack for the overall match. Low man shot something like 46 sec with a Springfield 1911, high was somewhere around 220 for a novice. I managed an 87.76.

I used a Don Hume IWB holster and both gun and holster performed well. I am going to paint the front sight dot with Blaze Orange paint to get a more rapid sight picture. No malfunctions and no problem using the small mag release.

Regards,

 

[PCRit]

Once again, bullet speed through the Taurus 3.25" barrel in not an issue, IF you use the correct ammo.

Several .45ACP PD rounds (like Federal Hydrashok 230gr, Winchester Ranger 230gr RA45T) do fine(~797+ fps) from a Colt Defender 3" short barrel. Of course Federal 185gr and Corbon 200gr do more than 800 fps. I've seen several of these kinds of tests, but here is a link to one on another forum.

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums...nchester+Ranger

I just picked up a few more boxes of Winchester Ranger RA45T on Gunbroker.com for $19 each (50rnds)

 

[Lennyjoe]

I don't know of any 200 gr 45ACP rounds that are worth their salt

Speer 200gr +P Gold Dot is a good round.

I use it in my Bersa Mini Firestorm and Kimber Pro Carry for personal protection.