Taurus 1911

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m38shooter

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Ohio
I just bought one at Cabela's and just need to wait for the transfer to Ohio. In the meantime, is there anything that I should expect from the gun when I get it home and start shooting it? The grip felt pretty nice in my hand and the trigger seemed good enough when I checked it.

Please, try to stay out of the usual Taurus bashing. I know that going with a lower priced firearm (especially Taurus) basically means gambling with the money, part of me evens expects a few prolonged trips back (my luck doesn't run so great most times). I'd just like to know the good and bad things to note from people who own or at least have personally fired them.
 
Have a buddy that was looking to purchase an inexpensive 1911 for a first handgun. He was looking into the Taurus PT1911, so we went and he was ready to purchase. When he picked up the gun to check it out, the safety just broke off. He ended up getting a Springfield Hi-Capacity for about $600. From what I hear the Taurus's are a great bang for your buck. That's the only experience I have with Taurus 1911's.
 
Mine has been the most accurate and reliable 1911 I've ever owned. Best factory trigger by far. I've spent lots more on 1911's, but didn't get a better gun.
 
Mine was very accurate and had a great trigger. The only downside was the safety falling out twice and it was very picky on magazines. I sold it rather than dealing with customer( no )service department.
 
My Brother has one with over 2500 Rnds through it without any issues. very Accurate as well!
 
Cabela's in Wheeling?

That's the one.

When I handled the display model and when they opened the box of the one I'll be getting, they both seemed nice and solid.

Is the safety issue more of a nuisance where you can slip it back in, or does it require being sent off?
 
Seems as though a few of the earlier production pistols came through with the safety not fitted right. I've had mine for almost a year and its been great. The set screw for the rear sight on mine was slightly loose, and I had to tighten it down. Did you get the blue or stainless one?
 
I went for the blued version. I figure if I get sick of black guns I can strip it down and put a layer of duracoat or something on it.
 
Clean it before shooting. Otherwise, good gun. Maybe not as polished as more expensive 1911s, but the trigger cleans up as you shoot it (mine was gritty out of the box). Plenty accurate. I had issues with light primer strikes, but the gun shop had a 'smith fix that for me (didn't have to wait three months for Taurus to do it).

I don't know that it's the equal (in terms of quality) of a Springfield Loaded or S&W, but then again, it doesn't cost near as much as those either. For the money, it's a VERY good 1911.
 
My grandson bought one last year. Sweet gun. Liked it so well I bought one about a month ago. No, it's not quite in the class with my Series 70 Gold Cup but it is awfully good. This my third Taurus. No problems, no complaints.
 
The only things you can expect are, a huge stupid grin when you start squeezing out the rounds, and a frown from running out of ammo !!! I'm now over 2,000+ rds, not one hiccup.
 
I replaced the skinny grips it came with, my hands are pretty big.
I think I got around 3000 rounds through it with no problems at all.
I tried a few mags and they all worked perfectly, I would recomend this gun.
 
TaurusPT1911,eh?
http://www.taurusarmed.net/forums/in...p?topic=2155.0
http://www.taurusarmed.net/forums/in...p?topic=2388.0
http://www.taurusarmed.net/forums/in...p?topic=2969.0
http://www.taurusarmed.net/forums/in...p?topic=3703.0
http://www.taurusarmed.net/forums/in...p?topic=3697.0
http://www.taurusarmed.net/forums/in...p?topic=3416.0
http://www.taurusarmed.net/forums/in...p?topic=3340.0
http://www.taurusarmed.net/forums/in...p?topic=3442.0

There's also www.taurusarmed.net that has a PT1911 board as well as a FAQ and sticky threads about the PT1911. Might prove useful to browse there.

Ask questions or do a search or read the old and new threads at the PT1911 board.

There's also Taurus Talk at MSN as a source of info ,too.
Wanting specific answers about specific guns. Then a trip to the specific gun forums may be in order.

Brought the above over from a different forum for interests sake.
 
"The safety falls out !!"

I had the same problem. Buy a set of nylon micarta grip panels and Wilson Combat screws. Problem solved.

img0160dj7.jpg


IMHO, the problem stems from the factory plastic grip panels. The cut out on the right side factory panel is too deep for the ambi safety catch.

Once I made the grip panel switch, I couldn't force the safety to "fall apart." It's a simple fix, and who keeps plastic grips on a 1911 anyways?

*Disclaimer: YMMV. But, it worked for me.
 
Anyone who bashes the PT1911 is probably just an internet basher, because they are very, very good pistols. I bought mine when they first came out, and I have had nothing but good luck with them. The only justifiable complaint then was that the finish wore a little easily. Sure enough, mine now has some bright spots, but nothing of even minor concern at this point. I honestly do not know if this has been addressed by Taurus or not, but even if it hasn't, you can get it refinished virtually any way you want and still be money ahead on one of the more expensive 1911's.

The straight-eight sights are a different matter. I happen to love them, others don't. It's not that they are bad sights as much as they simply aren't everyones preference. I find them easy to pick up, and I can shoot pretty well with them. Frankly, if I could put them on all my "combat" guns, I would. That being said, some people just like the standard 3 dot system, and there isn't anything wrong with that.

I don't want to sound like a fanboy, but I honestly think that the PT1911 might be the best mass produced 1911 on the market. People can snob it up all they want, but it has all the popular features for a signifigantly lower price (which is more in line with reality anyway) and the thing works. I very honestly would not buy another 1911 other than this one.

Now, everything being said, I have to point out that I like Taurus guns in general. I have owned several and have been very happy with all of them. My 605 in .357 is my main carry piece, which should speak volumes about what I think of it.

Edit to add: I actually am not familiar with the safety problem. I actually sort of like the factory grips, and I have never had a problem with it.
 
I don't want to sound like a fanboy, but I honestly think that the PT1911 might be the best mass produced 1911 on the market.

I was actually avoiding looking at the Taurus while I was perusing the 1911's that night. After trying every one in the case and talking to the salesman, he brought up the Taurus and said that he knew someone who said that if he was going to get rid of all but one of his 1911's, the one he kept would be the Taurus (something about it being reliable enough and the others with the same quality fetching more profit :p). I decided to give it a chance and was surprised to find that it just felt better in my hand than the Kimbers and Springfields.

Hopefully mine shoots fairly well in addition to feeling nice. (Not bashing the brand, but I've got experience with two Taurus pistols. One was an absolutely great firearm, the other was an absolutely great paperweight)
 
If some day I decide to buy a single stack 1911, the PT1911 would be one of just a couple 1911s that I would consider.
 
Handled a lot of them, shot one.

My experience has been based on handling them, shooting one and talking to owners who shoot them often.

The fit and finish isn't exactly stellar, but is by no means terrible. Just know that if you go looking for faults, you'll find them. If you're buying this as a shooter or tool, don't bother with looking at the cosmetics anyway.

They are gaining a reputation for being very boring. As in boringly reliable. Decently accurate, too. If I hadn't already spent my money for the next few months, I might consider one. All I'd change are the guide rod and sights.

Go into it knowing you're buying a tool, not a beauty queen, and you'll be happy, I think. The guys I shoot with are.
 
I've been thinking about getting one for a while.

I have a stoopid question. Does anyone know if the PT1911s with light rails are available with a smooth frontstrap?

All I'd change are the guide rod and sights.
I'd change the grips as well.
 
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