Taurus Autopistol Durability

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ArfinGreebly

ArfinGreebly

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In another thread, I have mentioned that I'm looking at a Taurus PT911 (let's be clear, thats 911, not 1911. It's a 15-shot 9mm pistol.

As part of my research, I went by one of the shops whose advice I respect (these are the guys who won't stock what they don't trust).

I mentioned the newer Taurus designs and asked if they were considering stocking the PT1911.

No.

They ran through a laundry list of problems they had back when they still sold Taurus.

Their conclusion: Taurus uses inferior metal in their construction, in addition to some QA issues in machining.

Then he said this: "See if you can find someone who has put more than 10,000 rounds through a Taurus without having the gun break. If you can find someone who has, then that gun might be worth a look."

So, here I am.

Does anybody have a Taurus autopistol (any model) through which they have personally put more than 10,000 rounds?

In fact, I would be interested in hearing from anyone with a count of 5,000 or more.

Failing that, if you have (firsthand) had a failure on the way to 10,000 rounds, please contribute that, too.

It will help a great deal if we can avoid bashing.

I'm trying to gather performance data.

I've already had my "Taurus makes junk" lecture for the day.

Let's stick with the facts.
 
10.000 rounds is quite a bit!!!
I don't think anybody here has the time nor the funds, especally at today's prices, to be putting that many rounds through ANY autoloader!!!
Let's get realistic here!! 10,000 rounds is getting durn close to the recommended service life of most guns!! Certainly things are going to need replacing, like springs and such, probably a locking block in the Beretta 92FS type guns, long before you reach that mark!!

The typical standard is that if a gun makes it through 200 rounds without giving up the ghost, it probably will serve you well.

That said, my PT92AFS probably has double that and is still going strong!!
 
I also have PT92AFS. I like the gun a lot but after about 2,000 rounds through, part of the take-down lever broke off at the range. I sent it in for repairs and got it back in about 2 months, with a new lever. The way it broke makes me think not all is well with the metal used for the moving parts. In an emergency, I will probably grab my Ruger KP89 instead.
 
10,000

Well, let's think this through . . .

If I go to the range once a week, and shoot 100 rounds through a given gun each trip . . .

(carry the one . . .)

It would take two years, shooting 100 rounds a week, to go through 10,000 rounds.

That would be (WWB 9mm) about $60 a month in ammo, or about $600 per year, and $1,200 over the two-year period.

Cheaper than bowling . . .

So . . . if a guy were to shoot a more modest schedule, like 100 rounds or so a month, then over a two-year period we're looking at maybe 2,500 rounds total.

So, in light of that, let me frame the question differently.

Anybody out there having shot more than 2,000 rounds through their Taurus without a breakage?

And, while I respect Dick Metcalf, he's being paid for that ad, so some salt is in order.

What I'm looking at is the possibility of using a Taurus 9mm autopistol (the 911 in this case) as a carry piece.

The pro/con data I have so far is split roughly down the middle.

If I can't get a fair degree of confidence in this, I will probably spend the extra $100 and go with a compact CZ, or even another XD (but in 9mm this time).

So, anyone?
 
I have not owned a Taurus Semiauto (I owned a revolver that was junk, but I won't get into that here.)

HOWEVER: one of the guys in my Gunsite 250 pistol class had a Taurus Milinium in .45ACP.

-Which he said he had had for a while and put a couple thousand rounds through.

In short the pistol would not stand up to the rigors of the class. (Jammed alot) I loaned him my backup 1911... and he bought his own before the class ended.

I've seen a few others jam on ranges.... but that's the only 'heavy use' that I can attest to witnessing.
 
I bought my first Taurus, the PT1911 last November '07, I liked it so much I bought a 651 snub nose in Dec. '07 for CCW, then this March '08 a 970 revolver for cheap fun. So let's say I've "fallen" for the Big Bull.
Roughly 2800rnds thru the 1911, 700rnds thru the 651, and 250rnds thru the 970 and NO problems.
With the Taurus NRA program I've given away three new memberships and hopefully three more allies in the world of shooting sports.
 
I've put around 1,500 rounds through my PT111 Pro (note the 'Pro' - the non-Pro PT1xx guns had some problems which they fixed) and not only have I not had a part break, but I've not had a single FTE or similar problem, ever. I've fed it a variety of ammo, including some which was loaded and quite a bit hot for a pistol (friend loaded it for his MP5).
 
I have a Millenium "Pro"(see above) PT745,which is a single stack 45 DAO,and I have a PT140 PRO,which has the new SA/DA trigger.The 745 has about 3000 rds without ANY kind of malfunction,the 140 is approaching 2000 with the same results.As a result of my experiences with these 2,I am currently waiting on a PT145 PRO(SA/DA)to arrive.I own HK,Sig,Kahr,and Springfield pistols in carryable sizes,I carry my PT140.It's lighter,easy to operate,and just as reliable as any of my more expensive "carry" guns...The advice I give to most people contemplating a Taurus is that if it says "Pro" somewhere on the slide,they're good to go...The non-Pro models had serious issues and I'm glad to see Taurus put that behind them...
 
So . . . if a guy were to shoot a more modest schedule, like 100 rounds or so a month, then over a two-year period we're looking at maybe 2,500 rounds total.

So, in light of that, let me frame the question differently.

Anybody out there having shot more than 2,000 rounds through their Taurus without a breakage?
Click to expand...

I have a Millennium Pro (2'nd Gen DAO trigger) in .40 S&W.
I've owned it for just a hair shy of 5 months (gosh, seems longer) and have roughly 650-750 rounds through it. I have had exactly zero issues of any kind with it
 
I (and my spouse, my daughters, and various shooting buddies over the years) have certainly put well over 5,000 rounds through a 1991-vintage Taurus PT-92 AFS-D. I bought this pistol for my wife in mid-1991. It's a very real possibility this pistol has seen more than 10,000 rounds, I'm certain. This pistol has been used in almost every range session when we've introduced new shooters to handguns, has been through several training courses and generally beat to hell and gone over the past many years.

Inferior steel? Bullcrap. Another gun-shop myth.

Oh, and a pre-Pro PT-145 Millenium in the family (also my wife's) has well over 2,000 trouble-free rounds through it (bought new in 2004 or 2005).
 
I have a PT99AF (the early 92 with adjustable sights) since 1988. I carried it as a duty gun for 5 years. That would be 1000 rds for qualification a year +training exercises +competitions +recreational shooting= easily over 10,000 and perhaps closer to 15K.

The only problem I ever had was the rear sight leaf broke after 10 years and it took Taurus 2 weeks to get the gun back to me.

I have two Taurus revolvers which have less than 5K rounds through them the only problem was on the 357 I was banging off magnums and the rear sight screw came out and the rear sight came off. Really my fault for not checking it.

Bought a used Taurus 357 recently that was a safe queen and have only put about 200-300 rounds through it.

Have a PT1911 with less than 1,000 rounds.

I have friends who are extremely knowledgable (one a former USAMTU gunsmith and several who are full time instructors/course developers at a Federal LE Agency's firearms branch that say Taurus' are junk. You can't prove that by my experience and to keep them friends we just don't discuss Taurus.

Myself, I wouldn't hesitate to buy any Taurus firearm.
 
I bought my son a used Taurus PT-111 Pro a year ago. I don't know who many rounds went through it before I bought it but in the past 12 month we have shot almost 3,000 round. The pistol is still working flawlessly and is still as accurate as when we got it. (Of course, it's throughly cleaned and lubricated after every range trip)
 
Honestly, Arfin, I think what it comes down to is old prejudices. Taurus used to make a gun of dubious quality. They slowly got better. Realistically, I think today they make a gun thats as good as any on the market, but people still judge them by what they used to be, not what they are. If an extractor on a Taurus breaks, people throw fits and promise never to buy them again. If an extractor on a Kimber breaks, they just assume that it is an anomaly and go on buying Kimbers. The guy at the sportsmans wearhouse in Loveland HATES Taurus. Hates them. He has told me that they get them returned constantly, a fact that I have disproven simply by asking the other gun guys. It's prejudice man.....
 
I'm pleased with both of my Taurus's

I have a Taurus Tracker 357 and a Taurus Mil-Pro 40, both have been good guns. The 357 has only seen about 1000 rounds in 5 years, I don't shoot it that much. However, its a solid, accurate, tight revolver, for the $350 I paid for it, I'm thrilled. My Mil-Pro 40 has gotten a work-out since I purchased it in Jan/2005. I have put about 1600 rounds of of this gun since then, I've only had two failures, one failure to chamber, and one failure due to myself short stroking the trigger. I attribute the failure to chamber to one of my reloads, I think the cartridge was too long. Other than that, this gun has been 100% and I am very pleased with it. The Mil-Pro is my CCW gun.

My dad has a 24/7 that he purchased from Sportsmans Warehouse two years ago for $289 new in box. That was a heckuva deal and its a nice pistol, 15+1 in 40S&W is hard to beat.
 
I spent yesterday trying to get a Millennium PT111 (first gen.) to fire a full clip without a FTE. Averaged 5 FTE's per magazine. I bought it Friday used and it's going back tomorrow. Ejector looks fine maybe a mag issue, but I just have the one it came with and it's OEM. First experience with a Taurus autoloader and not a good one.
 
The consensus on the first generation millenium's is that they are lacking in quality. I would get rid of that gun and get a millenium pro, its a much improved gun, you will be alot happier.
 
I had at least 8,000 rounds through my first Taurus semiauto, a PT99AF. Stopped counting after 8,000 b/c the gun just wouldn't malfunction. Only real problem I ever hear about with these Beretta clones is the locking block does occasionally crack in pistols with high round counts. Pretty simple to replace from what I hear.
 
TimboKhan

So, if they stopped making the PT911 -- in, what, 2005? -- and this is one of the last ones produced, that should be recent enough to miss the "dubious quality" thing?
 
my 2 cents

I put around 2,000 rds through my 24/7Pro(which I love more than any pistol I've ever had), before it started having primer strike issues. Sent it back, got the firing pin replaced for free, no strike problems. However, since getting it back, can't go 20rds without a stove pipe, and tried 6 different mags. It is currently at Taurus for repair. My PT745 has NEVER had a single problem. Probably has 1,500rds thru it. Great little gun and super cheap for what you get.
 
After 1800 rounds, the disassembly pin on my PT-140 pro broke in two when I field stripped it today, now the gun is in-op.:mad: I'm starting to wonder about Taurus a little bit, its a nice pistol, but this part breakage has me ticked off. This is my ccw gun and now its out of commission.:mad: I'm thinking about a possible trade for a 3" 357 magnum, getting tired of my auto's puking parts.:mad:
 
I think the primary issue with Taurus is inconsistency (I.E. Quality control). Certain lines from them have a rather disproportionate amount of problems.
-Gaucho SAA
-Millennium (older ones, not the "pro")

Other lines seem to be doing very well
-1911 clone
-Millennium Pro models

Taurus used to produce crap and nothing but crap. In recent years they have been producing some pretty decent stuff at prices nobody else seems to be capable of. But like certain automobiles you tend to find yourself wondering if you got the one built on a Wednesday by someone in a good mood using equipment that was just tuned to spec, etc. or did you get the one built on Monday by a guy who's wife just announced she's divorcing him that morning and he doesn't care what happens now.

And this is coming from a guy who owns THREE Taurus guns (Two Gaucho SAA that I use for cowboy action shooting that took a lot of fiddling to be good, and one PT-140 Mil-Pro that has been so reliable it became my primary CCW).
 
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