Taurus Millenium 9mm's any good?

[duncan]

And how many LE agencies or armies carry ANY Taurus gun?

How many agencies even have approved of any Taurus gun for even off-duty carry by their officer?

0

Plezzzzz

 

[SONICMASD]

and we all know that if the LE community doesnt use it, then its not the best

I was stopped by the cop the other day and we got to talking about our pistols. He was issued a glock 40 and said "its alright i like it more than our old berettas", then after inspecting my 24/7 said "wow, that taurus is real nice, id like to get one of those."

true story

 

[LightningJoe]

My PT-745 is utterly reliable and good for very quick two-handed shots at 15 yards. OK for slow fire at 25 yards. I'd rather have TDA than DAO, but I can live with it.

In 9mm, however, you've got other choices that are smaller than the Millennium Pro but with similar barrel lengths. The P11 is good, but that square butt always rapped me on the knuckle of my thumb; +P loads were painful. The Kahr polymer micro is smaller. The Rohrbaugh is close to the P-3AT in size.

 

[hkmp5g17]

LOTS of LE guys (local, state, and federal) carry small frame Taurus revolvers as back ups or off duty guns.

 

[Thin Black Line]

PT111 good little ccw pistol. Liked the built in lock. It's not made for
+P or loads heavier than 115g --says so in the manual in case anyone
still looks at manuals. It's cheaper than a lot of the other compacts
mentioned.

 

[SouthpawShootr]

I suspect that there are a few reasons you don't see Taurus handguns in LE holsters.

There a little thing called solicitation for bids. LE agencies put these out only to manufacturers they want to see examples from. Don't get invited, they don't come to the party. They don't really seem to be actively pursuing the LE market anyway.

Gear availability is another thing. Who's going to adopt a gun for which duty gear is not available?

The Taurus PT-92 series were an outgrowth of a Beretta military contract. I wonder if they still have military/LE contracts in Brazil. Anybody from Brazil lurking on these boards?

Also, many of the decisionmakers in agencies (IF they know anything about guns) have pretty much heard rumors that Taurus guns are cheap knockoffs of S&W and Beretta. They might be inexpensive, but I've had a couple of Taurus guns that stood up well to substantial amounts of shooting.

 

[Old Dog]

And how many LE agencies or armies carry ANY Taurus gun?

Funny how the Taurus-bashers (all Taurus products must suck) always rise to the occasion when a question is asked about a specific Taurus product ... I know a number of law enforcement personnel who carry Model 85s as BUGs and even a city cop who carries a 945 on uniformed patrol.

The Millenium Pro pistols are excellent little pieces. The company has the bugs worked out and, IMO, the Mil-Pros are sensible pistols even though there are "too many controls hanging off the sides." That's why some people buy 'em ... a frame-mounted safety on any pistol is a good thing. My wife's PT-145 is extremely accurate, totally reliable. A friends PT-111 is a fun little shooter and quite accurate as well. Yeah, the trigger pull takes some getting used to ... so what?

 

[duncan]

LOTS of LE guys (local, state, and federal) carry small frame Taurus revolvers as back ups or off duty guns.

Again, Taurus' revolvers are awesome. But they are still not SW revolvers and won't hold much value if you ever start horse trading. Ask any gunsmith which revolver they like to work on. You can tune and polish a SW trigger like there is no tomorrow.

Ruger also makes some fine durable revolvers - love my Redhawk but it's trigger is not close to my SW's even with a trigger job. In general, revolvers are great BUGs and affordable SA alternatives. That's why some cops carry them. Again Taurus makes great revolvers!

Love this in 44 mag:

I've worked for a couple of defense and LE contractors. Work for a LE and Homeland Security contractor right now doing business with LEAs from the FBI to the county sheriff's department. We bid on government contracts weekly. And if the gun meets the specs, they can bid on the RFP.

Taurus has chosen not to go after that business for a reason. I think it's a mistake. Look at the success of the IROC Z after it's success in NASCAR. If you build it, and the big boys use it, the civies will come!

Many manufacturers like Glock and Beretta take a loss on those large government contracts and make up the money in increase sales to officers on backup pieces. Afterwards, civilians buy up those same gun models. Some because they are copy wanna be's, some becuase they feel it's been tested in the field.

For example, your dept issues a Glock 22. You have to buy a G27 as a BUG to use the same magazines in a SHTF situation. So you can take those G22 mags and shove them into your G23 or G27 and keep dealing with that situation.

Glock and other gun makers going after the LE or military business make plenty of money off of civilians who want to carry the same sidearms for self or home defense.

If you are ever invloved in a self defense shooting, you best defense is that I carry the same kind of gun my local/state/federal LEOs do.

That is another benefit.

Taurus makes some good guns, but they have chosen NOT to pursue the LE market which causes me to suspect their real belief in their guns. If they don't think they can hold up or that they won't sell enough of them, why should I?

Look at Springfield Armory and their XDs. They are going after that Glock business. Kimber is also going after the SWAT team and special ops business with their 1911s.

So that's why I have faith in guns carried by our boys in blue. I trust that they will beat the hell out of those guns, abuse them, and if they serve them, they'll serve me.

When it comes to my live and my family's lives, I'll spend the extra money to get that gun.

You are free to drive that Neon or Cobalt all you want.

I like the Bavarian imports

 

[SONICMASD]

I cant answer as to why Taurus isnt marketing to LE agencies, but they are going after Glock's market.

Have you seen their ad for the 24/7??? It's a direct comparison to Glock and how the 24/7 has more features in every way and then says "you call that perfection?"

I think the 24/7/mil pro would make much better sidearms for LE because of those extra features.

 

[Riktoven]

Manual safeties...the crutch for those who still believe in safe neighborhoods.

Any gun with a manual safety makes me ill aside from 1911s (and I still don't think they need them).

Any gun with a takedown lever that is not protected by some kind of shroud or frame indent is just sloppily designed IMO.

Any gun without an ambidexterous mag release was designed by someone whos never been shot.

Any gun (ie most guns) that use button mag releases instead of a lever was designed by someone who's not seen way too many accidental mag drops by people with extended mag releases to like the button at all.

Any gun with lever actuated controls of any kind on the (repeatedly and rapidly moving) slide is sloppily designed IMO.

The Taurus works. But it's a sloppy design IMO. And yes, I am still going complain about all the huge BS controls dangling off of this and many other guns.

Berretta and S&W with thier slide mounted horse pucky and internal doo-dads are good guns for sure, but I don't like the designs one bit.

 

[Slinger]

just another opinion

I have a Millennium Pro 145ss. I don't find it anymore difficult to field strip than my faithfull old Colt 1911. Of course I don't wear a blindfold while doing it, nor do I have a stopwatch timing me. It shoots great for such a short barreled gun. It is a nice pointing gun for me, I can put it up on target effortlessly. It fits nicely in my Bagmaster IWB holster right next to my belt buckle without worry of accidentally shooting my manhood off because of the DAO trigger.

Only one problem. I have been having one hell of a time with failure to feed. The first 100 rnds I had 1 problem. ( Wolf 230 gr. ammo ) The next 100 rnds (WWB 230JHP) I had more than I care to mention. The last 100 rnds (CCI brass Blazer 230 gr. ) had maybe two. Took my mag apart at home and found it to be filthy dirty inside. Perhaps the cheep ammo had something to do with it. Still working on the problem.

I know it's not the 9mm version but something to keep in mind.

 

[duncan]

Slinger,
do a fluff and buff on that feed ramp and throat.



It's an old 1911 gunsmith's trick.

Lightly westsand with BreakFree oil and a high grit sandpaper like 1500 - should be gray and you can not see any sand/grains - do not change the contours just knocking down any milling marks.

Get some fltiz metal polis and a felt tip for your dremel and mirror polish.

Has eliminated almost all feed problems in a variety of guns.

Standard procedure for any one of my new guns except for my HKP7s.

 

[Stevie-Ray]

I had a PT-111 a couple years ago. It is one of only 2 guns I ever sold. My problem was the mag release. Between the fit of the gun and the size of my hand I was always inadvertantly hitting the mag release. It was pissing me right off. Bought a G26, and was extremely happy with it. It was everything the Millenium was, but far better IMO. Finally after a period of non-use the Millenium was traded for a Kimber UCDP. (and cash, of course) I just couldn't see keeping it, as disappointing as it was to me.

 

[TimboKhan]

One of the big chain sporting goods stores here in Colorado, Sportsmens Warehouse, is having a sale (it might be over now, though) in which MilPro 9mm's (specifically) are $299.00. Regular price is $329.00. Kahrs, which I have considered purchasing, are absolutly NEVER cheaper new than about $450.00, and usually a tick or two over $500.00.

 

[Hawken50]

did you notice the people bashing them are not talking about jams, ftf, fte, stove pipes, lack of reliability, etc? they don't seem to like the design, fit, features. if you like the guns features, fit, the gun overall, and it's in your price range, you won't be dissapointed.

i've got about 1000 rounds through a new stainless pt111 (non-pro) and i couldn't be happier with it. if the frame becomes a problem, they'll fix it for free.

 

[baldy5706]

I'm having a similar problem I was all set to buy a Millenium PT 145. Sportsman's Warehouse, Milwaukee, $279.00. Searching the Internet I found all the frame crack horror stories. Talking to local shops only told me that Taurus was great about taking care of problems. Now I'm looking at Glock 36's. $549 at the same place. Quite a bit more, but if it's worth the difference I'd spend it. The question is like the one that started the thread. Which is the better choice? Sorry if this is off the subject but it seems to fit.

 

[Sylvilagus Aquaticus]

I've had a pair of pre-Pro Millennium PT111's in the house for about 6 years now. One os mine, the other is exclusively SWMBO's. I polished up the striker and striker channel a little and it smoothed up a lot, almost to the point of where a NIB PRO model is. Yeah, I like mine, but it's not my daily carry piece...mostly for really hot weather when I'm dressed a little more casually than usual. SWMBO carries hers occasionally, shoots it more than I do mine at the range, and can detail strip the thing in no time at all, down to the striker for cleaning, lube, and inspection.

Both of them function reliably every time you pull that loooong trigger. No, it's not a target pistol. It's easy enough to stay on a silhouette target at 20 yards, though. If I'd had wanted a P210, I'd have bought a pair of them. The PT111 is goblin repellant at an affordable price, which is why I bought them.

Works for us.


Regards,
Rabbit.

 

[duncan]

baldy5706, please shoot the Glock 36 before you buy it.

Of all of the Glocks, it has more recoil, snap, and bite to it due to its thin backstrap.

The Glock 30 is a tad thicker but better to shoot several boxes through.

The Glock 36 is merely for CCW not fun at the range.

My hand hurt after two boxes and I shoot 357 sig, 10mm, and 44 mag.

 

[Hawken50]

Sylvilagus Aquaticus-

how did you polish the striker and striker channel? is it something i can do my self? my trigger is a tad gritty.

 

[baldy5706]

Ducan, Thanks. I'll have to try the 36. Have you fired the Taurus PT 145? Just wondering if it was similar. Better? Worse? Thanks!

 

[Leonardo]

The Taurus PT-92 series were an outgrowth of a Beretta military contract. I wonder if they still have military/LE contracts in Brazil. Anybody from Brazil lurking on these boards?

I am, but don't know much about it.
In Brazil each state has its own military and civilian police organization. A lot of them use Taurus pistols, and some of them also use Taurus machine guns (both .40 caliber), according to the Taurus website.
I believe military forces use guns made by Imbel.

 

[MrTuffPaws]

Any gun with lever actuated controls of any kind on the (repeatedly and rapidly moving) slide is sloppily designed IMO.

The Taurus works. But it's a sloppy design IMO. And yes, I am still going complain about all the huge BS controls dangling off of this and many other guns.

And you obviously have never held a Millennium Pro or a 27/7 because if you had, you would have noticed that all of the controls are on the frame.

 

[duncan]

baldy5706, no I have not fired the PT-145. Just did not like the strong-side controls when I handled it in the shop.

 

[duncan]

The should have internal strikers. If Taurus uses Glock's striker and channel design this should work just fine for you:

Just disassemble, getyour dremel with a felt tip and some Flitz and polish your striker to a mirror finish but not too much as most strikers are plated and if you get thru the plating, it's ruined.

You can take a piece of 1000 grit sandpaper and some breakFree. Wrap around a long wooden Q-tip and gently turn going in and out of the striker channel. Do this several times wiping out with a Q-tip until it's pretty smooth.

You don't want to enlarge, just smooth - otherwise your striker "could" rattle and fail to seat and misfire and non-primer strikers all day would be the drill. Once you've smoothed it some, dip another long Q-tip with Flitz and work it baby!

Clean out and lightly BreakFree coating the channel. Done!

 

[Riktoven]

And you obviously have never held a Millennium Pro or a 27/7 because if you had, you would have noticed that all of the controls are on the frame.


--------------------------------------------------------------------

Oops, you got me there. Typically when I think Taurus, I think Berreta with the safety backwards (or proper, since Berreta is backwards).

But look at the gun for a minute. Look at the positioning of the controls. I mean there are three control levers side, by side, by side, with nothing besides a couple of millimeters separating them. Good luck getting the safety off instead of accidentally pressing the slide release.

*** would anyone want a safety for anyway? If the gun is in a holster, the trigger isn't going anywhere. If the gun is in your hand, YOU better be all the safety it needs. I just can't imagine a scenario where you'd ever say "damn, it's a good thing I had the safety on." I can imagine a couple where that safety, or reliance on it could ruin ones day real quick.

I've fired one of the older Milleniums, sucky trigger but worked ok at 7 yards.
Some people like them, that's why they are still being sold, choices are great right? The bottom line is, I think its a sloppy design. The controls are un-necessary and ridiculously placed from a high speed low drag perspective. I'm not telling you how to spend your money, but if it's sloppy designs that float your boat, at least buy American.