Taurus PT 145 Accuracy Problem

[PennsyPlinker]

I posted this on taurusarmed.net, but figured it would be worthwhile looking for some ideas here too.

I just got home from yet another unsatisfactory range experience with my PT145. I really want to like this thing. It is easy to carry, but it is a good thing I have not had to shoot anyone with it yet, as I think I might do better throwing it at them.

I've read about the Heine straight eight sight, talked with the local gunshop owner/gunsmith, and practiced, but I am lucky to be hitting the mountain behind the target with this thing. So today I am shooting at 7 yards, at an 8 1/2" x 11" sheet of paper with a printed out target on it. I set the sights just like the Heine site describes, and start hitting about a foot below the paper! I gradually walked the hits up the paper until I was hitting at the extreme lower edge of the target. So I began to think, "that's it, I just stink, and I need a shotgun for all my defense needs". But wait!

I went back to my truck and hauled out my Springfield XD45 with the 4" barrel. Blam blam blam up to 14 blams, almost as fast I could pull the trigger. Part of that was frustration. But then I went and looked at the target (a new one, taped to the boards right next to the first one) and almost all the hits were in the black, and in a decent group to boot!

I read somewhere (here maybe?) about someone with a similar problem, and sending it back to Taurus where they did some voodoo on the barrel and now it shoots well for him. I really don't want this thing gone for months on end if I can avoid that. But if that is what I have to do...

Does anyone here have any wisdom for me?

Thanks.

 

[MrTuffPaws]

Depends. Is it a DAO model? If so, people that shoot SA a lot will likely find that they shoot low with a DAO trigger. I have both an XD and a PT-145 DAO and that is the case with me as well.

I would try snap caps and a laser to make sure it is not you. Also, let someone else shoot the gun. That is another good way to tell. It is amazing just how much some flinch and not know it.

 

[Majic]

No need in sending it back to the factory because you have aftermarket sights on it and there lies your problem. If you measure your stock sights you will probably find that the front sight is shorter than the aftermarket front sight. Correction is to contact Heine to see if they have a shorter front sight or file the existing Heine sight down till you hit the POA.

 

[PennsyPlinker]

It's the new SA/DA Millennium Pro, and I have been practicing with snap caps, although not recently. The only other people who have had opportunity to shoot it are worse shots than I am, so that is not helping. I mean, I consider myself to be a decent shot. I could hit a bad guy without having to run up to him or anything like that, but I want to be a good shot, not a decent shot.

 

[PennsyPlinker]

Correction is to contact Heine to see if they have a shorter front sight or file the existing Heine sight down till you hit the POA.

I seem to remember something about Heine making these sights exclusively for Taurus, and that no others would fit, but I will check that as well. To be truthful, I don't really care for these sights, and would be glad to find something else. I didn't know I would dislike them to this degree when I bought the thing, but I think they may be a deal breaker in the future, unless I have some sort of epiphany with how to use them.

 

[DawgFvr]

Debug it. First, let someone else attempt to fire it...check results. Try firing at close in targets...then move it out. You just might have a barrel problem. My DAO .45 ACP 2nd Generation PT45 is the most accurate little devil. I do not even aim...I just point shoot. Results:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=3478654&postcount=19

 

[PennsyPlinker]

DawgFvr, my target doesn't look a whole lot different than yours, with the exception of all the shots, or the vast majority of them being very low. Perhaps I have over enthusiastic expectations, or perhaps I believe too many posters who shoot all their bullets through the same hole. I appreciate your response, and I will have to spend some more time at the range. But for now, until I get better, I am a little concerned about those Heine sights protecting my own personal hiney.

 

[tjwheele]

Williams now has a fiber optic sights that are adjustable for elevation as well. I'm going to replace the straight eights that came on mine with these Williams sights and try to find which ammo groups the best for my PT-145 (3rd Gen SA/DA). I don't reload, yet, but am slowly gathering the gear for it.

Can anyone share which factory load groups the best for their PT-145s?

 

[LiveLife]

Wow, resurrected thread from 2007!

Can anyone share which factory load groups the best for their PT-145s?

My Gen3 SA/DA PT145 came with oversized barrel and would group best with FMJ factory loads with exposed lead base that will allow expansion of the base to the barrel better. More and more factory target loads use plated bullets and are often marked FMJ also so if you get erratic shot groups, it may not be the gun/sights but the bullet components.

I had accuracy issues shooting lead reloads (18 BHN Missouri bullet) and identified the problem to the oversized barrel. When I used a softer 12 BHN bullet that expanded to seal with the barrel better, my accuracy improved.

 

[Miked7762]

I'm going to replace the straight eights that came on mine with these Williams sights and try to find which ammo groups the best for my PT-145 (3rd Gen SA/DA).

Check very carefully that these will fit. When a company says their sights fit a Millennium Pro with dovetail sights, they almost always mean the second generation with the fore/aft dovetail on the front sight. They won't fit your 3rd gen with the left/right dovetails. An easy way to tell is to see if the sights work on any of the older models at all. If they do, they won't work on yours.

 

[tjwheele]

Miked7762 -- Thanks for the heads-up. I'll try my best to confirm before pulling the trigger on the adjustable Williams Firesights. However, I'm afraid I'll have to wait a bit before I can give them a try. Don't tell the missus, but I found a really sweet deal on a Super Blackhawk 44 mag. at Cajun Pawn coming back from lunch. You know it was only $35 to put it on layaway!

bds -- Thanks. I too noticed that FMJ loads worked better at the range last Saturday. I had some Winchester lead practice loads that were pretty bad. The lead went about 5 inches lower than the Remmington copper coated at 15 yards. Some of the stuff I've read makes me think that a lighter bullet would do better. Gonna try some of those next. Thanks.

 

[tjwheele]

Different ammo makes a big difference

Before completely giving up on the Straight Eight sight on my PT-145, I dug a little deeper into the reviews of my pistol. I noticed a couple of reviewers, when listing accuracy of ammo tested, seemed to have better results with lighter loads for grouping. I picked up a box of Hornady 185 gr FTX. The grouping was excellent and the elevation for POI was just under POA. Much better results than the 3 or 4 different 230 gr. loads I had previously tested. I also plan to test the Federal 165 gr. Personal Defense ammo. when I can find it. There was a good review using it as well.

Side-note: I am excited about keeping the Straight Eight sights so I can add Nitesiters. A cheaper way to night sight equip my pistol than Tritium. And some of the positive reviews included a Taurus PT-145. Ordered a set of Nitesiters today for under $20.

 

[ritepath]

I have a gen 3 PT145 and I can shoot it great, 7 yards I can (when it'll shoot a magazine without jamming) easily keep 10 rounds in 5-6" group with FMJ.

A friend of mine had one about the same age and he couldn't hit nothing with it, others shooting with him could shoot it pretty good. He ended up trading it in and got a G36.

Now if only I could get mine to feed more than 4 rounds in a row....

 

[Quoheleth]

THIS IS NOT A TAURUS BASH!

Compared with a 1911, the Taurus trigger is very different. There are a billion handguns out there. If you don't shoot it well, sell/trade it and stick with what you shoot well.

My brother had a 24/7 and a friend had a PT145. I shot both the way you describe. Shooting my CZ or my SR9c, I blow out the bullseye - POA=POI - every time.

Q