Taurus pt-1911 & 1911b3

[RonnyBaby]

Hello people!

I am new to this board... looks like fun!

Well... I'll get right to my post...


I have been considering the purchase of a new Taurus PT-1911 though I saw that they have a Compact version listed on their site. I looked around and the only sales site online that offers it is Buds Guns, though it is out of stock. I wonder if they ever released that model?

Ok... so I would like to hear from all those that have either purchased or used a Taurus PT-1911 and what your thoughts are of this pistol. I mean the price is unbelievably good at around $599.

I picked one up at my local gun club the other day after holding several Kimber's, Para's and Springfield's, but the Taurus just seemed to fit my hands the best with the exception of their grip safety. I like the grip safety on the Kimber better, because it is full form shaped, meaning no gully and big notch on the end, like on most other 1911's. My hand (for some reason) needs the full shaped safety button... otherwise I have a hard time depressing it.

Is there any way of installing a Kimber type of grip safety?

I think if I could resolve this one issue, the only other thing I would do to the pistol is upgrade to Tijicon night sights.

Any thoughts from all you whom have experienced this pistol?

 

[mnrivrat]

From the ones I have seen and fired my impression is positive on the Taurus 1911 gun. We used one of the blued models as a rental in the range and it never failed, and was very accurate.

I would not hesitate to buy this gun based on my experience with them.

 

[W Turner]

The Taurus 1911's were a better value when they were selling for $450 or so. The materials are good, the fitting is spotty unless you know what you're looking for. Their customer service is universally known as some of the worst in the industry.

For the $600 price tag you're talking about, I would rather go with a Springfield GI model and have the grip safety I want installed. Another option would be a Rock Island Armory tactical model. Has all the bells and whistles of a Taurus, but they sell for about $460 in my area.

Now somebody will come along and gripe about the RIA's having cast slides and frames, but they have been out long enough that I think they have proven their quality. Even STI uses RIA's parts for their Spartans.

W

 

[Japle]

The majority of PT1911s are good guns. In my experience, getting a nice trigger pull is easy for anyone who knows what he's doing. However, if you want to change out the hammer, sear, safety or trigger, you might have some serious problems.

A customer brought one in and wanted the hammer and trigger swapped out for Wilson parts. It didn't take me long to find out that the Taurus parts aren't easily fitted to aftermarket parts. The hammer/sear fit is unique to the Taurus. So's the safety. The trigger cut in the frame is deeper than usual and an aftermarket trigger sits 'way too far foward. Looks bad and has a ton of slop. I suppose it could be shimmed. I didn't try swapping the grip safety, so I can't speak about that.

I've been fitting 1911s for over 35 years and never saw one like the Taurus. The customer had me reinstall the original parts and traded it for a Sig.

 

[RonnyBaby]

Thanks guys for your insights!

I looked at the Rock Island and it is a very limited pistol.
My main priority here is to use it for both target practice
AND defensive carry. Some do carry the Taurus as their
concealed weapon of choice.

I however went out today to a few stores looking around
and think I will find a way to sack enough cash to buy
the Kimber Pro Carry II compact in blue finish.

Also, I am proud to say I finally took the initiative and
JOINED THE NRA!!

YEAH!!

The times call for as many people as possible to join so
they will have our support in fighting the good fight and
up-holding our 2nd amendment rights.

 

[PT1911]

the pt1911 is a great gun that is extremely easy to shoot and be quite accurate with immediately.... mine will outshoot my springfielt 1911 any day. the features are great, it feeds anything you put in it, and the lifetime warranty is unbeatable... it was my second gun purchase, I had to but some woodent grips on it, but now I will never get rid of it. I know some extreme skeptics that completely fell in love with the pt1911... it is a great gun.. I highly recommend it.

 

[Gunfighter123]

Thank you for joining the NRA -- we need one strong voice and the NRA is it.

 

[RonnyBaby]

PT1911...

Bottom line:
Would you stake YOUR LIFE on this gun and would you carry it as a concealed
carry gun? I know some who do... but wouldn't it get a bit heavy after a while?

Also, what do you do when you want to get parts for that gun and find out that
no one other than Taurus offers them, due to this pistol being Taurus proprietary?

I called Wilson Combat to ask about getting some replacement parts for this
pistol and they said due to the proprietary build of that gun, they would not be
able to help me out.

I've also been looking at the Para Ordnance Warthog and found many very good
reviews on it. Many people seem to like Para's guns.

 

[nelson133]

RIA is limited? I'd need some explanation on that one. The basic GI is just that, but the tactical models have many bells and whistles.
If you go to http://forum.m1911.org/forumdisplay.php?forumid=17 , you'll find lots of good info on these guns.

 

[Japle]

I called Wilson Combat to ask about getting some replacement parts for this pistol and they said due to the proprietary build of that gun, they would not be able to help me out.

I'll keep this comment handy for those who tell me I'm crazy and that Wilson parts will fit a Taurus.

Actually, they will if you're willing to change the hammer, sear and safety all at once. The trigger is a different story.

If someone is happy with the gun as it comes from the factory (with a good trigger job, of course) I don't see a problem. Some PT1911s fail right out of the box. Every manufacturer makes guns that fail right out of the box. It happens.

The usual PT1911 is a dependable 1911 semi-clone. If I had one that worked as well as my other 1911s, I'd carry it without any problem. They are heavy, though. That's one reason I carry a Glock 19.

 

[ishida]

Odd, PLENTY PT1911 owners replace parts with Wilson parts. IN fact, there's an entire forum dedicated to the PT1911 series, and they'll be able ot help you out much more.

http://www.taurusarmed.net/forums/index.php?board=25.0


They sure dont' seem to have a SINGLE problem replacing the "proprietary" safety with any left-side safety they want with the same fitting you'd give any other 1911.


I can't say I'm unhappy with mine, other than the previous owner screwing up the bushing a bit, which was fixed by the dealer for free. Works perfect, is far more accurate than me, and has been 100% reliable.