Taurus Pt 1911

[RAPPY THE DO]

When I was at work, recently a few friends of mine that are Police Officers and who both carry 1911's on duty told me the Taurus PT 1911's have been experiencing alot of problems.

I was taking into consideration of getting one. Has anyone heard anything on them? Quality, and then customer service?

Would you have faith in it like a Kimber or Glock?

Thank you

Rappy the Do

 

[Disaster]

Not sure if it's kosher to link to another forum but Taurus gets very mixed reviews. Seems like if you didn't have a problem they are great but lord have mercy on your soul if you ever have to deal with their customer service. Also, they tend not to be guns you want to put high volumes of ammo through.

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=303222

 

[BattleChimp Potemkin]

Once I ripped out all the internals and changed many of the parts, its now the best 1911 I have. You can put lots of ammo through it, but have to be willing to replace alot of parts with good ones (and void the warranty). I replaced everything, but I know generally how to work on my gun, so its not an issue (I have my own warrantee!)

Quality: MIM parts stink, so does Series 80 (ripped out on mine ) The frame and everything else is pretty well made and solid. The Thumb safety is a problem part. Tends to break and fall out. Simple replacement with a good one fixes this. The safety on the hammer (key lock junk) can lock while firing with no way to really remove it without KO the hammer. Replace the hammer. Easily done. Its a 1911 like any other, just needs some work to make it as well made as some of the 1911s. Build is fine, but the parts used can be shoddy.

Customer service: Good, but with a sprinkling of bad (as mentioned in many other forums). Biggest thing is the waiting period. They can occasionally (OCCASIONALLY, because there are some that get theirs back quicker) take a while.

An Ohio PD issuing 1911s? Cool!

 

[kwelz]

Mine has been just as reliable as my G17/G23 and My Kimber Pro Carry. The finish wasn't great on it but that is why it is in the ship getting Duracoated.

 

[XDKingslayer]

No I wouldn't buy one. Their quality control is poor at best and their customer support is atrocious.

If you want a cheap, well optioned 1911 look at the RIA Tactical.

 

[Technosavant]

Mine has been fine. Out of the box, a Glock is probably the most likely of the autoloaders to run 100%, but many others do so as well.

Kimbers, as well as Springfield Armory, S&W, Colt, and so on are better 1911s than the Taurus, but they cost more too.

I'm not sure I'd recommend a PT1911 as somebody's only gun, but it makes a fine addition to a collection and a decent budget 1911.

 

[jon_in_wv]

I wonder if the two officers who carried 1911s carried Tauruses or did they carry something else and would talk badly about ANY other 1911, especially a less expensive one. 1911 owners can be very snobby about their favorite brand. I would rather hear from actual owners. I've heard many great things about them. Personally, I don't like the checkering all of the dang thing. It takes away the organic feel of John Brownings original design. The RIA Tactical feels much more like the real deal. I good set of checkered grips gives plenty of traction.
If you want more info I would log on to the Taurus forum. Thats the place to learn the most. I signed on the M&P forum when I bought my M&P. You can find a wealth of knowledge from owners on those forums. The High Road is still the best place for discussion and general knowledge though.

 

[RAPPY THE DO]

The two police officer's carry Kimber's.

 

[Texastbird]

If I paid double the price of a Taurus for a Kimber, I would be a little snobby too when mentioning the PT1911. It won't get much good press on the High Road, but mine has been great and is more accurate than I can shoot. And I also have two Colts to compare it to. Its not a $1000 pistol, and I didn't really expect it to be. But its one heck of a $500 gun!

 

[jon_in_wv]

Kimber owners are in my experience as reliable as Glock owners. Their brand is indestructible, 1000% reliable, and able to shoot 1 inch groups at a mile. Everything else is junk.

 

[BamAlmighty]

As long as you get the stainless steel version, the blued finish wears way too quick.

 

[kcshooter]

I own a few 1911's, from different makers, Springfield, Colt, Kimber, S&W, Fusion, Essex, and I would buy a PT1911 only to rebuild it or shoot at the range.

For a $500 1911 it isn't awful but know that you are buying a low-end 1911. I wouldn't carry one without replacing most all of the internals.

Their customer service has more nightmare stories than you can count, and I have seen this myself.

I don't think a Taurus forum is a good place to get an unbiased opinion about a Taurus, just like a Glock or 1911 or gun-specific forum is likely to be any more unbiased.

My daily carry 1911 is a pre-series-II Kimber, but you won't catch me bashing every other brand out there, nor do I understand where that comment comes from. All of mine have been completely reliable after a few tweaks and tunes, (except for the Daly which took a LOT of work to make it right, I wouldn't carry that one either.) The current history of Taurus in genral and the pt1911 specifically would make me feel like carrying it would be more of a liability and my life is worth more than that to me. I also don't understand the above comment about 80-series being crap. Many makers use that system, including Colt, who developed it, and there is no history of any issues being brought on by it, other than the erroneous myth of a bad trigger pull.

For a couple hundred more you can buy a 1911 with a much better reputation, such as a Colt 1991 or Springfield MilSpec or Loaded, and in the long run I think you will be much happier.

 

[Storm]

This is no ordinary old 1911- it's a newly engineered 21st century hot-rod designed to outperform customized .45s in accuracy, handling and reliability. And thanks to advanced metallurgy and innovative manufacturing methods, it does so at just one-third the price.......Our skilled pistol smiths hand-fit and tune each gun with the nineteen custom features shown below".

Amazing!

 

[19-3Ben]

Our skilled pistol smiths hand-fit and tune each gun with the nineteen custom features shown below".

Ummm..... If each gun is tuned with the same "custom" features, are they still custom?

Just a thought.

 

[kcshooter]

This is no ordinary old 1911- it's a newly engineered 21st century hot-rod designed to outperform customized .45s in accuracy, handling and reliability. And thanks to advanced metallurgy and innovative manufacturing methods, it does so at just one-third the price.......Our skilled pistol smiths hand-fit and tune each gun with the nineteen custom features shown below".

Well, if it's in the marketing advertisements, it must be true.

 

[schmeky]

able to shoot 1 inch groups at a mile. Everything else is junk.

That's an outlandish comment. My Kimber can only do 2" at a mile

 

[Code3GT]

I went to my gun store the other day with every intention on buying the PT1911. I checked it out and it felt pretty loose, and it just didnt feel like a quality gun. I walked out with a S&W 1911 instead

 

[KyJim]

Kimber owners are in my experience as reliable as Glock owners. Their brand is indestructible, 1000% reliable, and able to shoot 1 inch groups at a mile. Everything else is junk.

I am a former Kimber owner. Accurate and pretty, but unreliable.

 

[Hoffy]

I'm very satisfied with my PT1911.

 

[EVIL1]

I went to my gun store the other day with every intention on buying the PT1911. I checked it out and it felt pretty loose, and it just didnt feel like a quality gun. I walked out with a S&W 1911 instead

I just picked up my PT1911 SS yesterday and it feels nice and tight. Was the one you looked at used?

 

[Coyote Hunter]

I carry one ccw most every day and totally trust it. I also carry a Uberti SAA clone for cowboy reenacting. I get the same thingfrom them..if it ain't a $1400.00 Colt SAA, it's no good and a piece of junk. I also carry it on the farm and for less than $500.00, it sends 45 cal rounds downrange as good as the colt. My Taurus does just as good. But remember, so would a man with a .32 that knows how to use it.

 

[Mainiac]

I have 6 Kimbers and 1 PT1911. The Taurus is as accurate as any of the Kimbers. After 1500+ rounds I have had zero malfunctions. It is IMHO one Heck of a pistol. I would not hesitate to purchase another one tommorow.

 

[38 Super Auto]

I was looking at the PT1911, but I realized that the sight cut is not standard. I need an adjustable sight my my applications.

Opted for a SW1911 and got a sweet deal on it. It shoots very well and has more accuracy capability that I, but I haven't given up: I am still working on my skills

 

[weisse52]

I could be wrong, but I think most people have issues with the customer service aspect of Taurus. If you get one that runs, GREAT, if not you will have issues getting Taurus to resolve.

In my case I watched a shooting buddy get so frustrated dealing with them he traded his away for a XXXXX (what does it matter what it was)

So, if you get a good one great, if not then.....
You decide what is important to you.

For the same money get the RIA, they seem to have great Customer Service. For me, Customer service goes a long way in deciding what I buy. I HATE POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE!

I ask this in a Taurus thread before, (and no Taurus owners responded) I will ask now. For those who have actually witnessed Taurus customer service, what has your experience been.

 

[NATE42ND]

Here you go.......