Taurus PT1911. Impressed?

[shooter1]

Hold the phone!!
These sights are designed by Richard Heinie for the PT1911 and manufactured by Taurus under license.
str1

 

[bigmike45]

Bought my youngest son one for Christmas last year, he turned 21 the previous October. He wanted a 1911 and I figured with all the bells & whistles that came with this gun, at the price I paid for it, he would be getting a decent gun. Wow was I wrong!!! He in fact, received from Santa Dad an, exceptional gun. A few thing I did not like about it are, the front cocking grooves on the slide, the Heine sights, but left them alone, the cheap plastic grip panels, I changed them out with a spare pair of Cocobolo checkered grips, and the grip safety disengaged about .010" before bottoming out, a little file work on the tang took care of that. The accuracy really blew us both away. Our first outing we burned up over 500 rounds of several different brands of FMJ, JHP, JFP and LSWC. All loaded and shot flawlessly. My son is a southpaw, so I was interested in how it was going to shoot for him. No problems there either and having the ambi-safety was needed here. My son has since added another 1500+ rounds and has had one failure. His finger obviously touched the mag release button causing the next round to not load correctly.

Impressed.....not really. I have two other Taurus semi-auto's and a revolver that have never given me anything but pleasure when shooting them.

bigmike45

 

[JP from Phoenix]

hows the finish on those? I've been thinking about getting one but it looks like the blueing is a little thin. I keep all my guns in their boxes so it probably wont be too much on an issue but they are one heck of a good buy for people who want a good 1911 who dont have 700 plus to spend. I'll either get one of these or a Springfield milspec

 

[Vito_Corleone]

Just got one today. I like the looks of it and the feel of it. Shooting it is a different story. It seemed to be all over the place. Sometimes I'd be right in the bullseye and sometimes I'd be about 8 inches to the left of it. This was all at 10-25 feet. It COULD be me, but I can usually shoot pretty decent groups at those distances.

It may just need to be broken in. Might have been the ammo. Or, I could just be having a bad day. We'll see next time I go out.

The slide did fail to lock forward twice, but that's probably just my ammo.

 

[Rinspeed]

hows the finish on those? I've been thinking about getting one but it looks like the blueing is a little thin.

Blueing is blueing, there's no such thing as thin. It's not a coating.

 

[Feanaro]

That's a good summary of some real reasons for lowered costs, plus cheap labor. But this sticks out like a sore thumb:

Second, what motivation do the current manufacturers have to make a cheaper gun?

Obviously there is one, Taurus did it. The 1911 market is huge. There are companies that don't make anything else and it seems like every other pistol manufacturer has 5 or 10 models. So why wouldn't they lower the price if that were feasible? A 1911 with "loaded" features without a "loaded" price would be quite popular. Artificially inflated prices charged "because they will pay 'em" don't last in a large market with lots of competition. Obviously, there are other factors involved.

 

[Ala Dan]

date: 19 Oct 07

To expand on this subject just a bit, a customer px'ed me today raving 'bout
just how great the Taurus PT 1911 really is. He is very excited about the
quality, fit, and "bells and whistles" found on the Taurus PT-1911. He had
some very nice things to say about this firearm; regarding the accuracy
expected, price, and overall customer satisfaction of this Brazilian made
firearm. His only complaint was the finish of the weapon; as he felt that
the fine folks at Tauri International could have done a better job on the
blued models. He is anxiously awaiting the arrival of the stainless steel
Taurus PT-1911; but plans to purchase (soon) one of the blued models.

 

[JP from Phoenix]

it doesnt come stainless yet does it? That would be sweet

 

[Myrdhyn]

Really good friend of mine owns one and it is a blast to shoot, very straight and smooth.

I've never seen it FTF or FTE. I will however say that the "checkered" grips were sharp and very harsh on my hand and were in desperate need of replacing with a nice set of hogue grips. The only REAL issue I have with the gun (aka one that can't be fixed) is the slide release is a bit far forward for my taste.

 

[Johnny B]

I just got one a few days ago for about $500 out the door, brand new. I only have 250 rounds through it so far, and it seems to me as though I'm still working out the kinks with it. Every so often (4-5 times, total), the last round of a magazine doesn't chamber fully and the slide locks back. All I've shot is ball and the feed ramp seems to be as bright and shiny as could be. I don't know what the score with that is, but it seems to me to be a springs issue. (Perhaps a light factory recoil spring? Maybe I'll pop a heavier one in there and see what she does.) Other than that I like it. It shoots really nicely, and with a little getting used to those sights are quite serviceable. At ten yards I'm averaging about 2" groups when taking my time (and I can assure you that I am by no means a spectacularly great shot; I do okay, but with a new gun this kind of consistency is unheard of for me.) At any rate, I'm reserving my judgment of this gun for sometime after I spend a whole bunch more time with it.

 

[TimboKhan]

Obviously there is one, Taurus did it. The 1911 market is huge. There are companies that don't make anything else and it seems like every other pistol manufacturer has 5 or 10 models. So why wouldn't they lower the price if that were feasible? A 1911 with "loaded" features without a "loaded" price would be quite popular. Artificially inflated prices charged "because they will pay 'em" don't last in a large market with lots of competition. Obviously, there are other factors involved.

I guess I would say that Taurus did it because Taurus could see a market there. I don't disagree with you at all when you say that a loaded pistol at a decent price would be popular, it just doesn't make a lot of sense. For example, why would Springfield make a "loaded" gun? They already sell the Mil-spec and the GI models at around the same price point as the Taurus, and those pistols are marketed as "basic" 1911's. If they rolled out a "loaded" gun at the same price point, what does that do to those pistols, which seem to sell pretty well? If I could choose a "fancy" gun that had some useful and logical upgrades (which for me means good sights and a beavertail.) why would I plop down a similiar amount of money for a basic pistol? Moreover, why would I ever look to buy one of Springfields fancier 1911's?

They seem like a great deal to me but you do get what you pay for

I am so very, very tired of this argument. Rinspeed, I am not picking on you personally, but this whole argument is flawed because you can very clearly go out and buy a accurate, reliable pistol for far less than one of the big-name 1911's. Maybe it won't be a 1911, but 1911's are not the be all end all of pistol design. Further, even those people who do go out and spend the money on a expensive 1911 experience problems. Heck, search through the High Road, and you can find plenty of people who are not happy with thier "Super Awesome Mod. 5" 1911. Maybe at one point that argument was true, but those days are long gone, and it's because we have advanced technologically to the point where parts can be made faster, better and cheaper than they were in 1975, 1985, or even 1995. At least in the gun world, "cheaper" does not automatically translate into "crappier".

 

[raveneap]

Add me to the list of satisfied PT1911 owners. I've got a SA Custom Loaded and the Taurus is right up there with it on reliability, smoothness, etc. And the cost was about half of the Springfield Armory. I've owned a number of Taurus handguns and none have caused me any problems.

 

[Texastbird]

As a follow up to this thread, I have now put a lot of rounds through my Taurus and now I feel confident enough to brag on the reliability and accuraccy of this weapon. The one curious thing I have found so far is that the allen screws on the sights were both barely tight, and the back sight actually started moving around just slightly, but I tightened them both up and haven't seen anything else to find fault with yet. As a fellow that didn't really want to spend big bucks on a 1911, the Taurus has been just the ticket for the shooter on a budget. Besides, I would rather spend my money on ammo!

 

[98C5]

I'm still waiting on my friggin' ambi-safety replacement from Taurus. Haven't fired a shot yet.

 

[KI4LIV]

I was given a PT1911 last Christmas... and absolutely LOVED the pistol!

But - since then the price of 45ACP ammo has gotten to a point where I am not longer willing to buy it (oh boy - here comes the "you should reload" comments! KEEP THEM - I DON'T/WON'T reload!).

I sold it online for a reasonable price with a decent number of rounds through it - Great gun though and I applaud Taurus for it! I was a little shocked - I saw this weekend a my local gun show the PT1911 with rail! NICE! Now, if they would get off their keesters and put out a 9mm version like they said they would, I would consider it!

On the other hand, I had a Stainless Springfield Loaded 9mm 1911 and I couldn't stand the thing! I put 800+ rounds through it and I couldn't go through 1 magazine without a malfunction of some sort!

 

[shooter1]

KI4IV,
All though 9mm ammo will most likely remain less costly than .45, it is now too costly for me to continue to buy the factory stuff. Looks like it's even going higher! If this war continues for another couple of years, it may even get hard to find. I enjoyed taking a break for reloading the 9mm, and shooting the factory stuff while it was cheap. When the price increased from 3.84 to 9.84 at Academy over the last year, I couldn't stand the 200% cost increase. So------------------back to reloding for the nine. Whatever caliber you choose, it might be wise to stockpile all the ammo you can. I have one of the PT1911s. I'd buy one in 9mm in a hearbeat!!
str1

 

[CobraF100]

My Post:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=313324
While I was at the range there was ALOT of people there with 1911 type Pistol's from Kimber,Para Ordinance,Wilson's,Springfield's and Rock Island.
So there was alot to put the Gun up against and alot of people to shoot/Try it out and for me to try.
Let's just put it this way....The only Bad thing that was said about the Pistol was that it was a "Taurus" and a few were Ticked off when they asked how much it cost compared to there's.
The gun is also bead on target out of the box.

Anyways I wanted to share my New Pistol and to let everyone know that I'm very happy with the service that I got and am still getting from Pete (aloharover) at:
www.ShadowRiverProductions.com
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=297999
I've also seen a few of the Gun's he is biulding for some local guy's and they are nice.
__________________

 

[Gator]

Very impressed! I'm waiting for a commander sized one in stainless.

 

[Warlokke]

My PT1911 was bang on accurate right from the first shot. I have put about 600 rounds thru her pipes and no FTF or FTE; no problems of any kind. The only thing I have done to the pistol is replace the plastic grips with rosewood thin CCW grips.

Now if Taurus will only put out a Commander sized, blue steel version in .45 and .40 along with a PT1911 in .40 as well.

 

[.45&TKD]

How's the front strap on these?

From the pictures the front strap looks more square or "blocky" compared to current Kimber, SA, or Colt.

I had a square block type front strap on an older SA that I never could get used to and eventually sold it for that reason. It really effected my grip. I think they did it that way to keep machining costs down.

 

[TimboKhan]

Now if Taurus will only put out a Commander sized, blue steel version in .45 and .40 along with a PT1911 in .40 as well.

Personally, I am not all that interested in the PT1911 in .40, but I am very interested in the PT1911 in a Commander sized package. If it came in 9mm, so much the better

 

[greener]

I'm not sophisticated in the ways of 1911's to go into technical details. I've had a PT1911 for about 6 months. It took me about 5 rounds to adjust to the sights. It's shot everything I've put into it without fail. I've had one problem with a box of Independence 230gr FMJ scattering over the target at 15 yards. Switched, same day, to another ammo brand and they scattered in the 10-ring. The factory grips lasted about a month before I replaced them with Hogues. I bought two magazines of unknown source and they work without flaw.

I can shoot the pistol very accurately at 15 yards and get a few smiles from others who try it. I think Taurus did pretty well with this pistol.

 

[mbott]

... however I could never own a Glock simply becuase they are unsigtly.

They may be unsightly, but they work and work damn good. However, I don't own one and probably never will. I just can't overcome the difference in grip angle between the Glock and just about every other handgun I own.

--
Mike

 

[rockinrussky]

I've put about 1300 rounds through my PT 1911. In the first 100 rounds or so I've had the slide lock back on me once or twice. Since then, its been broken in and had no problems. The only real problem was that it gave a lot of resistance when it slid back but now its very smooth. There was definitely a breaking in period for mine but now it works very flawlessly, especially given that I paid under $500 for it. I do agree that the finish does come off a bit easily but I kinda like mine to have that worn look on it