taurus PT1911?

[tcrocker]

I was thinking of getting one of Taurus' new 1911. What is your take on these guns. Are they well made, reliable, finish, ext.Or would I be better served getting a Springfield.

 

[CooperThunder]

My husband likes it. He is an airline pilot.

 

[MCgunner]

I've heard a bit of griping that the safety comes apart on a few of 'em. Over all ,they seem to be quite accurate and reliable and offer a lot for the money as 1911s go. One thing I do like, there is no shortage of 1911 aftermarket and parts out there. Taurus is a bit ridiculous on parts, want you to "send it in" if it needs something. I've never had to send a Taurus in, but would be nice if I could buy parts if I ever needed one like a simple spring or something.

 

[Eightball]

I've seen some range from "good deal" to "really? They're selling THAT?" due to the machine marks and how the slide serrations sit--sometimes they aren't symmetric, or are of uneven depths, etc.

The one big thing about the Taurus which gives me pause is that "key lock" thing, as I'm not sure how they would've had to modify the internals of a 1911 to make that work.

Though, if you see one at a good price, and the machine marks/serrations check out....have fun.

 

[tominct]

Eightball, I think that the only part that's modified is the hammer. I haven't taken mine apart that far, but I know I won't use that silly lock.

I have a couple of hundred rounds through mine. I like it so far. Stainless, no rail.
I would like to get it bead blasted at some point, the sides are a little too shiny for me.

 

[Mags]

My husband likes it. He is an airline pilot.

I just don't make the connection to airline pilot with extreme gun knowledge, heck I don't see the connection if it was Police officer either though. Not trying to make fun I just thought the statement was pretty funny. Being an Airline pilot is an honorable and respected profession.

 

[powerline]

I've had one for a couple of years now, it's early production, blued, no rail. It's always worked for me, and fit/finish is fine. Not perfect, but you're not paying for perfect. The finish does not stand up to a kydex holster well, but does any?
Over all, it's good piece for the money, and still would be for more money. If you're not overly concerned with gun snobs looking down their nose at it/you, buy one.

You can always spend more on your next 1911, one is never enough.

 

[cerberus65]

My brother has a stainless one. I've had it torn completely apart. Lots, and I do mean lots of machine marks in that poor thing. And the dust cover was thicker on one side than the other. The breech face was not flat all the way to the edge so it bent up the rims on the cases a little bit. But I've seen two S&W 1911s with the same problem. A little filing fixed it up. It would take more than that to fix the dust cover and all the machine marks.

But despite all that it shoots really nice and I'm not aware of it jamming. His 10/22 jams and I know about that so I think I'd know if his 1911 was jamming.

They do put lots of extras on it for the price you pay.

Taurus service is legendary and not in a good way. But the 1911 is more generally fixable by local smiths or handy tinkerers. Of all their guns their 1911 is probably the only one I'd keep if you gave it to me. If I were ponying up the cash I'd go for the Springfield or save a bit more and get a S&W.

 

[nulfisin]

I like mine a lot

Reliable, accurate 1911 for a lot less money than other brands of no better quality. The company may sell more than its share of lemons; I got a good one. Not just a good gun for the money -- a good gun.

 

[Nicodemus38]

they are decent, and basically have the same cosmetic machining mistakes you could expect to find on a war time produced 1911.

some of the safeties had structural issues, but those parts have been fixed.
the price however on the retail side has gone way up. when they were first released on the market you could normally get one for 450-550 including a ffl transfer fee. since people have realized the anti pt1911 hype as buzzkill egotism, the price has gone way up. last time i saw one for sale it was listed at 750 NIB.

 

[GRIZ22]

I have a PT1911 for almost 4 years. No problems, no malfunctions with several thousand rounds. I consider it one of the best deals I ever got in a new gun.

 

[zignal_zero]

i like mine - SS w/the rail.

i was REALLY close to getting a Springfield, but the lack of a firing pin block stopped me. i know they have the super strong firing pin spring that passed the CA drop test, but i just prefer a piece of steel in between the firing pin and primer.

mine hasn't really been "put through the paces" but what little use it has seen has been problem free.

i've heard enough about Taurus's CS, that i would NOT send mine in. if something goes wrong, i'd pay a qualified 1911 smith to handle it.

 

[greyling22]

+1 to nulfisin and nicodemus.

mine is experiencing the non-durable finish and the fragile safety, but it is accurate and as reliable as the ammo it is fed (hello mediocre reloads)

at 450 or less it was a steal. at 650 I'd look at the sti spartan ria tactical instead. or something used. (or the witness elite)

 

[benderx4]

I think there are better choices out there for the money. And by the way, I am also an airline pilot, but more important than that, I stayed in a Holiday Inn Select last night.

 

[possum]

i have heard nothing but good things, from folks that own them. i have shot one, and it was accurate, and shootable. no issues at all for me, and it has been reliable for the owner who i know runs his guns hard.

 

[againstthagrane]

The second handgun I ever purchased was a pt1911. It was a major lemon. The dovetails weren't even cut properly in the slide so the sights never sat right. I got a lemon. I would avoid them save a coue hundred more bucks and get a Springfield.

 

[WVMountainBoy]

Have a PT1911 in SS and love it, over a thousand rounds no operational problems. I will note however that with hornady XTP bullets (they have more of a cone shape than rounded) if they are not seated to the maximum rear of the magazine when you cycle the first round it'll bind up. Never had it fail during firing or jam, just that first round and only with the Hornady's.

 

[acmax95]

I have a blued one I bought used this past Spring. I have had zero problems out of it and enjoy shooting it. The only thing I don't like is the Straight 8 sights.

However, I may be moving mine soon because I am wanting a smaller carry gun and I think I will let the Taurus go before my RIA tactical. I seem to shoot the RIA better for some reason but my friends out shoot me with the Taurus.