Taurus PT92 Problem

[mgaljour]

I own a Taurus PT92 (stainless model). The pistol has about 400 rounds through it, and is less than 1yr old. I am actually having two seperate problems with it.

1: After firing a round, the gun cycles the spent cartridge and loads a hot round most of the time just fine. The problem is that after cycling the hammer follows the slide to an uncocked position. This happens 50% of the time. I have used both mags, and the problem persists. I am no gunsmith, but I think it is a sear spring problem.

2: Using 115 & 124 grain ammo, which is what the pistol is designed to shoot, I have had several stovepipes and jamms.

I understand that all machines have their problems, and this pistol is just that; a machine. However, it is very frustrating to have these problems with a new pistol that dawns rave reviews everywhere I look. Is this a common problem? Any advice or attention is appreciated.

Mike

 

[kellyj00]

hmmm... I would guess it's the sear. Taurus has a lifetime warranty, some have had better experience with it than others.

 

[Jim K]

If the gun is new, don't mess with it. Take it back to the dealer and let him worry about it or send it back to Taurus. The problem could be several things, and trying to repair it will void the warrantly.

The misfeed and jams could be the magazine, and if that were the only problem I would suggest a new magazine. But again, the gun is new, so return it.

(That gun is basically a pretty good one, but as to "rave reviews", if you give me a free gun and plenty of ammo to "test" it, I will write a "rave review" also, even if it jams every shot.)

Jim

 

[Dos]

The later models have the Decocker safety...so don't rule out a malfunctioning decocker.

 

[mgaljour]

I considered the decocker being the problem. However, after the gun is fired the hammer returns to the 100% UN-cocked position. When the decocker is activated, the hammer returns to a 1/4 cocked position.

 

[sansone]

send it to taurus and call them after 2 weeks. they forget they have 'em

 

[Dos]

Here's a similar problem dug up in archives:

April 20th, 2006, 02:00 AM #5
Steve C
Senior Member



Join Date: 01-05-06
Posts: 667 Quote:
...when I'm shooting it the hammer stays cocked back and sometimes it doesn't...

What may be happening is the hammer is following the slide. This is usually a problem with an improperly cut hammer and sear engagement. Return it to Taurus describing the problem. Its a situation that will likely get worse and can be dangerous as you could get an accidental discharge. You should be able to recreate the problem if you dropp the slide on an empty camber w/o a magazine in the pistol. Usually if its a sear engagement problme you'll get enough bounce on the gun so the hammer will fall off full cock when the slide is dropped without a magazine.

The other situation with the Taurus could be the decocking feature of the pistol itself. If it is faulty it could be decocking the gun as you fire it. It could also be that you are resting your thumb on the safety lever and could inadvertently be pushing it down enough to decock the pistol under recoil when shooting. In this case the solution will be to keep your thumb up or out and off the safety when shooting.

 

[mgaljour]

Thanks

Thanks for the replies, and advice. I plan on taking the pistol to the dealer this week. I hope this gets resolved quickly & permenantly.

I think my best bet would be to plunk down a few more dollars for my next pistol. Yet another example of you really do get what you pay for. I purchased this gun strictly for home defense, it lays in the headboard of my bed. I must admit that even if the dealer or Taurus repairs this gun to 100% functionality, I am still going to retire it from home defense duty because I will not consider it 100% reliable. I am going to go with a S&W M&P .40 and go back to sawing logs all night.

 

[cherryriver]

I agree with the previous posts about taking advantage of the Taurus warranty.
I'm generally not a Taurus fan, but I bought a used PT92 very cheaply just because it was cheap- $175.
It turned out to be one of the most reliable guns I've ever owned. The accuracy and trigger are just okay, but this gun will shoot every single time, clean or dirty, proper technique or not, whatever. It's just phenomenal.
Here's how rugged I think it is: I bought a truly lousy progressive press to run off 9mm loads so I wouldn't have to change my Dillons. I did a thousand bad rounds, with squibs, puffballs, all kinds of junk. After tying up my wife's relatively finicky Glock, I just shot up the rest of the bad stuff with the 92. I had so many squibs I left the hammer and rod on the bench to pound out the stinkers. Rough? The gun didn't care and still runs absolutely perfectly.
I wouldn't propose to advise you about a self-defense gun, as comfort and trust is the most important asset the hardware could have, but if I had to rely on one of my 9mm for home defense, I'd say my PT92 would be it.
The charge for shipping it to Florida is a modest expense for what should result in a really reliable gun.
Bill