Posted: 1/10/2009 10:15:52 PM EDT
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It is not my intention to bash the PT1911 so don't take these questions and statements the wrong way.
I was at a gun store here in Ohio probably about a year or so ago. I have wanted a 1911 for awhile but being left handed, the only 1911's that I ever saw with an ambi safety were custom combat style deals from manufacturers like Kimber running $1000-$1500. For a weapon that wouldn't even be a primary weapon for me and would only be for recreation and target shooting...no thanks paying that much. I also didn't want to need to do custom work to a 1911 out of the box just so it is functional for me. So I see a couple of PT1911's in the case and ask to look at them. The first one I pick up is stainless and I function check it and the right handed side of the safety felt fine but the left handed side was extremely mushy. I didn't really like that so I asked to see the blued one they had and I went to disengage the safety left handed and it felt like the left side of the safety broke. The left side of the safety stopped working completely after this. I can't remember if the right side also stopped working...it's been awhile. The guy behind the counter didn't really know what to say. I apologized because I felt sort of responsible just because it was in my hand when it happened but he seemed kind of embarrassed at the same time. What I want to know is is this a normal occurrence for the PT1911...at least their ambi safeties? Was this an issue in the past that they have corrected? Was this just really shitty luck on my part and everyone else's ambi safeties are perfectly functional, crisp, and have never been problematic? Sorry if people misinterpret this as talking shit. I seriously am interested in buying one for recreational shooting and it wouldn't absolutely kill me to add a .45 to my collection of 9mm's. Let me know your opinions and thanks! |
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I spend quite a bit of time on another forum dedicated to the 1911 platform.
There have been several polls taken with regard to Taurus reliability, and the ambi-safety was specificaly targetted in one poll. To make a long story short, it appears that the reliability issues aren't as bad as some people would make them out to be, but there are definitely some issues with the ambi-safety. I do own one, but I'm definitely not a Taurus schill. http://forum.m1911.org/showthread.php?t=53996 Although a 6% failure rate would be horrible, lots of people show up on the forums to make some complaints and then you never hear from them again. So the failure rate among the total population should be significantly lower. |
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Quoted:
I spend quite a bit of time on another forum dedicated to the 1911 platform. There have been several polls taken with regard to Taurus reliability, and the ambi-safety was specificaly targetted in one poll. To make a long story short, it appears that the reliability issues aren't as bad as some people would make them out to be, but there are definitely some issues with the ambi-safety. I do own one, but I'm definitely not a Taurus schill. http://forum.m1911.org/showthread.php?t=53996 Although a 6% failure rate would be horrible, lots of people show up on the forums to make some complaints and then you never hear from them again. So the failure rate among the total population should be significantly lower. That's what it appears to be with the ambi safety, a 6% failure rate? |
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Two of my buddies have these pistols. Both F&F great now... One had a FTE problem... needed a new extractor... never had a hickup since...1000's rounds later... the other had a tight slide... little polishing and works great.. Mine is on order now...
Good luck with your choice... it isn't a difficult one to make if you really think about it. |
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I've had my pt1911 for about 3 months now.
I haven't had any probs with mine yet with 450-500 down the tube. Only thing I could add is that mine came with Novak sights on it and not the Heine sights. I'm led to believe that the later or more recent versions have the Novak sights and the earlier had Heine (figure eight) sights on them. I only bring this up as I'm wondering if all the fabled problems were with the earlier versions and these problems have been corrected??? with the later style? I don't know this as fact, would take some more research to prove this however. In any case, I'm very pleased with the performance and accuracy of mine especially considering I bought mine new for $455 after rebates and discounts. It will shoot 4" groups at 25 paces if I do my part. Never a FTF or FTE, great gun for the money. Part of that savings is the fact that after you purchase one, you literally have to pull them completely apart and clean them. Unbelievably filthy inside. But I always do that with new ones anyway. The amount of "funk" was pretty amazing really. |
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I bought the Homeland Defender model
a little over a year ago. It came standard with Crimson Trace grips. The grips went on my wife's Kimber when it got the OD Duracoat finish. With over 1500 rounds, there have been no problems. http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y133/gun01dogs4/DurabakeODgreen002-2.jpg |
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Quoted:
I bought the Homeland Defender model a little over a year ago. It came standard with Crimson Trace grips. The grips went on my wife's Kimber when it got the OD Duracoat finish. With over 1500 rounds, there have been no problems. http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y133/gun01dogs4/DurabakeODgreen002-2.jpg I like the looks of that! |
| I have had mine since last July, I got the one with the rail. The finish is not up to par with a Kimber or higher priced S'field, it is on par though, with the GI or Milspec. Not great, but it's nice. The fit is excellent, quite tight tolerances. It has never misfired, and eats whatever I feed it (I usually put either Winchester or Magtech ball FMJ 230 gr, but have also put about 300 rounds of gunshow reload stuff also, total rond count 1000). Paid $500, worth every damn cent. The $700+ I saved from a more pricey brand buys a boatload of ammo. At 25 yds I can put a full mag into a 5" circle thus far. My daughter does better. |
| I just picked one up for myself today... got sick of waiting for my Glock 36 to become available. Damn this thing feels hard as a rock. Everything about this gun screams quality (except the stock magazines). Now I just gotta get myself some Punisher themed grips (lol) and a weapon light/laser... defiantly some Chip/Wilson magazines too. |
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Just got back from the range... this gun is excellent! I seem to have better shot placement than with my Beretta 92FS with this gun. Way more fun than a 9mm! It's a little strange getting used to the 8 round magazines when I've been shooting 18 rounders for as long as I have. The stock magazines blow though. I had the last round slip through the top of the lips and not chamber, jamming the action. Another time I had a horizontal stovepipe... same crap used to happen with my garbage 30 round magazine for my 9mm. I've got some SS Wilson Combats in the mail though.
Overall, this gun exceeds all of my expectations... however, the factory mags suck ass. No problems with the ambi-safety... I purposefully used it more than I normally would just to see if it would function properly. |
| I have a Homeland Defender that is at least a year old. The safety did break after about 20-25 rounds and the feed lips on the mags started cracking around 500 rounds. Replaced safety with Wilson Combat and Use Colt factory mags ( I already had plenty) and have not ahd a problem since then. The finish around the mainspring housing is worn off but I have a high acid content in my body. Gun shoots great and I would trust it with my life. |
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I have a PT-1911B-NS. I love it. It is beautiful and functions flawlessly thus far. It is like any other too in that if you keep it properly maintained and use it as it was intended, then you'll have nothing to worry about. You might get one with a factory defect, but that happens with any brand of any tool. Taurus will remedy the situation.
That said they do have some potential issues. First, the inards might need to be replaced down the line due to the manufacturing process (MIM as opposed to forged). This is not a huge issue though, especially because Taurus has an unlimited lifetime warranty. Another thing to be aware of is magazines. My stock Taurus mag has worked fine with the firearms (not a single FTF or FTE), but you can tell the difference when you hold the Taurus mag and a Chip. I would invest in a quality mag (Chip, Wilson, etc). Other than that, it is totally awesome. I would surely recommend it. Good luck. |
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Quoted:
Don't a lot of other "quality" 1911 makers rely on MIM for a lot of the parts? I think I remember a post somewhere that lists which ones use MIM on what parts... I'm sure many do. I do not really know who does and who doesn't. It really is not that big of a concern though. They will last a reasonably long while even if they are MIM parts. It is a fact though, that forged parts are superior in many regards. To clarify, I would not avoid a PT-1911 (or any other clone) due to MIM parts, but I would certainly prefer forged parts if the price difference was reasonable. |
| My first PT1911 was a total POS. I got it when they first came out. It was 50% reliable with ball and 0% reliable with HP no matter what ammo or magazines. Finish came off like it was put on with a magic marker. Sold it long ago. Well late last year I was getting the itch for a new 1911 but with a rail this time. Only one in stock at my local shop was a PT1911AR. Well I thought I'd take a look at it and got a bad feeling that I was about to purchase another lemon. I work on all my other 1911s myself so I thought I would just fix it if something failed. Well I bought it. So far,100% reliable with ANY mags and ANY ammo. The only work I did before shooting it was install a non-mim single safety,standard GI recoil guide rod and plug,Wilson Combat hammer and sear and Houge palm swell grips. Its VERY accurate and reliable. The finish still sucks but I can live with it. Glad I took a chance for a second time around. |
| Just got back from the range where I fired off the second couple hundred rounds from my PT1911AR. This time I used the Wilson Combat SS ETM 8 round mags. 100% reliable this time; no FTE or FTF. It really was the shitty Taurus mags that caused my problems before. Still shoots like a dream. |
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I love my PT1911R. The only complaints I have are;
1) the finish wares easily if you use the weapon alot; 2) it took a little time to get my hands on decent tritium 3 dot sights (Heinie released them after I bought my weapon); and 3) I should have bought another one before the prices shot up. You will not regret going with the Taurus, it is well worth the money and will serve you well. |
| Purchased my PT1911 last summer. It was the first 1911 in my collection. I've had it 6 months and 600 rounds later it still is one of the best buys i have made. I had the money to buy $2000 1911, but i had my sites set on multiple guns and i decided to get both so got the tarus and a rem 700. I love my PT 1911. The only problem with it is the finish seemed to wear very fast. I think Tarus needs to get the big ass PT1911 letters off of the slide and then they would have something. The only things I would change on my gun are the lettering on the slide and GET RIDE OF THE LOCK. |
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Quoted:
Purchased my PT1911 last summer. It was the first 1911 in my collection. I've had it 6 months and 600 rounds later it still is one of the best buys i have made. I had the money to buy $2000 1911, but i had my sites set on multiple guns and i decided to get both so got the tarus and a rem 700. I love my PT 1911. The only problem with it is the finish seemed to wear very fast. I think Tarus needs to get the big ass PT1911 letters off of the slide and then they would have something. The only things I would change on my gun are the lettering on the slide and GET RIDE OF THE LOCK. I replaced mine with a Wilson Combat hammer. |
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Quoted:
I love my PT1911R. The only complaints I have are; 1) the finish wares easily if you use the weapon alot; 2) it took a little time to get my hands on decent tritium 3 dot sights (Heinie released them after I bought my weapon); and 3) I should have bought another one before the prices shot up. You will not regret going with the Taurus, it is well worth the money and will serve you well. 1) Buy the stainless and problem solved 2) Originals come right off with an alen wrench, though I personally like the Heinie's. Didn't think I would, but the straight-8 really works nice. 3) I hear ya! |
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