Posted: 7/31/2007 10:10:00 AM EDT
| I am new to the forum and pretty new to firearms in general. I got my first pistol (92FS which I love) last winter and have really been enjoying shooting. I rented a Kimber (Taget II I believe) at the range a few weeks ago and it blew me away. I loved everything about the 1911 and I will be looking to get my own in the future. I see that Taurus has this new PT1911 and it seems like a great gun for the money but I wanted to hear some feedback from those who have purchased/shot one. I have heard that the bluing kind of sucks so I am looking at the stainless version (dont know if it was released yet). How does this gun compare to other mass produced 1911's like SA, Colt and Kimber? I loved the Kimber I shot and would hate to get the PT1911 and be disappointed with the trigger, fit and finish, etc. Please share any first hand experiences you have with the PT1911. Thanks. |
If you want a gun that has a few bells & whistles and will go "bang" every time for < $550 the Taurus might leave you pleasantly surprised (provided you aren't in one of those retarded markets that prices them in the high 500s-low 600s). If you want a gun with a great feeling trigger, a good finish, clean fit, expect to be disappointed with a Taurus. |
When I dared to suggest that the Baer/Wilson/Nighthawk owners not yet sell their guns to buy a Taurus, *I* was burned at the stake............... 
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I'll agree. I'm also not a huge fan of the Heine straight 8's, but it's a nice range gun and it has gone bang every time for me, but's it's no TRP or Wilson CQB for sure. |
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For the money, the PT1911 is just about impossible to beat. Mine has done everything I've asked of it without a hitch. Are there "better" guns out there? Yes. Are they more expensive? A big yes on that. For my money and my shooting purposes the Taurus is all I need. |
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Ok, here I go. I had one for a week and bought it under the idea that I would not do anything to it like I did to my SA Mil-Spec. The Taurus did not feed a single HP and barely fed 50% of ball no matter what the weight or brand. It also had a hair trigger even though everyone was saying how heavy the trigger pull was. One time I barely touched the trigger at the range and it went off, not a gun I would trust if CCW'd. I bought it about 2 months after they first came out so mabey it was a lemon. I sold it back to the store I bought it and bought a SA Sub-Compact XD. It does have more features than most guns in its price range though so you might get a good one like alot of people have lately. I could have sent it back to the factory for warrenty repair but I did not want to deal with the pistol anymore than I already did. I did it that way as I've never had a firearm function that badly, especially straight out of the box. My Taurus PT-22 and 85 UL revolver is 100% though so I think it was just that particular gun. |
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I have owned a PT1911 for almost a year now and put around +/- 5k rounds through it. Never really had any issues out of it, other then it to begin to fail to feed after 500+ rounds in a single range session. Though, a brush on the feed ramp cleared everything up, every time (it gets damn dirty after a while). The finish does leave a lot to be desired, but other then that it is a damn fine 1st 1911. For those that say the trigger sucks on them, I will have to disagree. I shot my PT1911 against a friends top-shelf Kimber and couldn't tell the difference in the two triggers. Fit and finish are the areas that are lacking on the PT1911. Bottom line, if you are not looking for a safe queen and can get one for ~$500 or less, go for it. |
I have had mine for a couple months now. I have around 500 round in it now with out a single jam. I have shot it in a IDPA match finished second. Sure it did not cost 1000.00 but should those that do? Mine works great hits where I aim and goes bang when pull the trigger. I am very happy with it.
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| I've shot a Colt Gold Cup competitively for years and recently purchased the pt1911, personally I never shoot the Gold Cup anymore for fun, the Taurus is amazing IMO aside from three things, two of which are personal preference/aesthetic: the stock grips are crappy, the finish isn't very durable (certain spots are worn off already) and I experience some problem with the safety where if you leave the thumb safety on, depress the grip safety and pull the trigger when you let off the thumb safety the hammer falls |
Care to put your money where your mouth is? PM me your contact & FFL info and I shall send you a brand spanking new Taurus PT1911. In return, you send me that crappy old beat up Gold Cup you have lying around. Win-win. 
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 ........so you prefer a defective Taurus over a tried and true Colt ?You need to send your Taurus back for repair as it is DANGEROUS in its present condition. Take note that Taurus is not known for speedy Warranty Repair work. |
+1 on Seamaterpro sending his back to Taurus. That's a MAJOR safety malfunction.  Personally, I don't much like the fitting of some of the parts on the Taurus PT1911...
Here's where my distaste comes in... 1.) The finish wears off easily. The one I shot was only about 2 months out of box and the slide was already showing bare steel.  2.) The sights are a 'non-standard' dovetail sight. Good luck getting night sights added without major smithing work until Taurus/Heinie comes out with them in mass production. 3.) The front-strap of the gun sticks out SIGNIFICANTLY past the grip panels. Sorry, but I CAN'T STAND how hideous that looks on a 1911 that should be providing a more rounded grip & front strap... 4.) There are rumors perpetuated EVEN HERE (by a certain member mostly... You know who you are... ) that TAURUS makes the SPRINGFIELD ARMORY 1911s (which, incidentally have been made in Brazil since loooong before Tuarus started their own 1911 line up). Not true. SAME PARENT COMPANY, different manufacturer altogether. Geographically the parts come from the same country under the same parent company, but not the same factory. Call Springfield about it, they'll give you a different story... Until I see facts on paper stating otherwise, I'll continue to believe they're still separate entities (factories) under the same parent company.5.) Their machining marks are pretty rough. The PT1911 looks great, doesn't it (all things considered), but take that slide off & see all the milling marks on its underside. There's been some issues with the slides 'bolt face' having a bit of a 'contour' or beveling where the firing pin protrudes & strikes the primers; this has caused oddly dented primers, and I'm not sure if this problem has been rectified in the newer production PT1911's or not. So just as Pulpsmack says... If you want a decent gun that goes bang every time with a few bells & whistles... Buy the Taurus PT1911 (for a forged frame/slide - don't pay over $550), or a Rock Island Armory Tactical 1911 (for a cast frame/slide - don't pay over $475). If you want a gun with a GREAT TRIGGER, clean fit & machining, and a good finish, you'll be disappointed with the Taurus (and the RIA Tactical). YMMV. |
| If you ever see a PT1911 Ad in a magazine you'll notice the prices they quote of the parts on the gun are way above what they really cost. I thought about the price of parts I put on my SA Mil-Spec made by Wilson and other high-end brands and did'nt pay nearly as much as they said an average part cost. |
Changing out MIM parts should be done with pretty much ALL 1911's as soon as you can reasonably afford to... I've still got a MIM slide stop in my SA GI 1911, and the area where the barrel's lower lugs impact the MIM slide stop pin it's getting deformed/dented and will someday fail on me... That's not a Springfield or Taurus related problem... It's a MIM problem with soft materials... Sometime soon I'll get all the MIM out of my Springer, but it'll take me a while... |
 This is one of the first stainless Kimbers sold. That makes it at least five years old, but probably a few more than that. As far as the need to change out MIM, that is mostly BS. This gun has shot many matches and goes to the range quite regularly. I have about 10 mags that go through it each time. This is the only 1911 I have owned that I have not modified mechanically in any way, except for the pimp hex grip screws.  No part has ever broken. It is 100% reliable. I have owned and modifed several Colts and a Springfield, but sold them all and bought a second Kimber, the TLE Stainless Commander sized one. If I saw a used Taurus for around $400, would I buy it? Maybe..........maybe not. |
after I made the post I checked and realized the hammer doesn't fall ALL the way down, only to a sort of half-cock... but yea it's not being taken out again until it gets fixed, the preference of the Taurus over the Colt is only in stock configuration, I normally shoot the Gold Cup with a dot sight and compensated barrel which obviously is more fun and easier to shoot |
| My PT 1911 fires every time, ejects and feeds every time, always puts the bullet where I aimed it (not to be confused with where I wanted it). It's greatest feature after all of that is that I paid $430 (NIB) for it. Well over 2K rounds later nothing has broken, and it seems to be shooting tighter than ever. I might not buy it today for the $570 local going price, but I did buy another used one for $430 about a month ago, and it's holding up well too. Might not be worth $600 now, but you "pays your money and you takes your chance." |
Local shop here is selling them for $700 |
| I just bought a used Taurus for 450 dollars the prior owner said he only put 200rds through it. This gun will be my introduction into the 1911 club which I'm going to be a proud member. The owner described a few feeding problems in the gun but even he said it was mag related so its nothing a wilson combat or a chip McCormick mag wont fix. |
So are you saying because I'm to poor to buy a SA, Kimber, Wilson or some other big name that I'm not a 1911 guy? I love the 1911 but right now my education is coming first so I sure can't afford any other 1911 in fact I couldn't even afford a new Taurus at that. |
Not so, you can't tell me that you can't find a used SA or Kimber for the same (or less) than a new Taurus. If all you can really afford is a Taurus, your better off buying a Glock
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| "Feels" cheap. Have any of you poeple who talk trash about the PT 1911 ever owned one? I bet not. I bought one and love it. I have put many rounds through it without a single malfunction. It will feed any ammo I can find. THe finish wears a little fast, but who cares. I shoot mine twice a week at a local range and I have to tell you, it shoot as good if not better than most high buck guns. BTW I also own an Ed Brown Special forces so my Budget was not the reason for buying the Taurus. If you want a good reliable 1911, you cant go wrong with the Taurus. Now back to the trash talk |
Stating an Opinion is hardly talking trash. |
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And not only is it not trash talking, but if you really owned an EB SF 1911 you'd notice there is a pretty BIG difference in the front strap of the gun... The front grip is supposed to be ROUNDED:  Ed Brown ROUNDED grip on a EBSF. It's not supposed to be a BLOCKY frontstrap that sticks out 1/4" in front of the grip panels.   There is a SIGNIFICANT difference in quality, and to overlook that is just
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Actually I couldn't find any SA's or Kimber's used for that price. BTW I don't need a glock I have an XD I bought a year ago point is I wanted a 1911 & so I bought the taurus since at the moment it was all I could afford. Most people I have talked to say its no kimber or SA but its still shoots good & its reliable. I've held Kimbers & I must say the fit & trigger both felt nicer than the taurus. Some day I hope to own more 1911 pistols than just my Taurus but right now I have the Taurus & I'm gonna love it. |
| The statement "a Tuarus is still a Taurus" is plain trash talk. Is there a difference between a $2000 gun and a $500 gun, well I hope so. I purchase many firearms based on feel and performance. Also just personal biases. I can admit that. That is why I dont own a Glock. I dont go on forums and bash them, just wont own one. I could have bought any 1911 out there. After long consideration I bought an EB and the Taurus. Why? My opinion is the Ed Brown builds the best guns out there. The Taurus is what it is, a great, affordable 1911. |
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I hope Taurus pays you well From the three or four posts you made above you must be their spokesperson!
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I thought your claim (whether or not you do - I could honestly care less; I don't own one  ) of owning the EB was to imply that they are equals in quality.Such an implication would be totally asinine/ludicrous! I've heard some people claiming they've owned Ed Brown 1911's, Wilson Combat 1911's, and claim that their Taurus PT-1911 is just as good if not SUPERIOR in all aspects to the EB Custom or Wilson 1911's they perportedly own. Such statements are clearly bullshit though. There are many subtleties (and not-so-subtle things) that show how different the Taurus is compared to a more standard 1911A1. The Taurus is a decent gun for the money, as long as you don't wind up paying over ~ $525-$550 for one. I almost bought one, but there were just too many things on the Taurus that were made non-standard or substandard (finish) for me to have purchased it. I went with a Springfield instead (after having tried one), and couldn't be happier. YES the Taurus has many features for the price. But those features come at a cost to the owner whether they know it or not... And that, IMHO, is deceptive to the consumers on the market. When I got to TRY a Taurus PT1911 it really reinforced my suspicions about the Taurus. If other people want to buy a Taurus, fine! If other people LIKE their Taurus they've bought, GREAT! But why should I let people purchase a Taurus PT1911 without having previously pointed out its potential shortcomings??? That would be deceptive and/or misleading.
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Agreed, not trying to get into a pissing match. I love my Taurus, but you are right, its no EB/Wilson. Point I would make is-for the money it is a great gun. |
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I thought of buying one the other night, for no other reason other than I don't have one yet. I've never owned anything Taurus, but the PT1911 might be ok. The checkering on the front strap was incomplete, but it's not a very expensive pistol. The PT could be a gun I could use and not cry when it started showing holster wear. |