I bought a Millennium Pro PT-145 yesterday and I got out to the country to shoot it this morning. So here are my observations...
Nice gun... can't fault the quality of what I saw or handled. 10 rounds of .45 ACP definately add weight to the gun, but still not bad compared to the Springfield GI 1911A model I sold.
I intentionally fed the gun everything in my inventory... 230 gr JHP, 230 gr FMJ, 230 gr LSWC. The gun ate them all without a hiccup. However, because of the heavy recoil springs, my LSWC 185 gr plinking loads just wounldn't cycle. The springs in the little gun are heavy and it will definately take a full house load to cycle the slide consistantly.
The gun does shoot low, but if you read the Heinie sights page on the Taurus, you will note that these sights are not designed for a 6 o'clock hold. I found the most accurate solution was to sight with the front dot dead on and above the level of the rear sights. The "double eight" with a hair of separation brings the sight up to close. The adjustment of the rear sight for windage is very nice... and the dovetail looks very close to the standard width for the government model 1911.
Like everyone else, the recoil wasn't anything near what I expected. Yes, it kicked more than the 1911 but with the lighter weight and shorter barrel, it was still pretty mild. Actually my full house .40 S&W in my Browning High Power kicks more. I did wear a shooting glove the handle brusing in the web of my shooting hand... learned from heavy .357 shooting, but don't think I really needed it.
There were no malfunctions other than what would be expected with the light 185 gr loads and some random hard primers from my reloads. The magazines held 10 rounds out of the box (the loading device is a real help with that 10th round).
I cleaned the gun before I went and after I came in. I would guess that even on the range a good scrubbing with a nylon brush after every 100 rounds wouldn't be a bad thing. Some powders are cleaner than others, but on a little gun and a short barreled .45 "cleanliness is next to Godliness."
Shooting rapid fire was no problem... and actually was as accurate as the slow fire. It may have to do with the concentration on keeping the front sight on target and less on the trigger pull.
All in all... It was a GREAT session. With the right ammo, I'd not be afraid to stake my life on this gun... when you pull the trigger, it goes "bang" in a big way... and when you can keep all of your bullets on a 11x14 sheet at 15 yards you are doing good!
Nice gun... can't fault the quality of what I saw or handled. 10 rounds of .45 ACP definately add weight to the gun, but still not bad compared to the Springfield GI 1911A model I sold.
I intentionally fed the gun everything in my inventory... 230 gr JHP, 230 gr FMJ, 230 gr LSWC. The gun ate them all without a hiccup. However, because of the heavy recoil springs, my LSWC 185 gr plinking loads just wounldn't cycle. The springs in the little gun are heavy and it will definately take a full house load to cycle the slide consistantly.
The gun does shoot low, but if you read the Heinie sights page on the Taurus, you will note that these sights are not designed for a 6 o'clock hold. I found the most accurate solution was to sight with the front dot dead on and above the level of the rear sights. The "double eight" with a hair of separation brings the sight up to close. The adjustment of the rear sight for windage is very nice... and the dovetail looks very close to the standard width for the government model 1911.
Like everyone else, the recoil wasn't anything near what I expected. Yes, it kicked more than the 1911 but with the lighter weight and shorter barrel, it was still pretty mild. Actually my full house .40 S&W in my Browning High Power kicks more. I did wear a shooting glove the handle brusing in the web of my shooting hand... learned from heavy .357 shooting, but don't think I really needed it.
There were no malfunctions other than what would be expected with the light 185 gr loads and some random hard primers from my reloads. The magazines held 10 rounds out of the box (the loading device is a real help with that 10th round).
I cleaned the gun before I went and after I came in. I would guess that even on the range a good scrubbing with a nylon brush after every 100 rounds wouldn't be a bad thing. Some powders are cleaner than others, but on a little gun and a short barreled .45 "cleanliness is next to Godliness."
Shooting rapid fire was no problem... and actually was as accurate as the slow fire. It may have to do with the concentration on keeping the front sight on target and less on the trigger pull.
All in all... It was a GREAT session. With the right ammo, I'd not be afraid to stake my life on this gun... when you pull the trigger, it goes "bang" in a big way... and when you can keep all of your bullets on a 11x14 sheet at 15 yards you are doing good!
