Gun Test 2007 Best in Class

Gun Tests magazine put out its best for 2007 and the PT-145 was included.

Taurus Millennium PT145 Pro SS

No. 145SSP .45 ACP, $421

Reviewed: January 2007

The PT145 Pro SS offered a lot of features in a small package. It had an accessory rail underneath the dustcover, a key-operated lock that seized both the slide and the trigger, a thumb-operated safety, and Richard Heinie’s Straight Eight sights. The dots were not self illuminating, but both the front and rear units were dovetailed into place and grooved to reduce glare. The rear unit was windage adjustable by drift only.

The PT145 pistols differ from the Taurus 24/7 series primarily in the manner in which the frame meets the slide. The polymer receiver of the 24/7 design is attached to a sub frame that includes the rails on which the slide will connect. This creates maximum metal-to-metal contact.

The PT145 places most of its stress on a steel locking block found just below the barrel chamber. The rails to the rear of the pistol were composed of polymer and molded as one piece with the frame. These rails play more of a guiding rather than weight-bearing role.

Shooting from the bench, we learned that the trigger had a great deal of take-up. We measured the actual distance to be about 0.5 inch. But the Taurus did feature "double-strike" capability. The striker will deliver a blow every time you pull the trigger regardless of whether the slide has moved. But we suffered no such problem.

There was a marked difference in this gun’s preference for ammunition. Our best results came with the rounds that recoil the most. It seemed like the gun locked up better when cycled with authority, as we managed a best single group of 1.2 inches firing the Black Hills 230-grain JHP ammunition. Average muzzle energy was about 261 foot-pounds for all three choices of test ammunition.

In our close-quarters practical test, acquisition, loading, and firing the first shot from the Taurus took 2.68 seconds on the first run and 2.98 seconds on the second run. Total elapsed times were 13.26 seconds and 14.89 seconds respectively. Both runs produced twelve of twelve required hits on string one, (transition to strong hand only), and eleven hits on string two (transition to weak hand only). One magazine would not drop free. We made a note to carry the magazine that was a little too fat on our belt rather than loaded in the gun.

We found in our slide-lock trials that the release was readily available and worked without fail. This gave us the option to pull back the slide or press the release to charge the pistol.

Our staff agreed that the Taurus PT145 Pro SS had a big gun feel to it. The grip was full size, and we soon got over the distraction of the long take-up in the trigger. During one-handed fire, it felt about the same whether we were shooting with the left or right hand.

The sights were easily visible, and the gun didn’t overreact during recoil.

We found the left-side thumb safety difficult to apply, but much easier to push downward, making the gun ready to fire. The safety lever itself was not very wide and didn’t get in the way or snag on clothing. It did, however, prop the gun up just enough to make our two handed drill of scooping the pistol into the right hand off of the barrel top a simple chore.