[Cimarron]

Let's see what your opinions of the PT1911's are... please indicate wheather you own one or not. By the way I've had one for a few weeks... been down to the bare frame and slide, so I've see it inside and out.

 

[Taurus_9mm]

I voted for 'A great full featured 1911 regardless of the price'

Mine is in it's case, anxiously awaiting its turn for some range time again.

 

[DRAEGER]

You really need a couple more choices

ALL OF ABOVE...

or

The KIMBER KILLER...

 

[TGinAZ]

I got mine sometime last year... September is my guess (without looking for the receipt).

It's fed everything I've put in it, and with all the magazines I have (7 or 8 rounders), and I'm impressed with the features and functionality. It's accurate, and the trigger is marginally sloppier than the Series 70 Colt Gold Cup National Match I've put many thousands of round through. I wouldn't hesitate to take it to a Bullseye competition if I were still doing that.

Since I paid $450 for it (Sportsman's Warehouse, Phoenix), there's no way I'd say anything bad about it.

 

[schlemer]

You know, I love when you go over to the 1911 sites and ask for an honest opinion on the PT1911. The answers tend to be consistent. The finish is weak, it uses MIM parts, still awaiting the stainless version and it's a real great shooter. How many times have I read, "it shoots everything I've fed it". The only problem I've really seen with the particular Taurus is that she's turning out to be a reliable sidearm. You can also see some of the more adventurous and creative types modifying this gun like nobody's business. This gun is rapidly carving out a place for itself next to the PT92.

 

[TGinAZ]

I'm confused... was that a compliment or a nag?

While I love my PT1911, I would agree... the finish is not top notch. But for a bad review, try the March '07 issue of Gun Tests.

Hummm, interestingly enough, perhaps I should do the opposite of the Gun Tests reviews? They loved the PT145 and had problems with the PT1911. My PT1911 works great, but my PT145 is giving me tons of problems! (Still working on it, but at low priority.)

 

[schlemer]

I'm confused... was that a compliment or a nag?

Probably a little of both (but not by me). It's no secret that the weak point of the gun is the finish. Most 1911 elitists like to throw in the use of metal injected molding as a sign of low quality or inferior design. Some have even made claims that the frame, slide and barrel were also MIM'd and have also implied inferior Brazilian metallurgy (I wonder how many Springfield 1911s have fallen by the wayside).

I, like you, love my 1911. Is it the best, well if it goes bang when it needs to and is serviceable, then yes. It is the best for me. Are there nicer and finer crafted 1911s, you bet ya.

Hey, not everyone can own a Mercedes, but my Chevy still gets me where I need to be and is cheaper to maintain.

 

[TGinAZ]

..... also implied inferior Brazilian metallurgy.....

Interestingly enough, and while I can only suggest what I've heard third hand, as I understand it, Taurus actually makes bunches of parts for some of the big names in the industry. (Who can confirm that?)

So, *if* the slide on a Springfield (or whatever) 1911 is a Taurus slide.....

 

[raveneap]

I own the PT1911 and find it to be an excellent pistol.

 

[DRAEGER]

I know that a vast majority of all 1911 frames used in 1911's that are on the market, are from Brazil. Imbel has always made 1911 frames and sold them to other gunmakers, as I have also heard Taurus has been doing too. Would explain alot about how they managed to make such a fine 1911, with no flaws in such a short time.

I doubt some outfit like Kimber or Springfield would tell anyone exactly where they get their parts, and they are not made in house... Heck Springfield try to down play that the XD was a Croation design in the begining, not theirs.

*LEGAL DISCLAIMER: I am "not" knocking Kimber or Springfield firearms, just using them as an example...

 

[schlemer]

I know that a vast majority of all 1911 frames used in 1911's that are on the market, are from Brazil. Imbel has always made 1911 frames and sold them to other gunmakers, as I have also heard Taurus has been doing too. Would explain alot about how they managed to make such a fine 1911, with no flaws in such a short time.

DRAEGER, other than Springfield, could you possibly list the other companies which outsource from Brazil?Kimber, really? S&W perhaps? Sig maybe? I would like to know for my own education.

Addressing the country of origin, I find it interesting and quite refreshing that when it comes to firearms, most don't really care where it's made. What matters is quality, price and performance. I mean, if a guy likes Glocks, Beretta, CZ, H&K it's ok if they are not made in the U.S. By the same standard, it's great to have companies such as Ruger, S&W and Colt that represent the U.S.

good shooting!

 

[NYPD]

Haven't had the chance to fire one yet, but from handling it and actually seeing what you get for under $600 it's pretty amazing. My Springfield M1911A1 was $475 and that is bare bones. I put over $600 of work into it. If I put that much work into the Taurus I would have a darn good 1911.

 

[Big Sam]

My first and only 1911 and I love it! Smooth and accurate out of the box. Soon I hope to be good enough to compete with it.
Thanks guys for all of your info.

 

[VagabondH]

I own one, along with a couple of other 1911's, and I think it's not just a a good gun for the money, it is a Good Gun period. I have compared it side by side with a Kimber Custom II (posted in another thread) and if I could keep only one, the PT1911 would be it. ;D

 

[greener]

The PT1911 is the only 1911 I own. My experience with them is limited to shooting those owned by others and two decades of qualifying in reserve units. So maybe I'm not a good judge of the pistol. I'm sure, if money were not object, I can get better 1911's than the Taurus. How does it stand up to a few simple criteria?

Firing cycle (feed, fire, eject): So far it has done that without problem. I haven't seen any sensitivity to ammo on the cycle. (I have observed that on other pistols.)
Accuracy/consistency: The sights are different than most pistols I have experience with. Took about a mag to adjust to them. POI is POA. Except for one box of Independence ammo, if I am consistent with shooting mechanics, the pistol will knock the center out a target at 15 yards and will do reasonably good groups at 25 yards. Any inconsistencies are due to the shooter and not the pistol. I have a Walther P22 that is erratic and an S&W M&P that I don't shoot as well as I'd like. I was able to shoot the PT1911 satisfactorily by about round 6.
Trigger: Darned good and I like it.
Fit and finish: The parts fit well. The finish and durability could be better.
Long term reliability: I can't judge that, haven't had the pistol long enough.

Summary: Excellent shooting pistol. Shoots consistently. Good-to-excellent trigger. Great buy for the price.

I have no doubts I can get a better pistol. The doubts are how much better for my shooting will I get for 2-5 times the price? I'm not sure I'd see enough "better" to justify the expenditure.

 

[GGSTM]

I have been very happy with mine, although I only have 408 rounds through it (Problem free). I am left handed so it is a very good platform for me. The finish is poor. However everything else. Fit, accuracy, feeding etc. appear excellent. For 1,000 I could have a nicer 1911 but I bought mine used for $410. I am not sure how much it was shot before I purchased it but I know Taurus hit a home run with this 1911. I would like to get the Stainless Compact that will be comming out. You can see it on Taurus's web site.

 

[twiss40cal]

Went to a recent shoot and a "pro" with an STI race-gun tried my new PT1911. After showing me how to dis-assemble my Taurus we traded guns for 4 clips. (he fixed my loose ambi ("happens to all ambi's, no big deal, easy fix", it was). Bottom line: His STI: nice red-dot sight. My Taurus: "Wow! Now that is a nice gun!". I think he purchased one the next day.

 

[greener]

Since I've never met a 1911 I didn't like, I'm a poor judge of the breed. I bought a PT1911 a few months ago basically because the price was right and I remembered I hadn't done anything dumb in at least 2-3 days and it had been at least a week since I had done anything really dumb and the pressure was building. And there it was, a PT1911, a real bargain. Picked up 100 rounds of the cheapest ammo I could find and headed straight to the range. (Look maw, no cleaning). Well before the first box was gone, I realized that I was still at a "doing something dumb" deficit. I enjoy shooting it and it seems to perform quite well. It makes me look like a better shooter than I really am. I've no doubts that there are better pistols than the Taurus out there. I think what surprises a few folks is that the Taurus is much better than they think.

 

[Qwiks draw]

Greener. You are so right about the PT1911 and the fact that it seems to make one a better shooter. In a way, it does. One of the advantages of the 1911 is the light consistant trigger pull for each shot.

It's easy to concentrate on the shooting aspects and to hit the target with compared to other types. That's been well documented.

Having been raised on standard DA/SA and DAO models I chose to stay with those. Never did begrudge those who like and use the SA only pistols. ;D