Anybody Own the taurus PT-1911?

[kat1950]

Piece of garbage. Very poor quality,typical production that wont last past 5,000. rounds. MIM parts everywhere.

[Brickboy240]

Seems that consistency of QC is the biggest problem with the Taurus 1911. If you scan the 1911 web boards, the inconsistency of quality is very easy to see. Some get great shooters, others get problems galore and shoddy assembly quality. Its a crap shoot.

They're nice looking and maybe if Taurus gets their QC on these to be more consistent, they'll be a safe bet, but for now, you're better off with a Springfield GI/Mil-Spec or a Rock Island 1911 for a basic 1911.

Its not that Taurus makes bad stuff - I had a PT92 that shot great, but their 1911's QC needs some improvement, wheras the chances of getting a trouble free RIA or Springer GI/Mil-Spec are much better.

Why gamble?

- Brickboy240

[RBOWWOW]

I've seen gently used Kimber Custom Target II's for the 499 price...would that be a better choice for an entry level priced 1911?

[bountyhunter]

Originally Posted by Brickboy240

Seems that consistency of QC is the biggest problem with the Taurus 1911. If you scan the 1911 web boards, the inconsistency of quality is very easy to see. Some get great shooters, others get problems galore and shoddy assembly quality. Its a crap shoot.

That is true of virtually every off the rack production 1911 including Kimber, SA, para Ordnance, Colt and the rest. If you get a good one, it's a great deal. If you get a bad one, you will have a time sink that will end up in the back of the safe.

That's why I recommend spending a few hundred more and getting an STI Trojan, which is at least fitted (not just thrown together).

[bountyhunter]

Originally Posted by RBOWWOW

I've seen gently used Kimber Custom Target II's for the 499 price...would that be a better choice for an entry level priced 1911?

Maybe, except gun owners generally keep their good guns and sell the ones that don't shoot right...... I'm thinking that increases your chances of getting a dog buying used.

[Brickboy240]

Maybe, but consider how many impulse gun buyers that buy a pistol, shooti it once or twice, get bored with it and want something else an use their gently used pistol as trade fodder. That happens alot.

As long as you buy used form a reputable dealer that will allow you return it if you have a problem in 30 days (or so)....I'd say you could end up with a really gently used gun for a good price. I know I have bought several htis way...some at almost half the price of new.

Buy the cheaper used gun, take it to the range in the next few days and run a box or two through it (good practice, anyways) and if it craps out...return it. Chances are, you will not return it and have a really nice pistol that someone else was "bored of" and traded away.

I have bought VERY few dogs doing just that and MANY very nice shooters. So many mor nice shooters, that the idea of getting a lemon is not a real concearn to me.

The flip side of this is the fact that you CAN get a brand new pistol that is a total lemon as well. Something to think about.

- Brickboy240

[husker_t]

Originally Posted by kat1950

Piece of garbage. Very poor quality,typical production that wont last past 5,000. rounds. MIM parts everywhere.

Your MIM comment is true. I spoke with the owner of Cylinder and Slide, Bill Laughridge, who is an incredibly skilled 1911 customizer, and who teaches classes to gunsmiths on customization techniques all over the world. He said that he actually recommends the Taurus if you want an inexpensive starter 1911, in fact he thinks for any 1911 under $1000, the Taurus is pretty hard to beat. But the one downside he mentioned agreed with your comment: the Taurus uses a number of MIM parts, and he says that somewhere from 5K to 8K rounds fired, these parts will start to wear out.

So, the 1911 may be a perfectly fine starter gun with good value for the money, but it won't have the service life of a higher end (and much more costly) custom 1911 that uses hand-fit all-steel parts. It's simply a matter of how much you want to spend, I guess.

[QCATrader]

I keep reading these comments, but many seem to come from folks who have never owned one of these guns.

I'd like to hear from folks that do/have actually owned one, what their estimated round counts are and what problems they've had (if any).

I have about 1500 rounds through mine and not a single problem with the gun including no FTE or FTF. Pretty much the same story on my XD45T.

[akr]

Originally Posted by husker_t

Your MIM comment is true. I spoke with the owner of Cylinder and Slide, Bill Laughridge, who is an incredibly skilled 1911 customizer, and who teaches classes to gunsmiths on customization techniques all over the world. He said that he actually recommends the Taurus if you want an inexpensive starter 1911, in fact he thinks for any 1911 under $1000, the Taurus is pretty hard to beat. But the one downside he mentioned agreed with your comment: the Taurus uses a number of MIM parts, and he says that somewhere from 5K to 8K rounds fired, these parts will start to wear out.

So, the 1911 may be a perfectly fine starter gun with good value for the money, but it won't have the service life of a higher end (and much more costly) custom 1911 that uses hand-fit all-steel parts. It's simply a matter of how much you want to spend, I guess.

My SIG Revolution has no MIM parts at all. It cost me $639. I also have a Taurus PT 1911. It has some MIM parts like many of the more expensive 1911's, and I don't care one bit. It is a very good gun. Whatever starts to wear out after 5000 to 8000 rds, if what you say is correct, they are easily replaced with forged parts. You can put Wilson Combat parts in them, as an example. I really don't think that Taurus owners stay awake at night worrying about their guns.