Taurus PT1911 questions - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

MonsterRain · 07-01-2008, 10:37 PM

I am considering getting a 1911 sometime in the near future (it will be my 1st so I'm a newb, be gentle) and I have a few questions about the Taurus PT1911. It seems to be a pretty complete package for the money, but I didn't know if all parts are interchangable with other 1911 parts. For starters I'm pretty sure I would want to swap out the Straight-eight sights, but I've read that most sight mfgs. don't make a sight to fit the dovetail on the Taurus. Are there any options out there that don't involve serious gunsmithing?

Also, are all 1911 magazines interchangable with this gun (7rd, 8rd., etc)? From my reading so far it seems that Wilson 47D mags are excellent, but didn't know if they would work.

Also, would any grip made for a 1911 Government model with ambi-safety work on this gun?

I know typically 1911's are pretty interchangable between different manufacturers, but I know Taurus likes to do some crazy stuff sometimes and I wanted to make sure I could do some tinkering before I spend my money. Thanks for any help.

scooterj · 07-01-2008, 10:51 PM

The Wilson mags and any grips made to spec should work fine. Contact any good smith and they'll be able to shed some light on the sight issue.

Pinedawg · 07-02-2008, 04:26 AM

Here's my PT1911 with some Novak Mags(they look good and work great).

More recently I added black alumagrips, stainless grip screws and a Wilson Magwell; it all fit no problem and was easy to do.

I haven't changed the sights as I got used to them quickly, but you can get other options from Heine, and yes they do have a special cut to the dovetail. I think there are some other options out there now, but not sure from who. If you look around, some of them come from the factory with the Heine nightsights. I got mine when they first came out, so it was the plain jane version, so to speak. I can't say enough about this gun and will put it up against any for 2-3 times the cost. I have over 1500 rds thru it without one hiccup.
I also have some Chip McCormick mags and they work fine too.

CDA · 07-02-2008, 06:39 AM

A couple of weeks ago I got a used PT1911. It has some finish wear, but doesn't seem to have been shot a lot. I shot it for the first time last weekend and I am really impressed.

I adjusted the trigger for the overtravel and it is one of the best I have shot. Not as good as the best, which was a Wilson Combat (which would cost 3 times as much). I put a pair of Pachmayr rap around grips on it and they fit perfect (I had to modify them for the ambi safety). I shot it with the factory mag and a Wilson 47D and had no problem with either.

I can not get use to the straight eight sights and also looked into changing them because I normally shoot 3 dots and was trying to line them us vertically on quick shots. However, I decided to just black out the rear sight and now I have no problem. Actually, I kind of like the black rear with a dot front.

The only thing that I am considering getting is a set of alumagrips for it.

At this point I really like the PT1911 for the $$'s. Good luck.

hownaml · 07-02-2008, 07:26 AM

I just bought mine and overall its seems like a good gun for the money, especially for a starter 1911. The trigger isnt as smooth as my Springfield but for what I paid its still a good deal.

MonsterRain · 07-02-2008, 09:39 AM

Awesome, thanks for all the info guys. This makes me much more comfortable with purchasing the PT1911, because I really want something I can modify to my liking.

So when purchasing grips at say MidwayUSA, I would get (or should get) a correct fit if I purchased a set for a 1911 Government correct? I'm still confused on some of the nominclature surrounding 1911's, Government is full size w/ 5" bbl? I don't really know what the Commander and Officer models are, I'm assuming 4"bbl. but don't know about grip length.

Thanks for putting up w/ my probably very newbish questions

Ajcrash · 07-02-2008, 09:54 AM

You'll be good to go on any Govt. grips as long as they have the ambidextrous cut, or you modify the grips to be ambi cut. Magazine wise I've been using the Chip McCormick ones and have not had an issue with them, the stock ones have worked fine as well. As has been said the cut on the dovetail on the PT1911 is proprietary, not a big deal to me since I like the straight 8's YMMV. I cannot stand the Taurus security system, I was concerned that it may engage itself while firing, and it did. I was going to swap out the hammer & sear but before I tried that I figured I'd try some loc-tite on the mechanism, that has worked like a champ so far.

07-01-2008, 10:37 PM	#1
MonsterRain XDTalk Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Springfield, MO Posts: 80	Taurus PT1911 questions I am considering getting a 1911 sometime in the near future (it will be my 1st so I'm a newb, be gentle) and I have a few questions about the Taurus PT1911. It seems to be a pretty complete package for the money, but I didn't know if all parts are interchangable with other 1911 parts. For starters I'm pretty sure I would want to swap out the Straight-eight sights, but I've read that most sight mfgs. don't make a sight to fit the dovetail on the Taurus. Are there any options out there that don't involve serious gunsmithing? Also, are all 1911 magazines interchangable with this gun (7rd, 8rd., etc)? From my reading so far it seems that Wilson 47D mags are excellent, but didn't know if they would work. Also, would any grip made for a 1911 Government model with ambi-safety work on this gun? I know typically 1911's are pretty interchangable between different manufacturers, but I know Taurus likes to do some crazy stuff sometimes and I wanted to make sure I could do some tinkering before I spend my money. Thanks for any help.

07-02-2008, 04:26 AM	#3
Pinedawg XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Lower Slower, DE Posts: 734	Here's my PT1911 with some Novak Mags(they look good and work great). More recently I added black alumagrips, stainless grip screws and a Wilson Magwell; it all fit no problem and was easy to do. I haven't changed the sights as I got used to them quickly, but you can get other options from Heine, and yes they do have a special cut to the dovetail. I think there are some other options out there now, but not sure from who. If you look around, some of them come from the factory with the Heine nightsights. I got mine when they first came out, so it was the plain jane version, so to speak. I can't say enough about this gun and will put it up against any for 2-3 times the cost. I have over 1500 rds thru it without one hiccup. I also have some Chip McCormick mags and they work fine too. __________________ "How'd you get the beans above the frank?" Yes I am a pirate, 200 Years too late, The cannons don't thunder, there's nothin to plunder, I'm an over 40 victim of fate, Arriving too late, Arriving too late... Jimmy Buffet

07-02-2008, 09:54 AM	#7
Ajcrash XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 1,235	You'll be good to go on any Govt. grips as long as they have the ambidextrous cut, or you modify the grips to be ambi cut. Magazine wise I've been using the Chip McCormick ones and have not had an issue with them, the stock ones have worked fine as well. As has been said the cut on the dovetail on the PT1911 is proprietary, not a big deal to me since I like the straight 8's YMMV. I cannot stand the Taurus security system, I was concerned that it may engage itself while firing, and it did. I was going to swap out the hammer & sear but before I tried that I figured I'd try some loc-tite on the mechanism, that has worked like a champ so far. __________________ "The Marines I have seen around the world have the cleanest bodies, the filthiest minds, the highest morale, and the lowest morals of any group of animals I have ever seen. Thank God for the United States Marine Corps." Eleanor Roosevelt, 1945

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07-01-2008, 10:51 PM	#2
scooterj XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: LaPlace, LA Posts: 183	The Wilson mags and any grips made to spec should work fine. Contact any good smith and they'll be able to shed some light on the sight issue.

07-02-2008, 06:39 AM	#4
CDA XDTalk Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 48	A couple of weeks ago I got a used PT1911. It has some finish wear, but doesn't seem to have been shot a lot. I shot it for the first time last weekend and I am really impressed. I adjusted the trigger for the overtravel and it is one of the best I have shot. Not as good as the best, which was a Wilson Combat (which would cost 3 times as much). I put a pair of Pachmayr rap around grips on it and they fit perfect (I had to modify them for the ambi safety). I shot it with the factory mag and a Wilson 47D and had no problem with either. I can not get use to the straight eight sights and also looked into changing them because I normally shoot 3 dots and was trying to line them us vertically on quick shots. However, I decided to just black out the rear sight and now I have no problem. Actually, I kind of like the black rear with a dot front. The only thing that I am considering getting is a set of alumagrips for it. At this point I really like the PT1911 for the $$'s. Good luck.

07-02-2008, 07:26 AM	#5
hownaml XDTalk Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 46	I just bought mine and overall its seems like a good gun for the money, especially for a starter 1911. The trigger isnt as smooth as my Springfield but for what I paid its still a good deal.

07-02-2008, 09:39 AM	#6
MonsterRain XDTalk Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Springfield, MO Posts: 80	Awesome, thanks for all the info guys. This makes me much more comfortable with purchasing the PT1911, because I really want something I can modify to my liking. So when purchasing grips at say MidwayUSA, I would get (or should get) a correct fit if I purchased a set for a 1911 Government correct? I'm still confused on some of the nominclature surrounding 1911's, Government is full size w/ 5" bbl? I don't really know what the Commander and Officer models are, I'm assuming 4"bbl. but don't know about grip length. Thanks for putting up w/ my probably very newbish questions