Today I went to the Fun Store and looked at a few Kimbers and Colts and Springfields and finally a Taurus. All 1911s.

Know what? I like 'em all, and they all have great custom features and they all feel good in my hand and they all had nice crisp light triggers.

So.

How do I decide?

By price.

They have a bunch -- the Taurus PT 1911 is $600. It looks and feels a little bit like a Kimber, but it's a bit lighter (grey alloy frame, blued steel slide). They also make one that the frame is steel, not an alloy.

Any opinons on this gun?

http://www.taurususa.com/gun-selector-resu...9&toggle=tp

Many folks have been hapy with the Taurs 1911s. My problem is with dealing with Taurus if you get a lemon, and the fact that Taurus has a pretty high lemon ratio.

I worked at an indoor range/ gun shop where we carried Taurus pistols and dealing with them for warranty work was a huge PITA. Taurus and Rossi were our most returned pistols for warranty work.

I'd actually pick a Rock Island over a Taurus just because the customer service is reported to be much better. Springfield also has very good customer Service and in my opinion makes a better 1911 than either RIA or Taurus.

You could get lucky and get a good Taurus that has no problems and be perfectly happy with it.

I couldn't agree more with SSGN Doc's assessment of Taurus guns. I, too, work at a gun shop, and we get more Taurus guns back than any other. I told the boss he should stop carrying the dern things.

I have owned a few of them, not the 1911s, but a few Taurus pistols. Ive never had a problem with any of them, Only thing I didnt like was that the finish on one was kinda rough. But they are all mechanically sound. Ive heard good things about the PT1911, and you will be hard pressed to find a 1911 with all thise upgrades for that price.

Part of the problem with the "upgrades" from Taurus is that they utilize a lot of improperly hardened and MIMed parts that have been reported to break, such as the ambidextrous safety lever, the extended slide stop, and the hammer has been noted by some to get a bit sloppy due to possible hardening issues near the sear engagement notch, causing some hammer follow.

Well my second choice is a Kimber, but it will take me a few months longer to save up for it. I think I already know what you guys will say.

Here are some interesting random customer reviews. Most are good, but at the end you will see the bad ones, which echo what you have already said here.

http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2007/11...one-bad-review/

Between my Taurus 1911 and my Springer A1 , I shot better with the Taurus. I've added grips and an EGW custom bushing to the PT but it was almost half the $ as my Springer Loaded.

I have had no problems of any kind with my Taurus. Accuracy is not match grade, but didn't buy it to shoot paper with.

I'm gonna have to apologize to all the Taurus-lovers out there, but I have to refer to my favorite 1911 pic on the interwebz...



Really, if you are looking to save a few bucks, go with the STI Spartan. It is an excellent gun for the price and doesn't come with what is reputed to be the WORST customer service in the business (I will admit I don't know from first-hand knowledge because I haven't owned a Taurus myself).

HAHA WTF. I hope thats not one that they actually make from the factory like that. lol

The STI Spartan pistols are a good solid recommendation.

This post has been edited by SSGN_Doc: September 1st 2009 9:03 PM

Pleaforwar that Raging Pimp looks like a gun I would need in South LA.

I'm thinking now more about a Colt Commander size pistol, for concealed carry. I like the 4 inch barrel.

I was one of those blasting the PT-1911, for several reasons, but then I bought one and forund out I was wrong, at least the one I bought. It was accurate and dependable. No FTF's of any kind and I put roughly 3000 rounds through it. But alas it went in trade towards something I had been looking for, for darn near a year......another Taurus PT-1911AR. I now have 350 rounds through it and so far it has been as good as the other gun. It is a fun shooter as well. The stainless gun is a bit heavier and the rail also adds some weight to the front end which aids in recoil and getting the sights back on target quickly. If I add the TLR-2 Laser Light to the rail it also helps with recoil.


A 25 yard target shot freehand from Weaver Stance using 230gr. Federal HydraShoks. 50 rounds (Ouch...that took a bite out of my wallet) to make sure they would feed reliably since they are my carry rounds in every 45acp gun I own. They were the last 50 of 250 rounds I shot that day trying out different ammunition. Forgive my shotgun blast looking target. I was actually starting flinch a bit and pull a bit left.


This post has been edited by tex45acp: September 6th 2009 12:08 PM

The one and only Taurus I ever owned shatted out after about 30 rounds. J frame 38 high gloss or something. I called and was told to mail it to them. I had to pay for shipping, used a UPS drop center since it was cheaper. I told them that I would like it shipped to me not the drop center.

Needless to say after 3 weeks I heard nothing. Called and was told that my "new" gun was shipped over 2 weeks ago to the drop center that I didnt want it to. Went down there and was told that its "illegal" to ship or owns guns in Kansas" LOL After a chuckle and demanding to see the manager, I was told that the employee I just talked to gave it to the Augusta PD. After 3 more days of freaking calls and lots of bitching and moaning, I got my gun back.

Filed a complaint with corporate with the drop center, chewed UPS's ass off and thanked the C.O.P. for helping me out. After it was all said and done, I did have a brand new gun. Sold it the next day

Taurus has some freggin idots working for them, but there warranty is good, just slow not hassle free.

I own two Taurus 1911's. One in .45 ACP and another in .38 Super. I love them both! I've put 1500 rounds through the .45 with only two FTF's, and about 150 rounds through the .38 Super with no FTF's. Both are very tight, good lock-up, decent *Though not great* triggers and well worth the money I spent on them. I took the liberty of buying a Kart 9mm barrel from Brownells and am having it fit to the .38 super to save some bucks on the range.

The .45 is the AR version, upon which I mount a TLR 2 combination lazer/tac light. Fantastic accesory btw! The .38 Super is just the plain jane PT1911. Of SPECIAL IMPORTANCE is to note that if you are buying custom grips, remember that the top screw is not to mil-spec! Special grips can be obtained, but if you're a grip junkie you're not going to like that.

On the other hand the Rock Island Armory 1911 is a fantastic piece of metal through which I've fed every type of abomination reload known to man and never had a FTF or FTE after 3,000 rounds! She's a punisher and not very pretty (lousy finish) but the RIA's are top noch for bottom dollar in my humble opinion.

I've heard all the horror stories about Taurus, and perhaps I got lucky twice, but that's the way the game works. I'm not a die hard follower of any specific brand, other than the fact that I hate paying too much for not enough.

I had one of the first Taurus PT-100's back in the day, and have owned a couple of their small .38's and .357's, all without a hiccup. But the horror stories I keep hearing about the PT1911, make me shy away from one as even a truck gun. Safeties falling off, the blued finish flaking off, and the like.

It's a shame too, because the PT1911 feels good in my hand. Guess I'll either go RIA, or wait 'til Taurus works out the bugs.

My son bought his first pistol, an RIA GI .45, and just loves it. I've fired it and it is very nice, and will eat anything you can feed it. I believe he has put over 1000rds thru it with out one problem. They seem very nice, especially for the price.


Smitty

ive had my taurus pt1911 for a few months, put roughly 500 rounds through it, and I love it. It's the only gun ive ever owned which may have something to do with it, but its worked great so far, havent had a problem with it.

I can only speak from my experience, but I had great customer service from Taurus. I had a sight pop off my 357 while it was out of warranty. I called them and they told me to send it to them. Fixed it gratis.

I'm hearing a lot of negative about the Taurus brand - especially w/r customer service. I own the "Judge" and the "OSS 24/7" in .45 ACP. Both weapons have preformed flawlessly (and for the money, the .45 is perhaps one of my best HG's, IMO).

I own 3 1911's: Wilson, Kimber, and a Colt 1918 pre-recall reproduction (a display gun). Given what I have heard, I would have to test-fire a PT1911 first, but I would expect it to be of a quality that matches the price (or a little better).

If I were to get another 1911 (would be a economical carry/SD weapon), I would seriously consider the Springfield, the RIA, a Para-ord, and maybe the Taurus, (the Sig??). I would invest in something that you could gradually customize and trick out, and yet starts as a decent platform. There are many more for sure, but these are ones that I have read and heard the most about. Interestingly, most reviews regarding the Taurus I've seen have been favorable.

But like anything, you can get a real "turd" with any weapon purchase, so the best thing to do, IMO, is to carefully examine your final contenders and go with your gestalt - this is always a good purchasing tactic.

This post has been edited by M-60A1: September 24th 2009 10:38 AM