Taurus 1911

[BigRich315]

Does anyone have any experience with one?

A buddy is giving them a serious look. He's looking to spend under around $600 on a carry gun and the bull falls right in there. The features look pretty good but I know the company's record with semi-autos. Is it worth checking out?

A side note and a big plus (or minus) with the search, we found a used Kimber CDP for $900 that I'm thinking about. It's not something I need, but how often do you come across a gun like that? Kinda hard to say no. I think I have to though.

 

[Crazy K38]

if he wants a low end 1911 tell him to go with rock island armory, they make a very solid gun and you can always upgrade the guts, I am not a big fan of taurus semi's

 

[badam0112]

Rock Island Amory
Springfield Amory
Para

Those are 3 that I would rather own than a Taurus. The Rock Island is less expensive and Springfield Amory and Para have models in that same price range.

 

[Gutpile Charlie]

Just my two cents worth, but before I'd buy a Taurus, I'd certainly check out the Rock Island.

 

[m657]

I was fortunate to have a PT1911 gifted to me early this year. Reluctant and hesitant at first to accept it, as it was his FIRST gun purchase. He had left this brand new gun in an environment resulting in marked slide pitting and flash-rust on 90% of it, such that it had to be completely stripped, blasted & reblued.

That repair accomplished, I've fed about 600 various reloaded rounds and 100 factory FMJ 230s through it without a hitch. There are features I really like, including the 8=round mags.

I do like the Heine sights too. Performance wise, the only thing that has happened since I got it, was the ambidextrous safety did come apart after one range session after initial reassembly from reblue process. I knew what was wrong, the two sides simply had to be re-fit together, easily accomplished with a small hammer to drive the slots together.

I've had several other Rossi's (1892 lever carbine and a 5 shot 44 special) and they have all performed far better than expected, based on what so many say about them.

It's hard to go wrong with any 1911 IMHO. Although a recent experience with a Charles Daly HP would disincline me to buy a Daly 45 at this point.

Handle them, evaluate fully....they represent a decent value and some great features.

 

[GatorFarmer]

That's a good price on a CDP if in exc condition with bright night sights. I used to carry one. If you can live with the series II style safety, or plan to tinker with it to do without, then it makes a very handy carry piece with no sharp edges. Mine pointed well and was pretty reliable.

I don't know about the Taurus. A guy on another board just bought one and his started having problems the first time out. For 600 or under, I suppose that I'd try to get some sort of Springfield Armory.

Generally the best bet, despite the recent recall, is to either get a Colt or an upper end boutique gun (Brown, Baer, Wilson, et al) but either is expensive. Most people with the Phillipine guns seem happy with them though and not everyone wants or needs (or can afford) the top tier guns.

I've had good luck with the upper end Kimbers for the most part, but the Series II parts always gave me the same sort of nagging doubts that an IL does on a S&W.

 

[H Richard]

I have a Colt Series 70 Gold Cup, a Springfield Armory enhanced, and a Rock Island Armory Compact. (all in .45 ACP). They all shoot great and are 100% reliable. I have had several friends Taurus 1911's in my hands and did trigger jobs on them. Can't say they fitted any better or worse than any of mine, but I haven't done much shooting with one. No one has fed me any info back of problems. Surprisingly, the compact RIA, (3 1/2" barrel) is as accurate at 25 yards as the Springfield and nearly as accurate as the Gold Cup.

 

[InolaOK]

We are 1911 fans and own several brands to include S&W, Springer, R.I., Taurus & Colt. The two Taurus 1911's we own, S/S & Blued, are great shooters and have caused zero problems to date. We are also high on the Taurus Judge which I indicated on another thread. Other folks have problems with the Taurus line but so far we are doing ok. Hope our luck/good fortune continues. JMO which is worth exactly what you paid for it.

 

[FrankD45]

My son and I both own Taurus PT-1911's. He has the blue one and I have the stainless. Both are excellent shooters and offer features usually found on much more costly pistols. Mine has had a couple of thousand rounds through it including 230 gr FMJ, 185 gr JSWC, and 200 gr LCSWC without a single failure. I should mention I also have a S&W 1911, a S&W PC-945 and a Colt Gold Cup Trophy. Of those I would rate the S&W's 1 and 2, the Taurus 3 and the Colt a distant 4th. The fit and finish on the Taurus was top shelf, especially considering the cost. As was already mentioned by another poster, I have heard of issues involving the ambi safety but have never experienced same myself. All in all if you want an accurate, reliable pistol with a good trigger, it's hard to top the Taurus.

Just my opinion, which is worth just about what you paid for it.

Frank

 

[ki4dmh]

Rock Islands are good guns. You might want to check out the STI's.

 

[SPC]

I've got about 4500rds of nearly every type of ammo through my Gvt. RIA with only 3 failure to feeds (all on the same mag, new spring and follower fixed that) and recently have begun modifying the crap out of it. I'm still under $600 total cost on it and it's just as accurate and reliable as every other 1911 I've seen at my range.

 

[Farmer17]

I think the Taurus 1911 gets pretty decent reviews but I can't say that for the Taurus Judge. There have been a lot of quality problems of various kinds with their .410 revolver, so I would be a little hesitant to buy a Taurus right now. I had a Taurus 5 shot 3" .44 special and it was an excellent gun with quality near S&W at a much cheaper price, but it sounds like things are slipping a little at Taurus right now.

 

[SPC]

I recently bought a used Taurus CIA .357. The smith I bought it from said the original owner had all sorts of issues and finally just traded it in. He put about 3 hours into smoothing things out and it works fine for me.
His impression is that both Taurus and Kel Tec are cutting a lot of corners to pump out guns as fast as possible to meet demand right now.

 

[Beaver]

My buddy Stoney recieved one as a retirement gift from the Tribal Police department he had been a Captain with. It has a blue finish. Stoney is a OIT graduate gunsmith and he went through the gun, as he does with all his pieces. He has shot this gun approx. 1000 rds and says it is a very good, reliable gun. He has shot 230 hardball, and some 200 lead target handloads. Gun looks nice, shoots well, and seems to be a very good product. He says he has no complaints.

 

[USAF385]

First let me say I'm a bit prejudice when it comes to Taurus...

That being said.. I will never own a Taurus.

 

[Revolver-time]

I own a Pt 1911 along with a Kimber, Colt, and a Dan Wesson PM7. The Taurus shoots just fine and is very well made and assembled. One of my range buddies liked my Taurus so much he purchased one and had his tuned. It now is the most accurate 1911 he has. He has 2 Les Baers, and a Gold Cup to compare it to.

I also have a Taurus PT 145 that is my CCW. I practice with it quite a lot. It is 100% reliable. My experience with the Taurus guns has been very positive and I would not hesitate to recommend that brand.

 

[BigRich315]

Thanks for the input! I'll pass it along.

 

[Eagle 477]

Have him check out the new PARA USA GI Expert.... Can't go wrong fot that money.... Has a lot of nice features, and is also upgradable...

Bob

 

[oromil]

After putting 2000rnds+ through a Taurus 1911
that I purchased new,I've had very few malf.
Those that did occur could be wholly or partially
attributed to the quality of my 200gr.RNFP reloads.
Fit and finish is good for a pistol in that price range.
The remark that I hear regularly whenever I let someone
else shoot it is,"Gee, Thats got a nicer trigger than my Kimber."
It shoots better than I can and has held together so far!
Hard to beat for the money IMHO
OROMIL

 

[S&WIowegan]

Taurus 1911s

I don't own a Taurus 1911 but have seen many of them in use. It appears to me that you have about a 50% chance of getting a gun with problems when you buy a Taurus. The other half are happy. A shooting buddy had the thumb safety break off on the first range session. he replaced it with a n after-market part and is now happy. I own and shoot approx. 20 1911s of many makes other than Taurus and have never had a thumb safety break.

Taurus offers a lifetime warranty and the joke is it takes a lifetime to get your gun back if you send it for repairs.