Taurus Pistols - Potential Safety Issue

[KFP]

From what I've been able to verify, the account below is accurate. It appears that there may be an issue with the PT111, PT140, and PT145 models being drop safe. I know that there are a number of forum members that have these and want to make everyone aware of the potential issue. If this is in fact accurate, I would hope that Taurus would recall the pistols and correct the design flaw.

http://www.gadsdentimes.com/article/200 ... -5-million" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.totalprotectioninteractive.c ... hp?t=12029" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (requires registration)

FWIW,
A friend in the firearms industry had already told me these little guns failed the CA DOJ drop test a few years back. The firing pin block mechanism is apparently one that can fail. This summary of a trial verdict this week in NE AL was forwarded to me by a friend in the legal community this a.m.

Thanks to everyone for the congratulations. I've been asked to give a short summary of the facts.

Plaintiff is a 28 year old business owner in northwest Etowah County. He was leaving his home, headed to his store when he unintentionally dropped his handgun. The handgun is a Taurus PT111 9mm Millennium, which he bought in 2004. He had the handgun loaded, with a round in the chamber, with the manual safety in the "on" position. It was also secured in a nylon holster with a strap. When the handgun fell, it struck the concrete floor with the butt of the gun. It discharged, striking the plaintiff in the upper thigh. The projectile travelled in an upward direction, through his abdomen and into his left lung. He suffered serious internal injuries, which included losing his spleen. The first police officer on the scene found the handgun with the manual safety in the "on" position. Once the handgun was photographed and taken into evidence, a fired (spent) shell casing was found in the chamber of the weapon. This was crucial evidence, because the manual safety on this model handgun locks the slide and prevents the rearward movement of the slide if the handgun discharges. This helped prove to the jury that the manual safety was in fact on at the time of the unintended discharge. Also, the manual safety has absolutely nothing to do with preventing an unintended discharge from dropping (if you can believe that). The defect in the handgun is the internal striker block (internal firing pin block). This is supposed to prevent the movement of the striker (firing pin) if the gun is exposed to a sharp impact (such as a drop). We actually were able to record on video a PT111 firing a primed case when dropped in a similar manner to our facts. The jury found that a defect existed and returned a 500k compensatory verdict and a 750k punitive verdict. Plaintiff had roughly 71k in specials.

There are still over 100k of these guns on the market. It will happen again if Taurus chooses not to do a recall. Taurus PT140's and PT145's have the same internal striker block mechanism. It is my belief that they will also discharge if dropped.

Thanks for the inquiry.

M. Todd Wheeles, Esq.
Morris, Haynes & Hornsby
http://www.mhhlaw.net/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[G.A. Heath]

Taurus Safeties are not. Take a 24/7 series pistol that is capable of DA/SA firing with the "ribber" grip, ensure it is unloaded, take up the slack on the trigger and engage the thumb safety. Now squeeze the trigger and listen to the striker fall. You can repeat this in both SA and DA modes. This is a concern to me because this can happen when the trigger is prevented from returning to its forward most position by debris such as mud, lint, or other foreign materials. This is to me a serious safety issue and Taurus is very much aware of it as they have corrected it in newer models which lack the ribber grip.

[TLynnHughes]

Well this is some cruddy news. I LOVE my PT111.

Or...just maybe I could look at this as an excuse to get a new gun. I'm sure my hubby wouldn't object.

T.

[joe817]

Well this is some cruddy news. I LOVE my PT111.

Or...just maybe I could look at this as an excuse to get a new gun. I'm sure my hubby wouldn't object.

T.

TLynn, how about another gun? The PT111 makes an awesome house gun!

[TLynnHughes]

TLynn, how about another gun? The PT111 makes an awesome house gun!

What a great idea! I could leave the PT111 in the house, use the HK for fun and get ANOTHER gun for carry. I like your thinking!

[surprise_i'm_armed]

KFP:

Well USA1, me, and many other forum members (74novaman?) are quite sobered by your news item.

If our guns get recalled and Taurus offers us some kind of trade, I wonder which Taurus
models would have manual safeties which work properly. If the newer models have working
safeties, I could move to a PT111 Pro and move up from my current 10+1 to the newer 12 + 1
model.

SIA

[joe817]

TLynn, how about another gun? The PT111 makes an awesome house gun!

What a great idea! I could leave the PT111 in the house, use the HK for fun and get ANOTHER gun for carry. I like your thinking!

Now you're talking MY language!

Anything to help the cause, Ma'am!

[KD5NRH]

Anvils aren't drop safe either. Most of the folks I know have taken measures to negate this issue by simply not dropping them.

[Kevinf2349]

Quit dropping safes on gun will y'all.

I shoot a Glock so I have no idea on what a safety is anyway!

But seriuosly I know several people that have a Taurus PT111 and I will be sure to pass on the warning. Personally I have never dropped a weapon (yet) but if I did I would intentionally let it hit the ground to avoid trying to grab it on the way down and getting Glock leg.... so this kind of news is good to know....you never know when or what the next gun purchase is in our house and a Taurus is definately a future possibility.

Thanks for the heads up.

[Gearheart]

My opinion of Taurus is that they cut every corner they can, so I would be amazed if they issued a recall.


Glock leg. Good one.

[Pete92FS]

Looks like I traded in my PT145 just in time.

[Rescue1]

thanks for the eye opener

i do love my PT-140 though. maybe i'll look into a kevlar holster

[USA1]

Sure love my PT145 . Its been nothing but good to me .
If there is a recall , I hope Taurus will compensate us somehow like Ruger did with their recall.
A Crimson Trace Laser Sight would be nice.

[mr.72]

Interesting to note that this AD resulted in a 9mm round with like 24" of penetration in order to get from the guy's thigh to his lung. So much for 9mm crummy penetration.

I guess I am kind of glad that I sold my PT111. Never liked that safety anyway. Hopefully Taurus will respond and make it right for the forum member who bought my PT111.

It should also be noted that a PT1xx is in the same price category with some much more reliable and functionally-similar pistols including a used G26, a Kahr CW-series, a Kel-Tec P11, or (if you can go a little bigger) a S&W Sigma. If I had $400 to spend on a double-stack short-grip 9mm I think I'd get a used G26 long before I'd consider a PT111. I'm sure there are others I am leaving out.

[surprise_i'm_armed]

24" of penetration - I just tape-measured from my mid-thigh to my
chest and that is correct.

"9mm's were invented by Europeans to annoy their neighbors."

The proof's in the pudding - 9mm's can be very annoying.

Hopefully the PT111 owner in Alabama will recover his health.

All fellow Taurus PT1nn owners: Keep a good grip on that weapon!

SIA