Taurus PT1911

[Oldgringo]

I 2nd that ,your wife carries a full size 1911 , I want a lady like that .

You sure?

[Texasdoc]

yes I am sure

[kragluver]

The only chronic problem it suffers from is that the thumb safety on the right side (for left handed shooters) occasionally shoots loose and starts to back out. A nylon dowel and a rap from a small hammer pushes it back in until the next time it shoots loose.

I've seen this complaint about the PT1911 on a couple of 1911 forums. When you say it backs out, does it fall all the way out? The Ambi Safety on the 1911 is held in place by a tang riding under the right hand grip. There should be no way for the safety to come off the pistol unless you were to remove the right hand grip (or else something is broken). The ambi safety on my pistol feels a little loose in that it has a small amount of freeplay in it, but it does not back out.

One other thing about the Taurus - the sight dovetails are not standard size. If you want to change out your sights for after-market sights, you'll need to have some fitting done. The Heine sights take a little getting used to, but now after having shot my pistol for over 2 years, I like them. Sight acquisition is very quick and they don't hang up on clothing during the draw. The main thing I had to get used to when target shooting was taking a "center hold" as opposed to 6 'o clock. Of course, if you're not shooting at a bullseye, it really doesn't matter.

[The Annoyed Man]

The only chronic problem it suffers from is that the thumb safety on the right side (for left handed shooters) occasionally shoots loose and starts to back out. A nylon dowel and a rap from a small hammer pushes it back in until the next time it shoots loose.

I've seen this complaint about the PT1911 on a couple of 1911 forums. When you say it backs out, does it fall all the way out? The Ambi Safety on the 1911 is held in place by a tang riding under the right hand grip. There should be no way for the safety to come off the pistol unless you were to remove the right hand grip (or else something is broken). The ambi safety on my pistol feels a little loose in that it has a small amount of freeplay in it, but it does not back out.

It can't back out all the way because the tang under the grip panel retains it, but it backs out enough to cause the pistol to malfunction... ...maybe 1/8" or so. The gunsmith at Euless Guns & Ammo looked at it after the first time it happened, and he's the one who showed us how to use the nylon dowel to tap it back into place whenever it happens.

I have urged my son on several occasions to buy and install an aftermarket safety that will hold together, but then the new version of HALO or Call of Duty comes out and he needs the money for that instead....

Oh well... it's his gun. When he gets tired of it breaking, he'll fix it the right way.

[kragluver]

I've been debating whether I should wait and see if this occurs on mine or just go ahead and fit a new thumb safety. It has yet to cause any problems but I'd hate to have it fail the first time I REALLY needed the pistol!

[Rex B]

One of the Locktite products should solve that problem.
One of them is designed to wick into the gap
Another is designed to make a press fit out of a slip fit, but requires disassembly.
Any of them can be released with a touch from a soldering iron or heat gun to melt the bond.

[markthenewf]

I do not like my PT1911 and I would not recommend it for carry. My first 1911 (Kimber CDP) has been flawless after almost 2000 rounds. The Taurus had several mechanical issues which I decided to aleve by replacing just about every part of the guts of the thing. Then the stupid sights came loose. It's like a problem machine. Even after all the Cylinder & Slide, Wilson Combat, and Ed Brown part upgrades, there ain't any chance of me using it as a primary weapon. It's been sent to the minor leagues and is now for fiddling with and punching holes in paper. I've sunk too much time, effort, and money into mine to ever hope to recoup the costs so I'm just gonna keep it. Oh yeah, and when I finally got ticked-off fixing stuff and sent it back to them to fix, dealing with their customer service had an excessive amount of suckitude.

Spend the extra bucks and get a SA A1 or good old Kimber 'custom'. At least those will work and be fully customizable. Some have had good luck with the 1911, but it ain't worth the risk IMHO.

[Mike1951]

Sorry you had issues. I definitely think yours is the rare case. My Kimber Eclipse Pro II didn't work. Neither did my Springfield 5" stainless Loaded nor my Springfield Mil-Spec. All required major work. Same with my Kahr 1911.

But four PT1911's have worked flawlessly.

[T45Rex]

My experience with my Taurus PT 1911 is that it is a really smooth, sweet shooting, bargain for the money. Mine has functioned flawlessly with many different ammo's and loads. Accuracy is spot on. Taurus lists, I believe 19 "custom" features that they do on their 1911's out of the box. Some are cosmetic but many such as mating the key 3 parts, trigger job, full length guide rod, etc. are basically what Kimber does to make a Kimber. I have shot both and from a purely "how it shoots" standpoint, I cannot tell any difference. With that said, I look at a Kimber sort of how I look at a Caddy or a Harley. Do you get as much more gun over the taurus as you pay for.....nope......but it ain't a Kimber! :-) Just like that Honda ain't a Harley, but it is just as well built! That would be my humble two cents. Can't go wrong with the Taurus at a good price. My only serious knock would be it isn't made in the good 'ole USA. (Hmmmm.....could this actually be why the Kimber is so much more expensive? Just a thought!) Have a great one and good shootin!
Greg

[kalipsocs]

I have urged my son on several occasions to buy and install an aftermarket safety that will hold together, but then the new version of HALO or Call of Duty comes out and he needs the money for that instead....

I have that same problem! Good to know I'm not the only one

[rlr]

I carry a Taurus 1911DT (Dual Tone). Have had zero issues with it and coming up just under 1000 rounds through it. Saving up for a Kimber right now because Taurus at the moment does not make anything but a 5". :)