New Taurus PT 1911 9mm

[Seabear]

Well, I've been wanting a 1911 in 9mm just for fun and to make shooting more affordable. I picked up a stainless PT 1911 and I have to say I think it is going to become one of my favorite pistols.

I started breaking it in last night. Fired 30-40 rounds to check function and then ran her through the drill at our weekly Steel Challenge practice session. On paper she was shooting about 2.5 inches low, but it will put them all in nearly the same hole. Shooting steel with it was awesome, weighing in at 38 ounces according to the spec sheet makes the 9mm feel like a beefed up .22 . The sights seemed to just line themselves up after every shot. I had to watch myself, it felt like I was starting to just shoot the steel plates as I was swinging through. It is so easy to get a shot off and find the next plate, and squeeze.CLANG

Fit and finish is very nice. Unfortunately I got a couple of little cuts on my fingers from the sharp edges exsposed when the slide is locked back. (That's what I get for dropping it in my range bad with the slide locked back. )I will be taking care of that soon. Not one single FTF or FTE, even with three different brands of ammo. The Taurus mags are truly quality mags, I am very impressed. I purchased two extra mags that are total junk, one doesn't even lock the slide open on empty. I'm not sure of the brand, looks like an imitati of the MecGar logo. GS owner thought they were, but I doubt it.

I'll be shooting it again this Sunday in a match, so I'll have more comments I am sure. Hopefuly they stay the same. I think it can only get better.

If you find one buy it, you'll love it !

Pic is of the Taurus along with my Rock Island .45, they make a good pair.

[cubbyjg]

Nice looking pair. I have been eyeing Taurus 1911's for a while now. What kind of finish did you do on the RI?

[e-bil]

I just picked up a PT 1911 last night. Mine's a .45 but it is ready for a range test as well. If the sights are the same as the one on the 24/7s, they aren't 6 o clock POA.

[Seabear]

Nice looking pair. I have been eyeing Taurus 1911's for a while now. What kind of finish did you do on the RI?

The RIA is Satin Nickel, it came that way.

[Seabear]

I just picked up a PT 1911 last night. Mine's a .45 but it is ready for a range test as well. If the sights are the same as the one on the 24/7s, they aren't 6 o clock POA.

Well, I also have a 24/7 CDS in .45acp and it does not shoot low. Both guns hve three dot sights. I am very familiar with the Heinie 2 dot sights. I have them on my PT111. With the two dot you have to cover POI with POA. On this 1911even covering the X with the front dot, it shoots 2 inches low. Now, I will say my 111 started out the same way till it had 100 or more rounds through it. I am hoping that is the case with this jewel.

[The Annoyed Man]

We got my son a blued PT1911 a couple of years ago. With two easily fixed problems, it has been a great pistol. However, I note that other 1911 pattern pistols I own have not had these two problems. I mention them only to let you know that these are potential problem areas with your Taurus pistol to keep an eye out for:

1. The ambidextrous safety lever on the right side of the frame has the habit of occasionally shooting loose and backing out of the frame a bit. There is a flange on the forward edge of the lever which is held captive by the right grip panel which keeps it from backing out far enough to fall off, but it is not a safe condition. Tapping on it with a soft mallet or a nylon punch will drive it back in and it will stay there for a while before eventually shooting loose again. The first time it happened, we had it looked at by a gunsmith at the store where we bought it. He said there is nothing broken. It's just the design of the part that makes it vulnerable to this happening. At some point my son may decide to replace it with an aftermarket part of better design.
2. Several hundred rounds into the gun's life, the gun jammed on extraction. Initial examination revealed that the slide stop had backed partway out of the frame. Further examination revealed that the pin had actually broken in two pieces where it passes throughout the barrel link. Fortunately, I had a spare slide stop in stainless steel in my Kimber's case, and that part dropped right in. Examination of the failed part revealed it to be MIM. The replacement Kimber part is MIM too, but it has lasted for at least 2,000 rounds since, so it appears to be of a higher quality.

The good news is that both issues are easily fixed, and for not much money. The trigger on this Taurus is nice and light. The pistol is pretty accurate. And, the price (at the time) was pretty good for a 1911 pattern pistol with a number of "custom" features. (I put "custom" in parentheses because there are so many regular production pistols available these days with these upgraded parts that they aren't really "custom" anymore.) It is evident that Taurus has held the price down, in part, by using some inferior parts in their assembly. The quality of the frame and slide are quite good, and so is the fit of those two pieces to one another - contributing to the pistol's accuracy. It also has a pretty good barrel and a good barrel to bushing fit. But Taurus has plainly cut corners on some of the parts to hold the pistol at it's price point.

Please don't take this as a slap at your new 9mm. I still think the Taurus is a pretty good gun, and I would not be opposed to buying another one if the price were right. Also, I am intrigued by the idea of a 9mm 1911. But these are simply things you ought to keep an eye out for. Perhaps throwing lighter bullets will stress the parts less and you won't experience any of the problems we did. I hope you enjoy your new gun, and I'll give you this... the Taurus 1911s are very nice looking pieces.

I have no regrets about having bought this pistol. But, it does occur to me that, by the time I have invested in quality replacement parts, I might have enough money invested in this pistol to have been able to buy a lower end Springfield or Kimber. Just a thought...

[Tregs]

Great looking gun Seabear. I didn't know Taurus made a 9mm 1911 in SS. This might be what I've been waiting for.
A 9mm 1911 will be my next purchase (unless something else comes up first.....then it will again be my next purchase. )
I have looked at the RIA and the PT1911. You have both so I'm interested in your comparison of the two. I know yours are different calibers so the shooting aspect will be quite different, but how about the rest? Fit/Finish? size? internal edges? Does RIA make a SS 9mm 1911?
I'm looking for a 9mm to blow countless rounds through at the range and at friendly weekend competitions.
You have my attention.

[e-bil]

I just picked up a PT 1911 last night. Mine's a .45 but it is ready for a range test as well. If the sights are the same as the one on the 24/7s, they aren't 6 o clock POA.

Well, I also have a 24/7 CDS in .45acp and it does not shoot low. Both guns hve three dot sights. I am very familiar with the Heinie 2 dot sights. I have them on my PT111. With the two dot you have to cover POI with POA. On this 1911even covering the X with the front dot, it shoots 2 inches low. Now, I will say my 111 started out the same way till it had 100 or more rounds through it. I am hoping that is the case with this jewel.

My 24/7 does shoot a little low by that. It has the three dots as well and shoots pretty much where the front dot is. I have a PT140 as well and had the exact same experience as you with your 111.

Having said that, I have never had a malfunction in either gun with over 1000 rounds in the 140 and over 500 in the 24/7. The 24/7 is also currently my carry and IDPA gun. But my IDPA fun is whatever I'm carrying at the time.

[cougartex]

Congratulations. Safe shooting.

[Seabear]

Anoyed Man,

I have read about the ambi safety issue, I'll keep an eye on it and change it out if need be.

As far as the slidestop I had not heard of that issue, I'll check into it. I did notice that mine was dang hard to push out by hand the first time I cleaned it before shooting. I haven't taken it down yet today but will shorly and report back.

The only thing so far other than the shrp edges I noticed was that to me the bushing seems light ad cheap, fits well, but just seems dainty in comparison to the RIA. Of course the RIA is a .45 so who knows.

As far as the price, I am a fishing guide, I had put the gun on layway with a VERY minor deposit and then we decided to swap for a fishing trip, so I think I'm gonna be OK.

[Seabear]

Great looking gun Seabear. I didn't know Taurus made a 9mm 1911 in SS. This might be what I've been waiting for.
A 9mm 1911 will be my next purchase (unless something else comes up first.....then it will again be my next purchase. )
I have looked at the RIA and the PT1911. You have both so I'm interested in your comparison of the two. I know yours are different calibers so the shooting aspect will be quite different, but how about the rest? Fit/Finish? size? internal edges? Does RIA make a SS 9mm 1911?
I'm looking for a 9mm to blow countless rounds through at the range and at friendly weekend competitions.
You have my attention.

I'll do my best to answer. I was looking at the RIA 1911 in 9mm. Saw several at gun shows, never one i stainless, even the .45 I hve only seen in the satin nickel which is supposed to beharder but there is always the posibility of flaking...none so far for me with a couple thousand rounds.

My Rock is VERY accurate, I think I shoot it better than the Kimber CDPII I ued to have. Probably because of the weight difference.
I call my RIA "The Rock" because it is a tool and as such it does just what I want it to do. It has been flawless as well.

In comparing the two brands :

Finish goes to the Taurus, however RIA did knock some of the sharp edges down. This Taurus is like a razor in spots. Easy to fix though.

The Taurus has an all SS fully checkered mainspring housing whereas the RIA has a plastic one. That was one thing I hated about my Kimber , the housing on it was a grey cheap looking plastic. At least RIA uses a black one so you can't tell till you tap on it.

The Taurus also has a textured finish on the front of the gip as well as under the trigger guard.

The mag well on the RIA is much more beveled than the PT.

I like that even though they both have full length guide rods, the Taurus has a milspec notch in the recoil spring plunger that the spring can twist into so they don't come apart when you disassemble unless you twist the spring. Neither the Rock or my CDP came with that. Can we say BOING?

I am not sure if Taurus meant to do this, but on closer inspection cleaning a while ago, I discovered that the bushing has more slop than I expected. The gun is very accurate, but like I said it shoots low, I think I may have found something. Th bushing is a .45 bushing when takig the bushing from the Rock, it fits and hasequal slop on the 9mm barrel but is tighter on the .45 barrel. Hmmmmm What do you guys think?

took pictures of these things but have not resized them. I can do that later if so desired.

Overall, I like the Taurus better, however I do love my Rock. As far as the 9mm goes, I am glad I got the Taurus instead of the RIA 9mm's I have seen. Being badly finished in blue or whatever that finish is they use just looks a little too cheap. But hey,they sell for less than the PT. I got my Rock for $451 plus tax at a gun show. The shop I got this PT from was way proud of them and put it at $699 !!! Bud's has them much cheaper, but this was here and like I said above, I got to barter.

I may look into the bushing issue. Or just wait and see. Either way, I love the feel of a full sized 9mm 1911, even more than I thought I would.

[Seabear]

In addition...I just found the sharpest spot on this dang gun !!!!!!!!!!! It's the two little points on the opening of the front end of the mag well . Don't ask me how I just found out. I was wondering where the cuts were coming from yesterday. Where are my files???? I'll BRB

[Seabear]

No more sharpy.

[e-bil]

I found those same Sharp points on my 1911 as well. Haven't filed them off yet since they only come into play with the mag out. I shot mine for the first time this morning and it seemed to be closer than the sights on my 24/7.

Now I just need a holster for it...

[Tregs]

Seabear,

Thanks for the write-up. I went by Academy today hoping they would have one, since they often carry the blued .45ACP version. No luck.
I'll try Bullet Trap the next time I'm in the area. They carry a lot of Taurus products.