The "OTHER" Taurus

[OldSchooler]

I've owned many Taurus guns and currently have 2 of their revolvers. I'm interested in a concealment carry 9mm and have spotted the Millenium PT111... It's a Taurus, I'm a fan, so that is a good thing.

But who has experience carrying this pistol regularly? Can you comment on it's ride and overall concealability? Is it thin and svelte, the Paris Hilton of carry guns, or more like Rosie, thick and chunky, and so on?

Are there any especially good holsters made for it? Any recommendations for it?

 

[OldSchooler]

I meant o say

The other CCW Taurus.

 

[Tx_Jim]

Not sure about the pt111 but i do have the pt145. It is fairly easy to conceal and has worked flawlessly through 500 rds. The trigger is SA, reverting to DA only if a round FTFs (again...this has not happened yet as it has been flawless). Recoil is not bad at all...even my 13 yr old handles it very well. Taurus got a bad rap because of some problems with early production runs but I believe all those issues have been worked out. One other point to note…I do not think the Taurus pistols are +p rated.

 

[OldSchooler]

I have read here that the +P warnings are more about liability with the polymer frames as opposed to the guns ability to work with the ammo. I want the option, but if they are just for carry loads, then I can deal with it.

From what else I have seen there is some issue with the frame being a tad tooo long (1/16") and the slide whams into it. A little shaving and buffering is in order.

Too, there was another caveat about some of the plastic pins that hold the inner segement to the outer - I dunno. I think your suggestion to get one of the newest generation models is a good one.

 

[weregunner]

The Taurus manual claims a 124 gr. bullet should be moving at 1225 feet per second and no more as the bar level for the 9mm.
There are plenty of +P 115gr. and 124 gr.bullet weighted loads that meet that criterea.Shooting the +P+ or 1300 fps. in these small pistols makes no sense at all.

I use standard pressure 115gr. and 124gr.JHPs in mine. The penalty in recoil and extra muzzle flash is not worth the modest gain in velocity.Point of diminishing returns as it were. Granted, short barreled guns need all the help they can get, but the newer generations of JHPs are designed to open at low velocities. Some as low as 680fps.

Better shot to shot recovery time and less wear and tear on the gun and user are good reasons to stay with standard pressure loads. The target is not going to impressed or know that it was +P that hit them.Ballisitic dynamics on a large scale are just not there. Handgun rounds of any kind are poor stoppers compared to long arm fire or something more powerful.

The manual is out of date as far as putting down the law for no +P use.

Quoted form the 2007 catalog: +P Rated For Duty Use-
All Taurus handguns are engineered to accept a steady diet of factory-new Plus-P(+P) ammunition built to SAAMI specifications. This includes the Ultra-Lite hammer forged aluminum alloys,Titanium, blue steel and stainless steel,models. End of quote

 

[OldSchooler]

If I follow you, the use of +P for duty use is acceptable. The rest of the time use standard pressure ammo. Or just use STANDARD PRESSURE AMMO AND HIT YOUR TARGET. I think it was John Taffin who commented some years back that the original intent for the K-frame Combat .357 was the same... .38 Special for practice and .357 Mag for duty.

Through all of this I have not seen a sole hybrid auto pistol that has not had problems. Even the much vaunted Sig has it's detractors. I dont know if I will get the Taurus Millenium, or not, but I appreciate your comments. Thanks.

 

[MPanova]

I carry the 24/7Pro 45 95% of the time but once in a while I will carry the PT145 and sometimes forget its even there. My wife's CCW is the PT111 and she has no problems packing it around on a daily basis. She is only 5'1" and 110lbs and it disappears under her scrubs (shes an RN)

If you want more info on Taurus hand guns from non bias owners you can check out www.taurusarmed.net

 

[jeepmor]

The PT111 is a fine gun and I will second it flawless function. I have a 2nd generation model that is DAO. It has cycled flawlessly with no issues on several flavors of ammo from Double Tap gold dots to plain old ball ammo. It is my wifes CCW and nightstand gun.

The PT111 is about 1/8" narrower than my PT145. Both guns have been champs with over 3k round count between them and about 10 different flavors of ammo tried, and all cycled flawlessly.

Some ammo examples (mostly through my PT145 for I reload and shoot more than my wife does)
180 XTP
230 XTP
230 UMC ball
230 Meister SWC
230 Xtreme RN
230 Sierra JHP
230 SWC
Double Tap RNFP 1010fps rounds
and a couple more I don't recall that I loaded when I first started reloading.

 

[Storm]

While I own and shoot several Taurus handguns, keep in mind that their customer service is one of the worst going. While I have found the PT Millennium Pros (second and third generation) to be exceptional, their abysmal customer service would prevent me from giving an unqualified recommendation.

As to the PT111, if the gun was just .3 inches thinner I would say that it's the best CCW gun going.

 

[bigmike45]

OldSchooler,

I love the anology of the guns:
"Is it thin and svelte, the Paris Hilton of carry guns, or more like Rosie, thick and chunky, and so on?"

I have been carrying the PT-145 for several years now and while not like Ms. Hilton, I would not consider it to be Rosie either. I do know I carry it usually in my right front pocket, of most of the pants I wear, and to my knowledge, have never been "made", by another person. Mine has been ultra reliable for over 2000 rounds and is incredibly accurate. Mine is usually carried as a backup for my 4" 1911 or XD45, which are my usual primary carry weapons.

I cant carry IWB in the office due to my dress so the Taurus get's the primary carry job.

bigmike45

 

[RevolverMan567]

just be careful

please don't flame me as this inst a Taurus bash. But you have to be careful if you decide to buy one. Taurus auto loaders in general have had a lot of trouble in our shop. We have had alot of the 24/7 and millennium style pistols with magazine release springs defects. The spring will either lock up and wont allow for depression, or it will allow for depression and not have enough power to force the button back out. these have led to problems in allowing magazine to seat and thus causing a lot of stoppages. If it were just going to be a shooter then I'd say go for it, because springs can be replaced. but as a cw the problem you face is, if or When will it go out and jam your gun up.

 

[Ghost Tracker]

No FLAME intended but I, too, have had repeated "less than enjoyable" experiences with Taurus autoloaders. With all the options available for CCW...they wouldn't be my pick.

 

[OldSchooler]

Other Options?

There seems to be a mixed message with the PT-111, not encouraging considering its intended use - and to be honest, it's a little confusing. Some say this, others say that. I like Taurus guns and back in my dealer days I saw them "come up to speed," so to speak. But, no matter what I WANT to think, it seems I need to keep my options open before laying down my money.

I dont claim to keep up with every gun out there anymore, so care to mention a few that compete with the Taurus Millenium in general price range?

 

[Ghost Tracker]

Taurus website is showing the PT111 as discontinued. But my personal experience would lead me to trust a KelTec P11 (in the same general price range) much faster than the Taurus. The PF-9 is an option if you're looking for a thin CCW.

My $0.02 advice? Carry your revolvers while saving-up another $150. The difference between $249...and $399 in 9mm autoloaders is worth the wait.

 

[Ragnar Danneskjold]

As a semi-auto fan myself, I've always considered revolvers to be the "other" Taurus

 

[mpmarty]

I've had a second gen PT145 for a few years and just got a new single action PT145. Both have served me well and once I had to send the old one back to Taurus as my smith broke a screw in the rear sight and couldn't make the repair. Taurus turned it around in less than ten days, charged me nothing and installed my (bought on line elsewhere) Trijicon sights to boot and sent the gun back cleaned and with an extra magazine to pay me for "shipping" costs. I couldn't be happier with the guns OR the service. I've also got a 24/7 in 45acp that is a range gun only due to its size. The quality of the Taurus products just keeps getting better, the value is surprising in todays market of expensive pistols.

 

[Storm]

Good to hear about a good experience with Taurus customer service. It starts to make up for all of the horror stories about keeping guns forever and then returning them unfixed as well as my horrid experience with them last week. Sorry to be so negative, but my recent "customer service" experience is still a bit too fresh to be optimistic. But, they are such darn good guns.

 

[Ghost Tracker]

Don't misunderstand. I WANTED my Taurus to be GREAT...BOTH TIMES! It just didn't work out that way. Nor did the three other 1st Gen PT145 pistols purchased by friends at the same time. Your mileage may vary.

 

[stephpd]

Taurus

I've got both the pt111 and the pt145. No problem with either one. I carry the 45 just because I like big bullets But I practice more with the 9mm because ammo is a little cheaper. A lot of people will bad mouth taurus guns but I have nothing but praises for the guns I got from them. And I got both of them for the price of one of those "other" guns.
I carry IWB,smartcarry or in pockets I've sewn into my vests and jackets. Never been made. I carry at work and at home and nobody, even those who know, as ever seen the gun. Well maybe they did and just didn't say anything.
And I believe that the pins in the 3rd gen guns aren't plastic.

If you want look at the thread on the most disappointing guns people had and every major company has someone complaining about almost every gun made.

Don't be put off by someone elses opinion about Taurus, every manufacturer has put out a bad gun now and then. Taurus has come a long way from 10 years ago and if you want one get one.

 

[weregunner]

Let's get back on track here. The statement is that +P can be used indefinetely. However the use of standard pressure loads is a good idea and why has been stated. Why put the exceptional stresses on a small gun of any kind if not needed? Why abuse and small gun with that if not needed?

Like shooting a snubbie revolver one does not use +P for all practice and carry normally.
These are specialist guns made for up and close shooting. They need all the help they can get with the older JHPs to expand with velocity. Not so with the newer ones.

Taurus does not help by muddying the waters but his is clarification that +P can be used all the time.

The staff and members of www.taurusarmed.net have contacted the company to verify this.

From my experience and others at the forum the Pt111 is a good gun.
When shooting any compact pistol there are a lot of things to consider, thus the link.

http://www.taurusarmed.net/forums/index.php?topic=2418.0

 

[weregunner]

If you go to the Taurus forum feel free to read the FAQs , old and new threads. This includes all the boards. There is a Smithing, 24/7 and Milliennium Pro board as well. Since this is a brand specific gun, go to the brand specific forum. Taurus Talk at MSN is also available.

I go to brand specific forums when thinking about purchases. Marlin,Ruger,Makarov forum and other places get frequent visits.

 

[Storm]

From my experience and others at the forum the Pt111 is a good gun.

I'll disagree with you there. It is a darn good gun, and as a carry gun it is one of the very best going. I recently did a comaprison between it and the Kel-Tec PF9 and the new Walther PPS as to size and the only place it doesn't quite measure up to the others is in thickness, but the all important grip heigth is almost the exact same and with five more rounds and a safety. I depend on my PT111 every day and am having a hard time finding anything that measures up. The only gun that is really in the running is my PT145 Pro.

Taurus PT's and 24/7's are hugely underrated with the ghosts of earlier generation pistols continuing to haunt them long after the issues have been resolved. I suspect that customer service issues will soon become a thing of the past as well.