Taurus PT-111 Reliability and Overall Performance Question - HELP!!!

A

Anthony

New member
Hello Everyone,

Well, I took my fiancee to the gun shop yesterday to find a gun for her as she just completed her CHL class. After picking a pair of $75 Gargoyle shooting glasses (style first...of course), she latches onto a Taurus PT-111 Millenium in 9mm Parabellum. :(

This was a living nightmare for me as I regard Taurus as junk. Come on! They're made in Brazil. Then I looked at the gun a bit more closely. It seemed very well made and had the look of quality. Reed, the guy at the gun shop, also vouched for it and the shop is quite reputable. So I tried to unseat the Taurus with a Kahr K-9, Glock 26, Colt Detective, Ruger SP-101, and a snubby S&W Model 10. NOTHING WORKED!!! :(

This left me in a quandry as my shooting friends and I malign Taurus and hum samba music when you rack the slide open and other assorted rudeness. Yet, my soon to be wife loves it. What to do!

Does anyone own one of these PT-111s?

How does it perform?

Is it reliable?

Would you allow your wife/fiancee/girlfriend to carry one?

Thanks for the input.



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I had one for about 3 weeks before I sold the POS. The worst trigger I have ever seen on a modern production firearm, so it was hard to hit anything past 10 feet. Do a search here and you will find mostly negative comments about the 111. I would stay far away from one.
 
I have the very similar Kel-Tec P-11, and have shot the PT-111.

No. I would not buy one for my wife or sweetheart, nor for anyone else who is not an experienced shooter.

Even when you improve the triggers, they are very difficult guns to shoot well.

The P-11 is an almost intrinsically accurate gun. I shoot a lot [in IDPA and other types of competitive shooting] with a number of different guns] and do quite well. But I have difficulty shooting the P-11 well.

A far better gun would be the one I picked up recently (at a pawn shop), which is available at very low prices (around $200-$250, NIB): a Star Firestar Plus. Only slightly larger than the PT-111 or P-11, and only slightly heavier, with the same capacity, it is far, far easier to shoot well and very well made.

(I was shooting mine, today, at the range, and easily hitting head shots [the 8 inch square at the top of the IDPA target] at 20 yards, shooting rapidly.)

If you're experienced, either the PT-111 or P-11 could both be good guns, because of their weight and concealability. If you're NOT experienced, forget it. And MOST women won't have the hand/finger strength needed to shoot it well.
 
Walt you are a brave man for recommending a Star Firestar +. I thought I was the only person in the world that like those guns. I bought one several years ago and that pistol has never jammed, it will shoot reloads or any ammo. A reliable 13 shot 9mm (PREBAN) in that small package is hard to beat! I also have a Taurus Millineum, after I took my dremel to the trigger I have had no problems, and would not hesitate to buy a taurus. Just my 2 cents worth.

KITT
 
I reserve POS for FN 49 pistols. My Taurus PT 111 is not a POS. It fires every time and is very concealable. Yes, the trigger is stiff but I do not view this as a range gun. Do I have other small pistols I prefer? Yes, I like my Glock 27 and Kahr E9 better. Regards, Richard.
 
Trigger too tough?
Look at the pistol's intended purpose. Its a CCW gun - not a target gun.
Its intended mission denotes ranges under 15 yards - mostly 3 or under.
For a package with these parameters - the PT-111 is a fine pistol.

Notice the only complaint about the PT-111 is about the trigger.

Look at other pistols with this guns parameters:
1. Walther PP or PPK
2. Kel Teks
3. AMT's Back Up series
All guns that are top of the class - but all with horrid triggers. (Some worse than others - the AMTs are certified as the WORST EVER, but thats another story.)

Dont be too hard on the PT-111. Its a good carry gun. If you want your wife to have a sweet shooter - get her a SIG P210.

My wife had the K9 - a Lady Kahr... she loved it. But now she loves her V-10 much better. Take your soon to be Better Half and show her the Springfield Compacts - tell her about the advantage of the .45 and the target results... let her shoot it. She will want one if she can get past the "Its not Double Action".
 
I bought a PT111 a while back. THe trigger pull was too long, so I sent it back to Taurus. They shortened it, and now it is a reliable, accurate gun. Small guns ilke this are extremely sensitive to any flinching, so try to maintain a steady hand.
 
Listen to George, he's the only one talking sense here. His points are right on.
I have one, and it had serious accuracy problems. Taurus sent it back after service with a better trigger pull, new barrel (they even polished the feed ramp for me), and a target. I can now put 10 rounds into a 3 inch group at 10 yards, and I'm a terrible shot. It feeds anything, clean or dirty, and has about 850 rounds through it with no stopages of any kind.
For me, it fits the bill 1) Reliable 2) Accurate 3) Concealable
It's no target gun, that's for sure, and never was intended to be. Stop comparing it to one.
For CCW, if you train as your primary gun, then it's all in what you learn. We're too conditioned to think that EVERY gun offered by any reliable manufacturer is intended to have a match grade trigger and shoot sub one inch groups at 25 yards. Well, hello!!!!!!! The basic reason for the long and heavy trigger pull is to PREVENT accidental shootings under stressfire conditions.
Also note, the PT-111 is the ONLY gun in it's class (and most others, for that matter) that has a repeat striker capability.
Add a factory pinky extension onto the mag floor, and it's golden.

Tom

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A "Miss" is the ultimate overpenetration!
You can never be too rich, too skinny, or too well armed!
 
I agree with Banzai. I think that you will find that most of the people who actually own the PT-111 are happy with it. As I've posted before, I am very happy with mine. It's accurate, reliable, and feeds every hollowpoint I give it. Overall I think it's a very nice package. The PT-111 definitely fills the niche for which it was intended.
 
Banzai,just to clarify the P-111 may be the only gun in it`s class with repeat *striker* capability but it is NOT the only gub in it`s class with repeat *strike* capability. Personally I wouldn`t trade my trusty Keltec P-11 for anything. In the right hands it`s suprisingly accurate and I`ve had no jams at all in well over 4000 rounds! It`s probably a poor choice for a woman who`s an inexperiences shooter though. The long 8.5lb. trigger pull usually has a detrimental effect on the accuracy of shooters with A)small or weak hands B)little experience with DA triggers. Anthony,I`d say find a place where your fiance can actually fire a bunch of different guns and decide based on her reactions and performance. Marcus
 
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