Contributing Editor
I confess that I have never been a big fan of the semi-auto 1911 .45 pistol. I have owned several and every time I have had my pistolero buddies tell me that I needed a trigger job, barrel throat polished and on and on. When I would go to a gunsmith to price all the stuff needed, I found that it would cost more than I wanted to spend. So I got rid of the pistols and generally forgot about the 1911.Then, about a year or so ago, I started seeing advertisements on the Taurus 1911 (16175 Northwest 49th Ave., Dept. GWK, Miami, FL 33014; phone: 800-327-3776; online: taurususa.com), claiming that they make some 19 custom tune-ups as part of their stock, base mil-spec 1911. They advertise that these custom refinements, if done by a gunsmith would cost some $1,600. Taurus goes on to say that the manufacturer’s suggested retail price with all those modifications, including the pistol, is $695. That sounded good versus the $2100 it would cost for a customized pistol tricked-out the way my old pistol-packing buddies recommended.
Well, every time I would see the advertisement, I would get squinty-eyed and my pulse rate would jump a bit. To make a long story short, I’m now the proud owner of a Taurus PT 1911 AR. I got the AR model because it sports the Picatinny accessory rail to accommodate a laser sight that I wanted to try.After I received my pistol, the first order of business was to take the pistol to Don Allen, a gunsmithing friend of mine, and asked him to strip it and see if every thing had been done as advertised.
An hour or so later, we concluded that I had one tricked out .45.
It did not take long for us to figure out how Taurus could do it. It just stands to reason that if this fine tuning is done as the pistol is manufactured, their pistolsmiths can hand fit and polish the ordnance grade steel frame and all parts to make up the 19 improvements featured in the advertisement. This approach shows by the matching of the serial numbers on the barrel, slide and frame
As with all Taurus handguns, my pistol has the integral key-lock system to prevent unauthorized use of the firearm when it is not actually intended to be used or carried by me.I was disappointed in my rail laser sight, however. It was difficult for me to assemble the rail itself and then to attach the laser to the rail. The rail-laser was too bulky for my liking and I could not find a holster for the rig with the lazer attached. When I went to the range, I had planed to shoot my groups offhand at 15 yards. I found that I had difficulty in seeing the laser dot in the sunlight at that yardage. I decided to go home and consider a plan two.
As a New Mexico state wildlife officer, I had carried a SigArms 226 with a Crimson Trace (9780 Southwest Freeman Dr., Dept. GWK, Wilsonville, OR 97070; phone: 800-442-2406; online: crimsontrace.com) laser for years as a duty sidearm. An inquiry to Crimson Trace showed that a laser grip was available. And in no time, I had a set of burlwood finish grips on my 1911. Their rubber over mold grip-integrated system builds the laser, activation switch and power source right into the grip. Holding the gun in a normal firing grip, you can press the activation switch button, turning on the laser, which means that when you are ready to shoot, your laser is on the target. The laser is fully adjustable, allowing you to adjust to the sights on the pistol. If you are going to put away the gun for awhile, there is a master on-off switch in the butt of the grip. One thing I did have to do, in that the 1911 has an ambidextrous safety, I had Don Allen shorten the right hand paddle just a tad to accommodate the grip.
I found a holster from Blackhawk Outdoors (6160 Commander Parkway, Dept. GWK, Norfolk, VA 23502; phone: 800-694-5263; online: blackhawk.com) It’s a level 2, injection-molded carbon fiber rig that I am very comfortable with.My choice for ammunition was Federal Cartridge (900 Ehlen Dr., Dept. GWK, Anoka, MN 55303; phone: 800-322-2342; on-line: federalpremium.com), Remington (870 Remington Dr., Dept. GWK, Madison, NC 27025; phone: 800-243-9700) and Winchester (427 North Shamrock St., Dept. GWK, East Alton, IL 62024; phone: 618-258-3242; on-line: winchester.com). All loaded with either 230-grain jacketed hollowpoint or 185-grain full metal jacketed bullets.
My target selection was Birchwood-Casey’s (7900 Fuller Rd., Dept. GWK. Eden Prairie, MN 55344; phone: 800-328-6156; online: birchwoodcasey.com) Shoot-N-See 12-inch diamond target.
At the range, I set my target and, using a benchrest, did not take long to adjust the laser to the bullet impact. One thing I did notice! Crimson Trace states that their laser is good out to 15 yards in bright sunlight. Very true, but for anything beyond that you need subdued light or darkness.
It did not take me long to get used to the stock Heinie sights. This is a two dot system; all you have to do is stack the front dot over the rear dot.I spent about an hour and a couple hundred rounds making myself familiar with the Taurus 1911, before shooting a target for group. Using all three brands of ammunition, in the two bullet weights, had no malfunctions. Had I actually been shooting a PPC course, I’m pretty sure I could have qualified. In that it was getting late in the evening, I stuck around until dark, and ran a box of .45s through the gun, using the laser. Again, with no problems.
The next day, I waited until late afternoon to go to the range. I set my target up at 15 yards and offhand shot a full magazine, using the Heinie sights. I shot a group that measured just a tad over 2 inches.
I waited a while for it to get darker outdoors. When the light level seemed right, using the laser, I emptied another eight round magazine. This group was one hole that measured a bit over one inch.
The open sight group was a little to the right and a little low. The laser group was about an inch high and to the left. I suspect the difference is from shooting from the bench and offhand as I was dead on from the bench. Make no mistake about it, I am not an expert on the 1911. But, if there is any thing more you can do to tune the Taurus, I do not what it could be. It’s a darn good bargain.
To say that I am delighted with my custom Taurus 1911 and Crimson Trace laser sight is an understatement.