Traded into a Taurus PT145 Millennium Pro… I’ve been wanting to try one of these for awhile.
The PT145 comes with two 10 round magazines. It has an odd, but shootable trigger. With the mechanism pre-set you get a long, light take-up, a firm spot and then the break. If the round is a dud, you get another more revolver-like pull that gives it a second strike. Two pounds of pull is required during the take-up and the trigger breaks at six pounds, in SA Mode. The second-strike DA pull requires nine pounds to fire the gun. It has a thumb safety that mimics the 1911A1 in location and operation.
It has the Taurus key-lock on the slide, if you like that sort of thing. In size, it is shorter than the Glock 23 and roughly comparable to a G27 with a finger extension on the magazine. The PT145’s trigger guard is a little larger than either Glock, to facilitate the DA trigger mechanism. Still, Brazilians did an excellent job of shrinking an 11 shot SA/DA .45 Auto into the smallest possible package.
Taurus has a well-deserved reputation for spotty quality control, which manifested itself in the 20 rounds from the gun. One of the magazines was, politely put, a piece of shit. Luckily, the the dealer had another PT145 on hand and he swapped me out a good mag PDQ. With good magazines, pistol is reliable and it isn’t picky about bullet profile. It fed my .45 ACP, 230 lead flat-point reloads slick as a whistle. Early shooting indicates it will keep a magazine on your head at 20 paces.
Internet prattle on the PT145 is ripe with complaints about the sights, which are essentially Heine Straight 8’s. I find them a distant 2nd place to Glock OEM sights. Each of the PT145’s sights is secured in its dovetail by a set screw. Many users report that their PT145 prints low and this gun bears that out. It also shot a little right, so I set about adjusting the sights with the little allen wrench provided with the gun. I was able to loosen the front sight; but the set screw in the rear sight wouldn’t budge. I was able to accomplish windage correction via the front sight alone and I also removed some material to bring the POI up.
The second range outing involved 25 yard shooting from an old folding table, resting my wrists on the range bag. I used Armscor 230 FMJ, my bulk lead-bullet .45 ACP reload* and Winchester USA 230 grain JHP. We are in the spring monsoon here and it was cool and rainy; my shooting probably wasn’t at its best. I fired several 3 shot groups with the Armscor FMJ, while adjusting windage, and it wasn’t uncommon for those groups to be 2 1/2 to 3 inches. 5 shot groups with all mentioned loads averaged about four inches; but by then I was straining at the sights with visible rainfall between me and the target. So I called off the accuracy evaluation and shot plates/range junk, standing unsupported. At 25 yards, 6″ falling plates were pretty well toast and I nailed an old after-shave can several times with the pistol.
Overall, the PT145 is a decent small .45 Auto with a few liabilities. The rifling is very shallow, which may negatively affect accuracy particularly with lead bullets. It should do nicely with snake loads, though. Sights are usable, but could be better. I ran a magnet all over the frame rails and there is no steel to be found, so don’t look for the PT145 to enjoy a 50,000 round service life. I think the PT145 is a passable CCW .45 Auto, once an individual specimen is proven for reliability. It is in no way comparable to a Glock 30.
Then there’s that nagging ‘Taurus QC’ thing, which is irrelevant if you get a ‘good’ one. I think I just may have lucked out and done that.
*Assorted brass, Missouri Bullet 225 grain ‘Flathead’ and 5.4 grains of W231 with a CCI standard large pistol primer. 1.200″ OAL, does 840 fps from 5″ 1911’s.
Updated: 10 rounds of Tula 230 FMJ at 50 yards fired standing, unsupported. Dropped one off by the head; if you dig around in the photo, you’ll find doubles in the black. I’m OK with this given the size & weight of the gun.
04/19/13: A commenter asked about loads in short barrel 45’s. So I fired a round of Winchester USA JHP and Federal 230 HydraShok into random water-filled jugs at about 10 feet. The photo (taken via cell phone, sorry) depicts the result and is self-explanatory.
FAQs
In 2015 the PT-111 Millennium, PT-132 Millennium, PT-138-Millennium, PT-140 Millennium, PT-145 Millennium, and PT-745 Millennium were included in the settlement of a lawsuit which alleged that they, and certain other Taurus handguns, could fire accidentally if dropped and that Taurus covered up the safety defects.
Is Taurus a good quality gun? ›
They are fine guns. In general, Taurus is a good name brand, but a step down from S&W, Ruger and several other lower-cost brands that manufacture in the US. I have two Taurus compact pistols - a PT 111 Millennium G2 and a Millennium G2c - one in 9mm and one in . 40 S&W.
Will Taurus fix my gun? ›
Taurus promises to remedy any defect in material, function or workmanship for the entire time that the original purchaser owns the firearm. This warranty covers the firearm's finish, grips, magazines, sights or accessories for the first year.
Does Taurus make a 45? ›
The Taurus® TH series of hammer-fired pistols. Well-equipped, ultra-dependable and chambered in . 45 ACP, the TH series is a modern reinvention of the classic hammer-fired SA/DA semi-auto platform.
Why was the Taurus PT145 recalled? ›
According to AL.com, the lawsuit specifically alleges that the pistols have a defective firing pin safety block, manual safety latch, firing pin decocker, decocker safety mechanism and trigger lock mechanism.
What Taurus pistols are defective? ›
Taurus pistols with the “drop-fire defect” include “All Series” or models of the Taurus GX4 pistols, the complaint says. Jaramillo has filed a class action lawsuit naming Taurus Manufacturing and Taurus Holdings, the company's “one hundred percent stockholder,” as defendants, the complaint shows.
Is Taurus owned by Smith and Wesson? ›
In 1971, the Bangor Punta Corporation, then the parent company of Smith & Wesson, purchased 54 percent of Forjas Taurus, allowing the two firearms manufacturers to easily share information regarding design and manufacturing.
Will a Taurus gun jam? ›
Experiencing frequent jams can be a significant annoyance for Taurus G2C owners. Follow these steps to reduce or eliminate jamming: Inspect the magazine for any damage or deformation and replace if necessary. Clean the chamber and barrel thoroughly to remove any dirt or fouling.
What is the Taurus gun of the year? ›
The Taurus GX4 family of handguns has been awarded the Guns & Ammo Handgun of the Year award for 2022. PHOTO: Taurus Holdings, Inc. Taurus, manufacturer of premium handguns for defense, hunting, and sport shooting, announces the GX4 family of firearms has won the Guns & Ammo Handgun of the Year award for 2022.
Do Taurus have control issues? ›
Controlling nature
Taurus folks are admired for their strong resolve, but it can become problematic when their determination turns into a need for control. In a negative light, a toxic Taurus might want to dominate everything—situations, relationships, and even people.
Taurus, however, also offers a specialized product line for governmental entities: most of the Brazilian Armed Forces and Police departments today use Taurus firearms, and so do countless military and law enforcement agencies in the rest of South America, in the United States, and in the rest of the world.
What guns have a lifetime warranty? ›
Smith & Wesson will repair, without charge, for the lifetime of the original owner, any Smith & Wesson handgun purchased on or after February 1, 1989, and any M&P15 series rifle, that is found to have a defect in material or workmanship.
Is Taurus a quality firearm? ›
The market has spoken and Taurus is paying attention. The GX4 is an accurate, concealable and controllable firearm ideal for everyday carry. It's a strong first step towards building Taurus' reputation as a premium firearm manufacturer, and it certainly won't be their last.
Is Taurus made by Beretta? ›
History and creation
In 1974, a large contract for the Beretta 92 was issued by the Brazilian army, for which Beretta set up a factory in São Paulo, Brazil. This factory was later sold to the Brazilian gunmaker Taurus (Forjas Taurus S/A) in 1980, after the contract had expired.
Are Taurus 1911s forged? ›
The PT1911 offers features found on models from semi-custom pistol manufacturers such as Springfield Armory, Para-Ordnance, and Kimber Manufacturing. Featuring a forged steel frame and slide, the PT1911 was originally marketed with a blued carbon steel finish, but as of late 2007 a stainless steel version was released.
Why was the Taurus discontinued? ›
Discontinuation (North America)
This was in response to a shift in perceived consumer demand towards SUVs and pickup trucks, and away from sedans. On September 5, 2018, Ford ended all national and promotional advertising (including sales and special offers) for its entire sedan lineup, including the Taurus.
What was wrong with Taurus pistols? ›
What was wrong with Taurus pistols? Taurus pistols, including some models of the G2c, were part of a settlement due to allegations of safety defects. Some older models were reported to potentially discharge when dropped, even with the safety engaged.
What Taurus pistols are being recalled? ›
The settlement affects customers who bought the following models sold between 1997 and 2013 in the U.S., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam: PT-111 Millennium; PT-132 Millennium; PT-138-Millennium; PT-140 Millennium; PT-145 Millennium; PT-745 Millennium; PT-609; PT-640; and PT-24/7.
Did Taurus buyout Beretta? ›
In 1980, after Italian arms manufacturer Beretta had completed its contracts to produce firearms for Brazil's military, Taurus purchased Beretta's São Paulo manufacturing plant along with the tooling, technical drawings, and work force necessary to produce several different pistol designs.
