Taurus PT-145 Range Report

[Forever-A-Soldier]

I thought some of you might be interested in my review of the Taurus PT-145 in .45 ACP. I purchased this on-sale at Turner's last month and have put a little under 100 rounds through it at this point. Here's my Pros/Cons:

Pros:

• .45 ACP: Magazine holds 10-rounds and I wanted something for CCW with more punch than a 9mm.
• Lightweight/Size: This gun is actually smaller overall than my Glock 19 which I like to CCW with. It has a polymer frame as you can see.
• Accuracy: As I bought this for a close-up defensive handgun from a CCW position, my range tests were at 7, 10 & 15 yards. Accuracy was better than I read as I was able to generally hit the 8" circle plates from the 7 & 10 yard distance, and easily rapid fire double-taps at 15 at a IPSC-size target with good hits.
• Reliability: No malfunctions so far of ANY kind.
• Safety: Manual safety. This was a big issue with my friend's Kahr as he didn't like not having a manual safety on it and now he is looking into this Taurus.

Cons

• Magazine release: Perhaps it was my hand grip, but during one set, I was gripping the frame in such a way as to put enough pressure on the magazine release button to jettison the mag. An HK USP type mag release would be preferred on this pistol.
• DAO (Double Action Only): I had never owned a DAO pistol til this one, and only fired a Kahr DAO recently. The trigger pull is LONG, but didn't seem to effect my accuracy. I would prefer a Glock type trigger (as I'm a long time Glock shooter.)
• Spare Magazine Cost: Spare mags run $30+; twice as much as Glocks but I guess on average for most other manufacturer's magazines at full retail price.

Overall Review

I think this is a serious possiblity for an inexpensive, 45ACP CCW gun for close defensive shooting. Pros are more than Cons, with Cons being of minor importance depending. YMMV. Other PT-145 owners, please post your comments.

F.A.S. Out

[x2delight]

i have bought this gun also from turners last month for the price and what it is its not bad at all.

i shot it at the range a few times and i like it..very nice for how compact it is.

[tseth]

Magazine release: Perhaps it was my hand grip, but during one set, I was gripping the frame in such a way as to put enough pressure on the magazine release button to jettison the mag.

F.A.S. Out

Thanks for the review.

Would you say that your hand/glove size is medium, large, or extra large?

-tseth

[bd457]

I have a PT-111 that's on my CCW and I don't carry it any more and never will.

Why? The very same reason you described above.

I have carried it perhapps 20 times in a Kydex holster and a few times "mexican carry" and when i had gone to take it out and secure it after a days carry I find that the magazine release had been pressed at some point in the day about 50% of the time. The magazine is not lost from the pistol, but if i were to NEED the weapon, I would present it, fire once and the magazine would fall out durring recoil. My assesment of this is "NOT GOOD". I've heard others with the same problem. I suppose that a differant holster might cure the problem, but I'm not willing to spend time trying to fix a weapons flaw that I have to stake my life on.

Other than that and the long, stiff trigger pull, it's a nice weapon. I just won't put my life on the line with it.

Just my 2 cents. I hope it helps someone.

[asintado]

Be careful as I have read reviews that the frame is prone to cracking especially in the 45 models. Not so common in the PT140 and rarely in the PT111. When it came time to getting it repaired Taurus gave them a hard time. It is a the perfect power punch for conceal carry but not the best range gun IMO. The fact that it carries 10 rounds of .45 makes this gun worth taking the risk, just don't expect to shoot it every weekend.

[Forever-A-Soldier]

Thanks for the review.

Would you say that your hand/glove size is medium, large, or extra large?

-tseth

My hands are about a medium size.

F.A.S. Out

[MrTuffPaws]

Be careful as I have read reviews that the frame is prone to cracking especially in the 45 models. Not so common in the PT140 and rarely in the PT111. When it came time to getting it repaired Taurus gave them a hard time. It is a the perfect power punch for conceal carry but not the best range gun IMO. The fact that it carries 10 rounds of .45 makes this gun worth taking the risk, just don't expect to shoot it every weekend.

Sorry for the caps but, THE FRAME CRACKING WAS ON THE OLD PT-145 MILLENNIUMS AND NOT THE NEW PT-145 MILLENNIUM PROS

[asintado]

For the money you pay a gun shouldn't malfunction like that at all. Fixing the problem doesn't make everything OK for the manufacturer. If you have access to testing and engineering capabilities like Taurus does then there's no excuse.

[MrTuffPaws]

Thanks for the review.

Would you say that your hand/glove size is medium, large, or extra large?

-tseth

I have large hands and the girp is still comfortable, but I would not like to go any smaller.

[MrTuffPaws]

For the money you pay a gun shouldn't malfunction like that at all. Fixing the problem doesn't make everything OK for the manufacturer. If you have access to testing and engineering capabilities like Taurus does then there's no excuse.

Yes, and the recall on Glocks when they had rails shearing off during use reflects poorly on Glock as well. Should I tell you about the time I had to send my XD back to SA for a chipped locking block, or the other parts I had to replace on it?

Taurus had trouble with the old PT145s, but the new MilPros are a complete redesign based off of the 24/7. They have been out for years now, and there is little problem with them, as much as any other gun out there.

If I do have trouble with mine though, surely post about it.

[bd457]

The fact that it carries 10 rounds of .45 makes this gun worth taking the risk, just don't expect to shoot it every weekend.

You go ahead and risk YOUR life on it because it holds 10 rounds. Mine only holds one if the 10 round magazine keeps falling out. I'd rather have a derringer. it holds 2 rounds. If it's not 100% reliable under the circumstances you expect to be in, then it's not worth carrying. I've had many 100% weapons, they DO exist. What bothers me is that it's not an isolated occurance, I understand those. There is no MANUFACTURER that's 100%, only the particular weapon. My PT111 is not.

[MrTuffPaws]

You go ahead and risk YOUR life on it because it holds 10 rounds. Mine only holds one if the 10 round magazine keeps falling out. I'd rather have a derringer. it holds 2 rounds. If it's not 100% reliable under the circumstances you expect to be in, then it's not worth carrying. I've had many 100% weapons, they DO exist. What bothers me is that it's not an isolated occurance, I understand those. There is no MANUFACTURER that's 100%, only the particular weapon. My PT111 is not.

I shot my PT145 both two handed, off handed and one handed today and it has no issues with dropping the mag, though I have not carried it in a holster as of yet. It sounds like user error to me, just like the 1911 crew pushing up the slide lock on some guns. It takes practice to use anything proficiently. After all, practice makes perfect.

[asintado]

You go ahead and risk YOUR life on it because it holds 10 rounds. Mine only holds one if the 10 round magazine keeps falling out. I'd rather have a derringer. it holds 2 rounds. If it's not 100% reliable under the circumstances you expect to be in, then it's not worth carrying. I've had many 100% weapons, they DO exist. What bothers me is that it's not an isolated occurance, I understand those. There is no MANUFACTURER that's 100%, only the particular weapon. My PT111 is not.

I'm only pointing out that it's hard to find a gun of that caliber as compact as the PT145 with that much capacity. To some people that's more than they can get out of any other gun out on the market. But then again you have to weigh those advantages with the cons of the weapon such as size, recoil, and operations issues.

[x2delight]

i have a shoulder holster i use and i have never had a problem with the magazine falling out or anything.. no problems with it when iam shooting either.

[HighVelocity]

Great report, I've had similar results with my PT145. I bought mine because it was the cheapest compact 45 I'd ever seen. I had never owned a Taurus pistol before.
It's been about a year now and a couple thousand rounds downrange and never had a single malfunction.
I carry it when I travel or when I am doing yard work etc. Basically anytime I would be concerned about damaging or potentially losing (checked baggage) my weapon. I'd much rather replace a $300 pistol than a $800 CDP.

One point of note, I had a Glock 30 which also holds 10 in the mag but I sold it after the PT145 proved reliable. The PT is substantially smaller than the G30 and is even more accurate in my hands.