The Firearm Blog

I let y'all down! Somehow the Taurus 1911 pistols chambering 9mm Luger/Parabellum and .38 Super which were launched earlier this year slipped below my radar.

I also did not realize they were now available in stainless!

The .38 Super model is very similar to the 9mm. Both types of are also available in a blued finish.

You can browse the line of 1911's at TaurusUSA.com.

The Atlanta Business Chronicle reports that Taurus USA is looking relocate the company in order to expand their domestic production. Currently most of their guns are imported from their Brazilian parent company Forjas Taurus.

The reason: Police departments and other government agencies increasingly want their guns made in the United States, Taurus CEO Bob Morrison said.

While no decision has been made, Morrison praised Georgia’s efforts to lure the company.

“Gov. [Sonny] Perdue has been particularly anxious to extend the warm hand of Georgia,” Morrison said. “It’s a very attractive offer that he’s made. He’s gone way, way out of his way to try to get us to understand that Georgia is more than willing to have a firearms company move there.”

There has been a discussion on the blog about the controversial new Federal Personal Defense Handgun .410 shotshell ammunition designed exclusively for the Taurus Judge .410 revolver.

.410 Personal Defense opened and pellets dumped. Thanks to Stephen for the photo.

The round contains 60 pellets of #4 bird shot (each pellet is .13″ in diameter). The load of pellets weight 1/2 oz (218.75 grain). Velocity is listed as 1200 fps which makes the total energy delivered at the muzzle to be 700 ft/lbs.

Federal said to Guns Holsters and Gear that:

The #4 pellets (approximately 10) penetrate to a depth of up to 6″.

(the pellet number is wrong, but the penetration depth sounds right for .410)

So with these facts in mind do you think that this round is capable of delivering a blow that warrants its name? I am not sure it does, but I welcome your opinions in the comments. I have a few issues with this round and how Federal have marketed it.

Firstly, the FBI requires penetration of at least 12″ for their ammunition, added to this is the fact that the pellets are individually, only .13″ in caliber and weigh about 3.6 grain. I would not want to be shot by one, and they could certainty kill if they traveled around the body and hit a vital organ, but I seriously doubt an attacker would be stopped in their tracks.

Another problem is shot dispersion. Dick wrote this comment on the blog about he groupings he achieved.

NOT SUITABLE FOR PERSONAL DEFENSE AGAINST MUCH OF ANYTHING LARGE ENOUGH TO WARRENT “SELF DEFENSE” EXCEPT PERHAPS SMALL SNAKES! A large one shot with this round at 21′ will likely kill you before it bleeds to death! With 2 rounds it put 18-20 pellets inside a 12″ circle so the snake better be curled up and there were plenty enough large gaps to miss a head shot.

Another issue I have is the published velocity. When firearm manufacturers publish velocity they usually base it on their test barrels, which are usually longer than what you would buy. For example shotgun velocities would be recorded from 28″ or 30″ barrel. The 1200 fps this round achieves is very similar to other standard shotgun loads, the difference being it is intended for the Judge. Most of the Judge models have a 2.5″ chamber and 3.5″ barrel. Revolvers measure barrel length forward of the chamber, so compared to a normal shotgun this works about to be 6″ of barrel. I believe shotguns are loaded with fast burning powder (reloaders please correct me if I am wrong), but this seems pretty amazing if it can achieve maximum velocity in only 6″ of barrel.

Finally, if Federal believe this is an adequate round for self-defense, why have they not published their own internal studies? Telling me it has 6″ of penetration, presumably in ballistic gelatin, is just not enough information.

So far Federal have not delivered a .410 buckshot model of the Personal Defense Round, but likely will later this year.

I am interested in your opinions. I don’t consider myself very knowledgeable in this area.

UPDATE:

Other blogger have weighed in on the issue. Go read what they have to say (if you have blogged about it and I don’t know, tell me and I will add your blog to the list):

Michael Bane @ The Michael Bane Blog

Caleb @ Gun Nuts

Taurus have added a snub nosed revolver to their line of Judge .410 Gauge shotshell / .45 Colt revolvers. The “Public Defender” 4510PD model is build on the smaller Taurus Model 85 frame.

It can only take 2.5″ .410 shells unlike some of the newer Judge models which can chamber 3″ shells. It also features a reduced profile hammer.

Photo from casa-z

Two models are available. A lighter model with a titanium frame (see photo) and a standard model with a blued steel frame.

Specs:

Capacity: 5 rounds
Cartridge: .45 Colt and .410 2.5″ shells.
Sights: fiber optic front sight and fixed rear sights.
Action: SA / DA.
Grip: Taurus Ribber
Cylinder: Steel or Titanium.

Taurus have updated the PT-22 (chambered in .22 LR) and the PT-25 (chambered in .25 ACP). They are now lightweight polymer and are much sleeker that the old steel version.

The new PT-22 (Photo from G&A).

The old model PT-22

The old line has a wide range of models featuring every grip you could imagine. It is not known if they will update the old models or standardize on the the “classic” polymer-type models (two tone and black)

The new model weights in at 10.8 ounces and as you can see in the top photo feature a larger trigger guard.

Hat Tip: Guns and Ammo

Taurus has unveiled their new Taurus TCP pistol. This is another additional the increasingly wide range of .380 ACP sub-compact pistols. The TCP stands for “Taurus Compact Pistol”.

The pistol is DOA (Double Action only) and has a 6+1 capacity with a standard magazine and a 8+1 capacity with an extended magazine.

Full sized photo can be seen at Guns Holsters and Gear

Three models will be available: an ultra light titanium side version weighting only 8.5 ounces, a blued steel slide model and a stainless model. Both steel models weigh 10.2 ounces.

The pistol features:

* Ambidextrous magazine release.
* Fish scale slide pattern.
* Large trigger guard.
* Low profile sights.

It is quite a sexy looking pistol. Most .380 ultra-compact carry pistol look “functional” at best … and I say this as a Glock fanboy!

GHG says it will retail for around $300 for the standard version and an extra $100 for the titanium slide.

The 709 “Slim” is a new single action only sub-compact 9mm from Taurus.

“SLIM” is the name of this suave new entry into the Taurus line. Elegant in Blue and Stainless this small, single-action-only could be found under a cummerbund or a pair of bibs. It’s what you have been asking for! No revealing lumps or lines makes concealed carry easier than that larger capacity gun you already have. Cool, neat and ready to go-the Taurus Slim will be your companion for a long time to come.

709SS model. Click to expand. Photo by Critter210.

Specs:

Caliber: 9 mm
Capacity: 7+1
Barrel Length: 3″
Weight: 19 oz
Length: 6″

Two models will be available. A Two Tone stainless steel slide model (709SS) and a blued slide version (709B).

The MSRP is $452 and I believe it will be shipping shortly.

709B model

Wow, that is not a blog title I expected to ever write. Federal have unveiled .410 “Personal Defense Handgun” ammunition designed specifically for the Taurus Judge .45 Colt / .410 revolver.

Two 2.5″ buckshot loads will be available. The first load is 0.5 oz ( 218 grain) #4 buckshot which I think works out to be about 10 pellets (according to wikipedia, correct me if I am wrong). The other load has four 000 pellets (9mm). The muzzle velocity is 1200 fps.

The Judge from Taurus® has emerged as a very popular handgun for Personal Defense®. This specialized gun has been without a specialized load-until now. Federal introduces two 2-1/2″ loads designed especially for The Judge. A special hull design and optimal payloads make these loads perfect for this gun. Choose between a 1/2-oz #4 or 4 pellet 000 buck option-either way the performance will be there.

Taurus Judge photo that I recently uploaded to Wikipedia. Taken by Dennis Chen

Rossi has been purchased by Taurus. They are both Brazilian firms so this makes sense. It looks like it is not just the US firearm industry that is consolidating.

Forjas Taurus S.A. announces its acquisition of the manufacturing and distribution rights of all Rossi products, including the famous Model 92 lever-action rifle from Rossi Firearms S.A.

I have mentioned many times how much I like Rossi products. I hope this does not affect quality (relative to their low price) or supply.

Full press release after the jump:

H/T Outdoor Wire
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Links to the GunPundit SHOT Show 2008 coverage.

Taurus 5mm Rem. Mag. Tracker Revolver

Arsenal Milled AK

TDI KRISS

SIG 556 SWAT

5mm Remington Rimfire Magnum

Wilson Combat CQB Elite 1911

GunBlast.com has just reviewed the Taurus PT1911 .45 pistol. It is a big contrast to the review by B.B. who had a lot of trouble with his.

GunBlast.com

The Taurus delivered. It was one hundred percent reliable with every type of factory ammunition that I had available. It also functioned flawlessly with my favorite .45 ACP handload.

B.B. Pelletier:

I wanted so much to love this pistol, but poor reliability is the worst sin a defense gun can commit. I’m not sure I can forgive it

This article examines the differences in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Series / Generation of the Taurus Millennium and Millennium Pro pistols. It gives some insight into how Taurus designs have evolved over time.

While I do love my PT-111 Pro (that’s 2nd series, stainless, full “Millennium Pro” scroll!), it does appear to me as if Taurus might be utilizing its unique position in the market to continually test and improve their design, effectively using their customers to beta-test and otherwise improve their product line. At least, I hope so: otherwise it’s just neurotic!

An interesting read even if you do not have a Taurus Millennium pistol.

More here.

I came across a great review of the Taurus 44-Ten Tracker .410 caliber revolver/shotgun.

How about penetration? Well, at all distances the shot pellets went through the board. However, logic tells us that they used up a lot of their force getting through the dense material. And, in home construction, there would be another piece of the same wall-board beyond. With the possible exception of the 1-yard shot, the pellets would likely not exit that one.

Getting back to serious business, would the Taurus 44-Ten Tracker be a good “house-gun?” Absolutely! It could be handled well by anyone, and shotshell loads would afford a little “margin of error” in aiming. For the more proficient, you could load it so the first three rounds were shot, then have two .45LC rounds, if necessary. And, we haven’t even considered the camping and hunting applications. The last word: High quality, reasonable price.

Read more here.