Colt 1911 vs. Taurus 1911?

Question

What is the better of the two and why, I am also curious about factors like aftermarket parts availability, out of box accuracy, and durability.

Answer 1

apples and oranges. both good to eat.

Colt has its ups and downs quality wise over the years. Yea, you pay a premium for the name...Kimber builds a better 1911 right now.

Colt will always have a better resale value than a Taurus

If you buy a gun to shoot a lot for fun... or it lives in the sock drawer, for years Taurus builds a good value. Tough.. pretty trouble free.. and good factory service.

I own both... and a Taurus 85 is my "go to" house gun. Why? If I ever used it..even if the shooting is defensible.. getting that gun back will take a long time.

After everyone in the county handles it and they keep in in plastic for a couple of years in evidence I probably wont want it back the way they picked it up.. I paid about $280 for that little revolver... so I get it back all rusted up I didnt lose much.

Added for the guy down below..Para is a Canadian company. so much for your buy American speal

Colt goes in and out of civilian production as often as we change shirts. I think most new guns at dealers today are old stock.

Answer 2

I would go with the Taurus...low price, great quality, lifetime warranty of the firearm not the owner, my buddy added a mag well, re-coated the whole gun and several other aftermarket additions to it. The beauty of the PT1911 is that it comes with alot of bells and whistles already.

It shoots straight and any 1911 part for the most part will fit this gun....

Answer 3

I don't think there is any comparison between the two, I'd go with a Colt, the original.  I also don't like buying anything that wasn't made here(US), though I have heard that Taurus makes decent guns for the money.  I'd buy a Para Ordnance over a Taurus and they're about the same price.  And if your'e buying a foreign gun, then I'd go with Springfield, as they are made in Brazil, just like Taurus.  Good luck with your choice, I'm sure any of the name brands produce a fine 1911.  PS, I've heard from several people about major malfunctions with Kimber's, so I would not buy one from them, not to mention you could buy a Colt Gold Cup for the same price if not less, and that's the best 1911 made period end of story.

Answer 4

The 1911 is the most common pistol on earth with millions of after market parts and immitations.  I have built and used them going on 35 years.  

This is the classic name brand vs off brand consumer decision.  If you bought a Dell computer 8 years ago you would still be able to get service, parts, and download drivers and still be using it.  If you cheaped out and bought a Sager - it's already in the dumpster.  

When you buy a Colt 1911 after three years you can expect to sell it for what you paid, and, the resale value will begin to increase $30-$55 each year.

When you buy a Taurus 1911 it will take 10-15 years for you to regain the investment, and, it will never appreciate in value much.

Hope this helps.

Answer 5

I am a Colt fan, I've shot both and the Colt is a much better shooting gun.  The Colt was the first on the market, way back in 1911.  John Browning worked with a kid from Colt to develop the .45 ACP Colt 1911 and the gun is one that will retain it's value much better.

I work a large sporting goods store and we have more people buy Colt's hands down than the Taurus.  The torture test Browning and the kid working for Colt (I wish I could remember his name) put the 1911 through is pretty unbelievable for that era.

Answer 6

The Colt is gonna be a better weapon.  I've shot both and found that Taurus will tend to stovepipe.  I can't tell you why but it may have something to do with the ramp or the extractor.  In any case, Colt has a better track record.  Colt has been around for ALOT longer and is the standard for 1911s.  I can't attest to out of box accuracy though. Sorry.

Answer 7

I have a Colt 1911 in .45 ACP.  I sometimes help out at the local pawn shop because of my FFL. I looked up the pawn and resale values for the gun and it blew me away so-to-speak. The gun is worth about 4 times what I paid for when it was new.

As for performance, I've shot about 2000 rounds through the Colt and it has never jammed on me. As for shooting someone and not getting your gun back, well I guess it depends on the state and juridiction, but when I shot an intruder in my home the gun was returned the next day.

Answer 8

A used Colt will  sell at a higher price than a used Taurus but that does not mean it will be the better gun or that it holds it's value better

It only means that more people have bought into the hype so the gun starts at a higher price

Of the many many 1911s I have owned the Colt is my least favorite

I bought mine at a Norinco price or I would not have bought it

I have never owned a Taurus 1911 but I have friends who do and they are satisfied with both accuracy and dependability

My complaint with the gun and why I wont own one is the bill board on the side

If a company wants me to advertise for them they need to pay me

As far as aftermarket parts

A 1911 is a 1911 is a 1911

I buy and sell guns frequently and have never lost money on a Taurus

All that I have sold have been sold for at least what I paid for them

I only own two colts products

Both have been a disappointment to me

I will admit that the only reason I hold on to them is because of that little pony and the status that goes with it