Question on reliability

Question
QUESTION: Hi Brad.
I own a Taurus PT111 Millemium Edition 9mm. A while back while at the shooting range, the gun would often just "click" and not actually fire until i pulled the trigger a few more times. I has this checked out by a gunsmith who informed me that there was a problem with the firing pin, and that he repaired it (or replaced a bracket holding it or something like that). It seemed to fire okay after that, but i havent been to the range much. My question is, i am concerned about the reliability of the gun now. In your opinion, once a gun has had a defect like that, do you think it can be repaired (like the gunsmith claims it has been) or it is possibly an unreliable firearm now. Basically, should i get rid of it and get another firearm? I bought it for the purpose of home protection, and would hate to be in a situation that required me to use it, and pull the trigger only to hear a clicking sound again.....or some other problem.

ANSWER: Michael,

 Taurus has been in the firearms business for quite some time now. Like any other company, they have models that aren't as good as other models, but I have heard of no major complaints regarding the PT 111.
I would not be worried about the gunsmith's repair either. Frankly, the firing pin or other internal parts could break on any manufacturer's gun. Having the gunsmith fix it for you, assuming that he is a competent gunsmith, should not be an issue whatsoever.

Personally, I would not buy that particular gun for myself for home protection. You probably bought it originally because it was inexpensive, and is manufactured by a reputable company. Of course, since I am in the business, I probably have slightly higher standards than most when it comes to which brand and model to choose. Taurus has a great warranty, and their products right now are probably as good or better than they ever have been.


 Have you shot the gun much?? I think I would take it to the range, and shoot it a while ("a while" being a few months) and see what you think of it at that time. If it shoots well for you, and you do not experience more problems, you should be able to rely on it. If you have other issues with it, or you find that it is not easy for you to shoot, maybe consider a different gun.


Good luck with it! Let me know if you have any other questions.

Brad

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hey Brad.
Thanks for the answer. If i may i just wanted to ask you something relating to your response. You mentioned they you personally would not but that gun for home protection, i am just wondering why that is, is it just that there are much better guns available, or is this gun simply inadequate for this purpose. I am thinking perhaps i should look at something else. I'm not sure if recommendations is something you do, but if so, are there makes or models you would feel are more competent for home protection that i should look at? Thanks again Brad

Answer
Michael,

 I don't want to tell you that the PT 111 is a "bad" gun, because it isn't. There are many things to consider when purchasing a gun, among the important ones are: reliability, features, and whether or not it fits your hand.
There are many guns on the market. Most of the models that you will find at the inexpensive end of the spectrum will not be as reliable as the rest. Of course, this does not mean that just because a gun is higher priced, it will be MORE reliable.
Since I do not know the specifics of what you are looking for other than a personal defense gun for the home, it would be hard for me to steer you in the right direction other than in general terms. I will tell you about a couple guns that I would consider for my own use (and have).
Springfield XD or Glock. These are really VERY reliable guns, at around the $500 price range (maybe a couple bucks more than $500, but not over $550). There are 2 things that i like about either of these 2 guns, the fact that you don't have a manual safety, and that they are VERY reliable.
Smith & Wesson M&P. Very similar to the Springfield or Glock, but a newcomer. I think this gun has a very high reliability also, and it comes with interchangeable backstraps so that you can customize it a bit better to fit your hand. About the same price range as the Springfield and Glock too.
Beretta PX4. Another good gun, and easy to shoot.

 So far, these are all polymer frame guns and will be lightweight, and all have alot of longevity.

Kahr K-9. I recommend the steel frame gun for you here due to the extreme light weight of their polymer framed guns. If you were planning on carrying the gun, maybe the poly frame, but for the home I would stick with the steel frame.
Ruger P-89 or P-95. Either of these guns are very reliable, although somewhat large. Since you are not (as far as I know) planning on carrying concealed, this would be another reliable gun for home defense. These are available in both "decocker", and "decocker w/safety". The decocker only version will only drop the hammer, and uses the added trigger pull weight of the double action trigger for the safety feature. Both types are good...just depends on what YOU are comfortable with.
 S&W or Ruger revolver. .38 special or .357 MAG. Either of these are good choices, and you will find MANY models to choose from. Get a steel frame (stainless or blued) and nothing longer than 6" barrel, nothing shorter than 2". ($400 to $600 price range)
Last, but definitely not least, Beretta 92FS, CZ 75 (or 85), Browning Hi Power, Sig Arms or H&K. I lump all of these together not because they are similar, but because they are not as popular for a neophyte. All of these guns are good, some are great. Some are also very expensive.

Here is what I would do.

A) define your price range. You may need to refine it a bit after you have been shopping, but don't even bother with the $800 guns if your budget is $400  Remember, the $800 gun is not necessarily more reliable than the $400 gun.

 B) What are the features that you are looking for? Most of the guns that i listed have no "manual" safety. Some people are uncomfortable with that (But I recommend it for a neophyte because of it's simplicity)

 C) How does it fit? Your index finger needs to have PERPENDICULAR access to the trigger. If you have small hands, you will likely never be as accurate with the larger framed guns. If your index finger rests on the trigger at an angle other than 90 degrees, you will have much more difficulty pulling the trigger without misaligning the sights.....and THAT is one of the primary fundamentals to accurate shooting.

Go to a reputable dealer, and put a couple of these in your hands. Check out the features, and the fit. See if any of them feel good in your hand off the bat...this is a good sign, but not the only deciding factor. Don't buy a gun on my (or anyone else's) recommendation based on the fact that it is the most popular.

 By the way. Some of the criteria that I have included, but not spoken about are longevity, and how easy it is to shoot. Alot of people buy their gun, shoot it a few times and put it away. When the time comes to defend yourself, you will not have the opportunity to mentally refresh yourself on the operation of your means of defense. I STRONGLY recommend that you buy something that is easy enough to shoot so that you are not discouraged, or physically (or mentally) unable to practice with it on a somewhat regular basis.
 There are many lightweight and extremely small guns available that are great for concealment, but sometimes very difficult to shoot.  A small, lightweight gun is NOT what I would recommend for your situation. Larger, heavier guns are easier to shoot, and therefore easier to be accurate with, and also something that you will be more inclined to train with. Spending time on the range is far more important than having the "superduper-whatever-newfangled-mega caliber" that you can't shoot.
 BTW. In a 9mm, you can shoot a lighter weight gun due to the lighter recoil, so you have some room here. Just stay away from the "superlight" guns.

Hope this has helped you!

Brad