Taurus Millennium series

Last updated
Taurus Millennium Series
Taurus PT145B.jpg
Taurus PT145 .45 ACP pistol
Type Semi-automatic pistol
Place of originFlag of Brazil.svg  Brazil
Service history
In service1997 - present[ citation needed ]
Production history
Manufacturer Forjas Taurus S/A
Produced2005-present[ citation needed ]
No. built1,000,000; [1] Nearly 1 million before 2015/16 recall, still in production
VariantsSee article
Specifications
Barrel  length3.25 in (82.5 mm)

Caliber
Action Short recoil, locked breech
Feed system6-, 10-, 12- and 15-round magazine
Sights
  • Iron open fixed 3 dot
  • Optional adjustable rear
  • Optional night sights
  • Heine 'Straight-8' (Pro series)

The Taurus Millennium series is a product line of double-action only (DAO) and single-action/double-action hammerless, striker-fired, short recoil operated, semi-automatic pistols manufactured by Forjas Taurus in Porto Alegre, Brazil. [2]

Contents

Design features

A Taurus PT145 that has been field stripped into the major components Taurus PT145 Disassembled.jpg
A Taurus PT145 that has been field stripped into the major components

The Millennium line was designed to contend in the civilian concealed carry firearms market, and to be sold as backup weapons for law enforcement officers. [3]

Taurus Millennium series pistols are manufactured with injection molded polymer frames, and blued carbon steel, stainless steel, or titanium slides. [4]

Taurus Millennium pistols are offered in .32 ACP, .380 ACP, 9mm Parabellum, .40 Smith & Wesson, and .45 ACP calibers,

Magazine capacities vary between 6, 10, and 12 rounds depending on model and caliber.

The Millennium line includes several innovative safety features including a positive firing pin block as well as the "Taurus Safety Latch", a transfer bar safety which prevents firing of the pistol unless the trigger is pulled. Together these safeties are intended to assure that the pistol will not fire if it is accidentally dropped. All Millennium models also include a frame-mounted safety lever. [5]

This safety feature was found to fail under some circumstances, leading to a recall.

Series

Three distinct series or generations of Millennium pistols have been produced.

The 1st series featured double-action only triggers and a 10-round magazine capacity.

The 2nd series resulted from a complete redesign of the 1st, but retaining the double-action only trigger system. The 2nd series also introduced the 'Taurus Security System' (TSS), the Taurus version of an Integrated firearm locking safety system, as well as the enhancements Taurus categorizes as the Millennium ‘Pro’ package.

The 3rd series added single/double-action triggers on several models in lieu of the double-action only of the first two series. Additionally, the grips of 3rd generation pistols are available in various different colors and the grip stippling is altered; tactical or Picatinny rail accessory mounts are also an option. [6]

Pro line

The Millennium Pro pistols [7] offer many improvements over the standard models, but were introduced as enhancements to the originals, not to supplement them. Pro counterparts have now been released for nearly all of the original models.

Some features of the Pro line include optional increased magazine capacities, larger and easier to operate controls, a single-action/double-action trigger mechanism on some models with reduced trigger travel and an improved smoother and lighter trigger pull, an enhanced frame, and an improved more ergonometric grip design. Key to the grip upgrade are recesses which Taurus call 'Memory pads', intended to promote a consistent shooting grip from shot to shot.

Other Pro improvements include the contrast enhanced Heinie ‘Straight-8’ sighting system, as well as optional night sights, a loaded chamber indicator which can be felt as well as seen, and a feature labeled 'posi-traction' which consists of an alteration to the number and layout of the slide serrations resulting in an improved gripping surface. [3] [8]

Millennium G2

In early 2013, Taurus introduced a new G2 model to the Millennium pistol series.

The G2 features stippled texturing on the grips, replaces the slide retainer pin with Glock-style pulldown tabs to disassemble the firearm.

The G2 retains the same loaded chamber indicator as the earlier Pro models, but replaces the Heinie ‘Straight-8’ sighting system with adjustable 3-dot sights. [9]

The Millennium G2 comes in two models, [10] the PT111 chambered in 9mm, and the PT140 chambered in .40 caliber, capable of rating for +P loads.

Millennium G3

In mid-2019, Taurus introduced a new G3 model to the Millennium pistol series. [11]

Since then, Taurus has introduced their G3C model, the same size as the G2, and their new G3 full size model.

Models

Standard

SeriesModelCaliberSlideTriggerWeightLengthWidthHeightBarrelCapacityReferences
PT111111B 9mm BluedDouble-action only18.7 ounces6 inches1.268 inches4.250 inches with flat base magazine; 5.062 with pinky extension6-groove 3.25-inch barrel with 1:9.84-per-inch rate of twist10+1 [12] [13] [14]
111SSStainless
111SSGStainless gray
PT132132B .32 ACP BluedDouble-action only19.9 ounces6.125 inches1.280 inches4.5 inches6-groove 3.25-inch barrel with 1:9.84-per-inch rate of twist [15] [16]
132SSStainless
PT138138B .380 ACP Blued18.7 ounces1.232 inches4.917 inches [17] [18]
138SSStainless
PT140140B .40 S&W BluedDouble-action only18.7 ounces6 inches1.291 inches5.098 inches6-groove 3.25-inch barrel with 1:16-inch rate of twist [19] [20]
140SSStainless

Pro

SeriesModelCaliberSlideTriggerWeightLengthWidthHeightBarrelCapacityReferences
PT111111BP 9mm BluedSingle-action / double-action trigger18.7 oz (530 g)6+18 in (160 mm)1+18 in (29 mm)5+18 in (130 mm)6-groove 3.25-inch barrel with 1:9.84-per-inch rate of twist10+1 [8] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25]
111BP-1212+1
111SSPStainless10+1
111SSP-1212+1
111PTiTitanium16 oz (450 g)10+1
111PTi-1212+1
111PG-12Stainless18.7 oz (530 g)
PT132132BP .32 ACP BluedDouble-action only19.9 ounces6.125 inches1.280 inches4.5 inches6-groove 3.25-inch barrel with 1:9.84-per-inch rate of twist10+1 [26] [27]
132SSPStainless
PT138138BP .380 ACP BluedSingle-action / double-action trigger18.7 ounces1.232 inches4.917 inches [28] [29] [30] [31]
138BP-1212+1
138SSPStainless10+1
138SSP-1212+1
PT140140BP .40 ACP BluedSingle-action / double-action trigger1.291 inches5.098 inches6-groove 3.25-inch barrel with 1:16-inch rate of twist10+1 [32] [33] [34]
140SSPStainless
PT145145BP .45 ACP Blued22.2 ounces1.25 inches5.125 inches [35] [36]
145SSPStainless
PT745745BPBlued20.5 ounces6 inches1.125 inches5.2 inches6+1 [37] [38]
745SSPStainless

Recall

In 2015 the Millennium series of pistols 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.

Without admitting guilt, the company paid $39 million, extended the warranties, and recalled the pistols for repair. [39] [40]

References

  1. "Taurus pistol recall: Firearms company voluntary recalls nearly 1 million pistols". Archived from the original on 2021-10-11. Retrieved 2021-10-11.
  2. “Millennium Pro is Here" Archived 2008-07-30 at the Wayback Machine , Taurus USA Web site – news reviews section. Accessed June 12, 2008.
  3. 1 2 Cutshaw, Charlie. "New Taurus 9mm Millennium Pro”, Taurus USA Web site – news reviews section. Accessed June 12, 2008.
  4. Quinn, Jeff. "Taurus Titanium 9mm Millennium", Gunblast Web site. Accessed June 11, 2008.
  5. "Millennium 138 .380 ACP Pistol", Taurus USA Web site – products section. Accessed June 11, 2008.
  6. "Identifying the Differences Between the Taurus Millennium and Millennium Pro", Boiled Frog Blog. Accessed June 11, 2008. Archived link
  7. "Millennium Pro Pistols", Taurus USA Web site – products section. Accessed June 11, 2008.
  8. 1 2 "Millennium Pro 111 9mm Pistol in Blue Steel", Taurus USA Web site – product details section. Accessed June 12, 2008.
  9. "Taurus PT111/140 Millennium G2 Instruction Manual" (PDF). Taurususa.com.
  10. "Millennium G2 9mm Polymer Grip Sub Compact", Taurus USA Web site – product details section. Accessed June 16, 2013.
  11. "New for 2019: Taurus G3". shootingillustrated.com. August 30, 2019.
  12. "Millennium 111 9mm Pistol in Blue Steel", Taurus USA Web site – product details section. Accessed June 12, 2008.
  13. "Millennium 111 9mm Pistol in Stainless Steel", Taurus USA Web site – product details section. Accessed June 12, 2008.
  14. "Millennium 111 9mm Pistol in Gray/Stainless Steel", Taurus USA Web site – product details section. Accessed June 12, 2008.
  15. "Millennium 132 .32 ACP Pistol", Taurus USA Web site – product details section. Accessed June 12, 2008.
  16. "Millennium 132 .32 ACP Pistol in Stainless Steel", Taurus USA Web site – product details section. Accessed June 12, 2008.
  17. "Millennium 138 .380 ACP Pistol in Blue Steel", Taurus USA Web site – product details section. Accessed June 12, 2008.
  18. "Millennium 138 .380 ACP Pistol in Stainless Steel", Taurus USA Web site – product details section. Accessed June 12, 2008.
  19. "Millennium 140 .40 S&W Pistol", Taurus USA Web site – product details section. Accessed June 30, 2008.
  20. "Millennium 140 .40 S&W Polymer Pistol With Burl wood Grips", Taurus USA Web site – product details section. Accessed June 30, 2008.
  21. "Millennium Pro 111 9mm Pistol in Blue Steel", Taurus USA Web site – product details section. Accessed June 12, 2008.
  22. "Millennium Pro 111 9mm Pistol In Matte Stainless Steel", Taurus USA Web site – product details section. Accessed June 12, 2008.
  23. "Millennium Pro 111 9mm Pistol In Matte Stainless Steel", Taurus USA Web site – product details section. Accessed June 12, 2008.
  24. "Millennium Pro Titanium 111 9mm Pistol In Titanium", Taurus USA Web site – product details section. Accessed June 12, 2008.
  25. "Millennium Pro Titanium 111 9mm Pistol In Titanium", Taurus USA Web site – product details section. Accessed June 12, 2008.
  26. "Millennium Pro 132 .32 ACP Pistol in Blue Steel", Taurus USA Web site – product details section. Accessed June 12, 2008.
  27. "Millennium Pro 132 .32 ACP Pistol in Stainless Steel", Taurus USA Web site – product details section. Accessed June 12, 2008.
  28. "Millennium Pro 138 .380 ACP Pistol in Blue Steel", Taurus USA Web site – product details section. Accessed June 12, 2008.
  29. "Millennium Pro 138 .380 ACP Pistol in Blue Steel", Taurus USA Web site – product details section. Accessed June 12, 2008.
  30. "Millennium Pro 138 .380 ACP Pistol in Stainless Steel", Taurus USA Web site – product details section. Accessed June 12, 2008.
  31. "Millennium Pro 138 .380 ACP Pistol in Matte Stainless Steel", Taurus USA Web site – product details section. Accessed June 12, 2008.
  32. "Millennium Pro 140 .40 S&W Pistol in Blue Steel", Taurus USA Web site – product details section. Accessed June 30, 2008.
  33. "Millennium Pro 140 .40 S&W Pistol in Matte Stainless Steel", Taurus USA Web site – product details section. Accessed June 30, 2008.
  34. "Millennium Pro 140 .40 S&W Pistol in Matte Stainless Steel", Taurus USA Web site – archived product details section. Accessed March 9, 2014.
  35. "Millennium Pro 145 .45 ACP Polymer Pistol in Blue Steel", Taurus USA Web site – product details section. Accessed June 30, 2008.
  36. "Millennium Pro 10 shot, Stainless CA approved", Taurus USA Web site – gunselector section. Accessed June 30, 2008.
  37. "Millennium Pro 745 .45 ACP Compact Pistol in Blue Steel", Taurus USA Web site – product details section. Accessed June 30, 2008.
  38. "Millennium Pro 745 .45 ACP Compact Pistol in Stainless Steel", Taurus USA Web site – product details section. Accessed June 30, 2008.
  39. "Taurus Agrees To $39 Million Settlement In Defective Pistol Case". 27 July 2015.
  40. "Taurus pistol recall: Firearms company voluntary recalls nearly 1 million pistols".