| Taurus Millennium Series | |
|---|---|
Taurus PT145 .45 ACP pistol |
|
| Type | Semi-automatic pistol |
| Place of origin | Brazil |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2005 – present |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Forjas Taurus S/A |
| Variants | See article |
| Specifications | |
| Caliber |
|
| Action | Short recoil, locked breech |
| Feed system | 6, 10, and 12 round magazine |
| Sights |
|
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 S/A (Taurus Forge) in Porto Alegre Brazil.[1] 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.[2]
Contents |
Taurus Millennium series pistols are manufactured with injection molded polymer frames, and blued carbon steel, stainless steel, or titanium slides.[3] Available cartridge chamberings include .32 ACP, .380 ACP, 9mm Parabellum, .40 Smith & Wesson, and .45 ACP. 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 assure that the pistol will not fire if it is accidentally dropped; selected models have been certified as satisfying the California Drop safety requirement. All Millennium models also include a frame-mounted safety lever.[4]
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, offering a less ergonomic and visually pleasing design, 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.[5]
The Millennium Pro pistols offer many improvements over the standard models, but were introduced as enhancements to the originals, not to supplant 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.[2][6]
Taurus Millennium line model designations consist of 3 digits followed by 1 to 3 characters, which in turn may be followed by an optional third sequence of a dash and 2 digits. The leading three numerals indicate the model's cartridge chambering, for example, number 132 represents .32 ACP chambering, 138 corresponds to .380 ACP, 111 signifies 9 mm Parabellum models, 140 denotes the .40 S & W offering, and 145 indicates .45 ACP chambering. An optional 'P' character trailing the chambering digits indicates whether the pistol is a ‘Pro’ model, and the next 1 or 2 characters denote the slide composition. A ‘B’ indicates blued steel, the characters ’SS’ indicate stainless, and a 'Ti' signifies titanium. The optional final hyphenated number at the end of the model designation (either a -10 or -12) indicates an extended magazine capacity. Thus the model number 111BP-12 would indicate a 9 mm Millennium Pro pistol in blued steel with a 12 round magazine capacity, while model 138SSP-12 designates a .380 stainless steel Millennium Pro with a 12 round capacity.[7]
9 mm Parabellum caliber.
Models 111B (blued slide), 111SS (stainless slide), 111SSG (stainless gray slide). Double action only trigger. Weight 18.7 ounces, length: 6⅛ inches, width: 1.268 inches, height: 5.020 inches, 6 groove 3.25 inch barrel with 1:9.84 per inch rate of twist, 10 round magazine.[8][9][10]
Models 111BP (blued slide, 10 round magazine), 111BP-12 (blued slide, 12 round magazine), 111SSP (stainless slide, 10 round magazine), 111SSP-12 (stainless slide, 12 round magazine), 111PTi (Titanium slide, 10 round magazine), 111PTi-12 (titanium slide, 12 round magazine). single action/double action trigger, Heinie sights with ‘Straight-8’ rear. Weight: 18.7 ounces (111PTi and 111PIi-12: 16 ounces), length: 6⅛ inches, width: 1.125 inches, height: 5.125 inches, 6 groove 3.25 inch barrel with 1:9.84 per inch rate of twist.[6][11][12][13][14][15]
.32 ACP (Automatic Colt pistol) caliber.
Models 132B (blued slide), 132SS (stainless slide). Double action only trigger. Weight 19.9 ounces, length: 6.125 inches, width: 1.280 inches, height: 4.500 inches, 6 groove 3.25 inch barrel with 1:9.84 per inch rate of twist, 10 round magazine.[16][17]
Models 132BP (blued slide), 132SSP (stainless slide). Double action only trigger, Heinie sights with ‘Straight-8’ rear. Weight: 19.9 ounces, length: 6.125 inches, width: 1.280 inches, height: 4.500 inches, 6 groove 3.25 inch barrel with 1:9.84 inch rate of twist, 10 round magazine.[18][19]
.380 ACP (Automatic Colt pistol) caliber.
Models 138B (blued slide), 138SS (stainless slide). Double action only trigger. Weight 18.7 ounces, length: 6.125 inches, width: 1.232 inches, height: 4.917 inches, 6 groove 3.25 inch barrel with 1:9.84 per inch rate of twist, 10 round magazine.[20][21]
Models 138BP (blued slide, 10 round magazine), 138BP-12 (blued slide, 12 round magazine), 138SSP (stainless slide, 10 round magazine), 138SSP-12 (stainless slide, 12 round magazine). single action/double action trigger, Heinie sights with ‘Straight-8’ rear. Weight: 18.7 ounces, length: 6.125 inches, width: 1.232 inches, height: 4.917 inches, 6 groove 3.25 inch barrel with 1:9.84 inch rate of twist.[22][23][24][25]
.40 S&W caliber.
Models 140B (blued slide), 140SS (stainless slide). Double action only trigger. Weight 18.7 ounces, length: 6.25 inches, width: 1.291 inches, height: 5.098 inches, 6 groove 3.25 inch barrel with 1:16 inch rate of twist, 10 round magazine.[26][27]
Models 140BP (blued slide), 140SSP (stainless slide). single action/double action trigger, Heinie sights with 'Straight-8' rear. Weight: 18.7 ounces, length: 6.25 inches, width: 1.25 inches, height: 5.125 inches, 6 groove 3.25 inch barrel with 1:16 inch rate of twist.[28][29]
.45 ACP caliber.
Models 145BP (blued slide), 145SSP (stainless slide). single action/double action trigger, compact frame, Heinie sights with 'Straight-8' rear. Weight: 22.2 ounces, length: 6.125 inches, width: 1.25 inches, height: 5.125 inches, 6 groove 3.25 inch barrel with 1:16 inch rate of twist, 10 round magazine.[30][31]
.45 ACP caliber.
Models 745BP (blued slide), 745SSP (stainless slide). Double action only (DAO) and a DA/SA version, compact frame, Heinie sights with 'Straight-8' rear. Weight: 20.8 ounces, length: 6.00 inches, width: 1.125 inches, height: 5.2 inches, 6 groove 3.25 inch barrel with 1:16 inch rate of twist, 6 round magazine.[32][33]