The 1911 market is very true to the "You get what you pay for" motto within most cases. The Taurus is probably on par with what Colt is passing for a 1911 these days, just with sub-standard components (see MIM).
I handled a new Colt National Match and it rattled more than a ball bearing in a tin can dropped down a flight of stairs. Not only that, but the trigger was heavy and not crisp. The older Series 70 Colts are to a higher calling in my opinion, and worth the money.
Springfield is OK, Kimber is OK, both are nothing to really complain about for their price points. Alot of the Kimber price tag is in aesthetic features since the far majority of their line is relatively the same operation wise. I have noticed that Kimbers tend to be built a bit too tight and have some creep in the trigger. Therein lies the 500 - 1000 round Kimber break in period.
Custom guns like Les Baer, Wilson, Nighthawk, etc. are all nice guns, but I question if they are really worth their price tags. Especially the entry level offerings from some of them. The high grade stuff has never ceased to impress me, but for $4300 it damn well better.
In the end I went with STI. The trigger is crisp like any other high end 1911 and there are plenty of options available. You could spend $700 on a Series 70 Colt, and hundreds in parts and fitting later, you'd have a pistol as good as an STI. Granted, it's fun to tinker, and Colts are beautiful guns.
In the end, buy something quality the first time. Whether it's an STI, Colt Series 70, Kimber Custom II, etc. you will at least have a good platform to work off of. Buying something on the lower end like the Taurus or a Springfield GI, and expecting great things is kinda setting yourself up for failure. Many people will argue that it's not worth spending $Xxxx on a 1911, but to each their own.
As a sidenote, there is a reason why that "Professional" runs a custom Kimber, and it's not because Kimber produces the best pistol. There is a similar reason why he is giving Taurus such a blooming review, and why the Millennium 24/7 from Taurus has been the NRA's Golden Child. I would not be surprised to find a full page ad from Taurus in both magazines, hint hint. One must be aware of these things when decided for yourself.
