I have heard nothing but iffy things about them but you have to understand the 1911 consumers, me included are like Scotch drinkers... only the best will suffice, the rest are "garbage" lol.
Quite honestly I can say of the 3-4 I handled personally were used models we took on trade where I work, I wasn't overly impressed. (I never shot one however.)
If you were looking for an entry level 1911 and a range toy, two people already beat me to it. Rock Island Armory (RIA) and STI's Spartan line.
The STI Spartan is not MADE by them but assembled by them, and everyone raves about them. RIA for being as cheap as they are, are actually a surprisingly well made gun, they aren't a match grade custom 1911 dont get me wrong, and they aren't the prettiest girls at the end of the bar, but they work quite well, I owned a used one I got on the cheap and I was impressed.
As much as this is going to pain me to say this.. and I apologize to who I will offend, I absolutely HATE Taurus as a MFG. I have tons of issues with their guns, their customer service even to US as a shop is lousy, I feel they make a lesser quality product. These are only my observations and opinions I know people will argue.
HOWEVER if you are looking for a entry level 1911 with some of the bells and whistles more sought after than your basic GI models, Taurus 1911's are probably their most dependable semi in their line up, so as an entry level one, or a range toy, you could try your luck there, maybe you have better luck than some of my customers have had in the past. But I can firmly say that issues with their 1911's is seldom compared to a lot of their other models.
People are usually love or hate when it comes to 1911's and than you get into the hard core 1911 purists who are just fanatical. I have owned pretty much one of every major modern design pistol from one time or another, I work in a gun shop and I buy sell and trade my personal guns like there's no tomorrow. As much as people like to rag on the 1911 I personally just keep coming back to it. I am not "old" at the age of 27, so I am not one of these old timers boasting about how guns were made better back in the day. My 1911's are cuddled up next to a FNH FiveseveN currently as we speak. (John Browning probably just rolled over in his grave.) I personally love the platform, it is what I am best with, because its what I am most comfortable with. I try not to shun people away from it, but common sense will dictate that when I have a lot of customers that are at the entry level or beginner stage I hesitate to even show them a 1911, but I think its a platform everyone should try.
