Taurus Millennium 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.^[1]

Taurus Millennium Series
Taurus PT145 .45 ACP pistol
Type	Semi-automatic pistol
Place of origin	Brazil
Production history
Manufacturer	Forjas Taurus S/A
Produced	2005-present[citation needed]
Specifications
Barrel length	3.25 in (82.5 mm)
Caliber	.32 ACP .380 ACP 9mm Parabellum .40 S&W .45 ACP
Action	Short recoil, locked breech
Feed system	6-, 10-, 12- and 15-round magazine
Sights	Iron open fixed 3 dot Optional adjustable rear Optional night sights Heine 'Straight-8' (Pro series)

Design features

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.^[2]

Taurus Millennium series pistols are manufactured with injection molded polymer frames, and blued carbon steel, stainless steel, or titanium slides.^[3]

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.^[4]

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.^[5]

Pro line

The Millennium Pro pistols^[6] 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.^[2][7]

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.^[8]

The Millennium G2 comes in two models,^[9] 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.^[10]

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

Models

Standard

Series	Model	Caliber	Slide	Trigger	Weight	Length	Width	Height	Barrel	Capacity	References
PT111	111B	9mm	Blued	Double-action only	18.7 ounces	6 inches	1.268 inches	4.250 inches with flat base magazine; 5.062 with pinky extension	6-groove 3.25-inch barrel with 1:9.84-per-inch rate of twist	10+1	[11][12][13]
	111SS		Stainless
	111SSG		Stainless gray
PT132	132B	.32 ACP	Blued	Double-action only	19.9 ounces	6.125 inches	1.280 inches	4.5 inches	6-groove 3.25-inch barrel with 1:9.84-per-inch rate of twist		[14][15]
	132SS		Stainless
PT138	138B	.380 ACP	Blued		18.7 ounces		1.232 inches	4.917 inches			[16][17]
	138SS		Stainless
PT140	140B	.40 S&W	Blued	Double-action only	18.7 ounces	6 inches	1.291 inches	5.098 inches	6-groove 3.25-inch barrel with 1:16-inch rate of twist		[18][19]
	140SS		Stainless

Pro

Series	Model	Caliber	Slide	Trigger	Weight	Length	Width	Height	Barrel	Capacity	References
PT111	111BP	9mm	Blued	Single-action / double-action trigger	18.7 oz (530 g)	6+1⁄8 in (160 mm)	1+1⁄8 in (29 mm)	5+1⁄8 in (130 mm)	6-groove 3.25-inch barrel with 1:9.84-per-inch rate of twist	10+1	[7][20][21][22][23][24]
	111BP-12									12+1
	111SSP		Stainless							10+1
	111SSP-12									12+1
	111PTi		Titanium		16 oz (450 g)					10+1
	111PTi-12									12+1
	111PG-12		Stainless		18.7 oz (530 g)
PT132	132BP	.32 ACP	Blued	Double-action only	19.9 ounces	6.125 inches	1.280 inches	4.5 inches	6-groove 3.25-inch barrel with 1:9.84-per-inch rate of twist	10+1	[25][26]
	132SSP		Stainless
PT138	138BP	.380 ACP	Blued	Single-action / double-action trigger	18.7 ounces		1.232 inches	4.917 inches			[27][28][29][30]
	138BP-12									12+1
	138SSP		Stainless							10+1
	138SSP-12									12+1
PT140	140BP	.40 ACP	Blued	Single-action / double-action trigger			1.291 inches	5.098 inches	6-groove 3.25-inch barrel with 1:16-inch rate of twist	10+1	[31][32][33]
	140SSP		Stainless
PT145	145BP	.45 ACP	Blued		22.2 ounces		1.25 inches	5.125 inches			[34][35]
	145SSP		Stainless
PT745	745BP		Blued		20.5 ounces	6 inches	1.125 inches	5.2 inches		6+1	[36][37]
	745SSP		Stainless

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.^[38][39]

Users

•  Brazil
  • Law enforcement in Brazil
•  China
  • Law enforcement in China^[40][41]