IMBEL-GC Pistol

     Notes: These Brazilian weapons were influenced by the M-1911A1.  They use an advanced breech locking system, and a decocking lever.  They are in use with Brazilian armed forces.  They are basically M-1911A1s redesigned on a computer.  The Pistol-9 MD-1, Pistol-45 MD-1, and Pistol-380 MD-1 differ only in caliber; the Pistol-45 MD-2 is a compact version of the Pistol-45 MD-2 with a ported 4.25-inch barrel to reduce recoil, and it uses a recoil reduction system.   The Pistol-9 MD-2 is essentially the same pistol in 9mm. The Pistol-380 MD-1 also differs somewhat in that it is a straight blowback weapon.

     The first Brazilian work to modernize the 1911s that were in use and the result of this design work, the M-973, began issue in 1973.  They were essentially modernized M-1911A1s; they retained the SAO operation, but also used short recoil operation.  The M-973 was placed in use with Brazilian military forces and National Police, and were also widely exported, to military and police forces and for civilian sales.  In some places in the world, even in Brazil (instead of the later MD-1), they are still in use; they are less expensive (IRL) and perfect for reserve forces and budget-minded civilians in Brazil and South and Central America.  The design tweaks increased reliability to a large degree and was lighter than the M-1911A1. Barrels are slightly longer than the 1911 at 5.04 inches.  The M-973 has an unusual variant, the M-975, which fires the .38 Special round, and was meant for civilian sales.  It, however, was never as popular as the M-973, as some problems with autoloading rimmed rounds were never solved at the time and the M-975 was inherently less reliable than the M-973.  It is much rarer than the M-973. The M-973 led more-or-less directly to the MD-1/MD-2 series.

Taurus PLY

     Notes: These pistols are so small that they might be called “super-compact” pistols (being only 10.16 centimeters long); at the very least, they are subcompacts, designed to be dropped into a pocket or strapped to an ankle at a backup.  Not blessed with damage, penetration, or accuracy, they are light in weight even when loaded and, as many say, “a little firearm is better than no firearm.”  Though it was shown at the 2011 SHOT Show, Taurus has yet to begin full-scale production of the PLY as of the time of this writing (mid-March 2012); only testers have gotten their hands on a PLY so far.

     The PLY can have a slide of stainless steel of be blued; the polymer frame is always black, and other external metalwork is blued.  The PLY, like many very small-caliber pistols, has a tip-up barrel to remove a round or stuck shell in the chamber and to facilitate cleaning.  Safeties include a magazine safety and manual safety.  Magazines designed for the PLY has a magazine extension that effectively lengthens the small grip and provides a firing step.  Operation is DAO. The sides of the grip and the backstrap are stippled, and the frontstrap has ergonomic finger swells.  The slide is for the most part plain and smooth, but has “fish-scale” stippling on the slide grip (which extends from nearly the rear to halfway down the front). Barrels are 2.33 inches and are of carbon steel; sights are low, rudimentary, with a notch rear and blade front.  The trigger guard appears huge, though it in no larger than other trigger guards designed for use with light gloves; it just looks big compared to the rest of the PLY. PLY’s are equipped with the Taurus Security System, which involves a key entered into a hole in the side to unlock the firing mechanism and the trigger.

     It should be noted that users have had a hard time inserting the 8^th round into the magazine; many users load only 7 rounds into the magazine because of this.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: The PLY is not available in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

Taurus Millennium Pro PT-745C

     Notes: The smaller brother of the PT-24/7, the PT-745C (for Compact) is a polymer-frame compact pistol firing the heavy .45 ACP cartridge.  The trigger of the weapon has a very long pull (it has to be pulled almost all the way to the frame for the weapon to fire), but the trigger pull is smooth (though slightly heavy at 7.8 pounds).  The PT-745C also requires a lot of maintenance in dirty environments, since there are a lot of ways for dirt to enter the mechanism.  There are, however, no sharp edges anywhere on the weapon, making it ideal for concealed carry.  The safety blocks the trigger and the striker, and there is also an automatic firing pin safety.  The grip is short, but the magazines have an extension for the little finger.  The sights are of the three-dot type, white in color; tritium inserts can also be easily installed (but do not come with the PT-745C). 

     Twilight 2000 Notes: This weapon does not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

Taurus PT-22/25

     Notes: These are small-caliber automatic pistols produced by Brazil.  They were quite popular on the US and Western European market and thousands were exported before the Twilight War.  They are small and easy to use and maintain. There are, amazingly, 28 combinations of finish, grip materials, engraving, inlays, etc., available for these pistols, more than any other Taurus pistol.  The action is DAO, and the magazine comes with a grip extension to allow the pistol to fit better in larger hands.  There is no sort of texturing on the front or back straps, but the grip panels are in most cases checkered, and are also quite wide in order to allow the pistol to fill the hand a bit more (though they do feel a fit squarish).  The magazine release is large, and the magazine simply falls out of the weapon when it it is pushed – unless the magazine is empty, in which case it simply protrudes slightly from the pistol and must be pulled out.  (In my mind, the opposite should be true, but anyway…)  Sights are very low profile and quite simple, consisting of a low front ramp and a simple square notch in the rear of the slide.  Trigger pull is noted for its smooth, precise control.

Taurus PT-24/7

     The “24/7” in the name indicates the role of this pistol – it is meant to be a pistol for duty or self defense, and to be light and handy enough to be carried at all times.  To this end, the frame is polymer with light alloy reinforcement, though the other parts are made from steel.  The grip features soft “memory rubber” (Ribber) that allows a sure and comfortable grip.  The lower receiver includes an accessory rail to allow the mounting of laser aiming modules or small flashlights.  The PT-24/7 uses DAO (double-action only) operation, along with several passive safety mechanisms including a firing pin safety, magazine safety, and a “drop” safety that prevents the weapon from firing if it is dropped or bumped hard.  The trigger action is also unusual; the Pro Trigger system, as Taurus calls it, keeps the trigger in DA mode until a round is chambered, at which point it automatically sets into SA mode. It does, however, still have a manual safety, as the casual punk/criminal on the streets does not know enough about firearms to quickly release the safety of an unfamiliar weapon, even a manual safety as easy to use as that of the PT-24/7.  The dust cover has a MIL-STD-1913 rail, and simple “three-dot” sights with optional tritium inlays.  The PT-24/7 also has a chamber-loaded indicator and a mechanism to lock the firing mechanism of the PT-24/7 with a key.

     The PT-24/7-45 is a new model of this pistol; it comes in two versions, one with a slide of stainless steel, and one with a blued carbon steel slide.  The two versions have slightly different weights, and shoot slightly different for game purposes.  Both have a polymer frame.  A further development of the 24/7-45 is the 24/7 OSS (designed, of course, for the US competition for the replacement of the M-9, and originally called the 24/7-45 SOCOM)); this model uses a full 5-inch barrel, and the polymer frame has a dark earth or black color.  (The steel slide, operating parts, and barrel are blued-black.)  The key-type safety lock has been eliminated, and operation has been changed from DAO to DA/SA.  Finally, the thumb manual safety has been made ambidextrous, and the 24/7 OSS can feed from standard M-1911A1 magazines in addition to its normal magazines.

     The Millennium Pro PT-745C is the smaller brother of the PT-24/7; the PT-745C (for Compact) is a polymer-frame compact pistol firing the heavy .45 ACP cartridge.  (Despite the name, it is not related to the rest of the Millennium Pro series, except by a few features of its basic construction.) The trigger of the weapon has a very long pull (it has to be pulled almost all the way to the frame for the weapon to fire), but the trigger pull is smooth (though slightly heavy at 7.8 pounds).  The PT-745C also requires a lot of maintenance in dirty environments, since there are a lot of ways for dirt to enter the mechanism.  There are, however, no sharp edges anywhere on the weapon, making it ideal for concealed carry.  The safety blocks the trigger and the striker, and there is also an automatic firing pin safety.  The grip is short, but the magazines have an extension for the little finger.  The sights are of the three-dot type, white in color; tritium inserts can also be easily installed (but do not come with the PT-745C). 

     The PT-24/7 G2 is essentially an amalgamation of all the best features of the various version of the PT-24/7, as well as some of those of the PT-800-series such as the “Strike Two” system, trigger safety, and trigger pack.  The grip is also more ergonomic, including finger swells and interchangeable backstraps.  For game purposes, however, the PT-24/7 G2 is otherwise identical to the standard PT-24/7.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: The PT-24/7-45 was not available until 2005, and is thus not available in the Twilight 2000 timeline in any iteration. The G2 version also does not exist.

Taurus PT-38S

     Notes: Basically similar to other PT-series pistols except for the chambering, the PT-38S is made largely out of blued or stainless steel, with a light alloy frame.  The grip panels are of checkered rubber.  The PT-38S has several safety mechanisms, including an ambidextrous safety (a special “Tri-Action” safety which allows the pistol to be carried in three different safe positions), a slide lock, and a firing pin safety.  The PT-38S may also have the entire mechanism locked by use of a key inserted in the backstrap.  The PT-38S has few sharp edges, and is unlikely to snag in a fast draw.  The magazines are proprietary and made from polymer.  The PT-38S is known as an utterly reliable, though not particularly accurate pistol. 

     Twilight 2000 Notes: This pistol is not available in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

Taurus PT-52

     Notes: This is a rimfire pistol introduced in 1995.  It is very reminiscent of the Ruger Buck Mark series, particularly the Mark 22/45, and it is rumored that a patent dispute over the PT-52 is the reason it was withdrawn from Taurus’ line in 1996.  The frame is of Zytel polymers, and there were basically two different versions: the PT-52S standard version and the PT-52T target version with a longer barrel and micrometer rear sight.  The PT-52 was designed for the novice shooter and so was easy to shoot and take care of.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: This pistol was never pulled off the market until supplies of Zytel ran out.

Taurus PT-58

     Notes: This Taurus pistol was designed for backup, but found a niche in ladies' self-defense.  It is easily concealable in a purse or under a coat and has low recoil.  The sights are adjustable. 

Taurus PT-92

     Notes: These are popular Taurus pistols both in Brazil and overseas, and have been widely exported.  The PT-92 is basically a version of the Beretta M-92 which has been modified enough to allow Taurus to sell them; they are in fact produced in a former Beretta facility in Brazil which was bought by Taurus.  They are (originally) DA action pistols, have a chamber-loaded indicator, and an ambidextrous safety.  The Beretta safety system has been modified so that the manual safety/decocker are on the frame instead of the slide, within range of the shooter’s thumb; a later version (the PT-92AF) makes this switch ambidextrous.  On a still-later model (The PT-92AF-D), the same switch may also be used to select double-action or single-action modes of operation.  The PT-92AFC is the compact version of the PT-92AF, with a shorter “Commander-length” 4.25-inch barrel and a shorter butt containing a smaller magazine.  The PT-92B, introduced in the late 1990s, is the only version of the PT-92 itself still in production.  It is basically an AF-D version with 3-dot-type sights (with tritium inlays optional) and a slightly different weight.  Other than the above, the PT-92, PT-92AF, and PT-92AF-D are identical for game purposes.

     The PT-100 is the same weapon, but chambered for .40 Smith & Wesson.  Its sights, though not adjustable, are dovetailed in.  The PT-99 is a version of the PT-92 with adjustable sights and optional tritium sight inlays; the PT-101 is the PT-100 with the same sight options as the PT-99.  Both AF and AF-D models of the PT-99 and PT-101 were made, though AFC compact models are not, and AF versions were not built after 1991.  PT-100 and 101 production stopped in 1997, but picked up again in 2001 by popular demand.  For game purposes, the PT-99 and its variants are identical to the PT-92, while the PT-100’s variants and the PT-101 are identical to the standard PT-100 for game purposes.

     The Millennium Series are basically smaller versions of the PT-92, with 3.25-inch barrels as opposed to the 5-inch barrels of the P-92, and with polymer frames. They come in more chamberings than the PT-92. They come in blued or stainless steel finish for the metal parts, and have composite frames, except for the PT-111Ti, which has a titanium frame.  The sights are luminous for night use. 

     Twilight/Merc 2000 Notes: They are otherwise basic pistols that might have sold better throughout the world if it has not been introduced during the war.  The PT-157 does not exist.

Taurus PT-709

     Notes: The PT-709 is a small pistol designed and aimed primarily at the civilian self-defense pistol market in the US.  Sold in the US as the PT-709 “Slim” (the name “Slim” is even etched into the slide on models sold in the US), the PT-709 is noted for its combination of small frame, especially suited for concealed carry and small hands, and decent power.  The PT-709 combines a lightweight polymer frame with a slide of advanced steel alloy, with a short 3-inch barrel.  The PT-709 uses the same trigger system as on the PT-24/7, with the same unique SA/DA operation.  It also has the same chamber-loaded indicator and the same locking key system.  Slides come in blued or stainless steel finishes, and a version with a titanium alloy slide is also available (the PT-709Ti).  The PT-708 is the same pistol chambered for .380 ACP; the PT-740 is the same pistol chambered for .40 Smith & Wesson.  Barrel length for the PT-708 and PT-740 is 3.2 inches.

Taurus PT-738

     Notes: The PT-738 is one of the smallest and lightest pistols ever made – it is lighter than many revolvers of a similar size, ammunition capacity, and caliber.  This is largely a result of the small, light polymer frame, its striker-firing operation, and advanced steel alloy slide, as well as the short 2.84-inch barrel.  However, it is also described as being comfortable to hold and shoot (with the PT-738 being so light, that’s hard to imagine), though its tiny notch rear and blade front sights are so small that many say they might as well not be there – which is okay, since such a pistol is definitely a short-range weapon.  Nonetheless, the PT-738 has many of the refinements of Taurus’s more expensive pistols, such as a smooth trigger that is surprisingly easy to pull despite the PT-738’s DAO operation. The polymer frame of the PT-738 is matte black; the slide, trigger, and controls may be blued or stainless steel finish.  The slide may also be had in titanium alloy, making the pistol even lighter – this version is the PT-738Ti.

Taurus PT-800 Series

     Notes: Despite the nomenclature, the 800 series is a rather new Taurus development, introduced in 2008.  In operation, they are primarily conventional double-action pistol with single-action follow-up shots and several internal passive safeties.  The 800 series does have some interesting features, however – especially its “Strike Two” capability, which allows for a second trigger pull at single-action weight after clearing a stoppage.  The manual safety and decocker are ambidextrous, and barrel lengths are four inches.  The hammer is small and loop-type, but quite accessible. Frame construction is of black polymer, with a MIL-STD-1913 rail molded under the dust cover; the slide is of steel with a “Black Tennifer” finish, except on the PT-845, where it is matte stainless steel.  The 800 series comes with a set of three backstrap replacements, allowing for four different hand sizes.  Model numbers indicate caliber, but all are largely the same in operation and feel.

     The Model SSCs are a compact version of the Model 809 and its subtypes.  It has a shorter grip and shorter 3.5-inch barrel.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: These pistols are not available in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

Taurus PT-908

     Notes: This is a compact Taurus pistol, for backup, but it primarily found use in home self-defense and in places where concealed carry was allowed.  The weapon has adjustable sights. 

Taurus PT-922

     Notes: This is a long-barreled small-caliber sporting pistol for competition shooting and plinking.  It has micrometer-adjustable rear sights and is very light for its size due to its polymer and alloy construction.  It can be fired in double or single-action modes.

Taurus PT-900 Series

     Notes: This is a “Commander-sized” Taurus pistol.  It has fixed sights, a decocking lever, a firing pin safety, and an indicator that lets the firer know whether the chamber has a round in it, even if the slide is closed and there is no magazine in the weapon.  The finish may be blued or stainless steel and the grips are checkered rubber.  Production of the PT-911 ceased in 2001, but the other members of the PT-900 series are still being built.  The PT-940 and PT-945 are especially popular among this series; they are in fact still acquiring modifications according to customer demand.  The PT-940 picked up 3-dot-type combat sights along the way; the PT-945 has a number of variants, including the PT-945C, with compensator ports near the muzzle to reduce muzzle flip, and PT-945S, which chambers the more powerful .45 Super cartridge.  The PT-400 is a rather rare variant of this series; it is chambered for the .400 Cor-Bon cartridge, has a muzzle compensator as standard, and uses 3-dot type combat sights.  The PT-400SS is identical except for its stainless steel construction and bright metal finish.

     Most of the PT-900 series was originally exported to the US only with 10-round magazines, but with the sunset of the Assault Weapons Ban, larger magazines have been designed for most of this series.  Most of this series have 4-inch barrels, but the three PT-945s and the PT-400 use 4.25-inch barrels, and the PT-938 uses a 3.7-inch barrel.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: The PT-945C, PT-945S, and PT-957 do not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline.  The PT-945 is rather rare, and with the exception of the PT-911, the rest of the members of this family are very rare.

Taurus PT-1911

     Notes: Basically Taurus’ version of the M-1911A1, the PT-1911 comes in both blued and stainless steel finishes (both identical for game purposes).  The frames and slides are of steel, with several finishes, grip plates, hammers, sights, and trigger shapes available.  The triggers are smooth and of the speed-type design.  A variant has a MIL-STD-1913 rail under the dust cover; it shoots the same as the standard PT-1911, but has a weight and price difference.  The PT-1911 is basically a lighter version of the full-sized M-1911A1 with a few improvements. The real-world cost is much less than most 1911s (though roughly the same in game terms),

     Twilight 2000 Notes: This pistol does not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline.