By Bob Campbell | Contributing editor
Sometimes the job is a grind but never uninteresting.
The latest handgun to cross my desk and land on my shooting bench is a good example. The routine got a bit more interesting during the evaluation of the latest Taurus handgun.
Taurus has offered affordable handguns that fill a certain niche in the personal and home defense market. They also offer credible hunting handguns but that is a story for another time. Taurus handguns may be termed budget handguns. Sometimes you get more than you pay for sometimes not. In the case of the Taurus TX 9 it seems the shooter gets more than the price would predict.
I leave analyzing market trends to someone better trained and interested in that role than I. Just the same I have noted trends and marketing errors in the past. When a major maker designs an economy version of an established handgun and cheapens manufacture with polymer internals or a rougher finish it doesn’t usually prosper.
On the other hand, when a maker of economy grade firearms raises the bar and introduces a firearm with tighter quality control and a good design the introduction will usually succeed. Taurus’ introduction of the TX 9 is a move to establish a crown jewel among the Taurus line and to compete on a level playing field in institutional testing. Considering the nature and fairness of such contests and the TX 9’s level of performance we may see some upsets in coming years, providing all TX 9 9mm handguns perform as mine does and that quality control is kept at a professional level. That said, the TX 9 is an interesting handgun on many levels.
A Standard Design
The TX 9 is a striker fired polymer frame handgun. The pistol is set up for optics plates and accommodates combat lights as issued; no surprise there, as the piece is intended to be competitive.
A departure from the norm is that the TX 9 is a modular design. The action is a removeable fire control group similar in design to the Ruger RXM or SIG P320. This allows the fire control unit to be removed and placed in different frame modules relatively easily. As for myself, I prefer to own several handguns rather than a FCU and several frames. Just the same for institutional use this may be an attractive option. I can see someone on a budget using the full size grip module for winter carry and paring down weight and length for summer carry. But then the maker must supply alternate frame modules for the design to be attractive based on that feature.
Family resemblance
A few years ago Taurus introduced one of their most successful handguns, the TX 22 rimfire, which has proven to be reliably accurate and successful. Ergonomics are excellent. The pistol simply cannot be faulted especially at the price point.
The TX 9 builds on the TX 22’s successful firearm/hand interface. The 9mm TX 9 is a locked breech tilt barrel design versus the blowback TX 22 but the TX 9 bears a strong resemblance. That is an advantage to the larger pistol. Available in full size, compact, and sub compact frame sizes, the TX9 was introduced in all three versions simultaneously and all three seem readily available.
I chose the full size handgun as my primary focus. This makes for a more comfortable shooting session with a 25 ounce 9mm and the full size pistol offers a solid impression of the pistol’s controls, take-down, and firing characteristics. A striker fired polymer frame optics ready handgun may do well in todays market at a four hundred dollar price point. Some have tried the cheaper pistols particularly the Turkish guns and returned to the Austrian pistols. Perhaps the TX 9 will be a performer good enough to hold your interest.
The TX 9’s primary features and measurements are those found on many offers to bid from major agencies. It will be interesting and educational to see how the TX 9 performs in this environment. The design addresses the aspects of a service pistol.
The full size TX 9 features an overall length of 7.7 inches, weighs 25 ounces, and has a 4.5 inch barrel. The steel sights are credible service-like designs, while the slide features angled flats. Since forward cocking serrations are cut into these flats, leverage is excellent.
This is particularly important if you choose to mount an optic. The rear of the slide features a removable striker cover.
The barrel is stainless steel with a DLC finish. Note, the barrel features a nicely cut and polished target-type muzzle crown, unusual in a pistol at this price point. Below, the dust cover features a slotted combat light rail, while the trigger guard is generous, allowing gloved hand use. The frame treatment is excellent by all accounts from interested shooters handling my test pistol.
The pistol features modest palm swells and a good balance between friction and comfort. A single modest finger bump protrudes from the front strap, and it seems to aid in stabilizing the firing grip.
There are four grip inserts provided. They are easily changed by removing a pin. There is a generous spread among the sizes of these inserts. The thickest accommodates the largest hands well while the slimmest is preferred by most shooters for fast handling. The slide locks are ambidextrous and the magazine release is changeable for left hand use. Taurus has addressed left handed shooters well in the TX 9.
Optics Ready
Two features stand out. First, the pistol is optics ready. No optic plate is provided but must be ordered from Taurus, for a modest $20, however, some feel that at least one plate should be provided.
Everyone doesn’t use optics and a twenty dollar upcharge would have been an upswing in the price point. Just the same, I would have liked an RMR plate. The other standout feature is the takedown. With the pistol unloaded the slide down and the magazine removed rotate the takedown lever. The slide easily separated from the frame. The recoil spring assembly is lifted out of the slide and the barrel tilted out and away. The recoil spring assembly is a modern spring within a spring system.
Two steel magazines are provided with a rated capacity of 17 cartridges. It takes a bit of effort to load each magazine. Strong magazine springs are essential for feed reliability. If you are using +P loads, slide velocity is increased and it is possible for the slide to outstrip the ability of the magazines to feed. These MecGar-made magazines are high quality with good stout springs. Over time they broke in and became easier to load to a full 17 cartridges.
Other features include a professionally dark, low-key non-reflective finish, in keeping with the serious nature of the TX 9’s intended mission.
A great deal of attention is given the trigger action. The TX 9 operates in the same manner as the Glock. The slide is racked and the striker is partially prepped against the sear. When the trigger is pressed the striker is moved to the rear and the striker is fully cocked and breaks against the sear releasing the striker forward. The pistol fires and the action is repeated.
Safety features include a positive firing pin block or drop safety and the usual safety lever set in the face of the trigger, which is a flat-faced type. This is a popular upgrade from curved trigger shoes that makes for easier shooting.
The action breaks at a clean 5.8 pounds exactly the same trigger pull weight as a Glock Generation 6 handgun on hand for comparison. Reset is fast but without an audible reset, at least not to hardened ears such as my own.
On the Firing Line
Firing tests proceeded well. The munitions used have for the most part been full metal jacketed bullet loads. Each has distinctive firing characteristics including greater or lesser muzzle flash and some burn cleaner than others.
Practical accuracy in rapid faced drills is equal. There have been no failures to feed, chamber, fire or eject. The pistol handles well. Speed from the holster is good. A full sized handle aids in getting the proper firing grip. The pistol gets on target quickly. The handle design leads into a proper presentation, sight alignment, and sight picture. The sights are properly regulated for 124 grain loads and fire only slightly higher with 147 grain loads. Use a proper firing grip and handle the trigger well and the TX 9 responds well to a trained shooter. In rapid fire combat type fire there is little difference between this handgun and similar size and weight pistols, it depends on the shooter’s ability to use the sights and trigger. The primary requirement of this type of handgun is reliability. So far the TX 9 has performed well.
Absolute accuracy shows how the pistol is fitted and underscores the handgun’s advantages as far as sights and trigger go. If the pistol passes its reliability proofing and performs well in off hand fire at man sized targets then it may be tested for benchrest accuracy. If not there is no point in accuracy testing. I fired the pistol from a solid benchrest taking every advantage for accuracy. It is important to use proven loads in an unproven handgun. The pistol was carefully fired at 25 yards. I fired five shot groups. The results are below-
Load 5 Shot Group in Inches
Winchester 124 grain + P
USA Ready 3.0 in.
Winchester 147 grain JHP 3.6 in.
Hornady 147 grain XTP 2.95 in.
Hornady 124 grain XTP 3.4 in.
Buffalo Bore 95 grain Barnes 3.35 in.
Handloads
Hard cast 125 grain RNL-Titegroup 890 fps 4.0 in.
Hornady 147 grain XTP 850 fps 2.75 in.
These loads were consistent and exhibited useful accuracy. In the end the TX 9 proved a reliable handgun with accuracy sufficient to engage threats to 25 yards or more. The pistol is strong on ergonomics and value. Taurus has a winner in this handgun.
Carrying the TX 9
I used the Falco Holsters (Falcoholsters.com) Airflow inside the waistband holster. This is a comfortable holster with a strong steel belt clip. I ordered the Glock 17 version and found it to be a good fit for the Taurus. In this case I ordered a version that accepts a handgun with mounted combat light. This is a good set up.
Note- the TX 9 is larger overall by a small margin than the Glock. Leather and Kydex holsters molded for the Glock 17 will NOT fit the TX 9.
Taurus TX9 Specifications
- Type: Recoil operated, striker fire, semiautomatic
- Cartridge: 9mm
- Capacity: 17+1 rds.
- Barrel: 4.5 in.
- Length: 7.7 in.
- Height: 5.5 in.
- Width: 1.28 in.
- Weight: 24.8 oz.
- Finish: Nitride and DLC
- Slide: Alloy steel
- Grip: Polymer
- Sights: Steel, white dot and serrated notch rear
- T.O.R.O. optic system
- Trigger: 5 .8 lbs measured
- Safety: Drop safety and trigger lever
- . Accessories: Two magazines, four backstraps, cable lock, lockable hardcase
- MSRP: $438
- Manufacturer: Taurus, 229-515-8464, taurususa.com
