As I’d already shot 1.0-inch groups at 12 yards from a rest with the Taurus TX9 Full Size pistol, I wasn’t surprised when the 9mm printed a pair of 2.0-inch groups of five rounds at 25 yards using the same self-defense ammunition, Nosler ASP.
But I was really impressed when the pistol pegged a 1.5-inch group. Then, I drilled in five rounds of the Nosler at .80 inches.
I had more shooting to do, but my initial results were clear: Taurus USA had built one accurate and very functional striker-fired pistol.
That suggested good things for the whole TX9 Line, which includes the TX9 Full Size I tested, plus the Compact and Sub Compact models.
Taurus USA had a specific plan when designing the TX9 line, and the plan represented a first for the company, too.
“The big thing about the TX9 series is it’s the first gun that we’ve made that was designed from the ground up to compete for international service pistol contracts,” Caleb Giddings, General Manager, Taurus USA Marketing, told Tactical Retailer. “It was genuinely built and tested to be a duty pistol, and that’s not something we’ve done before.”
All three TX9 pistols feature the same core Taurus Modular System, a serialized modular chassis that enables users to quickly swap frame sizes between the full-size, compact, and subcompact options. Built with alloy steel slides and stainless steel frames, the handguns sell optics-ready, too.
Hard, polymer grip modules fit within the frames. The frames also sport under-barrel rails and generous trigger guards complete with nice undercuts for added shooting stability. To allow individual shooters to adjust the grip to their hand size, Taurus provides each of the three TX9 models with four backstraps (XS, S, M and L).
All this in pistols carrying an MSRP of just $507.99 for each of the three options.
The barrel on my test-and-evaluation TX9 Full Size was steel and 4.5 inches long. Overall length of the pistol came in just under 8 inches, and it weighed in at 25 ounces unloaded. Taurus includes two magazines with each TX9s, and my Full Size model arrived with two 17-round mags.
(The standard Compact sells with two 15-round magazines, the Sub Compact with a pair of 13-rounders. For states with ammunition capacity restrictions, 10-round-magazine models are available.)
The pistol’s striker-fired trigger broke at 2 pounds, 10 ounces, on average. The trigger had some spring to it, but not the annoying “sprong” effect common on so many striker-fired models. There was approximately one-third of an inch of uptake before hitting the wall and engaging the striker assembly.
The trigger featured a bladed safety to complement the pistol’s firing-pin block safety.
That texturing on the grip felt like slightly raised sandpaper, and my hands adhered to it even when shooting the TX9 Full Size in blustery mid-20-degree Midwest winter temperatures. A substantial beavertail anchored the web of my shooting hand for a very stable hold.
The magazine release was nicely grooved for solid control and was reversible. The owner’s manual laid out reversal instructions.
For sights, the Full Size, like all the other TX9s, included a white dot fixed post and a drift-adjustable rear notch. They appeared perfectly functional to me.
As noted, the TX line is optics-ready. Simply undo the screws securing the rear plate to the slide, remove the plate and add the Taurus Adapter Plate for the specific optic. The available four plates fit the vast majority of pistol optics and are available at ShopTaurus.com.
However, Taurus sent me the pistol with a Swampfox Optics Justice II red-dot already mounted. (The optic would be an additional purchase.) The Justice II featured a 30mm window and a 6-MOA red-dot.
At my outdoor shooting range, I zeroed the pistol and optic at 12 yards shooting from a rest, and the Justice II controls got me on target quickly.
My shooting started with House of Payne 9mm loaded with a 124-grain poly-coated lead bullet. At the 12-yard distance, House of Payne proved itself quite accurate with five-shot groups of 1.1 , 1.3 and 1.5 inches.
Federal Syntech 9mm also performed very well with a couple 1.2-inch groups.
I switched over the Speer Gold Dot Carry Gun 9mm firing a 135-grain hollowpoint. My best five shots came in at 1.0 and 1.2 inches.
Time for some closer-in offhand shooting. Using a Caldwell Dual-Zone Silhouette, which at five yards roughly replicates a 6-foot-tall target at 10 yards, I stood at seven yards and fired off 10 rounds of SIG SAUER range 9mm. My center mass aim resulted in the dreaded low and left grouping — but a really nice threat-stopper of a grouping!
At my 25-yard range, I fired the above-mentioned very tight groups with the Nosler ASP, a suppressor-ready round loaded with a 147-grain jacketed hollowpoint.
On a different day, I shot the Gold Dot at this distance. Smallest five-shot group was 2.0 inches, with 2.1- and 2.3-inch follow-ups.
The SIG range 9mm actually did very well, too, with a 2.5-inch group, followed by a 2.3-incher and, last, a 1.5-inch cluster.
Of course, an actual duty pistol must first win a contract, and that contract will first require extensive testing of the pistol in numerous environmental conditions. Thousands of rounds need to be run through a number of the pistols, too, to determine their functional reliability.
I had neither the time nor the expertise to perform those tests. Yet, I’ve reviewed duty-sized pistols with much larger price tags that, in my time with them, did not perform as well as the Taurus TX9 Full Size. Whether or not Taurus wins a big military contract, my TX9 Full Size functioned impressively during my 300 rounds of shooting.
Add in that $507 suggested retail, likely to translate lower across the counter, and the TX9 line looks like a real bargain.
“The TX9 pistols appeal strongly to value-conscious consumers who want duty-level performance without a premium price tag,” said Laura Prieto, Trade Marketing Manager for Taurus USA. “First-time buyers looking for a reliable, easy-to-shoot full-size platform will gravitate the TX9 Full Size model, too.”
Key features for sales staff to highlight include the 17+1-round capacity, striker-fired system with a consistent trigger pull, aggressive grip texturing and the four interchangeable backstraps. The optics-ready feature is also a strong selling point.
To show off the Full Size’s capability and uses, Prieto recommended creating a “duty-ready” display by adding a light and optic to the display model TX9.
“Counter mats or feature callout cards highlighting capacity, ergonomics and price point can also drive engagement,” she added.
The Taurus Lifetime Warranty deserves a mention to potential customers, too.
According to the Taurus USA website: “Taurus warrants to the original purchaser that the enclosed firearm was made free of defects in material, function, and workmanship. Taurus promises to remedy any defect in material, function or workmanship for the entire time that the original purchaser owns the firearm. This warranty covers the firearm’s finish, grips, magazines, sights or accessories for the first year.”
For warranty coverage, the original purchaser must register the firearms online within 30 days of the purchase date at: www.taurususa.com/warranty-registration.
Taurus USA supports its dealers with a variety of marketing materials, including digital assets, product imagery, and in many cases, point-of-sale materials such as signage and counter displays, depending on programs and availability.
“We also work with our partners on promotional campaigns throughout the year to help drive traffic and sell-through,” Prieto said.
Taurus provides dealers with training initiatives, both in-person at events and virtual when applicable, as well as periodic sales incentives and promotional programs.
“Co-op opportunities and marketing support may be available through distributor and retail partnerships, depending on the campaign,” she noted.
Taurus sells its products through a network of authorized distributors, and works with all major firearms distributors, including Davidson's, Lipsey's, RSR Group, Sports South, Zanders, and others.
To carry the TX9 line and other Taurus products, dealers can connect with any authorized Taurus distributor. For additional support or guidance, the FFL retailer can reach out directly to Taurus USA through its website, www.taurususa.com/support/contact-us/. The retailer will then be connected to the appropriate sales representative.
At press time, Taurus USA was still very early in the process of vying for duty pistol contracts, and Prieto was not able to divulge specifics.
But she noted that, “We continue to see growing interest from law enforcement and security professionals in the United States [on the TX9 line]. Internationally, we’ve also recently secured new global contracts and are engaged in ongoing discussions with additional agencies, further reinforcing the TX9’s appeal as a duty-ready platform worldwide.”
As duty pistol contracts are announced, the appeal of the TX9 line should only grow for the tactical consumer who wants feature-rich, reliable firearms and do so at an accessible price point.
