New Taurus Pistols

Taurus is certainly becoming known for innovation, value and reliability. Taurus is the only company in the industry that offers an “Unlimited Lifetime Repair Policy™” which is a warranty that covers the gun for its lifetime, no matter if the owner is the original buyer.

But it’s innovation that draws me to Taurus, whether it’s their new pistols or the Judge™.

Here are some of my favorites for 2009.

The 738 TCP

It seems everybody is making a compact .380 these days, Seecamp, NAA, Kel-Tec, Ruger, Kahr, even Magnum Research. Kel-Tec really deserves the credit for the inexpensive polymer frame .380’s but the new comers have taken the tried and true and refined it. For example Ruger improved the aesthetics and incorporated a slide stop on their LCP, two features that I appreciate.

Well, Taurus decided to get in on this .380 craze and I think they did a good job. At the 2009 SHOT show they released the 738 TCP:

It is a .380 ACP Double-Action-Only semi-auto ultra-compact carry pistol.

Some Features:

• 9 oz Titanium, 10.2 oz Stainless and Blued
• 6+1 Capacity with flush Mag 8+1 with extended Mag
• Slide Stop
• Ambidextrous magazine release
• 5.19’’ Overall Length
• Loaded Chamber Indicator

This is not you run of the mill polymer .380, the “Taurus Compact Pistol” TCP has some very appealing features that in my opinion set it apart.

First, the appearance, I know the looks don’t affect the actual performance but nobody wants an ugly gun. The TCP has an overall good looking design with clean lines and nothing obtrusive that would snag on clothing.

Second, the slide options, the TCP is available with a blued, stainless or titanium slide. The blued will certainly be the most inexpensive (M.S.R.P. not set yet) but I think what sets the TCP apart from the lower end .380’s are the stainless and titanium options. This is a pocket pistol, it’s made to be carried in the front pocket in a pocket holster and if you have had the same experience as me a blued steel pistol, in your pocket, in the summer, is that this combination equals rust. The stainless and titanium models with not have this problem, plus they will be more maintenance free overall. Also with the titanium model you shave 1.2 oz off the weight which will make all day carry that much easier.

Third, the ambidextrous magazine release. This may not appeal to those of you like me, who by the grace of God were born right-handed or just good news for southpaws but it is a very desirable feature on a defensive handgun. For example, if for some reason your normal shooting hand was injured and you are forced to use your support hand this feature would definitely come in handy.

Yes I think the little 738 TCP is an attractive and functional little gun that may have stole my heart away from the LCP, Ruger watch out. I just hope I can get my hands on one after they come out. The M.S.R.P. is not yet set but it is rumored to be about $300 with the titanium model being about $100 more.

The 22PLY - 25PLY

I don’t know why I like tiny guns so much but I do, it must have been the Baby Browning that did it to me.

Once again Taurus has taken something tried and true and refined it, enter the 22PLY and the 25PLY:

These new pistols may look like the old Model 22 and 25’s but this little pistol sports a polymer frame which reduces the weight by 1.5 oz to 10.8 oz and they also feature fish-scaled slide serrations to improve grip. The weight difference may not be much but the real advantage of the polymer frame is the new wrap around grip which allows a much greater grip purchase. The 22PLY is .22 long rifle and the 25PLY would be .25 ACP.

I like these pistols, even though I am more of a Beretta fan which they are based on. However the polymer frame is a nice innovation, it really makes the PLY look like a higher quality gun than the Model 22 and 25’s.

One downside is the Magazine disconnect, which means that when the magazine is removed the gun will not fire. This is one of the most ridiculous “safety” features a gun can have, it does nothing that common sense and about two minutes of firearm safety training would not do better.

As far as a defensive firearm both models fall short in my opinion due to the effectiveness of the calibers available. It seems to be accepted that .380 ACP or to some, the .32 ACP is at the bottom of the effective self-defense calibers.

Some Features

• 22PLY 8+1 rounds, 25PLY 9+1 rounds
• Manual Safety
• Tip Up Barrel
• DOA
• Trigger Guard Magazine Release

These are some fun guns to shoot, and with ammo prices the way they are, a good .22 pistol will pay for itself after a few boxes of ammo.

The 709 SLIM

Another new pistol for 2009 is the 9mm 709 SLIM. This pistol is very similar to the Walther PPS, however it does have more slide options than the Walther. The 709 is available in blued steel, stainless and titanium.

Some Features:

• 7+1 Capacity, 9+1 with extended magazine
• Available in Blued, Stainless, Titanium
• Manual Safety
• Glock type Trigger Safety
• 6.24 Overall Length
• 19 oz Blue and Stainless, 17 oz Titanium

This seems to be a fine pistol in the same league as the Walther PPS and the Kel-Tec PF-9. I like the manual safety and the slide options but it would be nice to see a .40 S&W option. The M.S.R.P. has not been set but I will assume it will be somewhere in between the Walther and the Ket-Tec probably about $450-$500 dollar range.

Conclusion

Again Taurus has brought some exciting new designs to the table that I think will go over very well. I am sure that the TCP will make its mark on the ultra compact .380 market, and I think the new 709 will find a place in the market for those who prefer a little more power in a compact carry gun and the 22PLY will be just plain fun to shoot.