Taurus has long been known for making handguns, going all the way back to WWII times. During their long lifetime of production the company has produced hundreds of different models totaling likely tens of millions of handguns worldwide. All that to say they aren’t new at manufacturing pistols, but today we are taking a look at one of their newer handguns released last year. Out topic today is the Taurus GX2 pistol, a compact polymer-framed, striker-fired 9mm pistol.
The Taurus GX2
With an MSRP of only $310.99, the GX2 is certainly reachable by most any aspiring gun owner. But economy is not always the most important thing, value is only advantageous with adequate performance. Taurus’ GX2 has a feature set that matches its price appeal.
Its polymer frame incorporates comfortable angles and tactile textures. Despite its small size, it still packs 13-rounds. And low profile sights that still pop are matched with a TORO optics cut to accept RMS red dots. For those that desire there is also a low-profile safety, as well as a typical picatinny accessory rail under the slide.
Specifications
| Caliber | 9mm Luger |
| Action | Single-action, striker-fired |
| Capacity | 13+1 rounds |
| Barrel Length | 3.38″ |
| Overall Length | 6.14″ |
| Overall Height | 4.89″ |
| Overall Width | 1.18″ |
| Weight | 20.6 oz. |
| Frame | Stainless-steel alloy chassis with polymer grip/frame |
| Slide | Alloy steel |
| Barrel | Stainless steel |
| Sights | Fixed front; drift-adjustable rear |
| Trigger Safety | Yes |
| Firing Pin Block | Yes |
| Loaded Chamber Indicator | Visual |
| Manual Safety | Yes |
| Magazine Release | Reversible |
| Accessory Rail | MIL-STD-1913 / Picatinny |
| Finish | Matte black / matte stainless steel, depending on model |
Unboxing
I was unsurprised that the GX2 came in the typical orange Taurus box, with one mag and a safety lock. A small instruction manual also came explaining its use. I lifted it from the box to get my first impressions, and was surprised. Taurus has upped their game in recent years, and it shows in the GX2 design and feel.
The grip feels fantastic, thin where it needs to be and thick where it can be. The texture is great, allowing good purchase with either or both hands. The flat-faced trigger and safety-blade meet the pad of your finger nicely, spreading out pressure as you press.
Pulling the slide was a little stiff, but that is expected with little 9mm pistols like this. It has both front and rear slide cuts for gripping, which is great. A serrated rear sight lines up nicely with a white dot front sight, and it comes with a plastic optics footprint cover like other Taurus pistols. An external extractor is tucked neatly into the slide, and the brushed stainless steel barrel contrasts handsomely against the matte black finish. Closer inspection show that the chamber has a loaded chamber indicator cut into the top, which is nice touch for CCW enthusiasts.
And the GX2 is obviously built for that purpose, its petite size make it perfect for tucking into your belt. I’m not big on safeties for CCW guns, but this one is actually just the way I would want a safety if it had one; Easy off, and hard to engage. A swift swipe with the thumb puts the pistol into firing mode, while applying the safety requires a focused effort. Enough at least that you won’t be putting it on by accident.
Shooting the GX2 Pistol
I was eager to get the GX2 on the range, and with a few friends we would quickly get comfortable with it. I brought one of my new red dot sights along to try with the GX2, this one is from Nutrek Optics called the Blade. Its RMS footprint fit perfectly on the GX2 slide with nothing but the screws that were already there. It lined up perfectly with the rear sight, and its built-in notch almost felt made for the GX2.
Both indoor and outdoor shooting was done, with and without the red dot. I also added a Streamlight TLR8 to the GX2 for carrying at night. And I have been carrying the pistol for several weeks now, and I must say I have been very happy with its comfortable fit. And its great shooting performance.
Shootability
Much like my TX22 and TX9, the GX2 grip feels great. And I couldn’t help but think this pistol felt strangely similar to a P365 in both size and handling. I already mentioned the safety function (which I didn’t use much), but the other controls are great too. The trigger is a touch stiffer than I am used to, but thats to be expected from a CCW pistol. But the break is clean, as is the reset, both offering a firm and audible snap.
The magazine release is easy to find quickly, and not in the way to get pressed accidentally. The slide release is a little bit stiff, but not bad enough to be a big deal. All of the controls are low profile, not likely to snag on clothing or other things.
Reliability
The GX2 chewed easily through magazine after magazine, which would have been nice to have another. The magazine looks very similar to the TX9 magazine, just smaller. I really like the loaded chamber indicator, its easily seen even by my aging eyes.
I disassembled the GX2 to see how it ticks, and I was surprised to find slide-rails that ran 2/3 the length of the frame. This is a stark difference from most pistols of this type, as they usually have just two small front and rear slide-rails. The GX2 shares many of the design features of the TX9, almost as if the trigger and sear pack can be removed and installed in another frame.
The guts of the GX2 look to be of high quality. With thick slide facets, and robust extractor and ejector. It does not feel like it was cheaply designed and made, which is confusing because the pistol is not particularly expensive. Putting your life on the line with a pistol though, takes some time to justify, and this one will get additional testing before I would pin that ribbon on it.
Accuracy
I found the GX2’s accuracy to be acceptable for its size and price. Shooting targets at typical 7-10 distances proved to more than adequate to hit what I was aiming at. I really liked the enhanced feeling of the Nutrek Blade red dot.
The trigger and standard sights made the GX2 easy to shoot well even without the red dot. And might certainly make it less cumbersome to carry.
Ergonomics
I was very happy with the feel of the GX2 in the hand. Even with full-size man hands the grip isn’t too small, and is still petite enough for my wife’s hands. The square trigger-guard and undercut both look good and function nicely, giving perfect space for a weapon light and its controls. Shaved edges on the slide reduce snag factor, while making the pistol more comfortable to tuck into your jeans.
Value
Taurus firearms are known for their affordability, sometimes to a fault. The GX2 does a great job at improving the quality impression and the shooting performance of the brand. And yet it is still impressively affordable. With street prices around $230 it is hard to argue against this little pistol as good of a time as I’ve had with it.
Pros and Cons
| Great Ergonomics and Grip Feel | Perceived Low Quality Price |
| Smooth and Clean Breaking Trigger | Safety (for those that don’t like safeties) |
| Robust Optics Ready Slide | |
| 13-Round Capacity in a Compact | |
| Safety for Those Who Want it | |
| Picatinny Accessory Rail | |
| Dual Front & Rear Slide Cuts | |
| Loaded Chamber Indicator |