The first ever pistol caliber carbine from Taurus is an absolute banger. Dan, Jon Wayne Taylor, Steve, and I ran a bunch of rounds through the new Taurus RPC last weekend during a break from turkey hunting — don’t miss the video above! — and the thing simply rocks. And rolls, actually . . .
That’s right, the RPC is a roller locker. It employs a roller-delayed blowback operating system that’s extraordinarily similar to that of an MP5 / G3 / CETME / etc. A 110° locking piece is installed from Taurus and will run with just about any sort of ammo and scenario, but if you want to slow down the unlocking of the bolt for more powerful ammo and/or suppressed use, an 85° locking piece is included in the box.
Swinging the upper receiver open like an AR-15, removing the bolt, swapping the locking piece, and reassembling can be done entirely without tools in like 90 seconds. As you can see in the video above, the locking pieces definitely make a difference!
What you’re looking for is reliable function, of course, but also as much delay to the system as possible so the recoil is smooth, the gun doesn’t beat itself up, there’s less gas and noise coming out of the ejection port, etc. If your ammo + suppressor setup will run reliably with the 85° locking piece, run that one. If it doesn’t cycle the action with enough gusto, then run the 110° unit.
When I first removed the PRC from its box I was worried it was a straight blowback design. Though extremely reliable, the vast majority of straight blowback 9mms (e.g. a typical AR-9) have a sharp recoil impulse and are uncomfortably loud when suppressed due to how much pop noise escapes the ejection port. Adding a delay to the mechanism to allow gas to exit the muzzle and pressure to drop inside the barrel before the empty case is pulled fully out of the chamber makes a massive difference.
Thankfully my worries were unfounded and, despite how sleek and compact and light the RPC is, it features that roller delay system and it shoots softly and insanely quietly because of it.
Other notable features include among the fastest and easiest handguard and barrel swaps in the industry. Pop the captured front pivot pin to the side like you do on an AR-15 and the handguard can be pulled straight off the front of the receiver.
That forward charging handle is non-reciprocating and can be swapped between left and right sides.
See that lug with the word “LOCK” next to it in the photo above? Push the lever to unlock it while rotating it 180° from the other side, and . . .
. . . the barrel slides right out the front.
Our loaner RPC has a diminutive 4.5-inch barrel, which I love. A longer version with an 8-inch barrel and correspondingly longer handguard (three M-LOK slots to this handguard’s one) is also in the works.
At this point, having disassembled the new RPC and examined the internals, including the serialized stainless steel chassis that rides inside the polymer lower receiver, I’m thoroughly impressed. The quality of the machining, the fit, the black nitride finish, the design of each of the parts and how they work together . . . this thing is extremely nicely designed and manufactured.
No offense to Taurus, but as a “budget” firearm manufacturer they did not historically have a reputation for the highest quality. Their Executive Grade revolvers showed me what they’re capable of, and this RPC shows me they can put quality into full production. Inside and outside, the Taurus RPC is legitimately really darn nice.
Well, okay, with the exception maybe of the 32-round magazines, and it’s possible that I’m the problem here. They just don’t feel nice. The polymer feels cheap and they weigh less than my brain wants them to.
Yes, the magazines loaded up to full capacity without a fuss, they fit into the RPC perfectly, and they ran 100% reliably including locking the bolt back on empty every single time. If the rest of the RPC didn’t look and feel so nice, I don’t think we would have noticed that the magazines look and feel a bit cheap in comparison.
Of course, maybe they’re uniquely inexpensive, which would be great. I thought they looked like CZ Scorpion mags but can confirm that the slightly chunkier Scorp mags do not fit in the RPC.
What I’d actually like to see (gasp!) is a shorter RPC magazine. Something approximately the same length as the grip. As cool as it is to have 32 rounds onboard and as nice as it is to receive multiple magazines with a new gun (our loaner shipped with three, but I believe the retail RPCs ship with two), the RPC is just so freakin’ compact with the short barrel and folding Strike Industries pistol brace that the big ol’ banana mag suddenly becomes the only issue with throwing the RPC in a small pack or compartment. I’d like to keep a shorter magazine inserted in the RPC and a couple tall boys on-hand as backup.
Controls are great, precisely where they should be, and function precisely how they should. Any AR operator will be instantly familiar and comfortable with the bolt release/catch, the safety, and even the left-side magazine release (should your fancy AR happen to have one of those).
Guess what? The right side of the gun is almost exactly the same, with each of these fully ambidextrous controls located in the corresponding place.
Also seen in the photo above is the very cool and modern flat-faced trigger shoe. I dig it. The trigger pull is like a slightly cleaner, but otherwise typical AR-15 trigger. Like a slightly upgraded “parts kit” AR trigger. On the RPC the first pull is a little longer, but after that if you ride the nicely-pronounced reset you’ll be rewarded with a shorter, crisper pull each time.
Out on the range we were all impressed with how quiet the new Taurus RPC is. That delayed blowback is absolutely doing a great job at allowing the pressure to drop before the empty case leaves the chamber. This little PCC suppresses extremely well.
I mean, just look at the guy. Dan was smiles for days after dumping a mag through this thing.
We all loved shooting the RPC. This one will not be going back to Taurus and I’m fairly sure the final bill is going to be for three of them. Jon Wayne Taylor certainly loved it as well, but having heard the Precision Armament TiTrex 300 and 360 on a 300 Blackout and then the 360 on the RPC that day he immediately added one to his shopping list. His credit card may have to stop smoking before an RPC happens.
Taurus absolutely nailed it with the RPC. I own a few little 9mm carbines / subguns, including a super high-end B&T SPC9 SBR, and I’m quite sure the Taurus RPC is now my favorite. This is a 10/10 gun. It’s exactly what a PCC designed for suppressed shooting should be, and it now lives in my bedroom safe with the shorty AB F4 suppressor (the black one in a couple of the photos above) attached.
Watch the video embedded at top to see the RPC in action, and please subscribe to the Shooting News Weekly channel while you’re there!
Specifications: Taurus RPC
Caliber: 9×19
Barrel Length: 4.5 inches (8-inch available soon)
Operating System: roller delayed blowback
Capacity: 32+1
Overall Length: 12.1 inches
Width (max): 1.74 inches
Weight: 62.9 ounces (with no pistol brace)
MSRP: $949