Taurus has mostly been known for making handguns, going all the way back to WWII times. During their lifetime of production, the company has produced hundreds of different models, likely totaling in the tens of millions worldwide. All that is 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, the Taurus GX2 pistol, a compact polymer-framed, striker-fired 9mm pistol.
With an MSRP of only $310.99 (you can find them well below that price), the GX2 is certainly affordable for most any aspiring gun owner. But economy isn’t always the most important thing. Value is only advantageous with adequate performance and Taurus’s GX2 has a feature set that matches the appeal of its low price.
Its polymer frame incorporates comfortable angles and tactile textures. Despite its small size, it still packs 13-rounds. Its low-profile sights are matched with their TORO optics cut to accept RMS footprint red dots. For those who desire, there’s also a low-profile frame safety as well as a short length of Pic rail under the muzzle.
I was unsurprised that the GX2 came in the typical orange Taurus box, with one magazine and the usual safety lock. There’s also a small instruction manual for those who read such things. The first impression was a good one. Taurus has clearly upped their game in recent years, and it shows in the GX2’s 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 the pressure as you pull.
The slide was a little stiff, but that’s expected with little 9mm pistols like this. It has both front and rear slide cuts for a good, sure grip. A plain black serrated rear sight makes the white dot front sight pop, as it should.
The GX2 ships with a plastic optic cut 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. There’s also a loaded chamber indicator cut into the top.
We shot it both indoor and outdoor, with and without the red dot. I also added a Streamlight TLR8 to the GX2. I have been carrying the pistol for several weeks now and have been really happy with its comfortable fit great shooting performance.
Much like my TX22 and TX9, the GX2’s grip feels great. I couldn’t help but think this pistol felt strangely similar to a P365 in both size and handling. I already mentioned the frame safety (which I didn’t use much), but the other controls are worth noting, too. The trigger is a touch stiffer than I’m used to, but thats not a bad thing in a CCW pistol. The break is clean, as is the reset, both offering a firm, audible snap.
The magazine release is easy to find quickly, and not in a way that it’s likely to be 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 so as not to reduce the likelihood of snagging on clothing or other things.
The GX2 easily chewed through magazine after magazine…and it 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. That’s a stark difference from most pistols of this type, as they usually have just two small front and rear sections of rail. 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 well made with thick slide facets, and robust extractor and ejector. The gun doesn’t feel like it was cheaply designed and made, despite its price tag. Putting your life on the line with a pistol though, takes some time to justify, and this one will get additional testing before I use it in that role.
I found the GX2’s accuracy to be acceptable for its size and price. Shooting targets at typical 7 to 10 yard distances proved to more than adequate to hit what I was aiming at, especially with the Nutrek Blade red dot.
I was very happy with the feel of the GX2 in hand. Even with full-size man hands, the grip isn’t too small and works really well in my wife’s hands. The squared trigger guard and slight undercut both look good and function nicely, giving good space for a weapon light and its controls. Shaved edges on the slide reduce the snag factor, while making the pistol more comfortable to carry.
Taurus firearms are known for their affordability, sometimes to a fault. With the GX2, Taurus has does a great job of improving the quality and the shooting performance in a very affordable carry pistol. With street prices starting around $230, it’s hard to argue against this little gun.
At this point, I probably shouldn’t have been surprised at how much I liked the GX2, considering how much I’ve enjoyed the TX22 and TX9. It’s astonishing that you can make money on guns selling at such an affordable price point, expecially guns that I genuinely like. The GX2 is a great value, giving fun and reliable performance while incorporating great features.
Specifications: Taurus GX2 9mm Pistol
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
Made In: Brasil
MSRP: $310.99