The search has been on for some time for the just right size in a defensive handgun. A service size gun is a burden few wish to endure. A compact handgun about the size of the Glock 19 isn’t bad but most folks gravitate to something like the SIG P365 9mm. For the occasional shooter the smallest pistols may generate more recoil than they like. Take a subcompact and give it a larger grip frame and you have a pistol better suited to handling recoil and frequent practice. The Taurus GX4 and the GX4XL, a larger version, have proven popular. While affordable the GX4XL doesn’t fit the economy market but it is a mid priced handgun for many budgets. The GX4 runs an average price of $379.00 to$410.99 depending on the exact model. The GX2 is a similar handgun priced an average of $272.55. That is a significant break in a handgun with decent features.
Author Shooting the Taurus GX2 9mm
The GX2 is a polymer framed striker fired handgun. The Taurus GX2 features front and rear slide serrations and a nicely textured grip frame. The pistol is similar to the GX4 and it appears the firing action is the same. The pistol doesn’t have interchangeable grip straps. In a subcompact gun this doesn’t seem to be a loss. The pistol is easily disassembled for cleaning and maintenance. The takedown lever is rotated to release the slide and the slide runs off the frame. The recoil spring guide and barrel are picked out of the slide. The pistol is supplied with two 13 round magazines. It takes some effort to fully load subcompact magazines to full capacity, common in the type across the board from all makers. After a box of ammunition the magazines were incrementally less difficult to load. This type of heavy spring ensures feed reliability. A fifteen round magazine that is a bit taller and features a heavy base pad is also offered. The grip treatment is well thought out with a good amount of adhesion and abrasion on the surface but smooth in the grip tang where recoil forces meet the hand. The front strap features a finger rest that makes for good control. The trigger guard is squared. There are roughened patches on the frame where the finger may rest when handling the pistol. This encourages proper safety and keeping the finger off the trigger during tactical movement. The light rail features three notches, some rails in subcompact handguns have only one.
This is a striker-fired polymer-framed handgun. Note manual safety lever.
The sights feature a serrated real post and a front post with a white dot. They are low profile and snag free. The sights are small but ok for most uses. Barrel fit is good. The slide is beveled at the muzzle. The pistol features a manual safety. This safety is for right handed shooters, the slide lock is also only on the left side of the gun. The magazine latch is a trapezoid type. The trigger features a lever set into the trigger face for safety. The trigger action features little take up and meets a wall. Actual trigger pull weight is 8.25 pounds, settling into 8 pounds after cleaning and firing two hundred cartridges. This trigger is decent enough for home defense and use at a few yards distance. Accuracy is limited much past ten yards but the intrinsic accuracy of the pistol is good. It will take concentration to connect with this handgun at 15 or 20 yards.
Disassembly is simple enough
Firing Tests
I have fired the pistol extensively for several weeks. After the initial break in I proceeded to this Davidson’s review. Prior to firing the pistol was lubricated along the long bearing surfaces and the barrel hood. I loaded the magazines with Winchester 115 grain FMJ ammunition. The pistol was fired at 5 and 7 yards in rapid fire. The pistol came on target quickly and center hits were no problem. I didn’t baby the trigger but I didn’t slap it either. Firing quickly with a fast trigger press combat accuracy is good. I extended the range to 10 yards and fired the pistol getting center hits. I fired 100 rounds, total, in this firing session. The Taurus GX2 is comfortable to fire. At right at 20 ounces loaded the pistol is in a common size and weight class, the grip frame is designed for comfort. The slide isn’t difficult to rack but the recoil spring seems to handle recoil well.
Combat accuracy is good. The author fired this group at 7 yards.
Note- during the initial work up the pistol suffered a mild break in period failing to fully cycle a handful of times during the first twenty cartridges. Today, 380 rounds later, there were no further failures to cycle. The pistol has proven reliable with modern jacketed hollow point ammunition. The trigger is useful if you put practice in and offers a degree of safety. At 7 yards you may cut one ragged hole with concentration on the fundamentals. This is a useful handgun, affordable but reliable and simple to maintain.
Galco Tuck-N-Go
The Galco inside the waistband holster illustrated is affordable but offers a solid choice for personal defense. The holster may be used as an inside the waistband holster or as a tuckable, worn under a tucked in shirt. I prefer standard IWB carry which works fine with this holster. With the majority of the handgun concealed inside the waistband only a light covering garment is needed to conceal the handgun. An adjustable belt clip allows the holster to be adjusted for tilt.
Accuracy results
15 yards, from a solid benchrest firing position. 5 Shot groups
Winchester 115 grain Silvertip 2.9 in.
Winchester 147 grain Defender 3.7 in.
Winchester 115 grain FMJ 3.25 in.
Handload/ Hornady 124 grain XTP/Unique Powder/890 fps
3.45 in.
Taurus GX2
- Type: Recoil operated, striker-fired, semiautomatic
- Cartridge: 9mm
- Capacity: 13+1, 15+1 rds.
- Barrel: 3.38 in.
- Length: 6.19 in.
- Height: 4.89 in.
- Width: 1.18 in.
- Weight: 1 lb., 3 oz.
- Finish: Matte black
- Sights: White dot front notch, serrated, black, drift adjustable rear
- MSRP: $309
For dealer purchases visit www.davidsonsinc.com
For consumer purchases visit www.galleryofguns.com
