(+3 rating, 3 votes)
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feature-_GX2_StillLife-15
(PC - Taurus USA)
Does the shooting world really need another polymer-frame striker-fired pistol? Yes, and not just because it’s another gun. This one fills the need of being both a reasonably priced entry-level pistol and an affordable off-duty gun for officers who are not as well compensated as cops elsewhere.
Caleb Giddings is the marketing guy at Taurus – when not deployed by the Air Force. A few times since becoming the editor here, I have joked with Caleb about them not having any projects I could cover. That changed this summer.
The Pistol
Taurus is releasing their new GX2 9mm, a midsized, double-stacked polymer frame model. I asked Caleb why.
The GX2 is intended to be a budget-friendly, entry-level handgun that will suit a variety of people (PC—Taurus USA).
First, it replaces the G2c, a “staple of the first-time gun buyer for ages.” Taurus believes that “everyone has the right to own a reliable firearm for personal protection, regardless of their budget.” As the Taurus USA CEO noted, “Affordable does not mean cheap.”
Second, they combined their “experiences with the GX4 with input from serious shooters.” That combination led to this gun, which Caleb described as having “excellent ergonomics.” The pistol is built “around a chassis system” and uses “Glock-style dovetails so that users can swap out the sights if they’d like.”
Design
The frame has an accessory rail on the dust cover for attaching a handgun light. The grip design is reminiscent of Bore Sight Solutions’ Razorback modification, which made it much easier to get enough of my finger on the trigger.
One attendee’s GX2 in a Phlster Skeleton worn AIWB (PC Taurus USA).
Taurus molded in aggressive stippling on the front and back straps, the sides of the grip, and two points higher up on the frame just below the rails.
The trigger will be very familiar to most of you, with the safety tab in the center.
Controls
All the controls are on the pistol’s left side; however, none of them are ambidextrous. From the front to back, you see the takedown lever, slide stop, magazine release, and thumb safety.
Magazines
During the event, each of us had access to several magazines. The pistol sent to me came with just two. Hopefully, more will be readily available for users to purchase.
Regardless of the platform, you can have issues when you drop a partially full metal magazine.
These are 13-round magazines with witness holes on the spine and a high-visibility follower. There were a few issues with partially dropped magazines, but I cannot recall experiencing any function issues with the magazines I used.
Sights
As mentioned, the iron sights are compatible with those designed for a Glock. The rear sight is a plain black steel with horizontal serrations. The front sight is attached to the slide with a screw, and it has a white insert.
There is no provision on the GX2 for mounting a red dot sight.
I’m working through a live fire run in the Pit with photo targets. In the picture, I’m using Ear Pro from Otto Engineering (PC—Mike Detty).
Frame Mounted Manual Safety
The GX2 has a frame-mounted manual safety. It is a solid call to include this on a striker-fired pistol, especially one designed for concealed carry. The ledge is relatively narrow—it is the second one I have encountered like that this year. It is positive in terms of activation and e-activation. Like the 1911 family’s thumb safety, this one locks the slide forward when applied.
Unfortunately, it is only usable by a right-hand shooter. The thumb safety is neither ambidextrous nor reversible. While I have not inadvertently activated it while shooting the pistol left-handed, that would be somewhat concerning.
Disassembly
Field striping the GX2 is accomplished by rotating the takedown lever on the left side of the frame downward or clockwise. Unlike some other pistols, this is done with the slide forward. Then, the trigger is depressed to allow the slide to go forward.
The accessory rail allows the user to attach a weapon-mounted light – if needed. You can see the controls too – takedown lever, slide stop, magazine release, and the safety.
With this design, the user must be very serious about ensuring the handgun is unloaded and pointed in as safe a direction as possible before beginning to disassemble it.
Holster
Phlster Holsters supplied their ambidextrous inside-the-waistband holster, the Skeleton, made for the GX2.
Phlster supplied their Skeleton holster for the event.
The Skelton came set up for appendix carry. The high sweat guard is on both sides of the holster body and works for both right and left-handed shooters. With a few turns of a screwdriver, I adjusted mine for left-hand carry.
Range Time
While I have been the lead instructor for several media events at Gunsite since I retired from police work, this was my first time on the other side of things. My friend and co-worker Lew Gosnell was the lead instructor. Dan Bilodeau (retired DOE) and Schylar Cloudt (former US Army) worked with Lew. For three days, they chaperoned nineteen gunwriters (does that always sound like a dirty word?) and several Taurus employees.
Dan (left) and Lew (right) demonstrate the manipulations we would use for a trigger control drill.
Lew started us with dry practice and manipulations. We then moved on to single shots from the ready and multiple shot strings. Holster work was included as well. Over three days, Lew and the crew layered in more material.
Instructor Dan Bilodeau demonstrates the approach to a door and opening it – when you are by yourself.
They ran us through one of the indoor simulators. After many years of running students through the live-fire shoot house in the Pit, it was fun to work through it as a student.
Ammunition
MagTech supplied the ammunition for this event. Each of us fired a few hundred rounds of their 9mm ball through the GX2 pistols. I did not experience any ammunition-related stoppages.
Second Stint
I received one of the production versions of the GX2 in mid-December, which allowed me to do a couple of range sessions with it. One day, I shot 150 rounds of Blazer Brass 124gr, and two days later, I shot another 100 rounds.
One hundred rounds of Blazer Brass 9mm 124 gr ammunition, fired at 5, 7.5, anmd 10 yards – on the head and on a replacement A Zone.
The trigger is clean, although a bit heavier, consistently weighing between 7 ¼ and 7 ¾ lbs. on an RCBS spring scale.
I have been focused (pun intended) on using soft focus with iron sights. If I did my part, I hit where I intended to. This included strong and weak hand work, as well as vertical transitions.
Final Thought
Taurus set out to develop and sell an improved entry-level handgun. One that could easily be used for concealed carry as well. They have accomplished that. MSRP is $310.99
