When you think of duty pistols, you might not think of Taurus right off the bat. I know I didn’t, but the full-size Taurus TX9 with a 17+1 capacity has all the characteristics of a duty pistol.

The Bainbridge, Georgia-based firearm manufacturer has long produced a wide variety of firearms. In the past, they produced many guns that were clones or close copies of other designs. However, Taurus has been hard at work developing its own unique firearms these days, like the modular TX9 capable of using multiple frame sizes. 

Here’s how this affordable, full-size pistol handled my testing.

Quick Summary: The TX9 is one of the most affordable, optics-ready duty-size guns out there right now. It proved to be reliable, ergonomic, and accurate out to 20 yards. Plus, its modularity is another big win.

Table of Contents

First Impressions
Specifications 
Reliability & Accuracy 
Pros & Cons 
Final Verdict

First Impressions

Lifting the TX9 from the box, I was surprised at how light it felt. While it was not significant lighter than comparable pistols, it sure felt like it was. The grip texturing felt nice, as did the controls, which fit my average-sized hands well.

Pointing the TX9 was where I quickly started gaining a taste for it. The grip is both comfortable and tactile, and every time I pointed the gun, it was perfectly aligned with the sights and my point of aim. The sights were also easily seen and quickly aligned.
 

I took advantage of the interchangeable backstraps and installed the one that best fits my hand. The process was both simple and fast. After that, I moved my focus to the magazines. Both quality Mec-Gar-built magazines were 17-rounders and featured a slightly more obvious narrowing section at the top. This seemed to be so the magazine fit neatly through the removable trigger/sear pack.

The trigger itself felt fine, like most duty pistols, but both I and several others in the office immediately noticed that the reset was very faint. It is both hard to feel and hear, which is not what I was expecting. 
 

Specifications

The TX9 series uses a stainless-steel mini frame, and the trigger and sear can be quickly removed by simply pulling out a cross-pin. This allows the user to swap polymer frames from one size to another with ease. Additionally, the TX9 features an ambidextrous slide release and a reversible mag release, making this gun fit for right-handed or left-handed shooters.

While the slide is cut for optics use from the factory, it does require the use of the Taurus T.O.R.O. system, which uses a set of various mounting plates to accept different red-dot footprints.

Here are the basic specs for this pistol.

Range Testing: Reliability & Accuracy

I was immediately in love with the way this pistol points and shoots. In a short time, I noticed I was barely even looking at the sights, as it just shot exactly where I pointed. It was like an extension of my arm. Even mag-dumping into an IPSC target at 20 yards, I could keep every shot on the target while shooting as fast as I dared.

The first rounds felt a little spicier than I had expected, and the lightweight design seemed to allow it to rock more in the hand. Adding a Surefire X300 light seemed to tame it a bit, and adding a red dot will likely soften it even more.
 

The controls were natural and took very little practice to become proficient. The gun has a barely noticeable reset, which at first concerned me, but it didn’t phase me at all on the range. As a matter of fact, I completely forgot about it while I was actually shooting. I also appreciated the loaded chamber port on the top of the chamber, which allows you to visually and tactilely check for rounds in the chamber. 
 

Reliability

In all our shooting, we had one malfunction. I’m not sure what to blame for that exactly. Perhaps it was just the gun breaking in, or maybe it was an ammo issue. Either way, it was barely a failure to go into battery. A simple tap corrected the issue, and I was right back to making noise.
 

Pulling out the sear pack was significantly easier and faster than with other modular pistols I own. Swapping out the grip frame in both my SIG Sauer P320 and my Ruger RXM is a little more labor-intensive.
 

Accuracy

I was able to hit everything that I feel a duty pistol should be able to hit. Even during rapid strings of fire, I found the impacts hitting right where I expected them to strike. All the ammo I have shot through the TX9 has been 115-grain loads, but I expect it will function just as well with heavier bullets.

My testing showed that the TX9’s ergonomics are great. You also have the ability to change the backstrap to get a custom fit. That is just icing on the cake. All the controls were easily reached from my shooting grip, and the ample space on the frame is good even for large hands. I also like the square trigger guard. It matches up with weapon lights commonly used on duty pistols. 
 

Pros & Cons

Final Verdict

As far as duty pistols go, the TX9 is significantly cheaper than some popular duty pistols from names like Glock, but that’s to be expected. Time will tell how the TX9 stands up to industry standards of durability, but if it does, then the price is well worth it, in my opinion. The modularity of the TX9 family is also a very appealing feature at this price point.

Overall, I really enjoy shooting the TX9 and look forward to more time with it. It’s comfortable to shoot, hits where I aim, and has all the features we are growing accustomed to in modern handguns.