Taurus introduces the GX4 9mm micro-compact pistol

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Taurus introduces the GX4 9mm micro-compact pistol

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Taurus introduces the GX4, its first "micro-compact" concealed carry defensive pistol: a single-action, striker-fired 9mm design with a metal-reinforced polymer frame, the GX4 is budget-priced and offers full-size capacity with minimum weight and encumbrance

The GX4 is Taurus's first micro-compact pistol: a minimalist design, it offers a staggering 11-rounds capacity despite the diminutive size and weight

Taurus introduces the GX4 9mm micro-compact pistol

The new Taurus GX4 9mm caliber semi-automatic pistol, officially announced just a few days ago, makes its debut on the very crowded concealed carry pistol market in a Country – the United States – where the demand for this kind of product has been constantly increasing in the past few years, as anyone who takes a look at the press releases from major gun manufacturers or visits trade shows of the civilian firearms industry can testify.

 

As a matter of fact, with a "Constitutional Carry" law provision on the verge of approval in Texas, the count of US States that will no longer require citizens who can legally own a firearm to obtain a license to carry a gun for self-defense (either long guns or handguns, and either open or concealed, depending from local regulations) will reach 21 out of 50.

 

"No-Issue" laws have been defunct for over a decade, and all States have some sort of concealed carry laws in effect – albeit admittedly some States, and Counties, being more restrictive than others, although most States now have a "shall-issue" regime in place.

Taurus GX4 9mm micro-compact pistol – right side

Taurus GX4 9mm micro-compact pistol – right side

Taurus GX4 9mm micro-compact pistol – left side

Taurus GX4 9mm micro-compact pistol – left side

The Taurus GX3 reaches the market just under a year after the release of the latest Taurus concealed carry pistol – that being the G3c, first introduced in early Summer 2020 – and is offered as a functional, budget alternative to the biggest and best known names in the industry, offering desirable features at an affordable price.

 

The GX4 is Taurus's first "micro-compact" pistol: being 15,3 cm / 6.05" long overall (max), 2,74 cm / 1.08" wide and 11 cm / 4.4" high, the GX4 manages to weigh in at barely 524 grams (18.5 oz) when empty. Even smaller and lighter than the average of subcompact pistols, the Taurus GX4 is still offered as a "full-size capacity" pistol, holding 11 rounds of 9mm Luger in the magazine plus an additional round in chamber.

Taurus introduces the GX4 9mm micro-compact pistol
Taurus introduces the GX4 9mm micro-compact pistol

The Taurus GX4 is built around a polymer frame reinforced by a stainless steel internal assembly that holds all key components, offering high levels of resistance without requiring excessive amounts of polymer which would make the gun thicker.

 

No tactical rail or front serration on the trigger guard are provided, and all controls – slide stop, magazine release button – are located only on the left side of the frame. The grip is aggressively textured on all contact surfaces to ensure a good hold in all situations, and features two sets of interchangeable backstraps to adapt to any hand size. Additional textured surfaces are located on both sides of the frame, providing resting positions for the trigger finger with a good tactile feedback.

 

The stainless steel, black gas nitride coated slide features front and rear serrations, a fixed white dot front sight, and a drift-adjustable serrated rear sight. The barrel is protected by a satin black diamond-like coating (DLC) finish.

Taurus introduces the GX4 9mm micro-compact pistol

Taurus introduces the GX4 9mm micro-compact pistol

The Taurus GX4 was conceived as a "point and shoot" interface, with no additional feature that a shooter may need to fumble with in critical conditions; as such, the GX4 comes without any sort of manual safety and with a single-action only trigger, a "Glock-style" trigger safety, and a striker block for good measure. A small hole at the top rear of the ejection port dubs as a visual loaded chamber indicator.

 

Additionally, a small slot is located on the right side of the frame, just over the trigger, that the user can engage with a flat-headed screwdriver to lock the pistol into a non-working condition for long-term secure storage.

 

The Taurus GX4 was introduced simultaneously in the United States – where it is sold at a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $392.42 – and in Brazil. The samples of the first lot sold in the US will come from factory with a dedicated Kydex IWB holster and a tool that can be used to disassemble the pistol and to lock it into non-working condition, as mentioned previously.

VIDEO / Taurus GX4 – all features