Taurus PT709...Have to say I'm impressed.

[Len]

I've heard about Tauruses [Tauri?] for years. Read the reviews, heard the opinions, but never fired one.

A friend, who owns a local gun shop wanted to sell me a PT 709. It's a very slim 7+1 auto, w/ adjustable sights, safety, trigger safety, and, of all things, an internal lock!

He said he'd buy it back, no questions asked if I didn't like it. I trust him, so I made the purchase, thinking that it would be a very nice BUG in a caliber that I routinely carry anyway.

370.00 out the door, with High Noon IWB and a spare magazine.

Took it out for the first time today. Fired 150 rounds Rem MC 115g, 50 rounds Federal Hydrashok 135g and 50 rounds Magtech 115 +P, all at ten yards.

I was a little worried when I missed every shot of the first 7, until I found out that it was sighted in way left, way low. Dialed it in by the next 14. After that, 9/10 hits in a two inch circle of the bullseye.

After that, it was off to the races, and I have to say I'm impressed. Not a single failure of any type, during slow or rapid fire. [Although the jury is out until I get another 250 rounds through it!]

More than adequate accuracy, very easy to fire for such a little gun, and no noticeable recoil difference with any rounds, including the +P.

After having heard about the negative image of Taurus for years, they've finally made a product that I'm interested in, a small gun in an adequate caliber for CPL carry. I guess it just goes to show that you have to see for yourself.

It will never replace my S&W or Sigs for everyday carry, but, if it keeps up as it did today, it'll be a great pocket/BUG firearm.

Len

 

[GatorFarmer]

After my Model 85 died after around that many rounds fired, I swore off Taurus. I've been somewhat tempted by some of their new offerings. Well okay, just the Judge series, which I know is useless but for some reason seems like I ought own one.

How are the mags that come with the gun, do they seem decent quality? I can't remember if Taurus was doing mags in house, getting them from MecGar, or - twitchy hand motion - getting some sourced from ProMag.

 

[kmyers]

The only Taurus that I own is a 450T air weight model if I am remembering right. .45 LC snub nose and a ported barrel. It does go "bang" whenever I squeeze the trigger, so it is a good truck and tackle box gun.

 

[shooboy]

I am so impressed with my Taurus PT 709 that I sold off all my other carry guns. Mine has been flawless, carries incredibly easy, and is well made. Shoo

 

[n4zov]

I owned a Taurus PT-92's and it was a totally reliable and well built handgun. There really wasn't much difference quality wise between it and the Beretta equivalent.

 

[JcMack]

I bet your pants are on fire

I am so impressed with my Taurus PT 709 that I sold off all my other carry guns. Mine has been flawless, carries incredibly easy, and is well made. Shoo

 

[Rule3]

I do like the design of it and it seems well made. I had trouble with several Taurus in the past so I guess I am jaded.

I have looked and messed with a lot every trip to the shop. I has to be as good or better than the KT PF9.

Please give us a report after a few hundred more rounds, I would be interested

 

[cjw3]

Son in law has one which we have been shooting a little. It is very compact and seems reasonably accurate. The trigger has a LONG takeup before you start getting any resistance and then it is very heavy before it breaks. I don't have any way of measuring it, but I am guessing 10 pounds+. To reset the trigger you only need to come off of it a little bit, similar to to a Glock, so I guess the lengthy travel is supposed to be for "safety". That, combined with the heavy pull to fire should satisfy the Taurus lawyers.

 

[KSCowboy]

Me too!

See my comments down the page a ways on this thread. There are pics and comparison to my Colt Govt 380 it takes over for.

I think it's a great little gun!

http://smith-wessonforum.com/ammo/98508-380-load-calling-erich-12.html

 

[Len]

Interesting input from everyone, thanks.

Gator...the mags appear to be in-house build. Taurus stamp on the end plate, "made in Brazil" on the body. They are sturdy looking and seem to be well made. Bright yellow follower, which takes some getting used to.

Shoo...I don't have enough experience with this brand in general, and the gun in particular to warrant it as "only carry gun"...for now. Another thousand rounds and I might just become a believer! Good to hear that you're happy with yours, though.

CJW3...you're absolutely right about the trigger. I've never owned a Glock or any gun that fires similarly, so that took some getting used to also. I have to admit, though, that it's kind of nice to be able to pull the trigger a second time in case of misfire. [But...could that be a "training problem?" Would it delay your drill to clear a misfire? I see both a pro and con.] I also thought there might have been a little grit to the pull, but I think I was sensing the spring on the trigger safety. And, you're also correct that the reset is nice and tight, and doesn't take a whole lot of distance to be ready for the next shot.

OCD1...I will surely re-post after 1K rounds or so...earlier if I come up against any negative issues.

Moondawg...The shop had no other models on hand. Glad to hear that your PT111 has been a good one for you. I'm just glad that there are more and more versions of sub-compact 9mm's being made. It's my typical carry caliber, cheap to practice with, in good supply, effective enough for defensive use. Funny thing is that I have .45's with frame sizes similar to my usual carry 9mm's...but I usually end up packing the 9's. Can't really say why.

KS cowboy...read your linked posts...interesting stuff. What impressed me is that you chose this 9mm to replace your .380.

Len

 

[shooboy]

I think I read trigger pull with the striker cocked is supposed to be about 5.5 pounds. This gun has second strike capability also without touching the slide, and that trigger pull is supposed to be around 5.9 pounds. All I know is my trigger finger loves this gun due to the fact I had an operation back in '81 and have only about 35% usage of that finger. Way, way, easier to pull the trigger on my 709 compared to the Ruger LCP I traded in on it. The 709 also has a Glock-style trigger safety along with a flip up thumb safety. I've put almost 300 rounds through mine without a hiccup. And my old eyes can almost see the adjustable sights !!! Great little carry 9mm in my opinion, Shoo

 

[cjw3]

I had a Taurus Millennium a few years ago, and I seem to recall that it also had what might be termed a "scratchy" trigger. I suppose it might have smoothed out with use, but I didn't keep it long enough for that.

I might qualify the comments about the heavy trigger by saying that I tried it after shooting my K-.22 for about 45 minutes......the trigger on that one is a hard act to follow.

 

[bassoneer]

I recently ended up with a PT709 and gave it to my parents. We went out and put a few hundred rounds through it and it never missed a beat. Perfect. I personally do not like plastic guns...that's why I gave it to my parents who needed a gun. Not sure it was the best gun for them (semi-auto vs revolver) but it does sure seem to be reliable, feels good, shoots good, and they liked it. The trigger seems to pull back a long way before it engages anything, but I wouldn't mind carrying it in a pinch. Typically I carry small revolvers, but you wouldn't go wrong with the PT709 if it's like the one we got. Later, B

 

[mlk18]

Taurus products have never really excited me until this PT709 Slim came out. I have handled them a number of times but just can't seem to make myself buy one. If I do pick one up I will probably wait until I can find a used one from a source I know and trust. Plus I hate being a beta-tester for a newer design.