The TaurusTX 22 – Better Than It Has A Right To Be

Taurus has undergone a revival of late. They brought on new staff, revamped their quality control processes, and have seemingly turned over a new leaf. And their reputation for quality has quickly begun to improve. The Taurus of 2024 differs greatly from the Taurus of 2019. I’ve become a believer, which led me to the TaurusTX 22.

I’ve shot several new Taurus guns (Tauri?). I’ve handled the TaurusTX 22, the TX 22 Competition, and the TX 22 Compact at various range events and never had a negative experience. For the longest time, the only excuse I could come up with for not purchasing one was because I already own a ton of .22LR handguns.

However, a very flexible rock met the irresistible force of a very good deal and I was able to purchase a TaurusTX 22 for $200 dollars out the door…and I’m very glad I did.

Inside the TaurusTX 22

For the longest time, the most rounds you could get in a semi-auto .22LR was ten rounds. That wasn’t due to any restrictions, but making anything with a rim as pronounced as that of the .22LR round work in any form of higher-capacity magazine was difficult. That’s changed in recent years. Manufacturers got adventuresome and experimented more. Now we aren’t stuck with ten rounds any longer.

The SIG P322, the FN 502, the KelTec P17, TX 22, and likely others now offer you modern capacities in handguns chambered for the .22LR cartridge. The downside to these new magazines seems to be some slight sensitivity in loading them. It’s easy for a round to nose dive if loaded incorrectly. The TX 22 is no different, but loading the gun correctly doesn’t take much extra effort. Just be sure to use only enough downward pressure to load one cartridge at a time.

The TaurusTX 22, with its 4.1-inch barrel, falls into the full-sized realm of handguns. The gun is 7.1 inches overall and 1.25 inches wide. While it’s large, it’s light at only 17.3 ounces. The sights are simple and there isn’t a red dot option with the standard model. The TX 22 is a blowback-operated weapon, which isn’t a surprise to anyone familiar with .22LR pistols.

The gun comes with two magazines, which is a nice touch. Its overall design is simple, which is great in a .22LR pistol.

The Purpose of the TaurusTX 22

The TX 22’s general shape and feel are those of a generic semi-auto pistol. It could be a training stand-in for a GLOCK, a SIG P320, an FN 509, or most other polymer frame striker-fired handguns. For me, the TX 22 a training pistol. I can use it to train without shooting all of my more expensive 9mm. A brick of 500 rounds of .22LR makes for a great day at the range and doesn’t cost me $120.

Outside of being a 9mm stand-in, the TaurusTX22 is also a great tool for teaching new shooters. Its low recoil, low concussion, muzzle blast and low price make it perfect for noobs and it’s even suitable for younger shooters.

Outside of the training, this could also be a low-cost Steel Challenge piece. However, the TaurusTX 22 competition, with its threaded barrel and optic-ready design, might be a better option for that purpose, and it wouldn’t cost much more.

This is also a great kit gun … the perfect gun for hiking or to toss into the tacklebox for river fishing. A cheap beater gun for utility purposes. It’s a handy little camp gun for plinking, small game hunting, longer-range snake removal, and pest defense.

Finally, we get into the world of no-recoil self-defense. A .22LR would be one of the last guns on my list for personal defense, but the TaurusTX 22 would be close to the top of the .22LR pistols I’d choose for that purpose. Its 16-round capacity is no joke and the rail allows me to put a light on the gun.

A Bucket of .22LR and Tons o’ Fun

A lot of modern .22LR pistols are no longer beholden to high-velocity ammo—which is expensive in comparison to other .22LR pistols anyway. CCI Mini Mags are great, but they’re pricier than a box of Federal Automatch. I grabbed some CCI, Aguila Super, Remington Golden Bullet, Winchester, and Federal Automatch for reliability testing.

Undoubtedly, the higher velocity stuff from CCI and Aguila ran the best. I had zero malfunctions with this higher quality .22LR. Behind it, the Federal Automatch also ran quite well. I had two failures to eject with Automatch out of a box of 325 and a few failures to fire, a common problem with any bulk .22LR.

With the ultra cheap Winchester and Remington rounds, I had a surprisingly decent reliability. Surprisingly decent is saying a lot for this stuff. Sure there were some failures to eject, and Remington gave me some failures to load, but they were relatively rare. I didn’t keep a total count, but it was only occasional and far from frustrating. That’s another big benefit of the new .22LR semi-autos. They run really well.

In rested accuracy testing, CCI had the best results with a 2-inch group at 25 yards. If you can shoot somewhat decently, you’ll have no problems hitting things with the TaurusTX 22. The rear sight is adjustable for windage and elevation to maximize your accuracy with your chosen load.

From an offhand position, I felt like I couldn’t miss the varied gongs and poppers that sit on my range. It wasn’t until I got to my mini rimfire dueling tree that I was challenged. Those micro-sized paddles near the top took more than a few tries to hit those small panels. Squirrels, soda cans, and cottonmouths wouldn’t stand a chance.

Going Fast

If you’ve ever shot a .22LR pistol, you know what to expect from recoil. There isn’t much. It’s light, soft, and very comfortable to shoot. The reciprocating slide is light, so there isn’t much slamming rearward. Tracking your sights is easy and you can keep the gun on target with ease. The TX 22 is a gun that wants to go fast, and fast it can go. The only way I could go faster is with a dot and maybe some more practice.

The trigger pull is a little long, but it’s light and just a little squishy. It’s better than the P322 and the P17, so that’s decent marks for an inexpensive gun. The trigger might not be at Ruger MK levels, but as far as modern .22LRs go, it’s a great design.

The grip is quite wide and gives you a fantastic hold over the gun. The texturing is more than you’d expect from a .22LR. The TX 22 has an optional manual 1911-like frame safety that’s ambidextrous. The magazine release is also reversible for lefties. The slide release is fine. It’s small and GLOCK-like overall. The slide has very light resistance, so anyone can easily work it.

The TaurusTX 22 is a Worthy Contender

The TaurusTX 22 is better than it has any right to be. At this price point, it has exceeded all my expectations. The little gun is reliable, accurate, fun, and very easy to shoot. It can serve multiple purposes and certainly left me impressed. If you need a .22LR semi-auto pistol that’s a bit more modern and affordable than the Ruger Mk series, then the TX 22 is the way to go.

Specifications: TaurusTX 22 .22LR Pistol

Caliber: .22LR
Capacity: 16+1 rounds
Barrel Length: 4.1 inches
Overall Length: 7.1 inches
Width: 1.25 inches
Height: 5.4 inches
Weight: 17.3 ounces (empty)
MSRP: $348.99