MARCH 22, 2022

Editor’s Notebook: Taurus GX4 – A Backup Gun?

Considered more as a possible primary gun in “non-permissive environments,” I’d considered the size of the Taurus GX4 – a thus-far capable performer here – as a potential replacement for the five-shot 38 revolver as a backup gun. Factors that pointed me in that direction included the availability of 38 ammo compared to 9x19mm, the fact that it’s nearly the envelope of the excellent GLOCK 43 six-shot 9mm and the superior ergonomics with the included large backstrap.

That’s going to take some effort to sort out – especially for those who prefer carrying a backup gun in a pocket. When old shooting pard Mike Rafferty came around asking about a potential for the replacement of the “made-for-the-role” 38 snub, I immediately responded with the new Taurus pistol.

He wasn’t obviously convinced, so we met at the range to consider the pint-sized heater for the job.

After he gave it the ‘once-over’ exam, I checked the zero with Hornady 124gr. XTP ammo. The gun shot three inches low at fifteen yards – and that’s a bit much. I tried Hackathorn’s Wizard Drill and failed … due to a single miss on the third stage. It was an “accident,” as I pressed through without confirming the sights. This isn’t common for me and it’s not the gun’s fault. Surprisingly, using the Galco Stow-N-Go IWB holster worn concealed, my times tended to be on the short side.

I guess I felt so comfortable shooting the gun, I let my exuberance get the better of me. I was shooting before being ready. That said, and aside from a single miss (which I remediated by a purposeful 2.21 run at the same stage – as penance for the miss), I was down one point on the IALEFI-Q target I was using. The fact that the gun also shot low soothed my ego.

In a two-dimensional world, the above image would be all you needed to see; the S&W M642 and Taurus GX4 are very close in size - ruling out the thickness of the round gun and the round gripping surface offered by the stocks (these are Spegal Boot Grips). The image below puts a little different perspective on it - but until it's actually tried, under time constraints, we won't know if the GX4 is a worthy successor to the roundgun for this job.

Shooting my version of the Florida law enforcement Stage 2 saw that my times were good; the same was true with the Claude Werner ‘high percentage’ stage, though low hits created a line break on the last round. I shot a modified Bakersfield/Waidelich (without the reloading stage) and had no time penalties until the last pair before quitting – ¼ second over put me down a single point – this was shot with the 115 grain FMJ steel-case Monarch from Academy Sports.

I finished with the gun shooting the “one-hole” drill from around five yards – three rounds each on the “parrot” and the logo, finishing with a single in the “softball” circle printed in the center of the face of the target. It wasn’t timed, but shot for precision.

What did the examination show? Well, that the gun works, that it fits this shooter well, that it was reliable – thus far – and that we need to sort out the situation with the sights.

Mike found a sharp spot on the bottom of the trigger shoe – leave it to him to find something. That said, he seemed rightly impressed with it.

You’ll notice I haven’t even discussed cartridge capacity; the revolver has a long history of reliable function even when worn under deep concealment. If the gun won’t work under such conditions, it’s out of the running.

So, the real question is “will it remain reliable when carried in deep, lint-laded, cover?” I don’t know that answer yet, but when I do, you will.

-- Rich Grassi