The Taurus GX2 proves that “inexpensive” doesn’t have to mean “cheap.” We put 425 rounds through this sub-$350 concealed carry pistol to see if it lives up to its value-driven promise. With a 13+1 capacity, surprisingly good trigger, well-textured grip frame, and a footprint that splits the difference between compact and subcompact, the GX2 punches above its price point. Find out how it handled at the range, where it stumbled, and why this budget-friendly 9mm deserves serious consideration in today’s pricey gun market.

The Taurus GX2 is an attractively-priced, entry-level concealed carry pistol that nonetheless brings some good features to the table. Taurus is clear about this gun’s role and its target audience. But “inexpensive” doesn’t necessarily mean “cheap.” And, frankly, the GX2 seems like a useful little handgun to have around, whether you’re an entry-level shooter or not.

The GX2 has several variants, including the optic-ready TORO model, but our test gun is the GX2 Stainless, which features a silver-colored stainless-steel slide on the standard polymer frame. It’s not optic-ready, but that doesn’t bother me. Most of my pistols aren’t. This pistol is long on value, simplicity, and reliability. I see those as serious considerations in today’s gun market, and we’ll discuss them below. But let’s begin with the GX2’s features.

Taurus GX2 Features

Taurus classifies the GX2 as a compact pistol, which is fine, but the “compact” and “subcompact” labels sometimes blur. Personally, I’d place it in that blurry area between the two. Remember that the Glock 19 is a “compact” pistol, and the GX2 is smaller than that. But it’s larger than true subcompacts like the Sig P365. It’s small enough to easily conceal but large enough to grip firmly, have a decent sight radius and pack a 13+1 capacity in 9mm. The GX2 hits a pretty good sweet spot.

The steel slide features deep front and rear slide serrations for solid manipulation, and has beveled top, side, and rear edges to aid drawing and holstering. The sights are simple but effective, with a white-dot front post and a serrated, blacked-out rear notch. The rear sight is drift adjustable.

The polymer frame is very good, with nice texturing for a positive grip all around. One slight protrusion mimics a finger groove on the front. I didn’t really notice that, but I like the rear palm swell. I also like the textured front index points below the slide. A three-slot Picatinny rail adorns the front, providing easy compatibility with lights or lasers. The spacious trigger guard leaves plenty of room for large or gloved hands.

The trigger is surprisingly good, with a  slight take-up before hitting a clearly discernable wall. It breaks cleanly at about 4.5 lbs. The left-side magazine release is textured and robustly ejects the mags with no mushiness. The slide release is a bit stiff, but this is a new gun. It will loosen up with time. I’ve tested some guns whose slide release was unusable, so this one is no big deal. The frame-mounted thumb safety is also a little stiff. Again, it should loosen up with use.

Running the Taurus GX2

The GX2 won’t knock your socks off at the range. Just being honest. But it will do its job. My co-tester and I ran 425 rounds of 9mm through the gun and it performed well, if not flawlessly. We had two failures to feed within the first 50 rounds, but the gun smoothed out after that and had no further problems.

The trigger is good if manipulated properly. Pulling the trigger straight through proved less effective than staging it to the break. That small change improved our groups from three inches at 10 yards to consistent two-inch affairs. Making that change stick didn’t take long, and once we got it, any delays in our shot strings weren’t noticeable. That technique would slow down a full-on mag dump, but we don’t do mag dumps in normal testing.

The GX2’s well-designed grip frame helped with accuracy and recoil. Our grips remained firm and we easily controlled the gun, getting it back on target between shots. I really like how Taurus executed the grip texture. It’s positive without being sandpapery. Just about perfect for my tastes.

The sights are good but, again, unremarkable. The front white dot is visible, and the rear notch is well-defined. The slide runs smoothly, though it doesn’t really stand out. But I don’t expect such a gun’s slide to feel like it’s on rollers. The GX2 just works like it’s supposed to work. No frills, but no real issues either.

Ammunition

We fired the following ammunition for our tests:

• 115-grain Federal American Eagle FMJ
• 115-grain Sellier & Bellot FMJ
• 124-grain Winchester Target & Practice FMJ
• 115-grain Hornady Critical defense FTX

The gun’s two failures to load were with the 115-grain Federal American Eagle load, but, as noted, they happened early. We experienced no further problems with the other 148 rounds of that particular load. The defensive rounds fired reliably and accurately.

Final Impressions

I like the Taurus GX2 overall. It shot pretty well, was comfortable, and was reliable after the early breaking-in. I would argue that it’s still not broken-in after only 425 rounds, but it did smooth out after the first 50 or so. In terms of features, the grip frame and trigger stand out to me. I think those are worthy of a more expensive pistol.

But I think the GX2’s biggest strength is value and accessibility. The gun’s value is tough to beat. I can’t speak to long-term durability, but the gun was reliable for me and I believe it will remain so, assuming proper maintenance. It isn’t fancy, but it does its job, which is always the bottom line.

Best of all, the GX2 does that for less than 300 bucks. This GX2 Stainless model is among the most expensive in the GX2 line, with an MSRP of $348.99. I assume that’s because of the slide. Retail price will be lower. The optic-ready GX2 is even less, with an MSRP of $299.99. That’s a great deal.

Which brings me to accessibility. Gun owners’ ranks are swelling. More people are accepting responsibility for their own safety, whether at home, by concealed carrying, or both. But gun prices are crazy right now, and they probably won’t get any better. Not everyone can drop $700 or $1,000 bucks on a defensive handgun. Gun enthusiasts can be snobs. I get it. But I also appreciate that companies like Taurus can and do make reliable firearms for people who need a less expensive handgun for protection.

The GX2 is one of those handguns. It can serve for home defense and is perfectly sized for concealed carry. Not everyone can have dedicated firearms for each perceived role. It’s good to have something available that works for both. The GX2 may be intended for a certain niche audience, but that niche is likely bigger than we think. I, for one, am glad that option is there.

Taurus GX2 Specifications

• Caliber: 9mm Luger
• Capacity: 13+1
• Single Action Only
• Barrel Length: 3.38 inches
• Overall Length: 6.19 inches
• Width: 1.18 inches
• Height: 4.89 inches
• Weight: 19.04 ounces
• Optic-Ready Variants Available
• MSRP: $348.99