The TX22 is suppressor ready, but
it has a little different setup. The
barrel itself is threaded and comes
with a thread protector installed.
However, you can’t mount a suppres-
sor directly to the barrel because the
muzzle is flush with the slide. No wor-
ries, because Taurus also supplies
a suppressor collar adapter, which
is threaded 1/2x28. Simply remove
the thread protector with a 3/8-inch
wrench, install the adapter and screw
on the suppressor of your choice.
I think the number of people who
buy suppressor-ready pistols because
they’re cool far outweigh the number
of buyers who actually have suppres-
sors to mount on them, and the TX22
isn’t burdened with those unneces-
sary extra-tall sights people think
you need with suppressors.
Not only are rimfire suppressors
getting so thin they don’t block stan-
dard sights—models like the Surefire
SF Ryder 22, for example—but also if
you’re shooting a handgun with both
eyes open as you should be, even if
the suppressor body blocks the sights
your brain will superimpose the
sights over the target.
When I received my test sample,
the first opportunity I had to try it
was on the set of “Handguns & Defen-
sive Weapons” TV show at the famed
Gunsite Academy. The pistol ran just
great...for the first 50 rounds or so.
Then we started having some feeding
issues, which we immediatelybut find perfectly acceptable on
a.22. The fully adjustable rear sight
is interesting in that both windage
and elevation adjustment screws are
on the right side of the sight: eleva-
tion screw at the back, windage at the
front.
The texturing on the grip is mod-
erately aggressive, and between the
texturing, the finger groove, grip
shape and the light recoil of .22s, the
pistol stays locked into your hand.
Taurus’ press release on the TX22
spent paragraphs talking about how
much time designers spent design-
ing the grip to make it as ergonomic
as possible, maximizing the “biome-
chanical geometry.” While those are
VERSATILITY CHAMP
fancy marketing words, the result
of the company’s efforts is pretty
evident.
The gun also has a few features
you’d want in a high-end tactical/
defensive gun. The large, reversible
steel magazine release is protected
so it can’t accidentally get pushed,
and there are cutouts on the bottom
of the frame so you can strip out a
stuck magazine if necessary.
In terms of overall appearance, I’d
call the TX22 “generic tactical” but
with a subtle sci-fi/futuristic flair. I
like the looks of it, and I was sur-
prised to find out a fellow gun writer
thought it was hideous. Everyone has
different tastes.< The rear sight is unique in that both windage and elevation adjustments are
on the same side of the sight. The gun has an ambidextrous thumb safety.28 HANDGUNSOCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019 WWW.HANDGUNS.COM
TAURUS
TX22
TYPE: striker-fired, single-action semiauto
CALIBER: .22 Long Rifle
CAPACITY: 1 6+1
BARREL LENGTH: 4.1 in.
OAL/HEIGHT/WIDTH: 7.1/5.44/1.25 in.
WEIGHT: 1 7. 3 o z
CONSTRUCTION: anodized 7075 aluminum
slide, polymer frame
SAFETIES: drop, trigger lever, ambidextrous
thumb
SIGHTS: 3 dot; fully adjustable rear
TRIGGER: 4 lb. pull (measured)
PRICE: $349
MANUFACTURER: Taurus, Taurususa.com< The TX22 is designed to handle a suppressor via an adapter. Remove the
thread protector, install the adapter and you’re all set for a can.