Up-­sizing a successful micro-­compact has been a growing trend with new firearm introductions since 2020. The SIG Sauer P365, Springfield Armory Hellcat and Smith & Wesson M&P Shield, for example, all started small and gradually evolved to include near-full-­size variants. Taurus’ GX4 was no exception. It was a smash-hit when it was first introduced in the August 2021 issue, preceding the 2022 G&A Handgun of the Year award-winning GX4XL, which included optic-­ready T.O.R.O. models. While popular, the GX4 lineup didn’t quite cover every base. The price was still more than $400. Up to the plate for the 2025 roster is the GX2.

Spring Training

I first learned about the Taurus GX2 when Guns & Ammo sent me on assignment to attend a custom handgun carry class at the Gunsite Academy in Paulden, Arizona. Running through Lt. Col. Jeff Cooper’s proving grounds is a fantastic way to size up a pistol. There’s plenty of target practice, draw-­to-­fire drills and stress-inoculation training. Joining the class were several media representatives and engineers from Taurus. Taurus USA CEO Bret Vorhees even joined us for the drills and range demonstrations. 

Appendix inside the waistband (AIWB) holsters by PHLster were provided, along with IWB magazine carriers. I usually avoid appendix carry due to comfort and reasons relating to my personal risk tolerance, but this class was appropriate to evaluate my opinions. I took solace in the fact that if men and women who designed the GX2 were okay with it being carried in this manner, it was a good sign to the pistol’s reliability and safety features.

Gunsite instructors are at the top of their field. They ran our group through a custom handgun course designed to emphasize drawing from concealment, accuracy, home defense scenarios, complete with Cooper’s “Urban Scrambler.” The Urban Scrambler involves shooting from various firing positions through different levels of cover, and at varied ranges. It is not only a great exercise to sharpen one’s handgun skills on the move, but it was one of the stress tests to evaluate the GX2. 

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Carry drills pushed us to work on situational awareness while safely drawing from concealment and reholstering. Reholstering is one of the most important skills I took away from the course. The vast majority of accidents and self-­injuries occur due to improper reholstering. For those who appendix carry, it’s the worst scenario during a bad time.

Training also reminded me why it’s important to practice the fundamentals. I experienced some accuracy issues initially, and they were not due to the gun. I have been overly reliant on red dots and neglected iron sight work for too long. After getting back into the swing of things, effective shots on target were not a problem with the GX2. Targets were set at 5, 10, 15 and 25 yards, and the entire class rang steel and hit paper consistently. Each attendee fired several hundred rounds. Given the $300 price-point, it was impressive watching the firing line chew through cases of ammo.

Carry on A Budget

A review of the GX2 can’t be done without bringing attention to its cost. At a $309 suggested retail price for the alloy steel slide version that I shot, the typical buyer should expect to find the GX2 across the gun counter for around $250 or less, especially if there are rebates. I asked Taurus about the niche they wanted this gun to fill. They replied, “The GX2 was for first-­time buyers, as well as more experienced shooters looking for a budget gun to carry or maintain for home defense.” This is same niche also covered by the Taurus G2C ($304).

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Released in 2013, some might say that the G2C is aging. It has fewer features than the GX2. When comparing stats, the GX2 could be described as a G2C, except for several design elements carried over from the GX4. There remains an accessory rail beneath the dustcover for mounting laser sights or lights, which adds some utility for a nightstand gun. Additionally, the GX2 has a similar grip to the GX4, but it sports a more aggressive texture. The GX2 does lack the GX4’s interchangeable backstraps, but the external takedown lever is a notable improvement versus the GX4’s. Users can disassemble the GX2 without tools, coins or the rim of a cartridge case.

The internal stainless-­steel chassis provides a good heft to the GX2, while also giving it a solid foundation. It accepts 13-round magazines as standard and extended 15-round mags. While the grip and magazines of the GX2 share some cosmetic similarities with the GX4, they are not interchangeable.

How did Taurus manage to engineer more features into the GX2 while maintaining the $300 price? The answer was advancements in CNC machining and automated production lines. These pistols can be manufactured in Brazil while still adhering to quality control standards, meaning that Taurus was able to lower its costs without compromising reliability or shootability. The strategy of utilizing robotics for production to reduce costs is not new to manufacturing, and it has been utilized with great success.

Being built in Brazil means that some features of the GX2, such as the manual safety lever and loaded chamber indicator notch are ever-present. They’re mandated on handguns originating outside of the United States. A manual safety may actually improve the chances of first-­time buyers being more comfortable carrying the GX2 — especially for those carrying AIWB — because it gives the pistol an extra layer of reassurance. For the pistol to fire, the safety lever must be manually disengaged.

At the Range

During the Gunsite training, I never witnessed a jam or misfire of the GX2 on the firing line. The only consistent, repeatable error I observed was due to an issue with pre-production magazines. Attendees repeatedly dropped them onto the hard desert floor. When mags with ammo were dropped, they tended to produce a stuck follower or eject multiple rounds. Taurus was aware of this issue and assured us that they would have it ironed out before production. As a result, Taurus delayed the launch of the GX2 by a few months to make sure this magazine issue was entirely fixed. Here’s a tip-of-the-hat for that one.

When I had the chance to work with the GX2 at my home range, I examined the mags again. They now feature a special coating and better seat into the pistol grip. To simulate the conditions at Gunsite, I loaded five inert rounds into the mags and started dropping them onto dirt. As of late, there were no jams or feeding issues. The magazines exhibited better performance and seating. It was nice to see that Taurus listened to our feedback and made adjustments based on the results of our training.

Taking the GX2 to the range, it struck me again how nice this gun feels in my hands. The 19-ounce weight might be a downside for some who concealed carry, but I’ve never had a problem working with a heavier handgun. I consider my hand size to be average for most Americans, so maintaining a secure grip that fit the textured finger grooves was easy. The trigger pull was smooth, too. It would be familiar to anyone who has experienced the GX4. It averaged close to 5 pounds on my trigger-pull gauge.  

The GX2 ran smoothly through training at Gunsite with Magtech ammo, so I tested it with other loads at home. It shot 115-grain rounds from Fiocchi, Sierra, and Magtech. Each round went smoothly through the GX2 without issue, producing some decent groups from bench and a few impressive patterns while firing from the draw or one-­handed. Often enough, I’d spot a tight group of three rounds in a five-­shot group that were about 2 inches apart, only to be enlarged by a couple of fliers.

Unfortunately, the CCI Blazer Brass brought for testing was incompatible with the gun. Using it resulted in repeated stovepipes within the first 20 rounds. I was unable to get the slide to lock back after the final round left the magazine, too. As a control, I tested the same box of ammo with other handguns that ran through it handily, and then tried shooting a new box of Blazer through the GX2. It resulted in the same problems. Velocity testing showed that the Blazer rounds left the barrel slower than the other ammunition tested. Perhaps, there wasn’t enough energy to overcome the recoil spring weight. As the recoil spring settles in from repeated use, the issue might go away but I’d recommend evaluating several types of ammo before carrying to be sure — as I would with any gun.

Rapid-­fire testing resulted in good groups from 5 to 7 yards. When fired in a hurry, all shots landed confidently within the A-­zone of a silhouette target. Allow me to emphasize that one-­hand shooting with the GX2 was excellent. Regardless of a one- or two-hand grip technique, the beavertail design allows every hand a high purchase.

Safe at Home

Balancing price and quality can be a tight pitch for gun manufacturers, but the GX2 strikes a nice equilibirum for a budget gun that swings above its price point. Accuracy was consistent enough to ring steel on the range, and the GX2 proved more than capable to defend against close-range threats or in a home-defense scenario. 

Overall, the GX2 impressed with its reliability and practical features, making it a strong contender for first-time buyers and budget-conscious shooters alike. 

Taurus GX2

• Type: Recoil operated, striker-­fired, semiautomatic
• Cartridge: 9mm
• Capacity: 13+1, 15+1 rds.
• Barrel: 3.38 in., stainless steel
• Length: 6.19 in.Height: 4.89 in.
• Width: 1.18 in.
• Weight: 1 lb., 3 oz. (tested)
• Materials: Stainless steel (barrel), steel alloy (slide/frame), polymer, textured (grip)
• Trigger: 5 lbs. (tested)Safety: Manual striker block; trigger lever; internal
• Finish: Matte black (slide)
• Sights: Steel, white dot (front); notch, serrated, black, drift adjustable (rear)
• MSRP: $309
• Importer: Taurus USA, 800-­327-­3776, taurususa.com
• Manufacturer: Taurus, Brazil