I was contacted a month ago about the new variant of the ergonomically superb Taurus GX4 11-shot 9mm pistol. About the size of the GLOCK 43 (smaller than the G43X), it’s a double-to-single stack magazine and, while very small, it’s become known as a very solid 9mm pistol.

The new gun is the GX4 T.O.R.O. – Taurus Optic Ready Option. I wasn’t surprised that Taurus made this happen; the trend to optics on service pistols has become optics on compact and micro-compact guns. How relevant is that?

Some reluctance to optics on concealment guns revolves around bulk. With the micro-pistol, the added ‘footprint’ is still smaller than the so-called compact service pistol. And, as the smaller pistols have become “a thing,” the optics designers have continually made the electro-sight smaller without compromising battery life, options and – to some extent – durability.

Our use of the mini-Taurus was documented here, here and here. That created high hopes for the latest variant.

As supplied and fitted, for my testing, the Taurus GX4 T.O.R.O. was fitted with the Holosun HS507K X2 optic. This is my first hands-on experience with Holosun optics.

When first activated, I saw the “circle around the dot” reticle – a 32-MOA circle with a 2-MOA centered dot. I figured that would work for me. The gun was about the same as the Taurus GX4 that arrived earlier in the year, except it was supplied with an eleven round magazine and a thirteen-round magazine. It also came with the “Taurus tool” keychain (which didn’t accompany the first gun) and other odds and ends. It was in the OD Green plastic box, like the original.

As with the original GX4, I installed the larger palm-swell backstrap. I found it made the nicely sculpted frame a better fit for me.

The Taurus GX4 T.O.R.O. (in the middle, above) is between the Springfield Armory Hellcat RDP and the Ruger MAX9 (bottom). The guns are similar in size and purpose. Below, the newer GX4 is identical to the original (on the right) — except for the optic.

I took the new gun to the range the month before the public release. Beginning with the long magazine — I find the GX4 to be a bit short for precision shooting – and using Hornady 124 grain XTP +P ammo, I sought to rough-in a zero on the optic. Shooting from a seated rest at fifteen yards, I found the group was exactly two inches left of point-of-aim of the optic. I cranked the 1MOA adjustment right and tried with another five rounds on the same target. The group was nicely centered. Without my induced low flier, four of the bullets hit into 1 3/8”. With the flyer, it was a three-inch group, which made me sad. But the trigger is different from other guns – I can’t really explain how – and I hadn’t been to a range in around five weeks. Read more

December 2021 (Bainbridge, GA) – Taurus®, manufacturer of premium handguns for defense, hunting, and sport shooting, is pleased to introduce the next iteration of its heralded GX4 micro-compact pistol, the Taurus GX4™ T.O.R.O.

The new GX4 T.O.R.O. adopts the Taurus Optic Ready Option mounting system, which facilitates mounting of several popular micro-red dot sights. The T.O.R.O. system is designed around a factory optic-cut slide for those who desire the advantages of a low-print EDC handgun and the confident sight picture of a red dot. The GX4 T.O.R.O. also comes with a flush-mount slide cover plate for use with the non-optic option. The mounting pattern covers the following optic models:

• Shield RMSc
• Holosun HS507K and HS407K
• Sightmark Mini Shot A-Spec M3
• Hex Wasp GE5077-MIC-RET
• Sig RomeoZero
• Riton 3 Tactix MPRD2
• Trijicon RMR or Red Dot with the optional adapter plate (available at shoptaurus.com)

Installation of a compatible red dot optic onto the Taurus GX4 T.O.R.O. is fast, easy, and does not require the services of a gunsmith. Simply remove the included slide cover plate, install the desired optic, and secure with the screws supplied with your optic of choice. Read more

Primary Arms Optics has announced its attendance at Kalashmas 2021, an annual ‘Bring Your Own Gun’ range event held from 9AM to 5PM on December 4th at Renaissance Shooting Club in Todd Mission, Texas.

Kalashmas is a yearly celebration of all things Kalashnikov, featuring a full day of shooting and range challenges for the hundreds of AK enthusiasts in attendance. These challenges include everything from marksmanship contests to disassembly races and more, offering attendees a variety of AK-themed prizes. Kalashmas is hosted by the same team as Kalash Bash Texas, which is renowned throughout the shooting community as one of the largest AK events in the country, with major influencers and brands in attendance. Kalashmas boasts the same great opportunities, bringing names like Gun Owners of America, US Law Shield, and now Primary Arms Optics.

At the event, Primary Arms Optics will showcase some of their AK-friendly sights and rifle scopes, including the new SLx® 1x MicroPrisms, the GLx® 2x Prism, and the SLx 1-6x24mm FFP Rifle Scope with ACSS® Raptor 7.62×39 Reticle. Attendees will also be able to handle recent releases like the SLx 1x MicroPrism with ACSS Gemini® 9mm Reticle, which is a perfect fit for Vityaz-style PCCs. Attendees will also be able to take pictures with Primary Arms’ own Tactical Santa, who will give away swag throughout the event.

“For years, Primary Arms Optics has maintained strict support for the AK platform with a wide variety of optimized red dots, prism scopes, and rifle scopes,” says Dina Sanders, Primary Arms’ Brand Marketing Manager. “Given our commitment, it only made sense to attend this year’s Kalashmas! We look forward to showing off some of our new products to all the attendees while supporting this year’s event.” Read more

Kansas City, KS – Turning the Shadow 2 up a notch, CZ-USA released the CZ Shadow 2 Orange pistol, designed and manufactured for the competitive shooter who wants to win.

A variation of CZ-USA’s very popular CZ Shadow 2 pistol, currently in use in USPSA & IPSC Production Division events, in a nod to previous premium CZ-USA products the Shadow 2 Orange features new aluminum grip panels finished in snappy-looking orange. The improvements in this Shadow model go well beyond coloring.

The trigger, hammer, and sear of the CZ Shadow 2 Orange are hand-fitted for exacting precision, shot after shot. The barrel is polished and sports a new bushing to improve accuracy. The trigger is tuned for a smooth, crisp release and offers a short reset.

Also, the CZ Shadow 2 Orange is equipped with a competition hammer and an adjustable aluminum magazine release catch. The magazines have matching orange aluminum basepads and the gun features an extended safety. A set of flat safeties and a flat slide stop can be purchased separately. Read more

TriStar Arms is known for bringing high-value, quality firearms to market at affordable prices. A year ago that talent was expressed with the Bristol side-by-side shotguns which offer the traditional elegance and functionality of a classic side-by-side shotgun at an achievable price that doesn’t deter field use.

Now the beautiful English-stocked, color case-hardened model and the gold-adorned, laser-engraved Silver model are available in a fifth gauge. Like the rest of the Bristol line, the16 gauge model is on a true-to-gauge receiver. The new 16ga models include the same features as the rest of the line: Read more