Thanks to the lower cost of .22 Long Rifle ammunition, rimfire handguns have always been great training tools, and now, they're even expanding into more competitive circuits. Taurus USA, catering to the marketplace of competition shooters, enhanced its TX22 rimfire pistol with a few notable features, creating the TX22 Competition. Watch our "American Rifleman Television" Rifleman Review segment above to see the details.
"Remember back a few years ago, to 2019, Taurus came out with the TX22, which is very much like this gun, but wildly different because this thing has been enhanced and takes that TX22 to a whole new level that is competition-worthy and really a great training pistol for those who wanna save some money on ammunition, 9 mm and 45, and just ring steel with .22 rimfire," American Rifleman Managing Editor Christopher Olsen said.
One of the notable elements of the TX22 Competition is its optic-ready configuration. These days, consumers are used to seeing optic-ready handguns, but Taurus went a different direction than many manufacturers, and the company's approach provides a few benefits.
"Taurus has done something really incredible with this unique system that only requires two different base plates to cover over nine different optics," Olsen said. "And the optic system is not attached to the slide. Unlike most of these semi-auto pistols we've seen today that are machined at the rear, this is an aluminum slide. The optic system is attached to the barrel hood and chamber region, so when you take it all apart, the optic stays with the bore, so you're not losing your zero. It's really a super-efficient system."
In the TX22 design, Taurus focused on developing a few key elements that deliver more to rimfire enthusiasts. In the case of the magazine, literally more, offering a greater capacity than many previous rimfire handguns.
"Taurus really went to the drawing board with its TX22 Competition to deliver a gun that is a lot different than its predecessor," Olsen said. "This is where it really gets awesome, 16-round magazine. As you know, .22 rimfires are not super efficient, and they can fail. They can jam up your gun. It's what happens. So, smartly, there's a nice little scallop here that you can use to pry the magazine out, in the event of an ammunition malfunction. So, all in all, the Taurus TX22 Competition, it's a winner."
Taurus TX22 Competition Specifications
Manufacturer: Taurus USA
Action Type: blowback-operated, semi-automatic, rimfire pistol
Chambering: .22 Long Rifle
Slide: 7075 aluminum; hardcoat anodized
Frame: matte-black polymer
Barrel: 5.25" bull contour; 1/2x28 TPI
Rifling: six-groove; 1:16" RH twist
Magazine: 16-round detachable box
Sights: white-dot; fully adjustable rear, fixed front
Trigger: striker-fired
Overall Length: 8.15"
Height: 5.44"
Width: 1.25"
Weight: 23 ozs.
Accessories: owner's manual, hard case, thread protector, two optic plates, spare magazine, magazine loader, lock
MSRP: $540
To watch complete segments of past episodes of American Rifleman TV, go to americanrifleman.org/artv. For all-new episodes of ARTV, tune in Wednesday nights to Outdoor Channel 8:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. EST.
