Taurus GX4 Review: Complete Analysis After 2,500+ Rounds

Market Reality and Taurus’s Challenge

The micro 9 market is cutthroat. When the P365 dropped, it didn’t just move the goalposts—it burned down the entire stadium and built a new one. Suddenly everyone formerly OK with a 6+1 pistol wanted at least 10+1 capacity in a package that didn’t print through a t-shirt, and every manufacturer scrambled to build their own answer.

Taurus faced a particular challenge here. Their historical reputation among gun owners and concealed carry practitioners ranged from “affordable alternative” to “avoid entirely,” depending on who you asked, and the model involved. New buyers flooding the market needed reliable options for concealed carry and self-defense and opted for something like a Taurus G2 or G3 and felt well-served. But convincing the experienced to consider a Taurus pistol required more than just competitive pricing.

The Taurus GX4 represents the company’s most serious attempt to change that conversation. Instead of simply shrinking an existing design, the lazy approach, they engineered this pistol from the ground up specifically for concealed carry applications.

What Makes This Gun Different

The internal stainless-steel chassis design immediately sets the Taurus GX4 apart from other micro 9s. Unlike typical polymer-framed pistols where the grip frame is the serialized component, the GX4’s steel chassis is the actual firearm. This approach provides structural rigidity while allowing potential grip frame swaps similar to SIG’s modular designs.

The trigger guard features an undercut allowing for a high grip—critical for controlling felt recoil in such a small pistol. The polymer grip includes effective texturing that works without requiring aftermarket additions. These details suggest Taurus studied what shooters need rather than copying competitor specifications.

Two interchangeable backstraps accommodate different hand sizes, though most shooters find the small backstrap provides the best grip angle for control with this carry pistol.

The barrel length of 3.06 inches provides excellent balance between concealability and ballistic performance for a carry gun.

Pros

• Reliable performance
• Excellent value proposition for a concealed carry gun
• Genuine concealment capability
• Surprisingly good trigger with crisp break and short take up
• Steel sights from factory with white dot front sight
• Interchangeable backstraps accommodate different hand sizes
• Optics ready variants available
• Two magazines included with purchase
• Good grip texture allows for a firm grip
• Adequate magazine capacity for defensive use

Cons

• Disassembly requires a flathead screwdriver for the takedown pin
• Limited aftermarket sights compared to established platforms
• Taurus’s historical reputation creates skepticism
• Recall affected early production guns
• No manual safety option for those preferring that feature
• Trigger guard may be too large for some shooters

Build Quality and Construction

The slide uses a gas nitride coating over carbon steel construction that holds up well in daily carry without the thickness issues of some alternatives. The barrel receives DLC coating for enhanced wear resistance and reduced friction during break-in.

What impressed me were details typically skipped on budget guns. Internal parts feature appropriate coatings, the firing pin block and trigger safety systems function properly, and the loaded chamber indicator is visible without squinting. The grip frame uses glass-filled polymer reinforcement in stress areas, while the magazine well design prevents over-insertion problems that plague some other pistols.

The visual loaded chamber indicator provides an extra safety margin— a small detail that matters when your carry gun spends most of its time in a holster. Unlike guns with manual safety systems, the GX4 relies on its trigger safety and firing pin block for drop protection.

Controls and Ergonomics

Surface controls on this pistol are straightforward and functional. The magazine release requires deliberate pressure—some gun owners with smaller hands initially found this challenging, but it prevents accidental drops during draw strokes.

The Taurus GX4 comes with two steel magazines, each with high-visibility followers and polymer base pads.

The slide features front and rear serrations that provide purchase when manipulating the gun with wet or gloved hands. The takedown pin system requires a flathead screwdriver for disassembly but provides secure assembly that won’t loosen during extended shooting sessions.

The sights include a white dot front sight for quick acquisition and a black rear sight with serrated face to cut glare. The rear sight is drift adjustable for windage corrections, while the front sight provides excellent visibility across various lighting conditions.

Trigger Performance

Here’s where the Taurus GX4 genuinely surprised me. Unlike previous Taurus striker fired designs that felt like they were assembled with random parts, this trigger features a crisp break with minimal overtravel and short take up.

The flat-faced design provides consistent finger placement for the trigger finger every time you shoot.

The trigger safety requires deliberate center pressure but stays unobtrusive during normal shooting. The trigger guard is sized appropriately for gloved use, while the frame includes a textured area for proper trigger finger positioning when not actively shooting.

Reset is positive and audible, allowing experienced shooters to work the trigger quickly during multiple-target scenarios.

This trigger represents a significant improvement over previous Taurus offerings and makes the gun surprisingly comfortable to shoot accurately.

Real-World Testing Protocol

Over 18 months, this pistol consumed over 2,500 rounds ranging from bottom-shelf steel case ammo to premium defensive loads. Testing included multiple shooters with varying experience levels, from new concealed carry permit holders to competitive shooters, across different weather conditions in the Gulf South.

The round count breakdown: roughly 1,800 rounds of various FMJ practice ammunition, 400 rounds of imported steel-case, and 300+ rounds of defensive hollow point ammo from major manufacturers. This handgun proved dependable without a significant break-in period.

Performance Results

After the initial 200-round break-in period, reliability proved excellent. Most malfunctions occurred early with cheap steel-case ammo—typical behavior rather than design issues. Once past break-in, the Taurus GX4 consumed everything fed to it without complaint.

Hollow points, flat-nose bullets, and various bullet weights from 115 to 147 grains all functioned reliably. The generous chamber dimensions and polished feed ramp deserve credit for this consistent performance. The magazine capacity of 11+1 provides adequate firepower for most defensive scenarios while maintaining the compact profile essential for concealed carry.

During testing, this gun demonstrated the reliability expected from modern striker fired pistols, with most failures attributable to ammunition rather than the firearm itself.

What Actually Happened

Certain Taurus GX4 pistols—specifically those assembled in the U.S rather than Brazil—had a drop safety issue. Under very specific conditions, affected guns could potentially discharge when dropped at particular angles. This recall affects only guns with specific serial numbers, which gun owners can verify at GX4SafetyNotice.com.

Taurus firearms managed this recall significantly better than their historical reputation would suggest. Free repair, reasonable turnaround times (most folks report 10-14 days), and they cover shipping both ways. This represents a meaningful improvement in customer service for a company previously known for indifferent support.

My GX4 was not on the list of affected serial numbers. 

Root Cause and Resolution

In affected pistols, manufacturing tolerances allowed the striker blocking system to partially disengage, creating the possibility of unintended discharge during drops. Some early production guns also experienced trigger reset problems when lateral pressure was applied during firing.

The trigger safety and firing pin block systems in affected guns weren’t functioning as designed, which created the safety concern. Current production incorporates improved manufacturing tolerances to prevent these issues.

These problems appeared most frequently in U.S.-assembled guns during initial production runs. The Brazilian facility, with more experience manufacturing the platform, had significantly fewer problems. Current production incorporates safety improvements as standard equipment.

Taking apart the Taurus GX4 for cleaning requires a flathead screwdriver to turn the takedown pin, which is super inconvenient compared to tool-free systems, but is straightforward once learned.

Easy disassembly is achieved on an unloaded pistol by rotating the takedown pin to release the slide, providing access to the barrel and recoil spring assembly for routine cleaning.

Standard maintenance involves cleaning the barrel, wiping slide rails, and applying light lubrication to moving components. The gun’s relatively simple construction makes it surprisingly comfortable to maintain even for new gun owners who might be intimidated by more complex designs.

Regular cleaning every 500 rounds keeps the pistol functioning reliably, though to be honest, it ran considerably longer without attention during testing.

The Taurus GX4 proved capable of keeping rounds in the A-zone during extensive testing. From unsupported positions at 15 yards, groups consistently measured under 4 inches with quality ammo including Federal HST and Speer Gold Dot loads.

At realistic defensive distances—7 yards and closer—this pistol proved capable of producing round over round touching groups. The white dot front sight provides good visibility across various lighting conditions, while the black rear sight with serrations effectively cuts glare. Night sights are available.

The drift adjustable rear sight required minor adjustment out of the box but held zero throughout thousands of rounds and daily carry wear. For a carry pistol in this price range, accuracy proved more than adequate for defensive applications. We ran everything from 115-grain FMJs to 147-grain self-defense loads and only counted a handful of likely ammo and user-related malfunctions. 

Shooters can expect practical accuracy from this handgun at typical self-defense distances, making it a viable option for concealed carry purposes.

Ammunition Performance

Throughout testing, the Taurus GX4 demonstrated excellent reliability across ammunition types. Standard ball ammo, premium defensive loads, and various bullet profiles all fed, fired, and ejected consistently once past the break-in period.

Defensive ammo including Federal HST, Speer Gold Dot, and Hornady Critical Defense functioned flawlessly. Even cheap steel-case rounds ran reliably after the initial break-in, though quality brass-cased ammo remains recommended for serious use.

The magazine capacity of 11+1 provides reasonable capability for defensive scenarios. Extended 13-round magazines offer additional capacity when concealment isn’t the primary consideration, giving shooters flexibility based on their carry needs.

SIG P365

Against the SIG P365—the gun that created this category—the Taurus GX4 offers one additional round, interchangeable backstraps, and costs roughly $200 less. The P365 provides superior aftermarket sight options, slightly better accuracy potential, and SIG’s reputation for quality.

Springfield Hellcat

Compared to the Springfield Hellcat, capacity is identical while ergonomics favor the GX4 for most hand sizes. Both offer optics ready variants, with Taurus offering their TORO (Taurus Optic Ready Option) providing similar mounting capabilities at lower cost.

The GX4’s primary advantage remains pricing. Street prices typically run $220-280, representing substantial savings compared to other options in this category. For the budget-conscious, that price difference could fund quality training ammunition or a proper holster system—a big deal for many.

Taurus has since introduced the GX2, which blends many of the features of the GX4 with those of the inexpensive G2 and G3 line. Similar in size, with the GX2 being slightly larger than the GX4, the new gun has a tool-less take down. 

Holster Selection

Any concealed carry gun requires a proper holster, and the Taurus GX4 benefits from expanding options. Inside-the-waistband holsters from established manufacturers provide excellent retention and comfort for everyday carry applications.

The standard sights work adequately but represent an obvious upgrade opportunity. Aftermarket sights from major manufacturers provide significant low-light improvements and can be installed without gunsmith services.

For those preferring optics ready configurations, the GX4 TORO variant accepts most micro red dot sights. The mounting system proved secure and returned to zero reliably after removal and reinstallation during testing.

Real-World Concealment

The GX4’s dimensions make it genuinely concealable for most body types and clothing choices. At 1.08 inches wide, it disappears in appendix carry position, while the relatively short grip prints less obviously than larger double stack pistols during everyday carry.

Weight distribution feels balanced during extended carry periods, though the aggressive grip texturing might irritate sensitive skin in appendix carry without an undershirt. Quality holsters address this concern through strategic padding or sweat guards.

Finding a good holster for this gun shouldn’t prove difficult, as more manufacturers are adding the GX4 to their lineups. The takedown pin occasionally interferes with certain aggressive retention holsters, so checking compatibility prevents fitting issues.

How does Taurus’s GX4 stack up on our ten-point scale?

Accuracy: 7/10 The GX4 delivers practical accuracy for defensive purposes, consistently keeping rounds in the A-zone at 15 yards and producing touching groups at 7 yards. While capable across various ammunition weights from 115-147 grain, it doesn’t quite match the precision potential of premium competitors but exceeds expectations for its price point.

Ergonomics: 7/10 The interchangeable backstraps and undercut trigger guard provide excellent grip positioning for most hand sizes, with effective texturing that doesn’t require aftermarket additions. The flat-faced trigger offers consistent finger placement, though the aggressive grip texture may cause irritation during appendix carry without proper clothing layers.

Fit and Finish: 6/10 The gas nitride slide coating and DLC barrel treatment hold up well in daily carry, with appropriate internal part coatings that exceed budget gun expectations. While build quality represents a significant improvement over previous Taurus offerings, the overall finish lacks the refinement of premium alternatives and shows typical wear patterns over extended use.

Features: 7/10 The GX4 includes thoughtful details like a loaded chamber indicator, high-visibility magazine followers, generous magazine well design, and optics-ready variants (TORO). The internal stainless steel chassis provides structural rigidity, though the flathead screwdriver takedown system proves less convenient than tool-free alternatives.

Reliability: 8/10 After a 200-round break-in period, the GX4 demonstrated excellent reliability across 2,500+ rounds of varied ammunition types, from steel case to premium defensive loads. Post-recall improvements addressed early production safety concerns, with current manufacturing showing consistent performance that rivals more expensive competitors.

Value: 9/10 At $220-280 street price, the GX4 offers exceptional value in the micro-compact market, costing roughly half what competitors charge while providing comparable capacity (11+1) and performance. The price difference allows budget for quality training ammunition, proper holsters, or other essential gear, making it accessible to first-time buyers and backup gun purchasers alike.