Taurus 709 vs ?

G

Ghost22

New member
I'm halfway thinking about getting a small, low cost 9mm, and stopped by a LGS to look at a few. After handling a SCCY and Ruger LC9, the salesman suggested a Taurus 709. As much bad press Taurus gets, he had to work to get me to even hold it.

I actually kind of liked it. Even the trigger was by far the best out of the three. I just found out it's a single action, which explains the safety.

Of course, the internet is full of horror stories about stuck cases, FTFs, FTE, and more, but people only complain when they get a lemon. I want to know if anyone has one and had it work just fine.

Also, if not the 709, what else would you recommend? I'm looking for something to pocket carry and possibly leave in a car. I would like to keep it less than $275. I know the S&W Shield is sitting at ~$350, and will likely be a contender if I can't decide on anything cheaper.

Added background: I have a Glock 19 that I would carry IWB, but due to Michelin Syndrome I have a hard time keeping me concealed, much less my belt gun. I also have a S&W 442, but I have to carry it in cargo pants/shorts because its too big for most of my pockets.
 
I would never put myself in a position where my life might someday depend on the proper functioning of a Taurus. Sure, some will work fine, but Taurus QC is awful and Taurus component quality is poor. A larger proportion of their pistols will have trouble than those of almost any other brand.

Pay a little more for the Shield. Or get a Beretta Nano from CDNN; they're selling Nanos for $299 right now. Or see if someone's selling the LC9s for a nice price.
 
I've had my fair share of Taurus failures and will not bet my life on a cheap gun. I'm not saying that I would not protect myself with a gun I picked up for cheap, but a Taurus is a cheap gun with poor quality. Of the 4 I have owned (3 revolvers & 1 pistol), all 4 had to go back to Taurus for repair on my dime.:mad: Save your self the headache and purchase a gun that has a company that will stand behind there product if its needed. No I'm not Taurus bashing, I did have to send a Ruger back with fixed sights that was not shooting to point of aim but they sent a shipping lable and had it back to me with in 2 1/2 weeks........alot more than I can say for Taurus.
 
I had a 709 in stainless for a while. Good little gun for the money and carried great. Ate any fmj I fed it at the range. I ended up trading it off towards a m&p40c.
 
Also, if not the 709, what else would you recommend? I'm looking for something to pocket carry and possibly leave in a car. I would like to keep it less than $275. I know the S&W Shield is sitting at ~$350, and will likely be a contender if I can't decide on anything cheaper.
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kel Tec PF9. Do the 200 round recommended break in. If no problems, you're probably good.

Lot's of guns in that size class. Ruger LC9 and variants. S&M Shield. KT PF9 and P-11. XDs. ETc. Etc. ETc.
 
I forgot to mention earlier that extra mags are apparently extremely difficult to find and very expensive ($60 minimum, and often more) when located. Someone else can correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the gun only comes with one mag. So that penny-pinching doesn't ultimately save you much.
 
I had a 709 for a while. It felt good in my hand, but when I took it to the range and started shooting it, my freakishly long fingers didn't work well with it. I shot a box of 50 rounds through it with no malfunctions. I traded it in on a Ruger LC9, which has also functioned properly. The LC9 is a much better fit for my fingers.
 
Can't comment on the 709 - I'm actually considering one myself. I do, however, own a SCCY and love it. Not as thin as the 709, but does come with two mags. I guess I HAD a SCCY - my LOML now has said pistol, having fallen in love at the range last summer. I know the trigger is long, but it does smooth out nicely - at least mine did - and it eats anything she feeds it. Just my 0.02
 
The Mrs picked out the PT709 back in 2011 after she got her carry permit and it's run everything through it we've thrown at it. No complaints here. I picked up a Shield for my BUG as I liked the trigger much better than the PT709 or my friends LC9 all three were about as accurate as the other with the three of us out at the range m Now that they've fixed the trigger pull on the LC9s I'd like to try one of those for comparison.
The Taurus and the older LC9 both had too long of a trigger pull for my liking.
 
Doing some research myself it seems the 709 is something
Taurus got right. You don't find near as many bad reviews
about the "Slim" series Tauri as you do other models. They're
small. They need a firm grip. They'll get the job done.

I've got a 24/7 that's been great. Best trigger of any pistol
I own. I have a PT-22 that has been flawless.

All the Best,
D. White
 
Maybe I'm just lucky, but I can't help but wonder if all of the Taurus issues are a bit overblown. With my recent addition of a PT738 I have had two guns manufactured by Taurus (the other being a Rossi 461) and both have ran flawlessly. I realize two guns isn't a lot to base an opinion on but with the way people talk about them you would think at least 50% of them come from the factory broken.
 
Thanks for all the replies. The magazine shortage is worrisome, especially considering most the lukewarm and some good reviews still say they've had magazine issues. I'll definitely hold and possibly test fire a Shield and Kel Tec before spending money on anything.
 
If you don't "need" it to be slim, look at the Taurus PT111 G2... holds 12 rounds, and is basically flawless. I haven't read anything negative about them anywhere. Mine has had no mis-steps yet, but I've only got about 150 rounds through it at this writing.
And it's just over $200 most places. Amazing value, in my opinion.

I also think the Taurus quality issue is overblown. I've had a 357 revolver, have a 38 snub, a 24/7 Pro in .45, and now this G2... No problems.
 
I would never put myself in a position where my life might someday depend on the proper functioning of a Taurus.
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QFE. The Ruger LC9S Pro is $351 right now on Bud's. A $75 difference. A box of ammo is about $15. By the time you've fired 250 rounds through the gun, you've made up the difference and you have a much better gun from a much better company.

Never scrimp on a gun. They last a long time. If you're practicing as often as you should, the ammo cost will eventually dwarf the cost of the gun. There's no reason not to buy quality.
 
Taurus PT111 G2..same price range..new model.... all factory ammo and weak and strong handloads...never a hiccup...2mags in the box...great vaule...
adjustable sights....stainless offering.
 
Picked up a 709 Slim a while ago, feeds everything I have put in! Nice enough trigger.
Ladies who have fired it "Like it"
 
I have to jump on with the PT 111 comments. I have only had mine a week or so, and only one trip to the range so far, but it has been nothing but positive up to this point. Before I bought it, I did a lot of research, and I couldn't find one negative review. Palmetto State Armory has them on clearance for $199.99 + shipping. It is only about 1/4" wider than the 709, and it holds 12+1. There will always be haters, but they are no different than every die hard Ford guy out there who has a story about how a Chevy once blew up and almost killed his uncle. Brand loyalty dies hard, and brand hatred dies harder. Do your research, find your own answers, and get the gun that you are going to like in the long run, regardless of what anyone else thinks - we won't be the ones shooting it, so our preferences don't really matter.
 
every single review I have read on the 709 has been outstanding. even the customer feedbacks on the big gun-buy sites. I just got the pt111 g2, but not as slim as the 709.

here is a great head to head article about the 738, pretty much the same gun in 380, similar anyways, but the point is, it held up better than any of the pricier competition
http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2013/05/jeremy-s/gun-review-taurus-738-tcp/

heres an old thread about when they came out
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=374153

there a many articles on the re-branding if Taurus and the company doing a better job than most despite it's rough past. I understand if somebody who's been in it for a long time will never change their perception of Taurus, but I have 100% faith in all of mine. my only guns that had problems were a smith and Wesson and a sccy, which is weird because I thought my taurus' were supposed to break first
http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2012/10/daniel-zimmerman/taurus-puts-its-money-where-its-mouth-is/

I now have four Taurus/rossi firearms, two with thousands through them, not a one has ever needed a repair.

and yes, I am kind of a Taurus fanboy, but only because they earned it
 
My 709 worked flawlessly for about 300 rounds. Then, the extractor gave out and I would get an FTE every 2 to 3 rounds. There were extractor issues with early models, but those were supposed to have been corrected years before I bought mine. The gun is back with Taurus now, and I wonder how many of the buyers giving the gun positive reviews have fired over 500 rounds through it.
 
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