Taurus 709 Slim, first contact

[GForceLizard]

After 1 day at the range I'm very pleased with the Taurus 709 Slim. There were no failures in the 200 rounds I shot. Started with 115gr FMJ from PMC and Federal then 147gr Speer Lawman. Finished with Federal Classic 115gr JHP and Remington 124gr JHP +P Golden Saber. I kept all my shots inside an 8" circle at 10 yards. I wasn't shooting the gun for ultimate groups and it's capable of more accuracy than this. The trigger seemed a bit strange at first because there's a ton of pre-travel. The single action trigger is short with a short reset and easy to manage. Magazines drop free. If the magazine is dropped it still shoots. The internal lock can be ignored and doesn't appear to be a problem.

A few things I didn't like. The machining on the inside of the slide. Why isn't the area where the top of barrel chamber rides flat? The ridge has marked a line on the center top of the chamber. The circular Taurus symbol on the side of the slide is deep at the top and shallow at the bottom.

Thanks to everyone that said to clean off the white grease. I cleaned it with Breakfree CLP before the first shot. Removal of the packing grease probably contributed to the reliability.

 

[Ben86]

I'm glad your 709 worked out as well as mine. That stainless version sure is nice. I don't have the same machining mark on mine. Good decision on properly cleaning and lubricating that gun before shooting it. I think all too often the initial "break in period" is actually just the period before it gets a proper cleaning. I spent about an hour getting that white creamy crud out of mine. Totally worth it, it runs as 100%.

Now if only taurus would make a grip extension, or that mythological 9 round magazine.

 

[Bill_G]

is the safety ambi?


Bill

 

[los]

is the safety ambi?

No. But the mag release can be converted for left hand deployment.

I'm really enjoying mine..!!

 

[wild cat mccane]

I want one, but fear they will come out with one that decocks and I would want that more...time will tell

 

[los]

The 709 is spring-loaded striker fired,..and has a manual thumb safety (a few other integrated safety features, actually) and it's also SA/DA.

 

[wild cat mccane]

I don't like safeties and don't like that it starts SA. I wish it was like the Taurus 24/7 DS. SA/DA with a decocker safety.

My preference is for no safety DA/SA with a decocker.

Long hard full, but will always go bang. we can deal with the SA benefits after we get that first shot off

 

[weregunner]

I like my PT709 just fine. The controls are just right and so is the grip.
I've got small hands and short fingers as well.

Recoil is absorbed by the twin spring recoil system and soaks up a lot of recoil. I was surprised how lightly it recoils for so small a pistol.

Like it better than my Makarovs and SIG P6.

The gun eats up anything fed to it.

 

[fluffy]

I had to send mine in after about 60 rounds with extraction problems.I called taurus ,and they sent out a fed ex truck to pick it up from my house,free.
At least 2 or 3 rounds of each magazine wouldnt extract,and would jam the action tightly,when a new round would feed in.Sometimes no rounds would extract.Hopefully,its a quick fix.

 

[flhtcuibyhd]

Mine has extraction problems with WWB ammo, but runs perfect with every other brand and weight bullet I've tried.

 

[Fastcast]

My brother recently bought a 709....He likes it but than he's a Taurus fan.

He bought piles of WWB unfortunately it absolutely will not feed the stuff. 1-3 FTE per mag. We also had 2 light strikes on Seller & Bellot ammo. I guess it could have been a bad primer but I've shot lots of S&B ammo and never have had a bad primer/light strike on any of my firearms with S&B. I've read of others having light strike problems with their 709.

It does have some nice features and the trigger is respectable. It's "slim" but the slide seems overly wide and out of proportion to the little/skinny grip. It seemed to smack the hell out of my trigger finger and I'm not the whiny type about recoil.

The mag release is too flush to the frame and hard to activate. The mags get hung up on something half way in and literally have to be smacked in. The sights are nice and the accuracy is noteworthy.

Personally there is no way in hell I'd trust my life with the thing....I've told him he needs to send the thing back and have it gone over again but he has yet to do that.

Also, forgot to mention......Reading the manual and doing exactly as instructed the take down button seemed very difficult and appeared to not be functioning correctly. We did get it apart but.....Maybe it needs shot in. Is anyone else having a difficult time field stripping?

 

[kludge]

I've read of others having light strike problems with their 709.

I got to shoot a 709 Slim this past weekend. Had 3 light stikes out of a box of 50.

Shot low for both of us at 7 yards, ~2" low with the rear sight all the way up.
Fed and extraced fine (115gr FMJ). Group size was very good for a short light 9mm. (~1" to 1.5" @ 7 yards - about half the size of the Kel-Tec P-11 in my hands).

The trigger was just kinda "there". Recoil was not an issue for me, but the grip size is better suited for someone with smaller hands than I have.

I was surprised how lightly it recoils for so small a pistol.

^ this. And the slide is much easier to rack than a P-11.

Gave myself a tiny blood blister when I "tapped" the magazine in place (short grip, wide palms).

Ergos: 4/5 (smaller handed people might give it 5/5)
Accuracy: 4/5 (5/5 would be 1 ragged hole @ 7 yards)
Appearance/Fit: 3/5 (better than Kel-Tec)
Reliability: 2.5/5 so far (my old P-11 gets a 5/5)
Concealability: 4.5/5 (as good as a J-frame, not quite a P-3AT)

 

[Ben86]

Is anyone else having a difficult time field stripping?

Taurus forget to mention that you have to pull the trigger to field strip the thing. My method is as follows. Pull slide back little, hold takedown levers down, pull trigger, push slide forward a bit to disengage it then get a better grip and yank the thing off. The slide sort of pops off, it doesn't slide off smoothly like a glock. I thought I broke it the first time.

 

[los]

...Taurus forget to mention that you have to pull the trigger to field strip the thing...

Ben, you're correct.

Taurus fails to instruct [in writing] but does illustrate the process of having to engage the trigger in order to take off the Slide. Refer to illustration 3 on page 25 in the Instructions Manual and take note of the finger on the trigger.....

 

[cskny]

How does the 709 compare size wise to the Kahr PM9 or the Kel Tec PM9? Same basic category?

 

[AJChenMPH]

I don't like safeties and don't like that it starts SA. I wish it was like the Taurus 24/7 DS. SA/DA with a decocker safety.

My preference is for no safety DA/SA with a decocker.

When I carry it IWB (vs. pocket-carrying), I carry it with the manual safety off -- it has the same trigger and internal safeties as a Glock. Even though it's technically in SA mode with one in the chamber, the trigger pull is very, very long (relatively speaking). As opposed to a traditional DA/SA gun, think of it more like a Glock with an extra manual safety and the ability to pull the trigger again in DA mode if you get a light strike (vs. having to rack a Glock if you get a light strike).

How does the 709 compare size wise to the Kahr PM9 or the Kel Tec PM9? Same basic category?

Check out post #26 by m2steven for pics:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=481162

 

[cskny]

Thanks AJChenMPH!

 

[jonboynumba1]

I just got a stainless in here at the shop...I don't really dig Taurus but I gotta say I like this little gun...I'm a little dissapointed with what I'm hearing as far as reliabillity...I really want to like this gun enough to bring it home. Maybe I'll wait a bit longer and let them get any remaining "bugs" out...it feels really great...not quite as small as a KT PF9 but way nicer and MUCH better trigger! Looks like a good summer/light option if it would work 100%...I think I'll hold off a bit and see. Reminds me a lot of the P9 in feel but at about $399.95 retail I think they'd have a good one here if reliabillty proves out.

 

[W L Johnson]

He bought piles of WWB unfortunately it absolutely will not feed the stuff.

Mine loves the stuff.

Not one failure with WWB, magtech, CCI alum & brass, Remington golden sabers and Corbon.

 

[Ben86]

Mine loves WWB as well, 200 rounds and no problems whatsoever. The only problem I had with the gun is that the rear sight was a little crooked. The right side sat higher than the left. This was quickly remedied by my local gunsmith. It was just sitting on a plastic bur.