The Taurus TH9 is a full-sized, hammer-fired, SA/DA, semi-automatic, polymer-framed, 9mm handgun with a 17 round magazine capacity. It is reliable, accurate, and reasonably priced, with a manufacturer-suggested retail price of $389.99
Background
I am a big fan of single action/double action handguns with decockers. I have been ever since my son first let me fire his Beretta 92FS. I like the extra measure of deliberation that the double action mode requires in a first shot, and the greater accuracy that the single action mode makes possible in followup shots. I really appreciated this feature in one of my all-time favorite handguns, the Walther P99. In fact, if Walther offered a full-size version of the P99, I would try to be first in line to buy one.
I also like hammer-fired handguns. I like being able to quickly and easily determine visually whether or not a handgun is cocked. I like being able to quickly and easily cock a handgun if it is not already prepared for single action use.
So when I heard about the Taurus TH9, I was eager to give it a try. I sent a message to my contact with Taurus, and they were kind enough to agree to provide me with a sample for testing and evaluation. Before too long, I received a message that the handgun was at my FFL, and I went to pick it up.
First Impressions
The handgun arrived in a nice 13″ x 10″ x 3.25″ plastic case. The latches on the case are well designed, and should last for a long time.
In addition to the handgun, the case contained two 17-round magazines, a magazine loader, two extra backstraps, a cable lock, a set of Allen wrenches, a card with a link to the warranty registration website, a manual, and a coupon for $10 off the 800 series duty holster for the TH9. It was great to know that there is a holster already available for the TH9, since sometimes it can be hard to find holsters for newer handgun designs.
The TH9 feels a bit hefty in my hand, even though at 28.2 ounces unloaded it is only a couple of ounces heavier than my usual range handgun. It arrived well-oiled with an empty chamber flag and a tag on the trigger guard reminding the new owner to read the manual before use.
I found the ambidextrous magazine release to be a little stiff at first. The ambidextrous safety and decocker worked smoothly right out of the box. The stippling on the grips is effective. The trigger was initially a bit gritty.
The Manual
The TH9 manual is 40 pages long, including the front and back covers. The manual begins with a clear, well-written set of safety instructions. The bottom of each page in the manual repeats the most essential, “Always keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction and finger off the trigger.”
I highly recommend reading the manual to everyone who acquires a new firearm. There are almost always helpful tidbits of information to be found in those pages. Here are some tidbits that I collected from this manual:
∙ The manual recommends wearing both ear plugs and ear muffs when firing the TH9. This is excellent advice, especially for beginners. The reduction in perceived noise when firing the handgun often results in a corresponding reduction in flinch among new shooters.
∙ When the manual safety is in the up position, the handgun is on “safe” mode. When the manual safety is in the middle position, the handgun is on “fire” mode. When the manual safety is depressed to the down position, the hammer decocks.
∙ There is a memory pad on the frame of the handgun, which is a location to place the trigger finger when the user does not wish to fire the handgun.
∙ The manual gives links to videos and other online resources related to safe firearms operation.
∙ The manual recommends condition 3 carry, with the magazine inserted, the chamber empty, and the hammer down. This requires cycling the slide prior to firing the handgun.
∙ The manual presents a very balanced presentation of safe storage: “Warning: securing your firearm may inhibit access in a defensive situation and may result in injury or death.” “Warning: Failure to secure a firearm may result in injury or death . . . .”
∙ The single action trigger is rated at 6.7 pounds. The double action trigger is rated at 12 pounds.
∙ The handgun can accommodate +P ammo.
∙ The handgun does not have a magazine disconnect safety. This means it can fire a chambered round while the magazine is removed. I approve of this design decision, since the addition of a magazine disconnect safety usually results in a worse trigger pull, and it is good not to have the firearm incapacitated during magazine changes.
∙ The manual recommends pulling the trigger during the disassembly process. Using the decocker works just as well, with less risk of an unintentional discharge. I recommend that Taurus change the manual accordingly.
∙ The terms of the limited lifetime warranty seemed reasonable.
∙ I was surprised that the manual did not include the usual state-mandated warnings.
Breaking In
As I mentioned above, the magazine release was a bit stiff at first, and the trigger was a little gritty. Over the course of the first two weeks after I picked up the TH9, I cycled the action and dry fired the handgun at least 600 times, and inserted and dropped the magazine at least 500 times. These breaking in efforts were a success, as the trigger smoothed out, and the magazine release loosened up.
Most new firearms can benefit from a similar breaking-in regimen. Please note that most rimfire firearms should not be dry-fired.
At the Range
It was a sunny afternoon in mid-June. The sky had cleared off after rain earlier in the day. The temperature was in the mid-70s with a light a variable breeze, and surprisingly low humidity. I took the TH9 to the improvised range behind my pole barn. I set up a target stand in front of the backstop, and set up a table with a pistol rest 15 yards from the target.
I loaded a single round of Blazer aluminum-cased 115 grain FMJ, and fired from rest at the center target. The shot hit dead center without any need to adjust the sights.
I loaded 9 more rounds of the Blazer ammo, and fired at the center target. All but 1 of the shots struck within 2 inches of the center of the target. I found that to be highly satisfactory for out-of-the-box performance.
I then loaded 10 rounds of Winchester white box 115-grain FMJ. These rounds grouped a little higher, with two striking more than 2 inches from the point of aim.
A few months earlier, I had found a round on the ground that had been dropped in the snow during the winter. I loaded that round into the magazine as a test of weather resistance for ammo, and as a test of how well the TH9 tolerates less-than-perfect ammo. The round chambered and fired fine, and hit almost dead center on the target.
Next, I fully loaded a magazine with 17 rounds. I found the magazine spring to be a little stiff, as I loaded the last few rounds, but not bad. I fired this group offhand. I found that this group centered about 2 inches lower and about 1 inch to the right of the groups that I had fired from rest. Obviously, I still have some flinch to overcome. If I wanted to compensate for this flinch by adjusting the sights, I could drift the sights in their dovetail for windage, but I could not adjust for elevation.
All in all, I found the 6.7-pound single action trigger to be a bit heavier than I prefer. On the other hand, the double action trigger felt lighter than the rated 12 pounds, and it was unusually smooth.
The empty casings fell rather neatly into a limited area about 1 foot to the right and 1 foot behind where I was kneeling or standing as I fired the TH9. This made picking up the casings afterward quite easy.
The mosquitoes were becoming increasingly active at this point, so I put away my equipment and exited the range.
Cleaning
Field stripping was extremely easy with the help of two take-down tabs. It basically involved removing the magazine, making sure the chamber was clear, decocking the handgun, pulling the take-down tabs, and pulling the slide assembly forward off the frame. Cleaning was routine, and reassembly was equally easy.
Conclusions
The TH9 offers a nicely designed handgun with better-than-average accuracy at a reasonable price. It would make an excellent choice for people, like me, who favor single action/double action, hammer-fired handguns.
There are only three minor changes that I can recommend as a result of my testing:
- I would recommend changing the manual to using the decocker rather than pulling the trigger during the field stripping process.
- I would recommend a lighter single action trigger. I suspect this somewhat heavy single action trigger is due to the handgun being designed as a duty weapon for law enforcement. Many law enforcement agencies prefer heavier triggers to reduce the risk of unintentional discharges.
- I would recommend sights that are adjustable for elevation as well as windage.
Regarding the last recommendation, my contact at Taurus reports that Novak makes an aftermarket adjustable rear sight for the TH9. Also, there are future plans to transition future models of the TH line to be compatible with aftermarket Glock-dovetail sights.
Disclaimer
Taurus was kind enough to loan me a sample of their TH9 for testing and evaluation. I tried not to let their kindness interfere with my objectivity in this review, and believe that I have succeeded. I did not receive any other financial or other inducement to mention any vendor, product, or service in this article.