Taurus has announced the launch of its newest .22 LR Pistol, the Taurus 22TUC.
Twenty-Two Tuck? Twenty-Two Tee Yoo Cee? We’re not sure what everyone’ll end up calling it colloquially, but we do know Taurus says it’s a “…compact and reliable .22 LR designed for everyday carry and personal defense.”
Any manufacturer will use language like this to describe a new product (not by any means only Taurus Firearms), so we’ll be watching for reviews, additional information, and, of course, any sense of general gun-owner zeitgeist the little pocket gun elicits.
Rule One of Gunfighting is, have a gun. Now, stipulated, 22 LR hasn’t earned wide acclaim as a defensive cartridge, but as bullets go they’re better than the wishful-thinking imaginary ones you have loaded in the gun you weren’t carrying when you should have. Keep that in mind when some naysayer tells you, “But it’s not tactical!”
Anyway, we’ll save the caliber debate for another time and get down to it.
Taurus 22 TUC: Lightweight Pocket Gun
The 22TUC is an extremely lightweight weapon, taking advantage (Taurus says) of developments in 22 caliber terminal ballistics to provide a user-friendly concealed carry option that’s comfortable to carry, easy to conceal, and simple to use.
If you take into consideration the broadest range of potential users out there, a mouse gun like this isn’t as counter-intuitive as you might think. I hate to use the terms “elderly” or “infirm,” but let’s face it — many shooters struggle with recoil management and muzzle flip, even with what are generally considered to be lighter calibers like 9mm and .380.
So why not try something like the 22TUC? It’ll beat a Nerf gun or a rape whistle in a fight every time. Its size also lends itself to use as a secondary or backup weapon, and when it comes to feeding the thing, fewer cartridges are less expensive than .22.
Well, most of the time.
Features like the tip-up barrel make the 22TUC easy to load, eliminating the need to rack a slide. This will be a turnoff for many buyers but not so much for some of the folks I mentioned before — or others like them.
I know a southpaw fella who used something similar to this after a very bad accident broke his left arm in several places. If I recall correctly, he even tucked it into his sling at times for better concealment and an easier draw.
It was interesting to watch on the range, and with just a little practice, he became tolerably effective at drawstroke and presentation. Unfortunately, after his arm healed, he shifted back from right- to wrong-handed, but the Second Amendment is for everyone, so we couldn’t complain too much (though we did).
The 22TUC’s trigger is double-action, similar to one of the smaller defensive revolvers. Taurus avers it provides a heavy enough hammer strike to guarantee ignition with rimfire ammo while remaining smooth through the entire cycle of operations.
Lastly, the 9-round capacity means that the 22TUC provides you with multiple rounds to address a threat. Reloading should be relatively simple, but a new 22TUC owner would be wise to drill some reloads on the range and under stress before carrying it defensively. You don’t want to be trying to rack the slide on a gun that doesn’t rack when you’re on the embarrassing end of someone else’s barrel.
Key Features of the Taurus 22TUC:
- Tip-Up Barrel Design: The Taurus 22TUC offers a convenient tip-up barrel that allows effortless loading without the need to rack the slide. This feature makes the 22TUC accessible to shooters of all experience levels, from beginners to seasoned firearm owners looking for an easy-to-use option.
- Double-Action Trigger: The 22TUC is equipped with a reliable double-action (DA) trigger, ensuring consistent ignition with rimfire ammunition. This added reliability enhances confidence in performance, whether the pistol is used for personal defense or everyday carry.
- 9-Round Capacity: With a 9-round magazine, the 22TUC strikes the perfect balance between compactness and sufficient capacity, making it ideal for a range of applications, from backup defense to simple daily carry.
- Lightweight, Compact Frame: At just the right size for comfortable concealment, the 22TUC offers a compact yet capable design that ensures users stay ready and equipped without the bulk of a larger firearm.
How does the saying go? “A .22 is less than half a .45, but it’s waaaay many times more than any caliber of any size that you left at home.”
If we get the chance, we’ll review this interesting little Tucker and let you know what we think.
You might also be interested in:
- Using .22 caliber for self-defense
- Taurus G3X Review
- Taurus TH10 Review
- 22LR Self Defense Ammunition Comparison
