Prior to the 21st century, the semiautomatic pistols made by Taurus Armas S.A. (formerly known as Forjas Taurus S.A) – headquartered in São Leopoldo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, with its U.S. subsidiary currently located in Bainbridge, Georgia – got somewhat mixed reviews in the gun writer community. Some folks, like Jan Libourel of Guns & Ammo Handguns Magazine and the late Chuck Karwan regarded them – especially the license-built PT-92 copy of the Beretta 92 – as the best thing since sliced bread. Others were kinda ambivalent toward them (count Yours Truly in that contingent), and still others regarded them as outright junk. But then again, the company had been around since 1941, so they had to be doing something right…right?
Then came the 21st century and the Taurus 24/7 pistol. This was the product that I daresay truly established the maturation and “arrival,” as it were, of Taurus as a truly serious competitor with the likes of bigger-name companies like Glock, Smith & Wesson, etc. in the defensive handgun market.
Taurus 24/7 History and Specifications
The Taurus 24/7 made its debut in 2004. The gun was targeted (bad pun intended) toward the armed private citizen concealed carry market (more on this in a bit) and the law enforcement community alike (for the latter demographic, as backup pieces to their primary sidearms).
Two features that showed the manufacturer was serious about competing with the likes of Glock were the polymer frame and the striker-fired trigger action. The gun was offered in 9mm, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP calibers alike. Three different barrel size options were offered: the Compact, at 3.5 inches; the Standard, at 4.20”; and the so-called “OSS” model – intended to win the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) contract – with a 5.25” bbl. Depending on size and caliber, magazine capacity was 6, 10, 12, 14, 15, or 17 rounds. (Talk about something for everyone, eh?). The Compact version weighed in at 27 ounces.
The pistol was also noted for its ‘Taurus Safety Latch’, a transfer bar safety which prevented firing unless the trigger was consciously and deliberately pulled.
Racking Up the Awards and Accolades
Once the 24/7 debuted, it didn’t take long for those awards to start coming in. Most prestigious was the NRA 2005 Golden Bullseye Award as Handgun of the Year. As Joe Graham, then-Executive Director of NRA Publications, stated, “The nation’s preeminent gun-rights organization has recognized excellence in firearms and related equipment. We are confident our selection committee has identified the very best new products the industry has to offer … remarkable in terms of innovation, reliability, safety, and for providing shooters and hunters genuine value for their hard-earned dollars. The Golden Bullseye Awards are our way of saluting the ingenuity of today’s entrepreneurs who are maintaining the vitality of one of our nation’s oldest industries.”
In addition, the gun won the 2004 Guns & Ammo Editor’s Award for Innovation.
Fellow Gun Writers’ Shooting Impressions
Unfortunately, none of my local shooting ranges have a Taurus 24/7 available for rental (though one of them does have the infamous Judge revolver available; blecch and meh, go figure) so I’ll have to go off the secondhand word of fellow gun writers. Hence we turn to Mark Rogers, administrator of the Christian Gun Owner website. Here’s what Mark had to say about the gun:
“Shooting the gun is sweet. I’m reviewing the 9mm here, and the recoil is naturally very manageable in this full size gun. The gun is very accurate and has Heine Straight 8 sights with the rear sight adjustable for windage…As to your ability to conceal the gun: I carried mine for about two months under light spring and summer clothing in a Galco inside the waistband holster. The shape of the gun and its ‘Ribber’ grips made the gun very comfortable to wear around all day even though it is a full size duty pistol…Over 1000 rounds went through this gun without a hiccup. I shot Monarch, Blazer Brass (i.e. cheap), and Winchester ball and hollow points. No failures of any kind. The gun works.”
Alas, there was trouble in paradise. In 2016, a lawsuit was filed against Taurus which alleged that (1) the 24/7 and several of the manufacturer’s other handguns were prone to accidental discharge if dropped – in others words, that ballyhooed “Taurus Safety Latch” evidently didn’t work as advertised – and (2) the company covered up the defects. Without actually admitting culpability, Taurus agreed to a $239 million settlement and a voluntary recall of one million pistols with the options of either (A) a cash payment, (B) enhanced warranty or (C) safety training.
As of April 2017, the 24/7 was discontinued and superseded by the G2 pistol.
Want Your Own?
True Gun Value states that “A TAURUS 24 7 pistol is currently worth an average price of $212.34 used . The 12 month average price is $211.24 used.” That’s an absolute steal, especially for a gun of this reputability, and especially in this day & age of Bidenflation. Alpha Pro Security currently has a .45 ACP specimen listed at $370.00.
Christian D. Orr is a Senior Defense Editor for 19FortyFive. He has 34 years of shooting experience, starting at the tender age of 14. His marksmanship accomplishments include: the Air Force Small Arms Ribbon w/one device (for M16A2 rifle and M9 pistol); Pistol Expert Ratings from U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP), Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) Criminal Investigator Training Program (CITP); multiple medals and trophies via the Glock Sport Shooting Foundation (GSSF) and the Nevada Police & Fires Games (NPAF). Chris has been an NRA Certified Basic Pistol Instructor since 2011. In his spare time, he enjoys (besides shooting, obviously) dining out, cigars, Irish and British pubs, travel, USC Trojans college football, and Washington DC professional sports. If you’d like to pick his brain in-person about his writings, chances are you’ll be able to find him at the Green Turtle Pasadena in Maryland on Friday nights, singing his favorite karaoke tunes.
