4 Next-Gen Taurus Compacts For Concealed Carry

taurus, taurus concealed carry, taurus pistols, taurus revolvers — Engineered to fit the contours of your body, the new Taurus Curve in .380 ACP is designed for inside-the-waistband carry. To simplify the process, the Taurus Curve comes standard with a reversible clip.

With the introduction of the new Taurus Curve, the eyes of many of those looking for a concealed-carry firearm have turned toward the Florida-based firearm manufacturer. This allows us to look at what Taurus, certainly a well-known company in the concealed-carry community, has to offer along with the Curve.

Introduced after years of research and development, the new polymer-framed Curve in .380 ACP is chock full of attributes that will attract the attention of any dedicated concealed carrier or those interested in becoming one. Start with the Curve’s small size, which allows it to be virtually the size of your hand, then its weight, a featherweight 10.2 ounces, and its 1.18-inch-thick slide. Despite the pistol’s diminutiveness, however, it still holds 6+1 rounds.

Form-Fit Defense

But its most unique feature is its shape. The Curve’s frame bends to the right, to make it contoured to fit the human shape, a distinct advantage when worn inside the waistband (IWB). Form fitting, the Curve will have fewer tendencies to protrude when beneath a covering garment. Taurus did not stop there, though, but turned its attention to another potential “printing” factor—sharp edges.

There are no sharp edges to be found on this pistol. Every edge on the Curve has been radiused. If a Curve should press against covering garments, observers will see something shaped more like a wallet or cell phone.

Another source for potential clothing snags or abraded skin are handgun sights. The Curve arrives sans traditional sights, though it does have two alternative sighting systems. The first is a combination red laser/white light made by LaserLyte built into the Curve’s frame. Its flush activation switch appears on the frame’s right side. Taurus’ Bore Sight System is the other. A white cross on the slide’s back is in line with the bore. Level the slide, center the cross on what you want to shoot and pull the trigger.

Holsters can add bulk to a pistol carried IWB, and Taurus recognized that fact. The Curve arrives wearing a belt clip that works equally well on a non-belted waistband and that’s swappable to the pistol’s left side.

Pocket Autos

Taurus’ Millennium G2 is a polymer-framed pistol that would make a nice defensive concealed-carry pistol without sacrificing any advantages. Weighing 22 ounces, with a length of 6.24 inches and a 12+1 capacity of 9mm rounds (or 10+1 in .40 S&W), the Millennium G2 will not drag your belt down.

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Still, with 13 rounds in the pistol, and another 12 in a spare magazine, this semi-auto should prove quite helpful in an armed confrontation. The sights are nice, with the rear radiused, along with the pistol’s other edges, to help prevent snags during the draw. Aggressive texturing on the grip and an equipment rail for accessories rounds out the gun’s features.

Taurus’ smallest pistol offerings, until the advent of the Curve, were its Model 22 and Model 25 series, chambered for .22 LR and .25 ACP, respectively. Don’t get me wrong, these 9+1 semi-autos have not suddenly become gargantuan and are still viable, double-action-only (DAO) pocket pistols. Sights are vestigial at best, with the rear being integral to the slide and the front integral to the barrel. This is no problem on a pistol designed for use at bad-breath distances.

I find the wooden grips on these pistols seem to provide a type of “hand-filling” effect. The Model 22 and Model 25 series of pistols have a feature perfect for the previously mentioned reduced-upper-body-strength users—the barrels tip up for easy loading!

Deep-Cover Wheelguns

An interesting revolver option is the Taurus Model 85PLY, which has a frame of high-strength polymer. Many folks prefer polymer over aluminum alloys, which makes the DA/SA 85PLY a perfect choice, and it only weighs 18.2 ounces. The 85PLY comes with a very comfortable rubber grip and a front sight integral with the barrel. The rear sight is integral with the topstrap but has been raised. This will provide users with an effective sight picture. For those shooters who want a lighter-weight, five-shot revolver but don’t want aluminum alloys and don’t mind a 0.25-inch increase in height, the Taurus Model 85PLY may be just the ticket!

For more information, visit http://www.taurususa.com or call 800-327-3776.