TAURUS TX22 T.O.R.O. .22LR Pistol, a Fun Plinker

Opinion: This excellent article first appeared on AmmoLand News in November of 2024 and appears here now with fresh updates.

The world of small, inexpensive .22 pistols is growing almost as fast as the striker-fired 9mm market. Rimfire guns from almost every major manufacturer have hit dealers’ shelves within the past few years. I own a couple of them… a S&W Victory and a Kel-Tec P17. For around $200, the Kel-Tec is a competent shooter, and the Victory costs more so I expected it to work as planned. But, there’s another one out there that costs a touch more than the Kel-Tec that is selling like sunscreen in a nudist colony… the Taurus TX22.

TAURUS TX22 T.O.R.O .22LR Pistol

Live Inventory Price Checker

	Taurus 856 T.O.R.O. .38 Special 3" Bbl Stainless Steel 6rd Revolver 2-856P39	EuroOptic.com	$ 469.99 $ 369.99
	Taurus M605 T.O.R.O. .357 S&W Mag 3" Bbl Black Stainless Steel 5rds Revolver 2-605P31	EuroOptic.com	$ 462.99 $ 359.99
	Taurus 856 T.O.R.O. .38 Special 3" Bbl Black Stainless Steel 6rd Revolver 2-856P31	EuroOptic.com	$ 454.99 $ 359.99
	Taurus TX22 Compact .22 LR Black 3.6" Viridian Red Laser Grip Pistol w/(2) 10rd Mags 1-TX22131VL-10	EuroOptic.com	$ 446.99 $ 349.99

Introduced in late 2019, the TX22 came out with a bang (pun intended). Guns ‘n Ammo named it the Handgun of the Year in 2019, and it has only gotten better since.

I reviewed that original TX22 a couple of years ago and was curious how they might have changed it since then and what additional models were available. The main difference between the compact TX22 I had before and this one is that the compact model uses a shorter, flush-threaded barrel that requires an extension to be attached before you can hang anything on the barrel. This TX22 has a longer barrel that uses a simple thread protector. The difference between this protector and most others is that this thread protector is almost the same diameter as the barrel, so you don’t need to remove it to field-strip the pistol.

Why I Like It

Lightweight. The thing barely weighs 17 ounces unloaded.

Capacity. This gun comes with one 22- and one 16-round magazine. The extension on the longer mag helps you to get a better grip.

Build quality. Taurus-bashers have complained about the company’s products for a good while. But… under new leadership, the company has made great strides in turning things around. They are releasing well-made, innovative products at attractive price points. And, if you have to send in a gun you buy from them, they’ve cut repair times down. This gun is an example of the “new” Taurus.

Optics cut. Mount a Shield RMSC optic-footprint red dot with no sweat.

MIL-STD-1913 accessory rail. The dust cover sports a two-slot rail, so a light or laser purchase might be in order.

Fit. The gun’s ergos are great. The grip has a very slight finger swell on the front strap, with a hand-filling palm swell on the back. The texturing is just right for this .22’s recoil.

Cleaning is easy. The gun easily comes apart like many newer .22 pistols — I’ll touch on that later.

Lightening cuts. The slide has cuts that reduce the overall weight of the gun without sacrificing function.

Sights. Sights are compatible with other Taurus models. The only dot is up front… manufacturers are learning that many shooters do not want dots on the rear sight.

Thumb Safety. I am not a fan of thumb safeties on some pistols, but for those who like them, there are ambidextrous safety levers on this pistol.

Warranty. The warranty on the TX22 is a limited lifetime warranty, better than the one-year one they’d offered before.

Price. Last but not least, we have the gun’s MSRP. The full-meal-deal list price on this little shooter (at least the one I have – there are 17 models in the line) is $363.99. Not bad at all, considering what you get – the gun, two hi-cap mags, a mag loader, lock, and a lifetime warranty.

Specs

Now, for the specs from the Taurus website and my observations…

• FRAME SIZE: Full
• ACTION: SAO, Striker-Fired
• BARREL LENGTH: 4.60 In., threaded
• OVERALL LENGTH: 7.06 In.
• OVERALL HEIGHT: 5.44 In.
• OVERALL WIDTH: 1.25 In.
• OVERALL WEIGHT: 17.30 Oz. (Unloaded)
• TWIST RATE: 1:10-inch RH Twist
• GROOVES: 6
• FRAME MATERIAL: Polymer
• FRAME FINISH: Black
• SLIDE MATERIAL: Aluminum
• SLIDE FINISH: Hard Anodized Black
• BARREL MATERIAL: Alloy Steel
• BARREL FINISH: Matte Black
• SAFETY: Manual Safety, Striker Block, Trigger Safety
• TRIGGER PULL WEIGHT: 4 lbs, 11 oz. measured
• PICATINNY RAIL: 2 slots
• T.O.R.O. (Taurus Optic Ready Option) Shield RMSC footprint

Build Quality

Shooting The TX22

I am fortunate – blessed, really – to have a range in my backyard, so I grabbed some homemade targets, ammo, and hearing protectors and headed there. The targets were set up at 20 yards.

I also grabbed my Garmin Xero C1 Pro chronograph. It works well and does not need wires, sky screens, sensors, etc. It’s the size of a Go-Pro camera on a tiny tripod that sits on your shooting bench. It’s a game-changer.

Anyway, here are the results. I shot four targets from the bench…

Aguila 40-grain RN, 1098 fps. Like other targets I shot today, this one shows 4 shots in a decent bunch and one flyer.

Norma TAC-22 subsonic. Again, 4+1 in the group.

This is starting to become a habit, this 4+1 thing. At least the 4 were in the black!

Finally, here’s an offhand target shot by one of our sons at about 20 yards. The gun is very accurate, overall, for its intended purpose.

Adding it all up, the TX22 is as accurate as it needs to be for plinking, tin-can-rolling, informal target shooting, and hunting at closer ranges. I was truly impressed that the gun’s iron sights came zeroed. The red dot didn’t improve accuracy that much with the ammo I tried. I would recommend that, if you buy this or any .22 pistol, you get your hands on all the .22 ammo you can find and try it all. Twenty-two guns tend to be picky about what ammo they like and don’t like.

In terms of ammo selection, I tried something with the S&W Victory that is not exactly new, but it helped me. After shooting many different .22 loads, I found the best ones that produced the tightest, best-centered groups and cut those target centers out. I keep them in the box with the gun for quick reference. I will do that with any .22 pistol I add to the gun safe, including the Kel-Tec mentioned above. It saves a lot of time and aggravation since there are so many different brands and loads in .22 LR.

Cleaning

The TX22 comes apart like many modern .22 pistols. One thing to remember when stripping a .22 like this is, do not try to pull the slide off the front of the frame as you would with a centerfire. Here’s the drill…

1. Remove the magazine and make sure the gun is empty. Check the chamber twice to make sure it is clear. Pull the trigger.
2. Wrap your hand around the back of the frame and the top rear of the slide.
3. Pull the slide back about 1/2″.
4. Pull down the takedown lever inside the trigger guard and gently lift the slide up and off the frame.
5. Separate and clean the barrel, spring, slide, etc. as you would any pistol.

When putting the gun back together, place the slide over the frame with about 1/2″ overhang from the front. This should line the frame rails up with the slots in the slide. Press the slide down and then rack it. This will cock the striker and make the gun good to go.

TAURUS TX22 T.O.R.O .22LR Pistol Conclusion

Shooters looking for an inexpensive .22 pistol to add to their collection should give this one a look. Here’s something else to think about… unlike some other .22s on the market, the TX22 is designed to substitute as a training gun for a 9mm carry gun – the Taurus G3. It is roughly the same size as that pistol. You can practice drawing from a holster, drills, etc. with this pistol and shoot it a lot for not much money. That’s one use.

Another use I would love to try is as a squirrel gun. I’m one of those weirdos who like to hunt with a pistol. Stick a red dot on the gun, select the proper ammo, sight it in, and head to the woods.

No matter how you use it, the point is… you will use it. It is fun to shoot, very accurate, and reliable. With a street price of just under $300, I don’t think you can beat it. As our Aussie friends might say, “good on ya, Taurus!”.

About Mike Hardesty

With experience spanning over 45 years, Mike Hardesty has long enjoyed shooting and reloading. An inveterate reloader, he casts bullets and reloads for a diverse array of firearms, each handled with long-practiced precision. Living in rural Indiana, his homestead boasts a personal 100-yard range where he shares his love for guns to his four sons, their wives, and eleven grandchildren. As a recognized author, his writings have been featured in notable platforms like Sniper Country, Bear Creek Arsenal Blog, Pew Pew Tactical, TTAG, Dillon Precision’s Blue Press, and Gun Made, revealing his ongoing passion for firearms at the age of 72.