Taurus CT9 G2 9x19mm Semi-Automatic Carbine

by Jeff Quinn

photography by Jeff Quinn & Boge Quinn

December 28th, 2013

 

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Ambidextrous Safety Levers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ambidextrous Bolt Catch / Release.

 

 

 

 

Ten-Round Steel Magazine.

 

 

Magazine Release.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The idea of a pistol-caliber carbine is almost as old as the self-contained metallic cartridge. In the late nineteenth century, it was quite popular to have one’s carbine and revolver chambered for the same cartridge, even though most of the dual-purpose cartridges in use at that time began life as rifle cartridges. Today, the idea of a carbine that is chambered for a pistol cartridge lives on, with handy carbines available that are chambered for the 9x19mm, 10mm, 40 S&W, 357 and 44 magnums, and the 45 Colt. In the recent past, stout leverguns and/or single-shots were available chambered for the 454 Casull, 480 Ruger, 475 Linebaugh, and the 460 and 500 S&W magnum cartridges.

The Taurus CT9 G2 carbine featured here is a blowback-operated semi-automatic carbine that fires from the closed-bolt position. The CT9 is a modern weapon built of modular polymer, aluminum, and steel construction. The CT9 is chambered for the 9x19mm NATO cartridge. It wears a skeletonized fixed-position buttstock with a fifteen and one-eighth inch length of pull. The slim 0.63 inch diameter barrel is free-floated, and measures sixteen inches in length. The CT9 has an overall matte black finish, which matches well on the various materials used. The safety levers are ambidextrous, and rotate downward about eighty degrees to fire. The bolt catch/release is also ambidextrous, and pushes inward to close the bolt, which remains in the open position on an empty magazine. The magazine release is centered, behind the magazine, and works equally well for either right-handed or left-handed operators. The non-reciprocating charging handle is forward-mounted atop the hand guard, and can be switched to either side of the carbine. The ten-shot magazines are made of steel, with polymer followers. The trigger pull is surprisingly smooth, and the resistance measured an average of only two and one-half pounds on my digital scale, with a travel of around 0.14 inch before release. The trigger reach measures 2.74 inches.  Very nice trigger. I was expecting an AR-15 mil-spec type of trigger pull, but the CT9 trigger is much smoother and lighter than that of the typical AR. The black polymer hand guard is ribbed for a secure hold, without being abrasive to the skin. At the bottom is a five inch section of Picatinny-pattern accessory rail. There is also provision to mount two more sections of rail along each side of the hand guard, if needed. Along with the eighteen inch rail along the top, there is plenty of room to mount sights and accessories, if desired.  The sights consist of a well-protected adjustable rear with a two-position aperture/notch and a covered front post. Both sights can be moved fore and aft along the top rail without the use of tools.

Taurus CT9 G2 Specifications

Chambering 9x19mm NATO (9mm Luger)
Barrel Length 16 inches
Rate of Rifling Twist 1 in 9 inches
Length of Pull 15.125 inches
Trigger Reach 2.74 inches
Weight 6.6 pounds
Overall Length 36.25 inches
Manual Safety Ambidextrous
Trigger Pull Resistance 2.5 pounds
Magazine Capacity 10
Magazines Supplied 2
MSRP (as of December 28, 2013) $879.00 US

I fired the CT9 G2 with several types of 9x19mm ammunition. I also fired a variety of ammunition over the chronograph to check velocities, with the results listed in the chart below. Velocities are listed in feet-per-second. Bullet weights are listed in grains. JHP is a jacketed hollowpoint bullet. DPX is a hollow nose homogenous copper bullet. FP is a frangible, pre-fragmented flatnose bullet. FMJ is a full metal jacket roundnose bullet. PB is Cor-Bon Pow’RBall, a specialty hollowpoint bullet with a polymer insert to insure expansion and to prevent the hollow nose from clogging with clothing or other material. XPB is a Barnes homogenous copper hollow-cavity bullet. Velocities were taken at an elevation of 541 feet above sea level, with an air temperature of forty-three degrees Fahrenheit and forty-one percent humidity. Accuracy was tested at a distance of fifty yards, firing five-shot groups with the carbine rested in a Target Shooting, Inc. Model 500 rifle rest, with a Leupold 8.5 to 25 power Mark 4 scope attached atop the receiver rail. Group sizes are listed in inches. The CZ-75 was fired to compare velocities only, and not tested for accuracy in this review. The groups pictured are not necessarily the best nor the worst fired with each ammo type pictured, but are representative of the accuracy obtained with that particular type of ammunition. The group sizes listed in the chart are the averages of the groups fired with each type of ammo.

Ammunition Bullet Weight Velocity (4.5" pistol) Velocity (16" carbine) Group Size (16" carbine)
WCC NATO FMJ 124 1073 1244 2.80"
Buffalo Bore +P+ JHP 124 1212 1370 1.80"
Buffalo Bore +P+ JHP 115 1475 1645 1.00"
Buffalo Bore +P JHP 147 1141 1157 1.50"
Buffalo Bore +P+ XPB 95 1521 1663 1.20"
Cor-Bob +P JHP 115 1287 1402 1.90"
Cor-Bon Pow'RBall 100 1323 1437 2.60"
Cor-Bon +P DPX 115 1140 1264 2.90"
Federal Guard Dog 105 1219 1327 3.20"
Remington Home Defense 124 1159 1233 0.78"
Atomic +P JHP 124 1235 1437 2.70"

Accuracy was very good with most types of ammunition tested, and were superb with a couple of specific loads. For instance, every group fired with the Buffalo Bore 115 grain +P+ was under one inch at fifty yards, as was every group fired with the Remington Home Defense hollowpoint ammo. Velocities were impressive, with velocity gains of anywhere from just a few feet-per-second (fps) to as much as 202 fps from the carbine barrel, compared to the same ammunition fired from the shorter pistol barrel. The excellent trigger pull contributed to the practical accuracy of the CT9 carbine.

The CT9 G2 proved to be one hundred percent reliable with each and every type of ammunition tested. Every round fed, fired, and ejected perfectly, and the bolt always remained open on an empty magazine. The ambidextrous controls proved easy to use for both right-handed and left-handed shooters, with the manual safety being a bit awkward to reach with the thumb. The carbine disassembles into its major components easily for cleaning, without the use of tools. The non-reciprocating charging handle worked very well, and was comfortable to use. The CT9 G2 is a good choice for those desiring an easy-to-fire carbine with very mild felt recoil, even when using Plus P class ammunition. It would make a good choice for a weapon for home defense, and even for taking whitetail-sized game at close to moderate distances using good hollowpoint ammunition. If and when aftermarket magazines of higher capacity become available, it will be even better. While a ten round magazine is plenty for most situations, in a carbine of this size, a twenty-five or thirty round magazine could prove useful at times.

Check out the CT9 G2 9mm Carbine and other Taurus firearms and accessories online at www.taurususa.com.

For the location of a Taurus dealer near you, click on the DEALER LOCATOR at www.lipseys.com.

To order the CT9 G2 carbine online, go to www.galleryofguns.com.

To order quality 9x19mm ammunition, go to www.luckygunner.com, www.buffalobore.com, www.doubletapammo.com, and www.midsouthshooters.com.

Jeff Quinn

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Accuracy testing at fifty yards.