Click pictures for a larger version.
Ambidextrous Safety Levers.
Ambidextrous Bolt Catch / Release.
Ten-Round Steel Magazine.
Magazine Release.
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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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Click pictures for a larger version.
Accuracy testing at fifty yards.
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