Taurus USA markets a wide variety of
firearms. They have more models of revolvers than I can keep
track of, as well as a full line of semi-automatic pistols from
pocket size to full size, filling every niche in between. Taurus
has introduced some unique handguns over the past few years.
Their Judge revolver was a
game-changer back in 2007 when it was introduced, quickly
becoming a full line of very
popular compact shotguns. The compact "View" was
something different when introduced a couple of years ago;
having a clear Lexan sideplate and a miniscule grip. I never
cared for the small grip on that revolver, and to me, the clear
sideplate looked just awful. Now, Taurus is producing a compact
pocket semi-auto that is like no other on the market. The Taurus
Curve is bent, or curved; looking somewhat like someone slightly
melted a pistol, with the result being a pocket gun that is
gently curved to fit the contours of the human body.
When the Curve is slipped onto a right-hand
front or hip pocket, or clipped on the belt, it fits the curves
of the human body. Same thing in the hand. It decidedly favors a
right-handed person. It can be used by a left-handed shooter,
but for a left-hander, the curved shape works against the
shooter. Aside from the curvature of the polymer grip section of
the pistol, the Curve is also very smooth, with no sharp edges
nor protrusions. It is a smooth as a used bar of soap. The edges
of the steel slide are rounded to prevent wear on the shooter's
clothing and body. The slide locks open on an empty magazine,
but there is no manual slide lock. There is also no manual
safety nor a magazine latch protruding from the pistol. The
internal safeties prevent the pistol from firing unless the
trigger is pulled to the rear, and the magazine is released at
the bottom left side, just above the base plate. The front and
back of the grip area is textured for a secure hold, and the
slide is serrated for a positive grip.
This particular version of the Taurus Curve
is equipped with both a light and a laser. There are no sights
on the pistol, but there are white lines on the rear of the
slide for reference. The light/laser is activated by a switch on
the right side of the pistol that is reached by the shooter's
trigger finger. The light and laser can be set to activate
separately, or at the same time. The laser is adjustable to
change the point of impact.
The trigger pull is smooth; very smooth, and
releases with an average of slightly over four pounds of
resistance. The pistol has a magazine disconnect safety, and
will not fire without a magazine in place. The magazine catch is
very positive, and should not be accidentally pressed while in
the pocket, as often happens with some brands of 380 pocket
pistols. The Curve is hammer-fired, and the slide has to reset
the hammer for each shot. Chambering the first round from the
magazine is not any more difficult that with competitive pocket
pistols, but there is not much slide to grasp. I recommend using
the two-handed push/pull method to cycle the slide manually. The
Curve has a visual and tactile loaded-chamber indicator atop the
slide.
Critical
specifications for the Taurus Curve are listed in the chart
below. Weights are listed in ounces. Linear dimensions are
listed in inches. Trigger pull is listed in pounds of
resistance, as measured with my Lyman digital trigger pull
scale. Height includes the magazine floor plate. Maximum width
is measured across the slide and includes the belt clip. Weight
includes empty magazine.
Chambering |
380 ACP |
Weight with Empty Magazine |
13.4 ounces |
Trigger Pull |
4.1 pounds |
Barrel Length |
2.72 inches (2.55
effective) |
Barrel Diameter |
0.432 inch |
Overall Height |
3.71 inches |
Overall Length |
5.13 inches |
Grip Width |
0.89 inch |
Slide Width |
0.901 inch |
Maximum Width |
1.07 inches |
Trigger Reach |
2.56 inches |
Magazine Capacity |
6 |
Magazines Supplied |
2 |
Sights |
None |
Accessory Rail |
No |
Magazine Disconnect Safety |
Yes |
Loaded Chamber Indicator |
Yes |
MSRP as of August 2015 |
$392.00 US |
I
fired the Curve with every brand and type of 380 auto ammunition
available to me to check for reliable function. I 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 (FPS). Bullet weights are listed in
grains. JHP is a jacketed hollowpoint bullet. TAC-XP and DPX are
Barnes hollow nose homogenous copper bullets. FMJ is a full
metal jacket roundnose bullet. FP is a full metal jacket
flat-nose bullet. PB
is Cor-Bon Pow’RBall. HC is a
hard-cast flat-nose lead bullet. Velocities were taken at an
elevation of 541 feet above sea level, ten feet from the muzzle,
with an air temperature around the ninety-two degree Fahrenheit
mark, with fifty-five percent
humidity.
Ammunition |
Bullet Weight |
Velocity |
Buffalo Bore JHP |
90 |
972 |
Buffalo Bore FMJ |
95 |
801 |
Buffalo Bore HC |
100 |
910 |
Buffalo Bore TAC-XP +P |
80 |
1146 |
Buffalo Bore JHP +P |
90 |
1087 |
Buffalo Bore FMJ +P |
95 |
1094 |
Buffalo Bore HC +P |
100 |
1023 |
Remington JHP |
88 |
830 |
Stryker FP |
95 |
884 |
Atomic JHP |
90 |
840 |
Cor-Bon JHP |
90 |
963 |
Cor-Bon PB |
70 |
1200 |
Cor-Bon DPX |
80 |
945 |
Handload JHP |
88 |
824 |
Functioning was one hundred percent reliable
with this Taurus Curve pistol. Every cartridge fed, fired, and
ejected perfectly. The magazine holds six cartridges, and they
load easily without a loading tool. Inserting a loaded magazine
with the slide closed requires a positive effort. A light tap on
the base plate assures that the magazine is fully seated.
The Taurus Curve, aside from the smooth,
curved profile, is still a dandy little pocket 380 autoloader.
The curvature of the pistol, along with its relatively light
weight, makes the Curve delightful to carry for a right-handed
shooter. The suggested retail price of the Curve is $392 US as
of the date of this review, which is very competitive,
especially considering that the Curve has both a light and a
laser. It is a
compact, reliable, and handy little pocket gun, and is made in
the USA.
Check out the Curve 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 Curve online, go click on the
Gun Genie at www.galleryofguns.com.
To
order quality 380 ACP ammunition, go to www.luckygunner.com,
www.buffalobore.com,
www.doubletapammo.com,
and www.midsouthshooters.com.
Jeff Quinn
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