GX4? Yea or Nay

[ObiWan]

I'm looking to replace my current "airline travel pistol" (KT P11) with a newer one with a better trigger. The idea is to keep it cheap so I won't get too upset if it gets stolen in transit. I've seen a few reports (LEO) of this happening in the past. I'm looking at the Taurus GX4. You Tube vids are 90% positive but most are about a year old. Do any GX4 owners have any negative issues with this gun?

[LockedBreech]

I get that this is a privileged thing to say, but never go too cheap with guns. You can go less expensive, but not cheap. It's worth losing the extra $100 if it's stolen versus tolerating a gun that might not be able to run reliably when needed, which is most Taurus autos in my experience.

I'd say Nay on GX4 and spend that cash on $299 for LE trade in M&Ps, $300 for Ruger Security 9 (or Compact, or $250 for EC9S), $300 for Smith & Wesson SD9VE.

[Gun Mutt]

Compared to some here, I’m still one of the poors, and in this economy, I definitely still tend to think like one.

That said, I’d be butt hurt to lose one of my G19’s to theft, but it’s almost imminently replaceable without breaking the bank in my AO. What’s your normal edc?

[SWAT Lt.]

If you're an LEO, I'd pass on the Taurus and get a blue label Glock. It's a much better gun and I'd feel better carrying that than the GX4. If you get the Glock you'll have a much more useful gun that is well supported in the aftermarket (sights, holsters, etc.), especially for the times when you are not traveling.

[Sammy1]

I'm one of those never buy a Taurus guys, but I bought a GX4 and it's been 100% reliable.

[Polecat]

I loved the GX4 when in first came out, really nice design and form factor. It was not accurate, like 3” 15 yards, but it was reliable and pleasant to shoot.

[Dave Williams]

I just listened to a podcast with a Taurus rep and it made me take a look at their stuff, they seem to have some nice options available.

[HCM]

I'm looking to replace my current "airline travel pistol" (KT P11) with a newer one with a better trigger. The idea is to keep it cheap so I won't get too upset if it gets stolen in transit. I've seen a few reports (LEO) of this happening in the past. I'm looking at the Taurus GX4. You Tube vids are 90% positive but most are about a year old. Do any GX4 owners have any negative issues with this gun?

Theft of guns from checked luggage still occurs but less often than in the past.

However, as with people who buy cheap guns to keep in cars so they won’t be too upset if stolen, what your gun will be used for after it’s stolen should be more upsetting than a few hundred dollars one way or the other.

[ObiWan]

Mutt:

My EDC is a blue label G19. I'd consider a blue label G43X for travel, but the same issue holds. That's why the under $300 price point for the "airline travel" gun. If I could find a LEO trade in G23 or G26/27 for under $300 I'd buy it. But - looking for very discreet travel gun - cheap. That's why the GX4 or a G3c without manual safety. Decent mag capacity and good ratings on Youtube vids. Internet pricing for the Gx4 is about $240. Haven't seen any G3c without safety.
I still have my P11 for travel and have a S&W M59 mag as a spare. If anyone steals it they couldn't hit anything with it because of the trigger. I'm OK with it as I do some practice with it.
By the way, I used to work at a major airport - 18 years. Guns DO get stolen.

I do have other guns, bought relatively inexpensively, but their current market values are several times what I've paid for them. I also need to stick with semi autos as that's what I LEOSA qualified with. I didn't qual with a revolver as I seldom carry one plus they're OK with my Florida CCW.

[LockedBreech]

- Police trade P320 9mm - $429 - https://gunprime.com/products/sig-p320-full-size-9mm-night-sites-1-mags-le-trade-320-320f-9-bss
- Police trade Glock 21 Gen 4 .45 Auto - $399 - https://www.sportsmansoutdoorsuperstore.com/products2.cfm/ID/281849
- Police trade M&P 9mm - $359 - https://aimsurplus.com/products/le-trade-in-smith-wesson-m-p9-9mm-handgun
- Police trade Glock 17 Gen 5 - $449 - https://aimsurplus.com/products/leo-trade-in-glock-17-gen-5-9mm-handgun

That's to say nothing of the many $300-350 .40 cal options (G22s and M&Ps mostly).

Why strictly $300? If that's a hard budget cap of what is affordable right now I respect that, but I find it harder to comprehend as an "amount you're willing to lose" cap. $100 is a dinner for two with tip, that shouldn't make or break a firearm decision (in my opinion of course)

[vcdgrips]

I would take a very hard pass on betting my life on a marginal gun relative to a used Glock or M&P.

Odds v Stakes and all that. If the 100.00 is between the guns is buying your kids' beans, chicken, OJ, milk and cereal for the month- OK.

Short of that level of "need"- you are worth worth more than that.

[Joe in PNG]

You could snag a S&W SD9 or Shield Plus for not a lot of money.

[Elwin]

Are you really saving money after you factor in having to buy mags and kydex/leather for a new gun? A second G19 only costs what it takes to get the gun and set it up like the one you already have. A new Taurus needs a holster (and your Glock holster brand may not support it), at least a few extra mags, ammo to confirm function and reliability, and some regular time and ammo dedicated to it for whatever your minimum familiarity is for a carry gun.

Hard pass for me. Hell, I carry 1911s and I think if I have to fly and I’m bringing a gun, I’m just going to pick which one of the three I’d rather subject to the experience and drive on.

[guymontag]

OP, to address your actual question - I have a sample of two, one has gone about 150 rounds with no issues (test firing and then into storage) and the other needs to go back to the factory as the trigger can go dead, and the trigger safety sticks (it may be a simple tolerance stacking issue but I believe there are similar reports out there on YouTube…?).

Anyway, the internals appear well designed and stout but based off actual experience I’d say “probably not” since it’s a newer design from Taurus. I’d also steer away from M&P’s and 320’s but that’s a another bias on *my* part - accuracy issues, drop safety issues, etc. I’m not a big fan of those companies but I’d potentially look into their other offerings.

[LockedBreech]

You could snag a S&W SD9 or Shield Plus for not a lot of money.

I have no reason for an SD9 and I still come close to grabbing one all the time because it's a great deal for $300. Meh trigger but no other complaints, those run.

[HCM]

I have no reason for an SD9 and I still come close to grabbing one all the time because it's a great deal for $300. Meh trigger but no other complaints, those run.

Triggers and sights suck on the SD guns but both are easy fixes. Apex and Galloway make triggers and it takes any M&P sights.

SD40s are very common crime guns here though.

[ObiWan]

I guess the consensus is NAY. Thanks for the input!

[TicTacticalTimmy]

Good holster: $75
Spare mag: $35
Ammo spent on familiarizing with gun and testing carry ammo: $150?

That right there is a lot more than the price difference between a gx4 and a blue label glock. Its even a bit less than the price difference between a gx4 and a regular G48/G43X.

After all that youll still have a gun that you have a fraction of the time behind compared to your EDC Glock, which we can reasonably assume will translate to much lower performance under stress when it counts. You can overcome that with lots of dry fire and some range time, but then youd need to attach a dollar value to the time spent doing that.

I go through a similar thought process and come to the same conclusion every time I think about buying another handgun for a niche purpose.

[jetfire]

I loved the GX4 when in first came out, really nice design and form factor. It was not accurate, like 3” 15 yards, but it was reliable and pleasant to shoot.

Did you shoot it off a rest at 15 yards and what ammo? I'm curious because this contradicts what I've experienced

[pangloss]

Just tossing out the possibility of a Gen1 Beretta APX. Now that Beretta has released the APX A1, the older models might drop a little from their already low price. I like my APX almost as much as my G19. Every time I pick up that pistol, I marvel at how little it cost (~$300 plus transaction expenses).

I've only flown a couple of times with a pistol, but both times I've traveled with my primary carry gun. I've never considered the possibility of theft as reason for buying another pistol. Clearly I haven't thought deeply enough about the issue. #PF-Enabling.

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[Buckeye63]

93642

Mine runs good

Thinking about getting a second ..