Firearm: Taurus TX 22 Compact (MSRP: $399.99)
While we absolutely think that pretty much anything centerfire beats .22 LR in the defensive realm, there are a number of shooters out there with limited hand or grip strength and/or aversion to recoil. For those people, carrying a pistol in .22 LR might be their only option. Fortunately, the rising tide of better defensive ammunition has lifted the rimfire boat, with excellent offerings from CCI, Remington and most recently Federal’s Punch line bringing greater performance to the diminutive .22. Obviously, those that can handle larger calibers should do so, but for those relying on .22 LR, the situation isn’t as bleak as it used to be.
One excellent contender for someone looking for a .22 LR semi-auto is the new TX22 Compact from Taurus. Sized roughly between the company’s GX4 and GX4XL centerfire offerings, the TX22 Compact has a 3.6-inch barrel, 6.7-inch overall length, 4.9-inch height and weighs 16.5 ounces. Sizewise, it’s about in the middle of the pack when compared to the micro-9 mm double-stack pistols like the SIG Sauer P365, Springfield Hellcat and others. It’s a little lighter, given the .22 LR chambering, and has a 13-round magazine rather than 10 or 11. It’s cut for RMSc/Holosun 507K-footprint optics and has a white-dot front sight and drift-adjustable rear.
There’s no question that larger, centerfire calibers have more energy and are more likely to stop threats faster than .22 LR. For people that can’t effectively shoot a larger caliber, though, having a decent rimfire option presents something better than harsh language, and it’s still significantly cheaper to shoot, too. Quantity has a quality all its own, as the expression goes, and for the price of 20 rounds of defensive 9 mm ammo, you can shoot 500 rounds of .22 LR for practice. With quality instruction and effective practice, being able to accurately put rounds on target quickly will overcome some of the deficiencies of the smaller round.
Again, to reiterate, we’re not advocating .22 LR over a centerfire option, merely pointing out that for the person that won’t carry a 9 mm out of fear of recoil, a 22 might be their only option. In that case, it’s even more important to seek quality training and practice frequently. Fortunately, the low cost of rimfire ammo helps make that a possibility. The Taurus TX22 Compact can help make the most of your precious range time.
Alien Gear Cloak Mod holster (MSRP: $62.88)
We’ve chosen Alien Gear’s Cloak Mod holster for the Taurus TX22 Compact for a couple reasons. First, the Cloak Mod features the ability to swap between a paddle-style attachment method and traditional belt clips, so there are two methods for carrying the holster outside the waistband. Second, the modularity of the Cloak Mod system means that you can swap out the exterior polymer shell—so if you’re using the TX22 as a rimfire stand-in for a centerfire pistol, you can change that outer shell to match each gun.
The Cloak Mod design features what Alien Gear calls a “thermo elastomer retention membrane” that covers the steel flex plate that forms half of the holster (the other half is the polymer shell mentioned earlier). It’s a non-marring backer that keeps the pistol pressed against the molded shell, and retention is adjustable with four separate screws. Cant is also adjustable, and Alien Gear provides all hardware needed along with instruction. More utility is a good thing.
Accessory: PowerTac Cadet G4 flashlight (MSRP: $79.95)
Having a small but powerful handheld flashlight is always a great idea, and the PowerTac Cadet G4 light is an excellent example of just such a light. Offering a blistering 1,200 lumens in a light that can easily fit in a pocket, the Cadet G4 features PowerTac’s excellent magnetic charging system that powers the light for up to nearly 10 hours on the low setting. There’s a heavy duty, reversible pocket clip that can be used to attach the light to the brim of a hat for hands-free operation if needed.
PowerTac’s light-level management is well done; there’s a tailcap switch that allows the light to either be turned on constant with a push-to-click, or momentarily on with a slight push. More than that, though, a side-mounted button toggles the setting from low to high, and the light stays set on that level—no reverting to one pre-set level. If you set it to high, it stays on high; if you change it to low, it stays on low. Also, pressing the side button while the tailcap is off turns on the strobe, which can be useful in emergency settings. The Cadet G4 is a powerful light with lots of features that fits just about anywhere, and that’s a great piece of kit indeed.
