Comparison: P-64 vs Taurus pt709 Slim Nine
Posted: July 9th, 2012, 12:16 am
Hi guys,
Spent a month in North Dakota working and busy as heck getting caught up since I got back. Anyway, I bought a Taurus Slim Nine in May and have been swapping it with my P-64 for daily carry to see which I like better. I have seen some guys here express an interest in the Slim Nine so I though I would send out my impressions.
1)The Taurus is not quite as thin as the P-64 although it's not much fatter. And the Taurus is taller due to longer grip. Both disappear under a light t-shirt quite nicely.
2)The Taurus is a bit lighter even with 8 rounds of 9mm on board as opposed to the 7 rounds of 9x18 in the P-64. However, the weight difference is small and not enough to choose one over the other in my opinion.
3) The sights on the Taurus are much better than the P-64. They are white 3 dot combat style with the rears adjustable for windage and elevation. However, mine shot low out of the box and I had to order the medium low front sight to correct that so that may be an issue for some. Taurus customer service was great, got me the sight in 4 days with no problem.
4) The Taurus loads full power 9mm and is certified for +p ammo which gives a much larger choice of loads to carry versus the P-64. Also much easier to find at small out of the way ammo stores.
5) The Taurus has an external safety on the frame, left side like a 1911, easier to reach than the slide mounted safety on the P-64, but not much as the P-64 is shorter making the slide mounted safety easier to reach than most pistols with a slide safety. The Taurus also has a safety built into the face of the trigger which makes no difference to me but some people do not like those.
6) The Taurus's mag release is in the same spot as most american pistols and is reversable for lefties and very easy to use. The mag catch on the P-64 being on the heel of the grip takes some practice but I find it quite servicable once learned.
7) The Taurus is lacking in looks compared to the P-64. The Taurus has a very distinct Glockish, blocky pedigree whereas the P-64 has class in rounded corners and smooth lines and a real blued finish.
Feel- the P-64 feels very good in your hand like classic pistols do whereas the Taurus is plastic and feels like it. The Taurus fits the hand very well, don't get me wrong, but it's plastic. And both point quite well but I think the P-64 points better naturally.
9) Shootability. I have never thought that the P-64's recoil was all that bad. I must say I was impressed with the Taurus's recoil, it is a very soft shooter given how small and light it is and that it shoots full 9mm. But again recoil is one of those things that is different to each person.
10) Triggers, how to compare. The Taurus is pretty dang good out of the box with the first trigger stroke being a single action pull (5-6lbs??). Unlike other striker fired pistols though, the slide does NOT have to be worked in order to reset the striker. Just pull the trigger again because the Taurus reverts to a double action pull after the first pull if you have a dud primer (10lbs????) and will keep going like that until the slide is retracted (by hand or through normal cycling from firing) at which time it reverts to single action. The P-64's single action trigger is nicer by far but the double action is not, even after changing out the springs.
All in all, I have to say that I love both pistols but for different reasons and I can't say that I prefer one over the other. I hope this helps those of you out there who are thinking about the Taurus. I am happy with both pistols but for different reasons.![Hi there :hi:](./images/smilies/hi.gif)
Spent a month in North Dakota working and busy as heck getting caught up since I got back. Anyway, I bought a Taurus Slim Nine in May and have been swapping it with my P-64 for daily carry to see which I like better. I have seen some guys here express an interest in the Slim Nine so I though I would send out my impressions.
1)The Taurus is not quite as thin as the P-64 although it's not much fatter. And the Taurus is taller due to longer grip. Both disappear under a light t-shirt quite nicely.
2)The Taurus is a bit lighter even with 8 rounds of 9mm on board as opposed to the 7 rounds of 9x18 in the P-64. However, the weight difference is small and not enough to choose one over the other in my opinion.
3) The sights on the Taurus are much better than the P-64. They are white 3 dot combat style with the rears adjustable for windage and elevation. However, mine shot low out of the box and I had to order the medium low front sight to correct that so that may be an issue for some. Taurus customer service was great, got me the sight in 4 days with no problem.
4) The Taurus loads full power 9mm and is certified for +p ammo which gives a much larger choice of loads to carry versus the P-64. Also much easier to find at small out of the way ammo stores.
5) The Taurus has an external safety on the frame, left side like a 1911, easier to reach than the slide mounted safety on the P-64, but not much as the P-64 is shorter making the slide mounted safety easier to reach than most pistols with a slide safety. The Taurus also has a safety built into the face of the trigger which makes no difference to me but some people do not like those.
6) The Taurus's mag release is in the same spot as most american pistols and is reversable for lefties and very easy to use. The mag catch on the P-64 being on the heel of the grip takes some practice but I find it quite servicable once learned.
7) The Taurus is lacking in looks compared to the P-64. The Taurus has a very distinct Glockish, blocky pedigree whereas the P-64 has class in rounded corners and smooth lines and a real blued finish.
![Cool 8)](./images/smilies/icon_cool.gif)
9) Shootability. I have never thought that the P-64's recoil was all that bad. I must say I was impressed with the Taurus's recoil, it is a very soft shooter given how small and light it is and that it shoots full 9mm. But again recoil is one of those things that is different to each person.
10) Triggers, how to compare. The Taurus is pretty dang good out of the box with the first trigger stroke being a single action pull (5-6lbs??). Unlike other striker fired pistols though, the slide does NOT have to be worked in order to reset the striker. Just pull the trigger again because the Taurus reverts to a double action pull after the first pull if you have a dud primer (10lbs????) and will keep going like that until the slide is retracted (by hand or through normal cycling from firing) at which time it reverts to single action. The P-64's single action trigger is nicer by far but the double action is not, even after changing out the springs.
All in all, I have to say that I love both pistols but for different reasons and I can't say that I prefer one over the other. I hope this helps those of you out there who are thinking about the Taurus. I am happy with both pistols but for different reasons.
![Hi there :hi:](./images/smilies/hi.gif)