In this Taurus CTG29 review, the author found the carbine to be both fun and ideal for home defense.
Chambered in both 9mm and .40 S&W, the newly released Taurus CTG29 carbine is a combination of rugged synthetics and alloy steel that seems tough enough for all kinds of endeavors, from tactical competitions to plinking and home defense.
Hitting the scale at 6.6 pounds empty, this new semi-automatic carbine has a full-length Picatinny-type rail on top with detachable front and rear high-profile sights, ambidextrous safety switch, a pair of 10-round detachable magazines, 16-inch barrel and synthetic skeleton stock. The rear sight is adjustable for windage and elevation, and features both peep and square notch with white outline apertures.
The carbine also comes with a sling and rugged hard carrying case with interior foam padding, plus a hefty cable lock for security. You will also find a cable cleaning tool with brush and slotted patch jag.
The case has four latches and may be locked for travel.
The CTG29 features a straight blowback-operated system and fires from a closed bolt position. The cocking handle is on the left side of the gun ahead of the main receiver, above the barrel when it arrives, but it is reversible to allow charging with the right hand instead. As a right-handed shooter, I just left it where it was.
There is also a molded rail at the bottom of the forend handguard, which is designed for mounting additional rails on either right or left side. I have never seen the need for tricking out an urban carbine with all kinds of accessories. They add weight to the firearm and it is not clear what other tactical advantage that they provide.
One might fit a laser on one side and a flashlight on the other for work in the dark or subdued light, of course, because a lot of shooters utilize those things.
Because of the weight of this carbine, recoil is negligible to non-existent. I fired a fair amount of ammunition through one of two test rifles, and frankly, I cannot recall noticing any recoil at all. It’s probably comparable to a .22 Long Rifle semi-auto, though certainly louder.
One thing I noticed after several rapid-fire drills was that the breech and muzzle smoked pretty well. That may be a result of different propellants in the ammunition I used.
Out to 100 Yards
Because the 9mm and .40 S&W are capable of longer-range effectiveness, it would not be out of the realm of good sense to shoot at a target out to 100 yards, and since mounting a scope is possible with the new Taurus, it will not be surprising to see someone do this.
Disassembly is accomplished by sliding out (from right to left) the rear-retaining pin that holds the top end of the receiver to the bottom. The top pivots forward as on an AR platform, and the bolt assembly is withdrawn at the rear.
My test gun was chambered for the 9mm round, and the gun went along with me on an early October big game scouting trek in central Washington’s Cascades. It rode around on some pretty bumpy roads and ate a lot of dust, and that didn’t seem to bother it.
My judgment is that this carbine would be a good fit for someone in need of a tough little gun to have in an emergency, and since ammunition supplies are beginning to loosen up a bit, keeping the CTG29 running should not be a problem. It will be even less a problem for anyone who reloads.
For home defense in both rural and urban settings, one could do worse than a carbine that fires either the 9mm or .40 S&W cartridge. There is a variety of ammunition available in either caliber, and my guess is that it will all cycle, as I ran this gun with both hardball and hollow-point 9mm rounds. I’d also suggest that the longer carbine barrel should get the most out of either pistol cartridge.
Ergonomically, this is a well-designed firearm, with a textured grip surface on the front end of the extended magazine well that allows for a non-slip handhold. That didn’t impress me as much as the ample magazine release, which is a rather large toggle confined in its own little space behind the magazine well. Positioned this way, it should be nearly impossible for the magazine to be accidentally released.
The buttplate is grooved to help prevent slippage on the shoulder, and it is pretty tough. Overall length of the G2 is 36 inches, and one thing I quickly learned about it is that the sight radius can be changed a bit from its factory-set 12.6 inches. I ran the rear sight back to 15 inches by simply pressing upward on the keepers on both sides of the rear sight housing and working it back along the rail.
Tight Groupings
At 25 yards, I was able to pull in a couple of pretty tight groups using nothing but the factory sights. No doubt with a scope on this gun, one would be shooting one-holers all day long at twice that range, and probably not bad out to 100.
Out on the trail, I opened up on a pumpkin at 50 yards with a couple of rounds fired off hand and popped that orange blob both times.
One thing I noticed was that the double-stack magazines get pretty stiff to load as you top them off with the ninth and tenth rounds. That’s why it might be a good idea to invest in a magazine loading tool.
Before anyone thinks these are merely pistol magazines, guess again. They appear to be proprietary to the carbine. They are tough, made from steel with bright yellow followers and flat base plates, and may be disassembled for cleaning.
For predator control, the 9mm or .40 S&W both pack a punch, and that goes for predators of the two-legged variety as well as coyotes and other varmints. Because of its short overall length, this carbine will swing well in tight spots, fit in any truck or SUV, and ride along virtually anywhere a firearm might be needed.
The owner’s manual includes a complete schematic and parts list so the home gunsmith can tinker with this Taurus. If you have the chance to fire one of these guns before buying, take it for a test run. You just might be surprised.
Taurus CTG29
Caliber: 9mm (.40 S&W available)
Action Type: Semi-auto
Receiver: Blued
Barrel: 16” blued steel
Magazine: 10 round
Trigger: N/A
Sights: Rear adjustable, fixed front
Stock: Hybric alumuniman polymer
with reinforced steel frame
Weight: 6.6 lbs.
Overall Length: 36”
Accessories: Cleaning kit
SRP: $898
Website: taurususa.com
This article appeared in the Dec. 30, 2013 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Learn More About Tactical Guns:
The Gun Digest Book of the AR-15 Vol. IV
The Gun Digest Book of the AR-15 Vol. III
The Gun Digest Book of the AR-15 Vol. II
The Gun Digest Book of the AR-15 Vol. I
