Taurus GX4 vs Ruger Max 9: Which One Should You Buy?

If you are looking for a compact or mid-sized gun for under $400, you have probably found both the Taurus GX4 and the Ruger Max 9. Each one of these guns retail for around $350 so deciding which one to buy could be difficult. Ruger and Taurus have had quality issues in the past, but each company has greatly improved their quality and the result is a line of weapons that are reliable, affordable, and a perfect size for concealed carrying.

Years ago, any gun that sold for less than $500 was assumed to be mediocre at best. At a price tag of less than $400, most gun gurus wouldn’t even glance at one. That low price tag meant low quality and low reliability. But things have changed a lot over the years and companies are continuing to look for ways to make a reliable firearm that doesn’t cost a small fortune.

Much of this is possible because of the advancement in technology and machinery. Small gun companies have access to the same computer-controlled machines to cut and mill quality parts as the big guys do. This has caused a flood of new firearms to hit the market over the years. But the larger gun companies don’t want to be outdone so this competitiveness has caused a line of quality guns that are being offered at prices that many would have scoffed at years ago. Here are two such guns that deserve consideration.

Taurus GX4

Taurus has been making low-budget guns for a while. They have a line of revolvers that compete with lower-priced guns like Charter Arms and Rock Island. They produce a line of 1911 handguns and Beretta 92F clones, but their most recent success is from their line of G2, G3, and GX4 pistols. The Taurus GX4 is the first micro-compact pistol from the company for CCW.

Many of their other models are on the bulky side, but Taurus made an appealing gun with the GX4. The 9mm pistol is nearly the same size as the Ruger Max-9. It has a short grip but can be extended with two 13-round mags that come in the case. The extended mag allows just enough room for my pinky finger to help grip the gun.

Taurus put a flat-faced trigger on the GX4 and because it has a Glock-style trigger safety, there is no manual safety. It has a short, double recoil spring which helps take up some of the kick when you pull the trigger. The grip is only one inch wide so it’s easy to wear with an IWB holster.

One of the unique things I like about the GX4 is the take-down lever. Instead of a pin that needs to be pushed out of the gun while the slide is locked back, the GX4 has a rotating pin. There is a groove on the right side of the pin for a flathead screwdriver. When you turn the screw to the left, the slide will pull forward off the frame.

Ruger Max-9

Ruger didn’t really have a foothold in the CCW market until they produced the LCP (light compact pistol) and LCR (light compact revolver). The Ruger LCP became the most popular of the two and when Ruger introduced the LCP Max, they gained even more ground. Now Ruger has expanded that foothold with their 9mm Max-9 compact pistol.

The Max-9 has a lot going for it, especially in the $350 price range. First, the Max-9 looks and feels like a pistol that costs more than it does. Part of this is because of the front tritium fiber optic they placed on it. Second, the removable optic plate makes it easy to mount a J-Point or Shield pattern red dot. The rear sight is raised just enough to allow for co-witnessing with the optic installed. The upgraded sight and MOS are both surprising upgrades for a handgun in this price range.

The Max-9 comes with an extended magazine that will hold 12 rounds. The curved trigger has a trigger safety, and while the trigger is not what I would call smooth, it’s surprisingly light compared to the GX4 (which we will talk about shortly). Breaking the Max-9 down is not hard, but one of my least favorite things about this gun.

There is a lever that blocks the takedown pin from coming out. The lever must be pulled down for the pin to fall out. If it doesn’t, you need to use a paper clip or something to push it out from the other side. Ruger also used a double recoil spring to help reduce the kick.

Side by Side

In some ways, the two guns are somewhat identical. But there are a few features that make them stand apart. Both guns have good texturing on the grips and the grip is about the same size on both guns. At just under an inch, the Max-9 is slightly thinner than the GX4. The trigger on the Max-9 is slightly taller making it more comfortable to shoot and there is just a little more room in the trigger guard.

My Wheeler trigger gauge showed the Max-9 at just over a six pound trigger pull and the GX4 at just under seven pounds. The GX4 has a removable backstrap on the pistol grip and came with one extra backstrap to make the grip thicker. This is a nice option for those with larger hands that need a little thicker grip on the gun. Both guns shot great on the range, but I was a little more accurate with the Max-9.

I think this was mostly because of the sights and triggers. I didn’t have any reliability issues with either gun and fired FMJ and HP ammo through them. Neither one of the guns had oil on them so I did oil them both before heading to the range. There wasn’t really a noticeable difference with recoil when shooting them. I found IWB holsters for both guns easily, and there were plenty of belt holsters available as well.

What’s the verdict?

Overall, I would pick the Ruger Max-9 over the Taurus GX4 for just a few reasons. The Max-9 is slightly thinner, has a better trigger (in my opinion), and a better finish. The raised sights, front night sight, and optic plate also tip the scales in favor of the Max-9.

The GX4 does hold one more round in the magazine, has a removable backstrap, and is easier to break down. It also came with a better case and accessories. The Max-9 came with two magazines, one standard 10-round, and one extended 12-round. The GX4 came with four mags, two standard 10-round mags, and two extended 13-round mags.

I like the GX4 and if someone prefers the look and feel of it over the Max-9, I don’t think they would be disappointed in it. But for the same price, I think the Max-9 is the better deal.