If you are in the market for a pistol-caliber carbine, there are too many options to choose from. As of late, it has been hard for any one brand to fly off the shelves. But there will always be an undercurrent of demand for PCCs, particularly in the competition world. That is what led Jeremy Stone of GMW to spring for a Taran Tactical TR-9. The TR-9 is set up to shave seconds off the clock in competition, and it is one of the most expensive 9mm carbines on the market. Here is how it shoots:
Features
The Taran Tactical TR-9 is a blowback-operated carbine. It is Taran’s angle on an AR-style PCC chambered in 9mm Luger. It comes with a BCM collapsible buttstock, an aluminum upper and lower receiver, and the overall ergonomics of the AR platform, though more optimized to be ambidextrous. Further, the TR-9 uses an ambidextrous Radium charging handle, as well as a bolt release and a short-throw safety on both sides of the receiver.
The TR-9 is set up to take Glock magazines and has a flared magazine well to facilitate quicker reloads on the clock. The beefiness of the receiver compared to its pistol ammunition is offset by a proprietary lightweight bolt and a Smoke Composites carbon-fiber handguard. This is balanced by a three-inch muzzle brake, pinned and welded onto the 13-inch barrel to make a 16-inch minimum legal barrel length.
From the factory, the TR-9 is available with an optional Taran Grandmaster pistol grip and an optional optic and 45-degree cant mounting system. The TR-9 can also be had with or without a Crimson Trace or Holosun laser package.
Quick Specs:
Caliber: 9mm Luger
Action: Straight blowback
Barrel Length: 13+3-inch brake
Weight: 6.6 lbs.
Muzzle Brake: externally threaded 13/16″-16 TPI
Handguard: carbon fiber with M-Lock slots
Trigger: Hyperfire 2.5 lb.
Controls: Ambi-charging handle, safety, and bolt release
Price: Starting at $2,699
Jeremy’s Take
Jeremy laid down the list price on the TR-9, and he showed it off to us to justify his purchase. He opted for the package with a stock Magpul non-Grandmaster grip and without any optics or lasers. His TR-9 is bone stock and wears a Holosun HE510C-GR green dot sight.
Jeremy is a longtime fan of the H&K MP5 9mm and believes it to be a better shooting experience than most other PCCs on the market, thanks to its roller-delayed blowback action that soaks up felt recoil. The TR-9 is a straight blowback gun that relies on spring and bolt weight to function, and the bolt’s mass can throw you off target when the action cycles. Jeremy did not have this problem. The bolt on the TR-9 is marginally lighter than other blowback PCCs, and the heavy muzzle brake effectively balances the carbine back on target with ease.
All in all, the TR-9 is a fast-shooting, fast-handling carbine. As a southpaw, Jeremy appreciates the familiar Radium charging handle and the other ambidextrous controls, although the magazine release could have been appointed on both sides. The TR-9 is perfectly set up for right-handed shooters, but if you are a lefty or you are called upon to shoot from the opposite shoulder, you may be asking a lot of your trigger finger to drop the magazine. Likewise, you still have to be wary of the ejecting brass coming from the left-side ejection port. Although the TR-9 is not without its quirks for lefties, it is a good contender for the competitor on the right side of things.
Be sure to check out Jeremy’s full video!
