The Taurus TXM is a full-size, optics-ready pistol that converts between 5.7x28mm and .22 WMR by changing the slide, barrel, recoil assembly and magazine. Taurus offers complete pistols in either caliber, threaded-barrel configurations and a TXM combo containing both upper assemblies.
This Taurus TXM review is based on verified specifications and independently published shooting reports. I have not personally fired the pistol, so I will not invent a round count, target group or reliability result.
The short verdict is favorable: the TXM offers unusually useful modularity at an aggressive price. The early suppressed-5.7 feeding reports and unusual accessory weight restrictions deserve attention before anyone treats it as a proven defensive pistol.
Taurus TXM Specifications
The TXM uses a shared polymer frame beneath caliber-specific upper assemblies. The .22 WMR version has a lightweight aluminum slide, while the higher-pressure 5.7x28mm model uses a steel slide.
Specification
TXM 5.7x28mm
TXM .22 WMR
Action
Striker-fired
Striker-fired
Standard capacity
23 rounds
15 rounds
Restricted capacity
10 rounds
10 rounds
Standard barrel
4.5 inches
4.5 inches
Threaded barrel
5 inches, 1/2×28
5 inches with 1/2×28 adapter
Slide
Steel
Aluminum
Approximate weight
24 ounces
18 ounces
Optics footprint
Shield RMSc
Shield RMSc
Front sight
Fixed white dot
Fixed white dot
Rear sight
Drift-adjustable serrated
Drift-adjustable serrated
Standalone MSRP
$507.99
$424.99
Conversion upper MSRP
$349
$304
The TXM combo has a listed price of approximately $757.99. Taurus also offers restricted-capacity versions for states that remain determined to ration how many cartridges peaceful citizens may place in a magazine.
The American Rifleman TXM overview confirms the two slide materials, caliber-specific magazines, RMSc optics interface and current pricing.
How Does the Taurus TXM Conversion Work?
The TXM is not converted by changing only the barrel. Four components differ between calibers:
- Slide
- Barrel
- Recoil-spring assembly
- Magazine
The serialized frame, grip, trigger and fire-control components remain the same.
After confirming the pistol is completely unloaded, the user removes the slide assembly through the normal takedown procedure and installs the other caliber’s complete upper. The appropriate magazine must also be used.
That is genuine modularity rather than advertising language stretched beyond recognition. It gives an owner two substantially different cartridges without buying a second serialized pistol.
There is an important optics complication. The red dot attaches to the slide, and the entire slide changes with the caliber. An owner has three choices:
- Keep an optic on each upper.
- Move one optic between slides and confirm zero every time.
- Use iron sights on one upper.
The first option costs more but makes the most sense. Removing, reinstalling and re-zeroing one optic defeats much of the conversion system’s convenience.
Taurus TXM 5.7 Review
The 5.7x28mm TXM is the more serious half of the package. It uses a heavier steel slide, fluted barrel and proprietary 23-round magazine.
Its major advantages include:
- High magazine capacity
- Mild recoil
- Flat trajectory
- Threaded-barrel availability
- RMSc optic compatibility
- Lower suggested price than several established 5.7 pistols
At $507.99, the Taurus competes directly with the Ruger-5.7, PSA Rock and Smith & Wesson M&P 5.7 while substantially undercutting FN’s Five-seveN.
The TXM grip must accommodate a cartridge considerably longer than 9mm. That normally produces an awkward front-to-back grip dimension. Early reviewers have generally described the Taurus frame as more comfortable than expected, although buyers with short fingers should still handle one before ordering.
5.7x28mm ammunition remains more expensive than ordinary 9mm and .22 LR. It is not the economical half of this two-caliber arrangement. The attraction is low recoil, useful velocity and 23-round capacity—not cheap practice.
Taurus TXM .22 WMR Review
The .22 WMR upper transforms the same frame into a considerably lighter pistol with a 15-round polymer magazine.
This is not simply a TX22 upper rechambered for a longer cartridge. The TXM uses a different operating design, and the new upper is not advertised as compatible with an ordinary TX22 frame.
The .22 WMR version makes sense for:
- Recreational shooting
- Small-game hunting
- Varmint control
- Recoil-sensitive shooters
- Less-expensive practice using the TXM frame
- Owners wanting more rimfire performance than .22 LR
Calling .22 WMR “cheap 5.7” oversimplifies the comparison. Both fire small-diameter bullets at useful velocities, but ammunition construction, pressure, ignition and terminal performance differ.
Rimfire ammunition also brings the possibility of occasional ignition failures that no pistol design can completely eliminate. Anyone evaluating the TXM for defensive use should test the exact load extensively instead of assuming every .22 WMR cartridge performs identically.
Taurus TXM Suppressor Compatibility
Both TXM calibers are available with threaded barrels. The 5.7 barrel uses native 1/2×28 threads, while the .22 WMR version requires its muzzle adapter.
Taurus reportedly limits attached muzzle devices to approximately five ounces and recommends projectiles weighing at least 40 grains when a muzzle device or optic is installed. Buyers should verify those restrictions in the current manual before attaching a suppressor.
That five-ounce limit rules out many conventional pistol suppressors. It favors lightweight rimfire and 5.7-rated silencers, such as Taurus’s own TTX22, provided the exact configuration satisfies every published restriction.
One independent Taurus TXM shooting report described good sound performance with an AAC Element II. The tester reported some debris returning toward the shooter with .22 WMR but no comparable gas exposure with the suppressed 5.7 configuration.
A suppressor rated for .22 LR is not automatically safe for .22 WMR or 5.7x28mm. Confirm the manufacturer’s caliber rating, mounting instructions and permitted firing schedule.
Taurus TXM Problems and Early Reliability Reports
The TXM is too new for anyone to make responsible claims about long-term durability or an established failure rate.
The most significant early problem comes from the same independent test. The suppressed 5.7 configuration reportedly experienced a feeding malfunction involving the second cartridge twice. The pistol had not been cleaned, lubricated or broken in, and the problem did not appear during unsuppressed shooting.
That report does not prove a systemic defect. It does identify something owners should test with:
- Different suppressor weights
- Different 5.7 ammunition
- Fully loaded and partially loaded magazines
- Clean and dirty chambers
- Suppressed and unsuppressed configurations
- Proper lubrication
Other concerns include the limited initial holster selection, proprietary magazines, the one-ounce recommended optic limit and the need for two optics if both uppers are expected to remain zeroed.
The 5.7 cartridge’s lacquered cases can also leave chamber deposits. Regular chamber cleaning matters, particularly before diagnosing extraction or feeding trouble.
Taurus TXM vs TX22
The TX22 remains the better economical plinking pistol. Its .22 LR ammunition costs less, recoil is practically nonexistent and the platform already has substantial aftermarket and holster support.
The TXM offers more capability:
- .22 WMR instead of .22 LR
- Optional 5.7x28mm conversion
- Greater cartridge energy
- 23-round 5.7 capacity
- One frame supporting two distinct calibers
The TXM does not replace the TX22. It sits above it. Buyers who want inexpensive recreational shooting should still consider the TX22. Buyers interested in a convertible magnum-rimfire and centerfire package should consider the TXM.
TXM Combo vs Buying Two Pistols
Buying the two standalone TXM models at MSRP totals approximately $932.98. The $757.99 combo saves about $175 while providing one frame and both caliber assemblies.
The compromise is that only one upper can be installed at a time. Two separate pistols also provide redundancy and can be equipped permanently with separate lights, optics and holsters.
The combo is the better value when one owner wants both cartridges. Separate pistols are more practical when both configurations must remain immediately available.
Readers comparing newer modular handguns may also want to see the SIG P385 review and FN 309 MRD review.
Is the Taurus TXM Worth It?
The Taurus TXM is one of the more interesting pistol launches of 2026 because its modularity serves an actual purpose. It does not merely replace grip panels or offer another slide color. It converts one frame between a 15-round .22 WMR pistol and a 23-round 5.7x28mm pistol.
The 5.7 model’s $507.99 suggested price is competitive. The .22 WMR version offers considerably more power than a conventional .22 LR trainer. The combo provides the best overall value if both cartridges appeal to the buyer.
My preliminary verdict is positive with one substantial condition: the platform needs broader reliability evidence, especially when suppressed. The feeding hiccups reported with one suppressed 5.7 configuration are worth investigating but do not yet justify declaring the entire design defective.
Buyers should confirm magazine capacity, barrel configuration and accessory-weight limits before ordering. Then they should evaluate reliability with their chosen ammunition and suppressor rather than trusting launch-day enthusiasm.
GarandThumb.com was established on May 4, 2012, to document my experiences trying to become a better marksman.