Tara TM-9X: Simply a Defensive Handgun
By MARJ LAW
When you ask a newbies to shooting why they want a handgun, you’ll likely hear several reasons. They will usually want a gun for self-defense. They’ll want one to keep by their bedsides and in their cars. They’ll want one to shoot at the range, either at the pistol range or at the metal range targets. They’ll want one that will fit in their pocket or their purse. They’ll want a gun to wash the dishes.
Okay, no. Of course I’m kidding about the dishes thing. However, often newbies expect that a gun can fit all their needs rolled into one. It’s not likely. For instance, the gun that’ll fit in your purse is not a nice long-barreled target gun. But almost everyone who wants a handgun will agree on one thing: they want it for self-defense.
If your only reason to have a gun is for self-defense, then the Tara TM-9X can make a whole lot of sense. It’s a simple gun without bells and whistles. It’s a one trick pony.
This particular Tara is a 9mm handgun. It’s a striker-fired gun. Pull the longish trigger and it goes bang. Reliably. According to Jon Wayne Taylor, in The Truth About Guns: “I had no malfunctions of any kind, with any round, in any shooting position, at any time. No round failed to fire or eject. At no point did any round fail to feed.” He sums it up: “The TM-9X’s reliability was nothing short of perfection.”
Let’s talk about the trigger. Unlike many others, this trigger takes a substantial pull. According to the Lyman digital scale, you’ll have to expect about a 7-pound pull. While other guns boast a 4 to 6-pound trigger, Tara’s longer pull gives you the extra time and squeeze. This shows you really intend to pull the trigger. It’s no accident. When you pull it, you really mean it.
That doesn’t mean it’s too hard for most of us. This DARE trigger (which stands for Double Action Rapid Engagement) resets the striker/firing pin after you release the trigger just 3mm. Does Mr. Bad have a friend? The DARE trigger allows for a rapid second shot. Misfire? You don’t need to rack the slide. For the quick second shot, just pull the short trigger again.
Someone on Classic Firearms asked about a safety. Joe prefers safeties on his guns. Because of the longish and firm pull, the answer is: “just your finger!”
And what’s different about shooting the Tara? Let’s talk ergonomics. Tara has a low bore axis. That’s the distance between the center of the barrel and the beaver tail. It’s about 10mm lower than most similar polymer-framed handguns. The low bore axis allows for fast target acquisition after firing as the muzzle flip is minimized. Also, really important, it gives a lower felt recoil and the recoil is almost straight back, which also makes for less muzzle flip.
A policeman friend of ours has a Tara. “Jack” found a new one which came in at just over $400. 3 17-round magazines came with it. Considering that magazines easily run from $25 to $50, this pleases his thrifty nature.
Jack’s Tara came with 3 backstraps for different sized hands. A tool to switch the backstraps is hidden inside the rear of the magazine well. Clever, huh? Jack has large hands, and the texturing of the grip ensures a firm hold.
I like his sights. They are 3 large white dots with 2 in the back and 1 in the front. No fancy red reflex sight here; just easy-to-see big white dots.
The Tara is close to the same size as the Glock 17. While both are 5.47” tall, the Tara is 7.36” long and the Glock is 7.95” long. Tara is narrower than the Glock. Tara is 1.18” wide and Glock is 1.34” wide. And even though Tara is slightly smaller and narrower, it is heavier at 28.22 ounces whereas Glock is 24.87 ounces. Glock is more expensive than Tara. Jack says that’s money that could be used to buy a lot of ammunition.
Let’s discuss take down. While some handguns require all sorts of tricks to field strip, Tara is simple. Lock back the slide and turn the take down lever 90’. Unlock the slide and pull it forward and off the frame. Then take out the recoil spring and the barrel. Done!
To clean your gun, being able to fieldstrip it is important. Of course, Joe says field stripping is easy on the Tara, so I took it down it myself. Yep. Easy.
Putting it back together again is equally simple. Replace the barrel and spring. Fit the upper and lower together on the slide rails. Notice that the rails are not just the polymer of the frame, but they are reinforced with steel so frame flex is unlikely. A nice detail.
Turn the gun over, and you’ll see the extractor. If there is a round in the chamber, this extractor juts out. If you don’t see it, you can feel it with your finger tip.
I asked Jack why he purchased the Tara instead of the Glock 17.
Jack replied that he likes the grip of Tara because he says it is narrower and not so boxy. He likes the low bore axis for quick acquisition. He finds the sights easier to attain than the Glock’s because he prefers Tara’s 2 rear dots to the u-shape back sights of the Glock. While both guns are easy to field strip, he says Tara is even easier. Finally, he likes that it’s less expensive than the Glock.
Tara Aerospace has given some critical thought to details of this gun.
And, I don’t want to seem somewhat superficial, but I really like the gun’s case. Instead of being hard plastic like many cases, this one is made of a rigid impact resistant polyester. The rounded edges are soft, and don’t bang against your legs as you pull it out of the car’s trunk, but the case is still plenty sturdy. The handle buries nicely flat against the case, so it doesn’t catch on any other straps or cases.
If you want a purely defensive handgun, a simple gun that is going to go bang reliably, check out the Tara TM-9X.
Marj Law is the former director of Keep Wakulla County Beautiful who has become an avid shooter in retirement.
