Taurus's TX22 Now Takes a Folding Brace and Optics
Taurus just announced the Brace-Ready TX22, a .22 LR pistol that pairs its updated TX22 platform with the option of a Strike Industries FSA Lite folding stabilizing brace. The pistol ships with a TORO optics-ready slide cut for RMSc pattern optics and keeps a threaded barrel for a rimfire suppressor. Taurus also plans state-compliant versions for buyers in restrictive states. The announcement drew a clear line: this is a range and suppressor host built for fun, not a replacement for a serious defensive gun.
Key Details
The specifications Taurus published cover the core upgrades. Here is what the announcement includes:
- Model: Brace-Ready TX22, a .22 LR pistol built on the current TX22 platform.
- Slide: TORO optics-ready slide cut for RMSc pattern red dot optics.
- Barrel: Threaded, ready for a rimfire suppressor without additional parts.
- Magazines: One 22-round magazine and one 16-round magazine included.
- Brace option: Strike Industries FSA Lite folding stabilizing brace, a lightweight polymer unit with a compact folding design.
- Configurations: A brace-ready version and a version equipped with the FSA Lite brace, plus state-compliant variants.
- Suppressor pairing: Taurus suggests the TTX22 titanium suppressor as the matching can.
Pricing, availability dates, and dealer allocations were not part of the material we reviewed. Check with Taurus or your dealer before you plan a purchase around a specific price or ship date. The state-compliant versions matter most for buyers outside the strictest jurisdictions, because feature sets and parts can differ by state.
Background
The TX22 has a reputation as a capable rimfire pistol. Its ergonomics, magazine capacity, and tolerance for a wide range of .22 LR ammunition have made it popular with plinkers. Early TX22 pistols shipped with iron sights only. Taurus added an optics-ready slide later, which means owners of first-generation guns face part swaps to mount a red dot. The Brace-Ready model fixes that gap at the factory.
The brace question depends on federal and state rules, which have shifted over the past several years. ATF's 2023 pistol brace rule attempted to define when a braced pistol becomes a short-barreled rifle under the National Firearms Act. A federal court in Texas vacated that rule in 2025, which removed a major federal enforcement tool. Short-barreled rifles still require NFA registration and the $200 transfer tax, so a stocked TX22 remains a regulated item. Many states also set their own rules on SBRs, braces, and rimfire suppressors, and those rules do not move automatically with federal changes.
Why It Matters for Gun Owners
This release matters most to three groups. First, buyers in states that restrict short-barreled rifles or pistol braces now have a factory option designed around state law. Second, owners who want a suppressed .22 get a threaded barrel out of the box, which cuts the cost and fuss of an aftermarket conversion. Third, shooters who want a red dot on a rimfire pistol skip the parts swap that early TX22 owners had to deal with.
Before you buy, check three things. Confirm your state's rules on pistol braces, SBRs, and suppressors, because a brace that is legal in one state may create problems in another. Verify the RMSc footprint on any optic you plan to mount, since footprint standards vary between manufacturers. Finally, confirm whether a specific configuration needs an NFA form before you attach or remove the brace. Buy the state-compliant version if your home state's rules are unclear. Ask the dealer for the paperwork on any transfer.
DownRange Analysis
Taurus built this pistol around a sensible idea. A .22 LR does not need a stock to be controllable, and a light folding brace adds stability without much weight. The Second Amendment protects the right to keep and bear arms, and the Bruen test asks whether modern regulation fits within the nation's historical tradition of firearm regulation. A rimfire plinker with a folding brace is the kind of ordinary firearm that most Americans can use without controversy. The legal fight is about the NFA classification, not the gun itself.
The market signal is clear. Rimfire suppressor hosts and optics-ready pistols now sell well, and Taurus is competing for that buyer with a factory product instead of a parts-bin build. Expect other manufacturers to follow with similar configurations. For owners right now, the practical move is simple. Do not buy a braced pistol based on the brace alone. Check your state's law, verify the optic footprint, and buy from a dealer who will walk you through the paperwork. If the TX22 already fits your plinking habits, the Brace-Ready version adds useful options without changing what made the platform work.
