Taurus TXM Swaps Between .22 WMR and 5.7 on One Frame
Taurus just launched the TXM, a polymer-frame, striker-fired pistol that shoots both .22 WMR and 5.7x28mm. Taurus says the TXM is the first pistol built to change calibers by swapping the upper assembly on a single frame. The gun grows out of the TX22, Taurus's rimfire pistol, and it answers a request TX22 owners have made for a magnum version. Taurus went further than that request. The TXM ships as a single-caliber gun in either chambering and as a combo kit with both uppers in one box. The Firearm Blog covered the launch, and the MSRPs and specs below come from its coverage.
Key Details
Taurus lists three configurations, and each one includes a threaded barrel as standard equipment:
- TXM 5.7 TB (item 1-TXM5751-TH): 5-inch barrel, MSRP $507.99
- TXM 22WMR TB (item 1-TXM22M51-TH): 5-inch barrel, MSRP $424.99
- TXM Combo Kit (item 1-TXM22M5741-10): 4.5-inch barrel, two uppers, two 10-round magazines, MSRP $756.99
Full-capacity magazines hold 23 rounds in 5.7x28mm and 15 rounds in .22 WMR. Every TXM uses Taurus's T.O.R.O. system and accepts optics in the Shield RMSc footprint. Iron sights consist of a fixed white-dot front and a drift-adjustable serrated rear. The action runs single-action only, with a trigger safety, striker block, and firing pin block. The slide is stainless steel with a hard-anodized black finish, and the frame is polymer.
Background
The .22 WMR cartridge, the .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire, dates to 1959. Winchester built it for more velocity and energy than standard .22 LR, and it remains a popular choice for small game and varmints. The 5.7x28mm cartridge came from FN, which designed it in the 1990s for its P90 personal defense weapon and the Five-seveN pistol. It fires a light, fast bullet with a flat trajectory, but factory ammunition costs far more than .22 rimfire, which is the core reason shooters look for a cheaper way to train with a 5.7 pistol.
Convertible firearms are not new. Shooters have swapped barrels and conversion kits for decades. Swapping a complete upper assembly on a striker-fired pistol, however, brings the two calibers closer to a true one-gun solution. The TXM's answer to the cost problem is simple: keep the grip, trigger, and controls the same, and change only the upper.
Why It Matters for Gun Owners
The TXM matters most to three groups. First, TX22 owners who wanted magnum performance now have a path that doesn't require learning a new pistol. Second, 5.7 shooters who train on expensive ammunition get a cheaper option that keeps the same manual of arms. Third, buyers who want one frame for training and a higher-power option can cover both roles with a single purchase.
Check your state before you buy. The 23-round magazine is the biggest concern. California, New York, and New Jersey cap magazine capacity at 10 rounds, and other states set lower limits. A 15- or 23-round magazine may be illegal to possess in your state even though it ships with the gun. The threaded barrel also carries federal implications. A threaded barrel accepts a suppressor, and suppressors are regulated under the National Firearms Act. Do not install a suppressor without the required federal approval. Finally, confirm that your local ranges accept rimfire and 5.7 calibers before you plan a range day around either one.
DownRange Analysis
A pistol with interchangeable uppers in common calibers falls well within the Second Amendment's protection under New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen. Handguns are in common use for lawful purposes, and no historical tradition supports banning a pistol that switches calibers. The legal risk sits with magazine capacity, not with the convertible design. In Duncan v. Bonta, the en banc Ninth Circuit upheld California's magazine ban, so the capacity question remains live in court and varies by circuit.
On paper, the combo kit saves money. Buying the 5.7 and .22 WMR models separately costs $932.98 at MSRP, so the $756.99 combo saves $175.99. That math makes the combo kit the value pick, though only if you will shoot both calibers. If you plan to shoot only one, buy the single-caliber gun and save the cash for ammunition. Right now, check your state's magazine laws, confirm which configuration fits your range schedule, and wait for real-world reviews on how quickly the upper swap works before you spend the money.
