Let’s start with the single most important fact about the Taurus PT709 Slim: Taurus discontinued it. The company phased out the PT709 in favor of its G2C/G3C line, no new guns are being made, and buyers today are limited to the used market — with shrinking support for parts, magazines, and holsters. With that understood, the PT709 remains an interesting piece of concealed-carry history: in its day, it was among the thinnest 9mm pistols available, and it earned a loyal following as an all-day carry gun. In this research-based review, we break down the specs, what owners praise, where the gun falls short, and what to know before buying used.
The short answer: the PT709 Slim is exceptionally easy to carry and conceal — roughly an inch wide, comfortable, and naturally pointable — and it can be had cheap on the used market. But reliability varies significantly from gun to gun, the 7+1 capacity lags behind modern double-stacks, and buying discontinued means accepting parts scarcity. It’s a gun for informed used-market shoppers, not for anyone who wants factory support.
| Detail | Spec |
|---|---|
| Product photo |  |
| Product name | Taurus PT709 Slim (discontinued) |
| Key specs |
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| Best for | Collectors and used-market shoppers who prioritize thinness above all else in a carry gun — and understand they’re buying discontinued. |
| Where to buy | Not sold on Amazon — details below. |
Product Overview
The PT709 Slim was Taurus’s answer to the single-stack 9mm concealed-carry boom of the 2010s. Its defining trait is right there in the name: at roughly an inch wide, it was among the thinnest 9mm pistols of its era — a gun designed to disappear under a t-shirt. The striker-fired action includes a restrike capability (a second trigger pull re-cocks the striker after a light primer strike), marketed as “Double Strike.” Controls include a manual thumb safety and a trigger safety, with three-dot sights, a polymer frame, and a steel slide.
On paper, it checked the boxes for a budget deep-concealment pistol. In practice, owner experiences split sharply — which is the central theme of this review.
Key Specifications
Chambered in 9mm Luger with a 7+1 single-stack magazine, the PT709 Slim runs a 3.0-inch barrel in a package roughly 6.0 to 6.24 inches long and about 1.0 to 1.04 inches wide, weighing approximately 19 ounces unloaded. The striker-fired trigger offers restrike capability, and the gun ships with a manual thumb safety, trigger safety, and three-dot sights on a polymer frame with a steel slide.
What Owners Like
Exceptional concealability. The standout virtue: at roughly an inch wide, the PT709 is extraordinarily easy to conceal and comfortable for all-day carry. Owners who prioritize thinness consistently rate it among the easiest-carrying 9mms they’ve owned.
Natural pointing and ergonomics. The 1911-style grip angle points naturally for many shooters, the grip is comfortable despite the slim profile, and the three-dot sights are genuinely usable — not an afterthought.
Solid accuracy at defensive distances. Within typical self-defense ranges, owners report the gun shoots better than its price suggests.
Strong used-market value. Discontinuation has a silver lining for buyers: used PT709s sell cheap, making it one of the most affordable ways into a thin 9mm.
What Owners Complain About
Inconsistent reliability. This is the critical issue: reliability varies dramatically from one gun to the next. Some owners report thousands of trouble-free rounds; others describe jams every magazine. The gun can also be ammunition-sensitive. This sample-to-sample variation is the single biggest risk of buying one.
Sharp recoil. At around 19 ounces, physics wins — muzzle flip and felt recoil are notably snappy, which slows follow-up shots compared with heavier pistols.
Trigger and finish. Owners cite a long trigger take-up and rough slide edges — reminders of the budget price point.
Dated capacity. Seven plus one was competitive in its day; against modern double-stack micro-compacts carrying 10–15 rounds in similar footprints, it lags badly.
Red Flags and Honest Caveats
Reliability is sample-dependent — never treat this gun as uniformly reliable. The variance in owner reports is too wide to ignore. If you buy one, function-test it extensively — many instructors suggest 200+ rounds — with the exact defensive ammunition you intend to carry before trusting it for protection.
Break-in failures are reported. Some owners describe failures concentrated in roughly the first 100 rounds, with the gun settling down afterward — while others never get there. Budget for a real break-in period and don’t judge (or trust) the gun on round 50.
Discontinued means diminishing support. Magazines, holsters, and spare parts get scarcer every year. Factor that into the true cost of ownership.
No PT709-specific recall found. To be clear: we found no recall specific to the PT709, and this review does not imply one exists. (Taurus has had recalls on other models — that’s a separate matter.)
Tips for Buying a Used PT709 Slim
Inspect before you buy. Check the bore, slide rails, and magazine condition; cycle the action and dry-fire (with the seller’s permission) to feel the trigger. Ask about round count and any malfunctions the seller experienced — honest sellers of used guns expect these questions.
Budget for magazines and a holster. Factory magazines are getting harder to find, so confirm availability and pricing before committing. Line up a holster source too — used gear markets or custom makers — since off-the-shelf options are thinning out.
Price it like a discontinued gun. Used PT709 prices are low for a reason: no warranty, no factory support, and sample-dependent reliability. Don’t overpay for nostalgia — compare against what a new budget pistol costs before deciding the used Slim is actually the bargain it appears to be.
A Note on Firearm Safety
Standard firearm-safety guidance applies to any handgun: treat every firearm as if loaded; keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction; keep your finger off the trigger until ready to fire; be sure of your target and what lies beyond it; and store firearms securely — especially where children may have access. If you’re new to handguns, get professional training before carrying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Taurus PT709 Slim still made?
No. Taurus discontinued the PT709 Slim, phasing it out in favor of the G2C/G3C line. No new guns are being produced, so buyers are limited to the used market with shrinking parts, magazine, and holster support.
What replaced the Taurus PT709 Slim?
The Taurus G2C and later G3C are the spiritual successors — budget-priced, higher-capacity double-stack 9mms. They aren’t as thin as the PT709, but they offer modern capacity and full factory support.
Is the PT709 Slim reliable enough to carry?
It depends on the individual gun: some run flawlessly for thousands of rounds, others jam frequently. Given that variance, function-test any example extensively with your exact carry ammunition before trusting it — and many shooters would choose a currently produced pistol for defensive use instead.
What holsters fit the PT709 Slim?
Dedicated holsters are getting scarcer as the gun fades from the market. Check used gear markets and custom holster makers, and verify fit carefully — a discontinued gun means fewer off-the-shelf options than current models enjoy.
Verdict
The Taurus PT709 Slim is a fascinating used-market proposition: one of the thinnest 9mms ever made, naturally pointable, and available cheap — but discontinued, capacity-dated, and afflicted with gun-to-gun reliability variance that demands serious function testing. For a collector or a thinness-obsessed carrier who goes in with eyes open, it’s a legitimate piece of carry-gun history. For anyone seeking a dependable defensive pistol with factory support, a currently produced model — including Taurus’s own G3C — is the wiser choice.
