Taurus RPC — The 9mm PCC That Finally Got the Gas System Right

Pistol caliber carbines are popular for good reasons: they're fun, affordable to feed, easy to suppress, and give you a longer sight radius than a handgun. The one thing that has held a lot of 9mm PCCs back is the straight blowback gas system. The Taurus RPC changes that conversation with a roller delayed system that makes the whole experience significantly more pleasant.

What Is It?

The RPC is Taurus's entry into the large format pistol and PDW market, and it's their first PCC. That new-to-the-category status might raise some eyebrows, but the engineering behind the gun suggests Taurus did their homework before bringing it to market.

The roller delayed gas system is the headline feature, and Caleb Giddings — who represents Taurus — explains it clearly: most 9mm PCCs are straight blowback, which means the bolt mass is what slows the action down. That requires a heavy bolt, which means more felt recoil and a more violent shooting experience. The roller delayed system uses locking tips to delay the gas, which allows Taurus to use a smaller, lighter bolt. Less bolt mass means softer recoil and a smoother shooting experience.

The system ships with two locking tips — one marked SUPP for suppressed fire and one for unsuppressed. That tunable design means you can optimize the gun for subsonics with a suppressor or supersonics without, rather than accepting a compromise position that works adequately for both but optimally for neither.

Taurus RPC 9mm pistol caliber carbine
The Taurus RPC, the company's first pistol caliber carbine.

The Features

The RPC comes with AR-style controls that are fully ambidextrous — safety selector, bolt release, bolt catch, and magazine release all work from either side. The non-reciprocating cocking handle up front can be reversed for left-handed shooters. If you've run an AR, you can run this gun without much of a learning curve.

The flat-face trigger is one of those features that makes fast shooting feel natural. Clean break, good reset, and consistent shot to shot — exactly what you want when you're pushing the pace on a carbine. QD attachment points are available on both sides of the receiver and in the 1913 rail at the rear, and the gun accepts either the Strike Industries brace or can be configured without one if you want to add your own.

Taurus RPC controls and features
AR-style, fully ambidextrous controls and a flat-face trigger.

Magazines are proprietary 32-rounders, which is a generous capacity for a gun in this category. Taurus has committed to keeping these available at a competitive price point on their website, which is important to know before you buy — magazine availability and cost are legitimate considerations with any gun running proprietary mags.

On the Range

Chris ran the RPC through a plate rack on camera, and the roller delayed system delivered exactly what was promised. The gun doesn't buck or bounce the way a straight blowback carbine does. Transitions between targets are fast and confident because the muzzle comes back down where it needs to be without fighting the shooter.

Shooting the Taurus RPC on the range
Running the RPC through a plate rack.

The flat-face trigger earned specific praise for its performance during fast shooting strings, and the ambidextrous controls got a nod as a feature that matters more than people sometimes realize until they need them. The overall package impressed for a first entry into the category.

The gun doesn't buck or bounce the way a straight blowback carbine does — the muzzle comes back down where it needs to be without fighting the shooter.

Final Thoughts

The Taurus RPC is a genuinely interesting PCC that addresses the biggest complaint about the category — the rough, heavy-feeling straight blowback action — with an engineering solution rather than a Band-Aid. The roller delayed system works, the controls are well executed, and the suppressor-tunable locking tips are a thoughtful addition.

At around $1,100 with the brace or under $1,000 without, it's priced competitively in a market with a lot of options. The roller delayed gas system alone makes it worth a serious look.

Taurus RPC pistol caliber carbine
The Taurus RPC: a roller delayed 9mm PCC.

Watch the full episode on Shooting Sports Life at shootingsportslife.com.

Recent Articles

Taurus RPC — The 9mm PCC That Finally Got the Gas System Right
Ruger RXM — The Modular 9mm That Keeps Getting Better
It’s Done. DOJ Will Not Appeal: The Silencer Shop Foundation NFA Injunction Is Permanent

Subscribe to Gun Talk News

Get the latest updates on new videos, podcasts, giveaways & more.