NRA Gun of the Week: Taurus Spectrum Pistol

by
posted on June 8, 2019
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
Designed and built in America, Taurus USA’s Spectrum pistol is a striker-fired, recoil-operated .380 ACP intended for every-day carry. Weighing in at 10-ozs. empty, the micro-sized Spectrum pistol boasts user-friendly ergonomics with melded treatments to its steel surfaces and Soft-Touch Overmold on locations meant to interface with its shooter. The striker system provides double-strike capability and the gun feeds from six- and seven-round detachable box magazines. To learn more about the Taurus Spectrum, watch this NRA Gun of the Week video hosted by American Rifleman's Mark Keefe.

Specifications:
Manufacturer: Taurus Int’l Mfg., Inc.
Model: Spectrum
Chambering: .380 ACP
Action Type: recoil-operated, semi-automatic center-fire pistol
Frame: nylon; soft-touch overmolded rubber
Slide: Melonite-treated carbon steel
Barrel: 2.8”
Sights: fixed
Trigger: striker-fired, double-action-only; 8-lb., 7-oz. pull
Magazine: 6- and 7-round detachable box
Weight: 10 ozs. (empty)
MSRP: $289 (base)

Additional Reading:
Concealed Carry 101: The Beginner's Carry Rig Checklist
Both Ends of the Spectrum: Taurus Spectrum Pistol
NRA Gun of the Week: Taurus Judge Pistol
Video—ARTV: Taurus Manufacturing











 




Latest

attack in a back alley
attack in a back alley

Cold Performance: How to Prepare for the Uncertainty of Self-Defense

Defensive gun use is defined by uncertainty. You don’t know when it will happen, how far away the threat will be, how many threats you will face or what position you will be in when it begins.

Derya Goes Silent: The OBone Suppressor

In 2025, Turkish manufacturer Derya Arms opened a new facility in Florida, enabling the company to produce a number of new products domestically, such as its new OBone suppressor.

The Armed Citizen® Oct. 26, 2026

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Rifleman Q&A: Understanding a Firearm's Cycle of Operation

The cycle of operation is the mechanical sequence of events that it takes to fire one shot out of a firearm. If one of those steps fails to take place as designed, there is an interruption in the cycle of operation and the gun stops firing.

Review: Sightmark Pinnacle 1-6x24 mm Riflescope

Looking for a performance LPVO without the usual associated cost? The Sightmark Pinnacle 1-6x24 mm might be your answer.

Myths & Misunderstandings About the “Modern Fighting 1911”

The Colt Model 1911 pistol and its derivatives are among the most iconic military handguns ever made. But in 2026, does the M1911 still hold up as a quality defensive arm?

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.