Taurus RPC – New 9mm PDW Pistol

The new Taurus RPC looks to be another PDW-type pistol rolling out at the 2026 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits. Chambered for the 9x19mm Parabellum cartridge, the new guns feed from 32-round magazines, have a 4.5″ threaded barrel and use a roller-delayed action.

On paper, the RPC has a lot of things going for it. The market Taurus is entering, however, already has a number of strong competitors – including those close to the MSRP of the RPC.

Can the Taurus RPC offer a genuinely different experience at its price point? I think it can, but it’s not a sure thing.

Taurus RPC Features

Let’s take a look at the RPC’s features starting with what many people ask first: price.

Taurus RPC MSRP

Taurus traditionally positioned itself as a inexpensive gun option. In my opinion, this has hurt the reliability of some of its firearm offerings. Nevertheless, the company built a sizable number of fans who appreciate the ability to buy a new firearm at an affordable price. And, in all fairness, the guns made by Taurus seem to have improved in recent years.

For the base model RPC with a 4.5″ barrel and no arm brace, the suggested retail price is $939.99. With the Strike Industries FSA folding brace, the price increases to $1,098.99.

Roller-Delayed Action

Instead of a traditional, straight-blowback system, Taurus elected to use a roller-delayed action.

Roller-delayed actions have been used by a number of significant firearms including the HK MP5 submachine gun, the HK G3 rifle, and the Spanish SETME. It was also used on the prototype StG 45(M), the assault rifle intended to replace the StG 44 had World War II gone on long enough.

Compared to straight-blowback actions, the roller-delayed system offers a number of benefits including reduced felt recoil, lighter weight, and the ability to handle more powerful cartridges.

Taurus includes two locking tips for the roller assembly. The first is a 110-degree locking tip that is intended for use with standard (supersonic) ammunition. The second is an 85-degree tip that is designed for subsonic ammo and suppressed shooting. The RPC manual details swapping these tips out.

Construction

Taurus uses a carbon steel chassis with an aluminum upper body. Specific alloys were not immediately indicated. The company only states that the “…aluminum construction trims weight while maintaining duty-grade durability.” That’s very non-specific.

The gun essentially has an upper and lower configuration like an AR-15. In fact, it uses two pins for take down just like AR-style guns. However, the gun uses a serialized chassis that is set into the polymer lower.

Barrel

The steel barrel is 4.5″ long and threaded for the direct mount of common 9mm suppressors.

What I find interesting is the company indicates that the RPC uses a “quick change barrel system” so that other length barrels can be used on the gun. This makes the gun a bit more interesting to me as the 4.5″ barrel is shorter than I want on a PDW. I’m looking for something around 8″ – and it sounds like Taurus set up the gun to make that an option.

Taking a close look at the Taurus manual (embedded below), I see that the company lists specifications for an 8″ barreled gun in addition to the 4.5″ they announced. It would seem that the company fully intends on offering the longer barrel option.

Taurus RPC Magazines

Unsurprisingly, Taurus uses proprietary magazines. It does not take Glock magazines nor does it run from CZ Scorpion mags.

Magazines are curved and hold 32 rounds. Taurus includes two with each RPC. At the time of this article, there was no word on magazine pricing nor were any listed in the company’s store.

Additional Taurus RPC Features

Here are some of the additional RPC features:

• ambidextrous safety, bolt release and magazine release
• side swappable, non-reciprocating charging handle
• full length top Picatinny-type mounting rail
• M-Lok slots on the handguard
• flat faced trigger
• pistol grip compatible with most AR-15 pistol grips
• 4.5 lbs, 4.9 lbs with brace

RPC – Made in Brazil

I was hoping that these guns would be made in the United States. Unfortunately, they are not. Markings on the guns indicate that they are “MADE IN BRAZIL” by Taurus Armas S.A.

Taurus RPC Alternatives – Crowded Market

Taurus is entering an increasingly crowded market. While some may say they are too late to make an impact, it is also possible that the company has been taking notes about what does – and does not – work. Time will prove how successful the RPC will be.

Here’s a look at a few alternatives to the Taurus RPC:

Springfield Armory Kuna

Springfield Armory beat Taurus to the market with a roller-delayed 9mm PDW. Called the Kuna, the Springfield pistol offers ambidextrous controls, a non-reciprocating charging handle, a flat trigger, and an impressive set of iron sights.

It feeds from 30-round magazines (a two-round advantage to Taurus.) While the mags are proprietary, they are very affordable with a MSRP of only $25.

I own a Kuna with a Strike Industries FSA brace. I’m planning on getting an SBR tax stamp for this one.

Pricing is reasonable in my estimation. Without a brace, MSRP is $1,179. With a brace, the MSRP is $1,330. Taurus wins on price.

CZ Scorpion 3

All memes notwithstanding, the modern CZ Scorpion is quite popular with shooters. It is a modern, large-format handgun derived from the Czech-designed Scorpion EVO 3 submachine gun platform. Chambered in 9×19mm Parabellum, the firearm operates on a simple blowback system and is built largely from reinforced polymer to keep weight down while maintaining durability.

The Scorpion 3 series represents an evolution of earlier models, with the “3+” variant introducing improved ergonomics, updated controls, and enhanced modularity. It feeds from high-capacity detachable box magazines, commonly in 20- or 30-round configurations. It is designed for adaptability with optics, lights, and other accessories via its rail system.

The suggested retail pricing for the CZ Scorpions starts at $1,499. That’s a 50% increase in price over the Taurus. The CZ is debugged technology, so you know you are getting a good running gun.

Grand Power Stribog SP9 A3

The Grand Power Stribog SP9 A3 is a modern large-format pistol developed by Grand Power, designed from the ground up as a compact 9×19mm platform. It features an 8-inch barrel and a lightweight design built around an aluminum upper receiver paired with a polymer lower, striking a balance between durability and manageable weight.

The pistol feeds from proprietary double-stack magazines typically available in 20- and 30-round capacities, and its overall size and layout place it squarely in the same niche as other pistol-caliber platforms intended for enhanced control and capacity over traditional handguns.

What sets the SP9 A3 apart from earlier Stribog models is its roller-delayed blowback and non-reciprocating charging handle. With its combination of compact size, soft recoil impulse, and robust construction, the SP9 A3 has become a popular option for range use, training, and defensive applications where a compact 9mm platform is desired.

Grand Power has these priced very affordably. They don’t have a MSRP listed on its website, but you can find these around $950-$1,000. Taurus may have a slight edge on street price, but it will be close.

CMMG Dissent

The CMMG Dissent is another 9mm PDW pistol of the same general size and usefulness. Instead of a roller-delayed action, however, the company uses a radial-delayed action. CMMG states that the system generates less recoil than roller delayed, and that it requires less mass making it lighter. Unfortunately, I’ve not had the chance to compare the Dissent to other firearms like the RPC.

CMMG elected to use Glock-pattern magazines for this firearm. It ships with 33-round magazines. For a lot of shooters, taking a Glock magazine is an important feature. I’m not convinced that Glock pattern mags are the best choice, but they are easy to find and Glock branded magazines are reliable.

The Dissnent is not cheap. The MSRP is $1,949.95 making it roughly double the price of the Taurus RPC.

SIG MPX K

The SIG MPX K is pretty close to a direct comparison to the Taurus RPC when equipped with a brace. The MPX is a reliable 9mm PDW with a pistol brace. Instead of using roller-delay, it uses a gas piston which may generate slightly more recoil than the RPC.

The MPX K is a great gun, but it is also about double the price with street pricing in the $2,000 range. It uses proprietary magazines.

HK SP5

The HK MP5 is widely considered to be one of the best 9mm submachine guns ever designed. As a guy who has run one of these in my former career, I agree. It’s easy to shoot and reliable.

The SP5 is the company’s semi-automatic, pistol version of the MP5. It comes in a few different configurations, but they are all very similar with the same internals.

Pricing is not cheap on the SP5. Magazines are expensive and so are the guns. Expect to pay $3,000 or more for the gun. Huge advantage for the Taurus RPC. But, there’s no substitute for the SP5 if you want a civilian legal MP5.

Final Thoughts

In the end, the Taurus RPC enters the PDW market with a compelling mix of features, pricing, and ambition – but also a fair amount of uncertainty. On paper, it checks many of the right boxes: a roller-delayed action, modular design, ambidextrous controls, and a competitive MSRP that undercuts many established rivals. For shooters looking to get into a modern 9mm PDW without spending well over $1,000, it immediately stands out as an attractive option.

However, this is also a space filled with proven platforms that have already earned their reputations through years of use. From well-established designs to newer entrants that have already been vetted by consumers, Taurus is stepping into a field where reliability, durability, and long-term performance matter more than specs alone. While the company’s recent improvements in quality are encouraging, the RPC will ultimately need to prove itself where it counts—on the range and over time.

If Taurus delivers on the promise of the RPC, it could carve out a meaningful place in this crowded segment, offering shooters a softer-shooting, feature-rich alternative at a more accessible price point. But until real-world testing and user feedback accumulate, it remains a promising contender rather than a guaranteed success.