I know there are other reviews for the new Taurus 709 SLIM, but here is my take. I got my 709 in stainless the other day and no cracks (there is a 709 thread on AZshooting with a guys gun that has a crack after only 12rds at the rear where the pin goes thru the grip) and looks great (has 50rds thru it by previous owner). I have been experimenting with different IWB carrying angles and positions (so far without a holster) and this thing IWB carries great! Only complaint i have is that in SA it is a long trigger pull and then when I think I have pulled as far as it will go, there is still more to pull. hopefully taurus or someone will come out with a shorter trigger for this gun.
The width of this gun is wider than a keltec pf9, but about the same as a walther p22. With a full mag of 147gr Winchester HP's it seems well balanced. already looking in to how to remove the safety lock, but will live with it until I can find a modification that works.
have to hit the range with this gun and put in a few hundred rounds through it and a box or two of defensive carry stuff thru it before I will carry it as a main gun.
a note to taurus is that on the front of the slide they could have made the slide more rounded on the top to side transition, they already did some cuts to reduce weight, but with square edges it just seems blocky. weight seems well (bit heavy for a synthetic gun of this size).
note to aftermarket mag makers, start making mags for this gun!also finger grip extension bases would be nice. right now even with my dealer discount thru midway the mags they look well built, but not for that high of a price) cost more than my west german made sig mags for my p220, 229, etc....
continuted....
well, put 200 rds of FMJ thru the gun at the range and only problems were with the cheap blazer brass. had 4 times where the blazer spent rounds would only partially be removed from the chamber and slide would get stuck trying to go forward to chamber another round into the chamber with a spent round still partially there. I am blaming this issue on the ammo, because I had no problems with federal, remington and winchester ammo. this gun really likes the winchester 147gr HP's for defensive loads.
I had the opportunity to shoot the 709 and a keltec p9 at the same time (buddy carries a p9 all the time and was at the range with me). The 709 and p9 shoot the same, but 709 fits mine larger hand better and doesn't have a bit of bite/kick like the p9 does.
Right now i am carrying the gun IWB with a blackhawk generic fit holster (the thin foamy type holster. I am looking at getting a Highnoon split decision or bare asset holster (I like the 15 degree cant since I carry it at 4 or 5 o'clock .