Your Privacy Choices
Back in 2013, we published an article telling about the first generation of the Montenegrin Tara TM-9 pistol. Since then this handgun has been revised and updated multiple times and its latest iteration is now available in the USA via a US distributor called TARA Tactical USA. In this article, we’ll take a look at the design and features of this newest version of Tara TM-9 pistol.
The Tara TM-9 is a striker-fired polymer-framed handgun chambered in 9x19mm. It is a locked-breech short barrel recoil pistol with a tilting barrel lockup. The pistol is made by the small arms division of a Montenegrin aerospace company called TARA Aerospace AD. The experience and capabilities of manufacturing aerospace products allow the company to make these pistols to tight tolerances. The tight barrel-to-slide lockup is advertised to make the gun extremely accurate and the low bore axis (22mm (.865″)) to minimize the muzzle flip and allow for fast follow-up shots.
Some of the upgrades incorporated into the design of the latest generation frames of TM-9 pistols are the removed finger grooves, extended beavertail and honeycomb pattern on the grip and on support hand thumb / primary hand index finger shelves. The slide rails are on two separate metal blocks inserted into the frame. The company opted not to mold the slide rails into the frame to prevent them from being affected by frame flex during firing the gun. The frame also features a double undercut trigger guard, lanyard attachment provision, 1913 accessory rail and interchangeable backstraps. The pistol is fed from 17-round metal magazines and has an ambidextrous magazine release button.
The barrel and slide of the Tara TM-9 pistol are machined out of solid stainless steel bars and along with other metal parts feature a special surface treatment that allows the company to give a 50,000 rounds guarantee on all main parts of the pistol. The slide has front and rear cocking serrations. The angled surfaces on the front portion of the slide are another difference from previous generation guns. The improved extractor has an extension that works as a visual and tactile loaded chamber indicator. Tara TM-9 pistol weighs in at 800 grams (28 oz) unloaded and has the following dimensions: length – 187mm (7.36″); height – 139mm (5.47″); width – 30mm (1.18″); barrel length – 113mm (4.45″); sight radius – 165mm (6.5″).
One of the most interesting design features of the Tara TM-9 pistol is the patented trigger mechanism called DASR (Double Action Short Release). It is sort of a hybrid of double-action-only (DAO) and double-action/single-action (DA/SA) triggers. The gun always fires the first round in double-action mode but the trigger has two reset points. When the gun is fired and the trigger is let forward all the way, it will reset to double-action again. However, if the trigger is released by about .25″, kind of half-way, it will click into an intermediate reset point and can be pulled back again with a lighter and shorter single-action pull.
Resetting to DAO every time the trigger is completely released means that when the gun is not being fired, the striker is completely decocked. This, in conjunction with the striker blocking mechanism, ensure ultimate safety virtually eliminating the chances of an accidental discharge due to a cocked or semi-cocked striker slipping off of the sear. And of course, another feature of the DAO trigger mechanism is the ability to strike the primer again in case of a misfire without the need to rack the slide. DAO trigger of Tara TM-9 pistol also allows starting the disassembly of the gun without the need for pulling the trigger first.
The MSRP of the Tara TM-9 pistol is $529. The pistol comes in a nylon case with three magazines and three different size backstraps. It is compatible with Safariland ALS and SLS Glock 17 holsters. A compact version of this pistol (TM-9C) may become available in the future as well.
We are looking forward to reviewing the Tara TM-9 pistol. Stay tuned!
Pictures by TARA Tactical USA, www.tarapistols.com
We are committed to finding, researching, and recommending the best products. We earn commissions from purchases you make using the retail links in our product reviews. Learn more about how this works.
