The Taurus G3c is the latest subcompact handgun from Taurus. It’s both the compact variant of the Taurus G3 and the successor to the Taurus G2c. The G3c is primarily a facelift to the popular, budget-friendly G2c. Most of the design stays the same and incorporates many features that made the G2c appealing, including the low price tag.
These features include a odd, but handy trigger design. I hesitate to describe the Taurus G3c as a DA/SA gun, but that’s pretty close to the reality. This is a single action gun that will revert to double-action-only if single action fails to fire a projectile.
Unlike most striker-fired guns, the G3c offers a restrike option should a round fail to ignite after the first try. There is no decocker to place the weapon in double-action mode manually.
The magazines the G3c uses are the same as the G2c, and that means compatibility with SIG P226 magazines as well. I confirmed this myself using a P226 mag from Mec-Gar. The standard Taurus magazines hold 12 rounds for free states and ten rounds for less-free states. The G3c comes with a surprising three magazines, which is a lovely touch and one I appreciate.
The G3c still features a Picatinny rail that accommodates the smallest of pistol lights and, better yet, training devices like the MantisX. The grip texture is broken up into six panels, and that texture is exceptionally aggressive. You still get a manual frame safety as well as a trigger safety.
Despite the similarities with the G2c, a lot about the G3c has changed. For one, the trigger dingus is much broader. That makes it more comfortable when hitting those higher round counts in a long range session. I never noticed an issue with any trigger dingus, but I’ve seen this referenced enough in other forums that some apparently do.
On top to the gun, you’ll seem some very nice sights, at least for a value brand gun.
The rear sight is all black and serrated to reduce reflection. The front sight is a simple white dot front sight. It’s a simple setup that I’ve come to prefer over time. On top of that, the sights are made of metal, a feat that GLOCK has yet accomplished on their guns.
Speaking of GLOCK, the G3c might not take GLOCK mags, but the pistol will take GLOCK sights. TRUGLO has been changing some of their GLOCK sights to reflect that they are now also G3c compatible. That’s pretty freaking handy when you consider how massive the GLOCK aftermarket is. If I were swapping sights, I’d just grab a new front sight, preferably something with a high visibility insert.
Size Wise
The Taurus G3c is a bit bigger than a GLOCK G26 but weighs practically the same. The difference between the two is on the back end. The G3c is a little taller due to its bigger grip, which’s fine with me (I have big hands). Lord knows I hate a hanging pinky.
The G3c has a 3.2-inch barrel, which makes the gun a little shorter than the G26. It fits in the Vaultek Lifepod perfectly.
The gun is a little on the chunky side at 1.2 inches wide. I feel spoiled by my SIG P365, and its thinner, lighter nature.
If one wanted to nitpick the G3c, they could, but this pistol is not a challenge to carry. I’ve been toting the G3c in a Hybrid MT2 from Crossbreed and the weapon is incredibly comfortable for daily carry. To quote Donnie Brasco, you can ‘forget about it.’
Hitting the Range
Once lead meets steel, we learn what the G3c is all about. Recoil is comparable to most small semi-automatics, and that means it’s very controllable. With stouter +P stuff, you’ll feel it, but the Taurus G3c is still plenty easy to handle.
I appreciate an excellent aggressive grip, and while shooting in Florida’s summer, my hands get sweaty. The G3c’s grip texture never let the gun slide or glide while I was getting after it. I appreciate that type of control.
The metal sights are robust but feel a little on the small side. It takes time to get behind them and get used to them. Accuracy-wise you can land center mass shots into a target at 25 yards. That’s not bad for a little gun. I’m not going to make smiley faces in a B-27 target, but I’m going to have no issues shutting one down in their vital zones.
While small, I like the contrast between the front and the rear sight, which makes sight tracking easy.
The trigger is comfortable, but it has the longest pull of a single action trigger I’ve found. The distance is the same as the length of pull in the double-action mode, but is a bit lighter. Think of it as a lot of pre-travel. The reset is relatively long, too, but both audible and tactile.
The controls are easy to reach and engage. The manual safety is frame-mounted and 1911-ish, so its easy to access. A manual safety on this gun is somewhat unneeded with its long trigger pull. The magazine release is decent sized and easy to reach and press with the strong hand.
The biggest downside to the gun is the rear of the grip and the Tenifer-coated slide. There’s not much of a beavertail on the grip and, with my large hands, I got some mighty bad slide bite with every shot. The skin broke by round 50.
That’s not comfortable, and it could be due to my big paws and my preference for a high grip. I could change my grip, but that would mean changing the entire way I draw and fire a gun. Not something I’m willing to do. I had this same issue with the G2c. Your hand and hold will probably be different and you may not experience that.
Reliability-wise the gun keeps on ticking. I had one issue and, oddly enough, I had the same problem with the G2s. At one point, the follower failed to rise and feed the gun. It was solved by a quick hit at the base of the magazine. After I finished that magazine, I took the mag apart and cleaned it. This occurred in the first 150 rounds of testing.
It only occurred once, and I think there might have been some kind of packing grease in these magazines that needed to be cleaned out. The inside of each magazine is smooth and burr-free, so I can’t think of any other reason the follower would catch.
Other than that, the gun had no issues handling a mixture of 124 grain Winchester White Box, Winchester Forged, and SIG M17 ammo. I’m topping right around 570 rounds through the gun without being cleaned.
The Taurus G3c makes some neat little changes to the previous G2c. If I were a G2c owner, I wouldn’t necessarily run out and sell my gun to get the new model, but if given a choice between the two, I’d opt for the G3c.
Specifications: Taurus G3c Pistol
Caliber: 9mm
Capacity: 12+1 rounds (10 rounds also available)
Barrel Length: 3.2 inches
Overall Length: 6.3 inches
Width: 1.2 inches
Height: 5.1 inches
Caliber: 9mm
MSRP: $305.74
Accuracy * * *
The G3c is perfectly acceptable in the accuracy department…well within minute of bad guy. It’s a compact handgun made for self-defense purposes, and at handgun ranges, it will get the job done. I could probably shoot a little straighter if the trigger were a bit better and I didn’t flinch as the slide bit me.
Ergonomics * * *
The G3C is ergonomically sound. The grip is excellent, well-textured, and the controls are all reachable. The downside, for me at least, is the slide bite. If a gun makes me bleed, I gotta knock a few points off. Again, that may not be a problem for you.
Reliability * * * *
One flaw with the magazine takes off one point. It was an easy fix and seemed to be a non-issue. The gun digests a lot of lead and doesn’t talk back.
Concealability * * * *
Not the smallest gun, but not the largest, either. The G3c is an easy-to-conceal pistol. The G3c isn’t breaking the concealed handgun mold, but it’s easy enough to carry on a daily basis.
Overall * * * 1/2
The Taurus G3c is a simple pistol that fills a specific niche for a very affordable concealed carry handgun. It goes bang, shares parts and pieces with other popular firearms, and will cost you under $300. There’s a lot to be said for a gun that checks those boxes.
I’m surprised to hear that you had slide bite as I have had problems with large hands and guns in the past but have not found that to be the case for the g2c.
I like my g2c enough that I will probably be looking into this one as well.
Thank you for taking the time to review this gun.
3 mags are good. If your needs were for a self defense gun on a budget having an acceptable amount of mags included in the price is a bonus. You can rest your budget for a minute and then at your liesure pick up a few more mags.
Everybody’s hand is different. Much smaller than 1.2 inches wide and I start to have trouble getting a good hold on the gun. I think it was a S&W 2.0? that I tried in a shop and it was just too skinny for my hand. I went with the g19 instead.
I need to get two more guns so that everyone in the fam has our own concealable pistol (not right now in this economy, obvs, but as soon as availability and prices are back in line). I’m ambivalent about the manual safety, but I think these little guys are going to be near the top of the list for next pistol purchase, right next to the Ruger Security 9.
I was kind of wondering if anyone would compare this gun with the Ruger Security Nine (especially the compact version of the Ruger).
They are similar in price and function. In general, I trust Ruger more than Taurus, but the G2C and G3C seem pretty good. Everything I hear about them seems positive.
Last year, I was looking to add an inexpensive smaller double stack nine as a backup to my Glock 19 (and step up from my LCP and 642). I looked seriously at both the G2C and the Security Nine Compact. I went with the Ruger. I like the Ruger just fine, but am sure I would have also liked the Taurus. With the current gun shortage, I wish I had just bought both of them.
The Security Nine compact is a little shorter in the grip (10 round instead of 12), and could be pocket carried with large pockets. Also, the Ruger works fine with 15 round mags and a grip adapter. I like the functionality that gives. It almost works like both a Glock26 and a Glock19.
I’m glad I didn’t NEED to buy any guns this year.
Gun reviews seem ironic nowadays as I see very few pistols available on the interwebs.
I found a G43X online in stock but it was a black slide (I like me some two-tone).
Interesting that it was not an inflated price but listed for 449.
Conversely, CDNN has LCRx 38s for 529 which is about 200 too high for me.
CDNN is also sold out of SD9s at 399 when they were 249 just a few months ago.
High prices cure high prices…..just not sure how long it will take.
The best time to sell a gun is in an election year. The more polarized the election, the higher the demand. The best time to buy is the year before an election year. Last fall, there was a glut of guns on the new and used market. Similarly so in 2015, though not quite as much so..
Truth be told, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen firearms and numerous and as cheap as they were in 2019. It was a good year to buy….. and they haven’t been as scarce as they are today since 12’/13’…… 🤔
Gotta a Millennium G2. Never a problem. Ditto 6 other Tauruses. I’ve NEVER heard of anyone getting slide bite from any G2 or 3 iteration. Clean it(!),rack the slide 100’s of times and work the trigger 100’s of times with snapcap’s. Dunno how you measure trigger reset but it’s short. Oh and that list TTAG had the other day with no Taurus semiautomatic pistolas…silly. Taurus moving to Georgia made a huge difference. Getting a Taurus G3(4″ barrel)eventually!
Snap caps are how I did a trigger job on my j frame. Hours of killing bad guys on the tv.
I did a “trigger job”on my wife’s Taurus Ultralight. Without snapcap’s. I just pulled the trigger a bunch and stopped the hammer going all the way down with my other hand. Worked pretty well(didn’t feel like buying 38 snapcap’s)😏
You can’t access the hammer on a 442. Snap caps are kind of pricey. I have others in different calibers and gauges. I find them useful for training folks that have never handled a gun before.
I’ve had some folks that I had to show them how a snap cap was different from live ammo. Some folks are complete virgins regarding firearms.
I have never used snap caps on any handgun. If it can’t take being dry fired, I don’t need it.
The only firing pin ( hammer nose) I ever broke is on an arsenal refinished victory model lend-lease gun. Someone has put a modern S&W hammer nose into the victory model. Replaced it about a thousand hammer falls ago. No more problems.
Bainbridge, GA, to be exact. I had the opportunity to tour their new building. Huge and State of the Art are the main impressions I got. They are in the process of rebuilding the outdoor pistol range. Very nice facility!
Compatibility with Sig P226 mags is a facinating decision. Not exactly a value decision. However, there are great mags from MecGar out there. 20 rounders for the G3C! 😉
compatibility with 226 mags is good, but they are also compatibile with 92 mags, if you are competent with a dremel, all that’s needed is a small slot…
I have seen SIG mags work in a Glock. lol
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCFRWFh4Uyc
10:09 timestamp
I don’t know what they do at the Taurus Georgia facility – the gun is still made in Brazil. If you enlarge the picture of the holstered G3c in this article you can see the grip frame is marked “Taurus Armas Made in Brazil”. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, both my Taurus pistols – TCP and Model 94 work just fine. Hopefully Taurus transitions some manufacturing operations to Georgia, that would make them that more of an attractive choice.
Nicely done review by the way – any word about whether they plan on a .40S&W version? Yeah, I know .40 is dead blah blah blah…just the self-defense round I like.
I hear ya.
I’ll take one in .357 SIG.
It’s a Taurus, so NO!
God forbid a company clean up their act and offer quality products at affordable prices
Don’t worry about f–his ignorance means more G3cs for us!
It’s not ignorance. Taurus has the highest rate of warranty returns of any major manufacturer of firearms sold in the United States. Despite having top notch manufacturing equipment and machinery in Brazil, Taurus fails when it comes to simple quality control that should keep flawed out of tolerance guns from ever leaving the factory. No one knows the true percentage lemons Taurus puts out, but the high number of firearms returned for warranty repair alone is why folks serious about owning a handgun for defense use steer clear and why no Taurus ever makes it past LE testing & evaluation for duty use. Denying Taurus has serious quality control issues is ignorant.
Beats hipoint and most other cheap pistols.
They used to have quality control issues. I’m a Glock, FN, Canik type of guy but I also own a G3C as well. I have to say it has never failed me. Many rounds through it and not a single issue. When they hired the new CEO he created the G3C and the G3 in an effort to start to change people’s opinion on the brand and I feel he is moving in the right direction. They just put out the G4X or what ever it is and it’s supposed to be of great quality. My EDC is a custom G43 but I do carry and train with my G3C as well. I think this is all a matter of preference. I like the G3C alot and alot of other people do too. Some people dislike it as well. As long as it’s owner is happy with it and can shoot it safely and accurately, who cares what others say about it. Now don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying it’s a CZ or Sig or Glock or anything like that but they, as a company are moving in the right direction. I’m happy to see it. Good quality pistol at a low price? I’ll take it!
Shoot safe, shoot straight!
If you think Sig and HK have terrible customer service, you ain’t seen nothing. Taurus will make you feel like it’s your first day in prison, and you just dropped the soap.
Save a little, and buy a quality handgun from a company that won’t try to tickle your prostate.
You MIGHT have a point. I wouldn’t know.
My only Taurus has never caused me to find out about their customer service.
Then again, neither have either of my Sigs.
In fact the only gun where I have contacted customer service was a KelTec — which promptly made it onto my ‘never again’ list.
I’ve also owned several Taurus and Rossi products. Never bought a new one, and never had any issues with any of mine. My first kel-etc, (which I sold a perfectly good Taurus 85CH to buy) couldn’t fire more than two or three rounds without a malfunction when I first bought it. A fluff and buff job made it reliable, but it still wasn’t fun to shoot so I sold it ASAP.
My Sub 2000 was a dream to shoot and reliable as anything I’ve ever owned. Shoulda kept that one. 😡
We have 2 Spectrums. After more than 600 rounds through each we still get a hiccup or 2 every 3 or 4 mags. I’ll toss one in my pocket for a quick late evening fast food or to walk down to the mailboxes in the evening run but I won’t trust them yet for EDC.
Crimson, I have a TCP, the predecessor to the spectrum, that has around 2,000 rounds through it now. It has never once malfunctioned. Not even ammo failure. It was my daily pocket protector for several years. I would buy another in a heartbeat, but if I remember correctly the spectrum is striker fired isn’t it?
I also never owned or shot a Taurus, hear some great and some lousy reviews——however, somehow they now own heritage revolver and diamondback, so I might own one some——
With the Z on the grip it looks just like the HiPoint Zombie,
Always good to see more options but these days one can get much better pistols for not much more such as Ruger SR9C, Canik, and even Beretta APX series and the with Ruger and Beretta you are guaranteed to get far better service if needed. than Taurus.
One can get SLIGHTLY BETTER pistols, but at nowhere near the HIGH VALUE price of this one.
The only reason people hate on this pistol is the Taurus reputation, which, sadly has some justifiability. However, it would appear that they HAVE improved their quality. The PT92 has always been an example of what they are capable of, if only the rest of their line was as well built(I know it’s a Berretta design). This pistol has a solid, Taurus original, design.
This is a GOOD albeit slightly quirky pistol. Compact, ergonomic, light, accurate, reliable.
Is it as good as a Glock or a Sig? NO, noone is saying that.
Is it good enough for your average concealed carrier to stake their lives on? YES, definitively.
Very few people will ever shoot enough rounds through this pistol to break it. Considering that you can get this pistol AND a case of ammo for what a Glock or Sig costs, it makes PERFECET SENSE for many people. Can we PLEASE stop hating each other for having differing opinions and budgets?!
Who is hating? Why be so emotional about your firearm purchases?
I disagree in that yes I believe Ruger SR9C, Canik, and even Beretta APX series are indeed far better pistols for not much more but if a Taurus meets your needs then go with it, be happy with it, and quit worrying about what others think.
Oh and this guys new G3C broke right out of the box and was a replacement for his G2 that was unrepairable and took months to resolve with Taurus customer support.
https://www.glocktalk.com/threads/taurus-g2-blues.1798768/page-9 — see post 164
Yeah, I saw the link before, and Sig P320s shipped without drop safe, p365s broke firing pins, Glocks used to explode, S&Ws with Hillary holes lock up randomly, etc, etc. Every major firearms manufacturer has had its dark period.
As for the hate, I’m referring to a general tone in the firearms community where non-operators get lambasted by other non-operators for not spending as much money:
wasn’t singling out your comment, just happened to reply to you and responded to the thread.
If Taurus had Rugers customer service, there’d be nobody criticizing them. The other guns you mentioned are not as much better as they are more expensive. The g2/g2c/g3c are GOOD guns. There’s only preferences beyond what they are capable of, other than the weird trigger, and unequivocally nothing better at that price range. NONE of the guns you mentioned will last as long as a glock or even a berretta, and most of them also cost half of what glock and sig cost, so, again, you get what you pay for. I’m not emotional about my gun purchase, I carry a glock; but, I don’t try to disuade people from buying what they can afford for something they’ll likely never NEED, especially by shaming them for their purchase: that is what I get emotional about. If all they can afford is a High Point, more power to them. High Points get the job done, ugly and all. Let’s face it: most people won’t run a box a month through their carry piece. At that rate even the High Point will last a lifetime, maybe 2.
My first ever Taurus made it through 40 rounds before it shaved jacket so hard it cut a hole in my left cheek. It’s currently at Taurus for what I assume will be a new cylinder yoke and what I know will be a new crane. Damn thing had so much slop after those rounds it was actually out of battery. Bad luck for me. Raging Hunter, 6.5 inch barrel in .454 Casull shooting 300 grain Hornady XTP’s, for the record.
Wow! That musta hurt!
I always wanted one of those .454s Now….eh……maybe.
Looks like they got rid of the adjustable sights that I had on my G2.
Looks like better build quality than a Sig P320…
*high frequency shrieking somewhere in the distance*
Well, it is drop safe, unlike the P320…
This poor guy had his new G3C break right out of the box and a part fell out of it. Worst part is it was a replacement for his G2 that was deemed unrepairable and he waited several months to get the replacement G3C.
https://www.glocktalk.com/threads/taurus-g2-blues.1798768/page-9 — see post 164
I really like the 2 and 3 series of the Taurus but decided on the Beretta APX Carry 9 instead for quality and price point. I still believe based on several of my friends owning these Taurus’s that you can’t go wrong by buying one. Everything I’ve heard is reliability, price point and general ease of use. I have about 100 rounds through my APX now and absolutely love it. Have always been a Ruger owner and waiting for the prices to come down before I buy another but definitely considering the Taurus and like someone else on this post would love to see it in a 40.
I have heard about some of these Breakages , but have Never seen any pictures or Facts, Just stories , Like the one about a 709 split in Half, stories , No Pictures, so until I see something of concrete evidence , there just stories , I Have an older 111g2 and a G2c 709 and tcp and spectrum , other than the usual break in period, have been very good experience , have changed out the triggers on all except the Spectrum and TCP , KT triggers , much better trigger control and shootabilty , haters will hate, I Have Sigs and Others, My current EDC is a 111g2, with Sig V crowns and my truck gun is a TCP with Hydra shoks 2 extra mags for both , works for me , Happy Shooting !!!
Up to three months ago I would have agreed Taurus Customer Service was almost worse than terrible. However, once they moved to their new facility in Georgia everything seems to have changed.
What had me perplexed with Taurus is I had a .38 special Ultra lite that was purchased for my wife five years ago. Since then this pistol had been returned to Taurus two times for repairs. In fact, a local dealer who was handling this process suggested they replace the gun the second time the revolver was returned. After the second time we again sent it back earlier this year. That is #3 return for the same pistol. They had the gun this time for almost four months with no responses to our inquiries of “what the hell was going on”? However, the day Taurus moved to their new headquarters in GA., I received a call they were going to replace the revolver with a new 856. After receiving the replacement, we got a call from them to get our “feed-back”. I realize this just one episode but it does seem to merit giving them a second “look-see”.
I Have also heard but never seen any of the these Taurus Fatality stories, and in the case of the 709 shattering , They forgot to mention that the owner was using +P+ ammo, ANY Striker fired Polymer Gun will shatter when prolonged use of +P+ ammo there is a picture of a cracked frame , again +P+ ammo, Regular use No Problems , I Have one Great gun , with a KT Trigger, also Have a G2C & 111G2 all with KT triggers , May get the G3c have Inspected and held one , the Guts are the same on Previous Models, Trigger is the Only difference, for the Price its Hard to beat,
I have a G2 111 Millennium (good thing I didn’t have to pay by the letter), they’ve worked so well for us, we bought three. One for my kid, wife and I. I’m an avid fisherman and have been in the river several times. Take the gun home, dry it out, clean and repeat. This gun hasn’t failed once. Today I added a G3c. I have an early PT92A, have had many Taurus’s over the years. I hear all the horror stories, but have never had any of the failures I’ve read about. I have many firearms, every thing from S&W to Marlin. I have had to dump some models of guns over the years for quality or dependability issues. So far, never a Taurus. Hopefully this G3C isn’t the first. Every man. has had a period of bad luck (or just plain laziness). I hope this is going to be the same work horse of my others. I guess time will tell…
I traded a Sig P938 for my G3C for greater ammo capacity. As much as I liked the Sig, I needed something just a tad larger with a slightly lighter trigger pull. The Taurus fit the bill and has proven just as accurate and totally reliable. The 17-rd. mags from my Canik SA git the Taurus with no issues as well!
Love it!
Taurus G3c are quite good with a good grip.
Inspired from the tv series Yellowstone, this Kelly Reilly Blue Coat is poncho-style outerwear. Kelly Reilly portrayed the role of Beth Dutton, daughter of John Dutton in the series.
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He is obsessed with mentioning his large hands. He does this in many of his writings….Does this mean what we think it means!?
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