Taurus G3C Review by Alien Gear Holsters

Taurus has a new compact handgun out, and we have the details and everything else you might need to know about it in this Taurus G3C review. Thanks to our friends at Taurus USA, we got an advanced copy to take the range to get an impression to share with folks that might be looking to pick up a new packin' pistol.

You might have noticed it looks a lot like the Taurus G2C. It does. Because it's basically an updated G2C, which itself was an update of the PT 111 Millennium G2. If you're already familiar with Taurus firearms, you pretty much know what you're getting; it isn't a radical departure, but rather a couple of new bits on a gun you might have already seen.

However, for those who are not, or who might wonder what those updates are, let's get into it.

But First, The Taurus G3C Specs

The Taurus G3C specs are the following:

If you aren't aware, the G3C specs are unchanged from the G2C, as are a number of other features. The differences amount to little more than a facelift, but that isn't a bad thing; the updates are actually a bit of an improvement.

It's soon to be in gun stores near you, but you can also check it out over at Taurus USA.

Taurus G3C Review

So, let's start with the changes made in our Taurus G3C review.

The frame is the same, except a window has been cut on the left side - near the controls - to view the serial number on the trigger group. The trigger parts - the trigger bar, springs, etc. - are unchanged, but the trigger itself has been changed to the trigger and trigger safety tab from the Taurus G3; slightly wider than the G2C's, with a more pronounced curve and safety deactivator tab. I preferred the flatter profile to the original trigger, but the G3C's trigger is perfectly fine.

The slide is more or less the same, except that front slide serrations have been added.

The other significant change is the sights. The polymer sights of the G2C have been change to steel sights. The front sight is slightly wider - perhaps by 1mm - than those of the previous model, and the rear sight has been changed from a polymer ramp to plain serrated steel sights.

The standard sight is a white dot, but the serrated black steel sight creates a good contrast; the front sight is easier to pick up as a result, so it's actually a welcome change.

The loaded chamber indicator has been omitted, in lieu of a small window at the rear of the barrel.

Again, aside from cosmetic changes, the gun is unchanged. The trigger pull is about the same, with about the same travel, reset and the pistol still has second-strike capability. Takedown is the same, the texturing on the grips is the same.

So that's the G3C.

Is it a good gun?

All the things that are good about the G2C and the PT111 G2 before it remain the same. The gun is ergonomically very decent. Something I appreciate about it is that it fills the hand up a bit more than single-stack subcompacts of the same size, so you have a bit firmer grip on the pistol than with, say, a Smith and Wesson M&P Shield or a Glock 43.

The grip has textured areas which are a bit rough, but not unpleasant.

The G3C is fairly accurate, and while a bit snappy - small, light gun - it is quite easily controlled. As far as the balance between size, weight and how it shoots, it's in the sweet spot between ease of carrying and ease of shooting.

In truth, for a gun with a street price of less than $300...it really doesn't have any weaknesses. True, there are pistols of the same size that might be better in certain respects, but that would be missing the point to some degree.

Taurus pistols are working class guns. They have sights you can see, a trigger that works, they go "bang" when you need them to and you don't have to spend a heck of a lot of money to get one. Is there something "better" you could buy for a bit more? Probably. But you aren't going to find a better gun for the asking price.