Gun Review: Taurus G3c 9mm Pistol

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.