Hey there, channel fans and family, and welcome to Slav Guns. If you were one of the millions of people who became brand-new gun owners in 2020, there’s a good chance you looked at, considered, or bought this pistol: the Taurus G3C, the updated follow-up to the exceptionally popular and modestly priced Taurus G2C. A few months before this video I covered the G2C in both 9mm and .40 S&W. Despite a few quirks, those pistols were reliable, gave you above-average magazine capacity, and most of all were attractively priced for new gun owners and anyone on a budget. So how is the G3C different, what problems did it solve, and is it worth it?
Disclosure: The firearm was provided by Taurus for testing and evaluation. Taurus did not see the video before it was published.
Heads-up: I filmed this in late summer 2020. Prices below are what they were at filming, and Taurus has added more G3C variants since then. Check current pricing and options before you buy.
TL;DR
- The G3C is an evolution of the G2C, and most of the improvements come from simplifying things rather than adding features.
- The big win is the new flat trigger blade. The safety dongle that stuck out of the G2C trigger is gone.
- Better sights, front slide serrations, a 12-round mag (10-round for ban states), and three magazines in the box.
- MSRP at filming was about $305, with street prices a little below that.
- First impressions at the range were very good. Still, run a few hundred rounds through the gun and your carry mags before you trust it.
Where the G3C comes from
The Taurus G2C was a rebrand and update of the original Taurus PT111 (the PT111 G2). The G3C is the next evolution of the G2C. It’s a purpose-built compact carry gun, and when I filmed this it was only available in 9mm. The G2C came in both 9mm and .40 S&W in a variety of colors and finishes, and I figured we’d see the same with the G3C down the road. The model I tested is the 1-G3C931.
Slide, sights, and barrel
Up top you get a black Tenifer-finish slide over a 3.2″ stainless steel barrel.
- Sights: The G3C goes to a standard white-dot front and a flat black, drift-adjustable rear, replacing the adjustable rear sight on the G2C. The rear is also cut a bit on the sides, so it’s a little more snag-free.
- Loaded chamber indicator: The G2C’s pop-up indicator is gone. Now you get a simple view port in the top of the barrel hood. It only tells you something is in there. It could be a loaded round, a piece of brass that didn’t eject, a snap cap, or a friend playing a sick joke. Either way, treat every closed slide as a loaded slide anyway: drop the mag, rack the slide. Gun safety 101.
- Serrations: The rear serrations are the same as the G2C’s, fairly deep but not too aggressive, and they remind me of what you see on a Sig P226. One common G2C complaint has been fixed too: you now get front slide serrations. There are three cuts, about as deep as the rear ones but shorter. There’d be room for more, but that’s where “TAURUS G3C 9×19” is engraved.
Frame and grip
The polymer frame is largely the same as the G2C, with a few changes.
- Grip texture: The sides, front, and back are textured so you get a solid hold without your hands bleeding. It may not matter at a climate-controlled range with gloves on. But in the middle of summer with sweaty hands, or in a defensive situation, you’ll appreciate it.
- Trigger guard undercut: It lets you get a higher grip on the gun, which matters on a compact where you feel the recoil more.
- “Memory pads”: Taurus puts four scalloped cuts on the frame, two in the middle of the grip area (one per side) and two smaller ones toward the front. They aren’t an ergonomic feature. They’re a safety cue that reminds you to keep your finger off the trigger until you’re ready to shoot.
- Accessory rail: There’s a short rail section up front for a light, a laser, or a bayonet. I’d normally mount a bayonet, but I decided to be practical and ran an Olight Baldr Mini light/laser. It mounts securely and works well with the trigger guard on these guns. (I also did a separate Olight Baldr Mini RL first look.)
- Mag well: Half-scallops are cut around the bottom edge of the frame and into the magazine base pad, so it’s easier to grip and strip a magazine.
The serial number situation
The G2C has its serial number on the bottom front of the frame. The G3C adds a frame cutout where you can see a serial number on the internal frame/trigger pack, much like the modular Sig P320, Ruger American, and ZEV OZ9 pistols. The advantage of that design would be replacing a messed-up grip module while keeping the serialized trigger module, with no new NICS check. That’s critical in permit states like New Jersey (or should I say New Jerseystan).
Here’s what I wasn’t sure about: there’s also a serial number on the front part of the frame, and the barrel and slide are serialized too. That’s because gun laws differ around the world. In the US it’s typically the frame or receiver that’s serialized, while in Europe it’s often the slide. So don’t assume the G3C works like a P320 for grip swaps until you’ve confirmed which part is the legal firearm.
Magazines
For a compact, the 9mm G3C has a very generous 12-round magazine. Folks in ban states, don’t feel bad: there’s a 10-round model for you too. Both versions came with three magazines, which is awesome and generous of Taurus, especially at this price point.
Controls
- Slide release: The same one you find on the G2C, and it feels similar to a lot of other guns. Given the choice, though, I’d rack and release the slide rather than use the lever.
- Manual safety: The lever is a bit bigger, and I had no problem engaging it even with the side of my thumb.
- Not ambidextrous: The scallop cuts are ambi, but the slide release, safety, and magazine release are right-hand only. Some people have flipped the mag release to the other side, and you can find videos on that if you look around.
- The safety quirk: There is a quirk with the safety. I don’t believe it’s a major safety issue, but you should know about it. I covered it in a separate video: “Major Safety Issue” With Taurus G3c and G2c Pistols?
The trigger: the biggest upgrade
Taurus uses a double-action striker system with re-strike capability. If you pull the trigger and the round doesn’t go bang, you can simply pull it again without racking the slide. That’s handy for a light primer strike, a round with a hard primer, or if you reload and use small rifle primers instead of small pistol primers.
The biggest generational change, and what was my biggest complaint on the G2C, is the trigger blade. On the old G2C, the safety dongle in the middle stuck out even when depressed. On the G3C the blade feels a bit wider, it’s flat, and it recesses all the way when you press it. It’s much more comfortable while firing.
Takedown
It works a lot like a Glock. Drop the magazine and make sure the chamber is empty. Gently hold the slide back a bit and press down the takedown tabs. Let the slide go, pull the trigger, and remove the slide. Then take out the guide rod and spring, remove the barrel, clean, lube, and put it back together. Sometimes it sticks a little, so it isn’t the simplest, but it isn’t difficult either, and no tools are required.
Price (at filming)
The G3C had an MSRP of about $305, with street prices a bit below that. When this video came out in late summer 2020, we had COVID pricing in effect. Once that settled, I expected you’d be able to find these for around $250 or so.
Range time and first impressions
In the hand it feels exactly like the G2C, except the trigger, and that’s a good thing. Oh daddy like.
- Sights: A vast improvement. A white dot up front and a black rear is exactly what I prefer, and it’s much quicker to acquire the target. I was shooting the G3C right after the full-size Taurus G3, which had three-dot sights, and I had challenges with that one. Even though the G3C rear isn’t fully adjustable, target acquisition was much faster.
- Trigger: It felt very, very good. No more trigger blade getting in your way as the gun recoils.
- Accuracy: It was damn accurate. Steel ran from about 15 yards out to roughly 40 to 45 yards for the back plate, and I was hitting with a compact. I was actually faster and more accurate with the G3C than with the G3 I shot right before it.
Honestly, I said on camera that I thought this would be my new carry gun for a while. First impressions were quite good, and it’s definitely worthy of a carry gun.
About reliability: With the G2C I had reliability issues that turned out to be related to one magazine. Taurus resolved it quickly. I number my magazines so I can track which ones cause issues and which don’t. I had no problems with the G3C’s magazines, but I hadn’t put a ton of ammo through it yet.
Holsters
If you’re carrying one, get a holster made for the gun. We The People makes a Taurus G3C IWB Kydex holster, and they were one of the holster makers I listed with the video.
Bottom line
The Taurus G2C was a very good pistol and a tremendous value with a few quirks. The G3C addressed those issues: it simplified the design to be more reliable and kept the price point. I’m quite impressed, and I wanted to see how it held up over the next few thousand rounds.
The only two things I’d bring up are the safety lever quirk I covered in the video linked above, and the magazine issue I had with one G2C magazine (it uses the same style of magazine). Before you use this gun or any gun for concealed carry, put at least a few hundred rounds through the gun and the magazines you plan to carry. That isn’t specific to the G3C. It applies to any gun.
Want the newer variants? Check out my Taurus G3C SR review (no external safety) and the optics-ready Taurus G3C TORO.
Gear I use: slav.li/amazon. Squat Squad perks: join the channel.
Keep squatting.
Would you carry a sub-$300 Taurus G3C, or spend more for a big-name compact?
Some links are affiliates.
Comment here