The G3C is our latest in the Ramen Gun series and it’s a brand new gun in general. The G3C is both the compact version of the G3 and an update to the G2C. This little gun is designed to fit into a concealed carry role and packs 12 rounds of 9mm in a relatively small size and is available at an affordable price point. The whole point of Ramen Noodle guns is getting the most gun for your dollar, so we gotta talk numbers.
The G3C has an MSRP of $305.74 and seems to be retailing at various prices. I’ve seen it priced between 260 bucks and $300 retail. At the $260 price point, the gun is most certainly an excellent budget gun. At 300 dollars, you are getting into S&W Shield territory, and it becomes a tougher sell to me.
The G3C does pack a good bit of value into the gun. It comes with three 12-round magazines and metal Glock pattern sights. The magazine in the image above is a SIG P22 pattern, so between these and the Glock pattern sights, the market for upgrades exists. I mention this because aftermarket compatibility lowers the cost of ownership significantly and should be factored into your budget.
Inside the G3C
The G3C is a compact gun, but not comparable in size to the P365 or Hellcat. Those guns are a good bit smaller than the G3C. The new Taurus is taller and wider than the G26. The handgun has a 3.2-inch barrel, an overall length of 6.3 inches, a height of 5.10 inches, and a width of 1.2 inches. The G3C weighs 22 ounces total. It’s not superbly small, but can be carried comfortably and is easily concealed.
The gun’s included metal sights feature a blacked-out rear sight with serrations to reduce glare and a high visibility white dot front sight. The sights are fixed, which is a significant upgrade to the G2C’s adjustable sights. The gun has a short section of rail that could accommodate small lights and lasers. Even more importantly, it could attach a Mantis X system for advanced dry fire practice.
The gun is loaded down with safety devices. It’s got a striker block for drop-safety design, a trigger safety, and a manual safety. The manual safety seems slightly silly and gets even more so when you feel the long trigger pull.
Speaking of the trigger, the third-generation Taurus trigger uses a flat-faced trigger design with an extensive trigger safety. It’s quite comfortable and a welcome upgrade. The trigger system retains the unique Taurus design of a single action trigger with double strike capability. If the gun fails to fire, it reverts to double action and allows you to attempt to fire again.
Ergonomics
Ergonomically I noticed two things the first time I picked the gun up. The first was how aggressively the grip panels are located around the grip. The panels surround the grip, including the front and backstrap. It clings to the hand very well and is an impressive feature.
The next thing I noticed was the fact that the G3C’s grip filled my entire hand. I have big hands, and I’m not too fond of a hanging pinky when I grip a gun. That’s not an issue with this gun due to the seamless integration of pinky extensions built into the magazines. That integration also translates over to a scalloped portion of where the grip meets the magazine. This creates a point you can grip and rip the magazine from the magazine well should it get stuck.
The controls are all placed for easy reach. The magazine release is slightly extended compared to competitors and easy to engage. What I discovered on my first range trip with the G3C was that this is one of the few guns where my thumbs do not pin down the slide lock when firing.
One control I don’t like is the manual safety. From a purely ergonomic standpoint, the safety feels like a tacked-on afterthought. When you start moving fast, you’ll likely find it easy to miss and hard to disengage. If I carried the gun, I’d keep the manual safety off.
Range Time…. Pain Time
I mean literal pain because the G3C has terrible slide bite. I had the same issue with the G2S. The G3C caused bleeding in about fifty rounds, so after that, I wore gloves. Since we are already talking about the bad things, I did have one malfunction. The magazine failed to feed, and a swift hit fixed it.
Also, the trigger has a ton of pretravel. The single-action pull has a double-action length to it. I hate all that pretravel and would prefer a nice crisp single-action trigger. The trigger break is somewhat spongy as well.
More observations about the G3C
Now that the bad stuff is over, we can talk about the good. The G3C is accurate enough for defensive purposes. Even out to 25 yards, which is long-range for a compact handgun, the G3C has no issues hitting its target, as in — the vitals section of a man-sized target.
The G3C also handles very smoothly. The long grip and grip texture make holding onto the gun easily during rapid firing. The G3C makes it easy to control the weapon when firing failure-to-stop drills or box drills.
The sights are excellent, and the contrast created by the blacked-out rear and white front sight makes it easy to find the front sight and get it on target. I do wish the sights were a little more significant, they feel quite small, especially the rear sight.
Drills like iHack were a little more challenging due to the small sites. After a few tries, I was nailing 9 for 9 in the required time limit. Dot Torture was another fun drill that required me to zero in behind the sights to be precise.
If it weren’t for the pain of the slide bite, it would be an enjoyable shooting gun. Other than that one odd magazine failure, the G3C ran through 450 rounds without any more issues. From a practical perspective, a little slide bite wouldn’t be an issue in a typical defensive encounter.
The G3C isn’t the cheapest Ramen Noodle gun, but it does pack a bit more value than most when you factor in three magazines and metal sights. I would recommend cleaning the magazines before shooting, and I’m starting to think there is some weird packing grease that causes issues.
Give the Taurus GC3 a look and let us know what you think below. It’s just hitting the shelves now.
Wild. That surprises me. I love my little Taurus millennium style I picked up a few years ago for $160. Shoots like a breeze, no problems at all with function or bite by a long shot. Nowhere near a pint size .45 with a downturned beavertail. Those make me tap out after about 20 rounds with a bruise for 3 days. I could pop that sucker off all day & it makes me wonder if they changed something like a lighter recoil spring?
Bite is easily explained by hand size and positioning on this gun.
You’re the only review that mentioned it takes Sig mags. Thank you.
I read the Canik 9mm 20 round mag fits and I have a 5″ TP9 Sfx and sure
enough it does. I have NOT tried using it and one guy said all you lose
is last shot lock back. At the range for practice, that’s fine.
I have large hands and have fed almost 900 rounds through my G2C with never a slide-bite. Maybe you are used to the oversized beavertail on a 1911. I carry mine safety off, L&L, but I’ve never had an issue engaging or disengaging. If anything, it is too easy to go hot with it. But again, I’m not a safety guy. The only ammo prob I’ve had was one stovepipe with some cheap Wolf ammo. I’ve had the same issue in other firearms with same cheap Russian ammo.
Sounds like the G2C might be a better performer than the latest “new & improved.”
Lol.. I’ve shot both several times and the G3c is magnitudes better than the G2c.. And I’m not a fan of either.
Good review. I’ll add my 2 cents.
I got zero slide bite even with large hands and a size 14 ring finger, liked the safety, MISS the tactile loaded round chamber indicator the G2c has for 2 reasons. I installed the grip extensions on my mags which doesn’t add capacity but gives big hands that extra grip area. I used some super sticky skateboard grit tape around the extension.
In this price range the initial take up is almost another safety feature given who many buyers most likely are — non-professional and only occasional shooters with the gun shoved into a pocket or purse.
I got my G2c with stainless slide for $185, delivered, no tax. Had 8 colors to choose from for those that have enough black guns. The G3c is another $$ chunk and would be less were we not in the middle of panic buying as people wake up to the liberal threats around us.
I read the Canik 9mm 20 round mag fits G2c and G3c, and I have a Canik 5″ TP9 Sfx and sure enough it does fit. I have NOT tried using it yet and one guy said all you lose is last shot lock back. At the range for practice, that’s fine. I can fire 100 rds for practice from just 5 Canik mags loaded at home.
Knowing what I know, not sure the extra expense of the G3c is a big win but for some it may be. I don’t use the front slide serrations so that was a non issue for me. Minor consideration but I prefer the appearance of the G2c slide.
Further, I upgraded my G2c with the stainless steel polished guide rod and striker firing pin shroud and springs, and topped it off with their fiber optic sight kit … all from Lakeline. Those upgrades were an improvement.
The holster with the finger lock from TEGE was perfect for the G2c.
I can see where very advanced shooters with a stable of Kimbers, Sigs, Dan Wessons, would have their preferences over minor or perceived upgrades going from the G2c to the G3c – but that’s not typically who is buying these.
These usually are bought by first and maybe one time gun buyers, who if they practice some could get quite handy even under stress with the G2c at a sizeable cost savings. The G2c isn’t one of the more popular guns for no reason. Hard to find a YouTube negative review on the G23c (or G3c for that matter).
Of course, some of us have plenty of guns and saw this G2c, read reviews, saw the $185 sale price and wanted one just because I want one in the detached wood shop. Still MILES beyond a Hi Point and not THAT much more moola.
My advice is borrow a G2c (many ranges have em for that use) and take it out and work it for an hour. Fires about anything. If you think you could protect your life with it, buy it, maybe get the Lakeline ss guide rod and spring and striker shroud and call it good. Yes the first shot take up is a little less than perfect, but most affordable CC size 9’s are.
The G3c comes with 3 mags not 2, BUT, again, I’d save the cash and get the G2c, then get yourself some Canik or Sig hi cap mags for the range and plinking. I am a firm believer in owning at least 4 factory mags total though – in case a Democrat takes the White House, but you could buy those with NEXT month’s paycheck.
All that said if this is your FIRST gun and probably your last, all things considered with the 3 factory mags if you could spend upfront the extra $50-60 the G3c probably wins.
If you want to save some money and just want this just cause you want it and add it to your stable, and will LEARN to shoot it with it’s differences from the G3c, I don’t think you could go wrong there either. I know some concerned elderly right now who are still well capable of going to the range — and the savings in the G2c are important to them. Might not be to you. IF not, go new.
I don’t know how available the G2c is right now for that matter, and with the panic buying even that may have gone up.
Pro tip: seal your ammo using your kitchen vacuum sealer.
Then if you want to REALLY go for it, plop into a GI fatboy can with a GOOD fitting and condition rubber or silicone seal – AND finally drop in a 2 Unit size rechargeable desiccant pak given some vac sealed stuff has very slow leaks.
You can substitute for the fatboy can now in short supply using the Menards 3.5 gallon bucket with the GAMA lid. Home Depot has their equivalent too. $3 for the bucket and $8 for the screw on lid system and POOF. Probably not air tight over a long time, BUT my smoking sawdust stays BONE DRY now for 3 years outside in humid Nebraska. Don’t over tighten them but do get em snugged up good. They should be mildly hard to initiate the twist to get the lid off.
(Gamma lid, search it, Is an inner screw off lid with a separate ring for it to seat in, that has a fat rubber ring at the contact point. You could use some gel never hardening silicone grease in there for an even better seal for overkill.)
Do not use 5 gallon buckets, too heavy when full and the handle would break – and you couldn’t lift it anyway. Pound the outer lid seal on using a fat rubber mallet on a hard floor and done. Then mark the lid as to what’s in there. Can hold 1,000 rds of 9mm.
That would be near the sardine can Russian stuff for shelf life.
I have three of these guns: one G3C and two G2C’s. I like them a lot. They are among the most reliable handguns I have owned over the many years I have been shooting. No break-in and they eat whatever they are fed. Does any other gun maker offer second strike capability on its striker fired pistols? That could be a life saver in a desperate situation. I like the thumb safety, too. It’s big enough to engage or disengage while maintaining a good grip. The loss of the G2C’s loaded chamber indicator is disappointing but the G3C has a better trigger. The G2C has an annoying “catch” caused by its trigger safety as the trigger is pulled. The G3C trigger safety doesn’t do that. What good are trigger safeties anyway?
I prefer the adjustable sights of the G2C. My G3C shoots a little low and I can’t do anything about it. The three magazines that come with the G3C are a big plus. The mags used in these guns have very stiff springs. I would bet the stiff springs are used to insure feeding reliability. The sandpaper-like grips of both models feel great.
Yes, I would like to have a Sig P365 because it is thinner, lighter and prettier but it costs roughly twice as much as these excellent Taurus guns ($330 v. $650).