Taurus G3X 15+1 Capacity 9mm EDC Pistol: Full Review

Everyone is always looking for a Goldilocks gun, one that’s not too big…not too small…one that’s just right. With its 3.2-inch barrel and 15-round capacity, the G3X might be one, and it’s priced within reach of just about anyone. Like its stablemates, the G3X is a no-nonsense striker-fired, polymer-frame 9mm. It does not come with a manual safety, and currently there is no Taurus Optics Ready Option for mounting a red dot.

The frame is one of the things I like about the entire G3 lineup. It features indexing pads along both sides at the front of the frame and behind the trigger guard. For me, the forward dished-out pad is handier because it gives me a tactile reference point for my support-hand thumb or trigger finger while not on target. With my grip, the rear one doesn’t come into play as much because my thumb is above it. I love the grip texture. It’s aggressive and covers a lot of real estate. That improves shootability and is also a big help if your hands are wet from weather or sweat (or, worse, bloody).

The grip on the G3X is 4.25 inches long from where it meets the slide to the heel. That’s 3/4 inch longer than its G3c brother, but because the G3c uses a small finger-hook extension on its 12-round magazine, the practical effect in terms of concealment isn’t that much—only about a quarter-inch. Shooting-wise, I get three fingers on both guns easily. But for fast reloads the G3X gets the nod because my pinky is on the frame and not on the magazine base pad like on the G3c—where it can trap the mag. The trigger guard is slightly undercut for a higher grip, and it’s squared off and smooth. The frame has an accessory rail with a single slot for mounting small lights and lasers.

Up top there’s a steel alloy slide coated in Tenifer, a salt bath nitriding process that’s thicker than traditional black oxide and better resists wear and provides corrosion resistance. The angled, square-cut slide serrations are terrific. They’re located front and back, and they’re nice and sharp for great purchase. I love the sights. They’re steel, with a white dot up front and a plain, serrated rear. The relationship between rear and front creates a clear sight picture that’s fast to acquire. The front is held in place with a screw, the rear is in a dovetail, and both are on the Glock pattern. This means you’ll have tons of aftermarket options, such as night sights or a different-height front to accommodate a particular load.

The serrated slide-lock lever sits relatively flush, so it won’t snag on clothing during the draw, and at the same time its shape and position are such it can be used pretty well as a slide release. The magazine release is fairly small, shaped somewhat like a horseshoe and serrated. It’s easy to activate—but not so easy you’d do it accidentally—and it shoots out mags with gusto. And if dirt and grit are causing a magazine to stick, shallow relief cuts in the frame and the base pad give you a place to dig in with fingernails to strip it out. 

The magazines have numbered witness holes from 2 to 15, and the yellow followers make it easy to see if there’s a round left in the mag. A small cutout in the barrel hood serves as a loaded-chamber indicator. The trigger has a long take-up, but then it breaks creep-free at just under four pounds. A molded-in stop behind the trigger lever halts overtravel. The trigger has restrike capability, giving shooters another try at a primer that didn’t fire. The restrike pull feels a lot like a double-action revolver pull, although it’s a heck of a lot lighter than that at around five pounds.

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