10 Best Taurus Handguns – April 2023

Taurus handguns are cheap guns that are consistently a thorn in the side of much more expensive firearms.

In recent years Taurus has made a major splash in the striker fired pistols sector with its low budget handguns. But it still makes a great revolver and 1911.

So what are the best Taurus handguns for sale in 2023?

1. Taurus GX4

• Price: $299.99
• Caliber: 9mm Luger
• Barrel length: 3 inch
• Weight: 1.16lb
• Capacity: 11+1

A true high capacity micro compact 9mm thanks to its 3 inch barrel and shorter overall length, the Taurus GX4 is really an upgrade to the groundbreaking G2C in almost every way.

Performance features include a steel guide rod, better grip, interchangeable backstraps and a flat faced trigger. That fixed front sight isn’t the best here still and the white dot sights set-up is just as basic But then this is the best concealed carry pistol for a lot of people.

The trigger needed a complete overhaul and the G2’s quirks are long gone. It’s a heavy trigger, but it just works when you pull the trigger and lots of people prefer this cheaper Taurus to their Sig Sauer P365 or Glock 43x.

There is no manual safety, just the trigger shoe safety that works like the Glock safe action system.

Inevitably on a 6.05 inch micro compact pistol, the controls are small, with a mag release the size of a pencil eraser and a slide stop that is verging on awkward.

But that’s the price you pay for such a small concealed carry gun that tucks away into your IWB holster until you need it most. At that point, it’s a good gun that does everything it’s meant to.

The GX4 TORO is optics ready and ready for red dot sights, with some nice gun deals for the top end pistol.

The Taurus GX4 micro compact pistol is the best gun here by a long way right now, especially if you want a conceal carry pistol. Gun enthusiasts love it and right now it’s our favorite.

2. Taurus Raging Hunter

• Price: $996.99
• Caliber: 357 Magnum
• Barrel: 6.8 inch
• Weight: 4.1lb
• Capacity: 7

The Taurus Raging Hunter swept the awards boards when it was released and was named the hunting handgun of the year by pretty much everybody.

A full range of shorter barrel Taurus revolvers mean it’s a popular home defense and even personal protection up in Alaska and one or two other parts of the United States.

You can also order a range of calibers, from 357 Magnum through 44 Magnum and 454 Casull, and an 8.75 inch barrel, with the fully ported barrel shroud, for the ultimate in terminal ballistics and recoil control in your Taurus revolvers.

Of course if you like reigning in pure horsepower, then these new Taurus revolvers feel good in the hand and are fun to shoot. Especially with red dot sights on the rail up top.

This spec is a general revolver that can be used for medium game hunting, as well as home defense or sitting in a hidden gun safe in your car.

It is serious firepower and an intimidating presence that goes bang every time. The Taurus Raging Hunter is also one of the best revolvers in the world right now and you can find the best gun deals again.

3. Taurus G3

• Price: $279.00+
• Caliber: 9mm Luger
• Barrel length: 4 inch
• Weight: 1.6lb
• Capacity: 17+1

We spend so much time talking about the best 9mm Taurus GX4 and G2C that we sometimes to forget to give due credit to the middle of the road G3.

That’s because this compact pistol with a polymer frame and stainless steel slide does everything it’s supposed to, and the only truly spectacular part is the price.

Of course that is why Brazilian Law Enforcement is moving to the semi-automatic 9m Taurus polymer pistols. And most people in the United States.

The price really is the point with a G3. You can buy two of them for the price of one Glock 19, dot them round your house in hidden gun safes without breaking the bank. Do what you like when they’re this money.

Real Performance Features

You get an accessory rail underneath, front and rear slide serrations and the memory pads grip that works so well. And you get the white dot sight system that is almost begging for a trip to the parts & accessories store to upgrade to an adjustable rear sight.

The new G3 gets the revised 6lb two stage trigger that is heavy, but a massive improvement over the G2C. It also comes with the trigger safety that we like.

You have a very clear take-up and wall, and a much cleaner break. Taurus maintains a heavy trigger is a safer trigger, even though you get a frame-mounted thumb safety. The modding community is full of tips and tricks to lighten your Taurus trigger, though.

4. Taurus G2C

• Price: $239.99
• Barrel: 3.1 inch
• Weight: 4.1lb
• Capacity: 7

The semi-auto Taurus G2C was a gamechanger for the Brazilian firearms manufacturer and put Taurus back on the map.

This cheap sub-compact 9mm pistol was the only real budget sub-compact concealed carry that you could trust to, you know, work.

It evolved from the Taurus Millennium and went to war with the likes of the Glock 43 and Sig P365 for the best 9mm sub-compact crown.

Both striker fired handguns cost substantially more and are the best handguns according to the gun reviews. Swiftly this budget friendly pistol became the best concealed carry guns under $300 by a mile and stayed that way until the Taurus GX4 arrived.

Nothing even close to this low budget 9mm price point was a real rival for the Taurus G2C, and the only gun to really topple it in the budget wars in the Taurus GX4. Taurus is fighting itself at this point and the Ruger EC9s is about the best competitor you can offer, and, frankly, no…

Black Finish is Basic Yet Functional

Yes the matte black plastic finish on the Taurus G2C isn’t on the same level as the semi-automatic handguns that cost almost twice as much, but then that’s a totally reasonable trade off.

The G2C trigger has been described as weird, quirky, unusual, awful and all of the above in the gun reviews. It is grainy and it isn’t brilliant, but it is consistent and you can get used to it.

Also, this Taurus G2C is a reliable concealed carry pistol for Hi Point money. You can literally get the older model Taurus Millennium for less, but this is so much better and just a few bucks more.

5. Taurus Model 605 Protector Polymer

• Price: $377.99
• Caliber: 357 Magnum/38 Special
• Barrel: 2 inch
• Weight: 1.25lb
• Capacity: 5+1

There are better Taurus 357 Magnum revolvers, but the divisive Taurus Model 605 Protector Polymer is a super lightweight point and squirt 357 Magnum carry revolver that is budget friendly.

And that is a useful combination when it comes to personal defense and your everyday carry pistols and revolvers.

This is a great pocket pistol thanks to the super lightweight frame and stainless steel cylinder. Taurus rarely wins the design race, but there’s something integrally right about every part of this pistol.

It’s a long double action/single action revolver and the single action trigger is tight, with a fast reset. In defensive situations the double action will probably be how it plays out.

Night Sights For Fast Response

The fiber optic front sight and open, non adjustable rear sight is perfect for close up target acquisition in a stressful situation. In this company, they’re positively night sights.

And though that 2 inch barrel limits this to close up and personal defensive distances, that’s where most of this stuff happens.

Independent gun reviews are mixed, honestly, and you won’t find universal support for the Polymer Protector revolvers Taurus has given us.

But if you get one of many thousands of reliable Taurus revolvers that ship every year around the world, then it could be your new favorite carry gun.

At this price point it’s about a third of the price of a Smith & Wesson Airweight, and it is fun to shoot. That makes it one of the best Taurus pistols in our book.

6. Taurus TX 22

• Price: $275.99
• Caliber: 22LR
• Barrel: 4.1 inch
• Weight: 1.08lb
• Capacity: 16+1

A 22 Long Rifle pistol that basically follows the same form and function of the GX4, with a longer barrel and a proper thumb safety.

Sounds fun right?

You might just enjoy shooting targets and want a cheap 22 semi-automatic pistol to plink with.

Now there are some great guns to consider, like the Ruger Mk IV and the S&W Victory. But the Taurus TX 22 is worth a look, especially if you spot some enticing gun deals.

7. Taurus Judge Magnum Revolver

• Price: $524.99
• Caliber: 45 Long Colt/410 Gauge
• Barrel: 3 inch
• Weight: 2.3lb
• Capacity: 5

The Taurus Judge Magnum Revolver is a throwback to the revolvers literal judges used to tuck into their waistband to defend against vengeful men in the Wild West.

The Judge Public Defender is just one model to look out for with an even shorter 2.5″ barrel and a fiber optic front sight.

Now it can shoot either 45 Long Colt or 410ga shotgun shells. Not everybody buys in to the science of the short barrel shotguns, best theory though, and the general feeling is the Long Colt is the better way to go with your Taurus revolver shotguns.

At super close range, buckshot or 410 slugs will mess up a rattlesnake with that long pull of a trigger. But a 12 gauge shotgun with a red dot sight on the picatinny rail will do it it better and a 22LR sniper like a Ruger Mk IV Tactical Lite with all the bells and whistles will do it cleaner.

So the Taurus Judge is more of an oddity, an old example of Taurus revolvers and something that’s fun to own and shoot.

8. Taurus 1911

• Price: $511.99
• Caliber: 45 ACP/9mm
• Barrel: 5 inch
• Weight: 2.5lb
• Capacity: 8+1

The Taurus PT1911 used to be the only semi-automatic pistol you could buy from the marque.

How times have changed. Now the standard issue Brazilian law enforcement pistol has slipped down the order, everywhere, and the polymer pistols are taking over from this dinosaur of a full-sized 1911.

It is still a cheap 1911 handgun and there will always be a market for those Taurus guns with Novak style rear sight, a thumb safety and front and rear slide serrations. But there is competition in that sector and Taurus is not really the force it once was in the cheap 1911 sector.

9. Taurus G3x

• Price: $296.99
• Barrel: 3.2 inch
• Weight: 1.5lb
• Capacity: 15+1

The Taurus G3x combines the full size polymer frame of the G3 with the shorter barrel of the Taurus G3C to give you the highest capacity sub-compact 9mm possible with a slightly larger footprint.

Is the Taurus G3x the best concealed carry handgun here? You could make that case and the Taurus G3x is easy to conceal as a daily with the right conceal carry holsters.

Now the Taurus G3x compares to the likes of the Sig Sauer P365x and brand new Springfield Hellcat Pro. Again, it’s about half the price of the best handguns, and the bottom line is a big positive for these Taurus guns.

The trigger pull is better now, this one comes with a lighter trigger safety, the high capacity mags make this concealed carry weapon a more and more attractive option and it is fun to shoot hundred of rounds with this.

It is easy to shoot, too, with no additional safety lever and the Taurus G3x is easy to conceal with the right carry holsters.

10. Taurus G3C

• Price: $230.99
• Barrel: 3.2 inch
• Weight: 1.5lb
• Capacity: 10+1

Do we even need the Taurus G3C? I would argue no, not even slightly. It’s a good low budget 9mm handgun, but we have so many of those here.

This niche is covered three different ways on this list and think the Taurus G3C is a gun too far. It’s just not required.

Now the Taurus G3C might have some complex equation surrounding the tooling and decided this extra model was worth the investment. I mean they probably have accountants and stuff…

But for us, the Taurus G3C is a point of confusion and it possibly muddies the waters with the brilliant Gx4 and G2C.

As a replacement for the G2C, it would be perfectly logical. It just isn’t that gun according to Taurus.

So yeah, I don’t know why the Taurus G3C exists at all. But it’s still a pretty good gun and you should maybe buy a Taurus G3C. Or not.

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