Budget carry pistols used to mean giving up features, and the Taurus G3C is one that pushed back. It is a black 9mm with a 3.2" barrel, a 12-round magazine, and a Viridian laser already included.

The laser is the headline here. It gives you a visible dot to practice with, and some shooters find it helpful for dry-fire drills and low light. It does not replace sight alignment, so keep practicing with the iron sights, and learn how your laser behaves at the distances you expect.

Twelve rounds in a compact frame suits a concealed carry holster, and the 3.2" barrel is a good length for hiding under a shirt. Taurus prices its pistols below many big names, so a laser equipped model like this comes in under what some brands charge for a bare pistol.

Be honest with yourself about trust. Run a few hundred rounds through any new carry pistol, including the carry ammunition, before you rely on it.

It makes a sensible pick for a first handgun or a spare. New condition. It ships to a North Carolina FFL dealer for pickup and the background check.