Taurus G2

[LCC]

My local GS, owned by an excellent gunsmith with a highly impressive personal collection of older Smith and Colt revolvers filling two safes, is the area go to for higher end weapons.
Owner is a strong advocate of the inexpensive Taurus G2, a DAO 9 mm with double strike capability, as well as a fan of any Taurus weapon coming out of their new ISO plant in North Carolina.
So on his reccomendation picked up a G2 as an inexpensive backup handgun to keep in my truck's locking steel console vault, and to date have several hundred rounds through it without a burp. Reasonably accurate with a long DAO trigger with second strike capability, comes with two 12 rounds magazines, out the door for $230.
Consider it a fine weapon for the $.

 

[Echo40]

Before someone inevitably shows up telling tall-tales of how their friend has an acquaintance who heard from a guy he met on the back of a public bus that his father's brother's nephew's cousin's former roommate once dry-fired a Taurus which exploded, killing him... Let me just say that I have personal, first-hand experience with 5 different Taurus brand firearms and they've all been 100% reliable.

That said, I've never shot a G2, but based on what I've heard, they're good firearms.
However, nowadays Taurus' prices aren't as great as they used to be compared to the competition, and you can usually get one of S&W's or Ruger's bargain models such as the SD9VE or SR9E for roughly the same price, and both companies have far better customer service than Taurus. So in the event in which you do end up with a lemon, (which can happen with any brand) you'll have a much more positive experience with S&W or Ruger than Taurus.

So I would ask to see some of the other budget priced pistols your LGS is carrying (such as the aforementioned S&W SD9VE or Ruger SR9E) before making your final decision.

 

[Chuck24]

At the pawn shop where i work g2cs are one of the best sellers

 

[Tubbsy]

I've got a g2c, bought it a couple years ago for a little over $200 at academy. Not so much as a hiccup with it after a little over 500rds

 

[bulletslap]

My granddaughters boy friend owns one, and so does one of my Son in Laws and they have fired both extensively without any problems. I have put a few rounds through each and while not as well finished as more expensive Walthers, Glocks and similar polymer hands guns they are adequate and solid weapons. I would lump them in with Rugers and S&W SVs.

 

[ancient-one]

I have two, both with several hundred rounds of mixed ammo and no problems.One was my daughters but when I bought her a S&W EZ it came back to me. They feel good in my hand.
My only problem is that the slide release button does not stick out far enough for me to easily move.
One is in my car console and one was on my night stand until the SIG P320 Compact replaced it.

 

[Bumpus13]

I’ve got one. Two buddies bought them, and I ended up shooting one - Then a few years back, Cabelas was running a sale on ‘em for $199+tax so I figured I’d take a chance.

Mine runs flawlessly ... Never had a hiccup.

I’ve carried it occasionally.


Great value

 

[foxy320]

Took my daughter & her husband (son-in-law) out shooting yesterday for the first time. I bought a purple G2 for her to try but after shooting it she didn't like it for the noise & recoil. Then son-in law shot it & did so well he wanted it & it is now his. Offered him a black one I have but he went with the purple.

 

[seldon14]

It's there best original design, but the when Shields go sale they are close enough in price I never recommend the g2c. The Shield is just a much better built gun.

 

[ancient-one]

Palmetto has the silver and black for $199.95. or .99 , can't remember which.

 

[Breakaway500]

Don't they have a new version out: the G3?

 

[TX-Dennis]

Yeah; sort of. The G3 is a larger pistol about the size of Glock 19 or M&P 2.0 compact. 15 and 17 round magazines instead of 12 for the G2C or 7 for the G2S (roughly Shield size). The G3 also supposedly has an improved trigger over the G2. I haven't shot one, so I cannot verify that claim. G2 trigger is similar to the original M&P - not real heavy, but a bit gritty and notchy. It's definitely not a bullseye gun, but they are reliable and entirely suitable for their intended purpose.

The G2 is not really DAO, though often described as such. Like many striker fired pistols the striker is "partially cocked," but unlike most it can be fired in double action with a slightly heavier trigger pull if the round fails to ignite on the first strike. That's a "feature" that sounds good, but has little real world usefulness. I have never personally found it necessary. or particularly desirable.

 

[daglockman]

I have heard decent reviews of the G2. That being said, I will never buy, or recommend another Taurus after dealing with them personally with a warranty issue. They are COMPLETELY incompetent. No one at their company can tell you any updates on your repair or even where in the process it is, only can tell you it is in the repair process. If this was to be your only firearm, which is what a budget firearm turns out to be many times, I would NOT recommend it. If you need any warranty work done, you may not see it for 5 months...

 

[robvious]

I enjoyed the one I got to shoot... and it took Sig P226 magazines as well... kinda neat... but last shot hold open doesn't always work with the Sig mags... for $200-$250 it is a tempting budget option

 

[LCC]

My gunsmith won't carry certain model Smith or Ruger semi's due to their higher failure rate out of the box. States he has sold a couple hundred G2's, his favorite low cost 9mm, without having to send a single new one back to the factory for warranty service. Pretty strong endorsement from a guy whose business is dependent on his reputation.
Do like how easy the G2 strips down, pretty much a Glock clone for that.
And the primary reason I selected it after test handling a bunch, besides his reccomendation, was the manual safety and long trigger pull.
I have to reach into my console in a hurry for a handgun, last thing I want is a discharge within the console vault because I'm grabbing for it with my eyes on a threat outside the truck.
Much prefer shooting my Sig or CZ, neither of which I am willing to consign to the console vault.

 

[LCC]

200 rounds through the G2 yesterday, last 'test' session before it goes on truck console duty. Digested everything without a burp including a box of HST to verify carry round reliability. Finding the trigger much better then first thought..initial first long take-up is followed by reset only halfway back, so staging the trigger for rapid fire is easily done.
Proving to be as accurate as my Sig P365, unaware of a better bargain on a reliable semi out there.
As they go on sale for $200 periodically, plan on picking up another, tuning it up for a woods gun carrying heavy +P Buffalo Bore rounds by swapping in a Lakeline stainless recoil rod and springs, fiber front sight, add a handall grip.

 

[kraynky]

When they dropped to $200 bucks, about 4 years ago, I grabbed one. I already had it on my radar, and had heard and seen mostly favorable reviews on it. It wasn't bought to be a range gun, carry gun, or a primary house gun, nor a truck gun, even though it would work fine for all of the above.

I was wanting a small reliable handgun that my wife could easily handle and rack the slide on, so she would (hopefully) practice more, with her own gun. I first took it out back and ran about 250-300 various rounds through it to both have confidence that it would work and to loosen/lighten it up for the wife. I achieved both.

I was actually carrying my new to me Shield 9, and discovered that the G2 would actually fin in the same holster, so it logged in a couple of weeks carry time. I even offered to swap with the wife permanently, but she wasn't going for it. The slide is harder to pull back on the Shield for her, and she knew I liked it, so No Trade.

I knew the Shield 45 was coming out by then, or I would have bought a second one. I still might, I like that little gun just fine. It lives on the hallway table by the front door, for whomever needs to use it.

 

[Aggie1906]

I bought one during Veteran's Day sale couple years back. Practically paid me to take it, discounts and credits piling up. Found safety trigger a bit gritty for a while. Oh, and your fingers will probably want some mag loader assistance. Mine did. Nothing shiny or blue to fondle, but it goes bang every time. Found a cheap red laser on flebay too.

 

[rockquarry]

I've never owned any Taurus, let alone a G2, and really have no idea what a G2 is or looks like, but have read a lot of positive comments about Taurus handguns in general. They may be good, reliable handguns and if you're the type shooter that doesn't sell or trade guns, they may be the right handgun for you. However, from a comparative standpoint, I doubt the resale value and desirability of a used Taurus is great.

 

[Tubbsy]

For a $200 gun I'm not very worried about resale value....