Today we're revisiting the Taurus G3, and taking a look at some upgrades that I think a lot of people consider when they buy one. I've picked out the two I like the best, and we're going to see if they're worth it.
I think that one upgrade that most if not all people who buy a G3 will end up putting on it is a weapon light. Maybe they've purchased this because it's their do-it-all carry / home defense / range gun, or they just got one because they want something that they can fully "tacticalize" and make it look cool. Either way, it's gonna need a weapon light. The one I've got here is a Streamlight TLR-7a Flex. This is a 500 lumen compact weaponlight that is notable because it comes with two different sized switch options: a high mount and a low mount. I have the high mount switch on here today. The light is held in place on a standard 1913 rail by a clamp-style system with an indexing plate. Streamlight includes a number of plates to make sure that there is one that is the right size for the rail on every weapon. After dropping in the correct sized plate, the light slides onto the rail, and then there is a screw on the side that tightens the whole thing up. The light is powered by a CR123A battery that Streamlight includes in the package. I got my TLR-7A from Brownells.
The light switches are activated by pushing downward on them from either side. Push and hold for momentary on, tap for constant on. There is also a strobe mode that is locked out from the factory; this can be activated by tapping quickly 9 times and then holding on the 10th tap. The strobe will activate indicating that the mode is unlocked. Now to access strobe, it's just a quick double-tap of the switch. Disabling or locking out the strobe mode can be done by following the same steps that were used to enable it: 9 quick taps, and then press and hold on the 10th tap. The strobe will change to constant on, indicating that the strobe is locked out.
The second upgrade I did is the front sight. The G3 ships with a simple metal white dot front sight, and I wanted something that had a bigger dot that was a little easier to pick up. Taurus does make a factory upgraded front sight, but it was out of stock when I went to order one. Instead I took advantage of the fact that the G3 uses Glock sights and purchased this Ameriglo tritium front sight that has all the same features as the Taurus factory upgrade part, which is also branded Ameriglo. It's worth it to note here that the sight I got is .165" in height whereas the G3 uses a sight that is .160" tall. The extra 0.005" in height of this sight should not make a notable difference in elevation shift at closer distances, but if there was a shift, it would become more apparent at further distances. If you want something that is the exact correct height, I recommend looking for a .160" sight, like the factory Taurus one I mentioned. Pricing for upgraded sights varies; the factory Taurus sight is $30 from the Taurus store, and I got the GL-112T for $40 at Brownells.
Installation of the Ameriglo sight is very easy and can be done at home, provided that you have a Glock front sight tool. I would definitely recommend picking up the tool because access to the screw that holds the sight in place is limited in the G3 slide, and would be pretty difficult to do with standard tools as can be done with a Glock.
The installation itself is as simple as removing the recoil system and barrel from the frame and then unscrewing the factory sight from underneath. There is a hole in the slide that allows access to the screw. It takes some effort because Taurus puts a good amount of threadlocker on there (and good on them for it!) so steady even pressure is the name of the game. Once the factory front sight is out, the Ameriglo sight drops into place and can be screwed in from the bottom after threadlocker is put on the screw.
So what do I think overall? Are these upgrades worth it, especially considering the price of the G3 itself? For the Ameriglo front sight, I would definitely say yes it is. The larger dot is easier to pick up, and it has the added benefit of being a night sight. The upgrade is easy to do, and even considering the cost of a Glock front sight tool, it's worth it...especially if you get the factory Taurus part that is even less expensive than the Ameriglo sight I used.
For the TLR7, its a bit more complicated. The light itself is fantastic; there's a reason it's one of the most popular weapon lights out there. However, there is no ignoring the fact that it costs more than 50 percent of the price of the G3 itself. Some people would say that is the price of a good weaponlight, while others would find that simply out of their budget. For me, it's worth it, especially if you're willing to do some creative digging online for deals. Amazon, eBay, and the GunDeals subreddit are great resources to find the TLR7 for a good price.
So that's it, my thoughts on upgrades for the Taurus G3. That's all I have for you this time, so until next time: stay safe!