Ruger Security-9 9mm vs Taurus G3C 9mm

Both budget 9mms break at the same 6.0 lb, both carry a manual safety alongside a trigger safety, both use a drift-adjustable rear sight, and neither is cut for an optic. The split is size and capacity. The Ruger Security-9 9mm is the full-size gun: 15 rounds on a 4.0" barrel, 7.24" overall, 23.8 oz. The Taurus G3C 9mm is the compact: 12 rounds on a 3.2" barrel, 6.3" overall — 0.94" shorter — and 22.0 oz, 1.8 oz lighter. The Ruger is the narrower of the two at 1.02" against 1.2". MSRP is $389.00 for the Security-9 and $364.99 for the G3C, a $24.01 spread, and Taurus ships three magazines to Ruger's two.

Pick the Ruger Security-9 if:

• You want 15 rounds rather than 12 without adding a magazine extension
• The 0.8" longer barrel (4.0" vs 3.2") and 7.24" overall length suit range and home use
• A 1.02" width, 0.18" under the G3C, matters more to you than overall length

Pick the Taurus G3C if:

• You are carrying concealed and want the 6.3" overall length and 5.1" height
• You want the lighter gun at 22.0 oz, 1.8 oz under the Security-9
• Three magazines in the box and the lower $364.99 MSRP appeal

Trigger pull weight, safety layout and sight adjustment are the same on both, so this is a straight full-size-versus-compact decision with a $24.01 MSRP difference attached.