I Carry: Taurus G2C in an Uncle Mike's Holster

Welcome to another episode of "I Carry," Shooting Illustrated's weekly video series covering the guns and gear needed to put together a potential everyday-carry kit. Today we have a Taurus G2C in an Uncle Mike's holster. We also have a Streamlight flashlight, a Gerber Gear knife and a Clinger Holsters magazine carrier.

Taurus G2C ($316.89)

I walked into a gun shop this past fall and saw several Taurii sitting on the shelf, notably the updated G2C and G2S models released recently by the company. Chatting with the folks behind the counter, I learned that, of all the guns displayed in the store, these were the ones flying off the shelf. Why? Well, despite its MSRP of more than $300, these guns can be found for sale under $200, a price that’s much easier to swallow than a comparable gun nearing three bills.

So, what do you get for a couple hundred bucks? Actually, for the money, a pretty decent little carry gun. Taurus has been knocked in years past for a number of quality-control issues. The blowback from these incidents has driven the company to roll out improved designs made at the company’s facility in Miami, Florida, and their efforts seem to be making progress. The G2C is a solid, shootable and easily concealable carry gun, loaded with adjustable sights and a fairly crisp trigger for a striker-fired design. All in all, it’s a tidy package that’s worth looking at for those on a budget.

Uncle Mike’s Apparition Belt Holster ($31.99)

Of course, to carry a gun like the Taurus G2C, you need a holster. For those on a budget, Uncle Mike’s has long been a go-to for affordable concealed-carry rigs, and the brand stays true to its consumer base with its latest Apparition holster. I have to give credit to the folks at Uncle Mike’s for innovation, because the Apparition has some interesting features, most notably with its adjustable belt clips.

The snap-on loops can be adjusted for ride height by choosing a corresponding slot. Cant is also adjustable, thanks to an additional cutout located just forward of the holster pocket. Further adjustment is also available with a retention screw located beneath the trigger guard, and the entire holster is designed to flex in order to match the contour of a wearer’s body.

Streamlight 2AAA ProPolymer Haz-Lo ($21.99)

Continuing on our affordable EDC theme, the Streamlight Haz-Lo flashlight is a great option for just such a kit. Its slim design can tuck in low inside a pack or a pocket and stay secured until needed, thanks to its molded pocket clip. Even with its low cost, the light still operates with an intuitive tailcap switch, setting it apart from many of today’s budget lights which operate with a twist bezel or other push-button actuation. Powered by two AAA batteries, the light produces 60 lumens on a single setting, and the total runtime is 16 hours.

Gerber STL 2.0 ($14)

While today’s tactical operators will tell you that you aren’t safe without a fixed-blade fighting knife, the fact is you’re almost guaranteed to use your EDC blade for utilitarian work exclusively. So, why fight the concept? Get something useful, light, easy to carry and affordable, like the Gerber STL 2.0. This knife measures only 3 inches when closed and weighs in at one ounce. However, its 440A stainless-steel blade is ready to tackle any task. A built-in thumb slot and lanyard loop allow for one-handed opening and easy carrying.

Clinger Holsters Mag Pouch ($19.99)

For our last affordable EDC product, we’re going to Clinger Holsters and its Mag Pouch. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Everyone should carry a spare magazine for their CCW gun. And I’m not saying that just because we should be prepared for the Mother of All Gun Fights (though that doesn’t hurt), but because magazine-related malfunctions are some of the most-common ones you’ll experience. Suddenly, your 13-shot concealed-carry gun can turn into a single-shot without warning, and being able to throw in a spare magazine can change the outcome of a confrontation.

The Clinger Holsters Mag Pouch can be carried either in a pocket or inside the waistband, thanks to a grippy outer material, while the pack cloth -lined interior provides a friction-free surface that allows your reload to slide out smoothly when needed.