Taurus PT738 TCP- who has one and how is it?

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Michael Tinker Pearce

Michael Tinker Pearce

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Linda picked one of these up as a minimal/deep-cover carry pistol. How are they, what is recoil like etc? Any why is the barrel a magnet?
 
I've had two. First one worked well but the take down pin kept walking out. Taurus sent a new one and no further problems. I found the magazine release a bit soft and accidentally disengaged the magazine a few times. The trigger was very good for a micro .380, quite smooth and reasonably light pre-cocked double action. Not DAO. I shot it very well without much practice and it ran most ammo reliably. It was stolen and I replaced it with another newer model. The take down pin on the newer one was more secure and the mag release a bit tighter. Trigger wasn't as good, but not drastically different. My second one did not seem as reliable as the first with my carry ammo so sent it down the line. It was replaced with a Beretta Pico, which is DAO and similar in size and function. The Pico is working out well but I do miss the lighter, smoother trigger of the Taurus. It's more difficult to shoot as well as the Taurus TCP but the magazine release has never disengaged accidentally and it's less ammo sensitive than my last TCP. With current prices you could probably but at least two of the TCPs for the cost of a single Pico though. Recoil has been comparable between the two but I do find a lot of variation in recoil between ammo choices. Stay with the lighter bullets for further reduced recoil.

No idea on the magnetic barrel.
 
I had one and didn't like it. The one I had wouldn't even hand cycle ammo and would hang up 2 or 3 rounds out of every magazine. Even with FMJ rounds. It was sold to a gun store without ever being fired.
 
I have had 1 for 2 years. I like it, but added a Garrison grip extension. It improved my accuracy a lot. recoil is fine.
 
I just got one a few months back. It was used, but a 2016-production, and looked almost unfired. It's not bad at all. It kind of kicks my hand around about the same as my Kel-Tec PF9 does, a less-powerful gun, but smaller to hang onto. The most-recently produced ones, with serial numbers that contain a "C" or later letter, seem to be the best of them (Mine is an "E" gun.)

I can't answer the magnet question. Maybe a previous owner stored it on a magnetized holder for a long time, such as the kind that mounts beneath a table, desk, or shelf. My gun's barrel has no magnetic draw I can discern (your question prompted my to go try it.)
 
The one I had wouldn't even hand cycle ammo and would hang up 2 or 3 rounds out of every magazine. Even with FMJ rounds. It was sold to a gun store without ever being fired.
Click to expand...

I have guns that run reliably when fired that I cannot "run reliably" when hand-cycling. My hands are not as fast as some guns, especially the smaller ones, need their slides to be. Likewise, I've had at least one gun that I could "hand-run" reliably all day, but would not run that same ammunition at the range well.
 
I had one I bought new last year, for a short time. It cycled ammo fine but had an issue where it would religiously every 2 mags or less not fire. The hammer would not drop when the trigger was pulled. Needless to say I got rid of it.

The trigger was ok (when it worked), recoil wasn't bad and it concealed very well. I'm not a DA guy so I couldn't shoot it especially great.


Ironically my wife has one that she bought used last year and we've had no issues with it. It does not cycle MagTech ammo but everything else we've tried it eats up.
 
I saw them advertised for ridiculous low prices, looked like a nifty pocket gun/BUG/Get-Off-Me sidearm. hard to find a name brand pistol for less than $150 anywhere, not even...*gasp* Hi Point....
 
I have one and its my every day carry.

It started to jam after 100 rounds, sent in to Taurus and 2 weeks later came back with a polished
feed ramp and has been 100 percent reliable with quality name brand ammo.

It doesn't like cheap ammo.

I love it, its very easy to carry, dont ever have to leave it at home.

12 oz's loaded.

Jimmy
 
I don't even see the 738 / TCP even being offered anymore by Taurus. Its not in their 2017 catalog anymore:

http://www.taurususa.com/

Somebody show me where I'm wrong? I've searched for "738" and the only thing that comes up is "Archived" items
 
I have never owned a 738. However I have seen many good reports on the firearm. Obviously Taurus thinks so, because the New Spectrum will be based on that platform. However from what I have seen, it will have many improvements. I believe it will be all stainless instead of aluminum, the takedown will be copied after the Pico which is fantastic and a Modular design. I personally am not interested, having own a number of pocket guns, I found the Pico and no need for anything else. I do think when and If the Spectrum hit the market, it will be a big contender against the Ruger LCP ll.
 
C0untZer0 said:
I don't even see the 738 / TCP even being offered anymore by Taurus. Its not in their 2017 catalog anymore:

http://www.taurususa.com/
Click to expand...
C0untZer0 said:
Ya, I did a little research and the Taurus 738/TCP has been discontinued :eek:
Click to expand...
Cabela's is still selling them - http://www.cabelas.com/product/Taurus-TCP-Semi-Automatic-Centerfire-Pistol/1335712.uts

So is Bud's Gunshop - https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog...urus+Pistols/FS+TAURUS+Semi-Automatic+380+ACP

And Cheaper Than Dirt - https://www.cheaperthandirt.com/pro...ck-polymer-frame-blued-finish-725327610670.do

Along with Bass Pro Shop - http://www.basspro.com/shop/en/taurus-tcp-738-semi-auto-pistol
 
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When wife wanted a pocket pistol to go with her Glock 27, we looked at different options and decided on the TCP 738 due to smoothest trigger (which contributes to accuracy) and slide lock.

BTW, TCP 738 is made in the USA and comes with lifetime warranty on the firearm, not the original owner.

We got the stainless slide model and it has been reliable with various factory RN/JHP and my reloads - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/380auto-x-treme-100-gr-rnfp-range-test.748320/

Here are some 7 yard groups with my reloads

index.php


Here's an article of range rental TCP 738 with 10,000+ rounds without breakage when all other 380 rentals experienced failures - http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2013/05/jeremy-s/gun-review-taurus-738-tcp/
 
herrwalther said:
I had one and didn't like it. The one I had wouldn't even hand cycle ammo and would hang up 2 or 3 rounds out of every magazine. Even with FMJ rounds. It was sold to a gun store without ever being fired.
Click to expand...

You should have actually shot the gun. Hand cycling is NOT a way to test reliability.
 
IMO the TCP built a reputation for being a good gun. I often heard it said that the TCP "was one Taurus got right." If you picked one up for $139.99 shipped - that has to be the best value for the money of any of the pocket 380s

Also IMO, they should have just kept producing it.
 
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