Taurus 380

I picked up a TCP like what you're talking about, mine was 199.95 with two mags though from Joe Bob Outfitters in Hays. I love being local to them. Anyway, the TCP is more manageable to shoot than a Ruger LCP if you ask me, but I own two LCP's right now and no more TCP. That being said, my TCP was flawless while I had it. Just got a too good to pass up offer for it.

I have purchased 2 of these, bought one and my daughter made off with it so I had to buy another for myself. Both have functioned perfectly, and they are not too bad in the recoil department. While they are a bit snappy, my 20 year old daughter has no problem shooting them.

Accuracy is ok but these are not target pistols - the sights are small and disappear in low light. They are fine at 10 yards but challenging to shoot at longer distances.

I really like mine and would not hesitate to buy another.

I have one in my pocket as I write this. From what I understand, they had some problems when they first came out, but mine has been fine from the very first shot. I painted the front sight red so I could see it better, and now can knock over cans from about 7 yards with no problem.

The recoil is fairly stout, as you might imagine, but not hard on the hand. Having had it for a couple years now, I can confidently say I would buy another one without hesitation.

It has a long, double-action pull, not unlike a revolver and could be problematic for large hands, I suspect, but the pull is smooth and predictable, and isn't hard to get used to.

I have never had or fired an LCP, so I can't give you an opinion on how they compare, but I'm quite happy with the TCP.

I wouldn't. If I was going to buy a 380, I would get a Ruger LCP or better yet a LC9.

Mine worked great. By far the best trigger on a DAO pistol. Probably half the weight of the LCP's trigger.

Plus the TCP has a last round hold open. Mine was also very reliable but I had to file a slight edge (took 10 seconds) of the last round hold open to make it feed reliably because the edge of some casings would hit it and fail to feed. After that quick fix it ran 100%.

Do yourself a tremendous favor. I assume you want to use this gun as a potential life saving device, correct?

Skip a Taurus anything. Just go buy a Ruger LCP - if that is the style/caliber of gun you are looking for.

Heck, I saw them pretty cheap last week at CDNN. But even if you don't want to order online - surely, your life is worth $100 more (or even much less than that, if you buy online). Don't buy a Taurus.

My Taurus TCP has been 100% reliable. This is the 3rd one I have owned. All 3 have been reliable. I trade a lot and that is the reason I have owned 3. Whitaker Guns sells them for $164.95 with $12.95 shipping fees.

I carried a Keltec P3aT for quite a well. It was reliable and surprisingly accurate. A friend got a couple LCPs. We shot them, He carried one and had problems with the magazine releasing in his pocket....something neither of us had problems with carrying the Keltec. Then we added Taurus TCPs to the lineup and I stopped looking for a better pocket 380. This is it. The sights are slightly better. It has last shot hold open. It is reliable. That has been my experience with 3 of them and despite the many legitimate Taurus gripes I am sold on the TCP.

I have a lot of pocket 380 pistols and if I'm not carrying a G42 in my pocket it will be TCP.

Had an LCP and P3AT and neither were as reliable or soft shooting as the TCP.
The P238 is a fine pistol, but I prefer not pocket carrying cocked and locked.

The G42 IMO is hands down the best shooting of all, but a bit larger and heavier.

I bought one a couple of years ago and it worked flawlessly for about 200 rounds and then the pin that retains the firing pin came out. I had Taurus send me a new retainer pin and it did the same thing, fell out. Taurus had me send in the pistol and about 6 weeks later they sent my FFL a new one to replace it. This one has worked properly for over 400 rounds so far but one of the 4 magazines I have for it won't feed the last round. I don't feel unsafe using the pistol as it has functioned well so far. I will say though that my TCP is for when my clothing won't let me carry my Shield in a belt holster. The Taurus hides well in a front pocket. If you read enough on different forums you will find out that every pistol model made has had problems at some time. It's just the one that the complainer owns is the best made because his has functioned well for him. In many cases they have never owned the one they are claiming is inferior.

I have one and its become my every day carry.

It is so damn easy to carry and conceal IWB or
in a pocket.

Its the black stainless slide $206 shipped.

Jimmy

Does Taurus USA still have an enormous back up of warranty work?

I would consider a newer Taurus when that is no longer the state of affairs with Taurus QC.

I have good and bad to say about the taurus tcp .380 having owned two of them. My first one was pretty reliable out of the box. Great trigger, fed just about anything, but the take down pin would back out a little after a box or two of ammo. Always had to keep an eye on it. It was just as accurate as you could ask for and IMO not very painful to shoot. Yes, it's tiny, but the recoil wasn't so bad you had to quit after a box. I find the Ruger LCR .38 special with 158gr and any variety of +p to be far more limiting in terms of recoil.

It was decent and I carried it in my pocket whenever necessary, having never quite settled on my favorite ammo. Unfortunately it was stolen. I liked it enough to buy another.

My second one (blackened stainless slide model) is a mixed bag. This model comes with two magazines from the factory but they don't fit as flush to the grip of the gun. The take down pin is much more secure and never moves. It's obviously been redesigned from the earlier one with a deeper notch for the spring and a more squared off face (this makes it harder to reassemble if you don't know the trick). The trigger is very slightly worse. It doesn't seem to feed the same variety of ammo as well as my first one, leaving me no choice but to rely on FMJ at this time. Some people may not care (it's just a .380 afterall...) but I was satisfied with XTPs as a compromise, or even buffalo bore hardcast lead, which I have not been able to test again in this firearm. It is a cost prohibitive ammo to experiment with.

The real issue is that the extractor in my replacement gun sheared off in under 150 rounds. Total failure in less than three boxes of factory Magtech .380 fmj. Taurus customer service offered to take the gun and repair it at no charge, or send me the parts to repair it myself. I chose to repair it myself (which was actually more difficult than expected) and even though Taurus said the parts were backordered for an unknown amount of time they arrived in the mail just a few days later.

I am satisfied with their service but not so happy with the second gun. My first one had already been properly vetted with more ammunition than the gun cost and I was not happy about having to do it a second time. Maybe I got lucky the first time and shouldn't have pushed my luck but I hate the S&W bodyguard, the Ruger LCP isn't flawless, and my only Kahr was a real piece of crap with devastatingly bad customer service to follow. Taurus seemed like a reasonable choice again.

I purchased one a few months ago to replace my (very nice) Sig P238HD that I found too heavy for what it was. I was immediately pleased with the purchase.

I also have a first generation Keltec P32 that I purchased in the first months they were released in '99. I haven't had any serious problems with it and it served as a yardwork pocket pistol for the past 16 years.
The TCP (PT738) has replaced the P32 in this role.

The TCP has really impressed me with its size and performance. I find it very easy to shoot well and have yet to experience a malfunction, even with bullet profiles such as Lehigh Defense's 90gr Extreme Penetrator and 65gr Extreme Defense (both loaded hot by Underwood).

Whatever you used your P32 for, a Taurus TCP can serve the same role. The P32 does have a slimmer grip, but the upper frame and slide appear similar in thickness with the TCP.
Of course you lose a round as the TCP's magazine holds 6 rounds compared to the P32's 7 round magazine, but you end up with a more potent cartridge.

Both have lousy sights, but both are designed as pocket pistols intended for defense at melee range. That said, I shoot both reasonably well. Both are accurate, but the TCP does become "less fun" after 40 rounds of Underwood +P, though still not uncomfortable and nowhere near painful.

I've included a few images for size comparison on my wife's Tiffany blue bread box (yeah... they still make bread boxes, folks).



The angle of how the P32 sits in relation to the TCP makes the P32 appear thicker in the grip. In reality, the grip portion is quite a bit thinner, with the slide being comparable.




In the following image, the P32 is actually sitting on top of the TCP. Notice it covers all but the trigger guard? In overall dimensions, they are very similar.