My Next Mouse Gun : Fact and Fiction ?

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Gun Master

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First of all, I'd like to say I'm leaning toward a Taurus 738 TCP .380 ACP.
The Truth About Guns gives an apparently good backing.

What's not to like?
Lightweight, concealable, $200, reliability (per TTAG), proven effective caliber!

My only question is , does it have "double strike" capibility (double action on a failed round)?

Also, I'd like both affirmative and negative experiences with the 738.
Comments on other good gun choices are welcome.
Tell it like it is !

Thanks.:)
 
Most of the small 380's dont have a double strike capability. If that's what you want go up in size to a Bersa or Walther PPK sized weapon. Both have a double strike capability
 
I believe the TCP does NOT have double-strike capability. It uses a pre-cocked hammer that's held partially back then the trigger only has to pull it back a bit more with the long travel to release it. I don't have one on hand to examine, but I believe it's very similar to KT P-32/380 hammer system. If it fails to ignite a cartridge, you need to pull the slide back far enough to pre-cock the hammer again for another go. Also you must be careful to fully release the trigger on every shot as you can often feel a reset click when the trigger goes past the hammer block but it won't engage the hammer until it's fully forward. Pulling the trigger from the first click will drop the pre-cocked hammer from the block and will only have a partial strike which often causes light strikes. The P-32/380 forum was littered with light strike complaints when they first came out and it still catches people unfamiliar with the trigger systems here and there. Otherwise the little Tauri seem like a very robust piece that should serve you well.:)
 
I personally would not make a decision one way or the other based on double strike capability. I'm of the opinion its not much of an advantage and is just as likely to be a disadvantage. I've always thought under extreme stress if the gun malfunctions you may not realize your pulling the trigger and not doing anything whereas a deactivated trigger will let you know there is a problem so you can rack the slide and keep going. I can see advantage and disadvantage to both. In the few instances I've had light primer strikes (never in a pistol actually) hitting it again has not be greatly successful at lighting it off. Mabey 50%. I have heard stories of people with double action revolvers clacking away in double action not realizing they had emptied the gun.
 
Also you must be careful to fully release the trigger on every shot as you can often feel a reset click when the trigger goes past the hammer block but it won't engage the hammer until it's fully forward. Pulling the trigger from the first click will drop the pre-cocked hammer from the block and will only have a partial strike which often causes light strikes. The P-32/380 forum was littered with light strike complaints when they first came out and it still catches people unfamiliar with the trigger systems here and there. Otherwise the little Tauri seem like a very robust piece that should serve you well.:)

Interesting, never heard that before. That is very much not a good thing.
 
The only pocket 380s with double strike that I know of are the S&W Bodyguard, Remington RM380, and Beretta Pico.
 
Interesting, never heard that before. That is very much not a good thing.
It is actually not a big deal if you understand how the pistol works and enjoy the benefits of the very light trigger pull due to not having to cock the hammer from full down like a true DA. If someone insists on trying to run one like a Glock...they'll have problems....but that is the way it is. I think the later Taurus pistols have modified the trigger to not 'click' when going past the hammer block so you don't get a 'false reset' and the first 'click' you get it when it has fully reset on the hammer for the next shot. Either way...you have to stroke the trigger like a DA revolver with either trigger system not employing a striker or SA hammer. Proper training and the guns run well....try to operate them incorrectly and problems will ensue.
 
Ruger LCP, Sig P290RS, Kel-Tec P3AT, and NAA Guardian all have restrike capability.
P3AT still uses the hammer-block according to the manual available on the KT website I just looked at. This means it does not have restrike without pulling the slide back enough to reset the hammer on the blocking mechanism. Can't say about the other guns though the Ruger LCP is a copy of the KT-P11 which DOES have restrike ability being that the hammer follows the slide fully down so the trigger must fully cock it with every shot....which makes the trigger heavier through the entire pull. To get you got to give.:)

Edit: Ooops! The Ruger LC9 is the P-11 copy NOT the LCP as I wrote above. Can't keep all of these guns straight.:(
 
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P3AT still uses the hammer-block according to the manual available on the KT website I just looked at. This means it does not have restrike without pulling the slide back enough to reset the hammer on the blocking mechanism.

Yep, I stand corrected.....o_O
 
My mom likes her tcp. My suggestion of things for her to look at were LCP, TCP, DB380, and P3AT. She chose the tcp and has been very happy with it.
 
You asked for personal experience with the 738 so I'll give you mine. I had one that had issues not functioning properly brand new out of the box. At the time it was my second Taurus in a row that had issues and rather than sending it in I sold it off. However, my wife has one as her EDC and it's had no issues. Me personally I'm done with Taurus, but know that there are enough folks out there that have problem free guns so I will not bad mouth them, just won't recommend.

For the difference in price (hardly any) I'd go with a LCP. I've also heard almost nothing but positive remarks about the little Kahr 380. The Bodyguard and RM seem to get mixed reviews from what Ive seen.


Best bet as usual would be to go to a range that rents and try out as many as you can for yourself.
 
Personal experience with the TCP, I've had three. 1st was a blue slide, ran fine, fits my hand well. Traded that in on a CW9. That was a good piece, ran great and I didnt have to worry about wiping it down every day, but it was just a smidge big for EDC, for me anyway. So I picked up a TCP with SS slide, great gun, ran perfect. Then I up and lost my damn mind, sold the TCP, the CW9 and a 30-06 when I bought my 1st house. Shortly after, regained sanity and bought another TCP, that one ran great until it didn't. Just started failing to draw the hammer back all the way. Sent it on a three month vacation to the Taurus warranty center, finally came back and now it runs fine on hot SD ammo, but cant get through a full mag of any range ammo I've tried. So, all in all, I say good guns. Just be prepared to wait a while if you have to use the Taurus warranty
 
I've had a TCP since 2010 and had no issues with it. I've been thinking of taking a look at the S&W Bodyguard, because the lack of second-strike capability is the only thing I don't like about the TCP. I've never had the problem with the false reset, either.
 
I like my TCP but, admittedly, I carry it less than I thought I would, preferring my Kel-Tec PF9 on the hip and my P32 in my pocket. The TCP might end up being a "center console" gun. It's a late-production gun, probably made in late 2016. I got it a little over a year ago. Early-production guns are probably best avoided (they have the letters "A" or "B" in the serial numbers.)

I hope the thread is cleared up on which ones are "true" DAO pistols, meaning having re-strike capability, and which ones are not.

As far as trigger resetting, anyone who is used to a DA/SA revolver or autoloader should have no issues. Glock-only shooters will have a little bit of a learning curve ahead of them to navigate, but it's not insurmountable by any means.
 
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I own too many .380’s.

The one I carry the vast majority of the time is a Remington RM380.

It’s just about the perfect pocket .380 for me.
 
I used to have a TCP, but after numerous failures I got rid of it. It would sometimes not completely go into battery. I polished the feed ramp, tried different lubrication and ammo. Thought I had it cured and once went a couple hundred rounds without a failure then it piped up again. I couldn't trust it for self defence and bought an LCP
 
In my opinion the pico has the best trigger of the true DA pocket 380s. The RM380 and Bodyguard triggers are loooooong.

Ditto that on the Pico. Especially since owning and shooting 4 lcp's since they first came out. I also own the Kahr. The Pico does have double strike capability and it is my opinion that double strike in a small pocket gun is a must. All of these guns are meant for fast action shooting of a magazine of rounds into center mass as fast as possible. Take the Pico, first of all I trust it more than any gun I have shot over the years. It is ultra reliable. It has a heavy strike to begin with and the only failure I have had are from cheap bulk reloads and that are of the type that have primers that will occasionally fail in any gun. The Pico will, in fast action shooting Hit that primer fast in double strike and they have all gone off. It is a huge benefit. Use reliable good quality defense ammo and the odds of a bad primer strike are very small, but with a double strike capable firearm, you are well ahead of the game if one does.
It is obvious that Beretta spent a lot of time designing this gun. It is built of the highest quality, stainless steel throughout the gun other than the Polymer grip. This is a big benefit if you shoot often and a lot of round down range in training.( I will not buy another gun with a aluminum frame/Chassis)

Some say you do not need sights on a small pocket gun. I disagree with that as well. I train constantly with fast action shooting on the pocket guns and train with fast point and shoot instinctive shooting. And even so, I use the sights in the Peripheral sense. And the Pico has the best in class. Also easy to add Night Sights another must IMO.
AND YES, the Pico trigger is perfect for CCW and fast shooting. It is a little more heavy, but deliberate and smooth. And since the gun is built with tight tolerances, it breaks in even better. Once you start spending time on the range, the trigger really starts to shine and for me, do not want a crisp light trigger, just no need for it, and it serves no purpose.

I have yet to see any pocket gun the size of the Pico that matches the quality of build of the Pico. Do I really like the Pico? I ended up buying a second. One for Carry and one for range work. Thousands of rounds through them and totally reliable and fast. And yes that Double strike Comes through when you need it the most.

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I've been very impressed with my Beretta Pico. It has all of the features one would desire in a small pocket pistol including double strike.

Can't speak to the Taurus.
 
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