738 TCP vs. PF-9 in carry comfort

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9thchild

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The Taurus is .06 in. slimmer, 2.5 oz lighter, and .6 in. shorter. Couldn't find the specs on the TCP's height.

Has anyone carried or at least seen these two guns side by side? I am deciding between these two for carry in a suit (front/jacket pockets and possible holster shirt).

Not looking for a discussion about firepower, reliability, etc., just how easily the guns "disappear." Is the TCP substantially smaller? Would prefer 9mm for obvious reasons, but my main concern is deep conceal.
 
I have the PF9 and the Kel-Tec P32. The latter is about the same size as the Taurus you're considering. It is substantially easier to conceal than the PF9 is, but the 9 is not all that hard. In jeans, it prints some, but it's easier to pocket-carry in pants with looser pockets. In those settings, you should be able to carry the PF9. But, of course, smaller is easier. For "deep conceal", go with the Taurus. A friend of mine recently got one, the first one I've actually handled, and I was impressed with its fit and feel.
 
I carried a pf-9 for a 2 years before moveing to a cm9 kahr. We do have 2 tcp380's in the family. Easy to shoot for me one handed, accurate for a micro pistol. Softer shooting compared to the pf-9 too. Both will do the job.

The pf-9 may need better handgun control to function well as it is a snappy pistol to shot. Not keeping a tight grip can cause feeding issues. Both can benefit from so kind of slip on grip enhancer. I install piece of old used and free inner tube on ours. Free at bike shops. The tcp's seems to not care what ammo is feed to it. My old KT ran fine with what ever fmj was tried and my HP ammo was limited to speer GD bullets. Never had a issue with it.

I do shoot any pistol 500 rounds before CC it. 400 fmj and 100 rounds of hp I plan on CC'n trouble free.

Buy a good pocket holster for ether be for pocket carry.
 
Thanks for all the input. I was leaning toward the TCP anyway and you all have solidified my choice. Just wanted to be sure it was enough of a size different to warrant the lighter caliber.
 
I have both a P32 and a TCP 738. They are, for all practical purposes, essentially the same size. I have the same Desantis pocket holster for both of them.
 
You're welcome. While the 738 is snappier to shoot, it has much better sights and trigger than the P32. It's also a bit easier to grip. Ammo cost is nearly the same.
 
I held the TCP in my LGS today. Of course the guy at the counter pointed to the more expensive LCP and said "that's the better pistol." I respectfully disagreed and mentioned the trigger and grip but he wasn't hearing it.

They had the all black TCP for $285 with two mags. It seemed a little steep for me considering Academy lists them on their website for $200 (though you only get one mag).

Should I hold out until I find an Academy that has them in stock? Or is $285 a fair price?
 
A friend of my sister just bought one for $199. I don't know exactly WHICH TCP it was, but can find out this weekend. It might have been a lower trim model.

Jim
 
9thchild said:
I held the TCP in my LGS today. Of course the guy at the counter pointed to the more expensive LCP and said "that's the better pistol." I respectfully disagreed and mentioned the trigger and grip but he wasn't hearing it.

They had the all black TCP for $285 with two mags. It seemed a little steep for me considering Academy lists them on their website for $200 (though you only get one mag).

Should I hold out until I find an Academy that has them in stock? Or is $285 a fair price?
Click to expand...
I'd just grab the one from Academy and buy an extra mag from Taurus. You'll probably save $40 off of the $285 price tag by buying the mag from the factory.
 
I bought a TCP last year for the same reason you are looking at it.
I ran about 700 rounds through it to "make sure". At the end of 700 I sent it back to Taurus for some ejected brass coming at my face.
It came back ejecting to 3. I would have done it myself but they pay the freight both ways and fix anything year 1. Year two forward you pay shipping.
I now rarely shoot the TCP but I carry it often.
I did fluff and buff it and hand cycle a lot before firing round one.
It seems clunky loading the first round but it's been 100% for me. Best $179 I ever spent. I got the one with only one mag and ordered a spare from Taurus.
 
I have a TCP and have pocket carried it for a good portion of the last three years. It seems to work very well for me.

Last year, I got a Kahr CM9 for pocket carry. It's a good gun, but does not pocket carry anywhere near as well. It is just too big to work well in my jeans pockets. I know, it's not a Keltec Pf9, but it's close in size.
 
Thanks for all the comments. I think I am going to hold off until I find one more toward the $200 price. One mag and a cheesy carry case can't be worth $85 more dollars and a little convenience.
 
I have experience with the TCP and have mine fitted with a Crimson Trace laser. It's a great liitle gun, very reliable, easier on the recoil than my fathers Bersa, plus it's cheap. It's as accurate as you're going to need it to be and it's light and very easy to conceal. I'd recommend it to anyone in a heart beat.
 
A few weeks ago I paid $219 for the FS model with one mag, and was able to buy spare mags at my LGS for $25 each.

Before I decided to go with a pocket .380 I considered a number of tiny 9s. I found none of them as easy to conceal as the TCP, and those that were close beat me to death. The .380 pistols are more manageable and are powerful and accurate enough for their task.

The TCP has some features I really wanted, most notably a slide that locks back, a DAO action, and no external safety. It is a real nice shooter, but it does not like Tula steel cased ammo--it would not chamber. It's the easiest gun to carry concealed that I have ever owned.
 
9thchild be carefull when buying a tcp. They make 6 models with different finish's. Two black models at least . One is a black oxid with one mag , The FS model and the other a black on stainless steel with two mags , The BSS model and tends to be 80 bucks higher in price but part of that is the extra mag. Be carfull as to many "salesman" know nothing about what they are selling.
 
I have owned both a TCP and a PF9. The PF9 is long gone because it was just too big for ME to pocket carry and was pretty unpleasant to shoot. I also have a PM9 which is also too big for me to pocket carry comfortably.

The TCP is my favorite pocket pistol right after my P238.
 
Funny how your picked the p238 say'n that the cm9 was to big to pocket when its with in 1oz of weight , the same length and height, same cap and thinner with a lighter trigger pull even tho its DA and no external safety to deal with. And a 9mm !! ?? Carefull how you say to big for you to pocket.
 
hardluk1 said:
Funny how your picked the p238 say'n that the cm9 was to big to pocket when its with in 1oz of weight , the same length and height, same cap and thinner with a lighter trigger pull even tho its DA and no external safety to deal with. And a 9mm !! ?? Carefull how you say to big for you to pocket.
Click to expand...
You may think the P238 and the PM9 are the same size, but you are wrong! There is a significant difference in the two when it comes to pocket carry.

This is my PM9 and my P238 side by side and you can clearly see the difference in overall bulk.

Yes the P238 is bigger than the TCP, but just enough smaller than the PM9 to make it a better pocket pistol for me than the PM9.

I do pocket carry the Kahr occasionally when I think I will be in places that are more dangerous.

238-PM9.gif - P238PM9rearviewcopy.gif
 
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