Taurus Spectrum .380

[mingo]

Front page gun of the NRA magazine this month. Watched reviews on you tube for a long time and consider a possible addition to the pile I already own. Not expensive, and made in America...nice little pocket gun...any thought's on this one?

mingo

 

[DPris]

As I've noted elsewhere, in the shootout between a Smith EZ, a Springfield 911, and a Spectrum, the Taurus had zero malfunctions with five test loads and outshot the other two for accuracy at 10 yards.

Had I not already been set up for pocket pistols, I woulda bought the Taurus.
Denis

 

[JONWILL]

If you get it please report back. Would like to hear an unbiased opinion on it. I have also been looking but have seen some bad reviews

 

[BlueHeelerFl]

If you get it please report back. Would like to hear an unbiased opinion on it. I have also been looking but have seen some bad reviews

I been thinking the same. Reviews are either very bad or very good.

 

[DPris]

My post was biased?
I was expecting very little from the Spectrum, till I worked with it.
It surprised me.
Denis

 

[mio]

My wife just got one last month. I don't shoot as much as you guys or take guns apart unless I feel the need so here are my average guy thoughts on it.

The gun feels good in the hand. She flat out loves how it feels in hers and it really feels good in my much larger hands.

The slide release is so small and stiff as to be considered non functional. Slingshot it even after it locks back on an empty mag.

New when playing with it there was a catch putting in a mag. About halfway up would have to hit the mag release to insert the rest of the way. Like on the Pheonix .22s this did keep getting better and better as it was shot and it goes in without hitting the release now, sometimes without even feeling any catch.

Shoots point to aim at the 25 feet we were shooting at.

Zero malfunctions with a 50 round box of Speer Lawman and with a 50 round box of Remmington UMC. haven't put any hollow points into it yet or shot it more. Sorry wasn't going to test it in -30 actual temps last week. Hoping to put another box of the UMC through it Saturday. I've only put a couple mags through it myself since it's her gun I'm letting her do the break in and I just watch.

 

[mingo]

Thanks for the reports on this little .380. I'm definitely going to purchase one in the near future. I'm not finding one in stock at the local shops so far.....I'll look around some more, but will prolly end up ordering one if it's my only option. I'd prefer to just go pick one up if I can find one not too far to drive for.

mingo

 

[DPris]

If you order one, you can get it in a color that matches your eyes.
Or your hat.
Or your tattoo.
Or your purse.
Or your underwear.
Denis

 

[BlueHeelerFl]

Thanks for the reports on this little .380. I'm definitely going to purchase one in the near future. I'm not finding one in stock at the local shops so far.....I'll look around some more, but will prolly end up ordering one if it's my only option. I'd prefer to just go pick one up if I can find one not too far to drive for.

mingo

Ordering it online does allow you to get it in the many color combinations available.

Also, some sites like Gallery of Guns includes a lifetime warranty in anything they sell, so you don't have to worry about Taurus's year only warranty

 

[maxxhavoc]

I just got one a couple of days ago.

It is by far the most comfortable to shoot of any pocket gun I have used

It is very accurate considering it's size, and shoots to point of aim.

Now the bad. I drew a short straw. Mine gets light primer strikes at least 1 time per magazine. Sometimes 3. This is over the first 150 rounds I cleaned the firing pin channel and have dry fired it many times to try and fix it. I have not gotten to the range to rest it again. If that doesn't work, off to Taurus.

 

[mingo]

I just got one a couple of days ago.

It is by far the most comfortable to shoot of any pocket gun I have used

It is very accurate considering it's size, and shoots to point of aim.

Now the bad. I drew a short straw. Mine gets light primer strikes at least 1 time per magazine. Sometimes 3. This is over the first 150 rounds I cleaned the firing pin channel and have dry fired it many times to try and fix it. I have not gotten to the range to rest it again. If that doesn't work, off to Taurus.

Just wondering if you were shooting brass or steel? I've heard some reports that the gun doesn't like steel and to avoid those if you have light strikes.

 

[maxxhavoc]

Just wondering if you were shooting brass or steel? I've heard some reports that the gun doesn't like steel and to avoid those if you have light strikes.

Brass, with CCI sp primers.

Sounds like if you get a good one, it always goes bang. The pistol is good enough in every other way that I will at least go through the motions of repair

If it worked 100%, it would obsolete my LCP

 

[DPris]

Zero problems with the one I had here.
Denis

 

[MedWheeler]

They seem neat. I'd be looking closer if I didn't already have a TCP that I like (and a Kel-Tec P32.)

Like Dpris above, I'm set on pocket guns.

 

[jar]

It's heading into Cargo Shorts time of year (may hit 90F/32C today) so that must mean I need more pocket pistols. I figure the minimum should be about six and with some of the newer designer Cargo Shorts there may not be a maximum.

 

[powwowell]

Drove me to the brink. I thought of throwing mine into a pond. Traded for a Ruger LCP. The Ruger works. Feeds, fires, and ejects. The Taurus would never feed over two rounds, before hanging up. Fluff and buff made no difference. I've since bought a Taurus 856. Very satisfied with it.

 

[Snowdog]

I bought one a couple months ago and it's eating ammunition that some of my other .380s dislike (my SWC handloads in particular).
I bought it for my wife, but she ended up wanting a Walter CCP M2 in robin egg blue.

The trigger is my only "kinda" real gripe. It's on the long and heavy side, however completely usable. It's noticeably heavier than my TCP. That said, I was shooting some decent groups with this pistol right out of the box, so it doesn't seem to prevent one from putting the slugs where they want them to go.

Also, the pistol is sprung heavy and will short stroke on some of the very light 95gr "powder-puff" loads (such as the Tiffany blue powder coats in the image below).
Shooting Underwood's 102gr Golden Saber in +P+ flavor feels much more manageable than from my TCP. From the TCP, you know these are very hot rounds. From the Spectrum? Eh, these might be hotter. It really shines with those hotter loads.
These were the only loads that caused mysterious failures to eject from my Sig 238HD that I since sold.

If you're okay with a trigger that's only long and heavy side and something that has marginal sights, this pistol will serve you quite well.

BTW, that long and heavy trigger allots you second-strike capabilities. That came in very useful at the first range outing using reloads with questionable primers. I had a fail to fire that with most other .380acp would have required an immediate tap-rack-bang drill. With the Spectrum, I simply pulled the trigger again and it fired.

 

[DPris]

The second strike capability was one feature I really liked.
Denis

 

[Jeb Stuart]

I bought one a couple months ago and it's eating ammunition that some of my other .380s dislike (my SWC handloads in particular).
I bought it for my wife, but she ended up wanting a Walter CCP M2 in robin egg blue.

The trigger is my only real gripe. It's only the long and heavy side, however completely usable. I was shooting some decent groups with this pistol right out of the box. The pistol is sprung heavy and will short stroke on some of the very light 95gr "powder-puff" loads (such as the Tiffany blue powder coats in the image below). If you're okay with a trigger that's only long and heavy side and something that has marginal sights, this pistol will serve you well.

BTW, that long and heavy trigger allots you second-strike capabilities. That came in very useful at the first range outing using reloads with questionable primers. I had a fail to fire that with most other .380acp would have required an immediate tap-rack-bang drill. With the Spectrum, I simply pulled the trigger again and it fired.
View attachment 825130

Nice looking Pistol. I actually like that color. I seem to wear a lot of Blue shirts, sometimes carry a small Pistol in a holster. I would say that would camo in well. I am very happy with the Pocket guns I do have at present, (May get a Keltec 32). But see a Spectrum in the future. Have had many LCP's. If I were to choose between the LCP and the Spectrum, I would not hesitate to try out the Spectrum. The ability to change out grips is a bigger deal than most folks think. And I am a big believer in double strike capability. I have shot the small guns with long double action triggers for years to the point that , I have become to like them and can do as well them as light triggers. As long as the trigger is smooth and deliberate. I have not tried the trigger on the Spectrum, so really cannot judge. Regardless of what others feel, I like nice sights on my pocket guns. (and I do not shoot them like a target gun, only fast action point and shoot. Especially want night sights).
The Spectrum has a lot going for it. It appears Taurus has really stepped up to the plate. I missed a deal they had at Brownwells for $161.00 and free shipping. I wish I had jumped on that. It was a Red Grip, but hey, could always change out the grip later.

I did handle one in a store and it seemed lighter than the actual weight. Liked the grip and the balance felt very good.

 

[BlueHeelerFl]

I bought one a couple months ago and it's eating ammunition that some of my other .380s dislike (my SWC handloads in particular).
I bought it for my wife, but she ended up wanting a Walter CCP M2 in robin egg blue.

The trigger is my only "kinda" real gripe. It's on the long and heavy side, however completely usable. It's noticeably heavier than my TCP. That said, I was shooting some decent groups with this pistol right out of the box, so it doesn't seem to prevent one from putting the slugs where they want them to go.

Also, the pistol is sprung heavy and will short stroke on some of the very light 95gr "powder-puff" loads (such as the Tiffany blue powder coats in the image below).
Shooting Underwood's 102gr Golden Saber in +P+ flavor feels much more manageable than from my TCP. From the TCP, you know these are very hot rounds. From the Spectrum? Eh, these might be hotter. It really shines with those hotter loads.
These were the only loads that caused mysterious failures to eject from my Sig 238HD that I since sold.

If you're okay with a trigger that's only long and heavy side and something that has marginal sights, this pistol will serve you quite well.

BTW, that long and heavy trigger allots you second-strike capabilities. That came in very useful at the first range outing using reloads with questionable primers. I had a fail to fire that with most other .380acp would have required an immediate tap-rack-bang drill. With the Spectrum, I simply pulled the trigger again and it fired.
View attachment 825130

That's the one I like, stainless with blue. Nice looking gun.

The Specturm handles plus p without any issues? I was under the impression it was not plus p rated

 

[Snowdog]

The Specturm handles plus p without any issues? I was under the impression it was not plus p rated

You're right, I don't think Taurus has indicated it's rated for +P. However, it's certainly not rated for +P+ and that's what I'm using. Though I doubt it will create any catastrophic failure, I do see it reducing the life span of the Spectrum.
On the flip side, I don't think I'll ever shoot this pistol enough to notice.
It's already seen quite a few warm reloads and some +P commercial loads; still tight as new.

This is a range toy for me, but if I were going to use if for defense, I would steer clear of +P for this pistol from the get-go.

 

[Jeb Stuart]

The Biggest problem I saw with the LCP shooting any hot ammo was cracking a grip for the aluminum frame. I personally would not do it in the Spectrum. However, You can replace the grip if cracked, but not the aluminum chassis. What does the manual say? I you want to shoot Plus P or hot ammo, I would advise to get the Pico or Kahr, both state ok to shoot. They have a Steel chassis. I have shot many round of Hot Ammo out of the Pico and no problem, Kahr as well.

 

[mio]

Manual says NO. Says there’s no SAMI spec on .380

 

[Jeb Stuart]

Manual says NO. Says there’s no SAMI spec on .380

Just because there is NO SAMI spec or on the Sami list, does not mean there is no Plus P. And for sure there are many hot loads with the 380.
One example and repeat just one example is the PrecisionOne XTP which was rated very high with "Shooting the Bull". Later they introduced the Plus P of the same. Yes it is a hotter ammo and fits the Term Plus P. I shoot both the standard and Plus P frequently. And PrecisionOne does give a warning on shooting it.

 

[mio]

I just answered the question of what the manual said. Wasn’t looking to get into an ammo discussion.