Taurus Spectrum 380acp, Good? Bad or???

[Wildbillz]

Hi All
I was at the LGS the other day and they had the Taurus Spectrum pistols on sale for like $150 which seemed supper cheap to me. I have no experience with the Spectrum's so any one have one or used one? Are they any good or would I just be letting myself in for a let down if I got one.

Thanks in advance
WB

 

[GunnyUSMC]

I’ve fired a few of them. It’s a comfortable little gun to shoot, unlike some other compact 380s. Depending of which color you get, some are ugly, it’s a nice look little gun. I’m not sure how it would hold up to heavy use.

 

[MedWheeler]

I paid that for the TCP the last year it was made, before the Spectrum replaced it. I figured that was "cheap" enough to try out the gun, and I could probably recoup the cost if I didn't find a use for it. I actually like it quite a bit, but always favored the P32 I had owned for five years already for pocket carry, so the Taurus hasn't been put to much use. Maybe it will find a hideyhole in my truck as an accessible anti-carjack weapon.

Reviews comparing the TCP to its follower seem to lean about 50/50 in preference of either. That price is about as low as it gets for a safe-to-carry pocket .380 pistol. To be honest, though, I haven't heard much about the Spectrum in the last couple of years. I'm guessing that the Glock 42 and the Ruger LCP-II have pretty much commanded the market on six-round-magazined .380acp guns.

 

[DTL]

Plenty of good YouTube reviews, some within the last year, and some long term ones as well. Only downside for many seems to be a heavy DAO trigger, but accurate once that becomes familiar.

 

[needmorecowbell]

There good little pistols. Don’t let price today fool you. All the 7 shooters marked down because of release of LCP max

 

[Hugger-4641]

Been happy with mine. I bought it for a cheap back up and it's perfect for that, but I wouldn't expect it to last long as a range gun.

 

[jstert]

i bought a taurus spectrum new three years ago. i had no real need for it but couldn’t pass up its $125 price due to its odd color scheme. i added a hogue grip sleeve to make it feel even softer in the hand. i like it more than i imagined. its only downside is the god awful uncaptured guide rod spring, i discovered that wearing gloves is the only way i can reassemble it. i bought a galloway captured spring & guide rod but the only time i tried shooting it i had some ftf. i put the spectrum aside due to my low stock of 380acp ammo. i need to swap out and shoot the two guide rod & spring sets back to back when i get some more ammo to figure out my way forward. all that said, my favorite semiauto ccw is a keltec p32.

 

[MedWheeler]

jstert writes

..all that said, my favorite semiauto ccw is a keltec p32.

Bought one in 2011, the year after buying a PF9. Since then, I've acquired (in the CCW-semi-auto class) a Taurus TCP, Ruger LCP MAX, Seecamp LWS32, and multiple other little cool guns in .22LR and .25ACP.

I still have the utmost respect for this little Kel-Tec, and for what it started with its introduction. It was certainly a true innovation when it was released.

 

[reloaded_in_pa]

I carry one daily as a pocket/back up. It's small and doesn't print even with the seven round mag. It's easy enough to shoot and I usually empty a mag each time at the range but I wouldn't want to go through a box of ammo at one time.

 

[1942bull]

I tried one before before I ended up buying an LCP II. Like any 380 micro or is a snappy little beast that you will feel stung by when yoU shoot it. I did not like the feel of it compared to the LCP II. Ergonomics are always important to me. Taurus pistols cause me worry because the company has crappy us to drive service. I had a G2C that needed a new trigger spring. I sent in for repair. It took. In that to get it back. Well at $150 you cannot expect too much in terms of durability and CS. It was all unimportant in the end because I sold my LCP II a few days ago. I am sticking with 9mm only now, and I no longer pocket carry because I stopped being concerned about printing.

 

[Wildbillz]

Went back there yesterday and they sale had needed. They were now $250. So I ended up passing on it. But thanks for all the intell.

WB

 

[dodo bird]

Went back there yesterday and they sale had needed. They were now $250. So I ended up passing on it. But thanks for all the intell.

WB

Well that’s quite the price hike.

 

[Wildbillz]

Ya I don't know if they had them miss marked or I may have read it wrong the first time. More likely the later. Took all the fun out of it.


WB

 

[mingo]

Nice little pocket gun. I bought one right after they came out for $200 and not sorry I did. I consider it easy to shoot and not snappy at all, but then I mostly shoot 40cal.
Like others said...really easy to conceal.