Taurus TCP 738; Reliable or Not?

Status
Not open for further replies.
S

Soldiernurse

Member
Joined
Jul 30, 2011
Messages
242
Location
Cedar Park, Texas
Considering buying a Taurus TCP 738 to serve as my Summer BUG (in Central Texas). Recently, purchased a (used $255) PT140 MilPro & very pleased w/Shooting Range results. The 140 is now my "cooler" weather BUG.

Anyway, I'd like some input from past & present 738 TCP owners (no Taurus Haters, please) regards to malfxns, etc. & rate 1-10, 1 = Worst / 10 = Best

TIA!
 
A 738 in black stainless has been my EDC for a couple years. It goes bang when I want it to and is pretty accurate for a pocket gun. The only mod I did was pad the backstrap to lessen the recoil sting.
 
marv said:
A 738 in black stainless has been my EDC for a couple years. It goes bang when I want it to and is pretty accurate for a pocket gun. The only mod I did was pad the backstrap to lessen the recoil sting.
Click to expand...
Thx! Seen'em NIB price range $250-350. Problem is cannot find one in stock, online or LGSs.
 
I have one and it is the best little pocket gun I have in .380. It shoots every thing I have fed it over the past 2 years.
 
I'm not a fan. Ridiculous recoil for a .380, and past 7 yards (I realize not what it's meant for) is laughable.

If you can get it sub $250, Id might maybe do it.

Edit to add: Both specimens I have experience with had failures in the first 500 rounds. Undesirable for weapon whose main purpose is concealment.
 
Last edited:
I have sold several and had one problem reported. Sent it back for failure to eject. Taurus had it back in two weeks. Said that it was an undersized extractor. They make a polygun that weighs 10 oz. Recoil is pretty sharp but it is a pleasure to carry. The 738 has a very good trigger pull. About half of what a LCP or Bodyguard has.
 
I picked one up at cabelas for a special for 189 new OTD. Needed the ramp shined up a bit, but now it feeds great, shoots well, and has an amazing trigger for a BUG.
 
Note that any company can produce a bad gun today. When people buy low cost problem guns people tend to bitch about them. When they cost 1000 dollars they get them fixed!!

Of the micro sized 380's the taurus has the best features of the buch. Great trigger too. We have 2 of them in the family and both are easy to shot well for a micro pistol and not picky about ammo.


Treat it when new just like you would any larger handgun . Clean well and lube and because of size add something to aid in grip control if you think it will help. Piece of inner tube or some factory made slip on. Mid and larger sized hands may find its easier to shot one handed. I do.

The people that tend to have touble with them say there hard to control, not accurate and don't function well. That tends to go back to basic grip control isues, skill or ammo tried.

Prices at a LGS run from 185 for a one mag black oxide slide to 260 for 2 mags and black SS slide
 
Last edited:
I've had mine for two or so years. I carry it more than anything else. The accuracy for what it is, with all ammo I've tried has been impressive. No malfunctions in close to 1,000 rounds shooting mostly Lawman FMJ's but also Corbon, Hornady, Rem Golden Sabers and Rem HD. I carry it with the Corbon's. Been wanting to get some Buffalo Bore's. I was bragging on it to a buddy so he bought it...he didn't like it at all and bought a Kahr, for twice the price, instead. He likes the Kahr.
 
Yea, online $249. So, I called local Cabelas & mgr told me they are out of stock. I imagine a lot has happened since last Oct
dunnofa1.gif
 
mine is very reliable. I feed it most anything I can find including my reloads which are a light 38 semi wadcutter sized for 380 and it feeds and functions fine. As for accuracy, if you concentrate it will do good to 10 yrds or so but thats what it is made for. I'm not a big taurus person but I like this little pistol better than the kelTec or Ruger.
 
soldiernurse Which model for $249. It does make a difference. Ask your local lgs to get what you want. Our lgs orders a few of them in each week.. It does depend on if a gun shops people are worth a darn when it comes to finding and ordered.
My wifes TCP is the 738ss for $250 , 2 weeks ago. The 738fs sells for 185 around here. The 738bss for 260
 
I got one this past fall at Fleet Farm, on sale for $179 with just one mag. It's been very reliable for me, so far about 200 trouble free rounds through mine. It has become my EDC for work (a no-carry zone, so I compromise and just carry smaller :)

The recoil is a tad sharp, but it's a pocket .380 not a range toy. I agree with hardluk1, I find it easier to shoot one-handed. My buddy has the Ruger .380 and we both agree that the Taurus trigger is MUCH better.
 
hardluk1 said:
soldiernurse Which model for $249. It does make a difference. Ask your local lgs to get what you want. Our lgs orders a few of them in each week.. It does depend on if a gun shops people are worth a darn when it comes to finding and ordered.
My wifes TCP is the 738ss for $250 , 2 weeks ago. The 738fs sells for 185 around here. The 738bss for 260
Click to expand...
The online Cabelas catalog shows the BSS. I called Cabelas. The mgr told me they are out of stock & not a clue when more will be delivered. I'm looking for a TCP 738BSS. My EMP9 is Bi-tone w/ss slide. The rest of my handguns are the standard black. I contacted a LGS. I was told to check back in a couple of weeks. "If", I could find one online still would not order due to S/H & FFL fees. Fortunately, my immediate & surrounding area is plentiful of LGS.
 
I have owned or at least shot them all and the TCP is only topped by the Sig P238 which just puts all the other 380 pocket pistols to shame.

My TCP has been completely reliable accept for one of the two magazines that came with it and Taurus replaced it in just over a week.
 
I had one for two years and sold it - not to get rid of the gun, but because I got out of the caliber. I ran ~414 rounds through it. It was a pleasure to shoot; much better than the P3AT and the LCP I tried. Last shot hold open was very nice. Sights were somewhat rudimentary and hard to pick up; I recommend a dab of high-viz paint. Mine fed everything fine, FMJ and JHP both, EXCEPT for Winchester white box 88gr JHP in the 100 round value pack. Eminently concealable. I had one of these holsters for it: http://www.pocketholsters.com/Taurus_738_Pocket_Holster/taurus_738_pocket_holster.html It fit well, and the draw was great. For a concealable 380, I liked mine.
 
captcurt The 738's are all poly lowers. And standard?? Ain't no standard . Pick a 2 or 3 letter model and have a gun shop hunt one up.
 
hardluk1 said:
captcurt The 738's are all poly lowers. And standard?? Ain't no standard . Pick a 2 or 3 letter model and have a gun shop hunt one up.
Click to expand...
True. They are polyframe but the FS, for some reason, sells for $40 less. I thought that it had a poly slide, but I was wrong. The Taurus website shows seven models with one discontinued. The specs are nearly identical with them weighing in at 10 oz. The titanium slide weighed 9 oz.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

P
  • Locked
Taurus TCP 738
Replies
2
Views
450
marv
M
C
  • Locked
SIG 556 Range Report - The Good, The Bad and The SIG
Replies
7
Views
4K
No_Brakes23
N
L
  • Locked
Review of KR Training "Defensive Long Gun Class" near Austin, Texas
Replies
8
Views
2K
THE DARK KNIGHT
T
J
  • Locked
Ron Paul speech What If (It was all a Big Mistake)?
2
Replies
45
Views
2K
longrifleman
L
Hummer70
  • Locked
Things that can affect how well your ammunition performs.
Replies
10
Views
961
Hummer70
Hummer70
Back
Top