Tell me about the Taurus TCP

[les strat]

Right now, I do not have a super-small summer pistol. I strayed away from the .380 a few years ago, but after handling and feeling the trigger pull on the TCP, I was very interested. I had an LCP, but just hated the trigger. It always went bang though. I was also in the process of consolidating calibers, but I lost that war :israel:

Now, I have never been a fan of Taurus as I have known many folks way-back-when that had serious issues, but I have heard and read a lot of good stuff about this little USA-made .380, especially the trigger and the ability for the slide to lock back on the last round. The price is right as well (<$250)

Tell me what you know on this little firecracker.

[Bawanna]

We have 4 floating around the office here. I don't think they have been shot much. One did have to go back but they took care of it and I don't recall now what the issue was.

Two were for officers and the other two were for officer wives. The officers seemed to really like them. Typical, they took the gun out of the box and tossed the manual. I had to research and figure out how to get them apart. Not difficult once you find the key.

Functionally they seem very good. To me they do look cheap, (they are cheap) but that being said a decent value at that price point.

[MikeyKahr]

Cousin JFootin should be along anytime now to tell you about his TCP experience. I think he has really enjoyed it, even with one trip back to the mothership. Cousin JFootin?

[les strat]

Hey Bawanna, Somehow I must have accidentally put this in the New Member forum. Please move to Other Firearms section if you will. :o Thanks

[jeepster09]

Go back to the LCP and put a good trigger in it. I got one and so far like it.

Here is the trigger I used:

http://gallowayprecision.com/ruger-performance/lcp-performance-parts/


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLe3IYMGcKk


I have never been a big fan of the Taurus guns.

[O'Dell]

I've had three Tauruses - one worked and two didn't even after sending them back. Never again.

[RRP]

Go back to the LCP and put a good trigger in it. I got one and so far like it.


Using your gun in a self defense shooting changes your life forever. If the weapon you use in the shooting has been modified from stock, you're making your legal defense more complicated. Just something to consider before altering SD weapons. Of course, this may not apply to range guns.

[hardluk1]

We have new of the lastest C models and they are great little pistols with a far better trigger than many carry pistol have. Seems to shoot everthing well. Add some contrasting paint to the sights and there reasonbly accurate too. The SS and BSS model do sell for 250 and 260 dollars.

[jeepster09]

Using your gun in a self defense shooting changes your life forever. If the weapon you use in the shooting has been modified from stock, you're making your legal defense more complicated. Just something to consider before altering SD weapons. Of course, this may not apply to range guns.

Well I would rather take my chances fixing a bad trigger design [not changing tension of pull] than using a gun that shoots badly and may endanger my life. A small 380 is not a range gun.

[les strat]

Well, the LCP definitely is NOT a range gun, LOL.

I have heard enough, sticking with the Glock 19 even in summer attire. Thanks for the responses.

[JFootin]

I got the plain version for well under $200. The trigger is light and smooth, and I almost like it better than the Kahr trigger because it has a nice little stage where I can take up the slack, refine my aim, then fire. The molded in sights are useless except in bright daylight, but it is a naturally pointable gun that I can shoot accurately at SD distances. I have read a lot of posts from TCP owners on the TaurusArmed.net (http://www.taurusarmed.net/index.php) forum, and I see less problems with them than I have seen for the P380. I had some ftf problems that were probably mostly caused by my crippled hands not holding it firm enough. But then something went wrong in the trigger mechanism. It has a lifetime warranty. I called Taurus CS and described the problems I was experiencing to a very friendly and knowledgeable young lady. She sent me a FedEx label and said she would have the FedEx man pick it up at my door. Exactly 2 weeks later, I was signing for it at my door.

Repair slip says:

Problem Found____________________________Resolution

MISFIRE - Trigger bar releases hammer too soon............REPLACED

MISFEED - Extractor calibration under specs....................ADJUSTED

MISFEED - Magazine lips calibration under specs.............ADJUSTED

The last 2 were things covered in the sticky on TaurusArmed.net. I
put one bullet in each of my 3 mags, and the bullet rides higher in
the one I sent to them. Obviously, they opened the lips up a bit.
I'll adjust the other 2 to match. They did the needed adjustment to
the extractor. The trigger bar replacement is not too much of a
surprise. I knew there was something wrong in there.

I give their CS an A+ rating! The gun is working fine now. I still get a couple of ftfs with range ammo, but it performs 100% with my carry ammo: Hornady Critical Defense 90 grain HP. The conical shape of the bullets helps them to load reliably even with my limp wristing.

Les, I recommend the TCP. Get the nice black stainless one. You'll be satisfied.

[stickbow9]

Like it has been mentioned previously, this pistol is very easily shootable and the trigger is really good. Once you are through the break in, it is very reliable. This is one of the better pocket .380s out there, truly concealable all day.

[JFootin]

Here is a thread from the TaurusArmed.net forum. Includes 2 posters claiming 60,000 and 44,000 rounds shot thru theirs. It's a good gun.

738 TCP After one year (http://www.taurusarmed.net/forums/700-s/85936-738-tcp-after-one-year.html)

[Tinman507]

Jocko hangs over there too?

[JFootin]

Jocko hangs over there too?

If these guys are to be believed, Jocko is a lightweight. Of course, they said it on the internet, so it must be true. :rolleyes:

But the numbers of people with hundreds or a couple of thousand rounds thru with no problems is very consistent with what is posted about the TCP on the forum. And in the rare instance of a reported problem, the Taurus CS always perform admirably.

TA is a great forum with a friendly personality similar to KT and allows posts on all kinds of subjects.

[muggsy]

My experience with Taurus products is limited, but in general I've found them to be of good quality for the money. They are not in the same league with S&W or Colt right out of the box, but with a little TLC can be made to perform quite well. If I was in the market for a new .380 I'd go with the new Kahr CW380 for about the same price.

[JustinN]

I hear a lot of bad things about Taurus from the internet, but the one I have and the one my dad has (and has had for a long time) have been solid little guns. They go boom everytime and are easy to shoot and accurate. They are both small guns, my dad's being a stainless .38 and mine a .357 poly, but we've never had any problems.

My gun dealer claims they have great service - when I bought my poly protector he had ordered two, one came with a smashed box (yay UPS) which broke the front site off. He called Taurus and they had him send it back and sent him a brand new gun as replacement. I would not be afraid to buy another Taurus.

They're not as polished as other brands, like has been stated, but they save you a good chunk of money....

[Popeye]

I can't give you any advice, I never ever thought about buying one. Nuff Said.

[Scoundrel]

I have Taurus guns on both ends of the spectrum - A Taurus Judge (huge) and a Taurus 22PLY (tiny). Both are great guns.

The 22PLY is just a bit touchy on what ammo will feed and cycle it properly, but hey, it's a 22 pistol with a slide, so that's just the way it goes.

If I was going to buy a .380, I'd either go with the Ruger or the Taurus. I like the looks of the Ruger better, but I've heard more good things about the Taurus.