Gun Review: Taurus 738 TCP

1. After buying a 1911, I sort of got stuck standardizing on manual safeties on my guns. The Sig P238 is about as small as I go, now.

   Still, this looks like a most excellent little machine. For the price, I may try to find one at the next gun show I attend.

   How is the height? I have major issues with accuracy and ‘the draw’ when my pinky doesn’t rest on the grip, and since it’s shorter than my P238 I’m guessing it’s strictly a two-finger gun. Does Pierce (or Taurus) make a magazine extension for it?

   • Yes, Pearce makes one: http://www.amazon.com/Pearce-Grip-Ext-For-Taurus/dp/B008C84GKW

     I’ve seen TCPs selling new for as low as $199… kinda crazy.

     • I’m thinking of getting the Pearce, but they say they are supposed to be 1.25″. Of course you have to subtract the small distance of the original base plate, so I think the net gain is probably an inch, or maybe just under, like .9″. I just held it with a tape measure at the top of the original baseplate and if these are 1.25″ then it should let my pinky fit there.

       Did you get the Pearce and did they help a lot?

   • I just purchased one of these little guys today for $199.00 at Sportsman’s Warehouse. One mag, two keys and a free year of NRA. I’m looking forward to it being a nice companion to my full sized .40 when I don’t want to wear a belt.

   • I love my TCP, but I did not like only being able to use two fingers. After doing some research, I found that the Pearce grips were not quite an inch and still didn’t give me the length of extension I needed. I went with the Garrison Grip, which gave the gun an extra inch+ of grip. Fit’s my big hands perfectly now and I can still carry it in my pocket!

     http://www.garrisongrip.com/brands/Taurus.html

     • My husband just bought me this gun. Should I be worried there is no safety on the gun

       • Only if you’re not properly trained. (See also: The Four Rules of Gun Safety)

     • I’m thinking of getting the Pearce, but they say they are supposed to be 1.25″. Of course you have to subtract the small distance of the original base plate, so I think the net gain is probably an inch, or maybe just under, like .9″. I just held it with a tape measure at the top of the original baseplate and if these are 1.25″ then it should let my pinky fit there.

2. I intend to pick up a .380 sometime in the next year. Having experienced an LC9, I was thinking of and LCP or LC380, but I might give this a closer look. My EDC is a Taurus PT-111, and it’s never given me grief.

   • Looking for an LCP?

     Wouldn’t happen to be in the Seattle area would you?

     • Ha, complete other side of the country. Florida!

       • Heh. Couldn’t get more opposite.

         Ah well. It’s a good deal, too.

3. This sounds like a great match for my wife’s first hand gun.

   Two things of concern:
   1 – recoil, as mentioned
   2 – “stopping power” of .380 ACP caliber

   Can anyone enlighten me? Thanks.

   • My family has two of these, one for the daughter and one for the wife. Neither one complains of any noticeable recoil. It is a tame round in a sturdy and controllable pistol.

     Stopping power? Two .380’s in the chest and you wouldn’t have to tell me to stop walking. A .45 in the shoulder and you might.

     Any pistol round that starts with a number bigger than, say, .32 fore the sake of argument, is more than enough to touch a vital organ or an artery. Bigger numbers make bigger holes, and more bleeding, if you miss something important. If you’re waiting on a baddie to bleed out you’ve likely got problems that bullets alone aren’t going to solve.

     • I own a P3AT and love it! Carry it everyday. Thinking about also getting this Taurus for my wife as well. As for the .380 stopping power dispute, I’d like to add my 2 cents. I have a full size 9mm that would be difficult at best to conceal carry let alone take it on my motorcycle etc. My little .380 goes everywhere I do and I don’t even know it is there. As for size of the round, my brother joked with me the day I showed him my Kel-Tec .380 about how small it was and that a .380 round could not drop an attacker. I asked him if I could test it on him to see if he was right. ….Silence.
       At the range, my groupings were far better than with his Tanfoglio 40 or his Shield 9mm. The point is that with practice, and I practice a lot, you can easily place a smaller caliber round just about dead on anywhere. Anyone who carries a small caliber pistol for self defense should be very comfortable with it and that simply comes with practice. To me, that is more valuable than boasting that you have a big caliber gun. Sure, that’s great, I have plenty of big caliber guns too…at home. But they cannot deter an attacker or save my wife’s life if they never leave the house.
       The .380 is a very useful and deadly round, just as a .22 caliber is. The only real complaint I have about it is that the price is more than my 9mm rounds and the local shops are always out of stock!

   • Addressing your concern about stopping power, I would agree that the .380 is a less efficient round than the combat calibers (9mm, .40 S&W, .45 ACP). Depending on the ammunition you go with, it may have trouble penetrating or expanding through clothing or other barriers.

     Still, the gun you bring is better than the gun you leave at home; putting a few holes in the cardiovascular system of a bad guy will cause them to rethink their actions, whether it’s a .380 or 9mm. They just might be slightly smaller and shallower holes.

     I’m of the opinion that a .380 is entirely appropriate when it’s not possible to conceal anything else, but if you can bring a slightly larger subcompact 9mm instead then you should do so. Generally you’re carrying a smaller .380 only because you’re wearing very light or tight clothing, in which case your potential attacker will likely also be wearing lighter clothing.

     In any case, regardless of caliber whatsoever, I believe the most important things are:
     a) Situational awareness (so you can avoid the situation or at least not be caught flat-footed)
     b) Reliable firearm and ammo (so it doesn’t go ‘click’ when you want it to go ‘bang’)
     c) Practice moving/drawing (so you don’t fumble, trip, drop the gun)
     d) Shot placement

     Caliber choice can make a difference, but it comes farther down the list. No handgun cartridge really has “stopping power”; generally of more importance is everything functioning correctly and the round ending up where you need it.

     If you do go with a .380, Hornady Critical Defense is my ammo of choice. The brand is very reliable and consistent, the bullet is well-designed, and the polymer inserts help prevent ‘clogging’, which is really important for the .380’s effectiveness.

     • @Some Other Guy and Lucubration –

       Thank you for the input, very informative.

       I guess the first question I should have asked was whether or not this item is available in Kalifornia. I wasn’t able to quickly determine that via the Taurus website.

       • No, it is not, unless through SSE, which is hardly worth the trouble. Go to the California Roster to find out quickly. http://certguns.doj.ca.gov/
         PT945 (if you can find–I’ve been told it’s out of production), PT92, PT 98 (full size 9 mms) and the PT 940, midsized .40, are our only pistol selections.

     • Old form but what a great response! To many people go into a tuff guy bigger bullet scenario…. Key words above were practice and shot placement!!!

   • dlj95118,

     The tiny .380 pistols definitely have some recoil simply because they are so light (around 10 ounces plus the weight of any ammunition in the magazine). The recoil is snappy but nothing like shooting a magnum gun or anything like that. In a true emergency, I don’t think your wife would notice the recoil at all. I hear many people say about these small .380 pistols that they are meant to be carried a lot and shot a little. I also have to wonder if your wife might perceive less recoil than men if her hands are smaller which would grip the gun more securely.

     As for “stopping power”, the .380 ACP is a little light, but so are just about all other handguns. Remember, an attacker can continue to function for at least 10 seconds after a perfect heart shot even with a larger caliber. What is most important is that your wife can produce a gun that goes bang if an attacker strikes. Very few attackers will stick around after a victims starts shooting back, regardless of what caliber handgun the victim has.

     In my opinion the simple way to compensate for the .380 ACP cartridge’s modest characteristics is to use hardcast lead bullets. Such bullets do not deform like hollow points. That means they penetrate much better — a serious concern for .380 ACP hollowpoint cartridges. And yet hardcast lead bullets make a permanent hole that is considerably larger than the bullet itself. For example the BuffaloBore 100 grain hardcast lead bullets should make something like a .45 caliber hole in an attacker at close range. One extra .45 caliber hole in an attacker’s center of mass is going to ruin his/her day. They will definitely need to go to a hospital if they want to survive. And that means they will be captured, even if they managed to inflict serious harm on your wife before going to the hospital.

     • “In my opinion the simple way to compensate for the .380 ACP cartridge’s modest characteristics is to use hardcast lead bullets. ”

       I go back and forth on this. Worrying that a .380 hollow point won’t penetrate sufficiently but knowing for sure that a .380 FMJ or hard cast bullet will grossly overpenetrate. Some people freak out about it, but I don’t mind carrying multiple loads in a single magazine. In a pocket .380, the last two rounds for me are usually FMJ. The one in the chamber and the first few (usually 4) rounds in the mag are HP.

       “I guess the first question I should have asked was whether or not this item is available in Kalifornia.”

       No. Not by normal means. There are ways to get around the Roster (a grandparent, parent, or child gifting a gun to you from out of state… doing a “single shot exemption”… buying it from somebody who already owns it in the state), but in terms of buying a handgun from a store, it must be on the approved Roster and there are only a couple .380’s of any sort on it. Search for yourself (you can search by caliber, by manufacturer, etc): http://certguns.doj.ca.gov/

   • Three things to have your wife try before you folks buy one:

     1) Can she rack the slide back to load it from the magazine? Lightweight .380s have a fairly stout spring in the slide, to help tame the recoil and feed reliably, so she will want to make sure she can get a firm grip on the slide and has enough hand strength to rack it easily.

     2) Can she get enough of her trigger finger on the DAO trigger to have sufficient leverage to pull it smoothly? Best would be if she can get the first “crease” in her trigger finger on the trigger, and not just the tip of that finger.

     3) Is she willing to practice with it enough to be good at the somewhat complex mechanical tasks of safely loading, reloading, unloading, and clearing jams? if not, she might want to look at a small-frame revolver. Simple to use, and the clearance drill for a jam is “pull the trigger again”.

     Just some thoughts – glad to see she is willing to take effective steps for personal safety.

     • “the clearance drill for a [revolver] jam is ‘pull the trigger again’.”

       No, that’s the drill for a misfire. The drill for a revolver “jam” is take it to a gunsmith.

       • I actually chuckled on that one. Agreed with everything you said pete, then frowned at the ‘jam’ while thinking ‘he means “misfire”. Mr. Hall however you have taken the cake with that. Indeed, the failure drill for a jammed revolver is either a NY reload, or seek a qualified repair professional.

   • http://youtu.be/-H9M6cZGd18

   • I agree with Idahopete
     Most mouse .380’s are a little snappy.
     My wife carries the Walther PK380. Which officialy is off topic because it’s not a “mouse” but is the same size as a Ruger SR22. BUT… because of the full grip and the weight is in the slide, the recoil is minimal.
     The PK is locked breach and does not need the stiff recoil spring of a blow back which makes it very easy to rack the slide. She could shoot it all day except for .380 ammo cost. The SR22 feels and shoot so similar, she does the functional drills with the SR and .22 bulk ammo . They make a good training pair as would the Wal P22.
     The PK380 is not in the same concealable category as the T738 but consider the shooter may be or become recoil averse.

   • These two videos are pretty impressive:
     .380 90gr Hornady Critical Defense 11+ inches
     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-H9M6cZGd18
     .380 90gr Federal Hydra-Shock 10+ inches
     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQ6PgHhNYg0

     Hope this gives some further insight into the modern .380 cartridge.

   • If by “first hand gun”, you mean “gun she will learn the basics of shooting with”, I’d suggest a bigger gun (not necessarily a bigger caliber, though – a .22 is a great learning tool). A micro pistol with a three-finger grip and tiny sights is not a great gun to learn the fundamentals of trigger control, aim, etc, on.

     If she already knows how to shoot and you mean “first gun she’ll own that will be all hers”, then ignore my previous paragraph and carry on…

     • All – thanks again for the input. It’s caused some thought of things I hadn’t considered before.

       @Stinkeye – your evaluation is correct, this is probably not the gun on which my wife is to learn; aside from the fact that it appears unavailable in Kalifornia. But I’ll heed your assessment about learning on a “micro pistol”.

       Regards.

     • You guys amuse me. Do you not realize that a .22 cal handgun is the weapon of choice for most assassins? I have a Kahr CW9 that will stop any attacker in his tracks , but I also have 6 .22 cal handguns that will also stop any attacker. With a 10 round mag, no one is going to get close to me if I’m carrying a .22. I am a Marine trained marksman. If you can shot a gun accurately, you can stop any attacker.
       If you can’t shoot with accuracy, you shouldn’t carry a gun.

       The other thing overlooked is the willingness to use it. And I mean shoot to kill. Wounding someone and hoping they run away is a fools delusion.

       • John, in my opinion you hit the nail completely on the head…”willingness to shoot to kill”. without that, everything else means naught.
         If a person is not willing to take another life to protect their own or family, all they will do is give an attacker another weapon…
         Go big or stay home.

       • That’s because they walk up behind them and shoot them in the head from 1-3 feet.

         Adrenaline and “fog of war” affect marksmanship. I wouldn’t trust my life to 6 rounds of .22 under stress.
         And the Corps trained me too.

   • This recoil is nothing a woman of decent strength cant handle .im 5’3″ and 108lbs and i have no problem maintaining a decent grip and keeping a nice target pattern . I will never own anything other than a Taurus. This little ruby jewel is perfect carry it all day every day.

   • She is “snappy”, but nothing an experienced shooter can’t handle. If you limp wrist your guns, you won’t like it. If you know how to grip and fire, there is no problem.

     It’s a small, light weight gun. But recoil will NOT surprise you. What will, is accuracy. There are few weapons in it’s class that do so well.

     I carry this gun without hesitation. If your worried about stopping power, think about this: gangbangers have been killing eachother with .380’s for 30 years. Trust me…they work.

   • “1 – recoil, as mentioned”
     Snappy, but the shape of the grip and trigger guard make it the best of the .380 Kel-Tec copies, IMNSHO. I hated my P-3AT because it stung my trigger finger every time I fired it.

     “2 – stopping power of .380 ACP caliber”
     It put Trayvon Martin where he belongs… Yeah, I said it. Deal.

     I’ve owned all of the small .380 ACPs, and the PT738 is my favorite. It’s also the best price and comes in stainless! It’s also abundant. You won’t have to look far and wide to find it. I have yet to step into a gun shop that doesn’t have at least one.

     100% reliable with everything I’ve fed it. from my weak and improperly re-sized reloads to factory P+ of any brand. I carry it every day.

     While I do have bigger “better” guns, this is the one I always take with me. Anything else I might carry is “in addition to.” When other guns annoy you, they do you no good because you leave them behind. Full of a few months of pocket lint, no lube, just pull it out and empty the magazine, no problem, every time…

     Taurus should encourage prospective buyers to peruse all of the other .380 pocket guns. This is the one experienced buyers will pick. Even the Bodyguard isn’t as nice in the fit and finish as the PT738. If my Mom wanted a .380 pocket gun, this is what I’d get for her. But, she already commandeered my Glock 32… Dammit…

     • @ Dustin Eward: I saw your comment farther down first, but I thought I’d mention again here that besides obviously being pretty crass, your statement about Trayvon being shot with a .380 is completely inaccurate. George Z was carrying a Kel-Tec PF9, which is only available in 9mm.

       I’m not suggesting I think the result would have been different. But using a 9×19 shooting as an example of .380 being effective is just completely and totally misguided.

   • It’s nothing to do with stopping power it’s all about bullet placement

   • i have one my wife does not like the recoil at all she will not shot it you do have to have a very tight grip to shoot it it will come out of you hand.

4. I have found rental ranges to be a great source of info. If a gun gets good review after being pounded by the public and haphazardly cared for by the range staff it’s a good bet that make will work well.

   • I thought that as well, until one range guy said gun X was reliable, and one said the same gun was not. Both worked at the same range. Incidentally, I think they were referring to a Ruger LCP .380. Since there are variations within guns just like variations within cars, I don’t deem anything reliable until I’ve tested it personably. I though TTAG standard reviews about reliability were only given after 200 rounds were fired through the sample piece. I also thought they had to include photos of actual targets shot with the tested gun.

     I enjoyed the review, and I’m not saying this to be a jerk, I just thought those were TTAG review standards because I was considering a few gun write ups. The process definitely takes time and energy to do a good write up – which is why I haven’t ever done a review. I definitely appreciate those who have.

     • My fault entirely. It is admittedly not a full, proper review.

       Due to the cost and availability of ammo, 100 rounds has been all I’ve had a chance to put through this thing. Hopefully the video gives some indication of accuracy — hitting that small steel plate consistently at 7 yards and fairly well at 12 yards. The truth is, the sights are so dang hard to see on the gun that I don’t think I could do it justice in a real accuracy test. It wouldn’t show the gun’s accuracy, it would just show my ability to align the sights. I don’t have a Ransom rest, and if you wanted to know how accurate the gun itself actually is, I think I’d need one. My confidence of hitting center mass on a zombie at up to 7 yards? About 100%. In a mouse gun, I think that’s sort of the accuracy litmus test. Kind of a pass/fail scenario 😉

       I have known the owner of the range & store in question for a long time and trust him on this completely — not to mention that I didn’t purchase the gun from there and didn’t even tell him I owned one before soliciting the feedback on their .380 experience. I’m not a normal “customer” to him, so he doesn’t have an agenda when speaking to me (not trying to sell, doesn’t sugar coat things, etc). He is not just an employee there and personally signs off on purchasing the rental guns (they have about 140 rental pistols, from STI’s to Glocks to you name it) and is certainly aware of any that require shipping for repairs or enter his gunsmith’s queue for repair in-house.

       So…. hope that helps a bit.

     • A81, a standard TTAG handgun review requires 500 rounds, and some of the reviewers will shoot more than that.

       Due to the ammo shortage, we’ve had to cut down a bit. Once DHS stops contracting for all the ammo in the world, you’ll see at least ten boxes of ammo expended for each test.

5. As an owner of a TCP and former owner of an LCP and a kel-tec I can attest the TCP is the winner hands down. I’ve been carrying mine for 2 years now in a wallet holster and it digests everything I feed it including +p rounds that I’ve seen other .380 guns be finicky about. Good review!!

6. Love my PT-709. Love the direction Taurus seems to be going these days. Just sayin.

   • Agreed. I currently own 4 Taurus pistols and they are all 100% reliable. I wil continue to look at them when the budget allows. Anyone know if they make a .22 plinker? And not that single shot thing, but something like a Walther or Sig Mosquito?

7. Cant be any worse than my buddies Diamondback. Spring is stiff as hell and ball ammo gets stuck on the feed ramp. BALL AMMO! We’ve put 100-200 rnds through it and he’s sending it back. Its crap.

   SOOOOO….. Definitely going to look at this one for my wife (and me).

8. Have one in yellow (it makes me happy). Amazingly comfortable and concealable slipping into cargo pant pocket or inside sport jacket inner pocket. Planning on getting a Crimson Trace laser, just in case…those sights are very minimal, and my eyes aren’t what they used to be. I’m not a ‘carry guy’, but this, I could get used to.

9. Isn’t the Taurus .380 what the old guy in the cybercafe in Florida used to shoot those 2 wayward yutes with and end the robbery?

   • Yes

   • Yes. Yes it was.

     http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2012/07/daniel-zimmerman/defensive-gun-use-of-the-day-cyberspace-edition/

     • Dan, I just re watched the video. Not only was he carrying a mouse gun, gasp, but it almost looks as if he had to chamber a round before he opened that can of whoop ass.

   • I believe you are indeed correct sir.

   • What is a “yute”?

     • That’s Jersey-speak for “youths” LOL! From “My Cousin Vinny” with Joe Pesci

       • Max, you been played. Judge Haller is the name of the character in the movie”My Cousin Vinnie” that has the exchange with Joe Pesci about the “yutes”.

     • Well played, Judge! Well played indeed.

       • Well played indeed! My hat is off to you sir!

10. Ive been carrying one daily for a year and a half or two years now in my front pocket. Holstered of course.
    Tried the LCP but the TCP just felt better in my hand.
    Have maybe 2,000 rounds though it without a catch.
    Gets mighty filthy in my pocket and even packed with lint and crap around the hammer it still goes bang every time.

11. There was a time when Taurus’ guns were good and so was their service. Then, quality declined a bit and the service went straight to hell, which made the quality issue seem worse that it actually was. It’s good to see Taurus in the market with quality. I just hope that the company also has a strong commitment to service. If it does, then Taurus will be a winner.

    • Their reputation right now seems to be that they’ll take care of you but you have to send it in twice for them to get it right. I guess that’s OK as long as you have other carry firearms.

    • I made the mistake of buying a 740 slim Taurus this year. It couldn’t hit anything. 13 weeks of waiting for a part I finally raised enough hell to get another sent to me and had to go through the paperwork again. During the 13 week wait I experienced customer service worse than anywhere else from some of the reps at Taurus. Lies, excuses, bs etc. The replacement had issues as well. It was my first and last (two) Taurus’s

12. The 738FS (not TCP) is even cheaper, less than 2 Benjamins, I understand. The reason I chose an LCP is because of the reset issue on TCPs where if you didn’t let the trigger all the way out after a shot, the pistol wouldn’t fire without re-racking the slide. I suppose this is more of a training issue, and I have no idea if its a problem in the current crop of TCPs.

    • It’s an issue with the LCP as well, I believe it’s part of the design with these micro 380s iirc.

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6294bsIjaQ&t=06m36s

13. I’ve owned every pocket .380 available and I’ll add that the Taurus TCP has been the most absolutely reliable model I have yet owned and the price is great. I’ve had 2 TCPs. My wife took one, a police buddy purchased my last one off of me. Each of them have been boringly reliable. Best deal in 380s on the market right now.

14. Thank you for a great write up, I’ll link to this whenever discussing my own Taurus 738TCP .380. I’ve CC’ed with it since Nov 11 when Sconi’ decide to allow us to conceal carry and I have no complaints. I can carry it many different ways and it is always comfortable and easy on the body. Being a little guy, having much bigger a handgun is a hassle to carry.

    It also shoots great, takes the dirt and grime from my job like a champ and hasn’t had a problem since owning it.

15. funny, because I had the opposite experience with my TCP. it broke on me needing repairs not once but twice. And my total round count was for sure under 100.

16. Thanks for the review.

    I was looking for a micro .380 last summer, and wanted to get a TCP. Alas, my FFL couldn’t find one, so I ended up with an LCP, which I am reasonably happy with.

    Is the chamber wall on the TCP as thin as it is on the LCP?

    • If you measure yours I’ll measure mine 😉 …the barrel, for sure, is quite thin. Looks odd to me but I haven’t owned a tiny .380 before, and it isn’t a high pressure cartridge obviously.

      • “If you measure yours I’ll measure mine 😉 …the barrel, for sure, is quite thin.”

        Fair enough. My LCP chamber measures out to .036 at it thinnest, just over the feed ramp on one side. Slightly more on the other side of the feed ramp.

        • Hey sorry this took so incredibly long to do, “lee n. field”! (btw I have a .303 Brit Lee Enfield that my grandfather got or for some reason was issued in WWII)

          Interestingly enough, I got exactly 0.036″ on the chamber wall at the ‘bottom right’ just over the top right corner of the feed ramp. The wall is thicker near the top left of the feed ramp. Interesting that it appears to spec out exactly the same as your LCP!

17. Meh, .380 is a little better than throwing a rock. A little.

    • Tell that to Trayvon Martin…

      • Um… not that it was an appropriate comment even deserving of any sort of response, but TM was shot with a 9mm (GZ was carrying a Kel-Tec PF9). So… your statement is just totally irrelevant on any level.

    • Accuracy over caliber. I would prefer an accurate 22 over an inaccurate 40 or 45 any day. As a marine and my added on training with weapons through the military i have a firm belief that the power of a weapon is not as good as accuracy. Any bullet has killing power in the hands of someone who can aim well and is willing to kill so if this weapon is accurate and reliable it is worth the money of purchase and upkeep.

    • Only if you can’t shoot straight.

18. I agree with Nutnfancy – The .380 sucks.

19. I can actually confirm the reliability of this gun. My lgs has one on their rental counter as well, and just like the store you mentioned, it has never had an issue. It goes out for rental a few times a day, and keeps going. The employees of the store were shocked. Then they started recomending them to customers.

20. What’s that famous military or combat saying…”all personal defense cals. should start with a 4.” Just saying..

    • Given that most militaries of the world use 9mm in their handguns, it’s probably not all that famous.

    • That is the dumbest thing i have ever heard. One in the marines we use the Beretta M9 its a PoS due to reliability and accuracy but most members i cant speak for all but a vast majority would prefer 380 and 9mm. Both calibers can be small light and out of the way, which is very necessary in both combat situations and every day carry. Accuracy is key we would rather have 3 shots of 380 hit a target where we aim than 1 shot of a 45 hit a target even a quarter of an inch off of where you aim.

21. BEWARE!

    despite this review somehow being positive, I have my own review having owned this gun. first and foremost, this gun was terribly unreliable. it only fed the most expensive ammo I tested and even then had a 90% feed rate. in the worst case, it locked itself closed. not simple range fix and sure as hell not a adrenaline dump fix. I WOULD NOT TRUST MY LIFE WITH THIS GUN.

    second of all, it’s hilariously inaccurate. I’m no competition shooter, yet I’m considered the most accurate in my circle. I’d feel lucky to even land half my slow focused shots on the target in a controlled environment.

    last of all, some of you seemed to think this would be a good gun for your wife. if you hate that dirty bitch, by all means.. but if you adore that lovely women, get her something that won’t break her wrist. the recoil is absurd. this coming from a 6′ 220lb guy who carries a Glock 20. I’m willing to bet that wife of yours wouldn’t take any interest in training with this gun even if it did manage to feed the target ammo.

    be rational.. go with the LCP, or hell, even the KelTec .380. and if you want a small, inaccurate, low capacity gun that’s easy to conceal, why not go with a reliable-as-a-hammer snub nose wheel gun?

    • As someone who had a catastrophic failure on the range with a Kel Tec P3AT, I would NOT trust my life to that particular model, nor would I even own anything in that caliber unless it were just for plinking.

      • agreed. reliability is top priority. comfort and concealability are last on my list of priorities.

    • >> and if you want a small, inaccurate, low capacity gun that’s easy to conceal, why not go with a reliable-as-a-hammer snub nose wheel gun?

      Revolvers are nowhere near as flat – the typical width of a pocket snubby is in the ballpark of 1.2″, whereas this gun is 0.85″, and you can get ones as thin as 0.75″. This directly translates to how comfortable it is to pocket carry.

    • It is true that just because you are big does not mean that you are strong. Try using one of those cheap hand exerciser with a spring on it. I had hand surgery 6mos ago and that really helped. I can handle my TCP easily and so can my 110 pound wife. A large,22 might also be something to try.

    • You were apparently shooting a different gun that the rest of us. My TCP is plenty accurate for its purpose. I can dump 7 rounds into a 6″ circle at 7 yards as fast as I can pull the trigger. Bad recoil? Are you serious? It’s not bad at all, and it’s no different from the LCP, and I can’t imagine the Kel-Tec .380 being any different.

      I know three people who own the TCP, including myself. For two of us, the gun has performed flawlessly as long as we’re not using steel-cased Russian crap ammo. I easily have over 500 rounds through mine, and my buddy has nearly 800. The third one was defective from the factory (the hammer didn’t drop, so the gun wouldn’t fire at all), but it was replaced promptly by Taurus. I don’t know how many rounds the replacement gun has seen, but I’ve not heard reports of any failures.

22. The only thing I wish my LCP had was a last round hold open like the TCP.

    My LCP has had a perfect track record *except for one failure to feed with cheap aguila JHP. A slight tap on the slide sent it home*

23. I have found this review to be extremely helpful. Thanks! I don’t normally trust any Taurus, but from what I have been reading here and in various gun forums, the people in charge seem to have been making positive changes of late. I have only had experience in this caliber with a Ruger and this review has made me seriously consider broadening my horizons.
    On a different track, I have been EXTREMELY happy with DRT frangible ammo. Very little recoil and scary terminal effects. Youtube is your friend…

24. I own the two tone TCP, which I purchased about 3 years ago. The recoil is a little stout, but most experienced shooters should not be bothered by this. The gun is not designed for bullseye competition shooting, but rather for situation at “bad breath” distances, where it does and adequate job.

    My one gripe with this gun is that I keep accidentally hitting the mag release button with my palm when I am shooting. This causes the magazine to drop just enough to make the gun go out of battery and lock up. This also happed once while holstered in my IWB holster. I removed the gun from its holster and I noticed the mag had dropped just a little. This kind of scares me a little because God forbid I ever have to draw for a defensive situation and my magazine is out of place, I don’t know if I’ll have the presence of mind or the time to correct the problem.

    Perhaps this is a training issue or it might be a design flaw, but I’m not sure that I fully trust it for carry.

25. the Kel-Tec is the oldest model of its kind, so its logical to expect the most number of reported reliability issues.

    issues aside, I’ve heard nothing but good things about the TCP. You can’t beat the price and it works great from the past 2 years I’ve been reading up on it.

    I own a good P3AT, but the slide lock is something I’ve always been a bit envious about. Triggers are similar, but noticeably “different” from the LCP.

    Any S&W Bodyguard owners out there who could chime in? Thanks.

26. (it’s always fascinating to read the opinions, especially the very strong ones.)

    It’s a bit late, but I’ll chime in as I’ve had the three most popular .380 carry guns… in descending price order, oddly enough. Started with the Sig P238, then got the LCP… and now I’m on to the TCP.

    The Sig was friggin’ beautiful and clearly the best made. Mine was a later model and I had no surprises or glitches in 1500 or so rounds. It was comfortable, accurate, and actually fun to shoot. My only complaint was that it was pretty heavy, and after a while it was hard to justify $650 for a 6-shot .380.

    At less than half the price of the Sig, the DAO Ruger LCP was a no-brainer. Simple, tough, noticeably lighter and easier to carry, but not nearly as fun to shoot. A cheap Pachmayr grip pad helped the comfort factor tremendously, though the trigger always felt gritty. But it worked well… 1000 rounds and zero surprises. Did what it was supposed to do without question. They’re wildly popular for a reason, and that shouldn’t be taken lightly.

    But then I made the mistake of renting a TCP. I wanted to compare the LCP to what I assumed would be the cheapest of the cheap. Size and weight differences were negligible. Surprisingly, QC seemed about the same on both (which is to say not Sig level, but acceptable for the price). Then I shot it.

    First I noticed the magazine smoothly engaged with a precise “click”, rather than the rattly “clunk” of the LCP. The trigger pull was slightly longer, but was butter-smooth all the way through. The grip lacked the annoying bite of the stock LCP, and was slightly longer, aiding in control. Those all combined to make the TCP noticeably more accurate out of the gate. I began seeing my LCP in a different light… and as the last round was fired, the slide lock engaged on the TCP. I had missed that.

    It was a tough call… both guns ate about 200 rounds that day, but the TCP was on my mind from then on.

    The range attendant said they’d had the TCP for a few months and it’s had a lot of interest and use – so far no issues to speak of. The internet reports mirrored those of the expensive and vaunted Sig – early ones needed work, but eventually they got it right.

    Then I found out it was $50 less and included a second magazine as well.

    … well, 500 rounds into my new TCP and no surprises.

    The Sig’s a great gun. The Ruger’s a great gun. Turns out the Taurus is a great gun, too. After a lot of time with all of them, I’ve stayed with the Taurus.

27. Alternative holster idea!

    http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2113693754/speakeasy-briefs-underwear-with-a-secret

    🙂

    • That gives new meaning to the old Mae West line “Is that a pistol in your pocket, or are you just glad to see me?”

28. I overpaid for my TCP. I spent $300 + tax about 2 years ago. I DO NOT REGRET IT!

    Before I stuck it into my pocket with a DeSantis G3 holster, I shot 200+ . ThIs is one of the most reliable guns I own. I bet my life on it!

    There is no external safety. There is no mag disconnect. It has a 1″ trigger, about 3.5#. Stainless bbl and ejector, 160° breach. You couldn’t find a better pocket gun, that hits hard.

    She is UBER accurate, with a bit of a kick. Forget the pinky well and short sight plain.
    Its NOT gun fighting tool. It’s the kind of gun you stick in a bad guys face and shoot. If he moves 20′ away…you can still hit dead nutz!

    I am a well dressed man, with a gun for every occasion. I can carry a lot, but only a few get serious pocket time. The TCP 738 is near the top.

29. It seems as if it is a good gun in its category, thanks for the review.
    If you’ve read all the comments to this point this will make sense:
    Training new shooters on a mouse gun is ill advised.
    Any shooter who isn’t going to put in the time to really learn the manual of arms until it becomes automatic should probably be offered a revolver.
    A .45 in the gut beats a .380 in the chest.
    Anything with sufficient penetration (.380 included) is deadly with sufficient accuracy.

30. Just purchased 738 TCP and love it. Having problems finding spare magazines for it. Can any one help with that.

    • Yea…mags?! I bought a few before the Sandy Hook buying spree. I found mine on either CTD or Brownells…can’t remember. Probably because I recovering from the cost. Those little buggers were about $35 ea.

      • Hmmm… my local range has always seemed to have the factory mags in stock at about $24. Even last spring when things were still a bit crazy. They were all over gunbroker at ~$24 a couple months ago, but right now I only see two. Interesting. I’m sure they’ll become more available again soon… Taurus can pump ’em out.

        • I just bought 3 Taurus TCP 6 rd factory mags at http://www.macesports.com. They were $21 a piece. This store in on I-85 in Mebane, NC, but they have good service, so I wouldn’t hesitate to call them. Their website isn’t much, but they have alot of stuff in store.

31. Glad to know I bought s good weapon in the Taurus !

32. I purchased this gun Labor Day weekend and I love it. I am normally a revolver only woman and I normally only conceal North American mini revolvers because as a woman I find it harder to conceal most guns in a readily available spot. I bought a very cheap pocket holster for it. I was visiting four different family members today that all knew I had purchased it. I had on jeans and a clingy tshirt with it in the front pocket of my jeans. None of them were able to tell where I was carrying at. Also, I usually don’t have enough hand strength to slide a automatic but it is smooth as butter. It was very accurate at 21 feet. My first carry gun was a S&W body guard .38 special. I soon discovered it wasn’t very accurate or concealable for me. Very pleased with this purchase. I find the recoil very manageable. I am a big fan of Taurus customer service. I bought a revolver at a pawn shop and it turned out to have some damage. They repaired everything without question. This makes my fourth Taurus and I am pleased with all of them. Would definitely buy again.

33. PLEASE READ,

    I bought this gun out of impulse. I was looking for a Kel-Tec P3AT. Recently moved to Indiana where buying a gun is so much easier than in Massachusetts. After searching for the Kel-Tec I found that it was not within my very small budget and without reading reviews I bought the Taurus PT 738 TCP .380 acp.

    After my purchase (which I never recommend. Always do your research first) I decided to look up reviews. To my luck (I’m never this lucky) I read some excellent reviews. I was excited for this new purchase and then….. I came across some not so good ones. In fact, some people even trashed the gun.

    Some quick background. I have never owned a gun. Prior to holding my new gun I probably held a gun twice in my life and never had fired one. When I got my Taurus it was the first time I had fired it. In comparison to shooting and the ergonomics to other manufacturers I cannot say. What I can say is that I have already put nearly 250 rounds to this baby and boy has it lived up to all the good reviews. All the bad reviews that people have put up basically has to do with a lack of reading the owner’s manual, bad posture and gripping (limp wristing) and basic research which as an amateur gun owner I can at least say I appreciate the fact that the responsibility that comes with a gun should encourage anyone to research everything and anything about what you are holding in your hand for your protection and your families.

    I haven’t had this gun jam, break, not shoot, back fire or any other speculation because I read exactly how to prevent such things. This is an excellent gun. I would recommend it to my friends and family. In my book even though I haven’t tried the other conceal carry guns I will stick to this one until my budget allows for something bigger and badder. But for now I love my compact .380 Taurus.

    What to expect from this gun…

    The recoil is pretty stout. For a beginner like me you must grip it firmly. If you don’t it will cause the slide to lock back before you run out of bullets. In which case you just release the slide and work on your gripping. Trust me if I didn’t have that present every time I shoot it would happen more often which leads me to…

    For noobs like… the trigger pull is roughly 4 lbs. Which is not hard at all. However, you will have to pull that trigger all the way back before it goes pop. So you may flinch when it does. And you may flinch before it does and make you shoot off target because you are expecting it before it actually goes off. Its ok and normal. Work on it.

    Also… I haven’t tried them. Some people say they have used them and it works just fine but there is plenty of ammo out there at least for target practice that you don’t have to worry about finding some. What I’m talking about is using full metal jacket (fmj) ammo. Hollow points according to some users will get jammed and its basically standard for any micro compact .380 pistol. It is the best bet for self defense so I do recommend trying your defense ammo.

    In my opinion there are plenty of people who will argue that a bullet has to expand for protection etc etc. but coming from Massachusetts where guns are hard to come by and your life is put in danger by someone weilding a knife (knives don’t expand upon impact or penetration) as someone who hasn’t been convinced by gun nuts (don’t mean that offensively. I’m slowly becoming one) any bullet that makes a loud noise draws attention and psychologically scares people and hurts.

    Hope this helped someone make a decision. Please let me know if it did. 🙂

    • Thanks, Samuel. That’s a great post. You’re right that small guns like this are harder to shoot properly and are much harder for new shooters to figure out. It sounds like you’re doing great with it, though. Same for the long trigger, just like you said. Anticipating recoil is always an issue and almost everybody that I see shoot a gun with a long trigger pull shoots it low until they figure it out (due to pushing forwards to compensate for recoil before it has happened). If I could change anything, I would probably make the trigger even heavier on the TCP — I think it’s just a touch light for a self defense gun with no safety. Definitely make sure it’s always carried in a holster that covers the trigger guard.

      As for ammo, it seems like most TCP’s will run anything on the market, including any brand of hollow points, without issue. I have heard reports that some don’t like certain hollow points but that the owners fixed this by polishing the feed ramp and chamber (dremel with polishing buffer and some polishing compound… takes like 2 minutes). Overall, it seems to be one of the least ammo-sensitive pocket guns on the market, where the norm is that a gun will only run reliably with a handful of ammo types. Kahr, Kel-Tec, Kimber Solo, and many many others are known to be picky about ammo choice, and most of these will benefit from chamber polishing as well but still not end up as reliable.

      At any rate, there’s no gun that isn’t trashed in some reviews or internet posts. People are very sensitive about brands and brand loyalties and about their choices when it comes to guns. They are large investments and nobody who spent $550 on one gun wants to hear that another gun, especially in the same price range, is as good or better. So the combo of people being a bit defensive about that and then also just ‘the internet’ in general brings out kooks who talk crap but have no actual experience or idea of what they’re saying. It’s possible that early versions of the TCP weren’t as good — that’s often the case. For instance, the Beretta Nano is a GREAT gun, but early versions didn’t reliably cycle low power target/plinking ammo. The Remington 597 rifle has been around forever, but recently had some upgrades, including to the magazines, and is more reliable than it used to be — but you’ll still see people trash the gun because of their experience with one from 30 years ago. I don’t know anything about the TCP’s history at all in this regard… just saying something along these lines is possible and could account for early negative reviews that no longer really apply.

      Jeremy

34. Wife has the carbon look Taurus in .380. It has proved a much nicer firearm than her Ruger .380 and all who get to try both agree. The Ruger has the worst trigger of any handgun we own. As nice as the Taurus .380 is, we both prefer our Taurus PLYs in .22lr as daily carry; super convenient, cheap to shoot and, in our belief, with sufficient punch for close up use. All the debate over caliber aside, we have great respect for the proven capacity of the .22. We keep Glocks in 9mm close at hand along with a variety of other makes. Over time, however, we have become more enthused with our range of firearms by Taurus. Price, reliability, user friendliness and fit convince us Taurus has come a long way.

35. I have several semi-auto pistols, including a pair of Sig P226s in 9mm and .40 caliber, a S&W M&P 40C and and S&W Shield in 9mm. I really love both platforms. Following this pattern, my first .380 mouse gun was a S&W Bodyguard 380. It was a handy size, and utterly horrible to shoot. It had the absolute worst trigger I’d ever felt. In a strange twist of fate, it was stolen from my car one night. (Long story.) To replace it, I looked hard at the Ruger LCP, but ended up buying the Taurus TCP instead, mainly because the slide locked open after the last round. I’ve been VERY happy with my decision. It’s a dream to carry when I’m wearing light clothes. (My other carry weapon is the Shield 9mm, but the TCP is easier to conceal.) I’ve run over 1,000 rounds though the TCP, and so far the only thing it didn’t want to eat was Tulammo steel cased junk ammo. No big loss there. As noted in the review, it’s surprisingly accurate (due largely to the smooth trigger, I’m thinking) and has been very reliable as long as I’m not feeding it crappy Russian ammo. If I were to somehow lose the TCP, I’d be buying another to replace it in a heartbeat.

36. I like the video presentation. Jeremy could you email on which of the .380’s was the one with all the malfunctions that the range quit using. I might own it? And, I wouldn’t want to be in a situation where my life depended on it.

    • Sorry I never responded. Apparently I haven’t looked at this post for almost a year now! Most other micro .380 pistols weren’t holding up to high round counts in the rental counter. Until a design change, the LCP was known for breaking slide lock pins. The Bodyguard was / is known for breaking trigger return springs. Many owners never notice because these mouse guns don’t usually get shot very much. But, in a range rental case, some of these issues would happen every ~300 rounds… which gets annoying. And obviously it stops the gun as well. I don’t know how many takedown pins and trigger return springs were swapped in this models, but it was dozens. They aren’t the only ones, either. The TCPs were rare exceptions that just kept going and going for them. I haven’t checked in on this for over a year though either, so next time I’m down there I’ll see how things are going these days and ask about their Glock 42 rentals, etc.

37. I need a trigger bar and a sear for my 738. Can you supply? It is a great gun!

38. Thanks for the review of the PT738…haven’t taken mine to the range yet, but will look forward to it.

39. I think if .380 were actually cheaper or at least the same price as 9mm I’d probably buy the TCP. Right now they are $199 at my LGS. I don’t know, may buy one anyway. I carry a PT145 most of the time or a 9mm. The TCP could be a nice back up gun considering it’s so light and tiny.

40. Whats the accuracy at ranges 25-50 yds 10 to 24 yds and 0-9 yds? How fast can you get a accurate follow-on shot with the TCP? I look forward to buying this weapon if its accurate enough haha

    • The gun is mechanically accurate but the sights really aren’t sufficient for repeatable precision at 25+ yards. It’s very easy to shoot rapidly and accurately at 10 yards and under. It has some kick due to how light it is, but it’s softer shooting than most of the other teeny .380’s I’ve shot and it is not difficult to keep on target. Easier to follow the front sight if you paint it white or otherwise help it stand out a bit.

      • JEremy is right. It’s a pocket pistol designed for close range self-defense. It does what it’s designed for very well. It’s not a target (or hunting) pistol. I shoot close quarter drills with mine often, and can consistently hit center mass 10 to 15 yards away…and I don’t really use the sights at all.

41. I was very disappointed after I purchased a 738
    The FTE and FTF are very common.The first test at the range . The FTE was so bad, that the guys (Pros) at the range had to take it in the back room to get it freed up.Then the slide got stuck or jammed partially back.
    I am now finding out that the gun needs several hundred rounds to break in.
    Plus it may need other modifications to shoot reliably.

    Over all I would pass on this gun, I guess you get what you pay for and a $200.00 gun just isn’t worth the time and effort to make it reliable.
    I will try to make the gun work, but I am very disappointed that it will take this much work. At the end of the day if it continues to FTE or FTF after the 100 rounds and the custom work and what not, I will just have to sell it

    • Mine definitely ran like a clock right out of the box. Don’t pay for custom work! Taurus will fix anything wrong under warranty, usually within 3 weeks total turnaround time, and should even pay for shipping both ways.

      From all of the feedback I have received from gunsmiths, dealers, and end users it seems like there is a small percentage of TCPs that are picky on ammo — almost always feeding issues with certain brands or types of ammo. In 99% of these cases, light polishing of the feed ramp and chamber fixed it completely. That would mean a dremel-type thing with a polishing buffer and light polishing compound and just buffing those areas until mirror shiny. The other 1% of the few guns that seem to be picky on feeding went back to Taurus. Most were fixed and some appeared to be total lemons. The vast, vast majority of TCPs seem to be like mine and just run and run right out of the box. Not that polishing up the feed ramp and chamber aren’t solid ideas on basically any pistol and it’s a good first step that you can do yourself if you’re having minor feeding (and sometimes extraction) hangups.

42. I recently purchased my tcp and today was the first time to the range I was not impressed with it the recoil is not bad fits In my hands well being 6.2 and 270 but the FTF rate was rediculous it had 1 every 6 rounds and a few times 2 in the same magazine granted it was the first 50 rounds through the gun to me it will be hard for me to justify depending my life on it

43. Was shooting 3″ grouping right out of the box at 9′. Two handed grip. One handed grip. It didn’t matter. I even show a 5″ or less grouping at 21′ with it. Easy to shoot with less snap than you might think from a gun this size and this light. Fits great in my pocket. Would HIGHLY recommend this gun if pocket carry is for you!

    • Wanted to add on to my previous comment. I read a lot of older comments and there sure seems to be some mis information about .380 rounds. .380 and 9mm are the same size rounds and make the same size holes. One tavels a little faster and can go a little deeper. That’s pretty much the difference between the two. If you stand them on end the 9 is longer but it is no bigger around than the .380. It’s real name is 9mm kurz, or 9mm short. Kurz means short in German.

44. My husband purchased this gun for me for our anniversary. I have to say that I love it!! I’m pretty tiny, only 4’10 and the recoil on this gun is much better than my husbands Ruger LCP. The LCP feels much more violent in my hand than my Taurus and I feel more comfortable shooting it than the LCP. Just my preference but I saw a comment about this gun “hurting a woman’s wrist” and for me that’s incorrect!

45. I had my daughter buy one of these as I wanted to teach her to shoot. In retrospect I wish I had recommended another gun. After spending an afternoon getting hit in the head with hot brass she now refuses to use the gun. Also, you may have noticed the polymer cap on the magazine spring. Well that melted and deformed. No, we were not using ‘hot’ reloads. we were using Speer Gold Dot .380 ACP 90 grain rounds. Has this happened to anyone else or did we just get a lemon?

    • I have never heard of that happening with any pistol. The follower and most definitely baseplate are really not subjected to much or any heat at all.

      Typically small, light pistols are actually not good choices for smaller / weaker folks. They recoil much harder. A steel-frame .380 like a Bersa would be a better choice, and then there are even larger guns chambered in .380 from makers like Walther (PK380) that are excellent. But a full-size 9mm is going to be easier to shoot, assuming the grip diameter isn’t too big (Ruger SR9 is a great choice), than a sub-compact .380 in almost all cases.

      • Jeremy,
        Thanks for the input. We’re still working on finding the ‘proper fit’ for my daughter.

46. This is a great little gun. I used to be a caliber snob, and refused to carry anything under 9×19. Then I did some ballistic research on the newer .380 rounds. It really is an effective round. I’ve tried the P-3AT, S&W Bodyguard .380, Ruger LCP, and the Taurus 738 TCP. The Taurus was hands-down the best of the bunch. The S&W is a good gun, but the Taurus trigger is much better. A light, smooth trigger leads to much better accuracy. My TCP eats any ammo you can put in it without a hiccup. I have never had a single mechanical issue with this gun. I load with Hornady Critical Defense 90 gr, and do not feel underpowered. The comfort and concealability of this gun is great. I rarely carry my larger guns any more.

47. I have really struggled with the decision on a pocket gun. There is just no gun that fits the pocket in the 9mm and over category. I feel the loaded gun has to be less than 16oz to be comfortable in the pocket. I have carried my s&w 360 but dimensionally it is too big and the recoil is a bear. Just got one of these used for a great deal. I had a keltec P3AT and it did ok but hated the fact of no slide lock for cleaning and inspection. I did the famous fluff and buff and it was very reliable until one day it broke the firing pin. That bothered me and I traded it to a friend after replacing the FP. I have been pleased with the TCP so far and it has been 100% reliable and pretty accurate. It also handles recoil so much better than most 380s and the trigger if very nice.

48. I actually own three of these. Yes, three. Two in .380, one in .32 (It was on sale last x-mas for $159, couldn’t help myself). I’m always adding small, pocket pistols because they are simply so comfortable to carry and adequate to stop most threats.

    I also own a Bersa Thunder (nice but, bigger than some pocket 9’s), a Kel-Tec PF9 which is actually very, very good, a Smith 442 which I would rather have root canal surgery than shoot this thing, a hi-power, SR9, Glock 17 Gen 1, Sigma 9 and 40, SD 9, Springfield .45 defender model (good but, what a brick to lug around), Taurus PT-111 but, chunky,….and what do I carry most???

    The Taurus 738. I polished it up a bit to make the slide and barrel buttery smooth in action. This little pocket rocket is most all folks would need. It surpasses the other .380’s for the following reasons:

    Cost. $199 on sale in blue, add $70 or so for stainless, I have both
    Mags: Extras are $20 and are very good and well made
    Slim: Natural Pointer. Just fits the break in your hands/fingers/joints perfectly
    Trigger: Best out of all of them to include the Sig and Pico
    Sights. Useable. Better if you paint them (orange front, white semi-circle rear)
    Grip length: From backstrap to front, long enough to hold, Ruger fails here
    Slide Lock: Locks to rear after last shot, most don’t
    Guide rod: Dual-Spring arrangement. Nice.
    Maintenance: Easy but, so are most others

    if you take an honest, no BS assessment on .380’s at 15 yards, or less, this is the best value out there, hands down. Taurus nailed it on this one. I know some just hate Taurus but, you should really, really, really try one of these. It goes in my pocket as easily as it gets. You don’t even know you have it with you. I strongly suggest a pocket holster to keep it from turning upside down and printing.

    This is a great pistol for anyone that wants something small, slimmmmmmmm, reliable, with adequate power with the RIGHT ammo. The trigger is fantastic the whoooooooole way through. Slide serrations are adequate. The recoil is not felt nearly as much as the Bersa. I don’t know why, it just is and the Bersa weighs almost twice as much. It doesn’t make sense. And I like my Bersa.

    This has much, much less recoil than most pocket 9’s and way less than the Kel-Tec PF9 (that rivals a .38 snubbie) which is great for those that are sensitive to recoil. It matters. Its small enough to make sure no one can easily rip it from your grasp. The trigger guard is large enough to allow a gloved (thin) finger manage the trigger (great for you winter folks).

    All for $199. And I’ve seen it as low as $179 on x-mas sale days. Pick one up. You won’t be disappointed and if you are like me, will find yourself wearing it more than you think as time goes by. Anything smaller than this is a North American mini-revolver which borders stupid to operate and less effective to shoot with a relatively unsafe trigger.

    Buy one. You won’t regret it.

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50. $100 less than the LCP made in America, looks like I might have to grab one.

51. CDNN Sports – $189 until Monday

52. Have not seen this in the comments but might have missed it. Can you tell me what the difference in the 738 FS TCP and just the 738 TCP??

53. I own 3 Taurus products as my primary CC firearms depending on attire. All 3 have been flawless in function. One point I want to stress is Taurus’s prices. They are great because every component is made in house by them! No outside vendors to pay. That is the main reason their price point is so competitive. More gun for your hard earned dollars. My Taurus 1911 was $400 less then a comparable boutique brand and has more features! Good shooting! M

54. i just bought one of the Taurus’ on line but haven’t seen it yet. how do you tell the series A from the B series or the C series? thank you

55. This is probably the most underrated pistol in the market. I own 3. Yes, 3. Why? Because I got a great deal on the stainless in 2010 (first one) for $239, paid $189 for the blue and $179 for the 732….couldn’t resist. I carry it in my shorts in all the hot weather and days. It’s reliable, accurate enough, and locks to the rear when empty.

    Sliimmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm design that just hides and hardly prints in your pocket.

    Smoooooooooth and CONSISTENT trigger pull……

    Sights? Suck on all these are only slightly better and definitely better than the LCP

    Smooth feed ramp and I polished it ever so slightly more to make it perfect.

    Just keep them CLEAN and LUBED (I use a light grease on the rails and barrel) and it will function beautifully. I also added a Pearce pinkie extension but, my finger usually straddles it underneath…still better than the flat plat. Pico does the same thing and looks similar at that point.

    The grip is “long” enough front to rear and more than the LCP so it’s much easier to hold.

    For less than $200 (they sell the blued version around here all the time for $179 with one mag) you just can’t beat this for deep concealment, adequate firepower and if need be, an extra mag for $20 plus S&H.

    Get one, break it in, keep it cleaned and lubed and you tell me how much you carry it (all the time as you don’t even know you have it).

    • Three….wow.
      I bought one, loved it and got a second one. But three. THATS love 😀

56. Not that I have any commercial links to either company, but I have recently started using Liberty ammunition in my 738 with outstanding results. No issues at all with a 200 round practise session, and on various types of targets, the hitting power should dispel any qualms about being ‘under gunned’ . Sure, my VP9 is a marvelous weapon when the weather allows it as my principal carry weapon, but the 738, regularly cleaned and PRACTISED with is a very lethal weapon. Shot placement and modern cartridges are the key.

    • I have some Liberty in .40 but have heard debate as to their real world effectiveness. Hadn’t thought about using them in my 738, but the idea intrigues me. I was considering getting Buffalo Bore +P but then read that Taurus does not approve use of +p in the 738. By the way, I found Hogue grips to be an excellent addition to make it easier to stay on target.

57. Great review on one of my favorite CC firearms! I got mine in stainless for hot Florida carry. Mine came with the Bulldog carry case that looks like a cellphone case & two magazines! I’ve got about 300 trouble free rounds through it now. CrimsonTrace Lazerguard made it almost perfect. Spare mag has Pierce finger rest for faster reload without pinching your palm. Stock mag better for pocket carry. Also have the excelent Bullseye IWB holster for it. Depending on attire, several ways to always carry a fine gun.

58. Update on TCP in stainless. 380 ACP. 600 rounds through it now. Flawless with all ammo. Lazerguard still spot on. As much as I enjoy my Taurus 1911ss & my Taurus 85 in 38 special, the TCP has become my 90% edc ccw. Just too easy to carry all the time. Pocket or IWB in a Bullseye holster. Not a range gun but could be the perfect ccw. Thinking of getting a second one as a back up! 6-23-15

59. Roger that on the Bulldog carry case for the 738 TCP that looks like a smart phone case. I also put a LaserLyte on mine. For CCW carry I stoke it with Hornady Critical Defense. I feel comfortable with it. Shoots fine. That includes 100 rds of FMJ reloads at the range one day. Bang, bang, bang…. Never had any problems with it. My little friend goes most everywhere with me.

60. Update: 800 rounds through my TCP. Still flawless. Lazer guard still dead on. Only had to be tweaked once to fine tune when I modified my grip. Still shopping for a second one. It really has become my favorite carry gun. Good reviews & comments all.

61. Hit the 1000 round mark this past weekend. TCP still flawless. No wear inside or out. CrimsonTrace still right on. Changed batteries for the first time. No change in poi. I’d say gun is broken in now. Just can’t say enough about this little gun. IWB or pocket holster. Got a Remora IWB for it. Could be the perfect rig. Still looking for a second one. Peace.

62. Why does this NOT show up on gun reviews?Is it because it is shortened? I just saw it on a Taurus FB page. FWIW the one I had was perfect…

    • I commented on that to RF a while back. This page comes up when you google Taurus 738 review, but isn’t on the review list. Maybe Leghorn can fix it.

63. I just picked one up from Cabelas for $229. Grabagun had it for $185 but after shipping and FFL fees, it would have been a wash. And besides, I was impatient! 🙂

    The gun ran like a Swiss watch. No FTFs or FTEs, ate all the ammo I threw at it. I nicknamed it “The Biter” before firing it, expecting terrible recoil and a cut or blister on my thumb like other small concealed carry guns I’ve shot, but it wasn’t bad at all. In fact, it was fun to shoot!

    The sights are a laugh, and my first shot at 7 yards missed the paper, but once I knew what to expect and adjusted for it, my groupings were fine. You kinda have to adopt the Jedi aiming trick and trust your instincts.

    Overall, it’s a great little gun. DAO means you don’t have to worry about accidental (negligent) discharges, it’ll fit in any pocket, and it’s a joy to shoot. Best of all, it’s made in America!

64. Back on May 24, 2013, KCK said that the Walther PK380 was a “locked breach” and had lighter slide efforts. What is a “locked breach”?? Never heard of this term.
    Thanks, Kurt Emmerling

65. been reading all these great replys on the little TCP.I bought mine 3 years ago on gun broker and i love it.you never know its in your pocket. i carry mine in a pocket holster and i’v picked up a spare extened 10 shot mag from pro mag that works great in this little gun.i usally carry a ruger sp 101 .357. but this little pistol is just so easy to slip in my pocket and go anywhere i find myself carrying it more and more.

66. Bought one of these a few days ago and it’s been a nightmare. The slide is locking after almost every shot (only supposed to lock back when clip is empty) and sometimes the bullet gets slanted when trying to feed the next shot and gets jammed in the chamber. As far as the break in period, I think a lot of people buy this gun for the low price, but add the price of 250-300 bullets in order to break this gun in and it isn’t such a great price anymore. I was not aware of this before purchasing but I’ll take the blame for not doing enough research. If I could get a refund I would in a second, but unfortunately I’m stuck with an unreliable gun. Taurus says they will “repair” the gun but why should I need to get a brand new gun worked on? Run far far away from this brand unless you plan on using this gun for anything except protection.

    And I forgot to add that the casings leave scrape marks on your forehead from constant pegging after shots.

    • I understand how you feel Rachel. I bought a Ruger LCP 5 years ago and had a similar experience. The slide pin even fell out and the slide and barrel shot out toward the target. My brother laughed and said hell just throw the gun at ’em. I went from the range to the gun store and traded it in on a sig p938. Loved it. 5 years later I still wanted a light weight pocket gun. I had been reading reviews for all the different brands and models. Finally I started reading almost all great reviews on the Taurus TCP. Everyone talked about the light pull and buttery smooth trigger. That is what I hated most about double action triggers (heavy pull). I bought a used one that looked new. It jammed first time at the range. I threw away the Tull-Ammo I had left and ran some Winchester and Remington through it. Better but still had on average 1 jam per clip usually on the last cartridge in the clip. I disassembled it and polished the feed ramp with 600 grit and then 1000 grit sandpaper. Videos on you tube show how easy this is to do. I also ordered 2 new Taurus brand clips for it. They came in and when I loaded cartridges in they were very gritty feeling as you slide the clip top piece (orange plastic) up and down. I took a screwdriver and pushed it up and down probably 300-400 times per clip until it would slide up and down smoothly. I took it back to the range and fired two clip loads from each clip and the Taurus now feeds flawlessly. You have to understand a gun they are making and selling for $200. is just being stamped out by the hundreds with little polishing of parts before assembly. That is why it is so cheap. Higher priced guns get a lot more attention during manufacture and assembly. It is possible a very small amount of work could make your gun work trouble free also. And never use the cheap cartridges in a semi auto. Tull Ammo in particular has caused feeding issues on several guns I have owned. Small caliber semi autos are also more prone to jamming if you don’t grip the gun tightly and hold your wrist rigid.

67. Now for My 2 cents, Just received My TCP, couldn’t wait because it was Back ordered and it is a Replacement for My PT 22, circa 1994 issue, Frame Cracked 3 places, so I told them I would like to trade up, and since it really Being a free Firearm ( I had Bought Pt 22 For My Mother back In 94, she passed in 97 so I Got it back They sent me the Basic TCP,, which was OK, I Have a Bersa 380 CC & LCP which are Great firearms , among other 9s and 380s, TCP Out of the Box Had problems, would Not feed and was stiff, soooooo Hopped on the internet! I had seen some Forums with feed Concerns ,and since I do My Own Smithing Not a Problem, One has to realize that this is a Mass produced firearm and relatively inexpensive, so some slip through, I fully disassembled Firearm, Polished feed Ramp, corrected Mag lips, and trimed inside Mag release tab (Most Of the problem ) , hitting Nose of Cartridges, using 1000 sand paper cleaned rails &cleaned assembly , reassembled and added My Own special lube, run like a top, I own other Taurus Firearms, 111G2, 709, and soon To acquire an 809, I am Not a Taurus Freak, I also Have Sig 2022 and Like WOW!!! Ruger 9E, LCP also Yea!!! and SW 9ve with ApexTrigger and spring kits, these Mods Make the S&W a Whole New Fire arm And the Bersa as stated , Sorry No Glocks, So Price is a concern , and from What I see and Have Been In The Automotive Industry for over 40+ years, The TCP is a decent Weapon , when in the shop I see the Ones that have problems, But Most Are Good Drivers, Same with Firearms, My 709 fantastic out of the Box, Mild cleaning , same with the 111G2, now Both Have Mods I Have done to My Liking , Ammo is Not cheap anymore , so I want My Fire arms to Run Flawlessly , If I need to Take the Time to clean and debur them I will,

68. I’ve owned my TCP738 did about two years now. Aside from the sights, my only complaint (and it’s a BIG one) is the magazine release. Over time it the magazine release has required less and less pressure to release the magazine. It’s to the point that it happens in the pocket holster that I used. Love the lil’ gun, but for this reason it’s no longer a carry piece.

69. I’ve had the TCP for couple years,was my EDC for a while but have issues that Taurus does not care to resolve. First,the slide lock open on last shot stopped working,No big deal there. Seems like others have this issue with this gun. But then the assembly pin would work its way out during shooting the gun. Next the slide won’t lock manually when I try to clean the gun.And Taurus wants me to pay $50 bucks for shipping back a $200 gun for repairs. No thanks,will not consider Taurus guns ever and would not trust this gun for protection of any kind.

70. O. K. Just purchased a Taurus TCP 738. date 3/26/2017 68 f. sunny humid day.
    This little gun was made in 2016 came used with a single factory magazine.
    In good condition it has been fired.
    I put 35 Remington 95 gr. FMJ green and white box through the pistol.
    It jammed upon the last shot in the magazine every. single. time.
    Even if I loaded the magazine with a single round upon releasing the slide manually or by jacking the slide it jammed that last round Every. Single Time.
    At times it would refuse to load the first round out of the magazine whether loaded with six, five, four, three, two or one. The jam was the failure to feed, the round appeared jammed against the top of the chamber the magazine had to be removed and the slide pulled back and locked to clear the jam.
    I then put 8 rounds of Federal Premium HST 99 gr. JHP through the gun.
    First off, Who was the genius who designed that crappy 20 round plastic box?
    That box was a PITA to open.
    Then the same thing happened with the federal, failure to feed the last round out of the magazine.
    The round would always load with the release of the slide or jacking the slide back I tested this with live rounds without shooting in six, five, four, three two and one round it always failed to load that last round no matter what.
    Accuracy at 30 feet was very good all shots inside a four inch circle, through and through two plastic one gallon tide containers delivered with denim.
    Recoil while sharp was manageable, the sights while small were easy to pick up.
    Carrying was a charm easy to slip into a IWB holster.
    Trigger pull was similar to my S&W 640 long but good.
    The lack of a safety spooked hell out of me!
    I plan to shoot more and different kinds of ammo until I reach that mythical/theoretical breaking in period.
    IF this gun continues to fail to feed the last round still by then I plan on selling it and finding my next choice which will either be a Bersa Thunder, Beretta Pico or Ruger.
    I won’t trust it to CCW and until then I will use my old standard S&W M-640 which has never failed me yet.
    At this time I would hesitate to recommend buying and carrying the Taurus TCP 738.
    Do so at your own risk.

71. Upon close inspection after disassembly the inside of the chamber has a ring that catches the lip of the cartridge as it feeds, barely perceptible until you hand feed a round into the barrel while the barrel is out of the weapon.
    Smoothing this down could help.

72. What really concerns me about this article is the section where you compared rental guns. I find it nothing but BS. No facts, no reasons why it would out perform other pocket Pistols. 10,000 rds? Seriously? On a frame that is aluminum vs stainless Steel? Yes the receiver is stainless but the frame, sorry. Your info say’s the Ruger came in third? I have owned 4 Ruger’s and they are notorious for cracked frames, rails, splitting, take down pins walking or breaking. Yes, they are very reliable, but get up to 1000-1500 rounds and you need to be careful and watch for cracks etc.
    Look at the Kahr for instance. All Stainless Steel and Steel inserts on the Frame Grip at the high stress area’s that these pocket guns are known for.
    Please go into more detail to show us why and how the 738 is manufactured to go 10,000 rounds and the other much better quality guns will not.
    You did mention that the firing of the gun has stout recoil, that is correct. However you did not mention how the Kahr is extremely MILD to shoot and built with much better stainless steel parts through out the gun, and tight tolerances.
    The build quality of the 738 appears to be on Par with the Ruger. The comments about the rental repairs sounds like a Salesman’s BS or a person behind the desk that was just spewing info that he may have heard. No facts.

73. Bought a 738 from Sportsman’s Guide in July for $150-ish- with 4 pay – it hit my cc for about $38 a month- it was basically an impulse buy for a gun.

    I loved the size – I have a couple .380’s – this is capable of fitting into all but the tightest front pockets. A pocket holster basically doubles the thickness.

    Took it to the range-my expectations were low accuracy- I was looking for center chest with double tap ability. Pleasantly surprised that I could double tap with by pinky off in space.

    Problem- the gun started to jam- I had bought a Mec-gar magazine and it was jamming every 3rd round or so.

    Then the mag it came with jammed. I left the range very disappointed.

    I read that you have to get C Products mags- I bought one and went back to the range – it and the original were flawless- Mec Gar again jammed as did a 10 round Pro Mag magazine I had bought for my Makarov (which I had since learned was meant for the 738)

    I was reasonably pleased and carried the gun with the “good” mags- very easy to carry again- important since I live in a city with many Liberals who would be horrified to see a guy carrying.

    Anyway- went to the range last weekend – only the ProMag jammed- I guess the Mec Gar had broken in. This was shooting mostly ball- maybe 10 rounds of hollow points.

    So- I will carry this gun when shorts or tight clothes are needed- if the threat level is higher- sure – I will find a way to carry a 9mm- but this is OK for me-

    • Leave the politics out of it, dupa. I happen to be a liberal with a CC permit and carry every day. I’m waiting for this one to arrive and plan on it being a backup/car gun. So quit believing the BS the Blaze, FAUX News and the NRA spews, or are you as big a rednecked uninformed voting gun nut we all know conservatives to be? Ain’t stereotypes fun?

      • I’m now going to unsubscribe b/c of the name calling and politics. Too old for this nonsense, grow up people!

      • Ha- just saw this-

        I really think most Liberals are against concealed carry- sorry if you think that is generalizing.

        I know for a fact that Philadelphia fought concealed carry for years until the state forced them to comply. So- I CONCEAL my gun-

        • Gun carrying liberal. We just don’t talk about it.

74. I’m a retired cop and had to use my service weapon more than once so reliability is an absolute must. I went through all the current crop of micro .380 pistols and almost gave up until I got the TCP on a whim. I shoot a couple of mags every time I go to the range and have never had a failure of any kind. Stopping power is a myth so if you want or need to carry a .380 don’t concern yourself. Besides, current stats reflect one shot stops about the same as with a snub .38, which is what I carried for years. As a handicapped senior citizen the TCP satisfies my need for a small & light carry gun.

75. Very happy with my TCP. Didn’t start that way- I bought it on a whim – it was $150 at Sportsman’s Guide- with a four pay option (spread on your CC over 4 months)- so kinda like buying candy at a checkout line.

    I also ordered a MecGar magazine since it only comes with one mag. The gun and spare mag came about the same time- so off to the range I went. Jam after jam after jam. I seriously thought of throwing the gun away.

    I bought a CProduct magazine- which I read were pretty good- went back to the range- no jams from the CProducts or Taurus mags- some from the Mecgar. I’m skeptical of “break in periods”- but I think there was one here.

    My last trip- no jams except for the Mecgar- so- a reliable gun- if careful with the mags- its my carry gun for walking the dogs and warm weather. So light its easy to forget.

    Oh- shoots well- sure the sights are tiny- but it hits center body at 20 feet- the trigger is long and smooth- perfect for a pocket gun.

76. I had one of these. It could never empty a mag without an FTF or FTE. And I had several mags. I sent it back to Taurus and they supposedly worked on it and shipped it back. Still no better. I shipped it back to them and told them they should try firing it before sending it back. They shipped it back and informed me they wouldn’t receive it again. What a turd! So I sold it. It really soured me on the company for life. I should add, my dad had a 709 Slim with very similar issues. This gun is so similar to the TCP it looks like the same pistol that just grew up a little. With direct experience with two cheap Taurus products, I’d never recommend one to anyone I cared about.

77. Need a long term update on this. Still liking it?

78. Im sorry. But you tend to lose respect for the writers on this site when they give a Taurus a 5 star review. Look, this isnt even a knock on Taurus. I feel that their quality has improved immensely over the past several years and the G2C is a great example of how they really have stepped their game up. I own one, its a great little pistol and I even carry it from time to time……BUT…..there is not a Taurus on planet earth that is a 5 star gun, unless you spend hundreds of dollars to upgrade one of them. The revolvers are crude knock offs of Smith’s with much grittier action, bad triggers, tons of tooling and machine marks and the finish weather blued or in stainless is very basic and prone to wear marks and blemishes than most other guns on the market. And their semi autos have been plagued by all kinds of functional problems and poor (and sometimes weird) designs on most of the semi autos. Because lets just be honest here, Taurus builds CHEAP guns. You dont make a $200 gun that is of great quality, because if Taurus did, they would be out of business simply because the margins wouldn’t be enough to keep them in business if they were spending the money on better parts and quality that other companies do. Gun manufacturers have to make a profit, plain and simple. Again, they really have gotten much better, I will give them that. But there is not a Taurus on EARTH that is a 5 star gun.

79. Maybe I bought a bad one, but it’s making its seconf trip to Taurus for repair in less than 1200 rounds. When new, it stovepiped or failed battery every third or fourth round. 1000 rounds later (break in), same results. Sent to Taurus. They appeared to polish the feed ramp. 100 rounds later, no stove pipes, but failure to battery every 9th or 10th round. 100 rounds later, trigger bar breaks…back to Taurus. Definitely not a carry gun to depend on, though the general category is less than stellar.

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82. I bought Taurus TCP738 used for $119 about 3 years ago. I’ve had a few 380s in the past, Colt Mustang, Walther PPK/S, Browning BDA and an S&W sigma. I didn’t any of them long, why because they weren’t that good. With the PPK/S being the worst especially for reliability. Though I’ve had much disappointment with Taurus revolvers. This 380 is a keeper, besides being 100% reliable with all kinds of ammo, it’s accurate enough to hit a metal torso target @ 25 yards all day long.

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85. So I wound up deciding to keep the TCP 738. Just didn’t see any other micro 380’s that I could carry the same way, that had at least as good a trigger, etc. I did some upgrades to improve my grip on the gun, a Pachmayr Grip Sleeve and the Pearce Mag Extensions, now I can get all 3 finger on it to get a good grip. I also added a Viridain Laser. Went to the range today and did much better than when I last shot it, back in Nov. Will add pics of the upgraded gun and my target from today. Keep in mind, back in Nov, I walked up to the target, closer than 3 yds, probably around 7 or 8 feet and was missing the entire paper (8 x 11 target). click the link to see photo of the gun, with these add-ons and my results at the range after adding these. https://www.taurusarmed.net/threads/tcp-upgrades.442701/page-2#post-5842244

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91. have carried one for about 15 years. practice with monthly. has been reliable comfortable. one of my best micros.

92. My lightly used (<500 rounds) TCP738 was returned to Taurus under their lifetime warranty, as I had several recent episodes of being unable to unload the chambered round after first dropping the magazine (I also second the comment of occasionally finding the magazine out of battery when carrying in a holster). Slide couldn't be pulled all the way back to lock, and as a result the round had to be manually re-aligned while simultaneously holding back the slide until it fell out the empty grip. Taurus claimed it was "unrepairable" and offered one of their old 9mm as a replacement ($61 upcharge for the version with stainless slide like my 738). It will be offered up for sale/trade (NIB) when it arrives at the FFL (additional $25 to receive it) – I want a pocket pistol, not another 9mm. So almost half of what I paid for it originally to use their "lifetime warranty" for a non-replacement/non-repair.

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