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You know what it means when summer’s coming. Shorts. T-shirts. Lighter clothes. And concealment issues. The time of year when even the most ardent caliber warriors make compromises. If you’re in the market for something smaller and lighter than your usual 1911 carry piece, you need to check out the Taurus PT 738 TCP. No, it’s not the first .380 ultra-compact that comes to mind. But despite being on the very bottom end of the MSRP scale of pocket .380 mouse guns – with a price ranging from $199 to $249 – it’s at the top end of the scale for reliability and quality. A Taurus? Yes, a Taurus . . .
My local range rents basically all of the .380 micro compact pistols on the market – Kahr, Diamondback, S&W, Kel-Tec, SIG, Ruger, AMT, Magnum Research, Colt, etc., etc. They’re popular rentals and popular sellers. Some of them have been trashed and replaced with new ones due to extreme wear and breakages. One had gone back to the factory a dozen times for repairs and had also been fixed in-house at least as many times before they just trashed it. In fact, they’re on their third example of that same gun and the same parts continue to break every thousand rounds or so (and weird parts, like the trigger return spring).
I’m telling you this because they tell me the TCP is the most reliable pocket .380 in their rental case. Their renter has over 10,000 rounds through it with no breakages. None of the other contenders can claim that. The SIG P238 is, however, a close runner up (one in-house repair). The Ruger LCP, known as a stout little gun, comes in third (with a warranty trip or two). But the others don’t seem to like high round counts and rental-type abuse.
Obviously that kind of feedback is great and it bodes well for the little pistol. That said, I wasn’t actually in the market for another carry gun, and I had basically chosen never to carry a gun in a caliber smaller than 9×19. After all, I can comfortably and properly conceal my Beretta Nano under just a light t-shirt and have been doing so almost every day for the past year. So why go .380?
I didn’t. Well, not to carry. Not on purpose. I bought the TCP just to do some .380 ACP ammo testing. However, the day after I brought it home I went out on a long bike ride with some family on a hot day. The Nano wasn’t going to work IWB under any shirt I wanted to wear — not hunched over the handlebars. While it would fit in the front pocket of the shorts I was going to wear, it wouldn’t be comfortable after 40 miles on a bike. And carrying it off my person isn’t something I’m interested in.
So…the TCP went in a Sticky Holster and into my front pocket (Yes, untested. You can yell at me about that later.) and, I’ll be darned, it was like it wasn’t there. Just 10.2 ounces of gun weight plus a few .380 rounds is nothing. And its scant 0.87” width and 3.75” height (with magazine) fits in just about any pocket with room to spare. I have since carried it all day long about six times. IWB, in a front pocket, or in a cargo pocket; it definitely gets an A+ for concealability and ease of carry.
Three main things clinched the Taurus over its competitors as my tiny .380 of choice: price, a slide lock, and an excellent trigger. Most pistols in this category don’t lock back after the last round is fired, and some that do still don’t have a manual slide lock. Check and check for the Taurus.
Most pistols in this category have extremely heavy, often gritty, stagey triggers. The PT 738 has an absolutely amazingly smooth trigger, measuring just a hair over four pounds on my example. The pull is long, but it’s super smooth with only a little bit of pre-travel and a nice, tactile and audible reset. Taurus says the gun is double-action only, however the slide must reciprocate in order to reset the trigger. I really cannot emphasize enough how smooth and consistent this trigger is. For a $200, polymer, micro-compact gun it’s just ridiculously good and I would not change a darn thing about it.
Also of note: the pistol is hammer fired. The hammer is hidden from fingers, but visible in the frame under a channel in the slide. The pistol has a loaded chamber indicator – a small blade that sticks out of the right side above the extractor – and the Taurus Security System, which allows the gun to be rendered inoperable by turning a security bolt with a special tool. No thumb safety or trigger safety.
Fit and finish is every bit as good as the competitors’ offerings. One detail that might help with the TCP’s reliability (and likely with accuracy as well) is its near-full-length metal guide rails rather than small inserts as you might expect.
50 rounds of Blazer Aluminum, 50 rounds of Blazer Brass, and 4 rounds of Buffalo Bore .380 +P loaded with the Barnes TAC-XP 80 grain bullets later, I can report 100% reliability in every way (November, 2013 edit & update. Over 300 rounds through my example without a single stoppage). Despite extremely small sights, which are machined into the slide and therefore not adjustable, I was more than sufficiently accurate with the TCP especially at the distances the gun is intended for. The front sight will certainly be getting a dab of white paint to make it more visible, though, as I chalk up most of my misses to not seeing it properly.
Recoil is, as you’d expect, a bit on the stout side. Even a .380 cartridge can push a 10.2 ounce gun around and a lack of surface area on the grip doesn’t help. Because it’s as svelte as Alessandra Ambrosio at the beach, your hand doesn’t really contact the side of the grip under your palm very much – mostly just the front and back. In the first couple dozen rounds, I found the gun was actually rotating in my hands from the recoil. A little tweak of my grip – squeezing harder with my support hand – fixed that right up. All this said, because the TCP is a locked breech design and not a straight blowback pistol, recoil is much more comfortable than many other small .380’s that you might also consider. I found it more comfortable and controllable than I anticipated.
Possibly my only nitpick on the gun is the corners of the slide lock are sharp, and that’s right where my thumb wanted to be. This was kind of ‘pokey’ during recoil and it was fixed by lowering my strong hand thumb right into the oh-so-convenient thumb relief that’s molded into the frame. Who would have guessed?
With a street price of about $225 for this base model, high quality extra mags available for about $24, good looks, ease of carry, nice features like a slide lock and great trigger, a lifetime warranty and build quality capable of exceeding 10,000 rounds without a failure, I definitely think that Taurus has a winner on its hands here. Oh, did I mention it’s actually made in the U.S.A.?
Where To Buy
Specifications: Taurus PT 738 TCP
Caliber: .380 ACP
Capacity: 6+1
Barrel Length: 2.84”
Overall Length: 5.2”
Width: 0.87”
Height: 3.75” (w/ standard magazine)
Weight: 10.2 oz
Sights: Fixed
MSRP: $249 (blued steel slide) or $362 (stainless steel slide, either matte or blued) — about $199 and up via Brownells
Ratings (out of five stars):
Accuracy: * * * *
Micro sights don’t help, but the gun shoots straight. It was better than minute-of-bad-guy rapid firing off-hand at 12 yards.
Ergonomics: * * *
A pinky extension would help with control, but the gun feels comfortable in the hand and is easy to manipulate. The thin grip (which is also a selling point) and the sharp slide lock knock it down a star.
Reliability: * * * * *
Yes, I only have 104 rounds through mine. However, I know and trust the owner of my local range and fully believe that they have 10,000+ problem-free rounds through their TCP. (11-2013 update: over 300 rnds w/ no stoppages)
Concealability: * * * * *
Doesn’t get much better.
Customize This: * *
Pinky extensions for the mags, grip tape for the frame, at least one laser, quite a few holster options…that may be it. Certainly no new sights.
Value: * * * * *
Solid features, lifetime warranty, free 1-year NRA membership (or 1-year extension), and an average sale price of about $225. Hard to beat for a reliable, nice little gun.
Overall: * * * * *
In the .380 mouse gun category, the Taurus PT 738 TCP beats most on function, many on looks, and nearly all on price. It’s a lot of little gun for the money.
Another great part of this law is that SC has very specific signage laws. In a year of CCW I have seen one properly posted sign. Many esablishments will put a generic nonconforming “no guns” sign, and I will still carry.
“SECTION 23-31-235. Sign requirements.
(A) Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, any requirement of or allowance for the posting of signs prohibiting the carrying of a concealable weapon upon any premises shall only be satisfied by a sign expressing the prohibition in both written language interdict and universal sign language.
(B) All signs must be posted at each entrance into a building where a concealable weapon permit holder is prohibited from carrying a concealable weapon and must be:
(1) clearly visible from outside the building;
(2) eight inches wide by twelve inches tall in size;
(3) contain the words “NO CONCEALABLE WEAPONS ALLOWED” in black one-inch tall uppercase type at the bottom of the sign and centered between the lateral edges of the sign;
(4) contain a black silhouette of a handgun inside a circle seven inches in diameter with a diagonal line that runs from the lower left to the upper right at a forty-five degree angle from the horizontal;
(5) a diameter of a circle; and
(6) placed not less than forty inches and not more than sixty inches from the bottom of the building’s entrance door.
(C) If the premises where concealable weapons are prohibited does not have doors, then the signs contained in subsection (A) must be:
(1) thirty-six inches wide by forty-eight inches tall in size;
(2) contain the words “NO CONCEALABLE WEAPONS ALLOWED” in black three- inch tall uppercase type at the bottom of the sign and centered between the lateral edges of the sign;
(3) contain a black silhouette of a handgun inside a circle thirty-four inches in diameter with a diagonal line that is two inches wide and runs from the lower left to the upper right at a forty-five degree angle from the horizontal and must be a diameter of a circle whose circumference is two inches wide;
(4) placed not less than forty inches and not more than ninety-six inches above the ground;
(5) posted in sufficient quantities to be clearly visible from any point of entry onto the premises.”
If the popcorn man had been carrying, he probably would have been motivated to de-escalate the situation. That’s why 2 guns are always better than one.
Then again maybe not.
Only if the campaign was a city-wide initiative for all local businesses. What they’re trying to do is link gun owners and gun sellers as suicide enablers. The whole Merchant of Death thing.
So yeah, put these signs up in Bed Bath & Beyond and RiteAid, then we’ll talk.
Since I’m not a douchebag, I would never have reason to patronize a place like that.
But if I were a psychotic homicidal maniac looking to air out a bar and its occupants, it would be at the top of the list. It’s perfect.
See how that works?
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 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.
They are exempt because they need the extra rounds to hit anything. Remember the 30% mentioned above.
“Thank you for having the backbone to uphold your oath of office”
-John
New York, I won’t buy anything that says it comes from the state of new york! No loss!
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
What is a “yute”?
I keep saying that we need to sue over the United States Constitutional prohibition against titles of nobility. How else do we construe retired po-po having a different set of laws?
Forget the practicality of the Liberator as a firearm, I am just thrilled with it’s effectiveness as an irritant to our government. Bravo!
More 3D printed guns, more home builds and build parties. Our government needs to be SHOWN the meaning of the Second Ammendment.
I feel like a strong plastic or ceramic knife is more dangerous than the liberator. At least you can use it more than once in a practical situation. I don’t know why DHS has their panties in a bunch over this. Now, once they develop an all plastic repeater they might have reason to be worried. At that point they will probably just change tactics and let people defend themselves…
[wakes up from dream]
oh, never mind.
The reason that this exemption is being put forward is to curry favor with NY LEOs who are currently fighting the SAFE Act. It’s a bribe. And a rather pathetic one at that.
A couple of days ago, Gov. Mussolini summoned a bunch of NY sheriffs to his
throne roomoffice to threaten them because they were very vocally opposing the SAFE Act. That was the stick. This is a carrot. There will be more.Allow me to provide a non-bureaucratic version of the DHS “warning”:
HOLY SHIT!!!! PEOPLE CAN MAKE GUNS WITHOUT GOVERNMENT PERMISSION!!!! THE SKY IS FALLING!!!!!
Definitely got their knickers in a twist.
To point out a technicality that interestingly hasn’t been mentioned is, the JRIC is not DHS.
“Significant advances blah, blah (3D) printing capabilities, blah, blah free digital 3D printer files blah, blah, and difficulty regulating blah, blah may present public safety risks from blah, blah, blah guns.”
How about: A tyrannical government will (not may) present public safety risks to its disarmed citizens.
This DA is awesome! Thank God for Nullification!!!
I believe it was down the street just past the rest home and clinic. About 5 blocks from plant. I can find out today if y’all want. I grew up in west and my mom still knows the city well.
It seems to me that you could produce a comparable non metallic pistol without the use of a 3D printer. There is nothing magical about producing this with a 3D printer. You could probably incorporate a ceramic firing pin and produce non metallic ammo to make an even scarier weapon. This just seems like one more thing for the pols to get up in arms about so they don’t have to talk about the economy.
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.
Aww, boo-hoo, poor statists want me to call the whaaaambulance for them now that they can’t control a fundamental right anymore?
“Guy killed me, Mal. He killed me with a sword. How weird is that?”
I have said this to others and I will say it again, if it makes it to law, this is a good first step and, frankly, a giant leap for a state like Illinois. Not only does it make concealed carry an option (lots of limitations tho), it is shall issue and includes state wide preemption. That last piece is huge for us that live near/in Chicago and cook county. It wipes out all the Chicago gun laws. No need for a special permit. The magazine limit goes away, assault rifle ban … gone! In a day when most laws seem to be going the other way, this would really be a big victory for gun owners in our state. We will not longer be beholden to the Chicago pols in the way we are tied to them now.
I predict this will pass as described in the post. It will get through the Senate, Quinn will veto it and they will over ride the veto.
It’s a bribe. A big, fat bribe.
If I recall correctly Travon’s own screen name – chosen by him not anyone else was “nolimitnigga”
Travon was a thug.
Another item. While Zero’s 50% AA heritage makes him a “brother” somehow Zimmerman’s half hispanic heritage is ignored because the liberals & Jessie/Al want to make him a white racist. How pitiful. Hispanics – watch out – the AA home boys will throw you under the bus when it works to their advantage.
My chocolate bar is better than your chocolate bar: Cadbury Dark w/red chile!!! Oh YEAH!!!
And the libation? Young’s Double Chocolate Stout!
Kim Jung Un says, “Take one giant step”
“The NYPD’s weapons are now (for the safety of anyone who happens to be standing nearby) loaded with large red flags that say ‘Bang’. This example was photographed when the rifle discharged itself during a parade.”
You take my life but I’ll take yours too! Fire your musket but I’ll run you through!
(Had to introduce a little culture in here via Iron Maiden’s “The Trooper”)
Let freedom ring!
(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.
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?”
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.
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.
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.
Glad to know I bought s good weapon in the Taurus !
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.
1) Chicago can suck it
2) Don’t go to NFL games, watch the games, or help support some billionaires exploiting millionaires. Watch college ball instead and let the nfl figure out its business model
I have never used a silencer, but the buffer spring has still always annoyed me, especially when I’m qualifying on the range. With a really tight hasty sling and good ear plugs in place, that spring just clangs away after each shot. Not that big of a deal, but if there’s a way to make that go away, I’m going to buy it.
It’s about time someone did this.
I lived in Virginia for a while. The thought of McAuliffe as governor makes my stomach turn. Bloomie is dumping his ad money on the NOVA suburbs. It would just motivate Cuccinelli’s supporters most everywhere else.
I’d love to see pro-2A Coloradans pull off a hat trick and flip the state senate. That would be karmic justice and would put Bloomie in a foul mood, win/win.
Why not a compact PT1911? I would actually buy that.
yet another answer to an unasked question…oy
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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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$100 less than the LCP made in America, looks like I might have to grab one.
CDNN Sports – $189 until Monday
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??
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
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
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 😀
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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
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.
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.
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,
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Wow. Well. Regardless if there was a conspiracy or not… the cats out of the bag now. Law enforcement making unsubstantiated claims like this is REALLY bad. Everyone needs to keep in mind that there’s some real sick fuckers in this world, who do the evil things they do for no other reason than they simply want to. Personal amusement. It’s very possible the guy mowed down hundreds because he’s always had a fantasy of doing so, regardless of politics. Same with rapists, child molesters, and serial killers. There’s no goal. No political motivation. No desired outcome other than filling some deep, dark hole in the very pit of these demented people’s soul.
It is there right to refuse to honor the country they make millions in. It is my right not to watch them……
Nope, but then, I don’t really social media either.
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.
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.
Need a long term update on this. Still liking it?
Thanks for this fantastic post. It was so great to see so many amazing ideas that can be implemented easily.
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