Taurus TCP .380 range report

[boykinhntr]

I thought I would probably like this gun. I had no idea just how impressed i would be with the TCP. It exceeded all of my expectations and impressed me more than any gun I have owned through the years! For such a small gun, the accuracy is simple amazing. The trigger is good with a very even easy pull. Some may say that the pull is a touch long but it was good to me. The only negative was that I found the front sight hard to see. This is not a range gun so I am not concerned about that. It does what it was designed to do.

I thought I would have a larger selection of ammo but the UPS didn't arrive today so I shot 200 rounds of American Eagle 95gr FMJ. I personally shot 120 rounds and my friend shot 80. The gun had ZERO issues and was very smooth. Like any small .380, it was a touch snappy but was the best of any .380 pocket gun I have ever shot. It was even much more manageable than my Sig P230 which is a much more substantial gun. I was able to empty the mags and keep the gun on target with ease. For a pocket gun, the TCP's accuracy is simply fantastic. I was able to shoot it more accurately than my PT145 and just as well as my friends Glock 17 out to 15yds.

This is my first group at 7yds


These next 2 groups are at 15yds!!




And for fun 20yds...This is good shooting for me especially with a pocket gun




IMO, Taurus hit a grand slam with this gun. Not everyone is interested in pocket .380s but if you are, this is a MUST have. Looks good but performs GREAT!! I am ready to get my shipment of ammo in so I can try some hot Buffalo Bore self defense rounds.

[pacerdude]

Wow! Congratulations on a fine selection of a gun. I am glad it performed as good as it looks.

[TimM]

I want one... don't need it buy I want it.

[boykinhntr]

I should have added in my review that my shooting buddy couldn't hit crap with this gun. He is a pretty decent shot but couldn't get used to the trigger. He is used to 1911s so I think he was just flinching.

[sixxgunnernick]

I really am a bad shot!! Good shootin'..I suck.

[raftman]

Glad it works good, but you'll never get me to believe that it looks good.

[03Shadowbob]

You may be the best shot in the world at 20 yards (60 feet) with a pocket 380.

[tightgrouper]

You may be the best shot in the world at 20 yards (60 feet) with a pocket 380.

ditto that. I was thinking the same thing.
my goodness man!

[boykinhntr]

Ha Ha, trust me I am not that great of a shot. I was very surprised at how well this gun shot. I couldn't group like that with any of the other guns I was shooting except my S&W 622(.22LR)

I was shocked at the groups. However, my buddy(who is probably a better shot) could barely hit paper at 20yds with this gun. Also the shootnsee's were about the size of a lare plate. I don't know the exact size of them. But yes it was good shooting

[m1a1p]

I've had my TCP for a few weeks and cycled 100 rds through it. Here's my experience. Excellent fit and finish. Great sights, trigger, weight, etc... . Problems: 1. Take down pin retention spring is straight making getting the pin back in very difficult and only giving one point of contact to keep it in (it begins to move outward during operation). 2. The magazine and the magazine release are disasters. Any pressure on the release ejects the mag, as well as, tapping the bottom of the mag and, on occassion, firing the weapon. This makes most carry solutions (pants pocket, tight holster, etc..) problematic. Be prepared to go through a tap-rack-bang drill. I plan on sending mine back for the refit.

[richiep]

I own a LCP and love it but the other day I held a TCP, was not able to shoot it though. Anyway, it felt better in my hand than my LCP and I favored the TCP's trigger. Another thing i liked was, the TCP had slightly more noticible sights. I know there is not really a need for sights on a pocket pistol but I do appreciate better sights. I wish these manufacturers would put better sights on them. I put some nitesiters on my LCP and I think it was worth it.

[Yamatr3]

I've been very happy with mine. I also second wanting better sites on the pistol, but what more can you ask for in a pocket pistol. I did paint the front site which helped out a bunch. if anyone is interested in one, I saw this place on gun deals earlier today.

http://www.mountainridgearms.com/cat...&ret_id=945293

At the local gun show last weekend, the dealers were trying to get $350 for them.

[Josephus]

Just purchased the Taurus TCP and my gun shop sold me the Winchester white box ammo. I went to the range today with my son who has the LCP and right off the TCP failed to feed and eject and the first round. After wrestling the slide back and hold it there while pushing the mag released I was able to pull the mag out and clear the gun. This happened just about every time I tried to shoot the TCP. By the way, his LCP was dropping the mag after almost every shot making sure it wasn't him pushing the mag release. Needless to say the .380s didn't shine today. I never expected the TCP to give me so much hell that made me want to throw it in the trash. Has anyone had the same experience that I have. I tried to make sure my grip was right, tried to make sure everything was right but to no avail. I had my XDM 40 with me, shot 200 rounds, not one hiccup period. I must say when I did get the TCP to shoot it was pretty accurate at around 25 ft. If anyone could share some light on this please do. I plan to take the gun back to the dealer so he can try the Winchester ammo and see if he has the same problems I encountered. I think I love this gun if I could get it past one shot and then jamming. I suppose it could be the Winchester ammo which I don't like anyway. Thanks everyone.

[bigghoss]

my step-mom just got one and I'd like to try it. I really want to get a pistol in this class.

[boykinhntr]

Josephus,

Did you disassemble the gun and clean it really well before shooting it? Taurus is known to ship with an incredible amount of packing grease and this will cause your problems everytime. Hopefully this is the situation. If not, I really dont know. The TCPs have been very dependable by most accounts. Also some guns just don't like certain ammo.

Keep us posted.

[IdahoG36]

I just picked up a TCP on Friday, and the first thing I did was strip it down and clean all of the packing oil off of everything. It was everywhere. Inside the slide, barrel, and frame, and all over the mags.

[Josephus]

I did not clean it and should have. My theory was the Winchester ammo might be the problem. I have heard others say leave it alone. I will take your suggestions and give it a good cleaning and lube. I really like this gun and hopefully I can get it to perform so I can feel comfortable carrying it when I get my CHL here in Texas. Thanks.

[boykinhntr]

I can almost guarantee the cleaning will solve your problems. Everything you discribed is to be expected without breaking it down and cleaning it. Good luck and let me know how it goes.

[IdahoG36]

My TCP had an issue as well right off the bat. It would lock the slide back with one round still in the mag. I stopped shooting and went back home.
I took the slide off of the frame and inserted a mag loaded with one round. When I held the gun like I do when shooting it, I found that my pinky was pressing up on the mag.
This, in combination with the slide stop tab being angled slightly down, was causing the follower to contact the slide stop tab with one round still in the mag.
I completely disassembled the pistol and removed the aluminum chassis from the polymer frame. I adjusted the slide stop tab at a very slight upward angle.
I then reassembled the pistol and headed back out. I fired the rest of my .380 ammo and the pistol was 100% reliable.

[Josephus]

Took the TCP back to the dealer this morning and they test fired the gun and had the same eject & feed problems as I had. Found there was a burr on the feedramp and they removed that and polished the feedramp. Turns out the gun wasn't that dirty or gummed up, etc. They did take back the Winchester ammo, since they found out too that the gun didn't like it much, and gave me some new Remington. If I still have problems I am will be sending her back to Taurus. My son contacted Ruger about the mags falling out of his LCP after each shot and they are going to put a new metal mag release button which should eliminate his problem and they said they shoot a minimum of 8 magazines to test his gun. They promised 2 days air to get there and 2 days air return, I wish Taurus would provide service like that. From what I hear the wait is a little longer. I am thinking now the gun just needs more rounds through it and hopefully I will have it where it shoots as expected and can count on it.

[Trooper Joe]

This flat tipped ammo was problermatic in my new (last summer) P238. Sig advised me not to use it.

It does feed in 230 and 232 pistols however. Also, every once in a while someone posts that it feeds OK in their P238s. I guess each gun (ie., feed ramp) is slightly different.

Trooper Joe

[lillilblurkin]

So far ive had my tcp for about 3 weeks ive put about 150 rounds through it and from what a lot of forums are saying it sometimes does act with diffrent types of ammo which has proven to be true. I used remmington FMJ the first time and actually had 3 jams on the first 50 rounds but then i shot 2 clips of my cor bon deep penetrating HPJ that i bought and not a single problem since then ive used winchester HPJ with it and had 1 jam each 50 rounds which is not bad but still puts me at unease. If anyone has any other advice on great quality HPJ they use i def would love the input. Other than that tho this is by far my favorite gun to use just got my CCW permit here in va and i carry it with me everywhere. Its def been a pleasure to shoot other than the high cost of 380 here.

[RickE]

Sold, what are they running? ($$) Think I could trade out a very clean PPKS (stainless/Interarms) "even Steven"?

[lillilblurkin]

I've seen then as low as 260 and as much as 340 it really just depends where u live and how much of a supply the store has of em I got mine for 300

[TRguy]

I have had three Kel-Tec P3AT (all fluff and buffed), So not sure if you can fluff and buff a TCP, but polishing the barrel contact areas and ramp cant hurt.

Hundreds of rounds through them over the years, typically no more than a FTE one in about 200 rds on average. One stoppage like that can be attributed to the ammo.

Why three P3ATs? son confiscated one, gave one to a friend, and I still have one.