The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > Hogan's Alley > Handguns: The Semi-automatic Forum

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old December 5, 2019, 11:11 AM   #1
Cheapshooter
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 2, 2007
Location: Missouri
Posts: 8,306
Taurus Spectrum???

It's been out for a while now, so what's the verdict from those who have one?
I need another pocket 380 like a third eye, but a local farm & home have them this week for $129.98. So what can be wrong with a hundred and something dollar pistol?
__________________
Cheapshooter's rules of gun ownership #1: NEVER SELL OR TRADE ANYTHING!
Cheapshooter is offline  
Old December 5, 2019, 11:53 AM   #2
Carl the Floor Walker
member
 
Join Date: June 3, 2017
Location: South
Posts: 1,422
I am a fan boy of pocket guns. I took the Spectrum out for a test. Brought quite a bit of ammo. I am not a Taurus basher, Never owned one, but have friends that do and like them. And Taurus seems to be improving in many ways. I had high hopes for the Spectrum. Was looking forward to finding a nice little gun to add to my collection. I was sadly disappointed.
The gun was just a sloppy shooter compared to the guns I now own. I had many light primer strikes. The build quality was cheap. I walked away from the shooting session well before half way through the ammunition I had brought. Just not for me. And again, I was disappointed. I was hoping go actually buy one.

There are many other Pocket guns out there, that are much better IMO. Better quality, build, sights etc. JMO
Carl the Floor Walker is offline  
Old December 5, 2019, 12:55 PM   #3
CDR_Glock
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 30, 2010
Posts: 704
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cheapshooter View Post
It's been out for a while now, so what's the verdict from those who have one?

I need another pocket 380 like a third eye, but a local farm & home have them this week for $129.98. So what can be wrong with a hundred and something dollar pistol?


I’m a fan of Taurus revolvers.

I have not shot a lot of Taurus Semiautomatic pistols, though.

Considering it is cheaper and smaller than a HiPoint Pistol, I think it would be worth the risk. What do you have to lose except time and a box of bullets? I think the major problem would be the trigger.

However if you are a tinkerer like myself, and there was a YouTube tutorial, I’m sure you can work on the trigger to make it more usable.

I find the trigger on a few of their semiauto pistols to be stiff.

Since I’m a revolver shooter, though, there aren’t too many triggers on semiautomatics that are heavier than the double action of my revolvers. I took that approach with the Nano by Beretta and it shot well for me.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
CDR_Glock is offline  
Old December 5, 2019, 04:28 PM   #4
Forte S+W
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 12, 2019
Posts: 808
I really wanted to like the Spectrum 380. I was really hyped for it when it was first announced because it seemed like the best 380 Pocket Pistol. It had the look, the features, and the feel of a winner, but then it got delayed only to be released plagued by light primer strikes.

I had hoped that Taurus would quickly recall the pistols, fix all the problems, and come out with a winner, but as far as I know none of that ever happened.

Ultimately, I chose to spend a bit more for a Ruger LCP 10th Anniversary Edition. $139 is still too much money to spend on an unreliable firearm, so unless Taurus has fixed the Spectrum without me ever hearing about it, (which is unlikely since I'm a regular on the Taurus Forums) I would spend a bit more on something else, including Taurus' previous 380 Pocket Pistol, the TCP-738, which I know from experience through my brother is a 100% reliable firearm.

That being said, if it has indeed been fixed, then please let me know, as I still love the look, features, and feel of the Spectrum 380, ergo I would be thrilled to get a reliable example for $139.
__________________
Conspiracy theorists are the greatest political spin-doctors of all time. Only they can make the absolute worst political blunders sound like spectacular feats of ingenuity.
Forte S+W is offline  
Old December 5, 2019, 09:58 PM   #5
osbornk
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 11, 2012
Location: Mountains of Appalachia
Posts: 1,598
I Paid $119.99 a while back for my Spectrum from the same Farm and Home store that you are referring to. It shoots well and I have not had any malfunctions with it at all. I shoot it better than I do my TCP I have had for years. Based on my experience, I would not hesitate to recommend it.
osbornk is offline  
Old December 7, 2019, 07:45 AM   #6
Carl the Floor Walker
member
 
Join Date: June 3, 2017
Location: South
Posts: 1,422
CDR, do you know what the pull weight is on the Spectrum. It has been quite a while since I tested the gun and quite frankly do not remember having any issues with the trigger. I also shoot a lot of DAO and what I see as some folks complaining about heavy triggers is not reality for myself. Especially for a Pocket gun which I want a heavier trigger.
A DAO trigger that is smooth, deliberate, and controlled all the way through is a wonderful trigger IMO. Kahr, Beretta Nano/Apx Carry, Pico, LCR, Smith 642 with trigger job etc, for example.
One thing I most emphatically do not want is a Light Trigger on one.

The light primer strikes I had could very well be the fact that it needs a heavier recoil spring. I would not be intereted in trying to tweak a DAO trigger for weight, so much as I would smoothness. The original Pico did have a very heavy trigger and slide racking but the Gen2 saw a big improvement going from a double recoil spring to a single spring and a lighter trigger. What ever they did, the gun is extremely reliable.

At some point, I hope to take a Spectrum out for a second chance. Still have high hopes for the gun. And if I do see one for $119.00 I will most like purchase it, just for the heck of it.
Thanks for your post.

Last edited by Carl the Floor Walker; December 7, 2019 at 07:53 AM.
Carl the Floor Walker is offline  
Old December 7, 2019, 08:17 AM   #7
CDR_Glock
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 30, 2010
Posts: 704
Quote:
Originally Posted by Carl the Floor Walker View Post
CDR, do you know what the pull weight is on the Spectrum.

At some point, I hope to take a Spectrum out for a second chance. Still have high hopes for the gun. And if I do see one for $119.00 I will most like purchase it, just for the heck of it.

Thanks for your post.


Various reviews say 7-9 lb range which is still lighter than a double action only revolver.

I’d say for a revolver guy, like me, that it is not a bad trigger pull. But for a person who only shoots semiautomatics or striker fire pistols, it would be quite heavy.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro
CDR_Glock is offline  
Old December 7, 2019, 09:38 PM   #8
Cheapshooter
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 2, 2007
Location: Missouri
Posts: 8,306
Quote:
I Paid $119.99 a while back for my Spectrum from the same Farm and Home store that you are referring to.
Nope, don't think so. Unless Buchheit's from SW Misouri has a store in the Appalachian mountains.

If I get a chance to get out there, and they still have them in stock I might just go ahead an get one. I paid more than that for a Hi-Point just to see if they could possibly be as bad as the haters said. I was pleasantly surprised, so maybe I'll have the same result with the Taurus.

In the same add they also have a Virtex 4-12 scope at a great price. Considering I am about to start 224 Valkryiie build that it would work great on it's gonna be one or the other, or nothing at all. Depending on what is in stock when I get there.
__________________
Cheapshooter's rules of gun ownership #1: NEVER SELL OR TRADE ANYTHING!
Cheapshooter is offline  
Old December 8, 2019, 09:20 AM   #9
OhioGuy
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 11, 2016
Posts: 1,089
I found it to feel almost like a toy from a Happy Meal. I'm not knocking the brand, but wow, plasticky and the trigger was crunchy, long, stacked a lot... Didn't find it pleasant to shoot. I got a Beretta Pico for $189 that was loads better.

I've eventually settled on a J Frame revolver for deep concealment as no .380 pocket gun is easy for me to shoot well. I'm far better with a .38sp revolver. I carry deep once in a blue moon anyway, it's nearly always a 9mm
OhioGuy is offline  
Old December 8, 2019, 11:45 AM   #10
osbornk
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 11, 2012
Location: Mountains of Appalachia
Posts: 1,598
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cheapshooter View Post
Nope, don't think so. Unless Buchheit's from SW Misouri has a store in the Appalachian mountains.

If I get a chance to get out there, and they still have them in stock I might just go ahead an get one. I paid more than that for a Hi-Point just to see if they could possibly be as bad as the haters said. I was pleasantly surprised, so maybe I'll have the same result with the Taurus.

In the same add they also have a Virtex 4-12 scope at a great price. Considering I am about to start 224 Valkryiie build that it would work great on it's gonna be one or the other, or nothing at all. Depending on what is in stock when I get there.
Sorry. Got mine at Rural King. That store has really cost me since opened a coupke of years ago.
osbornk is offline  
Old December 8, 2019, 04:36 PM   #11
Cheapshooter
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 2, 2007
Location: Missouri
Posts: 8,306
Quote:
Sorry. Got mine at Rural King. That store has really cost me since opened a coupke of years ago.
Figured that was the one. They do have some really good prices.
The closest one for me is maybe 25-30 miles away, and in a direction I don't often go. But I do watch their adds, and "one of these days"! LOL
But Farm and Home also have some pretty good prices and sales, and is about a half mile. Buchheits has a store about five or six miles away. They cost me enough!
__________________
Cheapshooter's rules of gun ownership #1: NEVER SELL OR TRADE ANYTHING!
Cheapshooter is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:41 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.07156 seconds with 10 queries