Taurus TCP Suprise

[Old cop]

I've posted about my saga with various models of sub-compact .380 pistols as well as my disappointment w/all of them. Recently I was brousing on a local gun site and saw the Taurus for sale @ $125 to include two mags, one w/a Peirce extension. I spoke w/the seller and decided to take a leap of faith. To my suprise it runs perfectly w/everything I've put through it and is amazingly accurate out to 20 feet. I know this company has a checkered reputation for quality but I cannot fault this model. I put another 100 rounds through it yesterday w/o a single hiccup. I even tried to limp wristing, and putting hollow points & FMJ through the same mag. Again no problems. While I still prefer the J frame this fills a need for deep concealment. Anyone else had any experience w/the TCP, good or bad?

 

[dr. mordo]

I think Taurus' bad rep is largely based on their poor customer service rather than the quality of their guns.

Every gun company produces lemons - my Glock 26 was a jam-o-matic.

But not every company stands by their product like they should.

That said, I had a Taurus PT111 G2 that I tested thoroughly with many different ammos - not one hiccup. It was a brilliant gun. That Taurus is what I carried while I was trying to figure out what was wrong with my G26. I ultimately traded it to a pal who really wanted it, but I plan to buy another.

 

[SteveFi]

i have the TCP as well - very happy with it, no issues after several hundred rounds so far

 

[PPS1980]

Glad its a good one for you. Their single stack 9 has a terrific reputation as accurate and reliable. The Guns & Ammo review of all single stacks had it, the PPS, and the Glock as the only ones that completed the testing without any issues. They do get dinged for bad batches, poor CS, and some odd design issues though.

 

[Arik]

I think Taurus' bad rep is largely based on their poor customer service rather than the quality of their guns.

Every gun company produces lemons - my Glock 26 was a jam-o-matic.

But not every company stands by their product like they should.

That said, I had a Taurus PT111 G2 that I tested thoroughly with many different ammos - not one hiccup. It was a brilliant gun. That Taurus is what I carried while I was trying to figure out what was wrong with my G26. I ultimately traded it to a pal who really wanted it, but I plan to buy another.

It's like cars. My sister who drives 1000 miles a year will almost never see an issue even if her car has massive recalls or inherent problems. I on the other hand drive 25k miles a year and if there are inherent problems they will show up quickly.

Same with guns. How thoroughly was that Taurus tested? Round count? Classes? Time frame. For example, I know someone who shoots roughly a 1000 rounds a week. That to me is a thorough test..... after a few months. I can't afford the price nor the time frame but I rely on people who can to see what's what. And while every company makes a lemon, some are exception while for others it's a rule


Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

 

[BC38]

I've had one for a couple of years, and my experience has been exactly like yours Old Cop. Never a hiccup. Can't seem to make it jam or malfunction no matter what I do or how I do it.

Their reputation isn't nearly as bad as the constant diatribes by a vocal minority would have you believe.

General consensus on numerous gun boards I frequent is that Taurus are a good value priced firearm. Not up to Sig or Colt or S&W level of quality, but good quality for their price - which is about half that of a comparable model of the "premium" brands.

Being a much lower price-point product they have a higher rate of defects, but not as high as some seem to think, and most people have had pretty good warranty service from them too.

Sure, they have made some lemons, and probably more of them than S&W. For half or two-thirds the cost, that is to be expected. God knows there are plenty of complaints about S&W quality and enough horror stories about poor customer service. But the majority of the guns are good, and so are the majority of customer service experiences. Same with Sig, or Colt, or.....

Same is true, though maybe to a slightly lesser degree with Taurus.

 

[Old cop]

Good point Arik. I was told the TCP had over 500 trouble free rounds before I got it, and I got no reason not to believe him.

 

[Old cop]

Two of the things I like about the TCP are the trigger pull and the last round hold open.

 

[ericherte]

My first one lasted a week before the trigger gave out. The second one worked perfect for about 200 rounds before the firing pin and spring hit me in the face.

 

[misswired]

Never a hiccup with mine..that's a small club around here.

I like ball ammo and the one handed point and pull shot for this mouse, it's definitely deep pocket.

 

[Roy W.]

TCP

I have two Taurus TCP's one for the wife and mine. I actually reload 380's, so I don't hesitate to put 50 or more rounds through it on every trip to the range, likewise with the wife's TCP. After opening up the magazine lips a bit to allow the round to stand up a bit more, it has swallowed everything I put through it. It is made in Miami as apposed to Brazil and workmanship seems to be excellent. I understand that Taurus has discontinued the TCP model, so they can be picked up for less than $200 now.

 

[robvious]

I have a TCP and a LCP... the LCP stays in the safe... will probably head down the road... the TCP has been flawless so far... and friend I got it from never had a problem either... but as a confession... I like Taurus firearms... have several and no issues with any of them... one was my first pistol back in 1992?... a PT99... Multiple thousands of rounds thru it... only mods are grips and Wolf recoil spring... still going strong...

 

[Ziggy2525]

I'll be the contrarian. I have a couple year old TCP that has an FTE pretty much every round with both Gold Dot or Hornady Custom JHPs. Fires FMJ just fine.

I've called Taurus about it each time I tried it. They were sure it was the magazines, but they didn't have any to send me, try back later. It just sits in the safe. My LCP has never missed a beat.

 

[TomkinsSP]

Zero FTFeeds, FTFires, FTEjects, zero possibility of limp wristing. My Taurus .380, M380 that is...

 

[Lonestar57]

I've owned several Taurus handguns over the years. Still have a Model 85 Titanium 38spl since the 90's. I did have the TCP .380 recently and I really loved the trigger and as stated before the slide locked back on empty which I really liked. It was my carry gun on a local Hike and Bike Trail for a long while which I'm on at least three times a week. Probably had about 200 rounds in it but one day on the range (luckily) after about 30 out of my 50 rounds the trigger lost tension and failed to work the hammer. At home I found the the Trigger Pivot broke which connects the Trigger Bar (Hammer Transfer Bar). A quick internet search found quite a few have also broke for others. I ordered a new part installed it ran two magazines through it to test for function then promptly sold it. I had lost my faith in it for a personnel protection gun. Too bad I really did like it but just can't trust another one.

 

[Tadeus67]

My father in law has a Taurus Millenium G2 in 9mm. We have put around 800 hundred rounds in the little gun with out a single malfunction. On the other hand, a friend of mine bought a new Taurus model 94 .22LR revolver, the rifling on the barrel had a spot on it, a little part with out rifling!!!

He eventually sold the revolver to another friend who still has it.....Taurus can be good functional guns. But I think that caution is mandatory when buying one, check everything on the gun to assure its okay.

 

[sousana]

Taurus is mostly hit or miss. Back in the 80s I bought two.

1. PT92
2. Model 66 4" nickel 38/357

The PT92 lasted over 100k rounds before the frame cracked. The Model 66 lasted nearly 78k rounds. Both were sent back to Taurus after talking with CS. Got a call 7 days later to go to my local FFL to pick up the replacements.

So far, my experience with Taurus is 100% positive.

 

[ShivasIrons]

I have owned a number of Taurus and they are what they are. Not bad budget guns, but I have had to send two back to the factory. They stood behind them and repaired them. That said I have a hard time trusting them for self defense. I really like the 709 Slim. Feels great, carries great, but it had a light strike issue and I had to send it back. Have not had a chance to shoot it since it came back. Never had a problem with my J frames. I am just a Snubby kind of guy...

 

[coachray]

I also have a PT111 G2. I have over 700 rounds through it with different ammo with no failures. I carry a S&W shield, but if anything ever happens to it I would feel confident in carrying this Taurus. I've considered a TCP so it's good to here something positive about it.

 

[GerSan69]

I carried a TCP for a couple years as a pocket back-up. Never had a problem on the range with it. Only gave it up because I got one of those can't-refuse offers. Came across a Kahr CW380 shortly after, and never looked back. Just as small and the Kahr trigger is excellent.