Customer Reviews for TAURUS Taurus® 738 TCP .380 Semi-Automatic Centerfire Pistol
TAURUS Taurus® 738 TCP .380 Semi-Automatic Centerfire Pistol
Taurus semiautomatic pistols deliver excellent performance at prices that make them a great value. The TCP .380 ACP is the lightest pistol in the Taurus lineup at just 10.2 oz., making it an excellent concealed-carry option. The frame is rugged polymer, and the metal components are stainless steel and titanium. Low-profile fixed sights. Double action only. Loaded-chamber indicator. Ambidextrous magazine release. 6+1 capacity.
Overall Customer Rating:
(27 Reviews) 27
Rating breakdown 27 reviews
5 Stars
15
4 Stars
3
3 Stars
3
2 Stars
1
1 Star
5
20 out of 27(74%)customers would recommend this product to a friend.
Customer Reviews for Taurus® 738 TCP .380 Semi-Automatic Centerfire Pistol
Review 1 for Taurus® 738 TCP .380 Semi-Automatic Centerfire Pistol
Overall Customer Rating:
1DCS
Country:United States
State:Pennsylvania
Age:46-55
Gender:Male
Would you recommend this product to a friend? No
I'm selling it!
Date:June 6, 2012
Issue #1. I tried to carry critical defense loads in it but by chambering a round in it everyday it pushed the bullet back into the case and failed to feed. If you only fire hardball this will not be a problem.
Issue #2. After using the gun for about 6 months (I had previously fired around 300 rounds through the gun) I tried to fire the gun at the range and the trigger would not pull the hammer back far enough to release the hammer. The trigger pin worked out and contacted the frame not allowing the trigger to be pulled all of the way. I pushed the pin back in and it worked out again.
Since I carry this gun for defense there will not be an issue #3 because I'm selling it!
Issue #2. After using the gun for about 6 months (I had previously fired around 300 rounds through the gun) I tried to fire the gun at the range and the trigger would not pull the hammer back far enough to release the hammer. The trigger pin worked out and contacted the frame not allowing the trigger to be pulled all of the way. I pushed the pin back in and it worked out again.
Since I carry this gun for defense there will not be an issue #3 because I'm selling it!
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Review 2 for Taurus® 738 TCP .380 Semi-Automatic Centerfire Pistol
Overall Customer Rating:
lightemup
Location:tulsa, ok
Age:25 and under
Gender:Male
Would you recommend this product to a friend? No
dont know yet
Date:January 25, 2012
bought the taurus 380 a week ago, next day i was going to the range when i noticed the slide wouldnt stay locked back without the mag in. already had to ship this gun back to taurus for repair, should never have left the factory with this kind of malfunction. slide locks with mag in, but as soon as you drop the mag the slide lock disengages... dont know if it jams or if it even fires... first taurus ive bought and possibly the last. will post follow up if i ever get it back
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Review 3 for Taurus® 738 TCP .380 Semi-Automatic Centerfire Pistol
Overall Customer Rating:
JackPine1
Location:Brainerd, MN
Age:56-65
Gender:Male
Would you recommend this product to a friend? No
Yet to prove a reliable carry gun
Date:May 18, 2011
I read a review that said Federal American Eagle was the most dependable ammo for the Taurus TCP.
I went out and purchased 4 boxes thinking this would be the best for the gun. I have shot 3 boxes and have had 2-3 jams per clip and one dudd. I hope someone out there has a better idea on what to use for ammo in this gun. Federal American Eagle is not it.
Disappointed, with no confidence in this gun.
I went out and purchased 4 boxes thinking this would be the best for the gun. I have shot 3 boxes and have had 2-3 jams per clip and one dudd. I hope someone out there has a better idea on what to use for ammo in this gun. Federal American Eagle is not it.
Disappointed, with no confidence in this gun.
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Review 4 for Taurus® 738 TCP .380 Semi-Automatic Centerfire Pistol
Overall Customer Rating:
Anonymous
Location:Maple Valley, Wa
Age:46-55
Gender:Male
Would you recommend this product to a friend? No
TCP 380 WORST EVER
Date:March 31, 2011
This was my first handgun purchased after getting out of the Marine Corps 20 years ago. I've been disappointed with gun ever since. The darn thing jams all of the time. I've tried different ammo's different grain weights, clean the gun before every outing. I can sometimes get off a whole clip of 6 before the next clip jams. I've even had 2 smiths look at it and they couldn't fix it. I still carry it because I haven't been able to sell it. I hope others don't have these problems.
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Review 5 for Taurus® 738 TCP .380 Semi-Automatic Centerfire Pistol
Overall Customer Rating:
McDan
Location:Southwest Idaho
Age:46-55
Gender:Male
Would you recommend this product to a friend? No
Failure to eject, extract and misfires
Date:January 12, 2011
I bought the Taurus TCP .380 brand new a few months ago. The Taurus TCP .380 is very easily concealable and very lightweight. It is for that reason I purchased the gun. It is also decently accurate. Fit and finish is nice. HOWEVER, I cannot get through a magazine without at least 1 failure. Sometimes, 2 failures in the same mag. In other words, 10-15 jams out of 60 shots. I have tried two different mags and different brands of ammo, gun still "jams". I am glad that some of you are enjoying your TCP, but mine is worthless. If my life depended on it, the Taurus TCP .380 cannot be trusted. Maybe I got a lemon, but for now I would not recommend this gun to anybody.
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Review 6 for Taurus® 738 TCP .380 Semi-Automatic Centerfire Pistol
Overall Customer Rating:
Texride
Location:Fort Worth, Texas
Would you recommend this product to a friend? No
Unreliable
Date:May 9, 2011
Only shot about 300 rounds... had many FTE's. The slide would lock back before last round fired almost every time. Some say its because its in break-in but I want more reliability.
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Review 7 for Taurus® 738 TCP .380 Semi-Automatic Centerfire Pistol
Overall Customer Rating:
RenoJim
Country:United States
State:Nevada
Age:65 and over
Gender:Male
Would you recommend this product to a friend? No
Many Issues
Date:June 17, 2012
This is the only sub-compact that fits my arthritic hands. On other similar guns, the trigger is moving when I insert my finger between the trigger and guard. The gun is ambidextrous and the trigger pull, while somewhat long, is consistent and easy. Shot patterns are grouped well considering what you’re shooting with. That’s the good points.
On the other hand, there’s a whole hand full of issues with this weapon. First and foremost is that the gun jams open at least once a clip. The slide catches the slide catch and does not return (as if the gun believe the magazine is enpty. This might be a clip issue as the magazine follower looks like it’s missing a corner. We will see how good their warranty is.
Second, is that in a box of 50, you have 4 or 5 FTFs. All shells fired the second time.
Thirdly, the Disassembly Latch is almost impossible to re-insert. This is due to the attendant spring that needs to move down to allow the pin to be inserted. But, the spring does not move as the face of the pin is flat and can not move the pin down. A very slight bevel on the end of the pin resolved that issue. But, still.
All in all, an inexpensive pocket weapon, but not one that you can depend on.
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Review 8 for Taurus® 738 TCP .380 Semi-Automatic Centerfire Pistol
Overall Customer Rating:
FormerNinja
Location:St. Louis, MO
Age:46-55
Gender:Male
Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes
I'd rate it higher but...
Date:November 18, 2011
It has a good trigger draw. Unlike most other light pistols, the draw of the trigger is steady and smooth. It is easy to shoot and easy to recover the sites back on the target. I kept my grouping within a 6" diameter immediately upon firing and there was no getting used to the recoil of this. My biggest concern is that it does tend to jam up if you use the low-end ammo. Use only brass cartridges and pay the extra dollars for the better brand rounds. Even then it tends to hesitate as the first round is entering the chamber from the clip.
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Review 9 for Taurus® 738 TCP .380 Semi-Automatic Centerfire Pistol
Overall Customer Rating:
LittleEinOk
Location:Ok
Age:26-35
Gender:Male
Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes
Ok Gun
Date:November 11, 2011
I bought this gun around a year ago. I've shoot several hundred rounds through it and had only a few jams. My only real complaint is when I hit the release to release the slide, you have to hit the back of the slide to make it close. Other than that it is fun to shoot and is very easily concealed.
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Review 10 for Taurus® 738 TCP .380 Semi-Automatic Centerfire Pistol
Overall Customer Rating:
Hawken54
Country:United States
State:Idaho
Age:46-55
Gender:Male
Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes
Love the Taurus TCP .380 SST
Date:March 26, 2013
I gave it a 4 only because initially I had some feed problems with round ball and hollow points jamming up on the feed ramp. 5 minutes with a light duty dremel brush and a little TLC, it shoots great. No more feed issues so far. Most likely had I just shot it more it would have been fine without the little bit of ramp work. I have put approximately 300 rounds through it now.
It fits my hand much better than the Ruger .380 compact. I also bought mag grip extenders for 2 of my 4 mags. I carry it using the mags w/out the extenders added. The little Pachmayr grip is a nice addition for shooting and looks.
It does shoot a little low (good groups at 20 ft or so). Saving up for a laser sight to solve that issue.
It fits my hand much better than the Ruger .380 compact. I also bought mag grip extenders for 2 of my 4 mags. I carry it using the mags w/out the extenders added. The little Pachmayr grip is a nice addition for shooting and looks.
It does shoot a little low (good groups at 20 ft or so). Saving up for a laser sight to solve that issue.
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Review 11 for Taurus® 738 TCP .380 Semi-Automatic Centerfire Pistol
Overall Customer Rating:
pepperspray
Country:United States
State:Arkansas
Age:36-45
Gender:Male
Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes
Good budget gun, disapears in your pocket.
Date:January 22, 2013
I too had issues with the gun jamming until I did a lot of research. I found out that if you do not have a clean trigger pull & release (not letting go of the trigger immediately after firing a round), it will jam on occasion which is unacceptable for a CCW! But once I realized this was the issue & practiced a clean fluid trigger pull & release, I have not had a single jam yet. Remember, this is a budget gun, for the price, I love it.
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Review 12 for Taurus® 738 TCP .380 Semi-Automatic Centerfire Pistol
Overall Customer Rating:
webe
Country:United States
State:Texas
Age:56-65
Gender:Male
Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes
Good Buy
Date:July 9, 2012
Purchased a TCP 738 last Friday. After reading the Owners Manual I see why some people had trouble with the 738. It says that after each round to allow the trigger to return completely forward or the round might or might not fire. As for the break down pin, I had no trouble with it at all. Put it back in just as the manual instructed. Took it to the range Monday evening. It worked flawless through 50 rounds. Would bet my life on the little sidearm.
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Review 13 for Taurus® 738 TCP .380 Semi-Automatic Centerfire Pistol
Overall Customer Rating:
goldwing88
Country:United States
State:Oklahoma
Age:56-65
Gender:Male
Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes
excellent gun
Date:February 26, 2013
Zero issues. Have fired a couple of hundred rounds through this with no issues. No hang-ups, feed problems, nothing. It performed flawlessly. Use this as my primary cc, and would trust my life on it. Taurus comes through again.
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Review 14 for Taurus® 738 TCP .380 Semi-Automatic Centerfire Pistol
Overall Customer Rating:
wvuski420
Country:United States
State:West Virginia
Age:26-35
Gender:Male
Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes
Excellent gun!
Date:July 23, 2012
I bought this gun this past Saturday and took it to the shooting range later that day. Put 100 rounds through it with no problems.
I have shot a sub-compact Glock 9mm before and this gun was much more accurate... I was suprised because this gun was a good bit smaller than the Glock.
Def going to be my concealed weapon of choice!
I have shot a sub-compact Glock 9mm before and this gun was much more accurate... I was suprised because this gun was a good bit smaller than the Glock.
Def going to be my concealed weapon of choice!
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Review 15 for Taurus® 738 TCP .380 Semi-Automatic Centerfire Pistol
Overall Customer Rating:
Xrider
Location:St. Louis
Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes
Bet your life...
Date:April 20, 2012
This is my 2nd TCP. First one (silver slide B) ran flawless out of the gate. Shoots a hair low and to the left....... 2nd one (bought from cabelas black slide C) i had to polish the feed ramp, and use white lithium grease on the rails. Runs flawless like the first one. Shoots dead on. Would bet my life on either.
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Review 16 for Taurus® 738 TCP .380 Semi-Automatic Centerfire Pistol
Overall Customer Rating:
Griz4705
Location:St. louis
Age:26-35
Gender:Male
Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes
Great gun great price. Zero issues!
Date:March 16, 2012
I put 100 rounds through my 380 today and had 0 problems. I read the reviews and was worried that I would have jams or ejection issues but did not. Out of the box the slide was a little stiff but like with any new gun I cleaned and oiled it before I used it. Cycles perfectly and after 100 rounds is very smooth. Small frame took some getting used to, but the light weight makes it an awesome ccw gun.
Overall I'm extremely pleased and I recommend it to everyone.
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Review 17 for Taurus® 738 TCP .380 Semi-Automatic Centerfire Pistol
Overall Customer Rating:
brokenwrist24
Location:olympia, wa
Age:26-35
Gender:Male
Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes
good quality
Date:March 10, 2012
I have not run any rounds through my pistol yet. I can say this though, after reading all the negative reviews I have gone through my pistol and have found most of the negatives unfounded. The slide staying locked back when only the clip is in, there is a small lever on the inside the clip pushes up on that allows this to happen, hence why it has to be manually locked back without the clip in it. Rounds not feeding up, yes it does have an issue here but I have found by dry running round into the chamber repeatedly it gets better. Also I have a good friend who told me to use valve lapping compound to polish the load ramp. So in all do not these two issues suede you from purchasing this firearm.
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Review 18 for Taurus® 738 TCP .380 Semi-Automatic Centerfire Pistol
Overall Customer Rating:
K33PINGitREAL
Location:Phoenix,AZ
Age:26-35
Gender:Male
Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes
Zero malfunctions! Great pistol for the money!
Date:April 23, 2011
I recently purchased this gun like about three months ago. I have never shot it untill three weeks ago or so. I have read all the reviews about this gun after i bought it. Not knowing what other people are saying about this gun. But it seams to be half and half or so. Saying good things and bad things about this pistol. So i was a little worried about shooting it or having this pistol as a back up. So i went out to the open range, aka "middle of no where", shot 100rds of winchester white box FMJ 95grs. and a mix of 50rds of old and cheap hollow points made out of aircraft aluminum, and some winchester rangers SXT LEO ammo. And not one FTF, FTE what so ever ZERO! Yeah thats not a broken in gun, But i have to say that i am very impressed with this gun! Trigger pull is great, locks back after every last round, sights are better than rugers, and shot it at 25 yards and had very good accuracy! The recoil was very manageable, felt great in my hands and winchester white box are dirty rounds, and those SXT's are very high powered bullets. If a gun cant shoot dirty, than dont trust your life on it. This gun shot everything, DIRTY! I Have shot my uncles ruger LCP, hurts to shoot after extended periods of time, sights not that good, not stainless steal, it rust during summer, or when ever you are very active with it on your person, trigger pull is very hard, But it does shoot everything you put thru it! And is a up close and personal gun as with the TCP! Im not a ruger basher! But as for the taurus tcp, overall it is a great gun for the money! If you can find it at a reasonable price. And yes i would trust my life to this taurus tcp that i own! Please read the manuel, follow instructions! Read warnings! And its not a +p gun. And safe shooting! Hope this review helps you decide on purchasing this gun or deciding on passing up on this gun! Thanks for reading this short review and safe shooting again!
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Review 19 for Taurus® 738 TCP .380 Semi-Automatic Centerfire Pistol
Overall Customer Rating:
TeacherJoe
Location:Lincoln Nebraska
Age:26-35
Gender:Male
Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes
Great little gun.
Date:January 16, 2011
I was a little hesitant to buy this. It was my first 380 and my first Taurus. I have put 200 rounds through it in less than a month. They have been FMJs. Traditional hollow points that were several years old and some Hornady Critical Defense. Everything I ran through shot flawlessly. I had one FTF but I am positive I limp wristed it. Great Gun, and Great value. The only catch is you can't get extra mags yet.
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Review 20 for Taurus® 738 TCP .380 Semi-Automatic Centerfire Pistol
Overall Customer Rating:
wvrifleshooter
Location:West Virginia
Age:56-65
Gender:Male
Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes
PT738 380
Date:December 10, 2010
I bought this pistol after seeing it advertised in Cabelas 49 Anniversery flyer for a great price. For concealed carry I believe this pistol is about perfect. Reliable, lightweight and good looking, it fits in pockets and is so light I can forget it is there. With around 200 rounds through it so far I have had only 2 malfunctions and they were early on. Twice the slide locked open with one round left in the magizine. A quick hit to the slide release and the pistol chambered and fired the last round. No other trouble occured. The low profile fixed sights cause it to shoot low at extended range but this is not a long range pistol. A reliable pistol, two magizines, 6+1 capacity , a belt pouch and a great price, what more can we ask.
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