Taurus TCP for the wife... I love it!!!

[Tim Hancock]

The wife and I finally scheduled CCW class after my wife said she wants a gun for the nghts she closes by herself at work. There have been a few robberies in stores near hers over the last couple months. I brought her Bersa in the house the other evening for her to get re aquainted with it and she admitted that she really never liked it much and mentioned that sh wants a TINY gun that she can keep on her person when at work. She mentioned some of the small revolvers, but I showed her a friends and it is really not very small. I told her to ask her boss (a fellow IDPA shooter) if he had a mouse gun .380 to send it home for her to try. She brought home his Ruger LCP .380 and we both shot it. Even though it has a nasty kick, she loved it.

With a local gun show being in town this weekend, I took her Bersa .380 with me and sold it, then found a new Taurus TCP in Black Stainless for a good price. The Taurus is essentially the same size and is 1 oz. heavier (about 10 oz), but has several nicer features than the LCP. Like the Ruger that came out before it, the early TCP's had problems, but the newer guns seem to be pretty reliable.

-The trigger pull is slightly shorter, smoother and is about 5 lbs vs 8 lbs for the LCP.
-The slide is slightly easier to rack.
-It has last shot hold open
-It has a slightly better sight picture
-It comes with two mags vs one for the Ruger
-It comes with a case that looks like a camera case
-It has a larger trigger guard opening
-The felt recoil is slightly softer
-It is typically about $20 cheaper at most places than the Ruger

I never liked mouse guns, but now after shooting this little gem.... I want one for myself! It easily fits in either a front or rear pocket of blue jeans and with a proper pocket holster/sleeve, looks just like a wallet. At close range (5-7 yards) we were both able to easily squeeze off a handful of rounds hitting center mass every time. I rested on a barrel and could hit 8" diameter steel plates at 20 yards without a miss.... Not bad for a short barreled little plastic gun.

[stomachmonkey]

Have a 3rd gen millennium pro in 9 mm for carry.

Put 800 rounds of some chinese surplus thru it that I got from a friend.

No stovepipes or misfeeds

Nice little piece, no complaints

[Dantilla]

Another plus for the TCP- Crimson Trace now has a laser available.

[nynor]

cool little pistola.

what is a "stovepipe"?

[vash]

is it wrong to say.."i like your wife!"?

my wife doesnt like guns..she just loves me..and all my little "things" that come with me.

cool pistol!!! very cool.

[porsche4life]

It looks so much tougher than the LCP.....

[Jim Bremner]

Originally Posted by nynor

cool little pistola.

what is a "stovepipe"?

when after the round has been fired the spent shell fails to clear the chamber & slide stopping the action.

The taurus looks like the angles on the slide would blend well in a pocket.

[Dantilla]

I've handled a lot of the "mouse guns" (making holsters will do that), and I find the grip on the TCP to be more comfortable than the others. Fits very naturally in the hand.

[Tim Hancock]

Originally Posted by Jim Bremner

when after the round has been fired the spent shell fails to clear the chamber & slide stopping the action.

The taurus looks like the angles on the slide would blend well in a pocket.

The LCP is definitely smoother around the edges compared to the TCP if simply sliding into a pocket, but once in a pocket holster, they basically are the same. I like the "feel" of the LCP when simply grapping hold of it, but the TCP is more comfortable to actually grip/shoot for me (and my wife). That said, both are fine little mouse guns that make carrying concealed as effortless as carrying a wallet IMO.

I also had the opportunity to mess around with a SIG 238 which was a beautiful work of art, but even though it is only slightly larger dimensionaly, it feels much bigger when trying to carry it in a pocket and I don't care for it's safety features... I prefer the Glock-like simplicity of the DAO Taurus and LCP much better when it comes to drawing a gun in distress. I realize not everyone agrees with this school of thought, but it works for me.

[Jim Bremner]

Originally Posted by Tim Hancock

The LCP is definitely smoother around the edges compared to the TCP if simply sliding into a pocket, but once in a pocket holster, they basically are the same. I like the "feel" of the LCP when simply grapping hold of it, but the TCP is more comfortable to actually grip/shoot for me (and my wife). That said, both are fine little mouse guns that make carrying concealed as effortless as carrying a wallet IMO.

I also had the opportunity to mess around with a SIG 238 which was a beautiful work of art, but even though it is only slightly larger dimensionaly, it feels much bigger when trying to carry it in a pocket and I don't care for it's safety features... I prefer the Glock-like simplicity of the DAO Taurus and LCP much better when it comes to drawing a gun in distress. I realize not everyone agrees with this school of thought, but it works for me.

I had a Colt .Government .380 in stainless. We in California really can't get ccw's unless we're somebody. They treat us like subjects, not citizens I sold the colt due to fear of a .380 not working + I didn't need a pocket gun.

[Tim Hancock]

Originally Posted by Jim Bremner

I had a Colt .Government .380 in stainless. We in California really can't get ccw's unless we're somebody. They treat us like subjects, not citizens I sold the colt due to fear of a .380 not working + I didn't need a pocket gun.

Ohio is actually getting better for gun owners in recent years... I hope it continues because protecting oneself from criminals should not require consulting with several lawyers first.

[azasadny]

My wife really likes her Ruger LCP, I've never seen the Taurus. I'll have to visit my local gun shop and see what it feels like...

[Tim Hancock]

Originally Posted by azasadny

My wife really likes her Ruger LCP, I've never seen the Taurus. I'll have to visit my local gun shop and see what it feels like...

I dryfired each side by side and it would be impossible for anyone not to notice the large difference in triggers.

That said, I would be happy to have either one in my pocket. The differences/advantages I posted in my earlier post are real, but are very minute and matter little if god forbid one had to use it in self defense at the close range they are made for.

[azasadny]

To me, the concealibility and reliabilty of these small "concealed carry" pistols are what really sells them!

[cashflyer]

My wife received her CWP in September.
She also received her LCP for our anniversary, which is also in September.

[Rot 911]

I have been carrying the LCP since last March and have nothing but good things to say about it. I did polish up the feed ramp, but other than that it is as it came in the box. Snappy to shoot, but gets the rounds on target. Best of all I can carry this in a front pocket, including jeans, and no one has any idea it is there. I imagine the Taurus would be similar.

[Rick Lee]

Has .380 gotten easier to find? About a year ago it was stupid expensive if not unobtanium.

I picked this one up yesterday and will start practicing soon to make it ready for occasional carry duty. It's the one in the middle.

[cashflyer]

I order my .380 target ammo in bulk from Georgia Arms, or else I pick it up at Academy Sports. Academy also has JHP rounds for about $15 per 50.

My carry is this:


Think what you will about the brand, I like it - and so do others: REVIEW

[Tim Hancock]

Originally Posted by cashflyer

I order my .380 target ammo in bulk from Georgia Arms, or else I pick it up at Academy Sports. Academy also has JHP rounds for about $15 per 50.

My carry is this:


Think what you will about the brand, I like it - and so do others: REVIEW

The Bersas are great.... My wife just wanted something smaller so I sold hers.

Most local stores now have .380 in stock again around here. Walmart gets about $15-$16 per box of WWB currently which is $4-$5 more than 9mm but at least it is available now. The little mouseguns are not really range guns, so other than a few boxes for break-in and occasional proficiency training, I am not too worried about the price. I thought about buying dies for my press, but I do not really see the point.

[mossguy]

Tim, I've got the LCP and I like everything but the trigger travel. I understand that the loooong trigger pull is a safety and CYA feature. My question is, what does the Taurus have in the way of safeties?

Thanks,
Tom