gtrman66 wrote:Can you expound on the issues? I haven't found any really discussed on the net. I saw you post elsewhere that the TCP was a waste of $300. Since you had the issues fixed are you more inclined to keep it around?
I've had my Taurus PT-140 for a year now and it has been problem free. I was hoping the newer TCP would be the same.
Most new TCP's seem to be fine, but from what I read on TaurusArmed.net, there are many who have issues with
1) The slide not locking back on the last round
2) The slide locks back when there's still one round left in the magazine (very common)
3) Failure to fully extract the brass from the chamber causing double feeds (my issue)
4) light primer strikes (pretty common).
Those are the most common issues I've heard about with the TCP.
For me, I had 2, 3, and 4. Taurus fixed it and I still had a light primer strike now and then, but now I just make sure to blow that firing pin channel out with gun scrubber every time I shoot it, and it hasn't done it since.
Odds are, you'll get a good gun with no issues if you buy new. Most Taurus guns are good guns, but they definitely have a higher percentage of problem guns than more expensive manufacturers like Glock or Sig. However, the Taurus life-time warranty is awesome.
Academy took care of shipping, so my out of pocket cost for my gun not working was mostly in ammo. Because of their higher than average issue per gun, I'd stay away from a used gun. It's a good shot that someone is selling one with issues. The money you save, you'll have a good chance at burning in shipping to Taurus if you acquire one.
I'd pay the extra $50 or so that a new would cost over used for piece of mind that you're not buying a problem, and if you are, the shipping won't be on you.
One thing I've found with my gun. Even after Taurus fixed it, it will NOT shoot WWB with the flat nose bullet. It will shoot WWB with the round nose. The brass appears to be different, and every 5th or so shot will fail to extract, and I get a double feed.
It has run 500+ rounds of Monarch and UMC .380 without a hiccup since being fixed. It had a light primer strike or 2 the first time out, but after blowing it out with Gunscrubber, it hasn't since.
I like the trigger of the TCP and the slide lock on last round over the Ruger LCP. And FWIW, LCP's have their issues too. Probably not as frequent as TCP, but all the mouse guns seem to have issues due to their small size and tight design.
I'm keeping my TCP now. I almost never carry it, but occasionally, it's all I can carry and I don't want to get rid of that option.
I basically only carry it when I CANNOT at any cost, get caught carrying. (Not breaking a law, but maybe for policy reasons or the people I'm with can't know at any cost... etc).