Disappointed (rounds 226 -425 on this gun) Anyone want a TCP with 400 rounds?

[FatGuy]

So, I'm pretty bummed. I took a chance on Taurus and feel like I lost the bet. I was so close to buying an LCP too. Now I wish I would have.

I took it home. Cleaned it very well. Lubed it and took it to the range the next day.

Rounds 1-200 were "ok". I had 2 light primer strikes and 3 FTE's with the target ammo. I was hoping that it was new, so let it slide although 5 out of 200 rounds not firing is a very bad percentage in my book.

Rounds 201 - 225

The SD ammo was much worse. In 25 rounds of SD ammo, I had about 8 FTE's. The brass was stuck in the chamber and not removed by the extractor. WOW. Expensive ammo performed horribly!

Then I took it home, and cleaned it again. I also blew Gun Scrubber into the firing pin channel to hopefully correct the light primer strike problems.

So today, I took it back to the range for rounds 226 - 400 out of my new TCP. (This is getting expensive with .380 ammo!)
Out of these 200 rounds, the first 90 were great. Then I got 2 light primer strikes and 2 FTE's (same as above where the brass was still in the chamber) in the next 110 rounds.



After this many rounds and 2 cleanings, it should be ok, but it's not. I do not trust this gun to carry AT ALL.

(Also, one magazine has the issue with the slide locking with 1 round left, the other mag never does that)

So, now I'm at a dilemma... sell the gun for a decent loss... I figure I can get maybe $220 for it. Or do I
spend more money on polishing the chamber and also sent it back to Taurus to fix the light primer issue?

I figure I'm gambling again if I try and fix it. I don't trust myself to polish the chamber, so I'll pay a local smith $40-$50 to do that. (He's done another gun of mine and I trust him) Then I have the time away from it while it's with Taurus.
Then I have the additional ammo cost to test it AGAIN.

I'm not sure it's worth it. I think I may be better off losing $80 on this gun and buying an LCP.


This is my 2nd Taurus. I've had a PT101 since 1992 that has been an awesome gun for me. No issues what-so-ever. I didn't buy another Taurus strictly because of the quality reputation they have, but took a chance on this one since my PT101 has been so good, and I liked this gun's look and trigger feel better than the other options.
I feel let down. BUMMER!

Thoughts? Anyone else go through this?

[LtlBear]

I have 180 rounds through mine with the following problems.
FTE every other round or every 3rd or 4th round.
Both mags will lock slide back with one round left. I tweeked the mags, but have not tried them yet.
Disconnector does not reset after racking the slide, you have to touch the trigger to get the disconnector to come back up.
I am sending it back to Taurus next week, if they can get me a Fedex label.
My first Taurus but I am willing to give them a chance art fixing it.
You are right, ammo is running into money to test this gun.
First gun I have ever had issues with.
I do believe it can be fixed. I like its features and trigger, but I have to comfortable carrying it. Right now I am not.

[agksimon]

I've purchased two PT709SS's and a TCP738 and the only thing I had to do was tweak one of the mags on the 738 to eliminate the premature slide hold open. On a side note, I tried running the firing striker dry on my PT709's, on the advise from a forum member and had light strikes. I lightly lubed them and haven't had a problem since.

[rexy]

man I sorry to both of you above having problems, I would send it back to Taurus and let them fix it, you'll be with out it for about 5-6 weeks at this time, let them have a go at it and I'm sure it will return in working order, it really sweet little pistol, I've have mine for a couple months with 350-400 though it with very few issues only a couple of FTE's at first but now it eats it all ,, I hope it all works out for you,, GL

[VBVAGUY]

Sorry about your problems, but I would give Taurus a chance to fix it and send it back to them have them pay for shipping costs. Every manufacture has problems. Before I purchased my $1100 Springfield EMP I researched it and found there were many owners sending their EMP's back to Springfield to get fixed for many different problems. This is a $1100 gun !!! I have been blessed that I have not had any problems with any of my guns. God Bless

[olfarhors]

shoot i wouldn't spend any money on a gunsmith , send it back to the manufacture and let them fix it.
Mine has been a jewel with the only problem coming from one particular box of independent ammunition.
not going that route again!
really dependable lil gun for me.
it fires, extracts, ejects winchester, remington, pmc, fiocchi, self defense rounds of Wichester silvertip, hornady XTP, federal hollwpoints.
but you must be able to rely on your tote weapon, i undestand that and would not tote one that i was not 110% sure of.

[agksimon]

Mine has been a jewel with the only problem coming from one particular box of independent ammunition.
not going that route again!

I just fired off two boxes of Independence ammunition yesterday and except for being a little on the dirty side, not one malfunction. I wonder why the guns vary so much in performance.

[FatGuy]

Yeah. I've calmed a bit since typing that up. That was just after my range session so I was a little ticked and tend to make knee jerk reactions like "I'm selling it" when I'm pissed.

I'm going to clean it and send it to Taurus tomorrow. My guess is that the FTE's could be fixed by a polish, but the light strikes are another issue that I don't want to waste time or ammo with.

[olfarhors]

AGK, go figure???
I had between 10-12 failures to eject out of the box of 50, i had never used or heard of the ammo before then. you know how scarce 380 ammo is and so i stopped by a gun shop on the way to the range (i had called and they were out of 380) and that was all they had.
i had fired about 150-200 rounds through the gun with no problems so when this happened i had all kinds of things running through my head, but it appeared to be the ammo.
now see mine will handle winchester white box with no problem!
I guess thats why we test them before we count on them!

[BCC]

I'm in the same boat FatGuy. After multiple failures to extract, and two visits to my LGS to have them look at it, I sent my TCP back last week.

The gunsmith thinks it is the actual extractor and maybe an alignment problem that shows up after putting a few magazines through after it is cleaned.

I hoping she comes back being fully reliable.