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Taurus or Ruger 380 ? #5777788 06/07/15 08:18 PM
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texasdude28 Online Content OP
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Would like to hear from anyone who has experience with either a Ruger LCP or a Taurus 738, looking to buy one for son going off to college.

Re: Taurus or Ruger 380 ? [Re: texasdude28] #5777800 06/07/15 08:30 PM
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LCP is a reverse-engineered Kel Tec P-3AT. It's a fine gun and what I carry when I'm packing. But you need to understand that it's tiny, hard to enjoy shooting, and difficult to shoot accurately. But it's the most concealable 380 I've ever seen.

The Taurus 738 gets good reviews. My little brother had one. I never shot it, but he liked it quite a bit. I think it's going to be a bit bigger with a better trigger pull. Slightly easier to shoot and more difficult to conceal.

You might as well throw the P-3AT in the mix. I think it's a bit cheaper than the Ruger and they're the same gun.

Re: Taurus or Ruger 380 ? [Re: texasdude28] #5777804 06/07/15 08:32 PM
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Ruger , but buy him the Ruger LC380 vs. the LCP. The LC bigger than the LCP, more accurate and more comfortable to shoot. The LC380 is still small enough to easily conceal.




Last edited by bigjoe8565; 06/07/15 08:33 PM.
Re: Taurus or Ruger 380 ? [Re: bigjoe8565] #5777830 06/07/15 08:56 PM
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Originally Posted By: bigjoe8565
Ruger , but buy him the Ruger LC380 vs. the LCP. The LC bigger than the LCP, more accurate and more comfortable to shoot. The LC380 is still small enough to easily conceal.



How does the LC380 compare to the LC9? Never heard of it before.

IMHO, I always said that if you're going any bigger than the P-3AT or LCP, I'd just go to a 9mm.

Re: Taurus or Ruger 380 ? [Re: texasdude28] #5777852 06/07/15 09:19 PM
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I have the LC9 and like it a lot in fact it is one of my favorite carry around guns.

I have the Taurus 738 and like it better than the LCP that I traded for the 738. IMO the recoil impulse of the 380 makes any polymer gun a little difficult to shoot because it seems to bite the hand. 9mm tends to shoot better. I am sure it has to do with the springs and the slight compression of the powder in the 380 that tends to make it a sharper round to shoot in a light gun. LCP is a real hard gun to shoot. 738 is easier to shoot but it is about a 3 shot/3 yard gun. After that you have to really slow down and concentrate to make good hits.

The LC9 carries very well and the trigger is good. I enjoy shooting my LC9. I can make target shots out to 25-30 yards with it and combat hits at 12 yard easily. They also make an LC380 but I have not shoot one. The LC380 is the exact same sizes as the LC9.

The Glock 42 and 43 are also options. I have both but I still prefer the LC9. I will tell you the Glock 42 is a lot better to shoot than either the LCP or 738. Glock uses a dual spring system and I think that tames the 380. With the Glock 42 I can make target shots out to 12 yards and keep a good grouping and combat hits at 7 and ten yards. I changed out my sights to XS big dots so it is harder to shoot accurately past about 20 yards. It is by far the best polymer 380. It is not like a Beretta Cheetah but it is a good 380. As for the 43 I have not taken it to the range, it is waiting on sights.

Last edited by Nathan Nelson; 06/07/15 09:28 PM.
Re: Taurus or Ruger 380 ? [Re: texasdude28] #5777905 06/07/15 09:58 PM
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We have two .380s and they are as different as night and day.

The TCP 738 fits in almost any pocket nicely with an Alabama holster. The shooting characteristics are summarized nicely by Mr. Nelson above. I will add that the trigger pull, although long, is much smoother than the LCP or P3AT. I only carry this pistol when I need a light pocket pistol.

My wife has a P238. It is an excellent shooting pistol. It does not pocket carry well, but it almost disappears inside the waste.

Re: Taurus or Ruger 380 ? [Re: texasdude28] #5777954 06/07/15 10:49 PM
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I own the LCP, and a tried the Taurus last night. The Taurus I tried, had a slightly lighter trigger pull, but I prefer the build quality and ergonomics of the LCP.

There are nicer pocket 380s than the Ruger, but I didn't want to spend 500$ or more on a pocket pistol when the Ruger LCP does everything it is supposed to do, and I only gave 269$ brand new.

Last edited by Colt W. Knight; 06/07/15 10:51 PM.
Re: Taurus or Ruger 380 ? [Re: Colt W. Knight] #5777985 06/07/15 11:11 PM
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No experience with the Taurus, but did own the LCP. Trigger pull is a country mile long, but is easily carried/concealable and went bang every time.

Pocket carry for this summer, is the Colt Mustang Pocket Lite. Pleasant to shoot and has proven accurate.

Just wish it was a 9mm........ smile


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Re: Taurus or Ruger 380 ? [Re: janie] #5777988 06/07/15 11:14 PM
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Originally Posted By: janie
No experience with the Taurus, but did own the LCP. Trigger pull is a country mile long, but is easily carried/concealable and went bang every time.

Pocket carry for this summer, is the Colt Mustang Pocket Lite. Pleasant to shoot and has proven accurate.

Just wish it was a 9mm........ smile


The Mustang pocket lite is what got me looking at pocket guns, however, the 650$ price tag was too much for me. I still want one though, and a Defender in 9mm

Re: Taurus or Ruger 380 ? [Re: Colt W. Knight] #5777994 06/07/15 11:18 PM
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Colt, shop around. I picked mine up for $530.00. Came with 2 mags. BNIB.


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Re: Taurus or Ruger 380 ? [Re: patriot07] #5778112 06/08/15 12:16 AM
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Originally Posted By: patriot07
Originally Posted By: bigjoe8565
Ruger , but buy him the Ruger LC380 vs. the LCP. The LC bigger than the LCP, more accurate and more comfortable to shoot. The LC380 is still small enough to easily conceal.



How does the LC380 compare to the LC9? Never heard of it before.

IMHO, I always said that if you're going any bigger than the P-3AT or LCP, I'd just go to a 9mm.


I can't speak the LC9, the LC380 is one of the softest shooting guns I own. My wife who is recoil sensitive can shoot this gun very accurately.

Last edited by bigjoe8565; 06/08/15 02:13 AM.
Re: Taurus or Ruger 380 ? [Re: texasdude28] #5778175 06/08/15 12:48 AM
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Ruger


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Re: Taurus or Ruger 380 ? [Re: texasdude28] #5778780 06/08/15 01:20 PM
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I've had my TCP for about 5 years now had have not regretted my decision after evaluating it along with the LCP. I did not consider the 3AT because of the lack of a side lock. In the end, TCP won out because of the ergonomics and the fact that the slide locks back after the last round.

Actually, I've bought three TCPs. My wife favored the 32 Auto version (732) over the 380 Auto and I thought that version such a sweet shooter that I went ahead and bought for myself as well. I'm glad I did as that cartridge choice was dropped from production a few years ago.

After a couple of years of use, I installed the Galloway Precision TCP products on all three of my TCPs; the Sweet Spot Trigger, Reduced Power Hammer Spring, SS Guide Rod, and 12# Recoil Spring (380 Auto only). On my 32 & 380 Auto I added the Pachmayer Grip Glove. All of these changes made the TCP even sweeter but added $97 to what I have in it. That brings it up to near the cost of the LCP, I paid $216 for each of my TCPs, but no money will add the last round lock to the LCP.

I shoot a cast bullet of my design from both cartridges and have found the TCP extremely accurate and reliable. Mine came with the spare magazine and Bull Dog pouch. I have a total of five magazines for each, something I do with all my pistols as I don't want to search of spares later. I also use that Bull Dog when I'm wearing dress clothes. For work I wore a white shirt and dark navy dress pants, and the black pouch was not noticeable. The Bull Dog is a incredibly fast draw holster. Now retired, I carry with side holster made for the TCP. I also carry with a double mag pouch.

The grip gloves...


Feeding my wife's habit...


Happy Trigger...


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Oh, didn't mention the NiteSiters. Super glued night sights...







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Re: Taurus or Ruger 380 ? [Re: texasdude28] #5778860 06/08/15 02:13 PM
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Me, my wife and a daughter have ruger. My other daughter and her husband have the Taurus. I have tKe either one. They are both great guns. You can't go wrong with either.

I paid 250 a piece for the rugers used and around 200 for the Taurus. What I like about either is that I can put in my front pocket shorts or pants and its easy to carry.


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Re: Taurus or Ruger 380 ? [Re: texasdude28] #5778933 06/08/15 02:55 PM
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Glock 42. I've had the Ruger and Taurus. Glock is leaps and bounds better


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Re: Taurus or Ruger 380 ? [Re: BigPig] #5779115 06/08/15 05:11 PM
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Ranch Dog, that's good shooting. My P-3AT doesn't shoot nearly that good. How does the TCP compare in size/concealability?
Originally Posted By: BigPig
Glock 42. I've had the Ruger and Taurus. Glock is leaps and bounds better
I think the G42 is a really nice pistol, but it's not really in the same ballpark as the LCP or P-3AT in terms of concealability, or in price.

Re: Taurus or Ruger 380 ? [Re: texasdude28] #5779181 06/08/15 06:03 PM
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You're correct in price. But conceal ability and size is such a small difference that it wouldn't matter. The 42 fits in the same holster as my Taurus did, and the blackstrap still snaps shut. It fits in the pocket just the same also


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Re: Taurus or Ruger 380 ? [Re: patriot07] #5779185 06/08/15 06:06 PM
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Originally Posted By: patriot07
Ranch Dog, that's good shooting. My P-3AT doesn't shoot nearly that good. How does the TCP compare in size/concealability?

Very close in size. The TCP is .12" longer, .21" taller, .11" wider, and 1 ounce heavier when loaded.

Don't know if you have seen it or not but here is a great comparison chart for pocket pistols: Mousegunner's Pocket Pistol Chart

G42... Yawn! Glock is the only pistol that I've personally witnessed KABOOMs. I've seen two on the shooting line; a 9mm and a 40 S&W, both shooting factory ammo and both completely destroyed with the shooter's requiring transport to the ER. Never seen that with any other firearm. I've owned them but don't like their barrels.


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Re: Taurus or Ruger 380 ? [Re: texasdude28] #5779205 06/08/15 06:23 PM
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Ranchdog... I'm a Sig man first and foremost. But Glock fills a niche for me with their compact models. I've never seen one go KABOOM, but have had a Ruger P95 go KABOOM, blew shrapnel into my hands. My hands were too big for the Taurus and resulted in burns to my fingers. The 42 has a slightly longer barrel which prevents those burns.

Of the 2 listed, get the Taurus


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Re: Taurus or Ruger 380 ? [Re: texasdude28] #5779367 06/08/15 08:18 PM
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We had the Taurus a few years back and I couldn't get a whole magazine to run through unless I used about half a bottle of oil per magazine. (No joke... after every magazine I put half a little bottle of oil into it)


I sold that for cheap a while back and carried something bigger for a bit. Now I carry a Ruger LCP Custom, and I love it. It's never had one malfuction, and the trigger and sight updates are GREAT. I'm thinking of putting night sights on it soon-ish. (even though I never go out at night)

Re: Taurus or Ruger 380 ? [Re: texasdude28] #5783237 06/10/15 11:15 PM
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I like the sig p238 which is what my wife and I carry. It is extremely accurate and I don't have many problems with carrying it in my pocket and it is great on the ankle or IWB. I am not that accurate with the LC9 and don't like the trigger much. I would not purchase it again if given the option. No experience with the Taurus. Grabagun.com has colt mustang pistols on sale right now for $399. Hell of a deal. Best of luck

Re: Taurus or Ruger 380 ? [Re: Frio County Hunts] #5783313 06/11/15 12:00 AM
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Originally Posted By: friocountyhunts
I like the sig p238 which is what my wife and I carry. It is extremely accurate and I don't have many problems with carrying it in my pocket and it is great on the ankle or IWB. I am not that accurate with the LC9 and don't like the trigger much. I would not purchase it again if given the option. No experience with the Taurus. Grabagun.com has colt mustang pistols on sale right now for $399. Hell of a deal. Best of luck


I hope they hang on to the price for a little bit longer because Id love to own one.

Re: Taurus or Ruger 380 ? [Re: texasdude28] #5783836 06/11/15 09:53 AM
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TCP all day long. I can hit a pie plate at 50 yards and with 15 I can punch nice tight groups really amazed with it. Lcp I couldn't hit the side of a barn kel tec jammed too much. Sig 238 is also super sweet dad has one

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