TCP vs. G42

[telpinaro]

Just got a chance to try both the Glock 42 and the Taurus TCP... I'm debating between the two. Yes, I know they are very different; I just shot them both. I'm just wondering if anyone's got any pressing reasons I should/shouldn't get one or the other.

The gunsmith working the rental counter did say the TCP has reliability issues... I haven't heard of any in reviews lately. Has anyone experienced problems with it? It did lock back after the third round twice, but he said that was likely because it needed to be cleaned. I liked the trigger a lot, and while (very) snappy, wasn't hard to control and shot well.

The Glock was certainly fun to shoot! It kind of reminded me of my Rhino shooting .357, with the obvious decrease in (awesomely fun) power. Only problem I ran in to is that my fingers are too long... they touch the mag release when I pull the trigger, and boy does that hurt when it fires. Gunsmith assures me that if I can find one, he can smooth it down so it stops poking me.

My accuracy was compromised due to a much larger amount of caffeine than usual (my hands were shaking--I'll have to remember to do that occasionally while training!), but (obviously) it was better with the Glock. Perfectly acceptable with the Taurus, though. I'll hit something a BG needs in order to keep attacking, easily. The problem with the Glock is the size... I want smaller. But it'll do, just not as easily as I want it to.

The S&W Bodyguard is definitely NOT acceptable... I tried that too. My fingers are too long for where it fires during the trigger pull! The trigger winds up at or behind the first knuckle when it finally fires... No way I can be accurate. I have never shot that poorly before.

I'm not looking for an EDC... simply a gun I can hide when dressing up nice, need to run out of the house quick and don't have time to find a cover garment, or anticipate hugs from anti-gun relatives and don't feel like starting a debate. Anything I should know before making a final decision?

 

[Rocketgeezer]

My wife and I each have a TCP, an we intend to get a 42 as soon as we get one at a reasonable price, never have had any issues with the TCPs, you do have to clean it from time to time, and it wont tolerate sloppy handleing,(limp wristing) but we would not get rid of them, they conceal super, and we did also try LCPs did not like them, to much trigger, and much more noticeable felt recoil, that all being said we are Glock people, and after shooting one we thought the little Glock was cool as hell

 

[telpinaro]

My wife and I each have a TCP, an we intend to get a 42 as soon as we get one at a reasonable price, never have had any issues with the TCPs, you do have to clean it from time to time, and it wont tolerate sloppy handleing,(limp wristing) but we would not get rid of them, they conceal super, and we did also try LCPs did not like them, to much trigger, and much more noticeable felt recoil, that all being said we are Glock people, and after shooting one we thought the little Glock was cool as hell

Maybe it's my tiny wrists so I can't afford to limp wrist, but I've never understood how/why people do that! lol

And I don't mind cleaning guns. Get my kid to help and talk about safety while he's too fascinated not to pay attention. :smile:

Definitely not doing an LCP... I don't trust myself to count rounds in a self-defense situation. I want the slide to lock back.

 

[Cumberland]

Telpinaro, the TCP's are about the lightest, easy to conceal as the come ,while still feeling like you have something in your hand. Point & shoot simplicity. Only problem I've ever had was with Tulammo.FTF Don't even try. All other ammo seems fine though. I did polish the feed ramp to a mirror finish with dremel and rouge to ensure reliable HP feeding. HP ammo has never been an issue. Long ago I heard of some reliability issue with first ones produced, but have only heard good reports since. Mine has a CT laser which is not really needed, but still is the smallest gun I carry. My PT745 is also 100% reliable.

 

[Buster04]

I have carried the TCP in my right front pocket for over two years and have shot several different kinds of ammo through it at least once a week with no problems at all

 

[mudshark100]

This evening, I was at the local range and was shooting my LCP and getting 18 inch groups at 15 yards. Guy next to me offered to let me shoot his G42. At same distance, I fired six shots in a 2 inch group. Four bullets went through the same hole. Shot like silk, little felt recoil. I am strongly considering getting one. Main drawback is I can't slide it out of my pocket as smoothly as I can the LCP. I carry the LCP as a backup to my G19.

 

[the dark]

I have a TCP I sometimes carry as a back-up and have a friend who has one as well. He had issues with his early, a crank in the rails. Taurus replaced it and he has had no problems since. He now carries it quite a bit, it being summer. Mine was flawless until a couple weeks ago (after 4 years) when the ejector broke. Fired fine at the range but when Igot homeand wentto cleanit, it wouldnot eject the round. I am preparing to send it to Miami within the next week.

 

[bofh]

I am certainly happy with my TCP, although I did spend some time and money to get the most out of it: http://www.usacarry.com/forums/handgun-discussion/44388-taurus-tcp-feeding-problems.html#post518699.

If you choose the TCP, check if you can get it with the 8-round magazine. As far as I know, Taurus is not selling them separately. The only way to get it is with the new gun. Midway has the Taurus 6-round magazines in stock from time to time. The Galloway Precision +1 extension fits on the 6-round magazines.

 

[Stan45]

I'm just wondering if anyone's got any pressing reasons I should/shouldn't get one or the other.

Being a Glock is not enough of a reason to not pick it.

 

[telpinaro]

Being a Glock is not enough of a reason to not pick it.

Not sure which way you're going here... I should pick it because it's a Glock, or I shouldn't pick it? Have a fun reply either way, just gotta be sure I use the right one! :wink:

 

[Nick Burkhardt]

I still don't understand why Glock could not fit seven rounds of .380 in that large magazine?

 

[CharlesMorrison]

I love my TCP and have had no problems with it.
They are marked with a letter before (or after?) the serial number.
The earliest is "A" on to "C".
"C" being the newest.
Mine has over six hundred rounds through it and I trust it to go bang every time.
The only issue was it did not like the Golden Saber 102grn round!
FTF, FTE..
Once it was removed from the equation things went great.


Sent from behind Enemy Lines.

 

[telpinaro]

I still don't understand why Glock could not fit seven rounds of .380 in that large magazine?

Me neither. That's the main drawback for me... Like shooting it, and it is a bit smaller than my Shield, but is small enough to make up for one less round of a smaller caliber? I'd already been leaning towards the TCP anyway. Since everyone seems to like it, I'll probably get it when I can. Hopefully soon! We'll see. Gotta love tight budgets...

 

[wolf_fire]

Me neither. That's the main drawback for me... Like shooting it, and it is a bit smaller than my Shield, but is small enough to make up for one less round of a smaller caliber? I'd already been leaning towards the TCP anyway. Since everyone seems to like it, I'll probably get it when I can. Hopefully soon! We'll see. Gotta love tight budgets...

Hey Telpinaro.

My friend owns the TCP and has put it through its paces. Yes, it's smaller than the G42 and easier to conceal.

Personally, I prefer shooting the G42.

Also, if you want that extra round: Galloway Precision :: Glock? Performance :: G42 Performance Parts :: +1 Magazine Extension for Glock 42

 

[jhodge83]

i bought the +1 for the TCP and it faded to an almost blueish hue. emailed galloway w/ pics and they sent me another. from looking in the inside of this one, it's already blueish while the outside is black. we'll see how long this keeps.

side note, the stick on grip they have works very well.

 

[bootsdeal]

I have both the TCP and the LCP. Both are just fine. However, the TCP likes jhp's and not fmj's. Not a problem for me as I only use jhp's. The LCP shoots anything reliably. One's just as good as the other as far as I'm concerned. Actually, I carry both on a daily basis - one on my ankle and one in my pocket. My only problem is a personal one -- I can't hit worth a crap at the range (at least not 2 or 3 inch groups), but that's not what a compact 380 is designed for anyway. I'm good enough to get an upper torso shot every time, so I'm good with that. A double-tap or a triple-tap should do it.

 

[bofh]

Just an update on the various Taurus TCP comments:

The "D" series serial numbers are now the newest. I bought my "D" series last October.

If you have feeding issues with Golden Saber 102 grain or FMJ-FN, it is possible that: (1) the tab that gets lifted up by the magazine follower and holds the slide open on the last round is touching the round, and/or (2) the feed ramp has machine marks and hangs up the round. Problem (1) can be solved by slightly rounding off the tab with a file. The "D" series TCP's should already have that. Problem (2) can be solved by polishing the feed ramp.

I haven't inspected my Galloway +1 extension from the inside, but it works great for me. You just need to be careful when assembling the magazine. The floor metal plate needs to sit right on top of the grip extension. If you load the magazine up with 7 rounds, the top round should be still able to move down a little bit (by pushing it down).

I just added the rubber stick-on grip overlays from Galloway and can say it feels really good. I will take it to the range later today. I will also test the heavier recoil spring.

If you are really in to the TCP, try out the Sweet Spot Trigger. It is actually the RTK Sweet Pea trigger: Link Removed. It is wider, has a flat trigger surface, and is made out of aluminum. It gives you more control by providing a beefier trigger.

Mouse guns are not designed for high accuracy as they have a short sight radius. I have posted this video before, but here it is. Jerry Miculek making a 200-yard shot with a S&W Bodyguard .380:

For the rest of us, consider getting a Crimson Trace Laserguard.

 

[telpinaro]

Hey Telpinaro.

My friend owns the TCP and has put it through its paces. Yes, it's smaller than the G42 and easier to conceal.

Personally, I prefer shooting the G42.

Also, if you want that extra round: Galloway Precision :: Glock? Performance :: G42 Performance Parts :: +1 Magazine Extension for Glock 42

Cool, didn't know they made those! Unfortunately, the short height is what would make it workable for me... lol

It is a lot more fun to shoot... but I already have fun to shoot. I just want to be able to shoot it, and conceal it anywhere.

 

[Cumberland]

Impressive SWAG method. One of my prefers methods too

 

[gunnerbob]

I'm a TCP fan, I've had mine for years and put over 1000 rounds through it with very little issue. The weapon seemed to require about a 200rd break-in after which it has run like clockwork. I clean it after range sessions as I do most of my weapons and all the internals are tip-top. I did get the pinky-extension mag plates and placed some inner tube on the grip to assist in a positive hold during rapid-fire drills. I don't like Glocks.... great guns, just don't like them.

Either way, I don't think you could make a bad choice with the TCP unless you got a lemon. Which ever way you go, both weapons would serve you well I'm sure.

Train often, train intensely and make it mechanical.

EDIT: Oh, I should mention that I exclusively shoot and carry FMJ in my TCP. If you want to know why, just do a search for the threads related to .380 ammo and you'll get your answers.