First 2 Taurus --(Judge & TCP 738) -- First Range Report

TennJed

New member
FIRST. How do you pronouce or type out multiple Taurus? Tauruses, Tauri, Taureece?

Hey guys I have picked up my first 2 Taurus handguns in the last couple of weeks and wanted to share some quick results. The new guns are a TCP 738 380 acp and a Judge Public Defender 45/410.

TCP:
125 rounds of my reloaded ammo (95 gr RN lead cast with 3.8 - 4.1 gr Unique)
1 stovepipe. The stovepipe was on a mag I was shooting 1 handed to see how it feed. Accuracy was a little better than expected. I also have a Kel Tec P3AT and the TCP seemed to have less recoil. It also has a really nice trigger.

Judge
150 rounds of my reloaded 45 Colt (230 gr RNFP 7.1 gr Unique {50} 7.6 gr unique {50} and 8.1 gr Unique {50}).
Cylinder did lock up 1 time. This was a result of a primer not seated deep enough. I attempted to run the same round through a Ruger Blackhawk and locked it up also. I also learned not to try that again, because getting the cylinder out on the SA Ruger with it was a PITA. Accuracy was very good with the 8.1 gr loads and pretty good with the 7.1 & 7.6 loads. I was actually suprised with the accuracy. everybody talks about how the Judge is a bad 45 colt gun. I also have a 7.5" Ruger Vaquero and a 4 5/8" Ruger Blackhawk. The accuracy is not as good as the 7.5" Vaquero, but I shot this 2" Judge on par with the 4 5/8 Blackhawk at about 20'. The 7.1 & 7.6 gr were very nice to shoot. The 8.1 loads had noticably stouter recoil but not too bad. The Judge also has a really nice DA trigger and the fiber optic front sight is nice

I did not shoot paper targets. I was shooting at empty 16 oz energy drink cans. So I do not have any groups to report. The first time I take a gun out, I like to just plink with it to get a feel for it and check for malfunctions.

All in all, I was impressed with both. They both seem well made. Judge locks up nicely and both guns have very nice DA triggers. I am very suprised with the triggers to be honest.

Like I said I have never owned a Taurus before but I did not have any aprehension buying one though. Lots of people bash them but my research shows most bashing is second hand accounts (most not all). Storoes of people they know with bad Taurus, not their own. I got both on sale from Sportman's Wharehouse and were at a price I felt I could take a chance on.

Judge NIB $379
TCP 738 NIB $199

I enjoy shooting pocket pistols and kinda have a thing for little guns, so the TCP for $199 was a no brainer. I got the Judge because, .... well because. Sorta got it (laugh if you want) for my friends to shoot. I have a few buddies who are big time hunters, but not really into handguns. When we get into handgun conversations they all seem to bring up the Judge. How they would like to have one, how their uncle has one ect. I figured it would be nice to have one for when they come over. In a way i would like to get them more into handguns and if shooting my Judge will get them shooting handguns with me, then I think that is a good thing.


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My friends (collectively) have shot my Judge more than me.

I bought the 3", yours looks shorter. I really like that rubber grip they put on there.
 
Thanks. Growing up in Mississippi I know plenty of hunters who are not into handguns. I don't think anyone can argue that the Judge is well known. I find a lot of people that are not as passionate as we are are interested in the Judge. Heck I was/am interested. It was on sale and thought it would be a good addition to my collection. I am sure to have fun with it and hopefully it will get a couple of other people out to the range with me.
 
I have been very happy with my only Taurus...So far! Not Taurus, so far, but only Taurus so far!
I have a Judge Public Defender Poly, and the accuracy with 45 LC has really surprised me. Especially after all the Taurus bashers insist that the rifling is to shallow to shoot bullets accurately. Their "opinions" combined with my experience with a Judge indicates they are only guessing without any hands on shooting themselves.
As you can see with this 5 shot, 10 yd off hand group, you can expect it to group quite well!
Judgetest013-1-2.jpg
 
Have a 738tcp and really like the small size and looks . It seams to be able to group well at the distance I shoot it , BUT . The darn thing jams alot ,:mad: either stovepipes or won't chamber the next round .:confused: REALLY want to like it but don't really trust it's reliability. Thinking strongly of going to a revolver.
 
Shot another 50 rounds through each and no issues at all. The triggers on both are great. Sorry to bust the Judge haters bubble, but the Judge is actually pretty darn accurate.
 
I own 1 Taurus and it is a Judge with a 3inch barrel and 3 inch chamber.

Accuracy is probably the worst of any pistol I own but still plenty good for a SD situation.

As far as how it functions, When I first bought it I could not lock the hammer back in to Single action. It would just snap forward setting of the round. I sent it back to Taurus and about 4 months latter I get the gun back but this one has a different Serial Number. I guess they exchanged it.

The new one has worked well. I still would not trust mine with my life but it is fun at the range. I get more requests to shoot this gun than any other I own.
 
Good report--always good to get "first-hand" "Tauri" feedback. I have not yet shot the TCP but I have had the fun/pleasure of shooting the Judge and it was an absolute 'hoot & a half' if you will. I think I will be adding a Judge to my modest gun collection just because;).

While I am writing in a "Tauri" thread, I thought I would post a couple of "Tauri" pics as I shot and cleaned these today and thought what the heck, take a few phone pics with my modest Nexus S camera:

PT 24/7 OSS Tactical 9
PT_24_7_OSS.jpg


PT92
PT_92.jpg


-Cheers
 
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