Diamond Back vs Taurus TCP

[Shimitup]

Here's my condensed range report with the TCP from this last Wednesday. This last weekend a friend and I went to the gun show where upon he purchased one. Upon arrival at the range I suggested he first shoot some hollow points to really test its mettle. I figured if new out of the box it could eat that it would give him a higher level of confidence after it was broken in. He started with Federal Hydra Shock, he inserted the mag, let the slide go and the bullet nose stopped at the feed ramp. Pulling the slide back and giving it another thump it popped right in. As I recall the ramp is pretty shiny so I'm guessing the mag lips could be a bit sharp or rough, I didn't verify that though. Beyond that one hang up it was smooth sailing through several mags of two brands of hollow point and about two boxes of round nose. I don't recall the brand. I got to shoot 3 mags through it and found it a surprisingly comfortable gun to shoot. I rested on the bench with one mag full to try it's accuracy and even with not quite the right reading glasses looking at the fuzzy image of tiny sights it grouped a nice uniform cluster just under 2" at 9 yards. I also liked that it was perfectly calibrated to my usual inch under 6 o'clock hold. Watching him shoot I was watching for consistent ejection, all brass energetically popped out at about the 2 o'clock position, occasionally 12 o'clock. I didn't get to see him do the hot brass dance though . I left the range quite impressed, my friend has cost me some money in the past, I'm afraid the potential exists yet again.

 

[xr1200]

Your better off going with a known brand for quality and reliability, smith, ruger, keltec

Some of these newer companies, really need to establish their guns quality and reliability, before you take a chance on them.

 

[sltintexas]

Too bad the reviews of the diamondback are less than stellar. Its slightly longer grip feels a lot better in my hands than my LCP.

A buddy has a diamondback and I hope to get to shoot it soon.

 

[Archery Ham]

I chose the DB 380 over the others.

1. Priced was right. $329.

2.Looks and the feel suited me better than the KelTec, Ruger and Taurus. Smith and Sig were too pricey.

3.Trigger was fine for me.

My first shot was FTE. :banghead:

I made a search on You Tube and found some tips. One in particular was to rack the slide many times to "break it in without firing". I felt silly doing that but I did it anyway.

Later, I fired a the remainder that was in the magazine with no problems. Ammo was Remington 90 grain HP.

More range time is coming.

 

[PCFlorida]

I've had the SS TCP for going on a year now. First 100 or so rounds through it (ball, hp, sp, it didn't really matter) I had a number of FTF. After it broke in a bit, that stopped. I've got about 500 or so through it now and it has been utterly reliable. Shoots slightly low on the 7 yard targets but groups exceptionally well. It is my hot Florida weather, shorts and a tee shirt carry weapon now in a pocket holster. BTW, very nice trigger for such a small weapon.

 

[Ben86]

Shoots slightly low on the 7 yard targets but groups exceptionally well.

Does it shoot low with the conventional sight picture or with the front sight held over the target?

 

[PCFlorida]

Sorry for the delay replying..this has been a very busy month.

I'm trying to visualize my sight picture with the TCP, I believe I am looking at a picture with the sights held directly over the center of the target, not a 6 o'clock hold. However, I may just have to go the range tomorrow to verify

 

[quatin]

Update

Well, I went with the Taurus TCP. An interesting note, when I picked it up from the FFL, he had it on display in his gun sale cabinet and had played with it before, letting me know the slide was rough.

Anyways, I disassembled, cleaned and re-oiled the gun and took it to the range. I ran through 50 rounds of WWB and 50 rounds of Remington FMJs without a problem. The sights are indeed hard to see. The slide is a bit rough, such that if I don't snap and release the slide the full length, it won't chamber the first round, but I expect this to ease away after more breaking in. The biggest problem is the angle of ejection. The empties tend to fly up and back. At an indoor shooting range, 6 out of 10 shells would ricochet off the ceiling and hit me on the head. A weak grip/limp wrist would cause the shells to fly straight at my face. My first attempt at a double tap resulted in the last shell flying right into my forehead and drawing blood. After watching a couple youtube videos of other peoples TCP ejecting, it seems like this is the intended design. I suppose outdoors, with the gun up and at arms length this is not a problem, but if I were to draw and shoot from the hip I think all the shells would fly at my face.

Noting all the other problems people have had with Taurus firearms, I should say that I am overall satisfied. I'll just have to deal with the ejection angle (maybe wear a hat) and I'm definitely going to apply some bright paint to the sights. Everything else about the gun is good. The recoil isn't terrible, nothing seemed out of place with regards to ergonomics. My grouping at 15 feet was the size of a coffee coaster. Taurus apparently scraped the 8 round magazine though, which is disappointing.

 

[Ben86]

Taurus apparently scraped the 8 round magazine though, which is disappointing.

Now that is interesting. When the T709 first came out they marketed a "future 9 round magazine" and then scraped that idea. It seems like borderline unethical sales tactics to me.

I suggest putting some white nail polish on the front sight, it made a world of difference for my LCP. Also, once the recoil spring starts to break in your brass might start to fly more horizontal than vertical.