Taurus PT-738 TCP
- Category
- Pistol
- Barrel
- 64 mm
- Weight, empty
- 283 g
- Introduced
- 2010
About
What it is, and why it matters
The Taurus PT-738 TCP is a subcompact semi-automatic pistol chambered in .380 ACP, manufactured by Taurus since 2010. Produced at Taurus's modern manufacturing facilities in São Leopoldo, Brazil and their American operations in Bainbridge, Georgia, this firearm reflects Taurus's commitment to delivering reliable firearms at competitive price points. Featuring a 6-round magazine capacity, this pistol provides adequate capacity for most defensive scenarios while maintaining a slim profile. The striker-fired action provides a consistent trigger pull for every shot, a design that simplifies training and has become the industry standard for modern defensive handguns. The 2.5-inch barrel keeps the overall package compact for concealed carry, though the shorter sight radius requires more disciplined shooting fundamentals to maintain accuracy at defensive distances. At 283g (10.0 oz) unloaded, this lightweight firearm is well-suited for concealed carry without excessive burden. The polymer frame reduces overall weight while providing a comfortable, textured grip surface that maintains purchase in adverse conditions including rain, sweat, and cold weather. Taurus has positioned this model as a high-value option in the competitive handgun market, offering features and reliability that punch above its price point, making it particularly appealing to first-time gun owners and experienced shooters seeking a reliable secondary firearm.
Taurus's semi-automatic pistol development accelerated dramatically after acquiring Beretta's Brazilian manufacturing facility in 1980, and the company has since developed an increasingly independent lineup of original designs alongside their proven Beretta-derived models.
TCP stands for Taurus Compact Pistol. The pistol featured a very simple design with minimal safeties beyond the long DAO trigger pull. Extended magazines increased capacity to 7+1. The TCP was eventually replaced by the Spectrum as Taurus's micro .380 offering.
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- Taurus
- Category
- Pistol
- Country
- Brazil
- Status
- Discontinued
- Produced
- 2010 to 2018
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 64 mm
- Overall length
- 132 mm
- Height
- 100 mm
- Width
- 22 mm
- Weight, empty
- 283 g
ActionHow it cycles, what trips it, and what feeds it.
- Action
- Blowback
- Firing mechanism
- Striker fired
- Trigger
- Double action only
- Trigger pull
- 27.0 N
- Capacity
- 6
- Magazine
- Detachable box
MaterialsEach swatch is the material itself, not a colour chosen to stand for it.
- Frame
- Polymer
- Slide
- Steel
- Barrel
- Steel
- Finish
- Blue
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Muzzle velocity
- 270 m/s
- Muzzle energy
- 212 J
- Effective range
- 15 m
- Maximum range
- 1000 m
Trajectory
What the round does downrange
Solved from the muzzle figures and the bullet. The dashed rule is the effective range on the record, and the crosses are the steps the solver returned.
Features
What it has
What the record lists as fitted, drawn from the catalogue.
Taurus compact pistol
Dao trigger
Low profile sights
Accessory rail
Ambidextrous slide stop
Textured grip
Loaded chamber indicator
Reversible magazine release
Standing
How it compares
Each figure against the firearms of the same type and cartridge that record it, or of the same type where that cartridge has too few. Positions are read to the nearest tenth.
| Measurement | This firearm | Median | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty weightAmong 70 .380 ACP pistols | 283 g | 539 g | Lighter than about 90% |
| Overall lengthAmong 70 .380 ACP pistols | 132 mm | 160 mm | Shorter than about 90% |
| Barrel lengthAmong 70 .380 ACP pistols | 64 mm | 87 mm | Shorter than about 90% |
| Magazine capacityAmong 71 .380 ACP pistols | 6 | 7 | Holds fewer rounds than about 80% |
Its place in the rankings
Answers
Questions about the Taurus PT-738 TCP
How much does the Taurus PT-738 TCP weigh?
The Taurus PT-738 TCP weighs 283 g (10.0 oz) empty. It is the 8th lightest of 70 .380 ACP pistols in the catalogue.
What caliber is the Taurus PT-738 TCP?
The Taurus PT-738 TCP is chambered in .380 ACP.
How many rounds does the Taurus PT-738 TCP hold?
The Taurus PT-738 TCP holds 6 rounds, fed from a detachable box magazine.
How long is the Taurus PT-738 TCP?
The Taurus PT-738 TCP is 132 mm (5.20 in) long overall, with a 64 mm (2.52 in) barrel.
Who makes the Taurus PT-738 TCP?
The Taurus PT-738 TCP is made by Taurus (Brazil).
When was the Taurus PT-738 TCP introduced?
The Taurus PT-738 TCP was introduced in 2010 and discontinued in 2018.
How does the Taurus PT-738 TCP operate?
The Taurus PT-738 TCP uses a blowback action, and its firing mechanism is striker fired.
Compatibility
Which parts fit this firearm
Studio
Every part that mounts on this, resolved
Not a list the maker typed out: the answer comes from the mounts this firearm exposes and the interface each part needs, so it stays right when either one changes.
- Every part that mounts on any firearm in the catalogue
- Interface standards, platforms and fit overrides
- The same answers through the API and the MCP server
Requires a signed-in GunSpec account on the Studio plan. The answer is computed per part, so it is not part of the public record.
Provenance
What the record holds
Every figure above was taken from one of these pages. The confidence reflects how much of the record came from a page a claim can be checked against.
Provenance
Confidence in this record
72%
Stockists
Where to buy
Offers link straight to the shop. GunSpec never takes the order.
No shop has listed this firearm yet
Stock and prices come from the shops themselves. If you sell this firearm, you can list it and it appears here.
List a firearmMCP
Ask an assistant about it
The same record, reached the way a person asks for it rather than the way a program does.
Ask GunSpec
Works with
Point an MCP client at GunSpec and it answers from the catalogue rather than from memory. A free key covers the read tools.
API
The call that returns this record
The same fields, in the same units, from the same endpoint the page reads.
curl --request GET \ --url 'https://api.gunspec.io/v1/firearms/taurus-pt-738-tcp' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "taurus-pt-738-tcp", "name": "Taurus PT-738 TCP", "manufacturer": { "id": "taurus", "name": "Taurus", "countryCode": "BR", "foundedYear": 1939, "website": "https://www.taurususa.com", "logoUrl": null, "description": null, "status": null, "defunctYear": null, "stateOwned": null, "makesFirearms": null, "parentId": null, "predecessorId": null, "createdAt": "2026-02-11 23:44:40", "updatedAt": "2026-02-18 03:40:48", "version": "71240218613bda05e45296e8997918c10d23b1d7627e46a424bd7e516e0fdffb" }, "category": { "id": "pistol", "name": "Pistol", "description": "Handguns designed to be fired with one or two hands" }, "country_of_origin": "BR", "year_introduced": 2010, "barrel_length_mm": 64, "weight_empty_g": 283, "action_type": "blowback"}