Maximumbob54 wrote:Are all the upgrades something you would do again? Other than color, of course.
Yes!
I evaluated the 3AT, LCP, and TCP for my use as a self defense handgun at a place that had them and allowed me to handle and shoot them. I know the 3AT is popular but I never shot it. Lack of a slide lock in that it is available with the other two bottomed it out immediately. The LCP & TCP are very similar, I do like the trigger feedback through reset on the LCP better but the TCP has a slide lock on an empty magazine, something that I want on any SD pistol, especially a pistol with only six shots. That feature make tactical reloads a breeze.
The radius & length of the Taurus TCP is plain weird. When coupled with the feel after the shot as pressure is eased up on the trigger toward the reset for the next shot, well... it is awful. As you move forward you feel a bump that is the hammer block moving into position but can be mistaken as the reset. If you attempt to shoot here, pull the trigger back, the gun is disabled. The reset, with the TCP trigger, is much further forward. In comes the Sweet Spot with it's totally different shape & radius. The bump for the hammer block is immediate as trigger pressure is relaxed and the reset happens shortly thereafter where you would expect it, a point that there is not much more forward play in the trigger if you miss the reset. The surface of the SS is flat vs. the rounded surface of the Taurus trigger. My finger rolls off the Taurus trigger in six shots requiring the grip to be reestablished.
The stainless guide rod is slicker. The assumption is that stainless always makes function better.
The Reduced Power Hammer Spring improves the trigger pull significantly. I documented the tension change but would need to find it.
The 12# recoil spring is for my own piece of mind. I'm shooting a heavier than spec bullet out of the 738B with heavy loads. I was worried about the "slap" that I felt as the slide bottomed out with the stock spring set. The "slap" or "crack" disappeared with the heavier spring set. You must use the stainless guide rod with the heavier spring set.
All of the Galloway improvements are available for the LCP as well. What weighed heavily towards the LCP was an outfit that dovetails the slide for sights. That means that night sights could be installed. Of course with the work and aftermarkets sights you double the cost of the pistol.
I went with the 732B 32 Auto first and immediately fell in love with it. Probably shot 500 rounds the first day I owned it. I went back the next day and bought the 738B 380 Auto.