In a strategic partnership, renowned companies Taurus and CBC announce the introduction of a new caliber to the armament scene. CBC, one of the leading global manufacturers, reveals the launch of the innovative low-velocity caliber called 38 TPC, an abbreviation for Taurus Pistol Caliber. This collaboration emerged in response to a specific demand generated by the peculiar legislation in the Brazilian market.
Let’s start from the beginning. Lucas, what’s this story about CBC? I’ve never seen any “CBC” ammunition in my life. Hold on, young Padawan, perhaps you’re familiar with some of the brands under CBC, such as Magtech, Sellier & Bellot, or MEN. Does that ring a bell?
Preliminaries
In early 2023, Brazil was impacted by a series of restrictions on its rights after a criminal group took control in the 2022 elections. As a consequence, there was a severe limitation on the right to access firearms, a phenomenon common in authoritarian regimes. Since January 2023, Brazilian citizens are no longer legally allowed to carry firearms, and those in caliber 9x19mm and higher were designated as restricted.
Faced with the challenging political, economic, and moral landscape, manufacturers endeavored to offer a superior alternative to the 380 ACP, but within the limits imposed by the new regulations.
Unlike the .30 Super Carry, launched by Federal in 2022, the .38 TPC does not aim to provide a technical alternative such as increased capacity or different energy. Instead, it adapts a caliber to meet a legal absurdity stemming from senseless authoritarianism.
The Caliber
The 38 TPC, although not yet available on the market at the time of writing this article, is designed as a case of approximately 18mm, housing 124gr projectiles, similar to those found in conventional 9x19mm, without exceeding 407J of energy.
There are speculations that the 38 TPC could provide a 40% increase in linear momentum compared to the 380 ACP, potentially making it more suitable for applications in armed combat.
Historical Curiosities
In the past, the Brazilian market had a peculiarity: full-size firearms in the 380 ACP caliber. This caliber, traditionally used in compact or subcompact firearms for capacity or recoil control, proved unsuitable for larger firearms. This anomaly was a result of legal limitations in Brazil, which prohibited firearms in the 9x19mm caliber, leading to the creation of these questionable solutions.
Preliminary Analysis
The technical evaluation of the 38 TPC is still premature, given the unavailability of the ammunition on the market and, consequently, the inability for independent evaluators to conduct tests.
