LCP takedown pin broke!

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DaStray

DaStray

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West Columbia, SC
Has anyone heard of this happening? I took my LCP out to the range this past Thursday (9-19) and had fired 3 magazines and when I went to reload, I noted that the takedown pin had sheared off leaving the "shaft" in the gun and nothing for me to grab onto in order to remove and replace it. The total round count is approx. 620 rounds since new.

After much cursing and rending of garments, I contacted Ruger and explained the problem to them and they told me to return the gun to them and that they'd pay the shipping and any costs associated with the repair. I sent it off on Monday via FedEx and they sent me an email today stating that the repair was complete and it was ready to be shipped back.

I`m guessing that this takedown pin had a weak spot in it and after the 620 rounds , it finally broke off. As you can see, only the head of the pin sheared off leaving the shaft intact. I`d never heard of this happening before and just chalked it up to "...stuff happens sometimes..."

Kudos to Ruger for standing behind their product since it`s 8 years old with a fairly high round count! Anyone else heard of this happening?

upload_2019-9-26_16-59-9.png
 
Nope and I have one. My one gripe is that pin. Having to use a screwdriver or similar to pry it up enough is poor design. They could have left it proud on the other side to push it up enough to grab
 
I couldn`t agree more since my SR9c has the pin through the grip and I tried everything I could think of to get it out before calling Ruger. With the slide locked back, I was able to wiggle it around with the retaining pin depressed but there was simply no way to get it out. I`ll let all know when I get it back and what was said by Ruger about it. I was afraid of trying to drill it out since I know I`d "bugger up" the hole and really have problems then :(
 
DaStray said:
I`m guessing that this takedown pin had a weak spot in it and after the 620 rounds …

… a fairly high round count …
Click to expand...

620 rounds is an afternoon of shooting for some of us. Certainly not a high round count for a quality gun and I consider Ruger to be quality. I like them so much that I was known as "Ruger man" among the shooters around my hometown for some years. Anyway, a lemon can escape the factory on occasion. Glad they fixed you up. The aftermarket pin might be a really good upgrade for you.
 
DaStray said:
Has anyone heard of this happening? I took my LCP out to the range this past Thursday (9-19) and had fired 3 magazines and when I went to reload, I noted that the takedown pin had sheared off leaving the "shaft" in the gun and nothing for me to grab onto in order to remove and replace it. The total round count is approx. 620 rounds since new.

After much cursing and rending of garments, I contacted Ruger and explained the problem to them and they told me to return the gun to them and that they'd pay the shipping and any costs associated with the repair. I sent it off on Monday via FedEx and they sent me an email today stating that the repair was complete and it was ready to be shipped back.

I`m guessing that this takedown pin had a weak spot in it and after the 620 rounds , it finally broke off. As you can see, only the head of the pin sheared off leaving the shaft intact. I`d never heard of this happening before and just chalked it up to "...stuff happens sometimes..."

Kudos to Ruger for standing behind their product since it`s 8 years old with a fairly high round count! Anyone else heard of this happening?

View attachment 862066
Click to expand...

620 rounds and broke? These pins breaking are or a least were, a very common occurrence with the LCP. (do a Google and look it up). And sometimes the retainer spring would break. Same thing with the LC9 series. I sent more than one slide down range. For the LCP, I learned the hard way. Change them out every 500 rds on schedule. Change out the recoil springs at the same schedule. They are cheap, but good insurance. I always got a lot of comments from LCP owners saying I was full of crap with this schedule. Probably will get some now.
I do not shoot the LCP or LC9S but on a few occasions now, but if you were to look in my drawer of parts, you will find many new recoil springs and take down pins in the plastic packages, still unopened. I sent my Brother a Old LCP along with 5 take down springs and 5 recoil springs along with explicit instructions on when to change them out.
 
Last edited:
Jeb Stuart said:
620 rounds and broke? These pins breaking are or a least were, a very common occurrence with the LCP. (do a Google and look it up). And sometimes the retainer spring would break. Same thing with the LC9 series. I sent more than one slide down range. For the LCP, I learned the hard way. Change them out every 500 rds on schedule. Change out the recoil springs at the same schedule. They are cheap, but good insurance. I always got a lot of comments from LCP owners saying I was full of crap with this schedule. Probably will get some now.
I do not shoot the LCP or LC9S but on a few occasions now, but if you were to look in my drawer of parts, you will find many new recoil springs and take down pins in the plastic packages, still unopened. I sent my Brother a Old LCP along with 5 take down springs and 5 recoil springs along with explicit instructions on when to change them out.
Click to expand...
There’s nothing wrong with your change-out schedule at all. Those who choose to bash you probably haven’t had something fail at a critical time, so a bit of extra prevention can’t hurt.
I haven't had one fail on either of my LCP’s or the LC9, but I think I’ll order a pin or two and swap them out just in case.

Stay safe.
 
Happened to me with less than 500 rounds. Sent back to Mothership and they replaced it, no charge to me. Came back with a note from Tech Service, said to not use +P ammo. I never have used +P ammo in any of my firearms. Oh well.
 
I never had one break
BUT
I did lose one during an extended disassembly period.
RUGER sent me a new one free no questions asked.
Great CS!
 
Ruger sends a number of parts for free. Like Recoil guide rod spring assembly's. If you notice they are not listed for sale. I have called to buy one, but the always just sent one to me. I have a old SR22 and they sent me a lot of springs and a recoil guide rod to replace.
 
Looks like Ruger needs to confer with Kel-Tec, on how to build that pin. :rofl:

The LCP is a mildly faithful reproduction of the KT PF9/P3AT family.

If it happens again, unhook the hammer spring #25 from butt of grip, and drive out pins #29,
and lift slide & frame out of grip. That will give free access to both ends of takedown pin #30.
Ruger_LCP_schem.jpg
 
FWIW, my post-recall gen-1 LCP has roughly 2000 rounds through it and while the takedown pin retainer spring broke, the pin itself never did. The head shearing off has often been reported, could be a defective part coupled with having to pry on the head to get it out of the frame. Or it gets beat on more in specimens with tolerance stacking.

I have always slightly retracted the slide while prying it out, seemed to help from having to pry harder.

First handgun I ever bought. Still happy with it, although if I go tiny 380 these days, my LCP II gets the duty. Gotta hand it to Kel-Tec though, I believe the P3AT was the first micro 380 with a locked breech action.
 
IMO ruger needs to completely redesign the LCP. Yes it is basically a Keltec. But I do like the fact that Keltec parts are so easy to buy. But like someone said, beating the frame pins out is not Ideal. Look at how Taurus made this procedure so easy. And Taurus took the all design from Beretta. The Pico with all Stainless steel components is a breeze to work on, clean, change grips etc. The Beretta Nano the same way. I recently completed 10,000 rds through the Nano, broke it down and took down every part for inspection and to clean. Now the interesting thing is, I am terrible at working on guns. Meaning If I can do it, anyone can. The Pico will chassis will come out in about a minute with no tools other than a empty shell casing to turn one screw.

0MNAT5W.jpg
*Pico now has only one recoil spring, not two.
 
Thanks for the responses and I`ve got to admit that I didn`t think about unhooking the hammer spring and removing the chassis :(. I`d never heard of this happening and just thought that it was a rare, random occurrence. Shows what I know.

I do like the idea of procuring a stainless steel pin and using it instead of the stock pin and I may just do that and keep the stock pin as a back-up as the LCP is my primary summer carry as it gets HOT here in SC during the summer.

As far as round counts go, my LCP is carried a lot and shot a little so yeah, I guess the total count isn`t really high after all. Same for the SR9c as it`s only got about 1500 rounds on it. Guess I need to go to the range more...
 
Thanks for the responses and I`ve got to admit that I didn`t think about unhooking the hammer spring and removing the chassis :(. I`d never heard of this happening and just thought that it was a rare, random occurrence. Shows what I know.

I do like the idea of procuring a stainless steel pin and using it instead of the stock pin and I may just do that and keep the stock pin as a back-up as the LCP is my primary summer carry as it gets HOT here in SC during the summer.

As far as round counts go, my LCP is carried a lot and shot a little so yeah, I guess the total count isn`t really high after all. Same for the SR9c as it`s only got about 1500 rounds on it. Guess I need to go to the range more...
 
I received the LCP back from Ruger a day earlier than estimated by FedEx and all`s well. No charge to me for anything and they even gave me a nifty silicone wipe (with Ruger on it, of course) for my troubles. Repair order stated that the takedown pin was replaced and it was function-tested by firing 18 rounds without malfunction.
Ruger does have excellent customer service as this episode will attest to. I hope I don`t have to use it again but it is comforting to know that if needed, they will stand behind their products.
By the way, please excuse the double posts above as when I first finished my response and hit "Post Reply" nothing happened even after waiting for 8-10 minutes.
 
I used a Kel-Tec P3AT (before Ruger came out with their mysteriously similar LCP) for years. I shot it A LOT, testing different .380 ammo for my old dept. as well as seeing what different rounds would do against cars, building materials, and generally any excuse to shoot up city ammo. :D My take-down pin didn't break like yours but one day while shooting it I realized it was walking out of the frame a little bit.

I stripped the gun and found that the pin had "wobbled" a bit and wallowed out the hole on the left side of the frame. This was not good. I cut a little slot in the pin where the retaining spring fits so it would lock into the pin. I then cut a slot into the outside of the head of the pin so I could turn it (screw-driver or cartridge rim) enough to pop the spring loose. That kept it going until I could get its replacement (Kahr CW380). I've since read of the LCP having similar issues, but yours is the first I've heard of actually breaking like that. My Kel-Tec had a little problem when I first bought it. I sent it back and and had it back in hand in 10 days, working perfectly (until the above-mentioned little kerfuffle, anyway). I'm glad to hear Ruger stands behind their products so well.
 
George P said:
Nope and I have one. My one gripe is that pin. Having to use a screwdriver or similar to pry it up enough is poor design. They could have left it proud on the other side to push it up enough to grab
Click to expand...
a 380 cartridge will work. the rim will slip under the pin head and there is enough leverage to get the job done without breaking, or marring, anything.

murf
 
Thanks 1MoreFord for the link. I think I just may have to order one from Galloway and keep the replacement Ruger pin as a back-up.
 
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