Ruger 380 LCP Opinions

[xxxstarmaniac]

Greetings,

Please tell me about your experiences with this firearms performance. I know that Ruger is doing a great job with the recall, I am more interested in any issues with the ammo, magazine or gun itself.

If you have had an excellent experience, I'm also interested in that.

For example:

I had 2 Kahrs, specifically the PM45 and CW45. The CW45 would not return to battery every few shots (This happened with a Colt New Agent I had). The PM45 would release the magazine when I fired it; my grip was triggering the mag release when I squeezed the trigger (I have big hands).

To be sure it was not Operator error, I always have some friends try out my firearms with issues, and when the issue is still present, I either fix or sell the gun.

I want to try and do a little research this time before I buy another "pocket" auto.

 

[archigos]

I've not sent mine back for the recall yet, but am waiting until I have the spare time to deal with being around for UPS pickup to do so.

This will be the second time I've sent my LCP back to Ruger. The first time, the slide catch was stuck down. Apparently it was an issue with a spring that needed to be replaced - they said that the problem was the result of moving the slide catch while the gun was disassembled, though I hadn't even disassembled the gun before I started having that problem. I got the gun back promptly from them but was disappointed to not receive any extra magazines or anything for my trouble.

 

[okespe04]

I believe that much of the harsh criticism towards the LCP is warranted due to the fact that Ruger released an unfinished and potentially dangerous firearm. However I do not believe that the criticism can be applied to a recalled or newer model Ruger LCP. Leaving the company and their mistakes behind I will offer my view of a recalled, fully functional, and safe Ruger LCP.

Aside from jamming once in the first 50 rounds my LCP has flawlessly fed about 800 rounds of various types of ammo including: PMC starfire JHP, Winchester silver tip JHP, Remington umc, Hornady critical defense, and Independence fmj. I have found the LCP to be very accurate for its size and reliable as you can expect any auto to be. I have also given the LCP the “pocket carry test” First time I pocket carried it in a pocket holster for 4 weeks, pulled it out and saw noticeable lint around the hammer area and some around the muzzle and front of the slide. Regardless the LCP unloaded 2 mags back to back of Winchester silver tip flawlessly. The second time I pocket carried it for 6 weeks, same results except this time loaded with PMC starfire jhp.
I keep my LCP at my side at almost every waking moment confident that it will operate as advertized.

 

[Big Bill]

I love my LCP. It shoots like a dream. I haven't had ONE malfunction.

 

[1KPerDay]

Same here... couple hundred rounds mixed brands HP and FMJ; no malfs of any kind. Doesn't recoil very much IMO, and is remarkably accurate at defense distances. Tiny as heck and disappears in a pocket.

 

[austin360]

The recoil hurts my hand...and I'm a badass! That little gun is punchy! I just got mine back for the recall.

 

[1KPerDay]

.38s out of my Smith airweight hurt me... the LCP doesn't. dunno why.

 

[bottom shelf]

Mine works fine. I was lucky enough to get very quick turn-around on the recall, and can tell no difference pre or post.

I've only fed is FMJ RN so far, and no problems.

Unlike B Bill, mine feels like crap when I shoot it. It doesn't hurt (Like the S&W 642) but it's unpleasant. Just not a fun gun to shoot for me, I guess.

 

[archigos]

I know this is probably considered bad form, but I have a habit of, when chambering a round before putting the LCP in my holster for carry, holding the firearm sideways. Oddly enough, with the LCP, this seems to cause it to fail to feed that first round. I have no problems with it when upright; I'm going to have to try firing it sideways now just to find out what happens.

I'm with 1KPerDay. I find the LCP very painless and controllable while shooting. I have more confidence in my ability to defend myself with it than with my 637 .38 revolver due to significantly less recoil (I think the slide is the key factor there).

 

[Steve_in_Marietta]

I've had no problems with mine, 250 rds. pre-recall, 100 rds. post-recall, and have received compliments on the free recall hat. It's not fun to shoot like a Bersa 380. To me it has a bit more bite than the S&W 637.

 

[rhartwell]

I love my LCP. When it was back for the recall I was in mourning. It is my everyday carry. When I carry my 9mm then it is my backup. I would not give it up for anything other than maybe a 45

 

[P90shooter]

I have huge bananna hands so I found it difficult and painfull to shoot. I picked up the finger extenders and I now love it! I just got it back from Ruger for the recall but havent been able to take it out yet cause ammo is so hard to find right now.

 

[twolf811]

Mine has ran flawless before and after recall. Size for carry is the plus. Added a Hogue grip and an inexpensive pocket holster and is has been a fine carry pistol.

 

[Cosmose]

i love mine

i've put about 150 rounds of ball and a couple of mags of hornady critical defense. no jams sadly its at ruger for the recall can't wait to get it back

 

[Craig M. Arnold]

The first LCP that I had was replaced by Ruger because of a major frame problem after about only 200 rounds. When I got the replacement, I sold it. I never liked the trigger.

Best regards.

 

[gglass]

I absolutely love my LCP and I have it with me 100% of the time... Even when I carry something larger.

I have fed it just about every name brand ammo and have never had a hiccup of any kind.

I carry only Remington Golden Saber 102gr as my SD ammo.

I do take issue with anyone who whines about the trigger pull of the LCP or even the P-3AT. It just irritates me that some people cannot understand that the only safeties that firearms like these have are the long, hard DAO trigger pull and ones brain. If you can't grasp the safety concept of the trigger, then you probably don't have the other safety either.

My constant companion:

 

[xxxstarmaniac]

Well, it sounds like it has a chance to be an alternative or additional daily carry to a snubby, and as long as I grab an extra 3 mags I can rotate 2 every other week to keep the springs stiff (I do this with all carry firearms).

The recoil of any handgun is bearable to me in a defense situation (even the monster 454 loads out of the Ruger Alaskan). On the plus side, if I have any feeding issues, I can always sell it at my cost since they are hard to find right now.

Thanks for the help people.

 

[kokapelli]

Has anyone actually put a large amount of rounds through their LCP without any problems?

I see 150, 200 and maybe around 500 trouble free rounds, but has anyone put a thousand rounds or more through their pistol without problems?

 

[jbkebert]

There is a current write up about the LCP in the magazine title the complete guide to hornady. It is on sale through March 10th my issue says. But anyway there is a 4 page article that talks about this gun and seems to be recommended highly. Although take into account this is also a ad to increase sales of thier critical defense ammo.

 

[Tirod]

I believe that much of the harsh criticism towards the LCP is warranted due to the fact that Ruger released an unfinished and potentially dangerous firearm.

Comparing the number of posts I've heard vilifying S&W, HK, Glock, SIG, Kimber, Springfield Armory, etc etc, there must be a lot of dangerous, unfinished firearms out there.

Or, Ruger's customer base has very high expectations of perfection, and refuse to accept the fact that ALL gun makers have production problems, foreign or domestic. Really. Just surf the maker specific forums. Very eye opening.

Ruger met the government standards for safety, just like any other firearm. They simply stepped up and offered a free upgrade, something most makers won't do. HK, Glock, et al wait for it to break, then fix it as a customer service issue under the radar. That way no one really knows how many were affected. Ruger came right out and offered it for the first years production - which, BTW, was double their projections.

If I didn't want a PSP so bad, I'd stand in line to buy another Ruger. They are giving Nordstrum level service for a commodity item.

My LCP works just fine, recalled and all.

 

[gglass]

(Hrvatski Samokres (Croatian Pistol)), or XD (X-Treme Duty) series of pistols

My Ruger in the picture above has had at least 1,500 rounds through it at the time that the picture was taken. (Last weekend) I have not seen any undue wear anywhere on the weapon and it is even carried daily.

So far it has been 100% reliable.

 

[TRGRHPY]

I was very happy with the way that Ruger handled the recall. Turn-around time was 5 days, and I received all the same stuff that others did.

---HOWEVER----

When they ground on the feed ramp they didn't bother to clean the the pistol at all. It was so bad that there were chunks of metal shavings and oil literally everywhere. I had to take the entire pistol apart, and for anyone who hasn't done this yet it is a pain in the butt to put the metal trigger assy back in to the polymer frame. And I am still trying to figure out where all those shavings came from since there is no possible way that all of it came from my pistol.

I still like the pistol but I am no longer very happy.

 

[orionengnr]

My LCP shoots better and is 400% more reliable than any of the four K-Ts I owned previously.

Not to mention Ruger recalled and fixed a problem I never knew existed, while K-T let me find the problem(s), call and ask for parts, let me do the parts replacements, and more often than not, the problems still existed...

Got pretty old, and I no longer own any K-Ts.

 

[willmartin]

I always say I hope we never have to use the LCP because it'll hurt us as much as it hurts them. Easy to carry, not fun to shoot, IMO.

 

[casual]

im glad to hear there is some satisfaction with the LCP

Like orionengnr, I was counting on the LCP to serve as a replacement for a couple of Kel-tecs

once the SHTF with the recall i decided to wait it out, but it will probably be my next pocket