Ruger LCP 380 - the bad?

The sights are not the best either but it is still a great pocket pistol. I carry one and trust it 100%. Check out the bodyguard also, it is a nice package at a good price.

I like the LCP. Carry it a lot more than I thought I would, and after a few hundred rounds I've had no failures of any kind.
I put a shotgun bead front sight on it and also a lasermax laser. Recluse holster most of the time.

d-dogg said:

Looking to replace my self destructed 380 (see my Davis P380 thread), I've been searching for a 380 to replace it.

Quality for the price, I always find myself coming back to Rugers.

Other than the trigger pull, which seems to be a frequent complaint, are there any other things I may not like about the LCP?

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The only two things I disliked about it is slide did not stay open after last shot and the slide
would rust easily particularly around the finger serrations. Thought I have seen them with chromed slide if so that is the one I would get. When shooting at 10 yards or less I found the sights to be perfectly adequate. It is difficult little pistol to shoot well with.

My biggest complaint is several times the mag catch button has somehow pressed and released the mag while in my carry holster.

Mine has been 100% since the day I bought it.
It replaced a Diamondback that self destructed and was replaced by DB only to have the second one self destruct and was repaired and after that I bought the LCP and sold the DB.
I am sure you will love your LCP.
I like mine so much I actually bought a second one as a spare in case something ever happens to my current one such as theft,confiscation,etc.

Everyone, including Ruger, has been copying the Kel-tec products when it comes to these types of guns. Why not buy a Kel-tec? I have two a P3AT and a PF9 and they have been flawless. I have carried the P3AT for about 3 years. Shoot a magazine through it about bi-weekly. Never a single problem with any ammo including my handloads. Same with the PF9(vehicle gun). There is a reason everyone tries to copy these....they work.

Mine has been totally reliable; not a single malfunction. At that price point, it's the best in class IMHO. I never could keep my P3AT running. A dab of orange paint on the front sight and a Hogue grip and you'll have a real shooter.

I have a Ruger LCP with about 500 rounds through it. I did put a Crimson Trace on it and I really like the CT. I have two "complaints" about the LCP.
1. Trigger pull. I understand this is a safety issue so I can live with this
2. The slide does not lock back after the last round. This one bothers me. I realize I should "always" count my rounds however, in a high stress situation, I seriously doubt I could count each round.

If I had it do do over, I would do the Kahr.

kerreckt..The reason I chose the LCP over the P3AT is because the fit and finish was noticeably better and on the LCP you CAN lock the slide back which after owning the Diamondback I never want a semi auto that the slide cannot be locked back.
They may have copied some aspects of the P3AT but certainly not all.
Even my KelTec P32 slide can be locked back.

wally said:

My biggest complaint is several times the mag catch button has somehow pressed and released the mag while in my carry holster.

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This was an issue for me too.

The sights are terrible. I could never use them.

The gun is so small it would shift in my hands after every shot making follow up shots impossible.

I could never keep more than 50 percent on paper at 5 yards. With all my other guns I can keep 100 percent in a 4" hole at 10 yards and 95 percent on paper at 24 yards.

Needless to say it got traded for a Kahr CW9 with none of these issues.

Also tried a Diamond Back, but it is so vulnerable to limp rising you have to keep it 100 percent straight (perpendicular to horizontal for the math folks) or you will experience all sorts of failures. Could not get a full mag out of it without a failure.

Might I suggest a Smith j-frame? Fits in the pocket almost as well as the lcp and has been totally reliable.

"Firearms stand next in importance to the constitution itself. They are the American people's liberty teeth and keystone under independence"
George Washington

"A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have,"
Gerald Ford

Hated mine sold it for a PF9.

Ammo just as expensive as 9mm
Was not 100% reliable

Mine was completely unreliable, Ruger finally gave me a refund after it went back to them three times, and they were jerks about it. The scary part is the real problems didn't start until after 200 rounds. I now have a new Colt Mustang in .380 and really like it. The only .380 I've really enjoyed shooting.

Paul7 said:

Mine was completely unreliable, Ruger finally gave me a refund after it went back to them three times, and they were jerks about it. The scary part is the real problems didn't start until after 200 rounds. I now have a new Colt Mustang in .380 and really like it. The only .380 I've really enjoyed shooting.

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Same with mine it, was good up to 200 rounds then it started FTF every other shot. Polished the ramp with no help.

What are you looking to do with it? Pocket carry? Back-up gun? If so then I think it's a good option. I've only put about 100 rounds through it so I can't say it's going to be 100% reliable forever but so far so good. I did depress the mag release with my hand while shooting once and the mag dropped out a 1/4" or so and the round didn't feed right. I haven't had that problem since it happened.

If you are looking for a shooter, then look for something bigger and with better sights. Beretta 84 or something similar.

Hope that helps.

Also tried a Diamond Back, but it is so vulnerable to limp rising you have to keep it 100 percent straight (perpendicular to horizontal for the math folks) or you will experience all sorts of failures. Could not get a full mag out of it without a failure.

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Not sure if I'm a "math folk" but are you shooting the gun straight up in the air?

Dentite said:

Not sure if I'm a "math folk" but are you shooting the gun straight up in the air?

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More accurate statement would have been a perpendicular bi-section of the horizontal by the slide.

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LCP had to much trigger pull. I think i am going to get a Taurus TCP 380. The slide locks back after the last round is fired and it has a much easier trigger pull. I am still trying to make up my mind.

Great pocket gun, can always CCW it and I love mine, but lowsy range gun for a 12 year old girl.

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The good?

It's tiny, lightweight, and therefore easy to carry.

The bad?

It's tiny, lightweight, and therefore not easy to shoot. Not to mention the iffy trigger and the nonexistent sights.

My choice for a .380 pocket gun is the Sig P238, but it's much more expensive.

The bad is that shooting them seems like punishment so it isn't that fun to practice with it.

Mine has been a fabulous pocket pistol. Very reliable with both factory ammo and reloads.
It's not a target pistol, and it's not a range gun, especially (IMO) for a youngster.
Still, I don't think it's that bad to shoot, peppy, but not brutal.

The bad is that shooting them seems like punishment so it isn't that fun to practice with it.

Mine has been great. I shoot the hell out of it. My buddy has the laser on his and it has held zero pretty well. I have a Recluse holster and have painted the sights on it. My uncle just bought a Taurus .380 and one thing I did like on it was the slide hold open on the last round. Both have the heavy trigger, but that is not a deal breaker. Good luck.

LCP Is NOT a range gun,,,It's a CC gun that is a last resort at 5 yrds you should be able to put all rounds on papper JMO ; ) PS you could shoot a mag or two once a week/month to keep in tune

Y/D