Ruger Launches an LCP in .22LR

Good for them.

Wouldn't that be a cool little unit to get to work with a suppressor?

Todd.

TFB review is less complimentary. Their gun(s) were even less reliable.

Jim Watson said:

TFB review is less complimentary. Their gun(s) were even less reliable.

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I figure - without having read that particular review - that I'd take it with a grain of salt unless there is a fundamental design flaw.

My experience with little .22s and cycling is like larger .22s and accuracy... They can be ammo finicky beyond almost any other caliber out there.

I read long, how horrendous *Walther* P22s were and yet the three I've had (two since given as gifts) have been wonderful after break in and determining what ammo to shy away from.

Todd.

I will vouch for these little 22.cals I have been shooting for 10 years. And Paid $85.00 for my first one. Retail is about $150.00. Great shooters, extremely accurate and reliable. Normally would be interested in a small barrel trainer, but not this new Ruger. Maybe if the MSRP is around $150.00. If they can manufacture the Wrangler for under $200.00 then they should be able to do this gun at around $150.00 and sell for around $125.00

I emailed Ruger early this year and implored them to make a .32 LCP so it would recoil less than .380. They apparently thought it was a typo.

No, I understand why they'd rather make it in .22 than .32, it will sell a lot better because cheap ammo. However, small .22's like this have never been reliable, I asked a year or two ago what pistols would be good trainers for the LCP and most people said that tiny .22's were problematic, but one got recommended to me that I have yet to have a failure with and that's the Phoenix Arms. Weight and stupid safeties aside, they're great guns and I like it more than the Taurus PT-22 I have, which chokes on occasion and is a PITA to clear.

Now that I think about it and mentioned Phoenix Arms and @Jeb Stuart brings up the Wrangler, I see what Ruger is doing now: they're copying every cheap gun design that's decent (Kel Tec, Heritage, Phoenix Arms) and they're making their own version of it. I wouldn't doubt it if Ruger comes out with an improved version of the NAA mini revolver, but they put a DAO trigger in it.

Hey, competition is a good thing and if Ruger can make an LCP in .22 that works, they deserve the praise, but I didn't want this gun, I wanted a .32 and Ruger hasn't delivered for me so I guess I shouldn't hold out for a return of the Model 44 Carbine in .357 Magnum.

USBP379 said:

The Wrangler is significantly simpler. Aluminum construction, no magazine, fewer internal parts...

MSRP on the new LCP II is $349 but I'm sure the "street price" will be closer to $250.

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That's still double what a Phoenix sells for and have been very reliable when using the proper standard velocity ammo. This .22 LCP is untested and unproven and history isn't on its side as most tiny .22 semi auto's run like crap.

That .22 LCP looks like fun. The blowback action will make a firm grip mandatory, but the tilting barrel should improve feeding a long skinny cartridge.

Interesting how the barrel tilts, but the gun is still a blowback . . .

From the OPs article -

"The barrel appears to lock into the slide and operate on Browning's tilting barrel principle, but the handgun actually operates via blowback. The barrel tilts down as the slide reciprocates but has no locking lug. Ruger says the barrel tilts for two reasons. Firstly it aids in feeding because the chamber actually swings down closer to the magazine. Secondly it keeps the pistol's overall dimensions the same as the .380 ACP model and allows for maximum parts interchangeability between the two firearms."

https://www.shootingillustrated.com/articles/2019/12/30/range-review-ruger-lite-rack-lcp-ii-22-lr/

From the Ruger website -

"Optimized to function with high-velocity ammunition, this new pistol features a tilt-barrel, blowback semi-automatic action, which aids in feeding for reliable function."

https://ruger.com/news/2019-12-30.html

Just read the article... OMG, a magazine disconnect? Ruger specifically put that in just so they could take it out later and call it the Lite Rack Pro LCP II and sell the same gun twice.

Jim Watson said:

TFB review is less complimentary. Their gun(s) were even less reliable.

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Looks like TFB put out 2 reviews. One is nearly glowing. https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2019/12/30/tfb-review-ruger-lcp-ii-22-lr/

The other is the video by another author. https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2019/12/30/ruger-lcpii-22lr/

USBP379 said:

Interesting that Ruger is suing S&W over their 10/22 copy under "trade dress."

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Interesting point. Seems quite valid. Maybe the previous suit was a pre-emptive strike?

Todd.

I'm with TTv2. They should have made a .32

No doubt this will sell better, but I have 2 Beretta .22s with the tip up barrels THAT NEVER JAM EVER. What do I need with another Ruger?

I like my lcp but see no purpose in a .22lr version. If I want to carry a 22lr I will carry my mini NAA 22 wmr revolver or my micro NAA 22lr revolver. To me it is all about the biggest round I can carry in the smallest size.

22plinkster put up a review today. Looks like a cool little pocket pistol.

Koroner said:

No doubt this will sell better, but I have 2 Beretta .22s with the tip up barrels THAT NEVER JAM EVER. What do I need with another Ruger?

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Unfortunately, my Beretta "Jammin' " Bobcat 21A has never been reliable. Plus, when it has a misfire, racking the slide doesn't pull the bad cartridge out due to no extractor.

Definitely the only Beretta purchase (out of 4) that I've ever regretted. Pretty much soured me on pocket sized .22 autoloaders.

TTv2 said:

I emailed Ruger early this year and implored them to make a .32 LCP so it would recoil less than .380. They apparently thought it was a typo.

No, I understand why they'd rather make it in .22 than .32, it will sell a lot better because cheap ammo.

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Koroner said:

I'm with TTv2. They should have made a .32

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Fully agree on a .32 ACP version of an LCP. I'm going to wear out my Taurus TCP732 before I ever get rid of it. Then I'll need to get a KelTec at that time, if they still make 'em by then.

I am not sure what I would do with it. Plink I guess?

Maybe it will be reliable, I hope it is, but I have never found 22 autos to be 100% reliable.

I don't think I would want to use one for defensive carry when I could have a centerfire 380.

They must be on crack if they have a MSRP of $300.00. And one mag? This has got to be a misprint right? If this gun is $300.00 then it better be the most reliable 22.cal's ever made in history. What the heck is it made out of that would warrant that price? That said and on the flip side, Ruger is smart. They took a Keltec, spruced it up and sold millions. Most people could not even shoot them well. Now they are going to double dip and hit the same crowd with a cheap gun at three times what they are worth. Man, that is smart selling. And you can bet there will be the same people lined up to get one. PT Barnum is smiling in his grave at this announcement.
After the 22.cal sell, they will go 32.cal, then 22. mag and then Pro Series for all the internet Pro's. Everybody wants to be a Pro right?

Why would you buy this when the sr22 has been out for years?

I tried but I can't work up a lick of interest for this thing. If I wanted a small 22 semi-auto I would have kept my Phoenix which never hiccuped except for a dud round. Oh, wait, I still have a PPK/s 22 and it's just as reliable as the Phoenix plus it can digest hi-v ammo and I have a SR22 that does the same. EasyRack or something like that is the hype. I have never encountered a semi-auto 22 that is hard to rack. Sorry Ruger, no excitement here at all for your latest offering.