LCP MAX elevated to carry option.

unclenunzie · Aug 15, 2022

My recently acquired LCP MAX has been elevated to carry option for when I need a backup or lighter weight. It has proven reliable in basic testing, never failing to feed, fire, eject or lock back upon empty.

PROS: Reliable, shootable, small and light enough to pocket conceal, 10/12+1, just large enough to handle reasonably. Good grip texture, good slide serrations. It works as a purpose built handgun.
CONS: Loose barrel/slide fit, loose slide/frame fit, combat accuracy, low-end finish, one mag supplied.

It's role will be as a backup to a belt 9mm, or as primary when I'd be glad to have any pistol, and would find a more capable handgun unworkable. Or if I'm not averse to risking my life in a good area, knowing that nothing bad can happen.

defjon · Aug 15, 2022

Mine has never jammed but it is not very accurate for me.

Ethan Verity · Aug 15, 2022

Congratulations!

I'll be shooting mine for the very first time soon, and am hoping for similar performance! I've had it for roughly a month now, but never fired it. The brand new barrel was rusty and pitted, wasn't even worth wasting ammo through it with a test fire. I finally got a factory-fresh replacement from Ruger just a few days ago! The new one looks perfect, the gun is now ready for the range! I also replaced the front sight with an M&P M2.0 front sight, I just like it better.

Pistolay · Aug 15, 2022

I have 2 of them. They're reliable, very concealable, and "minute of bad guy" accurate. That's all I ask of them.

unclenunzie · Aug 15, 2022

I know they take bodyguard sights, but did not know m&p would fit or is the same. Good to know. These are remarkably light weight but still shoot well enough. 10+1 and under a pound.

Oh, almost forgot. After a general clean and oil with CLP I used a small bit of superlube grease on the hammer and sear. A few dry fires with a snap cap makes the trigger smoother. A bit on the rails too.

railroader · Aug 16, 2022

Ethan Verity said:
Congratulations!

I'll be shooting mine for the very first time soon, and am hoping for similar performance! I've had it for roughly a month now, but never fired it. The brand new barrel was rusty and pitted, wasn't even worth wasting ammo through it with a test fire. I finally got a factory-fresh replacement from Ruger just a few days ago! The new one looks perfect, the gun is now ready for the range! I also replaced the front sight with an M&P M2.0 front sight, I just like it better.
View attachment 1096630

The new M+P front sight looks to be quite a bit taller. Hopefully the gun will shoot to point of aim and not low.

Ethan Verity · Aug 16, 2022

railroader said:
The new M+P front sight looks to be quite a bit taller. Hopefully the gun will shoot to point of aim and not low.

It's not, that's just an illusion in the picture because of the different angles. The M&P sight is exactly the same height.

railroader · Aug 16, 2022

Ethan Verity said:
It's not, that's just an illusion in the picture because of the different angles. The M&P sight is exactly the same height.

That's great.

JDGray · Aug 16, 2022

Mines been 100% reliable for 8-10 years. My son pick it up, smacked a torso sized steel target at 100 yards, so accuracy is possible! Lol

MtnHiker · Aug 16, 2022

Tag. Been looking at one of these. Have an LCP2 and it has been great.

Ethan Verity · Aug 16, 2022

unclenunzie said:
I know they take bodyguard sights,...

Sort of... I originally tried M&P Bodyguard 380 factory sights that I purchased brand new from S&W specifically for my new LCP Max. I really wanted these sleek, low-profile sights over the relatively tall factory originals, which I think are too much of a snag hazard for a pocket gun. Well... the front sight fit, however the rear sight did not. The dovetail cut in the slide is too big for the Bodyguard rear sight, it slides all the way through the slide with no resistance at all!

That's why I then settled on the Ruger factory rear, paired with an M&P M2.0 front. The M&P M2.0 sight height pairs with the Ruger factory rear sight perfectly, but it has more of an angled cut on the leading edge than the factory front did. I didn't care about the tritium feature anyway.

TTv2 · Aug 16, 2022

The entire point is it holds 10 rds and fits in a pocket, not that you can shoot wings off a fly at 25 yards. If you want that get a snub revolver with a cockable hammer.

SDGlock23 · Aug 16, 2022

I like my LCP MAX a lot, I've had two the first one I got rid of on a trade but quickly regretted it. I think they're accurate enough for sure, not too hard to hit plates at 25yds with it even if it's not really a gun you would probably have to reach out with, you never know.

MedWheeler · Aug 17, 2022

JDgray writes:

Mines been 100% reliable for 8-10 years. My son pick it up, smacked a torso sized steel target at 100 yards, so accuracy is possible!

The LCP-MAX was released in July of 2021.

tactikel · Aug 17, 2022

For an LCP hitting a 7” paper plate at 5 yards 5 out of 6 just fine. Mine will hit a playing card 5 of 6 slow fire all day long.

Ethan Verity · Sep 12, 2022

My new LCP Max is finally entering my carry rotation as well! It has been a rough start. In addition to the rusty barrel that needed replaced in my previous post, my first range trip was a disappointment... multiple FTF/FTE malfunctions, the magazine kept popping out while shooting, and my Galloway Precision trigger fell apart after 50 rounds when the roll pin popped out and got lost. I have since replaced the original extractor, extractor spring, magazine release, and magazine release spring. I also got a new trigger from Galloway. That all fixed it, my most recent range trip was perfect, 200 rounds and no problems! Including 50 rounds of my carry hollow points. I'm happy to finally have the bugs worked out, so that I can carry this with confidence!

Rule3 · Sep 12, 2022

Been carrying the LCP of all versions for years. I like the Max for what it is and fits in the pocket perfect,

murf · Sep 12, 2022

unclenunzie said:
combat accuracy,

i don't have the max yet, but my lcpII snaps back in my hand a lot. the key is for me to keep a stiff wrist throughout the shot process (especially the follow-through).

luck,

murf

p.s. i guess i should tell all how i keep a stiff wrist; keeping the bottom of the grip from going forward is easy, just keep a firm grip with the middle and ring fingers of the shooting hand. keeping the top of the grip from coming back requires one to keep pushing forward on the webbing of the shooting hand (this is the key for me as i tend to relax this part of my grip).

i push forward hard with the web of my hand since this tames the "snap" back of the little gun.

Buckeye63 · Sep 13, 2022

As soon as Bass Pro had them to come in .. I purchased one .. never disappointed

beeenbag · Sep 13, 2022

Ethan Verity said:
Congratulations!

I'll be shooting mine for the very first time soon, and am hoping for similar performance! I've had it for roughly a month now, but never fired it. The brand new barrel was rusty and pitted, wasn't even worth wasting ammo through it with a test fire. I finally got a factory-fresh replacement from Ruger just a few days ago! The new one looks perfect, the gun is now ready for the range! I also replaced the front sight with an M&P M2.0 front sight, I just like it better.
View attachment 1096630

Do you have pictures of the rusty factory barrel? I wouldn't mind seeing that

Ethan Verity · Sep 13, 2022

beeenbag said:
Do you have pictures of the rusty factory barrel? I wouldn't mind seeing that

No, I should have, but unfortunately never got around to getting a picture. I've since returned it to Ruger after they sent me the new barrel.

But to at least describe it in more detail, the whole bore was covered in very deep pitting, in both the lands and grooves. At first I just thought it was dirty, so I brushed it out and gave it a good cleaning (as I do with all new guns). That's when I realized it was rust, and the damage was far worse than I expected. I rubbed a toothpick down the bore and it would snag into the deep pitting... the bore brush also felt rough going through. What's strange is this pitting was only inside the bore, the outer part of the barrel was perfect. I'm not sure how that happened, unless they left the bore bone-dry and only oiled up the outside of the barrel during assembly. How it got that bad in just the few months from factory to gun store, sitting in a presumably dry box, I don't know... there was no rust on the slide.

Speedo66 · Sep 15, 2022

I carried a Glock 26 in an IWB holster in humid NYC for 12 or 13 years, not a spec of rust on it.

When I retired I bought a 1st gen LCP and it got a spot of rust on it almost immediately.

Either Glocks are extremely rust resistant, or LCP's aren't very.

Buckeye63 · Sep 15, 2022

Speedo66 said:
I carried a Glock 26 in an IWB holster in humid NYC for 12 or 13 years, not a spec of rust on it.

When I retired I bought a 1st gen LCP and it got a spot of rust on it almost immediately.

Either Glocks are extremely rust resistant, or LCP's aren't very.

Is it on the slide ?

Speedo66 · Sep 15, 2022

Buckeye63 said:
Is it on the slide ?

Yup. About the only place it could it rust on the outside.

JayZee · Sep 16, 2022

Not to derail the thread but we need a P32 MAX....would make a great comparison.

Anyways, the LCP Max looks like the solution to pocket guns only having 6-8 rounds. Glad you like yours!!
I would never have thought to swap the sights from the M&P line..glad you are happy with them!

LCP MAX elevated to carry option.

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