Ethan Verity
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- May 8, 2021
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In 2022 Ruger made some additional design upgrades to their original LCP1 model, in what I am calling the "LCP1 Gen3". This post will highlight those specific changes for information purposes.
Improved Extractor:
The most obvious difference between the two gens is the extractor. The LCP Gen2 had a short "Glock" style extractor, whereas the new Gen3 has the improved "LCP Max" extractor.
Gen2 on left / Gen3 on right:
Close up of the LCP Gen2 extractor:
Close up of the LCP Gen3 extractor:
Shorter Slide Rails:
The slide rails don't come all the way to the end of the aluminum receiver in the Gen3, as they did in the Gen2. This was likely done to prevent the slide from battering the front of the rails, since they are a potential weak spot in the receiver. You can see on the Gen2 how shiny the metal is at the front of the rails, where this battering has been happening.
Gen2 on left / Gen3 on right:
Improved Hammer-Cam Geometry:
I'm not exactly sure what this part of the slide is called (the part that pushes the hammer back to cock it) so I'm just calling it the hammer-cam. The Gen2 is at front, and the Gen3 behind it. You can see that the Gen3 cam ramps up gradually from the rear of the firing pin, whereas the Gen2 is full height all the way across. This change makes the Gen3 feel smoother and lighter to rack, since the hammer is gradually being cocked back over the full length of the slide's travel, rather than all at once within the first bit of slide movement. In racking both LCPs side by side, this does create a noticeably improved difference in feel.
Gen2 at front / Gen3 behind:
Improved Feed Ramp Geometry:
The Gen 3 is on top, and the Gen2 on bottom. You can see a noticeable difference in the depth and curve geometry of the feed ramps. The Gen2 ramp was a bit too long, and would smack the top round in the mag during recoil resulting in a dented bullet. You can also see some additional milling cuts around the hammer slot in the back of the slide on the Gen3; I'm not exactly sure what those are for.
Gen3 top / Gen2 bottom:
Improved Barrel Cam Geometry:
The Gen3 barrel is on top, and the Gen2 on bottom. It looks like the Gen3 has a slightly longer dwell time than the Gen2, and it has more of a gradual curve into the unlock position.
Improved Take Down Pin:
The Gen2 pin is on the left, Gen3 on right. The LCP is notorious for having the pin head sheer off, I personally have gone through at least 4 of the old pins with my 8 year old Gen2 model. Ruger eliminated the channel at the base of the pin head where they would sheer. I believe the take-down detent spring is a slightly higher gauge on the Gen3 to make up for that lost depth.
Improved Extractor:
The most obvious difference between the two gens is the extractor. The LCP Gen2 had a short "Glock" style extractor, whereas the new Gen3 has the improved "LCP Max" extractor.
Gen2 on left / Gen3 on right:
Close up of the LCP Gen2 extractor:
Close up of the LCP Gen3 extractor:
Shorter Slide Rails:
The slide rails don't come all the way to the end of the aluminum receiver in the Gen3, as they did in the Gen2. This was likely done to prevent the slide from battering the front of the rails, since they are a potential weak spot in the receiver. You can see on the Gen2 how shiny the metal is at the front of the rails, where this battering has been happening.
Gen2 on left / Gen3 on right:
Improved Hammer-Cam Geometry:
I'm not exactly sure what this part of the slide is called (the part that pushes the hammer back to cock it) so I'm just calling it the hammer-cam. The Gen2 is at front, and the Gen3 behind it. You can see that the Gen3 cam ramps up gradually from the rear of the firing pin, whereas the Gen2 is full height all the way across. This change makes the Gen3 feel smoother and lighter to rack, since the hammer is gradually being cocked back over the full length of the slide's travel, rather than all at once within the first bit of slide movement. In racking both LCPs side by side, this does create a noticeably improved difference in feel.
Gen2 at front / Gen3 behind:
Improved Feed Ramp Geometry:
The Gen 3 is on top, and the Gen2 on bottom. You can see a noticeable difference in the depth and curve geometry of the feed ramps. The Gen2 ramp was a bit too long, and would smack the top round in the mag during recoil resulting in a dented bullet. You can also see some additional milling cuts around the hammer slot in the back of the slide on the Gen3; I'm not exactly sure what those are for.
Gen3 top / Gen2 bottom:
Improved Barrel Cam Geometry:
The Gen3 barrel is on top, and the Gen2 on bottom. It looks like the Gen3 has a slightly longer dwell time than the Gen2, and it has more of a gradual curve into the unlock position.
Improved Take Down Pin:
The Gen2 pin is on the left, Gen3 on right. The LCP is notorious for having the pin head sheer off, I personally have gone through at least 4 of the old pins with my 8 year old Gen2 model. Ruger eliminated the channel at the base of the pin head where they would sheer. I believe the take-down detent spring is a slightly higher gauge on the Gen3 to make up for that lost depth.
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