Ruger LCP

PX15: I am debating between the LC9 and the LCP, and I noticed you have both. I would most of all like a gun I can carry 100% of the time without having to make clothing changes, expensive holster purchases exc exc.

So I have a couple of questions; Is the LC9 small enough and smooth enough to be an easy pocket pistol? Do the magazine plate extenders that companies offer for the LCP make it possible to hold the gun comfortably?

Lastly, does anyone have anything they have noticed that's bad/poorly designed on the LCP? For the price tag, size, reputed accuracy, quality, and caliber it seems as the best bang for your pocket.

My wife has an LCP and I recently purchased an LC9. I can easily pocket carry th LC9 in the pocket of my cargo shorts and my Docker pants. Obviously, it isn't as easy to carry as the LCP but it is a much better gun in terms of caliber and "shootability". I can keep "hand-sized" groups with my LC9 at 21' with little effort. I tend to pull the LCP to the right a lot but I could empty a magazine into a chest-sized target at 15-20' with it with confidence.

amazon shooter said:

Are you guys shilling for Ruger?
If it's for real, I'm getting one!

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Not shilling for Ruger, just recognizing them for what they are - a reliable, accurate controllable mouse gun that is light enough to go everywhere. IMO, the first priority in concealed carry is to always have a firearm. The LCP makes it easy to make 100% carry a realistic proposition, man or woman.

I think there are other concealed carry options that are worth having and carrying, but those are options to pursue once you have 100% carry covered. It's easy to talk a good game about packing a full sized service firearm for 100% carry, but very difficult to practice in real life. It is a very practical option, even w/ the noted concessions to the less effective caliber. I always have a minimum of 7 rounds 380 available to me, a significant upgrade from bare knuckles. Walking in the mall, walking the dog in the neighborhood, sitting on the couch watching TV - sometimes I have more (rounds and/or caliber), but I always have at least 7 rounds of 380.

David

PX15

Cool looking LCP's you and your wife have.

Well I just pulled the trigger and got an LCP. There was a gun show in town today and I traded my Marlin 336 for it. Went out and put 50 rounds through the little thing, plus a few hollow points. Does anyone have a suggestion on which HP's cycle the best in it? Or should I ask, is there a HP that does NOT cycle well?

Lastly, the magazine seems a little stiff when your trying to push it into the gun, it's almost like it catches on something and then with a little more effort pops in. Will this break in or is it just like that? So far so good, I love the fact that I can just throw this gun in my pocket and go.

I have been less than impressed with my wife's LCP. I got her one of those dumb rasbperry ones haha- she HAD to have it.
It doesn't like to feed half the ammo we throw at it, and unless you have an absolute deathgrip on it, it will stovepipe.
Then there is the accuracy of the thing- or lack thereof. Just not fun to shoot overall.

My son gave me one for Christmas. I wasn't thrilled because I've had problems with KT's in the past, and it looked just like one. Admittedly, I only have about 200 rounds through it, but it has been a pleasant surprise - not one hiccup. I carry it when light summer clothing prevents a larger and heavier pistol.

JMOfartO:

Well, no offense to anyone, but there have been 32 posts on this thread, and of those 32 there was one person unhappy with his LCP, and one person who was "satisfied" but not "in love with" his LCP..

You can't please all of the people all of the time, and anything made by man CAN have problems.

So, I'd suggest ISO1066 just got one for the rare "problem LCP's", but statistics show that any pistol/revolver with a dumb raspberry finish has a higher chance of imperfection than one with a standard finish..

Everyone knows that.

Yahtzee4U?

FOR ME (and I'm a runt) I find that the LCP is perfect for everyday carry in a rear pocket holster.. My LC9 is perfect for everyday carry in an IWB holster.

Or, my LCP goes with me daily, and my LC9 is simply a bit too large for that duty.

I DO prefer the magazines on our LCP's have the fingertip mag extension. We have found it offers a very good grip for our needs, better than the flat magazine bases for sure.

Bullet?

Thank you for the kind words.. JoAnn and I both are very high on our little Ruger stash... LCP's and LC9..

FWIW, we been Ruger owners of one type or another for over 40 years, and SO FAR (knocking on wood here) never had a bad one.

In fact JoAnn has a 357mag. Security-Six we bought new back in the early 1970's as her "bump in the night" nightstand choice.

And our 30 yr old Son still has the "Single-Six Convertible" I bought him when he was 5 years old..

No offense to anyone, just conversin', not confrontin'

Best Wishes,

jesse

Yahtzee42,

You asked about the stiff magazine insertion. My first time out with it I thought the same thing. Felt like something was interfering with it. I pushed in on the mag release and it went on in smoothly. I thought something was wrong. Finally I realized that it takes a bit of a slap to drive it on in, nothing to worry about.

Awesome, thanks for the reply. It just seemed a bit harder than the few other semi-auto's I've owned, good to know. Fun little gun, need to find a good in the pocket holster.

i like mine, they are awesome in the fact that i can pocket carry in my GYM SHORTS....

right now im loving my p11. i think its under rated. 12 rounds flush! of 9mm.
Now you cant Gym short pocket carry it unless you use a little piece of plastic also. i think its 2 awesome guns to have...p11 has full sights. but i have no problem with the lcp....best thing about the lcp? it will always be with you

a good feed ramp polishing can help smooth out any problems*


wont see many of these. Also i like to think the pink adds insult to injury...i can see the bad guy thinking "seriously? pink?"

Yahtzee4U said:

Awesome, thanks for the reply. It just seemed a bit harder than the few other semi-auto's I've owned, good to know. Fun little gun, need to find a good in the pocket holster.

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Desantis Superfly Holster. Can't say enough good things about them. The holster WILL stay in place in your pocket when you draw. Bloody awesome design.

Love my LCP...over 500 trouble free rounds through it. It is just so easy to carry in your pocket everyday. Recently attended a retired shoot at my former department, for LEOSA purposes, and fired 3 different weapons. Was rerquired to fire the LCP back to the 25 yard line. 3-15 yards, was right in there, but opened up a little more at 25 yards. But still managed to keep all shots in the shilliouette, just not as tight.

I'm not so impressed with it after the slide stop rusted shut. My wife just brought it back from a month long trip where she was wearing it every day. Not sure how I'm going to fix that if lots of oil doesn't work.

My LCP is one of my least carried guns, but I still consider it indispensable. It fills a carry niche that no other gun can fill for me, including my Kahr PM9. I can carry bigger guns about 98% of the time, but I will always keep my LCP around for that other 2% of the time. (Example: Wearing basketball shorts, etc.)

I am NOT a believer in the .380ACP round. I view it as a compromise that I am, at least occasionally, willing to make. Nothing wrong with that, in my opinion.

Oh, and like most others, my LCP has been boringly reliable with all ammunition I've shot through it.

FWIW:

Another suggestion for those interested in the LCP might want to visit the dedicated LCP forum (www.elsiepea.com).

This gun forum is dedicated to the LCP and if you'll use the "search" function I'm thinking you'll find the answers you might have for any issue you might have with your LCP, or just if you are considering purchasing one.

I think anyone owning an LCP will benefit from reading the many posts on this forum about our little pocket rocket..

As to inserting the mag?

I just depress the release button and keep it depressed while inserting a new mag and slide the mag in easily.. I believe I read on www.elsiepea.com that this was not a requirement, but a good idea. Less wear on the button itself and I just never felt warm and fuzzy "slamming" a mag in.

But that's just me.

Best Wishes, and a Happy 4th to everyone..

Jesse

I musta got a lemon.


I have 4 semi-autos this is the only gun I've had issues with. Only have about 150 rounds through it on 2 range trips so far but I've had a couple of light primer strikes and FTFs. I have 2 Glocks and can shoot them more accurately at about 3x the distance I can with the LCP. Quality seems pretty low, feels cheap and unsmooth manually racking, and can't manually cycle a full clip of Snap Cap through it without a jam. Dirty shooter too.

Need to give it another chance since it's been in the safe since I bought it.

reppans:

I would agree with you that your particular LCP is a "lemon"..

The various issues you have experienced are NOT common, and I would suggest that contacting Ruger CS for a return authorization for warranty repair would be a smart move.

The issues won't go away just because you drag your LCP out of the closet to give it a 2nd chance, and it's unfair to YOU and the reputation of what I personally consider a very, very good 380cal. sub-compact pistol for you to even try.

One thing I believe will NOT change even after Ruger fixes the rest of the issues you are having is the fact that your Glock is more accurate at three times the distance of your LCP.

The LCP by virtue of it's size and weight, and length of barrel is simply not designed, intended, nor will perform as well at longer distances as any quality firearm such as your Glocks..

The LCP (or MY LCP's) is very accurate at the distance all mouseguns were designed to be accurate from.. I use 7 yards as my maximum mousegun self defense distance, and at 7 yards my LPC is "almost" as accurate as my HK P2000sk, or (even more surprisingly) my HK P7.

Now to be honest my LCP has a CT Laser AND external sights, so I'm sure those two factors play a big part in how accurately it shoots at that distance, but the other two LCP's we have are also more than self defense accurate at the same distance, just using "point and shoot" to center mass.

The LCP is not a target gun, but it's as accurate at 7 yards as the other mouseguns firing the 32 or 380 cal. round I've owned (or still own)..

That would include 2 NAA Guardians, KelTec P32, Beretta Tomcat, two LWS32's, and one LWS380..

Please consider my suggestion, and I'm betting if you'll send your LCP in for warranty repair you will be happy with it when you get it back...

I WILL say that from personal experience (including a Buddy's LCP) I have found that trigger "pull" and trigger "feel" WILL vary from pistol to pistol, but those with the harder, or less than smooth triggers, seem to improve as more rounds are fired thru them.

I am happy that Crimson Trace makes a very good laser for the LCP, and it's not too pricey... I'm also happy that for those folks who do not care for lasers Innovative Arms has an external sight upgrade that really, really works on the LCP, and looks good doing it. Again, the price is reasonable in my opinion for either upgrade..

I chose both..

But I'm worth it.

I've said in my earlier post that I do NOT think the LCP "needs" either a laser or external sights for self defense within 7 yards or less.. I believe 99% of the time a situation requiring the use of a cc mousegun will occur quite quickly, at very close up distance, and be over very quickly with few shots fired. ANY quality, reliable mousegun using a point and shoot method of self defense should do the job.

But, for that remaining 1% where you might actually have sufficient warning to search for a good "sight picture" having a laser, or external sights, or both won't hurt..

No offense to you Sir, just conversin', not confrontin'.

Best Wishes,

Jesse

I will keep my 4 KelTecs they have never failed and have served well for several years . In fact just added a PF-9 to the mix its at a 100 trouble free rounds of ball, Corbon JHP and Power Ball . That make 5 good KelTecs None of then have required any Fluff and Buff Just remove from box little oil and start shooting .

MICHAEL T:

Nothing wrong with KelTec's..

I had two, a P32 and a P11, both were excellent.

They must be good, otherwise Ruger wouldn't have cloned 'em..

Best Wishes,

Jesse

I've had my LCP since they came out. Original issue, very low serial#. 1600 trouble free rounds later and it is still a gem. If you want to use it past 7 yards then you will get frustrated at the range. It is not made for anything but close quarter distances. For that, it is a marvelous little pistol that can literally go anywhere.

Thanks for the comments PX15...

I don't know if there is a warranty issue yet - not sure 3 or 4 fail to fire/feed events in the first 150 rounds constitutes a defective gun. Perhaps there's a break-in period, and why I want to give it "a second chance." Seems others have experienced the Snap Cap issue as well: CLICKY, but it doesn't have a consistent ejection problem with empty shells.

PX15 said:

One thing I believe will NOT change even after Ruger fixes the rest of the issues you are having is the fact that your Glock is more accurate at three times the distance of your LCP.

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Now this part concerns me a bit.

My G19 has a 4" barrel and G26 a 3.5" barrel. Now I'm a noob and not the greatest shot, but I shoot both about the same and can pretty much keep it on a paper plate at 50 feet, even 75 ft reasonably well - and when I miss, I have very good feel why I missed and where the bullet went.

The LCP has a 2.8" barrel, which seems a similar step shorter, but with this gun, I had a hard time keeping it on the paper plate at 25', and when I missed, I had no idea where the bullet went. I'd be very happy if it felt "almost as accurate as my... ," as you said. I've since shot a friend's .38 snubby and was shocked at how accurate it is with an even shorter barrel .

I was so disappointed from those 2 range sessions (not just reliability, more so accuracy), that I went out and bought the G26 within a week for my CC gun. Never had a single issue with either Glock from the very first trigger pull (reliability or accuracy).

Having said all that, once again, I'm a firearm noob (although have been a life-long recreational air-rifle/pistol shooter). My G19 was my first real pistol, and the LCP was the second, so I probably shot <500 rounds when I purchased the LCP. Now that I have a few thousand rounds under my belt, I'm going to try it again to see if it may have been a technique or break-in issue affecting accuracy and reliability.

If not... I've already got someone that wants to buy it used . (Also wonder if "perceived accuracy" is something that Ruger would consider a "warranty repair" for .)

The accuracy will come with practice with the LCP. The Glock weighs twice as much and has a trigger pull 1/2 of the LCP. The LCP has a shorter grip, and sight radius. Those 4 factors alone make it harder to shoot accurately. I had almost 1000 rounds thru mine until it felt comfortable enough to be "accurate". When you shoot these tiny pistols, it takes a lot of patience to become proficient with them even if you've shot full size guns your whole life. Some may take 200 rounds to get used to and some may take 2000 rounds. If you keep your expectations to 21' or less then you will be satisfied sooner. Keep it at 50' and you'll probably retire it to the safe before you are happy with your results.

reppans:

Practice from seven yards, or less, with your LCP. I guarantee you it won't be long before you can hit the center of a pie plate using just "point and shoot" style over and over and over again.

That's all folks..

Forget comparisons to your Glock or any other firearm..

I carry my LCP daily in a rear pocket holster... Every day, every trip. I cannot even do that with my LC9.. Certainly not any larger firearm..

IF you are able to reasonably cc a larger firearm than the LCP then you shouldn't be restricting yourself to a 380cal. pistol anyway.

But larger cc firearms cannot always go where the LCP can go, and THAT's where the LCP shines.

I love my LCP.. So much in fact that I bought a 2nd, (that I really didn't need), and then my wife bought her own.. Never (knock on wood) a mis-fire, malfunction, or problem with any of them..

That says a lot about a pistol that cost $265.00.....

Best Wishes,

Jesse

PX15

What brand holster are those?