Not like THR needs another one of these, but here goes:
I picked my Ruger LCP up on Friday - $285 total after shipping and FFL from R&R Arms. I received an automatic email telling me they had two available at 4:03 p.m. on Tuesday. I happened to be at my computer and called immediately. By 4:05 both were sold, and the salesman at R&R told me the following day that he could have sold 200 in a half hour. The server, he said, almost crashed. Apparently I wasn't the only one who got that email!
I brought it to the range today, set up a target at about 8 yards, and shot 35 rounds of cheap MagTech 95 gr FMC (others guys at the range shot another 15), 7 rounds of Federal Premium Hydra-Shok 90 gr JHP, 7 rounds of MagTech Guardian Gold +P 85gr, and 18 of my own reloads (88 gr Remington JPHs, 2.9 gr VV N320, Win primers, .945 OAL).
Unfortunately, the MagTech First Defense all-copper 77 gr SCHPs that I had thought would be the most promising self-defense round were just too long at at .970-.975" OAL for the magazine. The LCP seems to like them short (around .945-.950"). I wonder if I might be able to set them in just a bit lower? Any thoughts?
Anyway, the gun performed very well. I wouldn't say it's a joy to shoot, but the recoil was manageable and my hand is not hurting at all about 65+ rounds. It's really surprisingly easy to aim and shoot. The trigger is long, of course, but it should be, and I found it to be quite smooth (although I don't have any other DOAs to compare it to). It's also plenty accurate. I'm not a very good shot, but I was making 4-5" groups at 8 yards with about 3 seconds between shots, which is just fine. I expect they'll tighten up with more practice. A little bit of paint on the rear sights might be helpful. Of course, they open up when I run the gun, but they're going where they need to, more or less.
In short, I'm happy with my purchase. This will replace my CZ Rami as my carry gun. It's in my pocket now and it's less noticeable than my set of keys in the other pocket.
Here are some chronograph results (chronograph set about 5 feet from muzzle):
MagTech FMC 95 gr:
868.6
864.5
861.0
864.1
826.5
851.2
865.3
870.4
887.5
867.0
**Two FTFs with the MagTech FMCs, but not with me firing it. I invited three other guys at the range put a magazine each through the gun. Two guys had no problems, but one had two FTFs in a row that fired the second time they were fed. Who knows, but it could have been the shooter. I'm going to say it was.
Federal Premium Hyrda-Shok JHP 90 gr
881.1
898.8
914.4
878.8
902.4
885.9
890.7
**This was a manageable round that worked perfectly and has a good reputation. It will be what stays in the magazine.
MagTech Guardian Gold +P 85gr
1049
940.1
989
1000
948.5
999.7
1013
**This round worked fine, but was a bit of a handful to shoot. I was also surprised by the velocity range (940-1049), which was the least consistent of the three factory rounds I tried today.
My Own Handloads (they all went bang, but...)
708.5
673.6
769.8
747.5
358.3 Doh! But it sure did feel smooth!
**This was my first time reloading .380. I also only bought a 3-Die set from Lee and was unable to add the factory crimp, but relied instead on the bullet-seating die for the crimp. And I started quite low, at 2.9 gr of VV N320. A couple rounds apparently didn't have even that much. I won't reload any more until I get the crimp die, but I will probably go up to 3.1 of VV N320. I'm confident that I'll be able to put together some good practice loads soon enough - all of mine went bang and the LCP even cycled the squibby rounds. So, I might even a batch in the in the 600-700 fps range for practice and plinking.
Okay, that's enough. I really like this Little Cool Pistol from Ruger. I will say this though: If I hadn't gotten the great deal I did, I would have waited for it. I'm not sure it's worth a $75 premium just because they're in high demand.
I picked my Ruger LCP up on Friday - $285 total after shipping and FFL from R&R Arms. I received an automatic email telling me they had two available at 4:03 p.m. on Tuesday. I happened to be at my computer and called immediately. By 4:05 both were sold, and the salesman at R&R told me the following day that he could have sold 200 in a half hour. The server, he said, almost crashed. Apparently I wasn't the only one who got that email!
I brought it to the range today, set up a target at about 8 yards, and shot 35 rounds of cheap MagTech 95 gr FMC (others guys at the range shot another 15), 7 rounds of Federal Premium Hydra-Shok 90 gr JHP, 7 rounds of MagTech Guardian Gold +P 85gr, and 18 of my own reloads (88 gr Remington JPHs, 2.9 gr VV N320, Win primers, .945 OAL).
Unfortunately, the MagTech First Defense all-copper 77 gr SCHPs that I had thought would be the most promising self-defense round were just too long at at .970-.975" OAL for the magazine. The LCP seems to like them short (around .945-.950"). I wonder if I might be able to set them in just a bit lower? Any thoughts?
Anyway, the gun performed very well. I wouldn't say it's a joy to shoot, but the recoil was manageable and my hand is not hurting at all about 65+ rounds. It's really surprisingly easy to aim and shoot. The trigger is long, of course, but it should be, and I found it to be quite smooth (although I don't have any other DOAs to compare it to). It's also plenty accurate. I'm not a very good shot, but I was making 4-5" groups at 8 yards with about 3 seconds between shots, which is just fine. I expect they'll tighten up with more practice. A little bit of paint on the rear sights might be helpful. Of course, they open up when I run the gun, but they're going where they need to, more or less.
In short, I'm happy with my purchase. This will replace my CZ Rami as my carry gun. It's in my pocket now and it's less noticeable than my set of keys in the other pocket.
Here are some chronograph results (chronograph set about 5 feet from muzzle):
MagTech FMC 95 gr:
868.6
864.5
861.0
864.1
826.5
851.2
865.3
870.4
887.5
867.0
**Two FTFs with the MagTech FMCs, but not with me firing it. I invited three other guys at the range put a magazine each through the gun. Two guys had no problems, but one had two FTFs in a row that fired the second time they were fed. Who knows, but it could have been the shooter. I'm going to say it was.
Federal Premium Hyrda-Shok JHP 90 gr
881.1
898.8
914.4
878.8
902.4
885.9
890.7
**This was a manageable round that worked perfectly and has a good reputation. It will be what stays in the magazine.
MagTech Guardian Gold +P 85gr
1049
940.1
989
1000
948.5
999.7
1013
**This round worked fine, but was a bit of a handful to shoot. I was also surprised by the velocity range (940-1049), which was the least consistent of the three factory rounds I tried today.
My Own Handloads (they all went bang, but...)
708.5
673.6
769.8
747.5
358.3 Doh! But it sure did feel smooth!
**This was my first time reloading .380. I also only bought a 3-Die set from Lee and was unable to add the factory crimp, but relied instead on the bullet-seating die for the crimp. And I started quite low, at 2.9 gr of VV N320. A couple rounds apparently didn't have even that much. I won't reload any more until I get the crimp die, but I will probably go up to 3.1 of VV N320. I'm confident that I'll be able to put together some good practice loads soon enough - all of mine went bang and the LCP even cycled the squibby rounds. So, I might even a batch in the in the 600-700 fps range for practice and plinking.
Okay, that's enough. I really like this Little Cool Pistol from Ruger. I will say this though: If I hadn't gotten the great deal I did, I would have waited for it. I'm not sure it's worth a $75 premium just because they're in high demand.
