Gave wife Ruger LCP for Christmas

[Samari Jack]

Even with the snow we were able to give it a try at my barn/indoor range yesterday. Little bitty (with a emphasis on little) weapon. It actually feels pretty good in both our size hands. No safeties to mess with. Each shot requires a trigger pull that cocks a visible hammer in the back of the pistol but it can't be accessed to cock with a thumb. We both found it was easier after one outing to just point and shoot rather than try to aim at 12 to 15 ft. From what I have learned. In most circumstances a person should be looking for other options other than a gun much beyond this distance. I would call it a winner. It cost $230.00 at a gun show. I gotta get me one now. Loaded with Hornady 90 gr FTX critical defense.

http://www.gunblast.com/images/Ruger-LCP/Ruger-LCP.wmv

 

[Yo Mama]

Good price. To me it's really a shoot little, carry alot gun. The recoil is unpleasant, so I hope your wife has some shooting experience.

For you, I'd recommend going with a 9mm for the pocket vs. that LCP. Try to check out a keltec pf9, or kahr pm9. The small 9s still kick a bit, but there is no free lunch.

We both found it was easier after one outing to just point and shoot rather than try to aim at 12 to 15 ft. From what I have learned. In most circumstances a person should be looking for other options other than a gun much beyond this distance.

Yes! You knew this prior to purchase, so you have this correct. Good gun to practice point shooting with.

Congrats on the purchase.

 

[shootingthebreeze]

I would say that the Ruger LCP (.380) effective range is ten feet or less.

90 grain is good-I would look at the maximum hollow point diameter for personal defense. With a smaller caliber, you want a large wound channel thus, the largest hollow point available. Check Cor Bon Jacketed Hollow Point ammo also.

 

[Gun Geezer]

I would say that the Ruger LCP (.380) effective range is ten feet or less.

90 grain is good-I would look at the maximum hollow point diameter for personal defense. With a smaller caliber, you want a large wound channel thus, the largest hollow point available. Check Car Bon ammo also.

What am I missing here. The diameter of bullet is fixed at roughly .380", right? So how do you maximize the diameter?

 

[bestseller92]

The diameter of a .380 ACP bullet is actually .355", not .380. I want an LCP.

 

[Double Vision]

Nice choice, and thanks for the write-up. The LCP is moving up on my "next buy" list.

 

[Hanzo581]

My wife is interested in an LCP but she wants to shoot it first, it's tough finding a range near me that rents them. My wife doesn't deal well with recoil so I am afraid it is going to scare her off. I wonder how close it is to the Bersa .380 she does well shooting.

 

[walking arsenal]

I'd recommend getting the crimson trace laser grips for it. The sights are darn near worthless.

It's a decent gun though. The only thing keeping me from calling it terrific is the fact that mine came with a bad barrel.

Ruger handled the repair very quickly though so no complaints there.

 

[bestseller92]

Does anyone have experience with both the LCP and the KelTec P32, and if so, which is more reliable?

 

[Samari Jack]

For recoil comparison, I have an older Bursa 380 CC. The Bursa is a bit heavier with a little less felt recoil plus the part that fits in the crotch of your hand (I'm sure you guys know the correct nomenclature) has a bit sharper curve on the LCP. The LCP is just so light. My key ring weighs more. We both have bad (arthritis) thumbs and didn't really pay that much attention to recoil till toward the end of the second mag. We then began to notice a little bite, enough to say that is enough for now. The recoil is not nearly as biting as our .38 S&W Airweight, even with standard 130 gr (no +p). Both of us were raised around guns, have way to many to be a sane person, with parents and grandparents the same way and ended up with theirs. We both have CC permits, and practice regularly. She keeps a Kahr PM9 in her purse and a Judge in the side door pocket. I keep a .44 Bulldog in the side pocket and a Kahr P9 on my body when temps are down. I don't have enough body mass to comfortably hide much in summer. The Kahr works but is still a little bulky at times and ends up left in the vehicle. I was thinking the Ruger might fill that need.

I don't have a way to measure trigger pull but it takes a long pull. I'm reasonably sure that it would be OK to run .380 +p in the LCP. I haven't checked yet.

 

[shootingthebreeze]

Steve the Cor Bon 90 gr Jacketed Hollow Point .380 is quite good. I made an earlier spelling error.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=179428

The size of that hollow point is quite impressive.

 

[wrench]

I have an LCP, recoil is peppy, but not terrible. It's not a range gun, I don't shoot it for fun, but I can get 50r through it without trouble.
I used to have a Bersa .380, seemed rather softer than the Ruger, bigger, heavier pistol.
Also used to have an airweight S&W .38, aka 'the evil revolver'. The recoil was worse than the LCP.
Also used to have a Keltec P32, less recoil than the Ruger, but was ammo picky.
The LCP, to me, is the best combination of tiny, with acceptable power.

 

[shootingthebreeze]

Samari, before you run P+ check with manual and dealer.

I have looked at this .380 and it is a fine little defense weapon for close range. It's only good for less than 10 feet but engagement typically will by that distance anyway. What is attractive is how small it is.

 

[Katana8869]

I would say that the Ruger LCP (.380) effective range is ten feet or less.

You obviously do not own one. With mine, at 15 yards I can easily hold all of my shots within a 7 inch circle. At 7 yards I get rapid fire groups that I can cover with the palm of my hand. I shoot my LCP as well or better than I do my 2" J-frames at the same distances.

 

[CZguy]

With mine, at 15 yards I can easily hold all of my shots within a 7 inch circle. At 7 yards I get rapid fire groups that I can cover with the palm of my hand. I shoot my LCP as well or better than I do my 2" J-frames at the same distances.

Yep, I have the same results. I like my J frame, but shoot the LCP much better.

But this time of year I carry my CZ RAMI.

 

[shootingthebreeze]

Katana, what I meant by effective range was about penetration power versus accuracy as you stated.

http://waterguy.us/handgun.htm

At 15 yards you will get the accuracy and penetration per the table for .380. However, engagement typically will be 10 feet or less.

The greater the distance the less penetration especially adding clothing factors as well. The .380 is really not designed for greater distances than 10 feet for that reason but it could surprise me.

Katana, no I don't own one but soon I will because it offers quite a lot of perks to include being easily concealed. I looked at one last weekend; quite nice. There are others (S&W but heavier) but this one did catch my eye. Never owned a .380 so that would be an adjustment.

 

[PUT'CHA]

gift on xmas

If you ask me, I would say. Go get her some shooting boots on and get to the range..

 

[P7]

I really like my LCP. Also have a Kahr P380. The P380 has better sights and a better trigger but is not nearly as reliable but it is not nearly as reliable as the LCP. The LCP has not had one failure in 1200 rounds.

 

[CZ-100]

I purchased one for my wife for our anniversary this year, she picked it out. She carry's it everywhere

Below is a pic of my Wife's first trip to the range. 100rds at 10yds.
This was not rapid fire, but even when her groups are not bad.

 

[45Fan]

A friend of mine recently recieved a Bersa thunder 380 as a gift from her dad, and shooting side by side, the recoil isnt really any worse in the LCP, just a lot less pistol to hold on to, makes it a bit more difficult to hang on to, but by no means bad. I think the difference is in the action, as the LCP is a locking breach, supposed to help control the recoil a bit.
As far as accuracy, I have on a few occasions shot chipmunks at 10yds with mine. It is definatly not something you would want for target competition, but considering its size, it is very accurate with good ammo and resonable practice.