Improved slide to barrel fit with cerakoting. LCP 22

[someguy2800]

I’ve been tinkering with this LCP 22 for a bit and just wanted to share this little anecdotal experience.

When I bought this pistol it shot high and right by a lot so I filed the rear sight down to correct the elevation and filed the left side of the front sight to correct the windage. I overshot the windage a bit on the first try and I ended up chasing that back and forth. Long story short I finally had to file the front sight off completely and tig weld a new front sight blade on, but after that I was a bit more patient and finally got it perfect.

Shooting 36 gr mini mags off a sand bag it shot about a 3” group at 15 yards, which I think is quite respectable from a tiny little mouse gun. After cleaning up all my file marks and polishing the slide I dropped it off at my buddy to cerakote the slide and barrel. He did OD green on the slide and was able to coat the sights and barrel black for me and he did a great job.

First thing I noticed putting it back together is that the barrel fits much tighter in the slide than before. I had to sand the finish inside the barrel bushing just a tiny bit to get it back together. Before you could move the barrel in the slide a good bit and now it’s a very tight fit.

That tighter fit payed off as it now shoots around a 3” group at 30 yards, which is nothing to write home about for a target 22, but I’m ecstatic with that for a mouse gun the size of my wallet. It doesn’t seamed to have caused any reliability issues either. I’ve had a couple light primer strikes for no failures to feed or eject since coating it.

Now I’m curious how long it will take for the coating to wear off.

 

[Boarhunter]

I am a big fan of the 22 Elsie Pea, and am happy to see I am not alone!

BOARHUNTER

 

[Sonnydaze]

3 inch groups at 30 yards is awfully good for that little gun and short sight radius. I've visited LES BAER'S production facility in LeClair, IA years ago. Of course, his 1911's are famous for their extreme accuracy and workmanship. When his slides are first produced, they will not fit on the frame, and each one must be custom fit with file-work before it will barely slide onto the frame.
I have a Rock River Arms "Hardballer" which is guaranteed to put 5 rounds into 3" at 50 yards, with a production target to show it. It also has a very tight slide-to-frame fit..However, I have not the skill to shoot like that...
That's an impressive little Ruger.

 

[tark]

3 inch groups at 30 yards is awfully good for that little gun and short sight radius. I've visited LES BAER'S production facility in LeClair, IA years ago. Of course, his 1911's are famous for their extreme accuracy and workmanship. When his slides are first produced, they will not fit on the frame, and each one must be custom fit with file-work before it will barely slide onto the frame.
I have a Rock River Arms "Hardballer" which is guaranteed to put 5 rounds into 3" at 50 yards, with a production target to show it. It also has a very tight slide-to-frame fit..However, I have not the skill to shoot like that...
That's an impressive little Ruger.

Welcome to the forum. THR is the best one out there.

I worked for Les for 21 years and I fitted frames and slides. My avatar was my retirement present.

 

[Orion8472]

I have one of these. Been using it for conceal carry.....even if that isn't really a good idea.

But one thing I did to mine was to shave the safety down a bit. One thing that always bugged me about this gun is that the safety sticks out and part of it kind of where you grab the slide to rack a round in....and sometimes my finger would catch that safety and I found it unpleasant. So I shaved it down. You can still use it if you wanted to, but I don't. Now I can actuate the slide as it should be. Poor design on Ruger's part, IMO.

 

[doubleh]

Cute little pistol. I would guess that the duracoat will wear rather quickly.

 

[MtnHiker]

SG28...

Wild ass guess but since for most these are carried lots and shot little the coatings that count(the parts that are tightening tollerances) will probably last a lot longer if you keep it lubed. The external surfaces while really only cosmetic will probably take a beating.

Thanks for the post.. I have 2 of the lcps in 380. An lcp2 and a max. The 2 is right and tight but the max is slide to frame is sloppy. A coating job may be in order.