LCP malfunction

[CopperFouling]

I brought a slightly used LCP to the range today after purchasing it last weekend. Because I cannot find any FMJ around here, I brought Winchester PDX1. After 22 rounds, I had a failure to eject. The round was wedged parallel to the barrel, and the slide was locked tight. I ejected the magazine and shook the round out.

Two more rounds later, I had a failure to feed. Then the slide would not slide all of the way to the rear. It was far enough to cock the hammer but not far enough to feed a round into the chamber. After I dropped the magazine out, the slide still would not slide all of the way back.

I disassembled it twice, the second time at home. The slide now moves all of the way to the rear like it should. I'm concerned that if I send it to Ruger, the repair department will not think it has a problem.

Any ideas as to the problem? I am really concerned, since this one needs to run 100 percent.

 

[1KPerDay]

Are you using factory mags? Is the recoil spring assembly in good shape?

 

[CopperFouling]

Are you using factory mags?

Yes.

Is the recoil spring assembly in good shape?

It looks like it. I'm not familiar with LCPs, though, so there could be something that I am missing. Anything that I should look for?

 

[1KPerDay]

It's a dual-spring (inner and outer) system, with the large end of the inner spring toward the front (slides into the outer spring from the front, then both slide onto the recoil spring guide).

Sounds to me like something's possibly mechanically wrong, though, particularly this bit:

Then the slide would not slide all of the way to the rear. It was far enough to cock the hammer but not far enough to feed a round into the chamber. After I dropped the magazine out, the slide still would not slide all of the way back.

 

[frankmako]

clean the gun good and use grease on the rails. these little guns do not like to shoot when dirty. 20 rounds to these guns mean a dirty gun. grease works better on these guns. also make sure you are not "limp wristing" the gun. easy to do with small lite weight guns. some of these guns do not feel hp ammo good. sometimes a little f&b can go a long way to make them better.

 

[ID-shooting]

As mentioned, these are meant for long range sessions. I personally dont have more than two mags through mine without cleaning. Mine is because it just freakin hurts to shoot hahaha. Anyway, different ammo? mine like Hornady XTP. The other check to see if it a post recall gun or not. If not, is it marked by Ruger as being updated?

 

[goon]

I'd call Ruger and explain the situation to them. If you send a gun back to Ruger for repairs, they fix the problem and twenty five things that you didn't even know existed. You'll probably get a "new" custom-fitted gun back built on your original frame.

I don't buy the line of thinking that says because it has 20 rounds worth of smokeless powder fouling the gun won't work. A gun that's carried for defense won't ever be spotlessly clean, so you'd better have one that will run a little bit dirty. And if you had trouble cycling the slide by hand, then the problem isn't from limp-wristing.

Send it back to them and let them fix it.

 

[CopperFouling]

It's a dual-spring (inner and outer) system, with the large end of the inner spring toward the front (slides into the outer spring from the front, then both slide onto the recoil spring guide).

That's what mine looked like. I will double check to make sure the springs are in there correctly.

clean the gun good and use grease on the rails. these little guns do not like to shoot when dirty.

It had some oil on it when I bought it (I checked), so I did not add more. I will be sure to add some before I shoot again.

also make sure you are not "limp wristing" the gun. easy to do with small lite weight guns.

It's possible, although I shoot .45s from my 1911 without any limp wristing. And I'm pretty used to some recoil, since my favorite load is a 158-grain .357 Mag over 14 gr. of 2400.

I'd call Ruger and explain the situation to them.

Probably my best bet. I'll give them a call on Monday.

 

[1KPerDay]

these little guns do not like to shoot when dirty.

I have not found this to be the case with mine. Exceedingly reliable. I treat mine like a glock... very little drops of oil on the rails, barrel hood, muzzle bulge, etc.

Mine always works, dirty or not, full of pocket fuzz or not.

 

[CopperFouling]

clean the gun good and use grease on the rails. these little guns do not like to shoot when dirty.

Here's the other thing: it did not feel like a lubrication issue. I had a Buck Mark once that had some grease from the factory on its inside rails, and the slide was sluggish / sticky. The slide on the LCP wasn't sluggish, it was just stuck.

 

[huntsman]

Try FMJ before you send it back.

 

[CopperFouling]

Try FMJ before you send it back.

I would, if I could find any. I literally called nine stores within fifty miles of me; the only one that had it was Cabelas, and it was all HPs. They're about as common as .22s around here.

 

[huntsman]

I realize it's tough buying ammo now I just hate to see you waste time shipping the gun back to Ruger if it's just an ammo situation. FWIW my LCP runs perfect except with corbon JHP and Blazer(aluminum) FMJ, the Blazer was FTE at least twice per mag on 3 different mags, the JHP would hang the slide up a bit when I racked it.

 

[5-SHOTS]

I suspect you got an overpowered round that could have damaged the gun. Inspect the barrel, the chamber and the barrel to slide fit when disassembled.

 

[Paul7]

My LCP did nothing but malfuction, Ruger finally gave me a refund after being jerks about it. I now carry a Colt Pocketlite, a MUCH better gun. As far as the ammo comments above, I'm sorry but a new pistol should run on any factory ammo. If it is so picky it won't I don't want to carry it.

 

[huntsman]

The problem with buying a used gun is you never know if it's just a good deal or someone's lemon till you start using it.

Ideally a gun should function with all factory ammo but mechanical devices don't always do ideally. I personally wouldn't accept a carry gun that required a fluff and buff to function but when it comes to ammo I more forgiving, only because once you identify the culprit avoidance is simple enough and there's a lot of cheap ammo brands to choose from.

 

[ritepath]

Normally I'll feed mine 20-25 fmjs then 7-14 hps in a session. Never failed so far...great little pistol.

 

[tommy.duncan]

My wife picked out a LCP (in raspberry) yesterday at a fun show. We went to the range today. She shot 100 rounds of Winchester white box (dirty stuff) and 2 full mags of Remington Ultimate Defense. It cycles FMJ and HP rounds without a problem. I did not disassemble it and oil prior to the range trip. I feel better about the wifey keeping it in her pocket after today.

 

[kendak]

first 50rds my LCP had a few FTF & FTE but now after 700 to 725 trouble free rds. I had to send it back to Ruger for a new slide & barrel ... got it back in ONE week no charge ...use 20wt. syn. oil in all my weapons including NFA toys ...the LCP & LC9 are great CC guns & lots of fun to shoot ...take care

 

[Riomouse911]

It is common for any autoloader to need several boxes of ammo through it to "break it in", be it a Ruger, Smith, Glock, Kimber etc... Most new guns work 100% from shot one, some do need this time at the range to work with 100% reliability. (I use Win PDX .380 in my LCP because it is what I was issued and it works well for me. In my LC9 and .38 revolvers I use the standard pressure Hornady Critical Defense loads, and I am impressed with them as well.)

I always recommend a newly purchased firearm (especially a used gun) needs to be cleaned and properly oiled by the new owner before it is shot. First and foremost to become familiar with it, second to give it a once-over to see if anything is amiss before the trip to the range.

As for oil; all autoloaders need to be oiled. They're basically machines, and without the proper amount it will not run reliably.

It is possible you have a lemon, they are out there. It is too bad all you could find is the dollar-a-shot premium stuff to break it in instead of some el cheapo plinking stuff. I have a sneaking suspicion that the first owner fired 20 shots through it and then sold it, and with 100 or so through it it'll run for you without any more issues. Good luck!

 

[fastbolt]

I had one of our instructors report his LCP was exhibiting failures-to-extract & feed.

I watched him shooting the gun from both sides, and yes, he experienced both types of stoppages while I watched him shooting.

I also, however, noticed he was trying to use his high/forward thumbs grip with this itty bitty pistol, and his thumbs were actually rising up and near the slide. They appeared to be touching it under recoil.

I told him to lower his thumbs and shoot the gun with tightly curled thumbs, keeping them away from his slide (and not rubbing against the slide & slowing it's movement or hindering full travel- as short as it is with this little gun). His "problems" immediately disappeared.

My LCP has successfully fed, fired, extracted & ejected 3 types of hollowpoints starting from the very first range session, as well as a FPFMJ load.

I did have to initially replace the take-down pin in mine because the shallow edge which engaged the wire spring let the original pin sometimes jump out under recoil, but a replacement pin resolved that issue.

Shooter-induced influences are a major cause of "gun problems", followed by a small percentage of ammo problems and an even smaller percentage of actual gun problems.

Ruger is good about taking care of problems with their guns.

 

[CopperFouling]

I also, however, noticed he was trying to use his high/forward thumbs grip with this itty bitty pistol, and his thumbs were actually rising up and near the slide. They appeared to be touching it under recoil.

I actually don't use that grip. I'm used to holding my left thumb over my right thumb (I'm right-handed), since that's how I hold my revolvers.

I'm going to look around for some FMJs today after work. If I find some, I will run a box or two through it and see if that solves the problem.

Shooter-induced influences are a major cause of "gun problems", followed by a small percentage of ammo problems and an even smaller percentage of actual gun problems.

I agree with that, although this is the second Ruger that I have had trouble with. The first was an SP101 on which the hammer would literally stop at half-cock when firing single action and then switch into double action. A smith had to fix that one for me.

The problem with buying a used gun is you never know if it's just a good deal or someone's lemon till you start using it.

I suspect the previous owner sold it because of the problem. It was barely shot at all, hence why I bought it.

I suspect you got an overpowered round that could have damaged the gun. Inspect the barrel, the chamber and the barrel to slide fit when disassembled.

I'll look again, but I did not see anything when I disassembled it the first or second times.

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[19-3Ben]

clean the gun good and use grease on the rails. these little guns do not like to shoot when dirty. 20 rounds to these guns mean a dirty gun. grease works better on these guns.

Not my experience at all. I have even tested mine by carrying in my pocket for a few months without cleaning. It was full of fuzz. First time I pulled the trigger, it fired, and a "poof" of pocket fuzz flew out and lingered in the air around the gun for a second. It was comical. But that gun never missed a beat. Having not been cleaned, and filled with lint, I fired 100 rounds that range session without a single failure. I normally shoot 100 rounds per session with it and it has never failed with any type of ammo. Perhaps I got some freakishly reliable one, but I have shot every type of JHP, LRN, steel cased, aluminum cased, etc... and it just chugs along and, I should add, is more accurate than it has any right to be.

 

[fastbolt]

I'm a long time Ruger owner and enthusiast.

That doesn't mean they're without occasional problems, though. Of the many Rugers I've owned over the years I've had to have mechanical problems corrected on several of them, like Security-Sixes, SP101DAO, MkII, KP90DC, Redhawk & a Super Blackhawk to list some. It happens, but their repair support is second only to S&W.

If you bought the LCP used, check to make sure the hammer correction for the Product Safety Warning has been done by Ruger - http://ruger.com/LCPRecall/index.html

 

[CopperFouling]

I checked another half dozen stores today with no luck for FMJ. So I called Ruger customer service. The wait was under one minute, and the rep that I was talking with was prompt and courteous. It was a really good experience. Guess we'll have to see if they can locate the problem.