LCP or Seecamp

[usp9]

Inspector had his dealings with the Seecamp company in it's early years when service was not what it is today. Service was admittedly of poorer quality then. His beef is legitimate.

Only about 4000 .25acp Seecamps were produced and have become pretty collectable. There are over 50,000 .32acps in circulation, maybe more, and the manufacturing process has changed over the years.

The .380acp is the smallest made and obviously "pushes the envelope" a bit. How many have been made is a guess, maybe 1000 or so.

In all those numbers is a small fraction of unhappy Seecampers, and for all their own good reasons. The company evolved into one of the better gun manufacturers, with excellent customer service now in effect. Seecamp has steadily improved and I think that is an important positive quality for any manufacturer.

Ruger may one day see my business, but I admit, I'm scared off of the LCP because of the KelTec reputation.


Here's a link to some BATF stats...2006 is the latest shown.

http://www.atf.treas.gov/firearms/stats/afmer/afmer2006.pdf

 

[BADUNAME37]

Rexster pointed out something that I was not aware of, and that is the slide on his weapon was warped.

I don't know how easy it is to warp or bend a slide on the 25, but I do know, since day one of my owning the LWC25, I wore it in the leather "wallet" holster in my back pocket.

Now, I'm wondering if the weight of my sitting constanty on the weapon (putting lateral weight against the weapon) might have something to do with the jamming problems I experienced - especially if one were to sit on a bench or other hard surface.

I never would have thought of a WARPED SLIDE (but it certainly makes sense)!

Thanks, REXTER!

 

[Tirod]

That makes sense. I have done it within hours on Zytel framed pocketknives - a small auto wouldn't be hard to do after weeks at a desk job.

I've heard of physicians treating patient complaints of back pain by performing a "walletectomy." It's a relatively non invasive procedure where the doctor asks for the patient's billfold, dumps out all the cash and plastic, and replaces only the DL, SSN and one credit card. (Of course, he'll get the cash.) The removal of that deck of cards results in immediate relief of pain in 24 hours.

I'm not real keen on back pocket carry, even tho the last seven years I've worked stand up jobs. Makes me wonder about Zytel framed recievers on pistols - which the Seecamp isnt - but still . . .

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

In my examination of a couple of used Seecamp .32s (but not the LCP which I have not seen yet), I think the price is commensurate with the construction (all machined stainless steel, which naturally costs more than molded plastic ) and quality. The shortcoming is that they are only designed for Winchester Silvertip and other 60-gr. hollowpoints, which makes function testing and practice shooting $$$.

 

[BADUNAME37]

BUT, couldn't you reload that ammo?
I haven't checked, but can you buy the same silvertip bullets to roll your own?

 

[usp9]

The shortcoming is that they are only designed for Winchester Silvertip and other 60-gr. hollowpoints, which makes function testing and practice shooting $$$.

Actually this is not the case. The newer Seecamps, (serial # > 30,000), will also handle the less expensive Winchester truncated tip FMJ ammo, which is a good bit cheaper.

 

[Ala Dan]

Another happy (and satisfied) LWS-32 Seecamp owner checking in~!

Its the best of both worlds, compact and light (13.25 ozs) and more
importantly:

IT WORKS

 

[BADUNAME37]

Great Guns!

Well, with all these postings about how GREAT the SEECAMP WORKS, I guess over the past 20+ years they have had time to get it all together.

It looks like they DO NOT make the .25 caliber anymore. Perhaps there were too many problems with that particular gun, just perhaps.

 

[MaricopaKid]

Being an older dude, I carry mostly "old school" pistols or revolvers. My Models 3913, 60, and Seecamp .32 do their duty EVERY time I pull the trigger.

David

 

[Tirod]

One thing you do get with a bigger gun maker is a few more engineers and a larger understanding of what kind of ammo a pistol has to digest. I understand Seecamp sticking to a few approved rounds - and Ruger trying to make a comparable item that accepts any round.

If someone gave me a Seecamp, I wouldn't toss it out of bed because it could only shoot one kind of ammo. But, on my budget, I have to go the LCP route, which gives me more latitude in ammo selection.

It's not all bad buying a cheap copy.

 

[BADUNAME37]

I always try to buy top quality, even if I need to "stretch" a bit.

I guess that is where I went wrong with the 25.

Oh well, that's over with.

 

[PX15]

FWIW:

The newer LSW32 Seecamps with serial numbers above 31,000, and all LWS380's (I'm not sure about the precise serial number changeover to "Pinetree casting" material for the LWS32, but this is close) can accept almost any jhp that will fit in the magazine.

Some of us with LWS32's have found that the Winchester White Box Value Pack Q4255's (truncated fmj's) function perfectly and make cheaper "practice/plinking" a reality.

I believe there is also a truncated 380 rd. for the LWS380's, also in the Winchester White Box value pack. (Generally found at WalMart).

Here's a photo showing several different rounds including the Q4255.



pictured: Left to right ~ Old Silvertip/Speer Gold Dot/Q4255/fmj. (too long, will not feed).



In fact some folks, (those who prefer penetration over expansion) have elected to carry the Q4255's as their "carry round".

Jesse

 

[Ol` Joe]

I believe there is also a truncated 380 rd. for the LWS380's, also in the Winchester White Box value pack. (Generally found at WalMart).

PX15 I`ve tried exactly 1 magazine full of the WW Truncated stuff in my LWS380 and had absolutly no problems. I asked Larry about them and he never gave me an yea or Nay to his thoughts of useing them.
$26.67/100 rds is definatly cheaper then a box of Silvertips.

 

[PX15]

Ol' Joe:

I could be wrong, but I believe Larry did say it was ok to use these truncated rounds.

I know if he had come right out and said it was a "no no" I would never have shot it in my Seecamp, but I do, (and I've got 100rds or so stashed), so I feel pretty confident he gave it the ok at some point.

I believe the problem with what will and what will not fire in the Seecamps is more a matter of length rather than jhp vs fmj. What Winchester apparently has done is made an fmj the same length as the jhp, so for our purposes it works fine.

I'm sure they didn't make it just for our benefit, probably the truncated bullet saves lead and they make another penny per zillion rounds or something?

Best Wishes,

Jesse

 

[PX15]

Inspector:

I just wanted to apologize for being a smart butt regarding the problem you had with your LWS25 years ago.

I've only been on the Seecamp bandwagon for a year or so, and any experience I can relate to is all recent, whereas the problem you had was a couple of decades ago, long before I became a big fan of Larry Seecamp, and his Seecamp pistol.

I do remember now reading where there was a period of time in the history of the Seecamp pistol where times were hard for Seecamp and Larry and his Dad were just barely hanging on. Customer Service at that time was apparently iffy, and all energy was spent trying to keep the wolf from the door.

In my opinion, those times are in the past, and every dealing I've had personally with the good folks at Seecamp has been more than positive. I know Larry backs his pistols with excellent customer service, and is available on the forum for questions, and often gives his cell phone number to folks having a problem he cannot diagnose and resolve via the forum.

Larry does not make the LWS25 any longer, but not because it wasn't a fine pistol, it's just that most folks want the biggest caliber firearm they can cc, and so the demise of the LWS25 was more because anyone wanting a new Seecamp who had a choice between the 25cal. and a 32cal. in the very same package, size, weight, etc. would obviously pick the LWS32.

Now the LWS380 is available, and if the price of the LWS32 and the LWS380 were the same betcha' 99% of folks would want the LWS380. Not everyone of course, but the majority.

If you ever have the interest, please stop by the www.seecamp.com forum and monitor the posts of the members posting there. I think you might get a better feel for the Seecamp pistol and the Seecamp Company as it is in 2008.

Again my apology for sticking my nose in your business. You would think by the time I got my medicare card I would learn to put my brain in gear before putting my mouth in motion, and I try, but often forget.

Sorry,

Jesse

 

[Rexster]

The slide in that old LWS-25 warped while I was shooting it for the first time, probably a heat-treat issue. The first few shots went OK, then, as the weapon warmed up, the slide warped.

I had the same problem with a Kimber extractor. I have read of other firearm parts warping the first time they got warm from firing.

This warping due to improper heat-treat is different from simple expansion, as happened famously with certain S&W stainless revolvers. Simple expansion is mitigated when the weapon has a chance to cool; warping to to improper heat-treatment does not return to proper shape when cooled.

FWIW, I went back to my local dealer/gunsmith with the problem, and he swapped it on the spot, handling the warranty return issue himself.

 

[BADUNAME37]

Px 15

PX15

You made my day with your apology!

All is forgiven and forgotten!

Thank you,
Inspector

 

[DAdams]

Seecamp .380

I have had one for about a year. I carry it when I want something very discrete.

I put the following through mine, and had no issues with any of the three.
Winchester ST, SGD, and Golden Sabers. All are listed as "approved" for use in the .380. I prefered the Gold Dots, they seemed to be closest at POA.

I don't know about the Ruger, but I can't imagine it is any more fun to shoot than the Seecamp. I just wanted a small pocket gun for close in work should I need it.

I only take it to the range when I have forgotten the pain of the previous session.





They sure are pretty and are literally a piece of work. Something that will be around for generations.

 

[BADUNAME37]

The stainless on the 25 I had was a lot darker than the 380 shown in your picture.

They do look to be a lot better weapon.

 

[Ol` Joe]

I could be wrong, but I believe Larry did say it was ok to use these truncated rounds.

I know if he had come right out and said it was a "no no" I would never have shot it in my Seecamp, but I do, (and I've got 100rds or so stashed), so I feel pretty confident he gave it the ok at some point.

PX I`m pretty sure I have seen him hint at shooting the 32acp version as exceptable. I`ve a 380 though and I haven`t seen him say anything about that cartridge. (WW 95gr 380acp truncated cone) Of course he hasn`t said "don`t do it" either.

They fit the mag OK but, and this is just opinion on my part, I think the question in his mind is where the bullet ogive is in relation to the lead. The possibly straighter sides of the TC bullet could have it contacting the lead. This could cause feed trouble, or worst case raise pressures.
I`m keeping a eye open on the forum though, and in the mean time I`ll pop one off on occasion just because......