LCP painful to shoot

[harmon rabb]

You should be able to shoot your carry a lot for practice... If you can't put 50 rounds through it, you probably aren't going to shoot it to the best ability!

I realize it is not a range gun. That's what the XDm and 1911 are for. I bought it for carry, but as anyone here can tell you, practice with your carry piece is important.

The fact that the darn thing isn't comfortable to shoot is one of the LCP's drawbacks, and you have to accept it, or carry something else. Due to its tiny sights, crummy trigger, and snappyness, it's never something you'll be able to shoot well -- so understand that limitation. I understand that when I carry my LCP, my effective range with it is very short, 5 yards or less.

Hence, I only carry it when there is nothing else that will work with what I'm wearing. Honestly, if you want a pocket gun that you can shoot comfortably, you need to look into a Sig 238.

 

[AK103K]

I have an LCP, and really havent found it to be painful to shoot. Its not near as bad as my 642's, but I still practcie with them too.

You dont "have" to shoot a lot to be proficent, or keep your skills up, your hits on target will tell you where you are there, and if you need more practice or maybe something else.

I normally shoot between 50 and 100 rounds (usually just 50 though) out of my 642's each outing, depending on how my hand feels and my mood. My hand usually isnt real happy for the next day or two, but thats just how it is. My LCP isnt that bad, and my hand doesnt hurt after shooting it. I did stipple the grip, which makes it a lot more secure in my hand, and it doesnt move around at all now when shot. Its a lot easier to grab now too.

Although you cant see it here, the stippling goes all the way around the front, and replaces the molded in checkering on the back.

 

[Holo]

That is a great stipple job. Did you use a wood burner for it?


EDIT: And the cartoon was in response to posters suggesting that me shooting 50 rounds makes it a range gun. The topic of the thread was simple, what have LCP owners done to help with controlling the snappy recoil. If i wanted suggestions on alternative firearms I would have stated that in the original post. Many posts have been helpful, I have already ordered a 13# recoil spring set in hopes that that will help. Do i wish i could afford a p238 right now? Heck yes, they are sweet guns. But I am also trying to find a compact that fits with my budget and my wardrobe and make it functional. If I came across as pissy I assure you that was not my intention.

 

[JVaughn]

Have you tried the LCR? I know that doesn't solve your LCP problem, but my wife thought she would love the LCP until she shot it and hated it. She loves her LCR. It's not nearly as painful; and for a carry caliber, in my opinion, .38 trumps .380 any day.

 

[AK103K]

Did you use a wood burner for it?

Soldering iron/pen.

Do i wish i could afford a p238 right now? Heck yes, they are sweet guns.

I wouldnt be in a real big hurry just yet. I'd wait until the complaints die down awhile.

The reason I have an LCP is because my P238 wouldnt work.

 

[ajbeau]

I have a keltek p11 and LCP.........i can shoot Lcp all day long...... 7rounds in a 6inch circle at 7yds,point and shoot. the p11 9mm,is a nice gun no where near as accurate and much more punishing to shoot.

 

[Holo]

LCR is a good suggestion but i really wanted an auto loader because they are slimmer. I carry in back right pocket and sitting on a wheel gun seems less ideal than sitting on an autoloader. I did shoot one though and really enjoyed it.

@AK103K: About how long did that take you. I was considering doing it to my XDm and had read a little bit about it but cant get up the nerve to make the first mark. The LCP is a little less to do and has half the $$$ on it. You can PM me if you wish to not get into a long discussion on a thread you might not read again.

Im excited to try it with the 13# spring. The extra 4#s hopefully will knock it down enough to where it is at least not painful.

 

[AK103K]

That took about an hour. Just take your time and you'll be fine.

If you have any old plastic grips laying around, or something similar to practice on, it will give you some experience and take away some of the hesitation. Depending on the tool you have and what the tip is like, you may want to take a file to it to get more of a point, if you want the smaller/finer finish. It may look "small" but it is quite aggressive and grippy.

I've done a couple of Glocks, a couple of Glock knives, an AK, and a few other things too, so watch out, it can be addictive till you get over it.

Heres one of the Glocks...

 

[Loud-e-nuf]

I have found the same issue with my LCP I was debating using rubberized electrical tape or maybe truck bedliner to build-up and cushon the trigger guard. Some good 2 part epoxy might be a more permanent fix, I think it's just because the trigger guard is so thin/sharp.

 

[andrsnsm]

I had been looking at an LCP until I shot a mag through my friend's LCP, hated it and it was painful to shoot. I ended up buying a Taurus TCP and it was much better to shoot and it was completely reliable. I am not a fan of Taurus guns but the TCP was very good.

 

[Mad Magyar]

I've tried a few different grips to no avail. I love the gun, but shooting more than 50 rounds is a chore with how painful it is on my trigger finger.

You know, the guy is right. You can talk about "sucking it up" and all the other macho BS; but it does hurt. Before purchasing a lghtweight revolver, I tried many of the pocket pistols-revolvers and I've come to one conclusion: great concealment for bursts at close-quarters. Not too practical for the range unless checking for reliability....BTW, changing grips doesn't help at least in my case...

 

[AK103K]

A lot of all this is just subjective, and everyone is different. Some deal with recoil and pain differently. Some cant seem to deal with any, where others do, or are at least more tolerant of it.

Perspective is also something to consider. If all you know is one thing, thats all you know. What you dislike now, may turn out to be a pussycat compared to what you REALLY dislike and just havent tried yet.

My baseline for comparison are the lightweight J frames in .38 Special shooting +P level loads and wearing service stocks with a T grip. Still very shootable, and a bit more concealable than the rubber grips, but not the most pleasant things to shoot. So far, other than the 357's, I havent found anything "worse". Maybe thats why I dont find the small .380's "painful".

 

[357_]

AK is spot on. I meant no offense in my suggestion, just that if you are not comfortable with the gun there is no magic way to make it better. It sounds as though you've got the right hold on the gun and some good suggestions with gloves and slip on grips (although I'd only use the grips if you are going to carry them as well)

Clearly you value your life enough to carry and look for advice on doing so better, the best advice is do not compromise. Get a gun that you are comfortable shooting accurately. I started shooting using a snub 357 and full power loads so I am comfortable with large amounts of recoil.

I'd try not to overthink it. If your shoes are too big you don't wear extra socks. Get something that fits.

 

[BADUNAME37]

would you keep your comments constructive on what one could do to help fix this problem? I asked for solutions, not comparisons.

Shoot less at one time.

I also concur with the grip extension replacements for the magazine floor plates.
They make a BIG difference as far as I am concerned!

 

[1911Tuner]

If you can't put 50 rounds through it, you probably aren't going to shoot it to the best ability!

Well...When addressing the diminutive little carry pistols and revolvers, we probably need to understand exactly what their role is in the grand scheme of things. They're not target pistols, and were never intended to be. They're in their element as easily portable, personal defense tools that are most often used at powder burn distance...or actually in contact with an attacker's body...and probably one-handed while fending off a knife or bludgeon. In that light, why worry over small groups at unrealistic distances? As Cooper noted...while talking about the little sub-compact blasters: "Across a tabletop, one doesn't need to be a virtuoso."

Practice getting to the gun in a hurry, and firing with one hand at waist level while running backward would seem to be the way to go. If you want to burn up 500 rounds a day shooting at targets...get a gun that's more suited for that activity.

 

[shootingthebreeze]

That's why, after looking at many .380 models I decided on the Kahr P380. Have not gotten it yet but it has a more comfortable grip and feels better balanced.

 

[harmon rabb]

Well...When addressing the diminutive little carry pistols and revolvers, we probably need to understand exactly what their role is in the grand scheme of things. They're not target pistols, and were never intended to be. They're in their element as easily portable, personal defense tools that are most often used at powder burn distance...or actually in contact with an attacker's body...and probably one-handed while fending off a knife or bludgeon. In that light, why worry over small groups at unrealistic distances? As Cooper noted...while talking about the little sub-compact blasters: "Across a tabletop, one doesn't need to be a virtuoso."

Practice getting to the gun in a hurry, and firing with one hand at waist level while running backward would seem to be the way to go. If you want to burn up 500 rounds a day shooting at targets...get a gun that's more suited for that activity.

All of this applies to the LCP... but it doesn't apply to the Sig 238 (god, I hate to sound like such a fanboy). There is a night and day difference in the shootability of the two. The 238 is actually usable at real distances, and not an "across the table" weapon. It is a far, far more capable weapon.

 

[xXxplosive]

IMO, most mouse guns are real stingers on the shooting hand.....most are not meant to be target guns but used for very close in work. Get your pistol on target / sighted in at close distances under 10'-0" and run some rounds through it, that should be sufficient for a Bug.....

 

[AK103K]

All of this applies to the LCP... but it doesn't apply to the Sig 238 (god, I hate to sound like such a fanboy). There is a night and day difference in the shootability of the two. The 238 is actually usable at real distances, and not an "across the table" weapon. It is a far, far more capable weapon.

Having had both, and shooting (or in the case of the P238, trying to shoot ) both a good bit, I really saw little difference in them when shot realistically.

If youre a target shooter, theres no argument that the P238 would make a better "target" gun, and it can shoot nice little "deliberate" groups, as it does have a decent set of sights on it. The LCP's little nubs aint all that bad either though.

Even so, at 15 yards, I can easily make good "hits" COM with my Seecamps, which have no sights at all, so I think the sight issue for these little guns is really just over blown.

 

[Lazyshooter]

It's a painful gun to shoot more than a couple dozen times but it's a handy little pocket gun.

 

[okespe04]

Painful little bugger to shoot. I pocket draw mine every time I go shooting and make sure I can put 7 rounds on a pie plate at 10 yards or so. That's all I need it to do.

 

[Dr_B]

My LCP is nothing but comfortable to shoot. Shooting the 642 was like hold a 2x4 while someone whacked it with a sledgehammer.

 

[76shuvlinoff]

My LCP stings.
My XD40sc snaps.
My 5" 1911 pushes.

There are trade offs, that's just the way life is. As mentioned above if I'm in a situation where I am putting the LCP into real service I'm already in deep poop and probably going to get hurt. I doubt recoil will be a factor.

 

[wristtwister]

For the crowd that finds the gun painful to practice shooting, go buy a weightlifter's glove with a padded palm and trimmed off fingers. The pad makes the gun comfortable by padding your "strike zone" of the recoil, and the finger control is still there with the finger "touch" area, so you can shoot multiple rounds comfortably. Now, when you use it in self defense, you won't care if it hurts to shoot the 6 or 7 rounds in the pistol... but you can practice comfortably and shoot as many rounds as you want to learn the gun.

I give the same advice to customers all the time, and they come back telling me that it makes all the difference in the world to their practice... so if it's an LCP, a Kel-Tec or any other small frame pistol, use this glove and you can shoot comfortably. If you lose grip on the pistol, you can spend a little time stipling the grip.

WT

 

[bluecollar]

The LCP is a little bit of a handful. I put a grip sleeve on mine to soak up some of the recoil. Still easier on the hand than the Seecamp .380 which actually weighs more than the LCP. I have heard from those that have tried it, one of these (see pic) with full house magnum loads is one of the most painful handguns they have shot. A guy likened it to slamming the web of your hand between your thumb and forefinger into the edge of a table as hard as you could