Ruger LCP II .22LR - Questions, Thoughts...

[DTL]

I just bought the .380 LCP II and was about to buy the .22 while the other was out of stock. Luckily the .380 came in, and now it will be the .22 this summer. The size did take some getting used to and I prefer the longer 7 round magazine, the 6, even with the pinky baseplate is tight for me. Will be shooting that .380 today for the 1st time with the new LaserMax Gripsense green laser I bought.

 

[bassjam]

I will look into it. A quick search looks like there's a threaded barrel model as well.

A LGS has a wall of pistols available for handling, comparison, etc... I might have to bring my daughter, and let her handle a few to see which feels most comfortable.

See if they'll let her dry fire the SR22. It's DA/SA, my daughter tried a buddy's when she was 9. Mind you, she was used to shooting my Buckmark and Mark I by then, but she hated the trigger on the SR22. She did really like the way it felt in her hands though. I took her out later that summer to the gun store to handle a M&P Compact .22, which she liked more than the SR22, and then a MKIII Lite, which was her favorite of all.

 

[velocette]

To go in another direction, The Smith & Wesson M&P .22 compact has a stellar reputation for reliability no matter what ammo you can stuff into it.
AND it matches the other pistols you have.

 

[Dudedog]

What works for me might not be your cup of tea, but for defense I would take the LCP in .380 over one .22. (I can't because of CAs "approved" list choose Kahr P380 here)

For a training pistol for new shooters I have always thought it best to use a full sized gun, just easier to shoot.
(an all steel 9mm 1911 works well )

If I had to use a .22 handgun for defense I would choose a revolver.
Hasn't happened to me a lot but I have had .22 rounds where there just didn't seem to be any priming compound where the firing pin hit first try, and a couple that just didn't want to go bang at all.....

More thoughts - I've never shot a .380 pocket-gun

Locked breech .380s tend to feel softer than blowback ones
My Kahr P380 is smaller and lighter than my MAK. When both are are loaded to the same power level the Kahr feels softer.
(125 PF 9mm in my 1911 feels softer than both)

 

[memtb]

We (wife and I) just bought a pair of LCPII’s in 22 LR’s. My purpose was for a back-up ( pocket carry or ankle holster) CC handgun. In my ankle holster, you can quickly forget that you have it on.....it’s that light! Not certain of wife’s primary purpose yet. Not sure if it’s gonna be a back-up for her Sig 938, or become a lightweight, small “primary carry”! However, they are really nice for training with a small, low/no recoil, low cost ammo, semi-auto handgun.


I’m not certain that they would be a great training tool or a child or a novice. As the firearm is very light, has a very short sight radius, and has a moderately heavy trigger pull ......all of this combined, could be discouraging for new shooters. Something else to consider is that in some respects they may be a bit more dangerous for a beginner, than a heavier, longer barreled handgun. With a slight twist of the wrist, the barrel direction can be rather drastically changed!

We are very pleased with ours, but they may not be the best choice for everyone’s need/use! memtb

 

[chicharrones]

I have 2.

Best small .22 I’ve tried and I’ve tried most of them, Walther TPH and PPK .22, Iver Johnson, Smith 317, Beretta 21a and 950, several others. I like them all but the Rutgers are the best IMO. Small, light, accurate, and most of all reliable. Around the place I always have one with me.

They look like they lock up barrel to slide but they don’t - straight blowback although the barrel tips down for feeding. Very clever.

An excellent design feature that many other small .22 autos lack.

 

[GooseGestapo]

I just got one. Two trips to range.
It’s giving misfires with Winchester SuperX and CCI’s. One magazine only holds 9-shots, fails to feed last round.
Shoots 4” high and 2” left at 7yds.
When my buddy with FFL gets back from business trip, it’s going to back to Ruger.

 

[jstert]

i love ruger 22lr handguns but got rid of my lcp22lr in short order. i can’t recommend it as a learning tool. mags are difficult to load. short sight radius. a bit ammo finicky. if it were a shrunken sr22, which i love, i would have kept the lcp22lr.

an excellent 22lr handgun learning tool is the ruger bearcat single action revolver, but it is pricey. otherwise the sr22 is excellent, with changeable grips to grow into.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Well, I followed up by again disassembling the magazines and closely examined them.
Seems one came from box assembled wrong!

Lightly wiping the parts with a lightly oiled rag and reassembled with the lock tab underneath the magazine base sticking out the back was the trick. Now the base pads are snug with no movement and mags hold 10rds now.
Cleaning and oiling gun helped.
However, it still misfires 40% of the time with Winchester. The CCI’s as well as all others have fired.

I’ll probably keep it...

 

[Autodidactic]

Could you make a recommendation, for a better small pistol, that would satisfy ankle/pocket carry, yet is still un-powerful enough for new, young children to shoot comfortably? I'm open to other suggestions.

A small .32 ACP, if you want a micro pistol. .380 is too powerful. My .32 Tomcat is not only ankle carry/pocket carry ready, it's also low recoil.

 

[Autodidactic]

I have 2.

Best small .22 I’ve tried and I’ve tried most of them, Walther TPH and PPK .22, Iver Johnson, Smith 317, Beretta 21a and 950, several others. I like them all but the Rutgers are the best IMO. Small, light, accurate, and most of all reliable. Around the place I always have one with me.

They look like they lock up barrel to slide but they don’t - straight blowback although the barrel tips down for feeding. Very clever.

Be sure to use the included mag loader.

fwiw, I’ve had a couple LCP .380s (not LCP IIs) which were not at all reliable.

My LCP I in .380 was not reliable at all.

I've heard unfortunately the LCP II in .22 LR is not reliable either, which is the reason I didn't buy one. I would have loved on if they were.

 

[Blkhrt13]

I would look for a model 31-1. 32 smith and Wesson long is harder to come by and more expensive but would fill both roles well.

 

[cnj]

My LCP II in 22lr has not been what I would call reliable. So, as long as you use it as a trainer or fun gun, go for it. For defensive purposes, no way.

 

[SwampWolf]

I think most of us would agree that when it comes to relying on a pistol for self-defense (especially an auto), reliability in the extreme is what we'd insist on, trumping almost every other factor. And the trouble with rimfire ammunition is that, at least in my experience, it's reliable "most" of the time, whereas centerfire ammunition is reliable almost all of the time. That differentiation is enough for me to depend only on centerfire ammunition for self-defense. As much as I love .22 rf firearms, reliable performance "most of the time" doesn't cut it when my life or the lives of others depending on me for a survival resolution are on the line.

All that said, if an individual person is simply unable to cope with any level of recoil, a .22 or .22 magnum pistol, especially one having lots of bullets on board, is certainly a viable alternative when it comes to self-defense.

 

[Autodidactic]

I think most of us would agree that when it comes to relying on a pistol for self-defense (especially an auto), reliability in the extreme is what we'd insist on, trumping almost every other factor. And the trouble with rimfire ammunition is that, at least in my experience, it's reliable "most" of the time, whereas centerfire ammunition is reliable almost all of the time. That differentiation is enough for me to depend only on centerfire ammunition for self-defense. As much as I love .22 rf firearms, reliable performance "most of the time" doesn't cut it when my life or the lives of others depending on me for a survival resolution are on the line.

All that said, if an individual person is simply unable to cope with any level of recoil, a .22 or .22 magnum pistol, especially one having lots of bullets on board, is certainly a viable alternative when it comes to self-defense.

One thing that really shifted my perspective here though, and which has been posted on THR too, is the fact that someone can get a .32 or .38 revolver and shoot .32 S&W or .38 Short Colt/Long Colt. For self defense I mean. .22 LR is great for practice and plinking.

Those old calibers will be low recoil and yet larger caliber and more reliable. This sounds like a better solution to the recoil issue. However, due to covid it is next to impossible to find some of these calibers. I've been trying to find .38 short and long colt this whole time. I missed out on a batch and didn't buy it on the spot.

Want Low Recoil? Try .32 S&W Long - Remington .32 S&W Long VS .22 LR Ballistic Test - YouTube

Need Low Recoil? Don't Use a .22- .38 Short Colt VS .32 S&W - YouTube

Another long forgotten solution is .25 or .32 ACP, with the .25 being as powerful as small .22's, and the .32 being a bit more. My .32 ACP Tomcat is pretty light in recoil.

My point is, if recoil is an issue (health, strength, etc), why not do a lower powered centerfire such as the autos mentioned, or old school revolver calibers?

 

[SwampWolf]

My point is, if recoil is an issue (health, strength, etc), why not do a lower powered centerfire such as the autos mentioned, or old school revolver calibers?

One of the best options in terms of ammunition flexibility, from high octane nitro to unleaded regular, is the Federal .327 Magnum. But a negative caveat haunting any .32 caliber cartridge that isn't going to change any time soon is that it's relatively hard to find and relatively expensive to pay for when you do. Reloading is the most viable solution to the difficult to locate and pricey factory ammunition problems.

 

[Autodidactic]

One of the best options in terms of ammunition flexibility, from high octane nitro to unleaded regular, is the Federal .327 Magnum. But a negative caveat haunting any .32 caliber cartridge that isn't going to change any time soon is that it's relatively hard to find and relatively expensive to pay for when you do. Reloading is the most viable solution to the difficult to locate and pricey factory ammunition problems.

Right the main issue is finding the more obscure, old school calibers. I can't find any of those .32's or .38 (long and short colt).

However, one can find .32 ACP right now. I have some. I don't know why this isn't recommended more for those with issues with recoil, and whom want to concealed carry something small.

Obviously, if size isn't an issue they can get a full sized, steel .38 special, or a compact .380 (Shield or other), which will be lowish recoil. The issue is those calibers in micro pistols.

I guess if you had to ask me, probably the ideal is a Shield EZ Rack .380. I think they are low recoil, but concealable.

 

[average gun guy]

I had the LCP II in .380, but ran into some bad luck with it. I think I just got one from a bad production run. My preferred pocket carry in .380 is a Sig P238

On the other hand, my LCP II in .22lr has been an amazing work horse. Put somewhere around 3,000 rounds through it before malfunctions set in. Sent it to Ruger customer service. Came back in a week with a new barrel and has been running ever since with a variety of ammo brands and weights. When I carry it, it is loaded with CCI Velocitors.

If Ruger were to produce an LCP style gun in .22 WMR, I would buy it instantly.

 

[Terry G]

I do love my .22LR handguns, but an LCPII in .22? No. It's not a good trainer like the SR22 or the S&W compact and it has a bad reputation for reliability. Another point is the .22LR is very poor in penetration from such a short barrel. I bought a Taurus PT22 and my Friend bought a Beretta M21 for our Wives. That idea lasted exactly one range trip. Both guns fired both Blazer and Mini Mags with no malfunctions at all. Then we checked the targets. From 25 feet the rounds were scattered pretty much all over the silhouettes. We moved in to 10 feet and the shooting was a bit better, but not great. Both Women said it was hard to stay on target pulling the triggers on such small guns. Then my Friend called me over and showed me that a number of bullets were stuck in the wood frames and we picked them out with our fingers. Not exactly a confidence builder. I got out two of my CZ 82's and both Women shot these so much better and the guns were heavy enough that the 9x18 MM ammunition didn't bother them as much as I thought. My Friends Wife ended up with a BERSA .380 and My Wife just kept "Her" CZ. I can't see using an LCP sized pistol as a trainer for Children.

 

[webrx]

Yes, do it. My wife has one for some of the same reasons and because she has wrist issues. Pocket carry, last ditch bug, summer clothes, kids, wife, elderly folks,

throw some federal punch in it and it is better than a sharp stick in my opinion. others won’t agree, but it’s your choice, we made ours and bought one because I would rather her be armed then have to get close to an attacker and try to stab them.

D

 

[LeftyRed]

Think it’s a great idea! I would drop in an extra power recoil spring, seems to make it run more reliable after a break in period.

get what you want, carry what you want. don’t let other other distract you.

lefty

 

[DTL]

I have the LCPII in both calibers, but like my Bersa Thunder .380 and .22 cal pair better.

 

[flightsimmer]

My experience. 22lr out of a short barrel has a short trijectory like a rainbow.

I don't like any 22lr handgun with less than a 4" barrel, preferably 6" or more.

 

[defjon]

For your described purposes I recommend a Ruger lcrx in 22lr.

A small back up gun in 22 should be a revolver I think.

If you need to go smaller, naa mini but they are a bit tricky and I wouldn't recommend that for your daughter.

For cheap fun plinking my 9 year old adores a Ruger wrangler. She can load and unload, single action slows things down a bit. It's good that you taught the basics and safety with a bb gun. Did the same.

 

[Pistolpositive]

Has the trigger been improved on the LCP II over previous versions. My LCP 380 has a lousy trigger and not anything I would want to use to teach with. I have a Charter Arms 22 snubnose that has a better trigger and it's not stellar. For training my now 12 year old granddaughter I bought a M&P 22C. Great gun to shoot and when training can just put X-number of rounds in the mag to minimize concerns if needed. If I were thinking of 22 for a defensive option, the 22 WMR would be better in my opinion.