Hello all, I just bought a new Ruger LCP, went to the range and fired about 125 rounds of ball ammo, loading only 5 in the mag at a time and experienced two stove pipes upon some rapid firing, which may or may not be related to the more annoying issue of the slide sticking open and not going to battery whenever it was pulled back and released to load the first round of a reinserted magazine. I actually had to give the slide a little tap or nudge with the palm of my other hand to get it started, and then it would close by itself and go into battery. It's important to note that this gun is designed to not leave the slide open after the last round of a mag is fired, necessitating the slide be pulled back and released after inserting a fresh mag. So when I did, the slide just hung up in the back position. This happened every time a reloaded mag was inserted. It seems to me that the slide ought to release and go into battery without having to coax it in any way, simply by pulling back on it and letting go. I hope I'm explaining this adequately. My plan is to clean the gun thoroughly and give it another shot at the range (pun intended), and if this still persists then return to ruger for service. I tend to think the outcome will be the same as I just finished cleaning it and it's still happening. I wonder why? Thanks for listening.
Ruger LCP slide sticks
- Thread starter howhoo45
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You are correct that the slide should not stick back. If it only happens with a fresh magazine, one possible cause is that the top round in the magazine is not moving when it should and holds the slide back. That might work out with time, but you might check the magazine feed lips for a burr. It is also possible that the magazine spring is too stiff. Are you trying to load one more round than the magazine is made for? Have you tried loading one less? Have you tried other magazines?
Jim
Jim
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
This is common on the Kel-Tec P3AT that Ruger copied, and is due to the high frictional load on the very short aluminum frame rails by the steel slide.
Use grease on the slide rails.
It has higher film strength then oil and will probably provide enough lubrication to cure the problem.
rc
Use grease on the slide rails.
It has higher film strength then oil and will probably provide enough lubrication to cure the problem.
rc
Runningman
Member
I think you should call Ruger and see about getting it fixed correctly. Something is not right. My LCP does not do that.
Thanks for your responses gentlemen. I did not clean the gun prior to shooting for the first time, however, it is still hanging up after just cleaning and lubing with 'break free'. I'll try some heavier lube. The mag holds 6 and I was only loading 5, didn't notice any burr but I'll check more thoroughly. It takes alot of effort to get that 6th one in the mag too. To be continued...
hunter25
Member
Mine did the same thing when I first got it. With mine the problem was tracked down to a faulty magazine that was not letting the rounds set up quite high enough to feed properly. I figured this out myself using a borrowed magazine. I had sent the pistol back to Ruger but they could not find the problem as they used their own range magazines instead of mine that was sent back with it.
Once the magazine was replaced it has functioned 100% with anything I feed it.
Once the magazine was replaced it has functioned 100% with anything I feed it.
I use a synthectic grease with ptfe called superlube on the rails of my LCP and never have problems.Use a cotton swab to get it everywhere on the rails a light coating does it for me. I did have a few misfeeds during the first 50 rounds I was using gun oil to lube the rails than but it could have also been breakin but since changing to the light grease I havent had a misfeed.
Ruger LCP Slide hangs
I had the same problem with my 2 day old LCP. Look at the attached photo showing my LCP with the slide stuck open due to 2 nibs protruding down from the slide and hitting the barrel. You can see 2 metal nibs/tabs on the slide contacting the top part of the barrel which is causing the slide to stay open ( I was not holding the slide when I took the photo and the slide lock was not applied). Upon closer inspection of the underside of the slide at the ejection opening, I observed the swirl marks from the machining operation appeared to stop short of the area near the 2 nibs. It appeared that if the cutter went a little further rearward, the nibs would have been removed. The nibs could also be excess flash from the metal forming operation, but either way, I don't think they belong there. The nibs caused the slide to hang up on the barrel intermittently when I pulled it back manually to load a round and during firing. I also found the same nibs would occasionally prevent the barrel from locking in the firing position because they also hit the forward edge of the chamber (second photo). I don't know anything about gun manufacturing or functional details so this is just an opinion based on my inspection. I informed Ruger last week of what I had observed and they asked me to return it for repair.
I had the same problem with my 2 day old LCP. Look at the attached photo showing my LCP with the slide stuck open due to 2 nibs protruding down from the slide and hitting the barrel. You can see 2 metal nibs/tabs on the slide contacting the top part of the barrel which is causing the slide to stay open ( I was not holding the slide when I took the photo and the slide lock was not applied). Upon closer inspection of the underside of the slide at the ejection opening, I observed the swirl marks from the machining operation appeared to stop short of the area near the 2 nibs. It appeared that if the cutter went a little further rearward, the nibs would have been removed. The nibs could also be excess flash from the metal forming operation, but either way, I don't think they belong there. The nibs caused the slide to hang up on the barrel intermittently when I pulled it back manually to load a round and during firing. I also found the same nibs would occasionally prevent the barrel from locking in the firing position because they also hit the forward edge of the chamber (second photo). I don't know anything about gun manufacturing or functional details so this is just an opinion based on my inspection. I informed Ruger last week of what I had observed and they asked me to return it for repair.
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1KPerDay
Member
Call them and get a return shipment label and get them to fix it. They'll take care of you.
Got it back from Ruger, they replaced the extractor and repaired the magazine, it accepts the 6th round in the mag a hell of a lot easier now, they fired 24 rounds no malfunctions. So the first thing I did upon removing it from the box was to load 6 rounds into the mag and manually cycle them only to find that the problem still happened. Now I was getting annoyed. But when I took it to the range...will wonders ever cease! - fired 100 rounds fmj, would you believe that that darn thing racked like it should. I'm scratchin my bald head in wonderment! I 'sling shot' the slide at the range and it went to battery 99% of the time. I think perhaps the weaker mag spring and the bright new shiny ammo used may have made a big difference. I take back all my espoused negativity. I was given advice that this little elsiepea needs a few hundred rounds to smooth out, which I agree, and will certainly be a pleasure to do. Thanks gentlemen.
Got my LCP back from Ruger last week. New barrel and slide installed. The new slide did not have the nibs sticking out like the last one. Upon closer inspection of the underside of the slide, it clearly showed the machining operation fully removed the nibs instead of stopping short like the original. If you own one, I suggest you make sure yours doesn't have the same issue mine did since it could prevent the gun from working when you need it.
Thanks for posting the pics pilotpk. I love my 2 day old Ruger LCP and have shot 200 rounds through it (sore trigger finger), but I'm having the exact same problem. The underside of my slide appears identical to yours and it's clearly the cause of the slide hanging. It's reassuring to know there is a fix so I'll be contacting Ruger in the morning.
Got my Ruger LCP back in the mail today with new slide, barrel, and springs. The offending metal nubs are now gone on the underside of the new slide. I took it to the range tonight and put 50 rounds of ball ammo through it with no slide sticking open problems. Seems to be fixed.
My slide failed to go all the way to battery a tiny bit at first (first 100 rounds) though not enough to effect function. But, after more shooting and lubrication, as well as the magazine breaking in and putting less tension on the paper light slide, it worked perfectly.
1KPerDay
Member
Glad they took care of you.
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