The Ruger LCP lesson

[esq_stu]

For those who are familiar with the LCP background, Keltec P3AT owners were prone to claim the LCP was an "identical" copy, and some even suggested that Keltec sold the rights or even was making them. Well, Keltec has made over 300,000 P3AT's and there is no recall on them.

That does not mean P3ATs don't fail. It just means they don't get recalled. I have owned the P40, P11, P32, and P3AT. I don't and won't own them any longer.

I wanted the LCP to be successful and I hope it will eventually be successful. And when the problems fade away, I may buy one. In the meantime, I'll settle for a few extra ounces in my pocket.

I think Ruger is being responsible.

 

[jocko]

esq stu

Had I made that statement I would been hammered by the kt fanboi people but I agree totally with your statement ..The lcp willbe successful for themain reason is a responsible company, not that we know they have not screwed up either but they don't hide behind their mistakes, as some companies have..

 

[FLoppyTOE]

Technically if everyone took the advice of this thread then nobody would have one and there would be no feedback on it to base your decision on. I know I am stating the obvious right there, but someone has to take the plunge. With a companies good reputation, a history of dealing well with problems, and the need for that particular firearm, I wouldn't hesitate to dive right in to a new model of gun.

 

[heavyshooter]

Proper title - "Lessons I have learned from LCP recall"

Technically if everyone took the advice of this thread then nobody would have one and there would be no feedback on it to base your decision on.

I agree. I do not have the adventurous constitution as the rest of you. So you test it out and I will buy it when it meets with your approval.

Heavy

 

[Just One Shot]

Every one is entittled to their opinion but I believe Ruger firearms are second to none.

They are priced reasonably and they are built like a tank. Mine have never failed to fire even when using the cheapest ammo available.

I saw a show in which they stated that Ruger builds their firearms 30% stronger than they need to be.

They stand behind their product. I for one sent in an older 9mm that I purchased used and they did all the updates for free and returned the gun test fired and with a new clip.

I for one can't see the logic of spending $150.00-$250.00 more for a name that brand that: 1. Doesn't function any better than the Ruger & 2. Isn't any more accurate than the Ruger.

Recall's show that a company wants to give their customers the best service they can and that they stand behind their product.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[HowardCohodas]

The are both pleasures and pain associated in being an early adopter. It's an outlook on life and a measure of your risk aversion. There is no right answer here, jut the right answer for me.

 

[PX15]

FWIW:

Taurus PT22
Charter Arms "Pathfinder"
Beretta Tomcat
Walther PPS
NAA Guardian

Just 5 examples of satisfying my craving for "instant gratification" in the past.

All were 1st series and all had issues that required a return to the factory... The only one of the 5 that came back from the manufacturer's Customer Service/Warranty repair really fixed was the "AA" series North American Guardian.

It's only taken me 65 years to finally figure out buying a first series anything offers a great potential for being a "beta tester", and I'm just tired of doing that.

That's why I'm not buying a Ruger LCP for a while..

Jesse

 

[Lone_Gunman]

I don't see what the big deal is with the recall.

It doesn't cost me anything, and I get a free magazine, which costs about $25 or $30.

I don't have a problem with this, and think the way Ruger has handled it should be a model for other companies to use.

 

[heavyshooter]

It's only taken me 65 years to finally figure out buying a first series anything offers a great potential for being a "beta tester", and I'm just tired of doing that.

That's why I'm not buying a Ruger LCP for a while..

Jesse

Preach it Brother!!!

 

[heavyshooter]

I don't have a problem with this, and think the way Ruger has handled it should be a model for other companies to use.

I agree with you. I need to clear up an interpretation of the thread. I am in no way questioning the integrity of Ruger; in fact I am commending it. Like PX15, after returning my Beretta Tomcat due to a cracked frame, and then finding out that many of you had the same experience, I concluded that I am not patient enough to be without my brand new gun for several months due to a recall (which, BTW, Beretta was not considerate enough to issue). I will probably buy an LCP, but I will wait until my more adventurous brethren test it out first.

Heavy

 

[ssjones]

A friend just recommened the LCP to me (I was considering a SP101 Ruger/357). I did search for info here and this thread came up. Is there way to tell if an LCP is 1st or 2nd generation?

 

[IMTHDUKE]

defect

You wont find that....that is an admission of fault....would drive a bishop to kick out a stain glass window.

Hey...anyone wanna buy a Beretta PX4 sub compact?

 

[jocko]

ssjones

I think u are referring to the lcp coming back from Ruger after the recall as being 2nd generation.

All lcp with serial #370xxxxx if recalled by ruger and sent in by the owner will come back with a small triangular stamp directly behind the hammer on the frame itself. No stamp, recall not done.

No dealer has any new ones for sale at this time, if they have any they are pre recall lcps, looks for the stamp.

any lcp with serial #starting with 371 will not have the stamp but will be the recalled new version, and as of now, none have been shipped for resale..

 

[ssjones]

Thanks Jocko

any lcp with serial #starting with 371 will not have the stamp but will be the recalled new version, and as of now, none have been shipped for resale..

Thanks. My guy in MD says Ruger isn't shipping any until they catch up with the recall. He advised me not to fall prey to price gouging which is occurring at the current time. (mail-order not a viable option in MD)

 

[moooose102]

so, what is the BIG deal?
in the first place, it is only for updates. its not like i had to put the gun in the safe for fear of it blowing to peices on the next round.
they send you what you need to ship it to them, they fix it and send it back to you fixed, free of charge, with a spare magazine and finger extension. no fuss, no muss.
you are supposed to only be without your pistol for a very short time. i will send mine back when the time comes.
as long as my LCP does not come back with all kinds of "safety improvements" that make it more dificult to shoot (like a much harder trigger pull, or some complicated mechanisim that makes the gun worthless as a defense weapon) i will be a happy camper.
everybody make mistakes. kel-tec had years to sort out their P3AT, and i still had to send mine back. that was frustrating. mostly because i had to do all the legwork to send it in, which i had never done before. i was very nervous about that ordeal.
i will be much more comfortable about this.
i am more concerned about Ruger as a company after having 2 pistol recalls back to back. that does not show very well for thier design engineers. people will be much more sceptical about buying their next new pistol. no matter how well it is designed and tested.:banghead:

 

[jocko]

moose 102

no dispute in what you said. You hit it dead on the head. Ruger willmake it right with every onwner if they are just patient with them. They are recalling over 50,000 guns, this is not a one week deal , we are allon the list to be notified, if we registered on line with ruger.

They can't get in touch with you,if they don't know you, so indeed go on line a register and get in line.

They are not a ticking bomb ready to go off either. From an in house ruger machine technician, he stated that the lcp was a voluntary recall (believe that if you will) and that the lcp passed the government dropped standards even but in the future all Rugers will undergo twice the government drop tests before being sold. This is his words not mine.

I do think it was a voluntary recall, but no matter how it was recalled. Ruger is stepping up and doing it right and doing their damdest to please us all, although we know that is not going to please some...

Lets face it ruger will still fix your 30 year old single six with the hammer block and return your old original parts even NO CHARGE..

 

[OleCodger]

Gooooood Grieeeeeef!!!

I can't believe that there is such a commotion over a safety recall. I retired from the largest, financially strongest agricultural equipment manufacturer in the world. There wasn't a year that went by that we didn't have recalls or mandatory safety modifications to our equipment and today that big Green and Yellow company is still at the top of the heap as others have fallen by the wayside. We built our reputation on the fact that if it wasn't right, we'd fix it and stand by our customers. That solid reputation helped us to remain the top agricultural and industrial manufacturer in the entire world......most reasonable people don't worry too much about a problem if they know the manufacturer is going to stand behind their product. Ruger is no different. Show me any pistol that doesn't have the potential for a problem and I'll show you the pistol that Almighty God made.

I've had an LCP now for about six months and it's my daily companion. I'm careful not to do something stupid that might cost me my life or injury. I've responded to Ruger, they assured me that they will send a postage paid box to return it in, do the mod and return it to me with no charge and include a small gift as a token of appreciation. What else can you ask for? Maybe they should deliver it to me personally and apologize for the slight inconvenience in person?????? I have more pistols than I care to admit and someway I'll go on living until it's modified. I won't have large tears streaming down my face the day I ship it back nor will I breathe a big sigh of relief when it's returned to me. I simply trust Ruger to do what is right and they're fulfilling that expectation. I'd suggest that if a customer feels so strongly about a product that he doesn't want or like, boycott the manufactuer. I've seen threats from other posts to do that very thing. However Ruger will continue to pump out LCP's and other models in their line up for those of us who enjoy today, enjoy trying out new things and look forward to living each day while others sit with their heads in their hands moaning over what a horrible, unfair world we live in.

Surely in this world that we live in, there is more to grieve and become upset over than a factory recall on a little .380 pistol. Let's get a life, enjoy every day and grow up. If it's too much of a risk for you to buy the first run pistol, then sit back and wait until the rest of us prove them in the field. If you so desire, contact me in a year and I'll give you a full satisfaction report on the LCP and you can then spend your hard earned money if you so desire. But rest assured that I will continue to enjoy and use my LCP along with another fine Ruger Mark III Target that I own. By the way my son has a Kimber that he paid almost $1200 for and it certainly hasn't been perfect. But Kimber stood behind it and he'll continue to buy Kimbers.

I'm sure that I won't be the most popular member on this site so I'm waiting on the "attack" as I sit here cleaning and admiring one of the best little pocket carry pistols that I've ran across.................I think that's called "pride of ownership".

 

[simulatedjim]

Yes, Ruger screwed up. They did not produce enough and now I have to wait even longer.

 

[OleCodger]

Hey Simulated Jim......

If they come with more models, I'll have to get a third job to satisfy my Ruger fever!!!! I know that Ruger makes an absolute piece of junk but after hunting bears with a slingshot, I'm just stupid enough to keep on buying them. They go bang every time I pull the trigger, hit where I aim (not always on the X), are fun to shoot and mighty good looking if I do say so myself.........Hey, I've got to watch it..............Gotta remember......some people don't like Rugers and the whining will begin all over again!

Man, it was a BEAUTIFUL day here in Arkansas today!!!!!!!

 

[Ben86]

It's always good to wait until the bugs are worked out of something before you buy it. I usually wait at least a year.

I don't put Ruger down for this. It's not a serious mechanical flaw, it's more of a "what if" safety device issue. I do still hold a grudge against Mr. Ruger himself for supporting the high cap mag ban of yesteryear though.

 

[jocko]

Old coger makes more sense than any post I have ever read. Didn't work for JD either, but sold Goodyear tires for over 69 years (family business) and indeed when they put out a bad product and they did to, they stepped up and took care of it,Our customers certainly understood it and never complained. Good companies do stand behind their products. Ruger is no different.


Nice post old coger..

 

[OleCodger]

Jocko

Thanks Jocko. You're my kind of man with a positive attitude!!! We'll have to meet up some day and go to the range. I'll bet you $100.00 that you can out shoot me!!!! My biggest "worry" today is if I can slip away from all the "honey do's" the little lady has lined up for me and go waste some powder and lead. Might even luck into a couple of "X's" or maybe at least 9's!! I'm afraid that my shooting skills sometimes embarrass my Rugers but they just keep right on shooting although I'll swear that I hear them snicker sometimes.

And another beautiful day in Arkansas.....can't wait to get out and enjoy the world!!

 

[CPshooter]

Hmm this has happened to me not only with my LCP, but also with my Kahr pm9, my Xbox 360 (twice), my Samsung 42" plasma, at least one iPod.

I have to be forgetting a few others too...

I hate to break it to some of you, but there is no such thing as 100% reliable for anything. Companies these days do the best they can to fill orders, and sometimes things happen before they catch on. Hence, the LCP recall. Certain companies are known for better quality control standards, but a new product is a new product. It's impossible to foresee every potential problem, even with extensive R&D.

I don't mind that I'm always the guy that takes the plunge as long as the company is willing to make it right. Ruger is going above and beyond to make my LCP a better gun than it already is, so I'm happy with that kind of service.

That advice about not flying in a new model commercial plane...excellent advice Some of the lead Boeing engineers actually came into one of my classes to recruit, and they were telling us about the newest Boeing 787 commercial jet project they are currently working on. I won't be taking any trips on this new jet for at least 6 months after it's been in flight around the world.

 

[skinewmexico]

What I have learned from this thread -

1) 1st gen products usually have flaws (already new that; never had the urge to run around proving I was the first to own anything).

2) Imply anything isn't perfect, and a koolaid drinker always slides down the pole, and hops on the truck, eager to defend.

 

[OleCodger]

Skinewmexco

Skinewmexco, I read your post and I'm not really sure to whom your phrase "koolaid drinker" was directed. I pulled up another post of yours on basically the same LCP subject and you also used that phrase in that post. Hopefully, it is just a phrase that you choose to use in describing someone that doesn't agree with your viewpoint I'm not sure what the phrase "koolaid drinker" means in the state of Texas but in these parts, it's intrepreted as a "drunk" or an alcoholic. I trust that is just your way of saying that LCP owners are just a bunch of "kooks" and if so, I can live with that. I've been accused of a lot worse. However, if it's to be interpreted the way we do in this state, then for what ever it's worth, I resent the accusation whether it was directed at me or any other LCP owner/supporter. I may be a lot of things but a drinker of alcohol isn't one of them. I was always afraiid that I'd like it. Of course there is always a possibility that senilty has begun to take its toll on me but that's a totally separate issue!

I'll admit that I probably became a little "verbose" in my post and if so, I apologize for that error. I love this website and look forward to many years of additional enjoyment but........ The moderator may choose to block me from this site for more or less a "personal" post and if so, so be it. However, I do trust that he will let this response be viewed (and yours if you so choose).

It's probably about time for this thread to end and all of us go on to bigger and better things......think I'll go shootin'. I have some ammo tucked away that is begging to go to the range. By the way, if you're ever up this way, give me a call and we'll go to the range. No hard feelings.......and I promise that I'll leave my LCP at home, even if it's after the mod!!!!

Gooooood Gossssh, there I go again......gotta learn to shorten my posts!!!!!