New LCP, failure to feed

E

eos

New member
Got a new LCP yesterday and took it out to the range today. First round fired, second round... failure to feed :mad:

I intentionally gripped the heck out of the gun to rule out limp wristing. And yes, I field stripped and clean/lubed with ballistol before shooting.

I tried Hornady XTP, UMC FMJ, some other cheap FMJ, Federal Hollowpoints, etc. Each type of ammo had at least one failure to feed every magazine.

Any ideas?

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First option: call Ruger CS and let them fix it.

Second option: if for some reason you just don't want to do that right off, try smoothing the rails and the slide with Flitz and a toothbrush. I had a similar issue with my LCP right out of the box, though it sounds as if your issue is worse than mine was.

But your first option should be to call Ruger.
 
Keep shooting. How many rounds did you put through it? It's not unusual for any new gun to be stiff and balky right out of the box. I'd give it at least 100 rounds to settle in. Try letting someone else shoot it. See if they experience the same type of problems.
 
Shot in the dark--so to speak--but you mentioned "gripped firmly." Could be something weird going on with a slight movement of the magazine when pressure is put on the grip and mag well. My LC9s did this with a fully loaded mag on occasion. The mag floor plate can slip a bit adding to mag movement in the well.
 
I'm with Auto5; I would consider the first 200 rounds to be a break in period. If the problem persists after that, and after thorough cleaning & proper lubrication, then it's a real problem. You'd likely want at least one extra magazine, so you can see if it's isolated to one mag. If an issue with any mag, then check with CS.
 
Do you use a high/neutral, "thumbs forward" shooting grip?

One day while I was working the range, one of our instructors was experiencing repeated feeding stoppages while shooting his new LCP with ball loads. I offered to observe him shooting it.

He's a strong young man (early 40's) with strong hands, and he favors a thumbs forward shooting grip. As he fired the LCP I noted that at least one of his thumbs was elevated and near the slide. During the snappy recoil & cycling of the LCP, his thumb (unnoticed by him) briefly rubbed against the slide. He couldn't feel it, but I could clearly see it happening. I suggested he modify his grip to lower his thumbs ... and the feeding stoppages immediately ceased. His thumb no longer rode the slide and interfered with its run and velocity.

My pair of LCP's have each fed & fired an assortment of JHP's I've used. The first 100 rounds were as reliable as those which followed. I make it a point to shoot my LCP's using a grip technique similar to what I use when shooting my 5-shot snub revolvers, though, which puts my thumb (or thumbs, when shooting 2-handed) down and away from the slide.

I've noticed that a couple of other guys, both of whom have very large hands, have been uncomfortable trying to hold and manipulate the LCP. It's hard for them to securely and comfortably hold the diminutive pistol because of the relative size of their hands.

The itty bitty pistols like the LCP don't have much slide travel/run, nor much slide mass, and it's important for the shooter not to interfere (albeit unintentionally) with the slide's freedom & speed of movement during live fire.

Naturally, not being able to be there and examine that particular LCP, observe you shoot it or try it myself, I have no way to be able to know what might be happening with your LCP.

This also presumes the LCP was inspected and found to be in normal condition before you started using it, was sufficiently lubed, and that the recoil spring/guide rod assembly is oriented and installed properly.

The use of a single magazine can't help eliminate the potential issue of a problematic magazine, either.

It's not uncommon to hear most instructors & armorers express that day in & day out, at least 95% of pistol "problems" turn out to be shooters-induced problems, than actual gun-related problems. After that comes a small percentage of ammo-related problems, lastly followed by actual gun problems.

Just some thoughts.
 
In order to "fix" a problem, the problem has to be correctly identified (or, problems, if there's more than issue occurring to produce the symptom).

Short version ...

Gun problem? Contact gun company.

Ammunition problem? Try different ammunition.

Shooter problem? Acknowledge and correct it.

It's not uncommon for the significant majority of "pistol problems" to turn out to be shooter induced, though.
 
"...been using the included mag the whole time..." Indicates a mag issue. Try opening the lips a tick with fine, long, needled nosed pliers. 'A tick' is a very small tweak. It's not unusual for mag lips to get bent in a wee bit during shipping or storage.
 
It's not unusual for mag lips to get bent in a wee bit during shipping or storage.
Click to expand...

Can you explain to me how a magazine feed lip in a cardboard box gets bent? In close to 80 pistols I have never seen such a thing.

I do agree that trying a different magazine would be a quick check. I also say that calling Ruger isn't a bad idea. A lot of folks try and troubleshoot issues they have with firearms. I respect that level of independence and ingenuity. But to an extent it lets the manufacturer off the hook.
 
You shouldnt have to "tinker" with anything strait from the box in order to get it to work. Thats the manufacturers job before it leaves the factory, not the consumer. I know their are gonna be lemons from time to time, but its the companys job to fix it.
 
I would absolutely call Ruger, wonderful customer service and in the end they will make it right. If it were me before I called them I'd pick up another FACTORY magazine and try it out, obviously if that one works fine and the other doesn't then you know what the problem is and can just tell the customer service folks about it and have them send you a new mag.

Shot my old LCP today with a few of the factory extended 7 round mags and found it much easier for me to shoot. I highly recommend them. Good luck, LCP is a great little gun.
 
Before calling Ruger I would have another person fire the gun to see if they get the same results. If that is a YES, then call Ruger. If it isn't, then review your technique as mwentioned above.
 
I would buy another magazine and try that. One magazine guns are not a viable self defense system, and they are a hassle shooting on the range - as the OP has pointed out.

A different magazine is the preferred method of finding out if the mag in question is a problem.

If it persists with another mag then an answer is that much closer. Now it's an ammo or feed ramp issue. With the various rounds mentioned, and some FMJ, I'm thinking feed ramp - and the answer is shoot it a lot more, about 200 rounds, to be sure. After that if it continues to be an issue then Ruger CS is a lot more the answer. If it goes away - sorry - even the $1100 1911's have that issue today. Guns aren't perfect shipped straight from the factory, and a lot of happy owners of bargain priced guns are lined up waiting for those with high expectations to sell off cheap. One in ten get a problem, nine others get a gun that just needed breaking in, and it didn't cost them retail.

The consumer public expects guns to work flawlessly from the first round, the knowledgeable shooter expects them to be broken in and prove they are flawless. And not all ammo will be guaranteed 100% to work, either.

New mag, shoot the gun. Ruger - or any other CS - needs a demonstrated issue that is much more proven to be one than expectations about function. Until the mags are changed and its shot - nobody really knows.
 
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