Ruger LCP Custom vs. LCP II

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Bart Noir

New member
I bought the first Ruger LCP II that the gun shop had received, and then took it out for a range comparison against the Ruger LCP Custom. As you know, the Custom is the red-triggered upgrade to the first model LCP, having a better trigger and bigger sights than the basic LCP.

While the triggers are completely different between the LCP Custom and the LCP II, they felt the same upon firing. The LCP II has a very Glock-like design, with the little dingus in the center of the lower trigger. To me, the guns are tied as to trigger function.

The sights on the LCP II are smaller, and yet better, than the sights on the LCP Custom. The Custom has sights which are quite a bit larger than those on the basic LCP. These are too large, and too tapered for my use, although I have been carrying it for most of this year.

The larger Custom sights can snag in the pocket during a fast draw. The lower and smoother LCP II sights do not do this. Yet they are fine sights for this size of pistol, especially for a guy who once carried the P3AT with its itty bitty sight bumps.

The Custom rear sight is also tapered too much, probably so it will not snag so much. This means that it doesn’t have much of a flat top edge. So, when I carefully aim my shots (“equal white, equal height”) I do not have much of a top edge to use to vertically align the front sight’s top edge. Stop laughing, there is nothing wrong with trying to shoot some nice groups with such midget pistols. Oh wait, am I allowed to use the m-word?

So I consider the sights on the LCP II to be noticeably better than the sights on the Custom, or the basic LCP. They are good sights, and quite-snag free.

But the best improvement is that the LCP II will lock the slide back on an empty magazine. I missed this feature when I went from the 380 Bodyguard to the LCP Custom. Yes, I’ve now progressed to my 4th design of .380 pocket pistol and maybe the LCP II will never be replaced.

The magazines for the LCP seem to work in the LCP II except for the holding the slide back. I don’t know if the LCP II magazine will work in the LCP but have no need to find out. The LCP II will be carried with a LCP II magazine in the pistol and a LCP magazine as the spare magazine. That way I would know when the gun was empty (slide is back) and then can reload. It is annoying that Ruger only shipped the LCP II with a single magazine, and that they haven’t any more to ship to me.

But all in all, the LCP II beats the KelTec P3AT, the S&W 380 Bodyguard (version without the built-in laser) and the LCP Custom.

Bart Noir
 
I'll disagree with you Bart., but before I get to far ahead, let me state that everything about the LCP II is an improvement over the original LCP.

The Custom's trigger and the LCP II's trigger are very similar, but I will prefer the Custom's over the II's as it is wider and I can get more of my finger and thus transmit more power to pull the trigger with less force and maintain a steadier hold. It's also a very smooth trigger.

The LCP II's sights are shorter than the Custom's, but I see that as more of a detraction than a positive. I know everyone has this perception about drawing faster than John Wayne hopped up on PCP and popping off a perfect shot, but putting that fantasy aside, the first thing you need when carrying a gun is carrying a gun you can shoot accurately. The LCP Custom has a drift adjustable rear, which gives me the best ability to get my POI as close to my POA.

While I hope I never have to stop a mass killer by taking a 15-20 yard shot at him or her, the LCP Custom gives me the best possibility of doing that and in that possibility, I'm going to be hiding out of sight, behind cover, and a lightening fast draw isn't going to be what saves me.

But I understand the argument when it comes to a mugger or something, you would want a fast draw. Thing is, to deal with that type, I think I'll go for my pepper spray before I go for a gun.

The slide lock back... I really don't see the need and here's why: how fast can you actually pull out the spare magazine and load it into the mag well? With these pocket .380's, most people are carrying those spare mags in their pockets, not on some sort of mag holder IWB or on their belt. That supposed locking back of the slide, unless carrying spare mags in such a way as to reduce the time of reloading to a minimum, makes it pointless.

By the time you pull the gun, Mr. Badman is gonna likely be running in the other direction and before you even fire the first shot. By the end of 6 or 7 shots, the attacker will either be down and threat eliminated or he'll be on top of you and you won't be able to reload.

The slide lockback is a nice bell and whistle, but it's a bell and whistle nonetheless that Ruger is touting for marketing purposes because, hey, it only works with BRAND NEW LCP MAGAZINES!

As for the grip, the LCP II does feel nicer because it's wider in the right spot, but I can easily wrap some grip tape around the Custom's grip and make it wider if I choose to. If not, I get a thinner grip that conceals and feels better in my pocket. I get that option with the Custom, almost like it's customized to my preference, I don't get that with the LCP II.

So, if you can't tell, I'm pro LCP Custom. The LCP II has features that are better than the LCP and those who have never had a Custom and can't get one should get an LCP II. But, if an LCP Custom is available for a good price, there's no reason to choose the LCP II over it.
 
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No mention of the wider grip on the II?
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Yeah, I should have mentioned it. When gripping but not firing, I can feel that the lower aft edge of the LCP II is more squared-off than the original LCP. I thought it might be uncomfortable when firing because the corner fit right into the palm of my shooting hand.

But when firing I could not tell the difference between the two grip shapes. This is just me, and since hands vary there might be somebody who would not like the new shape, but it turned out to be a non-issue for me.

Bart Noir
 
The slide lock back... I really don't see the need
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I will gently disagree with you.

I feel the need to know when the pistol I am holding, and betting my life on, is empty.

Nobody in a L&D situation is counting shots accurately enough to bet their life on. The slide locked back is what we call a clue, and it does help speed up a reload but mostly it tells me that I actually need to do a reload.

Bart Noir
 
^ Yeah, and it let's everyone else know you're empty too. Also, do you think you'll have that spare magazine in an optimal place to maximize the time saving to reload?
 
...he'll be on top of you and you won't be able to reload.
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Some years ago, there was an encounter between an officer (Steve Chaney) and a maniac on PCP (John Mullery).

Chaney had to reload his revolver at one point facing while facing into a corner for some minimal protection. During the reload, Mullery beat Chaney about the shoulders and back with a tire iron and also stabbed him once.

Chaney survived, Mullery didn't. It's surprising what a person can do when their life depends on it.
The slide lock back... I really don't see the need and here's why: how fast can you actually pull out the spare magazine and load it into the mag well? With these pocket .380's, most people are carrying those spare mags in their pockets, not on some sort of mag holder IWB or on their belt. That supposed locking back of the slide, unless carrying spare mags in such a way as to reduce the time of reloading to a minimum, makes it pointless.
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I do agree that reloading is not common in self-defense scenarios, but I wouldn't go so far as to say that it's pointless to ever worry about needing to reload.

As far as getting the reload time to a minimum, you do the best you can. Not being able to do it as fast as is absolutely possible isn't ideal, but not being able to perform something in the minimum time possible shouldn't stop a person from even trying.
But, if an LCP Custom is available for a good price, there's no reason to choose the LCP II over it.
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I think that clearly some people would be of the opinion that there are reasons to choose the LCP II over the Custom. For example, given the choice, I would take a gun with a slide that locked open on empty over one that doesn't--even if it cost a bit more.

Obviously, there will also be people of the opinion that there are reasons to choose the Custom over the II.
 
While the slide locking open is obviously an advantage (or should I say it isn't a disadvantage), I don't think it's a very big one. In a gun like an LCP, that is.

My use for the LCP would be for when I absolutely can't carry a bigger gun, or as a backup gun while on duty. I think of it as a "get out of my face" gun. When adrenaline is pumping and you're trying to get rounds into that target as fast as possible, most likely at extreme close distance, your mind won't register that slide locked open. You'll find yourself pulling the trigger and nothing happening, slide lock or not. When you're pulling the trigger with no bangs happening, that's when you'll realize you need to reload, not by watching the slide.
 
It is an SA trigger with a hammer. The LCP II is on the left. I believe that the Glock like trigger safety is present because it is technically a SA gun.

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For me the LCP is a throw it in the pocket type gun or a pure BUG. It is not a range gun that is going to see 100 rounds in an afternoon. The LCP v2 which has a slightly different hammer/trigger geometry and slightly better sights than the LCP v1 is fine for me and I don't see the need to replace it. I don't need a better trigger to hit man-sized targets at under 7 yards. I also don't carry a spare mag so I don't need the slide to lock back so I can reload. LOL

If I did not already have the LCP v2 in my pocket I would consider the new one but I don't think I am going to be upgrading. YMMV
 
My early dash (2009) Elsie is comfortable in my pocket, and makes me comfortable that it is there. Don't see any need to upgrade.
Actually it has seen a few 100 round range days. Consistant 10 yard double taps to center mass, and 95+% third shot to the head when I try it.
 
I just bought the new LCP II on Monday and so far love it. Ruger calls it a single action trigger, but some online disagree. It is sort of a hybrid between an SA and a DA in that the slide does cock the internal hammer but not quite all the way. The trigger has a long light pull, about 1/2 an inch, then comes to a stop. At this point the pull moves to about 5-6 lbs and the hammer is pulled back another maybe 1/10th of an inch before releasing. Those who like target practice will like this trigger more than the Custom, but then this gun was not designed for target practice.

I never though I would want to pocket carry a chambered SA gun without a manual safety, but this trigger feels safe to me. Nonetheless I only pocket carry it in it's included pocket holster, which covers the trigger. Took it around town yesterday in my front pocket and forgot it was there.

I have fired the LCP Custom and liked it, but find the LCP II to fit my hand better, the grip feels more secure, and the slide is much easier to rack. If you don't like the slide staying open after the last shot, just switch to the older LCP magazines - you have a choice.

TomNJVA
 
I think it was Mas Ayoob who stated "A gun without a reload is only a temporary gun."
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I am not really a Mas fan, most of the time I think he is full of crap, but that is topic for another discussion. For pocket carry I think that the LCP is enough. YMMV ;)
 
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