Ruger LCP

H

heavybarrel

Inactive
Morning everyone,

Been away lately, too much work and not enough shooting. My wife and I finally decided to do some Uber and Lyft driving. The money isn't bad, I like the late hours and it gets us both out of the house more. Recently though a local female Lyft driver ran into some bad trouble when a rider refused to get out. Too much alcohol I suspect. She made the mistake of getting out first and got the crap beaten out of her, serious injury in the form of a broken arm. She'll heal and I hope get past this event. I had to ask my wife though how she would handle a similar situation. Don't get out of the car of course and head for the closest law enforcement. We also decided to carry at all times. This is an open carry state but inside the car is still concealed. I carry an S&W SD9VE but she preferred something smaller and bought a Ruger LCP that will be carried around her ankle. Good price and I like Ruger but worry a bit about the .380 auto it uses. It will be very up close if needed and I wouldn't want to get shot by one in any case but I wonder about the stopping power. The last .380 I had was a PPK S. It was surprisingly awful and that has skewed my view. Will this round be sufficient for personal defense? Will it also be enough for a home invasion problem? Is the LPC reliable? I've watched a couple of YouTube videos and it looks pretty good. My brother has the 9mm version and I like it but you can probably tell that small pistols are not my specialty. Opinions? Thanks.

HB
 
What was wrong with the PPK S? I have one and I have nothing but praise for mine.

A solid 380 ACP pistol is a Bersa Thunder for weight, reliability and handling.

However, I have a Sig P238, instead. Never had any issues with mine. You do have to carry it in Condition 1, cocked and locked. I used a Talon wallet Holster.

For ammo, I use Buffalo Bore 90 gr Plus P since 380 is notorious for lack of penetration and expansion.

I have shot an LCP which is like a Keltec P3AT and recoil is stout because of the thin backstrap.

A Glock 42 is very manageable, though.

The better option is to go with a 9 mm, such as a S&W Shield, Glock 43, or a Sig Sauer P 365.

Initial runs of the 365 have been bad but I got one from an April batch, and it has been fine. It can carry 10+1 or 12+1, and it’s very small. It’s smaller than my PPK S.

This was my summer carry.

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The LCP is a proven design in a "mouse gun". Nay sayers complain about the sights, but at up close and personal distances that it is intended for, trying to acquire a "sight picture" with any gun is apt to get you killed. Just no time but to draw, and fire.
As for the 380 acp chambering, again at intended distances it is quite adequate.

For ammo, I use Buffalo Bore 90 gr Plus P
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There is no such thing as +p 380 ammo. Only ammo loaded by boutique ammo companies using the +p moniker as advertising hype. Because they refuse to state the actual chamber pressure it is impossible to tell if it's just hype, or actually ammo that is loaded in excess of industry standards set by the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute
 
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You will get a opinions ranging from the LCP is the perfect personal defense pistol, to the 380 in general and the LCP in particular is completely inadequate for that purpose.

I pocket carry an LCP often. I usually carry a 9 mm for additional power and capacity, but I am confident that the LCP will do the job if required. If my wife was willing to carry one I would I would treat the 380 like any other concealed carry handgun: I would make sure it performed reliably; that my wife was comfortable shooting it regularly; that she recieved proper training. Having completed those things I would be confident in her ability to defend herself in most violent encounters. A small 380 is not the ideal concealed carry handgun, but it is far better than a higher capacity and more powerful handgun locked up at home. Good luck to you and your wife.

EDIT: I have a Houge slip on grip added to mine. It makes the 380 a bit easier to shoot because it gives me a better grip which keeps the pistol from moving in my hand when shooting quickly. It is ~$10 well spent.
 
I have significant experience with both the LCP and LCP II. I find the sights are significantly better and I feel the recoil is a more manageable with the stippled grips on the II. Both are fine pistols and if she puts in the practice time, she will enjoy the LCP.
 
EDIT: I have a Houge slip on grip added to mine. It makes the 380 a bit easier to shoot because it gives me a better grip which keeps the pistol from moving in my hand when shooting quickly. It is ~$10 well spent.
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Absolutely. Probably to one modification I would recomend. The recoil of the LCP has never been a problem. But I really like the more palm filling feel with the Houge grip. In fact, I can shoot my LCP a lot better than the milder recoiling Kel Tec P32 I also have. Without the added grip the Kel Tec just feels uncomfortable to hold, and shoot. Nothing to do with recoil, everything to do with feel, and grip.
 
I have a love/hate relationship with the LCP and other pocket .380's in general. They're light and flat, which make concealment easy, but I fail to see how they're better than a snub .38 or .327 LCR. Okay, with the .38, you get more rounds in the LCP, but in the .327 LCR, it's equal if there's none in the LCP's chamber.

The facts and stats say a gun used defensively is fired one to three times and a reload is very rare. If you never have to reload, what's the sense of carrying a pistol with spare mags over a revolver?

I shoot snub revolvers in single action better than I can ever possibly shoot an LCP. For a situation where the distances are 5 yards or less, the LCP is just fine. For home defense, I think the LCP is adequate, but a snub revolver is better.

Really for home defense a larger size pistol should be used because it's not something you're carrying around like a CCW pistol. Which is why I like the Hi Point .45 for home defense. It's cheap and powerful.
 
Why would you even consider carrying an LCP with an empty chamber?

The facts and stats say you will never need a gun at all. Why carry one then?

Of course you shoot single action guns better than double action. But, D/A is used for defensive shooting.

No comment on the Hi Point.
 
Bill DeShivs said:
Why would you even consider carrying an LCP with an empty chamber?

The facts and stats say you will never need a gun at all. Why carry one then?

Of course you shoot single action guns better than double action. But, D/A is used for defensive shooting.

No comment on the Hi Point.
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If it's an LCP II and the trigger is very light?

Because slim doesn't mean zero.

No arguement there, but my focus was on accuracy at a distance and if I had to shoot further than 15 yards, I'd rather have a revolver with an SA pull.

I mention the Hi Point .45 because I never know what a person is capable of affording and I would rather see someone own proper guns for different purposes than one gun to try and fill them all, but not be the best option available to the individual for both. I mean, I own LCP's and use them as stashed guns throughout the house, but they're not my "go to" pistol for home defense.
 
I carry one sometimes. 380 is the smallest caliber I carry. I would prefer 9mm or 38 special, but they aren't as small as an LCP.
 
Obvious that a lot of posters do not train very much with their pocket guns. If you carry one, you should train with it. And if you train with them with dedicated, diligent practice, you will find that are very capable of fast action shooting at more than double that range of 5 yds. I say BS to the fact that they do not need good sights. And they for sure need good night sights. It is all part of proper point and shoot skills.

And I shoot PrecisionOne Plus P out of my pocket guns. Ones that the Manfacturer clearly states they are Rated for Plus P. And the build quality proves they can handle the hotter ammo.
 
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Carl the Floor Walker said:
Obvious that a lot of posters do not train very much with their pocket guns. If you carry one, you should train with it. And if you train with them with dedicated, diligent practice, you will find that are very capable of fast action shooting at more than double that range of 5 yds. I say BS to the fact that they do not need good sights. And they for sure need good night sights. It is all part of proper point and shoot skills.

And I shoot PrecisionOne Plus P out of my pocket guns. Ones that the Manfacturer clearly states they are Rated for Plus P. And the build quality proves they can handle the hotter ammo.
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I agree people should train with their pocket guns, the issue I have with the LCP is I cannot shoot more than 20 rounds without it causing my hand and arm to shake uncontrollably from the recoil. After that, I can't shoot thing with any degree of accuracy and even after a 15 minute break, I can't shoot any other handguns without still be shaky.

Night sights are worth having if you think you'll have to shoot in low light conditions.
 
The LCP needs a firm grip because recoil is pretty snappy, but it is one of the easiest guns to carry. I usually have mine in a pocket holster or just clipped inside the waistband with a Techna clip. I put white appliance touchup paint on the front sight. Finally, I replaced the magazine springs with Magguts kits, increasing the capacity by one round. That doesn't seem like much, but 8 rounds of .380, without changing grip length, certainly adds to the little gun's appeal.
 
TruthTellers said:
I agree people should train with their pocket guns, the issue I have with the LCP is I cannot shoot more than 20 rounds without it causing my hand and arm to shake uncontrollably from the recoil. After that, I can't shoot thing with any degree of accuracy and even after a 15 minute break, I can't shoot any other handguns without still be shaky.
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Get one of these to cure the shaking hand problem: https://www.hogueinc.com/handall-hybrid-ruger-lcp-grip-sleeve-aqua
Note: I chose the aqua-colored sleeve so you could see what it looks like better than if I chose black. I bought the black version.

I had the same exact problem, consulted a hand specialist (my sister-in-law) and discovered that the snappy recoiling LCP was in fact irritating a nerve bundle in my palm, which was ultimately causing my hand to shake after a couple mags. She suggested wrapping the grip in tennis grip tape to make the grip larger, thus spreading the recoil over a larger surface area of my palm.

I opted for buying the grip sleeve above, and it cured the problem instantly. I can now shoot 50 rds out of my LCP at a time without having any issues at all with the 'shaky hand' thing.

As for the OP, I would suggest a larger gun than a LCP, such as a M&P Shield9, or a Ruger LC9S Pro, or the Glock equivalent. In every respect one of these slightly larger guns will be easier to shoot well, handle, etc. while being just about as easy to conceal. In particular, the LC9S is essentially the same gun as the LCP, just chambered in 9mm, but carries a couple extra rounds, has easier to see sights, less snappy recoil, easier to shoot well, and so on. And it will still fit in a pocket.
 
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And I shoot PrecisionOne Plus P out of my pocket guns.
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So obviously you don't carry a 380 because there is no such thing as +P 380 acp. Only boutique ammo companies using the +P designation for advertising hype, or denoting ammo loaded in excess of industry standards. Because of this, Ruger specifically states in the LCP owners manual "do not use +P ammunition" Not because they think the LCP is weak, but rather because without a proper SAAMI pressure rating there is no way of knowing how much over pressure the boutique ammo makers ammo is.
 
Sorry to disappoint but I do carry 380's. Have been a avid shooter of them for 10 years. Probably know more about the Ruger LCP than you will in years. Yes, Ruger specifically states NOT to use +Plus P. And the reason is because the LCP is NOT built to handle hot loads with the aluminum chassis and non-reinforced rails which will crack and split.There is a huge difference in a gun in stainless steel vs aluminum. Most especially for a pocket gun.
And FYI Beretta and Kahr actually do say they are PLUS P capable.
Break each gun down and you can see the difference. And there are Plus P rated ammo and PrecisionOne does carry a hotter load. I shoot both but NOT out of my LCP.
And please quite using the over used Internet word "boutique". I cringe every time some internet poster starts that nonsense. And I do not want to get into the old debate about the fact that SAAMI does not classify Plus P rated 380. Except for reloading, I could care less.
 
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Speaking from experience, and having heard the same from others. . . The Ruger LCP with Hornady Critical Defense ammo is a VERY manageable, reliable, and likely effective combination!

If she were to go that route, I think she will be good to go. Also, a spare mag or two for that pistol is beyond easy to carry.

That's all I have to say about that.

Edit: One more thing actually. Cutting a piece of bicycle inner tube to fit over the grip of the LCP is an easy way to improve the grip and feel of the gun. It looks good, is cheap, and easily removable. Wash it with warm soap and water once you've cut it to the right size and shape, then pad it dry, and put it on. You'll be amazed at how well it works. One basic inner tube from Walmart can accommodate a lot of handguns.
 
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The LCP .380 will do just fine should she need to shoot someone in the backseat or shoot someone trying to open her car door.
And with the 7-round LCP mag, and 1 in the chamber, it will give her 8 rounds.
Which I think is better than a 5-shot or 6-shot snub-nosed revolver.
And the LCP just carries so darn well too!
It's small and light-weight and very flat...it's no wonder that it has such a huge fan base.

The LCP would work fine for home defense as well, BUT, depending upon the size of your abode, you might want a pistol that is easier to shoot more accurately at farther distances.
 
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