I just saw several reviews of a new pocket .380 from Ruger, the LCP MAX. Link to one review below. Pretty much same size as LCP2, 11 ounces, but has a 10 round magazine. I will be very interested in this. If it had a thumb safety, I'd be at my dealer tomorrow to order one. I like my Bodyguard, but 11 rounds in the same pocket size platform is tempting. The front night sight also looks good.

I had not heard of this new gun previously - looks like it does have an option for a safety.

Ruger News


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Oooh, I may need to look into this one!

I've been wondering if someone would make a double-stack .380 micro-compact, leave it to Ruger to deliver.

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Shooting Comfort is bilateral.

That's the Max9, not the LCP Max. I checked the Ruger web site. No manual safety.

The more I look at the LCP Max and after having watched a few videos of it on YouTube the more I like it. The sights and capacity are game changers from the rest of the LCP lineup.

Pros
10 or 12 round magazines
Tritium front sight
No magazine safety disconnect or external safety
5 lb trigger
10 oz
Still truly a micro pistol that will fit in your pocket

For those who don't like plastic or 380 this ain't for you.

My first carry gun back in 2009 was an LCP. Easy to fit in your pocket and barely noticeable. Around 2012 or 2013 I switched my EDC to an LCR and it is still the gun I carry 95% of the time. I prefer revolvers for carry and general shooting. I've felt confident with 5 shots for years. Plastic is not a concern for me on autos or revolvers, though K frames are my favorite guns of all. I eventually got some of the 7 round magazines for my LCP (upgraded to a Custom model with actual sights) and found the extra round made the grip much more shootable but still rarely carried it.

But to basically get a gun in the same size range as my first edc but have 13 rounds on tap instead of 5 and little chance of a reload or 7+1 in my LCP Custom seems like a natural evolution in carry.

I'm not going to go buy one immediately but could see picking one up after they've been out for awhile and prices stabilize

Agreed, from the get go I've stated my disinterest in the slimline double-stack 9mm micro-compact pistols like the SIG P365, but have expressed interest in a .380 ACP pistol based around the same concept.

My main issue with the 9mm micro-compacts is that the added weight which comes with the additional capacity tends to push them into the same weight class as some of the lighter subcompacts, and when you're specifically shopping for a lightweight pistol, that becomes a detriment.
Case in point, I carry a Shield, but have no interest in the Shield PLUS because when loaded to capacity, they're only a few ounces lighter than a subcompact, and once you get into that weight class, you're looking at a gun that has to be carried inside of a belt holster.

The LCP MAX is an ounce lighter than the LCP II to begin with, and .380 ACP bullets are light enough that even with the added weight over a few more cartridges in the magazine, the LCP MAX is still more than light enough for pocket carry.

My LCP is my carry everywhere, anytime gun. It's almost always on my person because it's so small and so lightweight that I can place it inside the pocket of a pair of drawstring shorts and go about my business, armed but unhindered. So I wouldn't consider replacing it with anything that couldn't work in the same exact role, but it sounds like the LCP MAX would work, adding no more extra weight than a third magazine would if carrying the standard LCP or LCP II.

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Shooting Comfort is bilateral.

I like .380 and I want one.

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GOA FL Dir. & Nat. Spokesman

They are going to sell a lot of these.

I'm a huge .380 fan.... they sure will.

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GOA FL Dir. & Nat. Spokesman

Seems interesting. But I don’t think I’ll give up my Bodyguard 380 just yet. It’s light enough with 8 rounds (7+1 with Magguts).

I won't be giving up my Ruger Security 9 compact for that. Mine holds 10 and fits easily in my front pocket + I prefer 9mm over 380 for defense.

If they pulled the same move as the Shield+ and it fit in my existing LCP holster, that would be very cool!

Attached Images

LCP Custom.jpg (143.2 KB, 1169 views)

This gun looks great! One of my first thoughts was, "will S&W come out with something comparable soon?"
I love the trigger in my Shield Plus and, if S&W came out with a double-stack .380 with the same trigger, at a similar price point as the Ruger, I'd snap it up.

My .02 on .380's. You either need a gun or you don't need a gun. If you don't need a gun then .380's are great. If you need a gun, not so great.....
YMMV

Color me curious. I have been carrying an LCP loaded with ball ammo for almost eight years and if called upon I have no doubt that it will get the job done.

I had given no thought to replacing it as I have full confidence in it.

Until I saw this thread. My interest is now fully piqued.

I need to ask Ruthie for an advance on my allowance.

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

Gunfight Statistics would appear to indicate otherwise.

Having a gun when a gun is needed is far more important than the cartridge that said gun is chambered in.

Personally, I carried .380 ACP exclusively up until a couple years ago when we started getting increasing sightings of wild predatory animals coming out of the woods surrounding my neighborhood, and never felt undergunned until then.

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Shooting Comfort is bilateral.

Nice gun. But not a fan of mouse guns. To each their own of course. My Glock 43 isn’t much bigger. And the last thing I need is another caliber.

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Life Is A Gift. Defend it!

I’ve owned the original/upgraded LCP for several years, shot hundreds of rounds absent a single failure. Put another 50 rounds of FMJ & HP down range yesterday, no problems. I’ll let others beta test Ruger’s new gun, but I do like the design. As an aside am I the only one who thinks the guy in the video bears a resemblance to the TV character Beaver from the ‘60s sit com Leave It To Beaver?

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

I bought one the first day they came out. Here is my range report that I posted on another site.

Took my LCP Max to the range today, along with my wife's LCP II .22LR. I don't have a lot of experience with the previous LCP models, so I can't really compare it to those but I will say that recoil is very manageable. I put 100 rounds through the LCP Max, and it wasn't unpleasant. It actually handles like a larger, heavier gun. Obviously has more recoil than our LCP II .22, but it was much more comfortable to shoot than my G43X, SIG P290RS (9mm), or KelTec PF9. I think my wife may be able to handle this even with her arthritis.

Target was at 5 yds. Not too bad. Trigger is adequate for a defensive gun. Sights are great. Huge improvement over LCP II sights.
[IMG]https://www****gerforum.net/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,onerror=redirect,width=1920,height=1920,fit=scale-down/https://www****gerforum.net/attachments/lcp-range-jpeg.156694/[/IMG]

[IMG]https://www****gerforum.net/attachments/lcp-target-jpeg.156695/[/IMG]

I checked one out at my local Bass Pro yesterday. $379. Much as I like the concept, I know I would just not be comfortable carrying essentially a single action pistol in my pocket without a manual thumb safety. That's just me.

I will hold out hope for S&W to match it with a higher capacity version of my Bodyguard in the same size gun.

I thought he looked more like NCIS Special Agent Timothy McGee from the eponymous TV Show, but now that you mention it... Yeah, he does look sort of like an adult Beaver Cleaver too.

Speaking of the durability/reliability of the LCP, if that wasn't enough, it's backed by Ruger's top notch customer service, so even if it does break, they'll replace it.
Seriously, there's this guy on other forums who's always bashing the LCP for being cheap and flimsy, yet even he admits that Ruger's customer service is excellent, as they replaced the LCP he destroyed by shooting overpressure loads through it, whereas any other company would have rightfully refused to replace it on account of it was his own fault that it was damaged.

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Shooting Comfort is bilateral.

I wondered about that for a little bit, but I decided it was safe. The gun can't fire unless the trigger is pulled. The trigger has the dongle to keep the trigger from moving to the rear if the gun is dropped. There is a notch that is designed to catch the hammer if the sear slips without the trigger being pulled. I don't see it as being anymore dangerous than a Glock, M&P, or similar striker fired pistol, but everyone has their own personal practices that they feel comfortable with.

Mine will be here next week! Pd $379.99 NO tax, and $12.99 shipping at Impact Guns. Not sure how they don't collect tax, but it saved me $25.

I had a S& W bodyguard and liked the size of it. Very thin, in fact, maybe too thin. After shooting it one round, the pistol rotated in my hand to the point where I couldn't shoot the second time without repositioning the pistol. My trigger finger would touch my thumb, at least that's the way I remember it. A disappointment. I've got two .380s and a Sig 360, which three make up my small pistol role. The fact that the Ruger doesn't have a safety on it means nothing to me. The gun isn't fully cocked until you pull the trigger, so it's not at all like carrying a SA pistol in your pocket.

That is one of the improvements of the LCP Max over the previous LCP. The grip is just a tad bit wider, but makes a big difference in how the gun feels in the hand.

I've been carrying my LCP (the original) since they came out. I have worn out 3 Desantis pocket holsters. They don't need a manual safety they are plenty safe as they are.

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Randy

I personally won't go below .38 special/9mm Para for my EDC. About 2 1/2 years ago, I bought a Ruger EC9s that is extremely reliable and fairly accurate. On top of that, it will feed Speer shot shells. I always carry a spare magazine filled with hollow points and when I'm out and about on my 20 acres, I carry another mag filled with shot shells.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

I had my hands on the new LCP Max last week. The trigger is a huge improvement over the older LCPs. I would even call it a "good trigger". Night and day better than the first LCP that has a horrid trigger.

The new sights are my favorite style...large U notch with a big bright color outlined dot. My old man eyes can see the sights and they are useable even without my readers.

The very slight added thickness in the grip does feel better in my paw.

For me, the extra capacity really is only a minor plus.

I think Ruger as a real winner in the LCP Max. I'm not ready to be an early adopter. I'll wait and see if there are any issues that crop up over the next few months.

If they don't have any issues I'm buying one.

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Bill Bates

In case you aren't aware, .380 ACP is roughly on-par with standard pressure .38 Special loads. They penetrate about the same in Ballistics Gel and leave behind identical wound channels.

I'm not trying to convince you to carry .380 ACP either, if you prefer a .38 Special or 9mm Luger, then that's your prerogative. I'm merely informing you that standard pressure .38 Special and .380 ACP are roughly equal in performance.

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Shooting Comfort is bilateral.

Nice! I saw ONE at this past weekend's show.
Tagged at $400, but...he was an FFL and would not
eat the tax. At least I got hands-on....and I really do
like it.

When I carry a .38 special, I use a load that has more oomph than standard pressure. Thanks for the info.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

This first version is a 48 state sales version. On Ruger's spec sheet it lists the pistol as not available for sale in CA or MA. Perhaps a version suitable for sale there will come down the pike in time.

On DA or "safe action" semi auto's I find that a proper holster negates any reason for a manual thumb safety. On a subcompact semi auto that thumb safety becomes a serious liability for quick manipulation, as would likely be necessary in a serious use affair.

Can't wait to shoot it!

Attached Images

LCP Max.jpg (91.3 KB, 604 views)

Looking forward to that range report.

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Release the Kraken

LGS has a few, I wasn’t a fan of the trigger, but an LE buddy bought one for a back up gun.

I’ll stick with my G43 when I need a pocket gun.

Take up was long but clean and this may sound funny but I’m used to a more spongy take up with my Glocks. Break was great though.

Ruger used to be known for safeties on guns, now they seem to be going the other way. No way am I putting a striker fired gun without a safety in my pocket or inside my waistband. I’d carry it outside the belt but that’s it. Trigger dongle means nothing to me. Something gets in there it’s going off. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I should just “keep my booger finger of the bang switch”, and “my safety should be between my ears”, but a 5 pound trigger pull without a hammer to press on as I holster is a no go for me.

Before Glock millions of people carried semi auto pistols with safeties. They all survived. I honestly think the “no safety on a carry pistol” is just regurgitated propaganda.

I carry either a LC9S or the Shield Plus. If S&W comes out with a Bodyguard Plus I’m interested.

In that case, you'll be fine with the LCP Max as it uses an internal hammer, not a striker.

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Release the Kraken

Which is why I won't guy it.
I chose the M&P380 over the LCPII for the simple reason that it was a DAO design which means the hammer is at complete rest which I prefer when pocket carrying. I also like having an external safety. It looks pretty small though. Be interesting to see of the mothership comes out with a comparably sized M&P380 with the extra capacity with the same size as my current M&P380.
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Forum consigliere

Now the double stack .22 is interesting but the double stack .380 sounds good it's too close in size to my 365 to seriously consider.

There is a video showing the LCP Max with a Sig 365 and I was surprised just how much smaller the Ruger was. here ya go.
Also, I find that small differences become big when it comes to concealed carry, especially pocket carry.

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Release the Kraken

Partially cocked internal hammer I have no control over. No thanks. The trigger pull in the Bodyguard is a true double action. This Ruger Max isn’t.

Question:
Does the world need another pocket size .380 pistol?

I handled one at the gunstore recently. I was impressed to the point of considering buying one.
I would love to have those sights on a LCP II .22.

OZ

Not since 1908!

Attached Images

6EE4407F-E36E-45ED-A6D4-B65F94F649BB.jpg (102.5 KB, 28 views)

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“What you got, ain’t new.”

If you want one that takes 11 or 13 rounds, then yes.

Odd thing is Sig used to sell a pistol that came close, the P250 subcompact in .380. You must have good sized pockets to carry one as the slide is pretty chunky. The upside is that this allows a really light recoil spring, possibly lighter than the S&W 380 EZ. Sig never sold many of them in the US, I suspect the combination of caliber and a true DAO trigger stunted sales.

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Release the Kraken

Looks like the Elbonian designers at Ruger have been hard at work again.

Must be hardly a soul left at Kel-Tec after the Ruger bus comes through, collecting firearm engineers who specialize in ugly, cheap-looking guns.

Who care what a pocket pistol looks like?

If someone sees it you're either horrible at concealment or currently shooting them.

I find a pretty small difference in ease of carry between larger than LCP 380s (LCP Max, G42, PPK,
etc.) and the smaller 9mm options (Glock 43, but especially the P365). I don't really think I'd be in the market for this one, but man if there were a 32ACP option practicality be damned, I'd be in.

Interesting. I have shot a .380ACP. With today’s
Bullet Technology it is devastating at close range.

I will have to check it out.

Thank you for the “heads up”.

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SD social distanc'n since 1889