As I posted a few times last week, I have been teaching two good good friends to shoot. One of them a 4'11" female wants to CCW and has looked at the ultra small pack of .380 pocket pistols. After shooting most of them, she has come down to the Ruger LCP and the Glock 42. There are plus's and minus's with both! I have been shooting them as well since they "are there" and I have not had much trigger time on these prior.

She is gravitating towards the Ruger because of the 10 + 1 flush fit magazine, small, thin profile, descent sights and over all reliability. The one constant problem she is having is at least 10 times yesterday, she inadvertently hit the magazine release and the magazine dropped a 1/4" making the pistol inoperable. I have corrected her grip several times but it still happens on occasion. Needs to practice more and pay more attention to her grip (particularly her thumb). Other than that, she shoots is rather well.

After we left the Range, she did make a comment about the comparison of the Ruger and my Sig P365's recoil. She said that the Ruger's recoil while less, was not substantially less because of the Ruger's light weight (10.6 oz I believe). I can see where she is coming from. Yes, the 380 is way less powerful than the 9mm, however the Ruger has less mass and a whole lot less to hold on to. In equal wight and size pistols this would be a whole different story.

My other "student" has already purchased the LCP Max (a few days ago) and has shot a few hundred rounds through it. He shoots it decently an so far likes it as it is almost unnoticeable in a front pocket.

After shooting at least 150 rounds of hardball through it, I will absolutely, positively, stick with my Sig P365 and Federal 124 grain HST's. While some have used the word "snappy" describing recoil, after carrying a M60 loaded with Buffalo Bore 158 grain +Ps for many years, the Sig's recoil is "light" to me. I have no issues concealing the P365 I am fine with the Sig's 17.6 oz's ( + ammo weight ) and I do shoot it very very well. That said, I can understand why the Ruger LCP Max is a "best seller" for those who need to pocket carry and need something really small and light.

The G42 on the other hand just does not hold enough rounds to be in the same class as the Ruger and is (at least to me) less inherently accurate. I also do believe that the Ruger's "stiffer" hammer fired mechanism is a bit less inherently dangerous than the Glock's lighter Striker fired mechanism for a novice who will be carrying soon. So that is my feeling after being able to log in some trigger time on these .380 pistols. IMHO the Ruger LCP Max leads the competition in this field.

For those of us who do not dress in fashion play style, who do wear baggy clothing and have been totin' for years, the Ruger LCP (and alike) will not replace the Sig P365, Hellcat, and similar Micro 9's IMHO - just too much difference in stopping power!

I've been carrying a Ruger LCP 10th Anniversary Edition (basically a LCP Custom with a Stainless Slide) since 2019 and for all the folks I've seen complaining about accidentally hitting the magazine release, I have personally never had that problem.
With a proper Pocket Holster (I use a Desantis Nemesis) and a proper grip, it will never happen. However, I have medium sized hands with long fingers, and I always use the extended base plates for maximum purchase, so it might just be that my hands fit the grip better than those with larger, meater hands who insist upon using the flush magazines for maximum concealment.

That being said, I don't subscribe to the belief that there exists an optimal, one-size-fits-all firearm for self-defense, and thus would encourage anyone to find the firearm that fits THEM best.

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Shooting Comfort is bilateral.

I've carried an LCP for years and just yesterday picked up a new LCP MAX. I will shoot it today but so far, it fits and conceals the same as the LCP, plus 4 extra rounds capacity.

I know its not as powerful as my G26 but the G26 doesn't fit in my front pocket, so there is that. It's another tool in the tool box.

I've not had the mag release issue mentioned with my original LCP. I'll see how it does today.

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Regards,

Tom

I’ve shot and handled all the guns mentioned ALOT. While the sights on the Max are nice it’s size increase is so close to that of various 9mm , I’ll take the Sig or a Kahr. If I’m settling (I think 380 is fine for SD) for 380 then I’m going with the ultra concealable LCP. It’s size and weight make it possible to conceal with almost any attire. This being said, I’ve never had the magazine issues. If I were constantly dropping the mag that might change my opinion.

Love my Max. Yesterday at the range it hit 950 rounds through it with only 5 malfunctions and 3 of those were ammo related.

I've never had a problem with the mag release on the MAX, but due to age and physical infirmities, I have to use a Hogue HandALL grip on mine. I've noticed that it does protect the release somewhat.

I carry my original LCP in a DeSantis wallet holster. There is no accidental releasing of the mags!

Ivan

On the “Best Pocket Pistols” articles that I’ve read, the Ruger LCP/LCP Max always ranks 1st or 2nd. It’s a great little pocket pistol. The 12 round mag and/or 12 round mag + Hyve mag extension give the LCP Max a much fuller grip. The ergonomics of the LCP Max aren’t all that I would like them to be, but I can live with them. I keep hoping S&W will make a “Bodyguard .380 Max”. Probably not going to happen!

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otis

My wife likes the original LCP. Prior to the introduction of the LCP II, Ruger made an LCP Custom. The Custom had better sights and better trigger like the LCP Max.

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otis

The accidental mag releases happened while shooting it - not in a holster. I suspect that through training and muscle memory, that issue will be solved.

A friend had been plagued with the spontaneous magazine release problem, using 2 Kel-Tec P-380's. After proving their reliability to
his satisfaction, he carefully filed down the mag release buttons to the
point where it takes a determined push to release the mags. He actually
DOES carry a spare mag for them, but figures this method should be adequate for his needs. He mentioned that he's never had a problem
with magazines releasing inadvertently after this adjustment. FWIW.

Which one is the LCP MAX? Mine has a red trigger.

LCP MAX has a double stack magazine and a trigger safety. The only LCP I recall with a red trigger was towards the end of the run of the original LCP. I THINK it was called the LCP custom.

My guide to the LCP (which may be wrong!) goes like this:

LCP (original) Minimal sights, almost a direct copy of the P3AT. Partially cocked hammer. Single stack magazine.

Later LCP (I call it the B model) Visually identical to the original but with slightly more prominent sights and a shorter trigger pull courtesy of more pre-cocking of the hammer.

LCP custom. Later model with red metal trigger. Not sure of any other changes.

LCP II. More angular looking than the original with slightly larger grip. Fully cocked internal hammer, trigger safety, still a single stack mag.

LCP MAX. LCP II designed to take a double stack mag.

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Release the Kraken

Thanks. I carry it in an Uncle Mike's soft holster around the farm. There seem to be so many, I lost track of them.

The "original" LCP takes getting used to, i.e., lots of practice. One of my sons absolutely can't stand it. In his opinion it's the one of the worst defensive handguns ever made. Not that it doesn't go bang every time, it does, he just can't stand the long trigger pull. I have just a "few" years on him and told him it's all about practice! Different firearms for different purposes!

Ruger just released the LCP MAX Elite in December that also has a red trigger.

The Custom also has substantial sights like the LCP Max. And the Custom’s slide does not lock back on the last shot like the LCP 2 and the LCP Max.

Attached Images

0E034A82-5768-4E12-B7BA-C11C72924BB2.jpg (35.2 KB, 16 views)

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otis

There was also the 10th Anniversary LCP, which was basically a custom with a stainless slide and a silver trigger. I have one in my pocket or on the table next to me all the time. I have large hands but a Hogue grip sleeve made it very comfortable to shoot actually. Bought in new from Buds for $199 before the craziness began. Best two bills ever spent.

I like the LCP Max for pocket carry and only once did I hit the mag release and since have been careful not to do again, but since it happened I ground it down about half way. Still plenty of meat to eject the mag especially now that I’m used to it. I prefer to pocket carry my p365 but certain pants require a smaller frame so the LCP max in a great choice for those situations

I missed out on a LCP Custom on GB last summer. I liked it just because of the sights. I wish Ruger would charge an extra $10 and improve the sights on the LCP. Simple white dot would be big improvement.

I have been carrying, and shooting a first generation Ruger LCP since they became available. Never had a problem hitting the mag release on mine. I did add some length to the magazine just enough to get a little more grip area this was before the availability of the extended base plate or extended magazines. I use a Nemesis pocket holster in the back right pocket so much so that there are wear patterns in all my jeans lol. There may be better choices for concealed carry, but for me it works very well. I did pick up last year the Ruger LCP 2 in 22lr as a cheaper option to practice with.

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Randy

For a number years one of my favorite pocket protectors was a S&W 642. It was the perfect dog walking gun. It was just so easy to toss in my pocket and go. It wasn't fun at the range but I felt it would do the job if needed.

I replaced the 642 with a 9 Shield which I just never warmed up to. I replaced that with a 45 Shield that just fit my paw better. That 45 Shield has been my daily carry gun for a few years. I carried nicely in a Vedder Light Tuck holster but I kind of missed the ease of the old 642 for tossing in my pocket when going to the mail box.

i've handle and shot the original LCP and wasn't impressed. It was bit to narrow for my paw and the trigger pull was horrible.

When the Ruger LCP Max came out my son bought one. The trigger pull is so much better than the original LCP and the slightly wider grip feels better. After shooting it I had to pick one up. It is about the perfect dog walking pistol. It so easy to slip into my pocket. It has been dead reliable and reasonably accurate. So far, knock on Kydex, I haven had the mag drop problem. I carry it in a Crossbreed pocket holster which conceals well. It kind of looks like a phone in my pocket. It stays put in my pocket when drawing. Even the little soft holster that came with it isn't bad but I prefer Kydex for pistols.

More and more the 45 Shield gets left in the safe. I really like my new dog walker.

[img]https://a4.pbase.com/o12/10/209910/1/173363868.dL4GDZ0w****gerlcpmax.jpg[/img]

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Bill Bates

Carry the same LCP with 7 round magazines and Handall for my big mitts. Has digested a few hundred rounds with zero issues, surprisingly accurate, in my pocket daily in an Alabama holster.