New CCW option for me.

[The Big D]

With new Maryland legislation (SB1, 2023) significantly reducing places where carrying a handgun is lawful, I just purchased a Ruger LCP Max .380.

The new law exempts (obviously) LEOSA qualified persons but still wanted to minimize, insofar as is practicable, the likelihood of anyone noticing I was carrying a gun.

The Ruger is tiny and very lightweight even compared to a 642. Have not yet shot it but will report my opinion as soon as I can.

Be safe.

 

[ladder13]

That, and one of my Seecamps, are my summer time shorts wearing guns.
Plenty of comforting rounds come with the Max. A bit snappy, but it's not a range gun.

 

[Bald1]

NY tried to legislate where you can carry after the Bruen case. SCOTUS is going to shoot it down. Maryland should challenge it as well

 

[max503]

If push comes to shove I plan to buy an original Ruger LCP because they are so small. So far, we have a gun friendly DA so I'm not too concerned with printing.

 

[pittpa]

That, and one of my Seecamps, are my summer time shorts wearing guns.
Plenty of comforting rounds come with the Max. A bit snappy, but it's not a range gun.

That, and one of my Seecamps, are my summer time shorts wearing guns.
Plenty of comforting rounds come with the Max. A bit snappy, but it's not a range gun.

With new Maryland legislation (SB1, 2023) significantly reducing places where carrying a handgun is lawful, I just purchased a Ruger LCP Max .380.

The new law exempts (obviously) LEOSA qualified persons but still wanted to minimize, insofar as is practicable, the likelihood of anyone noticing I was carrying a gun.

The Ruger is tiny and very lightweight even compared to a 642. Have not yet shot it but will report my opinion as soon as I can.

Be safe.

I'm lucky to be in pa. Here is a comparison from Handgun Hero of tha Max and a 442 lined up at the muzzle and top strap. And the regular LCP and Max. The Max peeks out a little bit at the bottom.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Mike-4]

I love my recently acquired LCP Max. Have put 250 rds through it with only 2 FTEs. May have been a break-in issue so I'll keep an eye out. Much easier to conceal than my J frames with twice the capacity although inferior ballistics. I value shot placement over ballistics and I do shoot better with the LCP Max.

 

[Rustyt1953]

You chose wisely.

 

[The Big D]

Challenges to new law…

…are already initiated even though it does not take effect 'til September 1.

Be safe.

NY tried to legislate where you can carry after the Bruen case. SCOTUS is going to shoot it down. Maryland should challenge it as well

 

[The Big D]

I used that site…

…for comparison shopping prior to choosing the Ruger LCP Max. Found "Handgun Hero" VERY helpful.

Be safe.

I'm lucky to be in pa. Here is a comparison from Handgun Hero of tha Max and a 442 lined up at the muzzle and top strap. And the regular LCP and Max. The Max peeks out a little bit at the bottom.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Kanewpadle]

Just bought one myself. Kimber K6 is just too heavy in cargo shorts.

Never thought I would carry another 380 but the recent advancements in ammo technology have greatly increased the effectiveness of the caliber. Looking at Underwood Ammo Extreme Defense.

Looking forward to a range report Big D..

 

[BabaBlueJay]

I wear athletic shorts and carry a J frame appendix in a smart carry with nobody noticing. It's just as much how you carry as gun size.

 

[Sgt. Buzzard]

Agree 100% with Baba Blue. I've carried various J frames on, off duty and now retired for fifty years. Nobody has taken notice of my gun. Just came back from a long motorcycle tour with a retired FBI agent and a Sheriff's deputy. Both knew I was always carrying. Yet both would ask, "you packing"?

Discreet is very important, always let it be a surprise. As a 73 year old it's my only advantage.

 

[The Big D]

Update to OP.

Fired a couple 10 round magazines in a friend's back yard on Sunday. Liberty Civil Defense rounds. No issues and did not find it particularly "snappy" but was an impromptu shoot and had no "ears" on. Did seem rather loud.

BTW, as noted in earlier Forum threads I have only been "made" once in now 48 years of carrying a gun (mostly) in big cities…NYC, Boston, and DC. I know how to conceal and carried everything from a P7-M13 to a 642. That said, I do like to minimize the ability of others to recognize I am carrying a gun. Thus the Ruger now.

Be safe.

 

[Old cop]

I p/u the LCP Max a short while ago and after a trip to the range where I put another 200+ rounds on target for a total of over 400 to date, it's finding more carry time as it gets warmer.

 

[Kanewpadle]

Finally got to the range today with mine.

Mine has the stainless slide. Love the sights. Much better than the regular LCP.

Shot 50 rounds from 5-7 yards. Accuracy was so so but I'm sure it will get better with more range time.

The trigger is adequate but nothing to get excited over. No failures at all with range ammo.

I have large hands. I noticed that this gun is easier to get a decent grip on.

Kimber K6 still in my pocket now but after another few hundred rounds with the new LCP it will be replaced.

 

[chief38]

Two of my best friends recently bought a Ruger LCP Max. It is IMHO the best of the lot of 380 pocket pistols. It has proven to be fairly reliable with only a handful of jams when the guns were being broken in. After 400 - 500 rounds they seem to run reliably. At 10.5 oz. empty it's small and thin profile is a piece of cake to conceal and carry.

The sights are pretty descent and the trigger pulls have smoothed out quite a bit since new. They are very accurate and can put 11 or 13 shots (depending on the mag you insert) right in the 2" bullseye area dead center.

The biggest problem I see with it is that it is a 380. While I would not want to get hit by one, they are on the lower scale of being a viable SD round out of a 3" bbl. If I were to ever carry one, I would use the American Eagle FMJ 95 grain bullets. No - they will not expand at all (no FMJ ever does) however you will get descent penetration which is more than I can say about pretty much any of the so called expanding hollow points. Even the Hornady critical defense is lackluster in penetration, - barely 7" in the testing I have seen.

While I personally would not dip below 9mm for SD EDC, I definitely can't argue with the LCP Max for lightweight, small discrete carry and have accurate, reliable functioning for up to 13 rounds. It is IMO the best 380 one could currently purchase for that purpose and as always, Ruger is a reliable company when it comes to customer service.