RANGE REPORT RUGER LCP MAX

[robertrwalsh]

I bought a RUGER LCP Max .380 automatic a few days ago from Turner Outdoorsman, who had a pretty good sale going on them. I have an older version of the LCP and a ton of .380 ammo so it seemed like a good deal. I took it home, field stripped and cleaned it, and took it out today and shot it.

It shot really well. That big front sight is very visible and the gun liked what I fed it, a generic ball round. I put 50 rounds thru it.

The magazines are a chore. They hold ten rounds but you need a bumper jack to put #9 and #10 in. The magazine loader they give you with the gun is semi-useless. They also give you only one magazine.

It is almost impossible to insert a fully loaded magazine with the action closed. It is very difficult to work the action with the fully loaded magazine inserted.

Getting the assembly pin back in the gun after field stripping and cleaning is an exercise in fun. I expect it will get easier as the gun is broken in but I wonder why they don't radius the off-end of that pin just a little bit. I am sure there is some reason, but I can't think of what it would be. I may buy a couple of spares and do that to one just to see how it works.

It functioned perfectly and gave very decent accuracy. The trigger is a bit long and a bit mushy but not unreasonably so. It is a good gun for the purpose intended IMHO.

 

[GnarlsR2]

Hello Mr. Walsh...

I'm just curious... did you compare or look at any other pistol before making your purchase?
What is the primary reason for you choosing the Ruger LCP Max 380?

 

[robertrwalsh]

I have a fair number of .380 pistols and an earlier version, the LCP (non-max). I got it mostly because it was on sale and I wanted a low-cost ammo burner. It does, however, have really good sights and a decent trigger.

 

[chief38]

Good morning. I am pretty familiar with the Ruger LCP Max, including the brand new upgraded version they just released. The new version looks quite similar however they did make a few minor improvements such as the slide serrations, the sights, the magazine, the magazine release button spring tension, and the frame stippling (very slight though). I do not own any Rugers, however quite a few of the people I instruct have bought one over the last 3 years. They all work quite well and are accurate, reliable, shoot to POA at SD distances and hold 10 or 12 plus one in the chamber depending on which magazine you use (one exception below). Actually I have been very impressed with both the older version of the LCP Max and the new version is even better.

Your gun will break in. Give is 500 - 700 rounds and I think you will be very surprised! Magazines will become easier to load as well. That pretty much goes without saying in regards to any pistol, however in a miniature sized, 10.5 oz. pistol things get more noticeable.

I did have one student that after 4,500 rounds had to return hers to Ruger because the slide retaining pin and retaining pin spring had broken. They fixed it in a few days and returned it to her. It then ran OK for only a week and then gun started jamming up often. She sent it in again and they replaced many parts including the barrel. When she tried shooting it after the second repair, it exhibited a bunch of issues including poor reliability. She sent it back in and they replaced her gun with a brand new one - no hassles. Ruger said they no longer had the proper parts to repair her 3 year old LCP Max version and the new version was superior. So far in about 3 months time her brand new LCP Max has performed flawlessly and is a better version all around. BTW, her gun was the only LCP Max I have seen with any issues, to date. All her woes were over a few weeks - not months. Ruger quickly addressed and took care of her issues with no hassles and no arguments. BTW, they paid for everything including all freight charges and even the local FFL fee when they shipped her a brand new gun. You can't ask for more than that!

I think once your LCP Max is broken in, you will like it very much. My personal suggestion with a short barreled .380 acp would be to use the Federal FMJ 95 grain ammunition which I have found to be about the best .380 acp FMJ these days. It will never expand - that is a given, however at least you will get somewhat descent penetration from it (10" - 12" in ballistic gel). From everything I have seen and tests I have watched, .380acp hollow point ammo if it does expand, will just not penetrate adequately (only 6"-7" in ballistic gel). As our friend Erich here on the Forum always says, "Penetration is King, expansion is Queen - everything else is Angels dancing on the head of a pin". I think I got his quote correct - lol.

Give us an update after break in. Good shooting!

 

[hardluk1]

My wife and I learned many years ago to just stop cramming a max out mag into a handgun . Rack the slide back and lock in place just like it would be when shooting empty and release the slide . Some high cap handguns magas may be loaded less one round for carry just incase you have a problem a reload in easy ! .. Buy a UPLULA to help load mags . Saves on the fingers for a day at the range . MY wife now carrys here MAX 380 with underwood extreme defense ammo . Practice ammo is reloads at home .

 

[chief38]

My wife and I learned many years ago to just stop cramming a max out mag into a handgun . Rack the slide back and lock in place just like it would be when shooting empty and release the slide . Some high cap handguns magas may be loaded less one round for carry just incase you have a problem a reload in easy ! .. Buy a UPLULA to help load mags . Saves on the fingers for a day at the range . MY wife now carrys here MAX 380 with underwood extreme defense ammo . Practice ammo is reloads at home .

I forgot to mention about getting an Uplula loader - but you are right in that it will help a lot. The magazine will also wear in a little. The Uplula also works on pretty much any caliber up to 45acp I believe.

 

[LVSteve]

If you really want to know how +1 can go wrong, read up on the Remington R51. Which reminds me, I must take mine to the range with the modded mag followers.

 

[hardluk1]

Yes the uplula useful tool . We have used ours on everything from 380 single stacks to 45 using the standard model with out the adaptors the new models can come with . I also have a uplula for a AR9 colt smg mags and a picked up a used uplula for the 556 ar15 mags 20 bucks at a gun show .

 

[chief38]

Loading a magazine with one less round than it is designated for certainly will not hurt anything, however I can confidently say I have never done that and I've never had a single issue or failure with a fully loaded, properly designed and properly manufactured factory magazine in good condition. Basically I have never found a need to do that. IMHO, a properly designed, clean and maintained magazine should work as it was meant to even if loaded to the max. If it does not, then I'd suggest there is an issue with the actual magazine or way it was designed.

I know there are some who change springs and or followers to eek out an extra round or two and I have never done that and I'd not suggest that either. In my 50 years of owning semi auto's of many different brands, sizes and models I have not experienced a magazine failure to feed because it was loaded up to its designated capacity. Now I HAVE HAD poorly made magazines that would not feed no matter how many rounds were loaded in it! Some examples are Triple K and the newer S&W Model 41 magazines. It did not matter how many rounds you inserted - they were garbage and would not work for beans. Those are long since disposed of and proper magazines were purchased.

I will say do what your heart tells you but always base what you do in your own personal experience. That is why I practice, chronograph, test and shoot as much as I do. I follow what I have personally experienced - not what I read online or in a LGS BS session.