Tell me about the Ruger LCP (UPDATE: Post 49 Success!)

[Grayfox]

I'm thinking about buying one. Don't know much about them. Good? Bad? Strengths and weaknesses? What about the ones with the trigger guard mounted lasers?

edited to add:
What would be a fair price for a used one?

Edited to add:
New questions in post #23

New Update post 49. Success at last!

 

[KSDeputy]

Buy the Ruger Custom LCP. It has a red trigger, and the best trigger pull of any pocket gun I have found. I carry mine around the farm and really like it.

 

[Tenn2]

I have had mine for about 3 years and it has performed well. I did not buy the laser as I do not care for them. If you handle one it is slim in the hand, but get the grip sleeve and it is a whole different gun.

There are several members on the forum that have and like them. Just like anything else it is a personnel thing.

 

[shouldazagged]

I've handled and dry-fired but not shot one. I thought the trigger was quite good compared to other small pistols I've tried. I know a number of people who own and love them.

My only reservation was the fact that the slide doesn't lock back after the last round in the mag.

Around here you can buy them for well under $250--I've seen them for $220.

I had saved up to buy one until a family emergency took the money. I may well get one yet.

 

[Muss Muggins]

KelTec copy, about the same price, couple hundred for a used one. I don't have one, but people that do seem to like them . . .

 

[gman51]

It is good for what it is made for which is CC self protection. They are not a pleasure to shoot because they do have a kicker recoil being such a light gun. But then again so do most all pocket rockets have a nasty kick to them. For this category of guns the LCP is hard to beat.

 

[loknload]

For what it is it's a great little handgun! Have a first gen LCP and wouldn't trade it for anything.
It's small, fits my hand well, conceals well and yes for its size it is a little snappy on the range but the more you shoot it the better you get use to it.
I think I've had mine since 2009 and have never had a problem with it, in fact it has become my main carry!
I may have to check out one of the new Custom models but I'm pleased with what I have!

 

[shawn mccarver]

LCP is the best in class pocket pistol for the money. Better than the Kel-Tec it supposedly copied, much better actually. I have never had a malfunction. Ruger revised the trigger pull from the original. The original was a long DAO trigger pull. The new action shortens and lightens the pull. I recommend the one with the catalog number KLCP. It has the stainless steel slide, which will be more forgiving of exposure to perspiration, etc. Excellent pistol. The only real reason to use the LCP these days, however, is if you have a pocket too small for the LC9sPro model, which is barely bigger, but is a 9mm.

All of that said, after having owned and used both, the LCP beats the Bodyguard 380 by leaps and bounds. The LCP fits the first rule of pocket pistols. It is reliable.

 

[ldausmc1369]

Had one since 2009. Never any problems. Carry daily. Clean once a month. Snappy recoil, but rapid fire center of mass, no issues. Conceals well.

 

[H Richard]

It is slim, light and compact, and fits in all sorts of pockets. There is no excuse to not carry it.

 

[DocB]

It's just one step above a Saturday Night Special for under $200. Adjust that amount back a century, and you're looking at a $10 gun in 1916. Yup, a SNS for sure. Problem is I love mine. It's durable, accurate, and super easy to conceal. There's one in my truck at all times. It goes into my pocket when I go somewhere and get out. A real SNS cost under $5 a century ago, so the LCP is a step up from that.

 

[vireya]

LCP was just too snappy for me, so I traded it in for a Colt Mustang. I had to release the safety after each shot, and cud not fix that, so traded THAT one in for a Sig 9mm (938) to go along with my S&W 642 pro

 

[bearpa]

Carried as a backup gun!

I carried one for my last five years on the job, in Flint Michigan. Carried in my left pocket in a DeSantis pocket holster, flat, slim, left no noticeable outline in the pocket. Accurate at 7 yards with Federal 380 Hydra Shok, I did not find the recoil objectionable, and it never malfunctioned!

Practice with it, better then any others on the market for it's intended purpose. And I had no problem keeping my shots on a B-27 reduced at 16 yards.

I still carry it when my dress dictates such.

 

[Farmer17]

I had to have one when they first came out and I bought one and it had a long trigger pull and non-visible sights so I dumped it. They were so sought after at the time I remember a guy was trying to trade me a German Sig P225 for it and I turned him down. A neighbor wanted to sell a Taurus TCP .380 for a hundred bucks so I bought it and it was perfectly reliable and superior to the Ruger in feel, sights, trigger, and it had a slide release. I later sold the Taurus for double the money but after a while I realized how handy a pocket .380 was so I looked at the new second generation LCP. This one had a shorter and lighter trigger pull and pretty decent sights and Sportsman's Guide had them on sale for $199 with free shipping so I grabbed one and am quite happy with it. It is much better than first generation LCP.

 

[indigo22]

I have a first gen LCP. It got a fluff and buff before any rounds went down the pipe. Never failed to function in any way. Switched out the trigger to a RTK Sweet Pea Trigger that is adjustable in take up and over travel. Works sweet. Delivers as advertised. The LCP rides with me every day in a wallet holster. It is compact lite and reliable. Ya, she barks and bucks but at 7 yards I can cover the groups with my hand. Worth every penny.

 

[RichCapeCod]

I have three (it's a long story); one first generation and two stainless models. Reliable, reasonably accurate, very concealable, all for a modest (IMHO) price. Pick up a DeSantis pocket holster for $20 bucks and you're good to go!

Rich

 

[msinc]

Well, I have one and I like it. Because of its size and weight it is truly considered a deep cover carry gun. Like in the dead heat of the summer when you have to wear shorts and a tee shirt...you can still carry. Winter carry you can get away with a 629...summer carry is a whole different ballgame.
You have got to practice with it and practice a lot to get used to it. At least I did, and I don't know any honest person that doesn't say the same thing. Mine shoots good enough and runs flawless to the point that it is above being what some refer to as a "theory" gun...the theory being A gun is better than NO gun. It is definitely comforting to know you have it when no one else does and it is the middle of the hot summer. Not too many guns you can do that with. Buy with confidence. There are more expensive small guns, most of which are too heavy to comfortably carry.

 

[silentflyer]

I have one, the only plastic gun I have, use it for warm weather CC when out on the Harley. Had a Bodyguard 380 for about 30 days many issues and the worst trigger I have ever had my finger on.
9mm LCP does have a better trigger, but still nothing like a nice steel wheel gun that's stamped S&W. For 200$ it's OK.

 

[ARTopcat]

My Summer EDC

The Ruger LCP Custom is my summer EDC. It replaces my 9mm Shield when the temps go up and I am in shorts most days. Out of the box it is a snappy little fellow and not a whole lota fun to shoot at the range. There are two essential mods that will make the LCP a joy to shoot though.

1. The polymer grip is very narrow and is difficult to hold so the addition of the Hogue Handall Hybrid Ruger LCP Grip Sleeve (Amazon, $8.69) is a must. It dampens recoil and provides the shooter with much better purchase and control of the gun.

2.Replace the factory 9 lb. recoil spring set with a 13 lb. recoil spring. (Amazon, $17.00) The new spring set will fully cycle full power ammo as well as reduce felt recoil and muzzle flip.

These 2 mods changed the shooting dynamics of my LCP Custom so dramatically that I was able to shoot 4-5 inch groups at 20 yds very consistently. Not only did my accuracy greatly improve but my hand didn't hurt after shooting a box of practice ammo.

There is one more mod that you may want to make while you are at it. The LCP Custom comes with a factory stainless steel guide rod however the regular LCP does not. It is not a necessary mod but I figure while you are at it you might as well upgrade the guide rod to something that will hold up better and improve performance a bit. (Amazon, $13.50) So for under $40 you can turn this gun into the best shooter in its class....hands down.

The LCP is a great bargain right now. You can easily find one online between $199 and $220 shipped. I think you will be very happy with your choice. Hate to say it, but the LCP is a much better gun than the M&P Bodyguard. The trigger, ergonomics and value are far superior, and that is coming from a S&W guy.

 

[Brian in Oregon]

I cringe when I see a well engineered handgun being called a "Saturday Night Special". That hogwash got a lot of imported guns banned, including the Walther PPK, which is certainly not a cheap, shoddily built gun that is almost as dangerous to the user as it is to an attacker (using the anti-gun rhetoric of the day).