Ruger LCP - "I like it!"

[tweener]

I just got one of these little pocket guns and am quite surprised by it. Small, manageable, and reasonable accurate. I have a couple of boxes of ammo through it, and no issues whatsoever. If you end up getting one of these, Vlad makes a really nice pocket holster for them at a really reasonable price! Just a heads up.

resonably accurate is an understatement......I shot this gun MORE ACCURATELY than much longer barreled service guns.....allthough, after about 30 rds, my accuracy started to fail...I got into the "over thinking and over doing it" syndrome....so I practiced other techniques of fire besides bullseye accuracy....

[bstrawse]

Joe's in Roseville has had Hornaday Critical Defense instock from time to time for $13.95 (i think that was the price) per 20 rounds -- limit 1 box per person per day.

I picked up one when I picked up my LCP there.

b

[Rogelk]

The LCP seems like a great gun...and everyone seems to either have one or wants one. I've been out of the firearms loop for a while so..can someone help me understand how the .380 has become so popular lately...is it the caliber or the LCP that's attracting people?

pleeeease..I'm dieing to know!!

[Bessy]

The LCP seems like a great gun...and everyone seems to either have one or wants one. I've been out of the firearms loop for a while so..can someone help me understand how the .380 has become so popular lately...is it the caliber or the LCP that's attracting people?

pleeeease..I'm dieing to know!!

Rogelk... So here is what I've heard about .380. There are severalpocket guns released this year that are in this caliber.. so demand is up. Ammunition manufactures often used the same tooling for 9mm and .380, given the choice between .380 and 9mm and they are making 9mm like crazy to fill demand so.380 takes a back seat. keep in mind this is unverified but I've heard it from a couple of distributors...

Also ComradeBurg was kind enough to treat me to shooting his LCP this weekend.... function was flawless recoil was harsh. Not the best gun for working plates LOL. I honestly can't say anything negative about the gun, other than I wish there was more of it to hold on to! It serves it's purpose very well. I'd definitely consider it for my BUG. Burg reloads his own .380 so we spent a bit of time trying to track down cases. Seems it had a habit of throwing them on TOP of the shelter roof where they were not retrievable.... that's what I like to call positive ejection.

Does anyone know if you can cut down standard 9mm to make .380 I've heard this from several sources, but have not been able to verify it.

[Rogelk]

Thanks Bessy, well I won't hijack the thread but the debate always was 9vs.40vs 45 with 9mm always the controversy as to light. .380 never entered the equation. But, guess wer'e not talking primary carry. Incidently, Cabelas had several boxes of .380 Blazer this AM. some 40SW as well (I think WWB ) and various .45...no 9mm except expensive stuff. Call first... don't want any wild goose chases on my account.

[Bessy]

Thanks Bessy, well I won't hijack the thread but the debate always was 9vs.40vs 45 with 9mm always the controversy as to light. .380 never entered the equation. But, guess wer'e not talking primary carry. Incidently, Cabelas had several boxes of .380 Blazer this AM. some 40SW as well (I think WWB ) and various .45...no 9mm except expensive stuff. Call first... don't want any wild goose chases on my account.

Thanks for the info on the .380... my father in law was looking for some I just called him to let him know. As for caliber discussion, I greatly appreciate you not dragging us down that path. When I say BUG I mean back up gun, not primary carry weapon. But a .380 in the pocket is way better than a .45acp at home.

[tweener]

A gun in the pocket is better than a gun in the car, or at home. The little .380's of late are very good /reliable / safe pocket pistols, when compare to alot of what was out there in the past. Ammunition for the .380 has improved quite a bit lately too. Several companies make self defense ammo that was basically designed around the LCP or the P3AT. I am no expert on these things, but I would say the most popular 380's are th LCP, the P3AT, the BERSA line of 380's and the Walther PPK type.

The cool thing about these guns, is how easily carried they are, and that you don't have to alter your lifestyle to carry them. Lets face it, carrying a "normal" sized, and calibered gun, will require you to make at least small changes in your comfort level of dress, at least it did for me. I am very active, my job is quite physical, I am always on the go......the pocket holstered 380 is barely a nuisence, basically like carrying a second wallet. I can draw it and aim, as fast as many with OWB mid-sized service pistols. I don't feel under defended with it, quite the opposite, I feel like I have the advantage, becasue of it's deep concealment.

I never go without it....when I run (often) it goes in an IWB appendix carry on my gym shorts.....try to find many guns you can do that with!

[ComradeBurg]

Yes that little gun sure likes to toss brass as far as it possibly can. But I have to say I love the LCP as far as a backup gun. The trigger isn't too bad, it goes bang every time, and I didn't have any malfunctions the first time out. But the only way I could feed it was to reload.

Gun Stop has (maybe had at this point, I'm not sure) .380 cases in stock. The prices were roughly $15.00 per 100 for the Star Line and $19.00 per 100 for the Remington. They didn't have any bullets so I had to order some from Montana Gold. They make some nice bullets for a pretty reasonable price but you need to order in quantities of 1,000. I picked up some CCI small pistol primers when I was in Wyoming so that took care of that. And finally I was able to find a recipe that uses Universal Clays which is the same powder I use in my .45 auto.

That components can be found to reload your own easier I think than finding fully assembled ammunition. And use retrieving the brass can be a tad bit difficult and may require the use of a ladder or helicopter.

[Squib Joe]

They didn't have any bullets so I had to order some from Montana Gold. They make some nice bullets for a pretty reasonable price but you need to order in quantities of 1,000.

I have thousands and thousands of 9mm 115gr FMJ Montana Gold bullets in stock.. 100 for 9.49

[Rogelk]

A gun in the pocket is better than a gun in the car, or at home. The little .380's of late are very good /reliable / safe pocket pistols, when compare to alot of what was out there in the past. Ammunition for the .380 has improved quite a bit lately too. Several companies make self defense ammo that was basically designed around the LCP or the P3AT. I am no expert on these things, but I would say the most popular 380's are th LCP, the P3AT, the BERSA line of 380's and the Walther PPK type.

The cool thing about these guns, is how easily carried they are, and that you don't have to alter your lifestyle to carry them. Lets face it, carrying a "normal" sized, and calibered gun, will require you to make at least small changes in your comfort level of dress, at least it did for me.

hey! you don't have to twist my arm...I'm an easy sell! I'm always looking for a reason to buy a new firearm. A .380 may be next on the list.

[hrt jr]

A big +1 as I have carried Vlad's pocket holster and it's an excellent product!

[NDB_MN]

Hmm, the more people I hear praise the little LCP the more I want one!

I'm not a fan of the .380 cartridge though... if only there were a 9mm in a similar package! (No rorhbaughs don't count, but the PM9 is tempting...)

[David]

My Glock 26 carries just as unobtrusively and comfortably as my SIG 230. More rounds, better caliber...not much of a choice for me anyway.

[MisterOblivious]

Hmm, the more people I hear praise the little LCP the more I want one!

I'm not a fan of the .380 cartridge though... if only there were a 9mm in a similar package! (No rorhbaughs don't count, but the PM9 is tempting...)

If you've got big pockets, the PF-9 may fit the bill.

[josh2415]

The LCP seems like a great gun...and everyone seems to either have one or wants one. I've been out of the firearms loop for a while so..can someone help me understand how the .380 has become so popular lately...is it the caliber or the LCP that's attracting people?

I'm a newb to CCW and fairly new to the board - just bought an LCP last weekend but haven't shot it yet. Thought I'd share my reasoning for going with this gun.

At first I thought that 9mm was the smallest cal that I would want to carry, but for me, pocket carry is really the only way that I'll practically carry a gun - just not into it enough to wear a belt holster and try to keep it covered. I'm used to sticking things in my pockets - cell phone, wallet, knife, etc - so sticking a gun in a pocket is simple and works for me. Bought a Keltec PF9 a few months ago, but it was just a little too big and heavy to carry around in a pocket. Nice gun though - thin and packs a 9mm punch.

The next thing smaller and lighter are the 380s, and though some say that the 380 isn't a good defense round, what good is 9mm going to do me if I don't like carrying it? Price point was the next key feature, and no one beats Keltec here, but I wasn't sold on the PF9 finish and reliability, and the P3AT would be about the same. Checked out the LCP which was only $50 more, but had Ruger's finish and reliability. Small, lightweight, reliable, and 7 rds of 380 is enough to drive any BG away. Been carrying it around in a pocket in my cargo pants, and its working out great. Carries nicely in an Inside pocket of a jeans jacket too. I'm sold.

Now, if I could just find some 380 defense rounds.