Ruger LCP Pistol in .380 ACP: The “Lightweight Compact Pistol” for Concealed Carry from Sturm Ruger & Co.
By
Sturm, Ruger and Company have released a new concealed carry handgun: the Ruger LCP chambered in .380 ACP. The new Ruger is called the Lightweight Compact Pistol (LCP) for good reason. Weighing only 9.4 oz unloaded, the polymer framed gun has an overall length of only 5.16″ and a width of a mere 0.82″. The barrel is 2.75″ long and the trigger pull is an even 8 pounds.
Although the Ruger LCP looks like a less expensive brand, Stephen L. Sanetti, president of Sturm, Ruger & Co., was quick to point out that the LCP is not cheaply made. Sanetti told Tom Gresham on Gun Talk that the LCP has a machined extractor, loaded chamber indicator, and a slide stop (hold open) which are features not found on other brands of pistols in this category.
Sanetti also said the pistol is a lock breech design, not a simple blow back, and the frame is a tough glass filled nylon, not cheap plastic.
The Ruger LCP holds 6+1 rounds of the popular .380 ACP load. Ideal for concealed carry, the LCP would also make an excellent back-up gun for police officers and armed citizens.
The Ruger LCP retails for only $330, and comes with one magazine, safety lock, and a soft-sided case. Sentti said the LCP is currently in production and thousands will be shipping to dealers by the end of February.
Holsters for the Ruger LCP are available from Galco, RKBA, DeSantis, and others.
Read Ruger’s press release below.
********* UPDATE ************
In October 2008, Ruger announced a Ruger LCP recall. Ruger stated they received a few reports of the LCP discharging if dropped onto a hard surface. The recall includes updating the hammer system. A full report is here.
******************************
********* UPDATE ************
In September 2008, Crimson Trace released the LG-431 Laserguard for the Ruger LCP. The new laser sighting system allows the shooter to make very accurate shots and is compact enough not to interfere with many of the hosters used for the LCP. A full post is here.
******************************
Ruger® Introduces the LCP™ .380 Lightweight Compact Pistol
February 2, 2008
Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. (NYSE-RGR) enters a major new market with the introduction of the Ruger LCP (Lightweight Compact Pistol), a .380 autoloader that offers legendary Ruger reliability and quality in an ultra-light, compact carry pistol. Following quickly on the heels of the successful introduction of the Ruger SR9™ 9mm pistol, the LCP is the latest addition to the Ruger Hard-R™ line of products, and it demonstrates a firm commitment by the Company to respond to customers.In fact, “The development and introduction of the Ruger LCP is in direct response to customer demand,” said Ruger President, Stephen L. Sanetti. “We have not been part of this market, but the growing number of states authorizing the licensed carry of pistols for personal protection by law-abiding citizens, and continued demand by law enforcement for quality back-up guns, cannot be ignored. The Ruger LCP is a .380 Auto pistol with superior ergonomic design and handsome styling. It incorporates state-of-the-art polymers, aircraft quality aluminum alloys and high-grade precision steel components engineered for strength and maximum weight savings.”
The 9.4 ounce LCP pistol has a capacity of 6 + 1 rounds of .380 Auto. With a height of only 3.6 inches and a width of .82 inches, the small, lightweight LCP pistol is a reliable back-up or carry pistol. The high-performance, glass-filled nylon frame is topped by a through hardened blued slide. The Ruger LCP features a 2.75 inch barrel and an overall length of 5.16 inches. When size and weight savings count, the Ruger LCP pistol is a natural for personal defense carry, in a purse, briefcase, or inside hiking gear.
Each LCP comes with a soft case, instruction manual, external locking device and one magazine. For more information on the Ruger LCP pistol, visit the specially designed microsite at www.ruger.com/LCP/.
35 Comments
February 16th, 2008 at 2:03 am
Here is a beautiful pocket/bra pistol in a minimum acceptable calibre. Great work by Ruger!
February 16th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
This looks like a Kel-Tec P3AT clone. Go to both web sites and compare the part diagrams. The Key-Tec is lighter less wide and has a lighter trigger pull. What it does not have is the word Ruger on the side.
February 17th, 2008 at 12:44 am
When not in the bra, the LCP fits my wife’s hand perfectly
March 18th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
looks great!!! now lets do it right in 9mm.
March 21st, 2008 at 9:28 pm
Proud owner. The gun has functioned flawlessly. If I take out the stray I shot an inch and a half group of 5, add the stray and I shot a 3 inch group of 6 at ten feet. I am realalistic about it being a close range self defence gun. All the guys screaming about it being a copy need to grow up. If you are happy with your kel tec then enjoy it. If not buy the ruger you won’t be disappointed. For me, my concern is to have the best, most reliable gun and ruger has satisfied me again.
March 21st, 2008 at 10:46 pm
Thanks for the report, Jim. I’m looking forward to shooting the Ruger LCP in the near future.
April 9th, 2008 at 1:29 am
I want one of these guns but first I wanna make sure I can find a belt holster for it. Anyone seen any? Ive never carried a pistol just in my pocket do I dont know how well I could adjust to that.
June 5th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
I have a Ruger 380 and I love the gun, however, I am not comfortable carrying it with a slug in the chamber and the hammer cocked. How do others handle this? Do they wait until they are ready to shoot and then rack one into the chamber or take a chance it won’t go off accidentally? Appreciate any comments.
George
June 5th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
George,
Thanks for stopping by. Yes, most folks carry this, as well as most modern firearms, with a cartridge in the chamber. The LCP is designed to be safely carried in this manner.
The key is safe handling. The person holding the weapon is the primary safety. If you keep your finger off of the trigger and use a quality holster that protects the trigger guard area, you should be fine.
–Richard
June 7th, 2008 at 8:27 am
Hey Tony,
I found what appearsto be a good holster at a decent price. Go to RugerLCP.Com and check out Don Hume Model #J966630R, $17.50.
Haven’t received it yet but when I do I can let you know if it is as good as it looks on paper.
Best,
George
June 26th, 2008 at 9:35 am
I’m on a list to buy 1 of these lil Rugers as soon as my fave firearms dealer gets his second order delivered (the first 10 LCP’s sold out in two days!). Its tuff to CCW here in the SW desert, particularly in our usual 110F summer sunshine - my ankle holster won’t work with shorts (!) This “pocket pistol” is an answer to a real need - Sturm Ruger is gonna sell a bunch of em. It appears that the trig pull of .5″ should be safe enough w/ a round in. Whatever - this pistol beats the tar out of the usual alt of .22’s or those nasty .25’s.
June 29th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
I purchased the LPC last weekend and shot about 60 rounds with no issues. I shot a few hollow points that seemed to group low and to the left at 10 Yards. All the other target rounds were extremely accurate at 10 Yards.
I Purchased a second clip, one clip is very inconvienient.
The only Down Side is my trigger finger tingled for about two hours and I would not say I am a sensitive low threshold type of guy.
I think anyone with the business end pointed at them at 30 - 40 ft will be very suprised.
June 30th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
Looks and compares a lot like the Kel-tec P3AT, but it isn’t, not on the inside. In fact, in a magazine article, an owner compared his favored P3AT to this, and was very impressed. Comparing to other articles, it has impressive accuracy for pocket pistols, and the trigger pull stated by Ruger is heavier than experienced by testers.
Still, a pistol as good (or better) than a Kel-tec brings me up in a great deal of suspicion.
June 30th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
Just Received my LCP Friday, had trouble when I went to shoot it. I bought 88gr jhp Remmington bullets and tried to load them and the slide was not going all the way forward when I attempted to chamber a round. I broke the gun down to look at it and re-clean it, when I had it apart I slid a shell into the chamber and it would not go all the way in. After a call to Ruger they said the LCP would not function with these bullets nor would they work with Cor-Bon 90 gr jhp or Speer Lawman 95 gr tmj.
June 30th, 2008 at 9:46 pm
To follow up on that, I used Winchester 95gr JHP bullets and they chambered great. At 15 feet I had a just under a three inch group and at 21 feet a group of 4 out of 5 in a 5 inch group. 100 Rounds and absolutely no trouble. Ruger stated they are working on the problem with the ammo manufacturers now.
July 27th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
Just got one of these and love it. very accurate, light, and concealable’
August 2nd, 2008 at 6:50 pm
I’m on my local dealers list to get an LCP, can’t wait!
August 4th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
I also just got my new lcp and tried to put some Remington 88 jhp through it and it was a nightmare.
The slide wont close 75% of the time. It did get better after a few mags but still is an issue. Ill try some other ammo and see what happens.
August 10th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
I just bought one today, and when stocking up on ammo, the dealer recommened buying ammo that has a more “rounded” tip instead of the flat-ended ones. They chamber better. I haven’t tried it out yet, but I bought a box of Remington Golden Sabre HPJ for defensive rounds.
August 11th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
I got my LCP about a month ago and I love it! Also everyone I show it to want’s one. Ruger needs to step up production.
September 21st, 2008 at 2:53 pm
About a round in the chamber.
The gun is double action, I think.
The hammer is not ‘cocked’, the relatively heavy and long trigger pull is needed to pull the hammer back and fire.
Just the same as a revolver, so it should be as safe as a loaded revolver.
October 4th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
Yes you are correct the little beauty will not shoot a hand full of lawman , corbon and a few others, you can get the list from ruger. mine arrived last week for my wife and she loves it but in fact would rather have been able to continue shooting the amt backup SA but recoil and case ejecting backwards pinched that. My tests show the amt to be more accurate and quicker to empty a mag. My advice to anyone that needs a small .380 get a amt backup sa 1st model and stock up on the small parts like firing pins and springs as the company is out of buisness. I rabbit hunt with 95 gr. winchester , boy what fun.
December 10th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
Just bought a LCP yesterday and had the laser sight put on that is made for this gun. I forgot the name of the manufacturer but it’s molded to fit this gun right in front of the trigger. Should not affect any normal holster.
Shot 200 rounds throught it over the last two days. At 20′ I had a group of 5 in a 4-5″ spread and at 10′ all six were in a group of 3″. The bullets went exactly where the laser pointed. I love this gun and it is perfect for conceilment.
Great gun at a great price!
December 14th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
I just sent off for my CWP in Florida and the 380. pocket gun is what I want to carry. I’ve decided on the Ruger. I’ll be back and update how it goes for a first time handgun owner. Any tips besides some lessons which I plan on taking.
December 15th, 2008 at 1:17 am
Brian,
I am very glad to hear that you will soon join the thousands of concealed weapon permit holders in Florida!
The best suggestion I can offer is what you already mentioned: training, I don’t know where you are in Florida, but in north Florida (Live Oak area), Massad Ayoob is teaching classes there now. In the Tampa Bay area, the S2 Institute offers very good training as well.
Another suggestion is find what ammunition you want to carry, and then shoot 200-300 rounds through the gun of that ammo. You want to make sure you find the ammo that works reliably in your gun. Many firearms will ‘like’ some ammunition, but not others. Yes, it costs some money to shoot several hundred rounds of the expensive stuff, but you need to know that what you carry works!
Good luck!
–Richard
December 15th, 2008 at 1:19 am
Jerry,
Thanks for checking in with the review!
–Richard
January 3rd, 2009 at 8:23 am
LCPs not legal in CA yet (LEO only) but overheard LEO at gunshop praising this pocket gun. I have an AMT Backup 1 .380 ACP and I love it!
January 11th, 2009 at 3:18 am
I love it! Q, Does it still fires if you drop it?
February 18th, 2009 at 7:41 pm
Just picked up a LCP last week great little gun accurate too! Love it
March 2nd, 2009 at 11:39 pm
I fired 14 rounds of JHP in my ELSIE and cycled just fine, my friends 40 springfield had a better feel but like my little Elsie for sticking in somebodys face at my truck, bang, holt, who went there!
April 3rd, 2009 at 3:22 pm
I have just ordered my Ruger .380 LCP and am looking forward to receiving it when it arrives at a dealer near me. I looked high and low for .380 ammunition. Tried to locate it locally and on the web but non was available. Some was on backorder.
Today, I might have gotten lucky when I came across two boxes of Corbon DPX ammo. It is 80 grain with a velocity of 1050 fps, 196ft/lbs. I got two boxes (20 in each box). It was the last two the dealer had received.
Can anyone tell me how well this ammunition will work in my Luger which is due to arrive anyday now? Thanks!
April 3rd, 2009 at 11:47 pm
The DPX line of ammunition is good stuff. I have not shot any of the .380, but I imagine it would stack up nicely against anything else in this caliber. I would just make sure it feeds reliably in your LCP.
–Richard
July 4th, 2009 at 11:49 am
My wife and I each have Ruger LCPs’ and probably have put 150 rounds through the guns with no jams or mis-fires. We’ve found 2 cartridges that work great. 1)(for practice)Magtech, 380 auto, 95 gr. FMC, 2)(for CCW) the Hornady, (Critical Defense)380 auto 90 gr. FTX., Extremely accurate, (3″ pattern at 20 ft.) but costly.
We’ve noticed a shortage of 380 ammunition in the gun shops, however there are some 380+p cartridges around. My question is can the LCP handle them?
July 9th, 2009 at 9:45 pm
George R—-The manual specifically states that +P ammunition is UNSAFE is the LCP.
July 12th, 2009 at 2:48 pm
THE LCP IS NO SATUDAY NIGHT SPECIAL. THIS LITTLE WEAPON IS VERY ACCURATE AND I HAVE EXPERIENCED NO JAMS OR MALFUNCTIONS. PLAIN REMINGTON BALL AMMO FEEDS GREAT FOR PRACTICE AND REMINGTON GOLDEN SABRE AMMO IS MY BULLIT OF CHOICE FOR CONCEALED CARRY ON THE STREET.
MUGGERS SHOULD BE PREPARED TO CANCEL CHRISTMAS IF THEY RECIEVE A DOUBLE TAP FROM THIS GREAT LITTLE PACKAGE.
I COMBINED THE LCP WITH A FOBUS PLASTIC HOLSTER ORDERED FROM RUGER. ONCE I ADJUSTED THE RETENTION SCREW IT WAS MY ONLY CONCEALED CARRY FOR SURE.
.380 AMMO IS HARDER TO FIND NOW DUE TO LCP AND KEL-TEC SALES. THE KEL-TEC IN COMPARISON TO THE LCP IS A CHEAP LOOKING TOY.
IF YOUR BUDGET WILL STAND THE $350 + OR -. GO LCP.