The tiny Ruger LCP and Ruger LC9 pistols are now available with factory-fitted LaserMax CenterFire lasers. The CenterFire lasers attach to the trigger guard of the LCP and LC9 to minimize the amount of bulk added to these concealed carry guns.
The LaserMax CenterFire units use a red laser that can be adjusted by the owner for both windage and elevation. The units are easy to remove and re-install by using an included Allen wrench. The laser units use an ambidextrous on-off switch.
At the time of this writing, LaserMax does not list the CenterFire line of lasers on their website. The trigger guard mounting appears to be a new product line for the company that offers a variety of guide rod, rail mount and frame mount lasers.
It would appear that the Ruger LCP and Ruger LC9 are the first gun models for which the CenterFire has been developed. We will see if LaserMax announces any additional models at the 2012 SHOT Show.
Presumably, the laser operates as a constant-on, as there is no mention of a momentary switch or strobe-style mode.
The LaserMax CenterFire is not the first laser, nor the first trigger guard mount laser, for the Ruger LCP. The Crimson Trace LG-431 LaserGuard for the Ruger LCP has been available since the Fall of 2008. The Crimson Trace unit runs about $180 and is not available as a factory option.
The CenterFire lasers add a slight amount of weight: an additional 0.5 ounces for both the Ruger LCP and LC9. Costs are also up, though not as much as to make them unaffordable. MSRP on the LCP increases $70 to $443, while the LC9 is up $82 to $525.
As more information about the CenterFire units becomes available, we will publish the information here.
Update
The LaserMax CenterFire laser units used on the new Ruger LCP and Ruger LC9 pistols are now listed on the company’s website.
The general specs on both of the CenterFire models state the units use a red 650 nm laser operating at 5 mW. Both units weigh 0.5 ounces and use a 1/3 N lithium battery. Run time is estimated at more than five hours of constant use. The CenterFire units are factory aligned at 10 yards, but are also user adjustable for both windage and elevation. Each unit comes with a one year warranty from LaserMax.
As I suspected when I originally reported on the new Ruger models, the CenterFire have a “constant beam.” There is not a pulsing option like what is found on some new laser sighting systems being used today. I don’t know that there is any advantage to a pulsing beam (other than marketing), so the absence of that feature would not keep me from buying one of the CenterFire units.
The CenterFire laser units for both the Ruger LCP and LC9 have an MSRP of $129. LaserMax states the CenterFire for the LCP has a ship date of 11/18/2011, but they are accepting pre-orders. The LC9 lasers appear to be in stock now.
From Ruger:
Ruger Introduces LCP and LC9 Pistols Equipped with LaserMax CenterFire Lasers
November 09, 2011
Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. (NYSE: RGR) is proud to announce the new Ruger LCP® and LC9™ pistols equipped with LaserMax CenterFire™ lasers. Now the same award-winning LCP and LC9 pistols are available from the factory fitted with a trigger-guard-mounted LaserMax CenterFire red diode laser.
“We are very excited about the introduction of the LCP and LC9 with the LaserMax CenterFire lasers,” said Chris Killoy, Ruger Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “Our customers have made these two pistols some of the most popular concealed carry firearms in the nation, and we’re happy to provide more options in this product line by incorporating durable LaserMax CenterFire lasers into factory production models. For those who prefer a firearm with a laser, this combination can’t be beat,” he concluded.
The new LCP and LC9 pistols both feature a LaserMax CenterFire trigger-guard-mounted laser with ambidextrous on/off switch. The laser can be adjusted for both windage and elevation, and can be removed easily with an Allen wrench (included). These rugged, reliable pistols are polymer-framed, hammer-fired, double-action only pistols, and both have won the Shooting Industry Academy of Excellence “Handgun of the Year” award. The LCP is chambered in .380 Auto and has a capacity of 6+1 rounds. The LC9, which is available for sale in all 50 states, is chambered in 9mm Luger and has a capacity of 7+1 rounds. Both pistols are designed for snag free carry in a pocket or holster, and come with both flat bottom and finger groove extension magazine buttplates that can be changed to accommodate the shooter’s preference.
For more information on the new Ruger LCP and LC9 LaserMax CenterFire laser pistols, or to learn more about the extensive, award-winning line of Ruger firearms, visit Ruger.com