Need some Ruger LCP ammo? Â According to Michael Bane’s blog, a major ammunition manufacturer will bring a new .380 loading to the market that is specifically designed for the Ruger LCP. This is exciting, as two current problems exist with the current crop of ammunition and the LCP.
The first problem is the .380 ACP cartridge is an underpowered chambering. Generally, the .380 loads are weaker than what is available for the .38 Special. For self-defense, you need all the bang you can get.
The second problem is I have been getting some reports that the LCP is ammunition sensitive. Some popular cartridges are not feeding properly. This, of course, is a HUGE problem if it extends to the entire line of LCP’s and not just a few examples. One of the reports was posted as feedback here (scroll all the way down).
Time will tell who brings what to the market. However, Bane has a lot of good contacts and I expect this information is very reliable. Â I expect we will see a variety of Ruger LCP ammo loads in the near future.
There are a number of smaller ammunition manufacturers who are producing .380 ACP ammo and I imagine they are testing the loads in the LCP. Â They might not market the loads as “Ruger LCP ammo,” but I suspect that they are definitely testing it since it is such a popular handgun. Â After all, if your ammo doesn’t work in one of the most popular concealed carry pistols, why would anyone buy it?
Update – November 2008:  Hornady has introduced a new line of ammunition: Critical Defense. The Hornady Critical Defense ammunition is designed for self-defense from small handguns like the Ruger LCP. I’m not sure this is the ammunition that Bane was hinting at, but it certainly fits. More information about the Critical Defense ammo can be found here.
36 replies on “Ruger LCP Ammo”
I have owned my LCP for about a month now and have experienced none of the feeding problems others describe. I have loaded and fired Hornaday Critical Defense 90 Gr FTX, Winchester 95 GR FMJ target and Blackhills 90 GR JHP ammo with no problems. The biggest problem I have is finding ammo. The designer stuff seems to be available at $1 to $2 a round everywhere but resonably priced target ammo is only to be found at the guns shows at premium prices. I have yet to hear any explanation (besides the government is buying it, and other conspiracy theories) for this other than too much demand. I really like this gun for concealed carry but would feel more comfortable if I could afford to shoot it more often. I am almost to the point of loading my own!
Nice idea, Carl, but you will find that loading supplies are even harder to find than the 380 ammo, unfortunately.
I have had my LCP for 1 month now and the only problem i had with it was the 1st round. once i set the second round in it worked like a charm
There is more than one reason that ammo is in short supply. First is the election of Obama and liberal control of congress. People remember the gun bans of the Clinton era. All ammo is or has been in short supply in the past year. The .380 ammo was hit harder because it has never been a popular round so there wasn’t much manufactured or on hand. Add to that the introduction of the Ruger LCP and other small very concealable guns in .380acp and you run out of ammo. I thought about getting a LCP, but the waiting list was so long that I opted to stay with my model 85 Bersa. I have a couple boxes of .380 ammo for it and it’s not that hard to conceal plus it hold 10 round per mag + 1 in the pipe. On the bright side some supplier are getting .380 ammo in stock again and many more are expecting to have some between Nov and Jan. I found some FMJ online this week for $180 for 500 round. How long before those who foolishly payed $40-$50 for 50 rounds realize they should have just waited. It’s just like gas someone says shortage and all the fools run out and buy as much as they can get driving the supply down and the price up.