Ruger LCP .380

[Tundra]

After reading up on the LCP and seeing how many of you all carry this little gun, I purchased two. I purchased Winchester (USA) 95 grain Full Metal Jacket ammo for the range. I purchased Speer Gold Dot Hollow Pointsa for carry/Protection.
  Neither of these brands will feed without jamming Anyone else have this problem? Is this gun funny with what it likes to shoot? I don't want to get into polishing the ramp for this little gun, because then Ruger won't take it back.
  Ammo suggestions from those that use this gun?

[DIGGER]

nothing worse or MORE DANGEROUS than a semi automatic that jams.  I have a Walters PK1 380 cal that jams on occasion.....I carry it only as a back up gun.

[RTaz]

...I have the LCP...and I don't recall the gun ever jamming...since it is a semi auto I'm sure it has I just don't recall it...I shoot the same Win. range ammo...and I shoot Magtech First Defense 77 GR SCHP with no problem...I do know that most semi's need to be broken in well in the beginning...I suggest you break gun down wipe it down good with a good solvent dry it and check it it well make sure spring in working free and clean in both recoil slide and in magazine clip...then I would go to the range and shoot a few hundred rounds through it...(if your hand can take it...that little bugger can hurt the hand) if gun still jam's take it to your local Ruger service agent and let them fix it...the gun should be warrantied and Ruger has a good rep. when it comes to this stuff...

ps...the LCP's when first made had some recall issues that Ruger will fix...they changed something in later models of the lcp...I do not know if this has anything to do with it ...just thought I would mention it...

oh I love my little LCP carry it in my front pocket most times...it took me a while to get accurate with it but practice,practice,practice paid off for me...

please keep us informed about this issue since like you said there are a few of us that own this little weapon ...and I for one like to know of any issues that may arise....

[fudgie]

Winchester white box? Those feed great in my Bersa and no one has had a problem with that box. Did ya clean the gun prior to shooting? I read that somewhere before cause of the 'packing' grease can cause a misfeed. Saw the Ruger at a show this weekend. Kinda pricey for a small gun.

[torch1972]

You sure your not limp wristing, Ihave had no issues with mine..

[FLAVALK]

No problems here and I've used those Winchester rounds

[Jess from VA]

I cannot speak specifically to the LCP or it's favored ammo.  However most small autos require at least two hundred rounds thru them to break-in, along with the usual cleaning and oiling.  It would be expected to get a number of failures to feed and/or eject during this period.  Any ordinary ball ammo would be my choice for break in, before testing more expensive defense JHP or frangible ammo for later carry.  Oil/grease up the gun/slide/bbl.  Limp-wristing can be a problem with incomplete ejection/stovepipes.  It is noteworthy that the single biggest issue with all auto pistols in general is their magazines, so look yours over, and make sure the top follower and feeding lips are not bent/irregular (admittedly this seems unlikely on new pistols).  

After going thru this process of break-in, if your problems persist, then I would go back to Ruger and detail both your break-in procedure and your failures for each pistol.

http://elsiepeaforum.com/forum/index.php?topic=229.0

I found this on the same forum:
Welcome to the forum and the "sticky slide" club.  tarheel give good advice for the issue you appear to have.  I'd ask the dealer for another magazine to try and use different ammo for the test.  Mine wanted to hesitate when manually loading the first round from the magazine (when new) as well, but got over it pretty quickly.  A lot of us have had the occasional FTF-FTB (failure to feed-failure to battery), mostly when the pistols are new.  I would have maybe 2-4 times out of 50 where I would need to assist the slide to battery with a gentle push, but it improved with every box of ammo thrown down range.  Personally I think the factory recoil springs are marginal on the LCP and switched them out with Wolff springs.  They come in a kit with a 11#, 12# and 13#.  Wolff recommends starting with the 13# and working down which makes some sense to me.  I figure that as the pistol breaks in it will function smoother and won't need as much spring.  I'm happy with the 13# (much happier really), but others like the 11# as well.  Then switch the springs back to original, before sending it back, if that is necessary..

There also appears to be debate over dry firing this pistol... something apparently NOT mentioned in the owners manual.  It is alleged the LCP and Keltec P3AT are functionally identical, and that Keltec affirmatively tells you NOT to dry fire their pistol..... of course this would damage the firing pin function, and not failures to feed/eject.  Ordinarily, it is only rimfire (.22) that you must not dry fire, but beware.

http://btguiderods.com/ruger-lcp/

Ruger LCP Fiocchi Ammo Problem	powered by Aeva

Serious Issue with the Ruger LCP	powered by Aeva

Ruger LCP problem Updated	powered by Aeva

Just some preliminary web-search stuff FYI.

[PAVALKER]

As Jess indicated, the Ruger LCP and KelTec P3AT are very similar (if not clones).  I have the KelTec and KelTec does warn against dry firing.  I recommend a good clean/lube and burr check before break in, and I also recommend a white grease on the slide in lieu of oil. Hold off on a fluff and buff, but check for burrs and wear indications during break-in.  Beings that is a very small gun, you will need to maintain a positive firm grip on it when firing.... or otherwise it could give symptoms of limp wristing and cause some feed/ejection problems.  Some have wrapped the grip with tape or bicycle inner tube to add some cushion and grip to the gun.  Those guns need a few hundred rounds punched thru em to break em.

I am somewhat surprised that, being in Florida, you didn't go with KelTec... you probably could have taken a bike ride to the factory to get any issues resolved.

[Spirited-6]

Damn, should I throw my "un-fired" LCP in the trash and buy a S&W 380 Bodyguard W/ Laser on Board. It`s only money.  I have never fired my LCP 380 because of what-ever. After reading other post, I wonder if I made a bad "buy" . Anyone own / bought a New S&W Bodyguard ??? That might be my next " down the ho le money" ....

[Jess from VA]

No one's saying a Ruger LCP is a poor firearm.  The reviews and press are quite the contrary.  However, brand new small autos are notoriously finicky.  You MUST put 2-300 rounds of ball thru them before you ever think to carry or use one for defense. 

I would not expect the new S &W bodyguard 380 to have any less break-in issues than the LCP (probably more).

[solo1]

I had a KelTec 3AT put two hundred rounds through it and still couldn't 100% trust it.   My son's Ruger .380 has had no problems.  Results may vary

I traded the 3AT for a Bersa .380 Thunder that feeds everything, no problem.  Yep, it's bigger than the KelTec and not quite a pocket pistol but ,for me, reliability comes first. 

I've been shooting semi automatics for over 65 years so I don't limp wrist them.

[bigvalkriefan]

I've put a hundred or more rounds through mine and I never had a jam. Now my 70 year old dad shot it and it did jam on him, he was limp wristing.

[mirion]

I have about 200 rounds thru my Ruger LCP with never a jam but I haven't fired any of the "special" ammo yet

[Jess from VA]

I haven't fired any of the "special" ammo yet

Traditionally, we use a JHP in a defense handgun loading.  Either +P high speed, or slower and heavier loads.

However in the diminuitive .380, at at the expected close range to human bad-guy, I think frangible ammo may be better than a defensive JHP load.

Watch the multiple wound tracks in ballistic gel.  Frangible .380  (Back when I was looking at these, I concluded MagSafe was a better product than Glaser Safety slugs)

380.wmv	powered by Aeva

http://www.magsafeonline.com/magnum_performance.html

[FryeVRCCDS0067]

Give it fair breakin of a couple of hundred rounds. Try to hold it as tightly against the recoil as possible. Because of the light weight it can be more difficult to hold these guns secure enough to ensure functioning.

Even after several hundred rounds my KelTec jammed on every magazine. I sent it back to the factory for a free repair and it never jams now.

[Tundra]

Thanks for all the input I called my local dealer where I made my purchase. He wants to see it and attempt to chamber a round and fire it. They will stand by their customer and replace it for me, sending mine back to Ruger. They said Ruger stands behind their product also.
  Just before responding to this, I attempted at least 20 times to chamber a round. Different magazines, different ammunition. NOT ONCE was able to chamber a round without tapping the slide with my palm to assist it.

Jess, thanks for the video. I did not forget you, just ran into personal family problems that had to be handled first. Your package will be on it's way this week.

[¿spoom]

I've got about 120-130 rounds through my LCP and the only ammo it doesn't like is the Federal "Personal Defense" 90gr. "Hydra Shok" JHP. It turned out to be that round's very sharp edge on the nose, combined with a straight cone shape and possibly the relativelylarg diameter at the very tip (~.225") That sharp edge can catch on the rather rough feed ramp and stovepipe. I use FMJ RN for practice and Hornady "Critical Defense" 90gr."FTX" JHP for carry. The Hornady has a smaller tip dia. (~.160") and a small plastic point/tip inside the nose. Eventually I'll polish the feed ramp and see if that makes it reliable.
My .380 Bersa feeds the  Federals just fine so they won't go to waste, but the LCP is my carry choice so I'm not in any hurry to play with potential jams.

[Jess from VA]

NOT ONCE was I able to chamber a round without tapping the slide with my palm to assist it.


Ahh, so it is the oft complained of sticky slide.  Too loose, and accuracy goes to hell, too tight and you get a sticky slide and failure to fully go into battery.  This could probably be remedied with some judicious stone work, continued firing, disassembly, grease, Wolff springs etc.   Sending it back is also a way to go.  I hope they fix yours and just don't give you a new one.   (write down your serial no. before you send it in so you know if you get it or a new one back)  

I once sent an (S & W) auto pistol in for warranty work with a detailed letter with questions, and all I got back was a pistol with a new slide and all new top-end parts (which worked perfectly).  But no answer to any of my questions; which pissed me off.  I understand..... too many scum-bag products liability lawyers; they can't risk actually discussing what was wrong with your pistol with you.


I'm not worried, it's all good.  And I hope your personal family problems were small ones.  Please don't forget a return address.

[¿spoom]

FWIW, mine will sometimes stay about 1/16" out of battery if I pull the slide back 1/8" or so and carefully let it ease it forward under only it's own spring power, but just a fly landing on it snaps it the rest of the way so I'm not concerned about it at all. Just wanted to be sure any interested parties know in my case it's the feed ramp & not the slide action. I'm sure a little stoning to smooth out the rear of the barrel's upward travel at the end of the lockup stroke would do it, but I'm not going mess with it because it shoots too darn good 

[FLAVALK]

after viewing the video about the slide catching, I examined mine and found the two tits the guy mentioned but they were barely noticeable, nothing like his. I held mine upside down and worked the action with no adverse effect. I wonder how old that video is? Mine pistol is about 1-year old. I know the very early pistols had at least one issue, but mine came after that. I've never had a single problem...knock on wood.

[Spirited-6]

Well after reading all the reviews/ comments on the Ruger LCP, I think I need to make a trip to the "range" and run some ammo thru the little gun. My new Taurus pt-22 did jam on the first few mags. but is fine now. I will report my fireing of the LCP when I can get to it.

[FryeVRCCDS0067]

I bought the Wife a PT22 for valentines days a few years ago. Darn nice little handgun. It had some jams on the first few mags too, then all was good.

[¿spoom]

FWIW, just went through 50 rds of this http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/AMM3181-1.html since my original replies and no jams/misfires, LCP seems to like it just fine and you can't do too much better on price from my experience.