Ruger LCP 380 Review

Am Shooting Journal ^ | 10/4/2018 | E Stewart

[w1n1]

There are some really small, lightweight concealed pistols that you'd never know someone was packing. For the carrier they sometimes forget they have it on them.
One that stands out is the Ruger LCP .380.
In the world of self-defense firearms, being discreet is the same as carrying a self-defense blade. You don’t want the bad guy to know that you’re packing.
Before going down the path that bigger is better with a full size handgun such as a .45 with knockdown power.
Lets consider that you’re still wearing light-weight clothing, so its best to be having the smaller Ruger LCP on you.
If you have heavier clothing due to the colder area that you’re in.
Then, have the Ruger LCP as another back-up to your primary handgun.
Its always good to have more guns than not, never know when you’re going to need it.

Kool things about the Ruger LCP .380
By now the name should have hinted this mouse gun chambers the .380 ACP cartridge and it holds 6 rounds.
With an extended grip magazine, it holds 7 plus one in the chamber makes 8.
Get some quality hard-hitting hollow-points such as the Remington Golden Saber 102-grain self-defense loads, this mouse gun can hold its own. Read the rest of Ruger LCP 380.

[Celerity]

.380 really isn’t that bad !

In a standard scenario it still leaves the same hole as a 9mm in human flesh at combat ranges.

[Celerity]

Oh my god, you have to check out the belly band.

I held off on one for a long time because I always see people carrying their firearm up high - and I have a shoulder rig for a few of my pieces.

But I got one on ebay for $4 (Shipping included) just to experiment. I can conceal ANYTHING now. Just wear it down over your hips.

Try it !

[Celerity]

Ruger copied it because KelTec didn’t do their patents correctly.

The P3AT has that mag release button that releases all the stinking time ! Even in proper concealment leather.

[Bayan]

The LCP is what I almost always carry concealed. It absolutely disappears in my pants pocket. If I want something on my belt I go to a 9mm or .45. There are occasions when I’ll carry a .357 LCR which also does a good job of disappearing but only has five rounds as opposed to eight.

[Georgia Girl 2]

I looked at one awhile back. A nice little gun but too hard to action. I went with a Walther CCP in .9mm.

[ought-six]

My Ruger LCR in .38+P is probably my most frequent CCW, with a Glock 43 not far behind. I appendix-carry both. In colder weather I’ll usually carry a Glock 19 on my hip, as it is easily concealed by a jacket. The only gun I carry in a pocket is a KelTec P3AT.

[ought-six]

“The P3AT has that mag release button that releases all the stinking time ! Even in proper concealment leather.”

I’ve never had an accidental mag release with my KelTec, but then again I always use a pocket holster when I carry it.

[xzins]

I’ve got mine in a little, vinyl half holster to keep it clean. It fits right in the pocket. I have it with me when I’m on my tractor, zero turn, out in the garden, walking the woods with the dogs... It’s just too convenient.

I’ve got a glock 9mm and a number of walther and ruger pistols, but none of them carry as easily as that 38 LCR.

I don’t know KelTec. I’ll have to look it up. Is that the manufacturer?

[Mr Rogers]

My preferred carry - when I’m wearing clothes that allow concealment - is a S&W Model 60 357 revolver with a thick rubber grip. When possible, I like a 357!

But I also own both an LCP & a Beretta Pico. The LCP feels better in my hand, but I’m more accurate with the Pico - maybe because it has good sights. Both of the little 380s conceal well. Both have been 100% at feeding & shooting. If I could only own one, I’d prefer the Pico. But the LCP is still a great little gun, and the 7 round magazine is well worth the price! In fact, for pure self-defense, with a 7 round magazine, the LCP may be superior.

[luckodeirish]

Sounds interesting! Thanks!

[sarge83]

I have a Keltec P32 in .32 ACP I have carried for 17 yrs in a Desantis pocket holster. I love that little piece and rig. I picked up a Taurus TCP .380 same size essentially as the P32 and the Ruger LCP and want to carry this pistol but can’t find a pocket holster I trust. I have tried several and the latest being a Desantis version for this pistol. For a pocket holster it has to cover the trigger, the Desantis cover the trigger area really well with the P32 but leaves a small gap on the TCP. Still evaluating this rig for carry.

I will give a shout out to Mika Pocket holsters if you want to go old school and carry a snub nose .38spl, you can’t beat this holster, it stays put in your pocket, covers your weapon except for the grip and if you need the pistol it slides right out, worth every penny!

[longhorn too]

I carried the original LCP for a long time but hated the long, gritty trigger pull! The trigger pull on the LCP II is suppose to be much better along with better sights! I bought a Glock 42 which is also a .380 and love it, not a whole lot bigger than an LCP but a much better gun with a great trigger pull! You can now buy LCP I now for under $170!

[ought-six]

“I don’t know KelTec. I’ll have to look it up. Is that the manufacturer?”

Yes. They are out of Florida. They make pretty good firearms, and they are inexpensive compared to the big boys.
Trayvon Martin was shot with a KelTec PF9.

[Celerity]

” but then again I always use a pocket holster when I carry it.”

That’s where I had the problem !

I used Desantis something or other at first and when I liked the carry I picked up the Pocket Nemesis. Nothing but mag release issues with that carry.

With the LCP I carried that and still had the issue, but far less and I could tell it happened when it happened.

My next concealment-specific buy will be an HK P7. Oh yes, she will be mine.

For the profile cons over the operational pros I now carry my Beretta 84 in place of the LCP. The 84 is, of course, larger in every direction but the LCP taught me a lot about concealment... enough to apply those techniques to other firearms.

And I couldn’t hit the side of a barn with the LCP. The LCP2 is magic though.

[Paul R.]

I’m looking not for CC, but for something to carry in my backpack when hiking, camping & such. I don’t mind a little weight, but, that said, the backpack already gets pretty full, so “compact” is appreciated. The budget is really tight budget, so I need to hold cost of both firearm and ammo down. A .22LR obviously does not have enough stopping power. OTOH, I’m not in bear country, either.

Since stuff in a backpack gets jostled around a lot, other items pulled out, etc., I’d guess that keeping the gun unloaded would be safest. (Less chance of needing the firearm in under a few seconds than having it go off accidentally.) I note for this usage that the LCP-380 apparently has no safety? — I’ve never had a firearm without a safety. But that should not be an issue if I slide the clip in after pulling the handgun out.

Rural King is probably my best bet as a vendor, around here.

Thoughts on what to get, all?

[gundog]

Be faster to leave the magazine in, with the chamber empty. And I’d keep it in a pocket. Do you know how small the LCP .380 is?

[Paul R.]

Late night musings B4 I retire for the evening:

Yeah, that’d likely be best — just leave the chamber empty but the magazine in, gun in pocket, if I thought there was any chance of trouble. (Wild dog, criminal, etc.) If I ran into an aggressive poisonous snake (rare - most will retreat given a chance) or one in a place kids frequent, I could keep a couple birdshot charges handy. (My Dad years ago gave me about 20 of those in 38 caliber.)

In hot weather a pocket is slightly problematic - usually Ihave my wallet in one(rear) pants pocket, keys right front, and cell phone left front. Light shirt pockets or t-shirts (no pockets) are not so great. I also would think loaded & in a pocket puts me in CC status - firearm unloaded in backpack, maybe not?

Other thoughts:

I actually do have a hefty 38 revolver but it is a bit more size & weight than I want to pack around. It’s best features are reliability and I can shoot fairly accurately with it. The grip is almost too big for my hands, though.

The LCP .380 is almost TOO light — it might make a good self defense handgun for my wife, though.

Maybe something “in-between”? RK has low prices on the High Point CF-380 and C9, but the comments indicate a tendency to jam and bulkiness. The Taurus Spectrum .380 looks interesting and has a good rebate @ present.

I’ve toyed with the idea of 9mm but have no ammo for one, so that’d be an additional expense. But in the long run, 9mm ammo might be cheaper, if I do a little target practice now & then to stay proficient with the gun? The Taurus G2S Gray/Black 9mm looks interesting then. (No rebate, tho’.)

[w1n1]

Get a Glock 9mm or Sig 9mm, comes in full size like for LE or a sub compact - goes well in your bug out bag. Used to carry my extras in my backpack when I was off-duty.

[gundog]

Ruger’s compact 9 mm,s are good, too. Ammo is probably as cheap as it will get. Have a stock of it. .380 is the first to disappear in a panic...same production lines are switched to 9mm. If CC,s an issue, I’d carry in a holster. Fanny pack out of the question?

[Yardstick]

Ruger updated the trigger midway through production of the original LCP. The LCP II has the same updated trigger as the later production originals.

I actually kind of like the idea of the early trigger with the long heavy pull since it means there’s almost zero chance of it going off as you’re fumbling to pull it from your pocket. To me it fits the concept of the LCP being a true pocket carry gun.