banacek

Just bought a new LCP for my wife. Will pick it up from the FFL on Thursday. I know its not a range gun, but seriously, how much range time can it handle?

Even tho' I'm fairly new to the world of shooting, I shoot quite a bit each month, and don't worry about putting 500-1000 rounds a month through any of my current handguns. But what about this new LCP? Can it handle a lot of rounds? Or should its range time be limited to just a few rounds each month?

Marine Division Two

Welcome from Pennsylvania ! I recommend two Mags a month for the familiarity and practice,LCPs are a very good BUG but not really meant to put 100 rounds at a time on the range,good luck.

MarkC366

Don't worry about it. You bought it to shoot, so do so. I emailed Ruger when my SR9C hit the 4000 mark and they told me not to worry, so enjoy all you want.

moakes58

My wife & I usually put 100-150 rounds through our LCP & LC9(our carry guns).

That was after 500 round through each to get familiar with them & test carry ammo. I did put a different recoil spring set(Wolff #11) in her LCP after about 500 rounds & it makes a world of difference in a good way. It is, in my opinion a CCW & not made for 500-1000 rounds a month.

banacek

You know, I don't expect the LCP to be a "fun" gun to shoot. So its use at the range will be mainly for SD practice and becoming more and more familiar with it. But on the other hand, I don't want to be limited on how much it can be fired either.

The whole purpose of starting this thread... I was reading in another forum about ammo, and one poster claimed that a certain ammo destroyed his LCP... that the ammo was too "hot". Later, after several more posts about the hot ammo "breaking" his LCP not once but twice... he ended up calling the ammo manufacturer and Ruger, and he later recanted his claims against the ammo company, and stated that it was his own fault for over using his LCP. What? Over using it, shooting it too much...

So, that's why I came back to the Ruger forum to find out how much use and abuse the little LCP can really handle.

Right now, I shoot my Mark III and my two Glocks all I want without concern... and I like it that way. And hoping the LCP is a sturdy little shooter too.

North country gal

Overusing a Ruger? That's nuts. I can see where you might have issues by not maintaining the gun, properly, with a lot of shooting, but, even then, I'm suspicious of this guy's claims. Sounds fishy.

pell

When it was new, I shot 100 rounds three times per week with my LCP for about 1200 rounds. I am currently shooting 50 rounds once per week.

I haven't noticed any wear on the barrel or chassis. I have replaced a worn guide rod and spring set with factory parts. I have had a couple of broken takedown pins, so I keep several on hand.

I would suggest that you pick up a couple of takedown pins, look into Talon Grips (Talon Grips for Ruger Granulate Texture) and shoot your LCP as much as you like.

pell

With respect to ammunition "breaking" an LCP, I would note that Buffalo Bore offers a +P 380 load with this information from their FAQ:

"Can I shoot your +P 380 Auto ammo in my LCP?

Yes you can. Gun makers often warn against using any ammo that is not SAAMI spec. and there is no SAAMI spec. for the 380 auto +P cartridge. Gun makers do this to protect themselves from any liability in our super litigious American society.

Buffalo Bore and others have tested our 380 auto +P ammo in the LCP and many LCP owners currently shoot our +P ammo in their LCPs and we've never heard of any problems from the "power" or "pressure" of the ammo, but obviously the use of +P ammo in these little guns should be limited to just enough to test reliable feeding and point of impact, then carry the ammo in your LCP in the event you need it, but don't go plinking with it."

banacek

I'm not an ammo expert... Not by a long shot. But I've read from several reloaders that there's no such thing as 380 +P ammo. Anyways, the ammo in question was Freedom Munitions, which is my goto ammo for my 9mm's, but some claim it's too HOT in 380 ACP. I didn't mention FreedomMunitions before because I didn't want this to become a thread about their ammo, but about the durability of the LCP handling a lot of rounds thru it.

BTW, the "broken gun" was a cracked slide and broken take down pins, and the slide shooting off the frame and going down range... Supposedly.

Pell, thanks for the tips. On average, how long (how many rounds) should the take down pins last? And how about the guide rod and springs?

Thanks.....b

RugerRudy

I had mine at the range last night and chewed through 50 rounds in a matter of no time. It was the first time I shot it, so I experimented with some different ammo to see how it responded. The toughest thing I experienced was the trigger pull, so just make sure you spend some time there - half a squeeze, breath, pull. Had to keep telling myself that. It is fun to shoot so you should have a good time playing with it.

pell

The takedown pins are variable. Original pin went for perhaps a thousand rounds, second one perhaps 200. Now on the third pin with no problem.

I changed the the guide rod and springs when the first takedown pin broke, mostly because I had them in hand. These parts are about $2 each from midwayusa.com or shopruger.com.

banacek

Wow!!! Only 200-1000 rounds before the takedown pins break. Doesn't give me warm fuzzy feelings about this LCP as a SD weapon! Do they make these in stainless steel or something else that is more durable? Anyone else... on their experience with the reliability and durability of their LCP?

In any case, I'll be picking up our LCP from the FFL tomorrow (well, actually, later today).

pell

I'm counting on fewer than 200 - 1000 rounds to stop a fight.

Seriously, though, the takedown pin breakages that I've experienced DO NOT disable the gun. The breaks that I've had (and all that I've read about on other forums) involve the head of the pin breaking off. This leaves the body of the pin in the gun, doing it's job, retained by the takedown pin retention spring.

In each case, I've not noticed the breakage until I cleaned the gun after shooting.

Removing a broken pin is no problem. There is a vanishingly small hole @ the frame/slide juncture on the right side of the gun. On the pin side, use something to hold back the retention spring, and on the right side, use a paperclip to push out the broken pin.

The LCP is my summer EDC. I've put quite a few rounds through it and have never had a breakage or malfunction that stopped the gun.

bwinters

If you are worried about wear use light 38 special reloads and the gun will last longer than we do.

banacek

Pell, thanks for the info. As I was reading your post, I'm thinking "Great, the head breaks off, Now how am I going to get the pin out for disassembly?" LOL

Appreciate the complete info bigtime!

Well, the LCP is home from the FFL and cleaned already along with the 4 extra mags. Going to the range tomorrow... we'll see how the wife likes her new gun, or maybe it will remain mine!