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LCP 2 mag drop issues!!!

7K views 31 replies 17 participants last post by  PhilBill 
#1 ·
Hello all. I have searched around on here and have seen many posts from folks having issues with their little LCP 2 in regards to the mag dropping under recoil. I bought mine two weeks ago and I am having the same exact issue. I have tried everything to include changing my grip to keep thumbs away from the mag release, to putting talon grips on the thing. Nothing has worked ☹. I love the little gun and I need deep concealment in an environment where my life very well may depend on this weapon.

I will be shipping the firearm back to Ruger today, but what I would like to know is if any of you had the same issue, and sent it off to Ruger to have the issue fixed....did they ACTUALLY fix it? Has the issue repeated since you sent it off and got it back from Ruger?

I love Ruger and Glock firearms and I really don’t want to buy a bodyguard 🤢 and a G42 isn’t a real viable pocket gun option. Thanks!
 
#2 ·
Sorry in advance for the long post, but, yes, I have had the same issue, but fixed it (at least temporarily) myself.

I purchased a new Ruger LCP II with the 7 round extended magazine about five months ago, along with a couple of extra 6 round magazines.

I believe in practicing enough to matter, so I would take it to the range every few weeks and shoot 25 rounds.

The first 50 rounds, the gun performed perfectly, no malfunctions. Given that it’s such a tiny gun, I was pleased with the accuracy out to 7 yards.

The next 25 rounds, I had one incident of the magazine dropping out. I assumed, like everyone else seems to at first, that I had accidently hit the magazine release.

The next time at the range, I had started having a LOT of magazine drops. One magazine that I had installed the finger-rest floor plate on, was the worst, dropping out almost every shot. The extended 7 round extended magazine would drop about every other shot. One magazine that I left the flat floor plate on behaved, with no drop-outs.

I made sure I was not hitting the magazine release button, and noticed that whether the magazine dropped out or not seemed to depend on whether I was exerting any force at all on the floor plate either downward (curved finger rest) or to the rear (extended magazine) . The magazine with the flat floor plate did not drop, I believe, because to hold that small gun with that magazine, I have a finger underneath the magazine, so it can’t go anywhere.

After thinking about it awhile and doing some internet searching, and wanting to avoid shipping it back to Ruger if possible; I ordered a new magazine latch and spring from Ruger, and replaced those. It was a very simple thing to do, using a hemostat clamp that I had for another hobby. A pair of long, thin needle-nose pliers would probably work, too.

After replacing the magazine latch and spring, the guns shoots good as new now. No more magazine drops. But … I’ve only put 30 rounds through it so far.

Examining the old magazine catch, it appeared to be a little worn where it contacts the slot in the magazines - can’t even feel any wear but it’s just a little brightered there, like the surface treatment wore off. Apparently it does not take very much wear at all to cause the magazine drop problem to become chronic.

What I’m expecting now is that I’ll start seeing magazine drops again at any time again, as I shoot the gun more.

So here’s the dilemna: I purchased this gun for high-concealment carry (pocket carry in a pocket holster). For that purpose, I want to have high confidence in the reliability of the gun; but also need to practice with it. But, the more I practice, the less confidence I have in the reliability of the gun!

Basically, I can only count on it 100% as a single-shot! Otherwise, I suppose I could hope is that using only the flat floor plates on the magazines, with a finger hooked under the magazine, it would be usable - but who wants to carry a pistol that one has to hold the magazine up into it?

I’ll keep taking it to the range to see if starts acting up again, and if it does, send it back to Ruger next time. I did notice that the new magazine catch had slightly different dimensions than the old one, such that it held the magazine a tiny bit higher up in the well. Maybe that matters. I don’t know yet.
 
#5 ·
As far as the mag drop issue, it is likely a burr or sliver of metal from manufacturing that ended up in the mag release and has worked its way into the spring, not allowing it to fully engage. If you are comfortable removing it and blowing out the area with compressed air, the problem will likely go away. If not, send it to Ruger and let them do the work.

As pistols break in, there are often burrs or out of spec parts that wear during the first couple hundred rounds. Take a pistol apart after 300 rounds and you will see wear marks that will not wear more over the next 1,000 rounds. That scraped metal ends up somewhere
 
#6 ·
The 🤢 means sick as in vomit 🤮....😁. As far as the mag release wearing out, I’m not sure....mine didn’t it with 3 brand new mags and a brand new gun, and almost immediately upon the first box of ammo☹. I sent it off to Ruger today. I’ll definitely post an update after I get it back and shoot it. I really really like this fun and I really really rely on deep concealing as it would cost me my job if I was found out but I don’t care....you ask me to transport large sums of money but won’t let me have a firearm? BS
 
#7 ·
Ok so I wanted to follow up with those interested and give an update...I got my LCP2 back from Ruger yesterday. The form said that they changed the whole frame assembly. The only thing left from the original gun was the slide, barrel, and trigger assembly themselves. Now, I’m thinking why the heck would the frame assembly have anything to do with the mag release but ok....whatever.

I have to get new talon grips now though. Anyway, they said they ran 100 rounds of ammo through it afterwards without any issues. I just got done shooting the gun myself. After 120 rounds this morning, I too had no issues whatsoever. Not a single mag drop.

It appears as though the issue has been resolved. I want to than Ruger for their quick turnaround and customer service too. They took care of me far better than the FFL that I purchased the weapon from. That’s a whole other story. But at 7 and 10 yards, the gun is accurate and I never had a hiccup after 120 rounds. I think I’ll run another 100 through it soon just to make sure.
 

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#17 ·
No mag should require a "hard slap" to insert it correctly. If it does, either the mag is overloaded, or there is a fit issue. One thing I will address as I have become a believer (thanks to IOWEGAN) is the myth of the plus 1 capacity. Having researched this also through other sources, I now never top off any magazine.

To correctly load a semi-auto:
1. lock the slide back without a magazine inserted
2. push the mag into the mag well and gently push until you hear the mag release engage
3. release the slide from its locked position using your favorite method (mine is an overhand release)
4. Let the slide and recoil spring do their job and all should be well. If it isn't there is a problem that needs to be addressed.

Should you choose to carry without a round in the chamber, I suggest removing 1 round from the magazine before inserting it (I.E. 6 rounds in a 7 round magazine. The mag may still be difficult to insert, but still should be pushed into place rather than "slapped"

My $.02
 
#11 ·
Well, I spoke too soon....yesterday I took the gun out and shot another 50 rounds and you guessed it....mag drops galore. I’m so frustrated right now. I just ordered an aftermarket mag release spring from Mcarbo. Their spring is supposed to be more beefy and stiffer than the factory one. I just gotta figure out how to get the old spring out and put the new one in.

Someone else on here mentioned that a looser grip on the gun will help. I agree...it’s my third finger putting downward pressure On the mag under recoil. But I shouldn’t have to worry about that! I won’t have time in a real world situation to check for that “just perfect” grip to ensure the gun will run. Not acceptable imho for a gun even this small to be that finicky.

And pointers for removing the old spring and installing the new one? I think a scribe will work just fine to remove the old one but putting in the new one is going to be a pain...or at least it looks that way.
 
#18 ·
My gun will accept 7 + 1 but I only carry it with 6 in the magazine and one in the chamber. The reason being that your odds of getting into a fire fight with you carry gun are slim. From what I have read if you get into a situation where you need to draw your CCW the whole incident will last about 5 seconds. In that time you would be lucky to get off 3 rounds before it ends. Therefore carrying more than 6 and an extra clip is useless. Just my two cents.
 
#20 ·
I have the same issues with my LCP II, mag was dropping out almost every shot. Since I have other original LCPs, I switched the mags and they run 100% with factory 6 and 7 rounders.

You lose the last round lock open feature but I'm happy for now and will maybe eventually send it back.
 
#21 ·
Well I want to update everyone on this...I got my LCP 2 back from Ruger for the second time, and again they changed the frame. However this time, I went online to Mcarbo and they make an aftermarket mag release spring for the LCP2. I put that spring in and took out the factory one. And, I fired 150 rounds with every grip angle o could think of to include one handed and the gun ran flawlessly. I highly recommend that aftermarket mag release spring. It seems to have made the difference.
 
#23 · (Edited)
Thanks for the post, man. I just ordered one of the heavy duty mag release button springs you recommended.
I knew that was the problem, though, and asked Ruger to send me a stronger spring -they sent me a stock spring.

Anyway, the way I knew it was the spring, and not my finger/thumb hitting the button, is because I filed the button so low that I have to use my finger nail to eject the mag -no way to do it by accident. Even after doing that, it still ejected the mag, so I knew then it was the flex of the frame from recoil causing the problems, and that's why Ruger replaces the frames as the repair for mag drop. I sent mine back when I first got it and the note said they replaced my frame.

The only thing that helped so far was putting a hogue grip on it. That helped, but didn't cure it. I have high expectations for the spring you recommended.
 
#24 ·
Before yesterday, I had had zero issues with my LCP2. After about 10 mags of shooting I encountered a dropped mag. Popped it back in place and continued shooting for several more mags, I have three. Next time out, if I have a drop I’ll check which mag does it.
 
#25 ·
Since my last post I’ve ran another 100 rounds through the gun without any issues...It’s the spring fellas....get one of those Mcarbo aftermarket springs. Excellent buy and I now trust this firearm enough to carry it and I do. I even bought an extra spring, aftermarket takedown pin and talon grips because I plan on buying a second LCP II.

I carry this little pistol everywhere in my pocket, like at work when I can’t carry my Glocks
 
#26 ·
The mag release button spring from Mcarbo improved mine. I tested with the hogue grip off. I only shot 50 rounds of the worst offending FMJ ammo (Sellier and Bellot) and had one mag drop of the 50 shots. Before the hogue grip and before the spring, I'd have several mag drops per magazine shot with Sellier and Bellot FMJ
The spring, along with the hogue grip should make it 100%.
BTW, I think the reason the Sellier and Bellot has more problems is because it's so hot, or hot compared to Speer LawMan.
Thanks for recommending the mag button spring, Bumkin. It made a huge improvement.
 
#28 ·
I’m about fed up with mine. I sent mine back to Ruger a few months ago for a broken extractor, but it had many various failures before that happened. After I got it back it was fairly reliable for 250rds with one failure, but in the last 500 rds its been having various failures of all kinds, including the mag drop. I love the size and design. But it’s certainly not something I could trust to function if I needed it. By contrast my wife got a Sig p365 at the same time and not a single hiccup in about 1200 rds
 
#31 ·
I have had the same problem from the first day that i fired my new pistol. I tried adjusting the grip. Still happens time after time! Sucksssssss!! I ordered Hogue sleeve and will see if that is any better. I tried flush mag and extended grip mag (still 6 shot) still ejects mag. Not good at all for CC. So disappointed. May try heavy spring if grips don't fix the issue.
 
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