The Ruger LCP™ .380 Auto
It looks as though Sturm Ruger & Co. has finally realized there are a lot of honest citizens packing heat who want something other than a brick on their belt. Somehow, this pistol looks real familiar......
“The development and introduction of the Ruger LCP is in direct response to customer demand,” said Ruger President, Stephen L. Sanetti. “We have not been part of this market, but the growing number of states authorizing the licensed carry of pistols for personal protection by law-abiding citizens, and continued demand by law enforcement for quality back-up guns, cannot be ignored. The Ruger LCP is a .380 Auto pistol with superior ergonomic design and handsome styling. It incorporates state-of-the-art polymers, aircraft quality aluminum alloys and high-grade precision steel components engineered for strength and maximum weight savings.”
MSRP $330. Why couldn't they have done it in 9mm? LCP™, what does that stand for anyway? Little Copy Pistol?
More from Marshal Halloway.
Michael Bane's Range Report
“The development and introduction of the Ruger LCP is in direct response to customer demand,” said Ruger President, Stephen L. Sanetti. “We have not been part of this market, but the growing number of states authorizing the licensed carry of pistols for personal protection by law-abiding citizens, and continued demand by law enforcement for quality back-up guns, cannot be ignored. The Ruger LCP is a .380 Auto pistol with superior ergonomic design and handsome styling. It incorporates state-of-the-art polymers, aircraft quality aluminum alloys and high-grade precision steel components engineered for strength and maximum weight savings.”
MSRP $330. Why couldn't they have done it in 9mm? LCP™, what does that stand for anyway? Little Copy Pistol?
More from Marshal Halloway.
Michael Bane's Range Report
posted by Xavier at 10:34 PM
51 Comments:
If you click on Marshall Halloway, there's another story on a new line of guns at S&W: "Night Carry". Have you heard any more than what's posted?
OldeForce
Excellent, now if they'd just get it certified in California, I'd buy one. Or two.
Really small pistols have some use in the woods as well. I wonder if there is some way of getting better sights on a "vest-pocket" iron?
I currently check miles of fence with a Berretta .22 short, on a .25 frame. Nice to carry.
On their site it says that "Ruger's lightweight, compact pistol is the perfect choice for personal defense carry."
So I guess LCP stands for "Lightweight Compact Pistol"
hmm.
the reliability of a ruger combined with the size of a kel-tec.
sounds like a winner, if it works.
Ruger has revamped their "brick " pistols by introducing the P345, then the SR9, and now this .380 LCP. Ruger is finally swinging their big ship into the waters that other firearm companies have been sailing in for quite some time.
Nice idea. Too bad Kel-Tec had it first. Note to Ruger: stealing other people's ideas and pretending they are yours = NOT cool. A pox on you and whatever unethical beancounter came up with this marketing strategy. "Buy Ruger, because we can copy it better."
Aye, and they just released a "special edition" NRA Mini-14 with a 16.5'' barrel and 20 round mags. Looks nice. Now that they fixed the sights, if they could just make that blessed barrel a little heavier! : )
I've been setting some $$$ aside for a Kel-tec, but might look this over before I make up my mind. I own about 5 Ruger pistols, haven't had a single problem with any of them. They may not be everyone else's first choice, but they always get a look-see when I'm deciding what to buy. Some like a Cadillac, some like an Rolls. Some like anything so long as it goes.
I would not be surprised if it wasn't a licensed copy.
It's either a liscensed copy or a lawsuit waiting to happen.
I like my P3AT but there is certainly room for improvement and maybe Ruger is supplying that.
The LCP looks a hell of a lot better than the Kel-Crap P3AT. I was going to go with a P3AT, because there was nothing else out there like it- not until the LCP. I don't think Ruger copied it, and even if they did, it doesn't matter because the consumer will win in the end. Kel-Tec didn't have the foresight to revamp their product. If Ruger made an improvement, it is not copying. It is an improvement upon a standing design- and that is patentable.
i cant wait to get one of these LCPs and covert carrier for it
All of you who are giving them the 3rd degree - how about companies like Taurus, Bersa, Tanfoglio, and all the other manufactures that make "clones" of more expensive models? Give Ruger a break, will ya? If they can improve on an existing design, more power to them!
If it just goes "BANG" evrytime right out of the box, it'l beat anything Kel-Tec has ever made. Me...I'd stake my life on Ruger reliability and that's just what you're doing with a concealed carry weapon.
Better go out and buy one of these before they get sued by KelTec. The LCP doesn't have the burs & cast lines in the nylon frame that I spot on most P-32 & P-3ATs. I am getting one.
Catfish said: "I don't think Ruger copied it"
Then you're wrong. Look at the exploded view on this page. The only differences are external. Same size and shape but slightly different shape on the trigger guard. Manual slide lock (questionable worth on a small concealed carry gun) and a conventional extractor instead of the Kel-Tec extractor. None of these are significant because the engineering needed is almost zero. Internally, the parts are all the same size and shape. It's exactly the same gun as the P-3AT. I wouldn't be surprised if the parts were interchangeable.
"...and even if they did, it doesn't matter because the consumer will win in the end."
Relative ethics. It's good for me so it's OK. I suppose you support the government taxing others and giving that money to you via various entitlement programs? Stealing is wrong. Always has been. Always will be. Just because the design isn't patented doesn't make theft of the design OK.
"If Ruger made an improvement, it is not copying. It is an improvement upon a standing design- and that is patentable."
So I guess Ruger will get a patent on the LCP because they put am improved logo on the side, and they'll be suing Kel-Tec for infringing on THEIR patent?
I can't believe the number of people who bash all things Kel-Tec, just because Kel-Tec makes them, and when their favorite gun manufacturer is unable to improve on the design, then suddenly the design isn't the issue and suddenly it's automatically better simply by virtue of the fact that Ruger makes it.
If you want a good pocket .380 that WASN'T stolen from Kel-Tec, wait until December when the Kahr P380 is released. Kahr at least has the class and engineering talent to develop their own pocket .380 to compete in the market that Kel-Tec created. I've seen pictures of the Kahr P380 and it looks very nice, like a Kahr PM9, and nothing like a Kel-Tec P-3AT.
LCP = Lame Cloned Pistol
"...Just because the design isn't patented doesn't make theft of the design OK...."
No, it just says the design holder is either lazy or irresponsible and has no chance in defending a trade dress action because of it.
"...Kahr P380..."
The P380 tag was lifted from the POS Davis .380. Kahr is just as much the alleged thief you make out Ruger to be.
I've owned 5 Kel-Tecs - one stovepipe among the lot, and that's with a lot of rounds shot...
I've owned several Rugers. I can't recall a failure in any of them.
However, looking at the exploded diagrams of the two pistols I would think Ruger would be hard pressed to defend a lawsuit - an improvement has to be a pretty substantial improvement, not just minor angle changes and things. Look at the geometry of the hammer, trigger bar, barrel, etc - you know, the stuff that actually makes the gun work. There is little to no difference.
Ruger is a big enough company that I imagine they have a legal team advising them well...they would be wary of ripping off somebody and exposing themselves to a lawsuit. I'm betting there's a double-secret handshake licensing agreement with Kel-Tec.
Some have said here that Ruger is wrong to copy Kel Tec on this .380. I disagree. Ruger was a company BUILT upon copying inferior guns. The ruger standard, which became the mark I-III series, was based on a japanese "nambu" pistol. Ruger got the idea from someone else, realized they could make a much more reliable copy, and did it. This is what they do best, put cool designs that work well in the hands of American citizens for cheaper. Besides, kel tec themselves was just making a modern update of a PPK-copy when they came up with their .380, and here with the LCP, ruger exceeds that standard. Nothing wrong with that.
I have to put my two cents in! All the people bashing Ruger,just do not buy their guns. What is your problem? I am like others,over the years I have had several Ruger firearms without a problem.
I just wonder why you are worried about Kel-tec suing Ruger! I'll bet none of you will be involved in the lawsuit!
As for me I'll end up with a reliable small pistol at a fair price.
I don't see the loss if the LCP put Kel-Tech out of business? Lets face it, it is not like Kel-Tech produces that reliable of firearms.
Boy, some people sure get their shorts all wadded up over nothing. What does kind'a looks like have to do with anything. If some of the logic around here applied in the real world, there would be one revolver manufacturer, one pistol manufacturer, and a couple of rifle manufacturers allowed to be producing firearms today. Browning, Mauser, Endfield, and S&W would have a lock on the market, why, because another company would be taken to court because their product kind'a looked like theirs both by appearance and some design features. I think not.
Now back to reality. Ruger has never manufactured junk. Their offerings in handguns always seemed to be "large" for any kind of carry other than open holster carry. If Ruger is really moving into the CCW market and they can bring their quality along with what the market is looking for, then start up companies had better duck or go back and re-engineer their products to compete.
Now, my NAA Guardian (a sometimes in my pocket pistol) may soon be in the local dealer's used display case. So let's see Ruger - KelTec - Ruger - KelTec ----- RUGER!
I took receipt of one of the earliest KetTec P3AT pistols. That thing couldn't fire two consecutive rounds without jamming. I called KelTec and they asked what my serial # was. I told them and the guy said "Aw, Sh!t, send it in to us and we'll fix it." I sent it through the dealer I bought it at and it came back with a new slide and barrel and hasn't jammed a single time. I carry Cor-bon +P 90 grain HPs and practice with Federal American Eagle FMJs. Once I even let it get really full of pocket lint and crap and it still digested a full mag of Cor-Bons. Its a good carry piece for when you can't carry something bigger. I will entertain the idea of the Ruger if its fit and finish is better. Rugers are built like tanks. Most all of our firearms are outright copies or refinements of existing designs. I don't hear anybody berating Kimber for ripping off John Moses Browning's great design of the 1911 pistol.
i have the kel-tec p3at and never had a problem with it, ever! most people limp wrist these powerful little guns and cry about "reliability". ruger will have the same problems as kel-tec because they are the same gun. if you are looking to buy one or the other, the deciding factor should be cost, waranty, accessories, customer care and morality! when i call kel-tec for new springs or what have you, they drop them in the mail and i have them in days, no questions asked, only answered. would ruger do that? not for me, when i needed parts for my mark iii, i had to buy them and pay for shipping! in my opinion, kel-tec wins for all of my buying criteria, except for POSSIBLY one thing; so called "reliability". only time will tell if the lcp has the same "reliabuility problems" as the kel-tec, and i'm sure it will, because again, it is the same pistol!
i have one last remark. this is NOT like everyone ripping the 100 YEAR OLD 1911 DESIGN from browning because those patents are long expired, and browning at least gets the recognition he deserves for his ingenuity and hard work. shame on ruger.
I'm hoping this pistol will be awesome...I'm anxious to get my hands on one! I was originally considering the Tomcat, but I don't like that I can't lock the slide back. I will be keeping my eye on the LCP.
Everyone who is pissing and moaning about Ruger's obvious inmprovement on Kel Tec's design, get over it. Kel Tec has had ample opportunity to improve their own design but chose to continue producing a product that often required the consumer to F&B to make reliable. There is a video review of the Rugers taken right off the assembly line and firing multiple mags rapid fire with zero malfunctions. If Kel Tec was capable of producing this type of quality and reliability they should have done it. You snooze you lose.
I was at the gun range 03-28-08 just doing a bit of shooting, went into the gun shop to take a break and there on the case was the LCP.
I asked what is that, he said, it,s a Ruger, i bought it on the spot. Shot 150 rounds through it, not one problem! Stuck it in my pocket and out the door i went happy as a clam!
Hey, if Kel- tec and Ruger want to duke it out that's their deal!
All i know is i like it, thank you
Ruger!
All you young fellers don't remember the Grendel .380. If you did, you'd know that Kel Tec copied that sucker to make their first guns too. No doubt the Ruger is a dead ringer for the Kel Tec, it's a cool little pistol that sells. Winchester copied Henry, Garand copied the Kalashnikov, Ford copies Chevy, Chevy copies Ford... so what? If it works and you like it, buy one and don't worry so much about who's copying whom.
I just got An LCP 380 paid $270 for it and can't wait to shoot it.
It is just what I need for the Short and Tank Top days when it would be very hard to carry my PT 24/7 40cal with the double stack mag.
Gregg
Perhaps Beretta should sue Taurus, or Colt sue every other maker of 1911's...guys get a grip.
I bought an LCP and it functions flawlessly. I also believe that competition is a good thing. I have held the P3AT and the LCP. There is no comparison in quality, Ruger wins hands down.
I bought an LCP, and it jammed every other shot or so. I sent it in to Ruger, they had it for 11 days. I shot it last night with Remmington 88GR, American Eagle 95GR, Magtech 95GR and Spear Gold Dot 90Gr and they all still jam! Sometimes it's so jammed I can still see the brass case, other times It's about 1/8 - 1/4 inch from being fully closed. I've got another call into Ruger but no call back yet! I won't carry it until I can do 50 rounds of what I carry without a jam. What ammo are you having success with?
I shot 20 rounds so far with my LCP without any problems. I used Winchester 95 grain on the range but have loaded top shelf hollow points for "walking the dog". The LCP is so small that it kicks enough to really let you know it is in your two finger grip. I have it holstered in an Uncle Mike's #10 inside the pant and it now goes everywhere with me in my state and the other 14 states with reciprocity agreements with PA. You have to be within 7 yards to be acurate. The LCP is good for a 3 shots in the chest and get the heck out of there self defense weapon. I am a Ruger purist but would consider a Glock 26 if this LCP chnages my mind after 100 rounds.
I shot 20 rounds so far with my LCP without any problems. I used Winchester 95 grain on the range but have loaded top shelf hollow points for "walking the dog". The LCP is so small that it kicks enough to really let you know it is in your two finger grip. I have it holstered in an Uncle Mike's #10 inside the pant and it now goes everywhere with me in my state and the other 14 states with reciprocity agreements with PA. You have to be within 7 yards to be acurate. The LCP is good for a 3 shots in the chest and get the heck out of there self defense weapon. I am a Ruger purist but would consider a Glock 26 if this LCP chnages my mind after 100 rounds.
I AM ABSOLUTELY AMAZED AT THE SILLINESS OF SOME OF THE COMMENTS HERE ABOUT RUGER.I HAVE OWNED EVERY P MODEL RUGER WITH NO PROBLEMS EVER.I AM ALSO A GM MECHANIC,SOME CARS HAVE PROBLEMS, OTHERS OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL DO.ANYTHING MADE BY A MANS HANDS WILL.GET A GRIP,IF YOU LIKE IT BUY IT,IF YOU DONT,DONT.ME IM ON THE WAIT LIST TO GET ONE.MUST BE SOMETHING TO IT.
i have had mine for about a month now. No problems what so ever. I have run about 125 rds of mixed ball and hp's throught it with 100% reliability! And it hits dead on the money. Very controllable under rapid fire. Buy one! You won't be sorry!
I've owned one for about a week. The last round in the mag jams. I fired about 100 rounds and fixed it hoping it would unjam and start working properly. It did not so I let the store have it back hoping they could find a fast cure. The quality is higher than the kal tec and it fits in my pocket perfect. I'm happy with it except for the jams. Hopefully it is just a fluke with this gun.
As the owner of a holster making company, I can tell you that the LCP is one of the hottest little pistols to hit the market.
ALOT of folks who wanted something like the P3AT but also wanted QUALITY are buying them in droves, myself included.
Thjose of you who are all bent up about it being a "copy" of the Kel-Tec need to write letters of complaint to Chevy, Dodge, Ford, Nissan, Cadillac, Pontiac, Hyandai, Colt, H&K, Smith and Wesson, Olympic Arms, Maytag, Whirlpool, GE, ....get the point???
Stop being so offended by things that have no effect on you......
I have looked at the Keltec and was not impressed. I was set to buy the North American till I saw that Ruger had a [panty pistol] in the works.I have owned mutiple Ruger pistols over the years and will not buy any other revolver exept possibly a North American mini for my hiking pack.As to the copy crying very few things are origional desighns.As soon as I can find one of the things Im getting the Ruger
To whom it may concern , they have a problem . The rugers jam ! Kel Tec doesnt .I sell both firearms as a dealer and have never sent a kel tec back. I also carry a pf9 and a p32 personally ,absolutly no malfunctions. If you want to know what works ask a dealer what sells and what they send in for repair most often. dont take your buddy's word for it. and the ruger IS a copy . just like everyone is trying to copy GLOCK , no comparison....
"Garand copied the Kalashnikov"
Huh? The AK47 came out in 1947, long after the Garand M1.
I know this is an old entry, but...
I agree that the LCP is prettier than the P3AT, and I say that with a P3AT on me as I type this. But it's funny to me that at least half of the posts I see on blogs and boards from guys on their reason for wanting the LCP has to do with the fact that it's prettier/cuter than the P3AT. When women say things like that, men make fun of them for being so "girly" or even ignorant. Go figure.
The proof is in the shooting. Just got my Elsie Pea, and ran a box of
Win XX hardball through it without a hitch. Had it apart, and it actually went back together too! Shooting for effect, rapid fire 7 rounds, 7 yards. 1 ten, 1 nine, 2 eights, 2 sevens touching each other, and one (first shot) flyer in the 6 ring. Trigger pull is too long, but in a stressfire situation, a nervous finger won't light it off. Paid 275.00 for it NIB at a local dealer. I'll use it as a BUG to my P229. I can see using it as primary if I'm really dressed way down. .380 is not especially effective, but should give me time to shoot and run like hell. BTW, I could care less what it looks like. I've had Kel-Tec, and other, .380 apart, and the Ruger is superior. Doesn't feel like Tupperware. Way smaller than a Bersa Thunder. Perceived recoil is darn near zero, which was a real surprise in a 9 ounce gun.
Recall on the LCP!!
Something to do with firing when dropped and general upgrades.
Sign up for it on the Rugerweb site.
Free mag/w/finger extension included!!
First come first serve, announced on AP news 10/29/08
Hey! Yeah there is a recall on the LCP because of a couple of issues but apparently the most important is the accidental fire when dropped. I worte about it on my Teams Website
BGM Tactical - Ruger LCP Recall
I bought a Ruger LCP SNxxx65001 in Tucson. It is jamming and FtF a lot, 1 in 10 or more. Called Ruger but they didn't call back. Mag has popped out on recoil, may be hitting the release with my thumb, don't know yet, but it is only doing it on the mag with the finger support. Looks nice but the FtF is a big problem, many are the 2nd out of the mag. Tried several brands on 380 but No Joy! I have had two 380's and one 32 Kel-Tec and they had no FtF or jams in a few 100 rounds, the LCP had about 10 to 15 in 100 FtF. Not very happy with that. I might go back to Kel-Tec.
I'm seriously thinking about getting one of those.
In case everyone doesn't already know Kel-Tec didn't patent their design. That's why there has been , and will not be, any lawsuit. I have owned two or three of every Kel-Tec pistol made over the years. I really want to like Kel-Tec but every one of the pistols I have owned have jammed constantly. I have had gunsmiths work on them, sent them back to the factory and worked on them myself but they all consistantly jammed. I love their designs but I am a police officer and I cannot trust my life and the lives of my family to a Kel-Tec. I kept hoping over the years that Kel-Tec would improve their pistols but they never have. I now own a Ruger LCP and it functions flawlessly. Ruger did nothing wrong since Kel-Tec did not patent their design. If Kel-Tec would have improved their design and patented it they would have a corner on the market. As I said I want to like Kel-Tec but I can't keep buying guns that do not work and hoping they will improve the designs. Kel-Tec's are not range guns, they are concealed carry defensive weapons and they need to work every time, but they don't. I am not trying to bash Kel-Tec and I'm not talking about anything I don't have experience with. If Kel-Tec would straighten out their problems I would go back in a heart beat. But for now my money will be spent with Ruger and Kahr.
I just purchased one for my mother. For a pistol straight out of the box, you can't beat it. I've talked her into getting a Crimson Trace laser grips for it. It really puts ease into my sense of well being for her.
Measure the P3AT's barrel and the LCP's barrel. I have seen a blown up P3AT that consumed nothing but standard rounds. The LCP barrel dimensions are
.495" at the breach
.429" on the barrel
.470" at the muzzle
I don't have a P3AT to check but I've been told its thinner. No way I'd buy a Kel-Tec.
------------------
Now there are two new compact 380's to look into.
The Taurus TCP and the Kahr P380
Neither leaves much room for a laser but the Kahr has some real gun sights.
(second attempt not sure if my post went through)
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