first range trip, new-to-me Ruger LCP

[mr.72]

I took out the Ruger for the first time today, shot about 75 rounds.

Surprisingly I could hold onto it and keep it on target pretty well even for follow-up shots. The sights are of course really hard to use but if I acquired the front sight and paid attention I could keep a whole magazine on a 6" target at 7 yards even in pretty rapid fire.

Not a single failure except for two curious things:

1. the slide did not lock open on the last round fired. I guess I expected it to... maybe I'll read the manual :)

2. often times when inserting a full magazine with the slide locked open, the slide would release when the magazine went in. I was real careful to be sure that I was not hitting the slide release.

But it fired every round without a hitch and surprisingly I kind of liked it. However after shooting it, then going to the Kahr, and back to the LCP, I found that I expected the trigger to break much sooner than it did. The Kahr trigger is so much better but I think in the "heat of the moment" you are going to fire the gun no problem.

I am still quite disturbed at the amount of rust on the barrel. I can tolerate the surface rust on the serrations on the slide but the barrel was mighty rusty when I took it down. Why don't they at least put a stainless barrel in this thing?!?!?

[Rex B]

There is no last-round-slidelock on the LCP, manual operation only.

What's with the rust? I haven't seen a speck on mine, but then I wouldn't be looking for it either.

[mr.72]

barrel rusted (on the outside, not the bore AFAIK) and rust on the serrations on the slide. I took the rust off of the barrel with some 1000-grit and then gave it a good coating of CLP followed by oil. The slide got wiped down with CLP. Since I probably won't be carrying it regularly, I bet it won't rust as much. I carried it for several days on vacation in South Padre and then IWB for the past couple of weeks while my Kahr has been in the shop. I bet the rust is associated with carrying it.

surface rust only.

Now that I have my Kahr back, I will order some Dura-Coat and coat the slide on the LCP. Dunno if I can do the barrel too.

[Rex B]

I pocket carry only, and work in an A/C office, so maybe that's the difference.

Thanks

[The Annoyed Man]

I'm just amazed that, in the current ammunition market, you could:

1. find 75 rounds of .380 ACP all in one spot, and
2. afford to buy 75 rounds of .380 ACP all at one time.

You must be a rich man!

[mr.72]

LoL! The ammo came with the gun :)

Believe it or not, I still have a bunch left.

Trust me, I'm far from rich.

BTW one other interesting quirk with this gun is that I managed to cut my finger on the very sharp edge of the feed ramp while cleaning it. Ouch. I'll have to pay attention to that.

[pneuby]

I just read through all of the LCP Recall thread. It was touched on briefly, but are there reasons to buy the LCP at a premium over the P3AT?

[goofygrin]

Well if the P3AT is anything like the P32 I played with at the range that a buddy had... one's a keltec and one's not.

Seriously, I got 3 rounds downrange and the slide locked open on the P32. Right where the slide release pin is, the frame was bulging and no matter what we did we couldn't get the pin out or move the slide. It could have blown up in my hand!

[joe817]

the frame was bulging??? That's downright scary!!