Just bought a Ruger LCP .380 Any Advice?

[Thomas]

After wanting a pocket gun for a while, and then after researching the different pocket guns available, I settled on and bought a Ruger LCP .380 today. I haven't shot it yet, but I would like to (obviously) and also pocket carry it.

So I'm not just gloating and actually have a legitimate reason for creating a topic... does any one have any tips or suggestions on either pocket holsters, Ruger LCP .380s, or new guns?

Thanks

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On a side-note, I find it interesting that they included the spent casing from the factory test-fire. I read in the manual that they do that because in some states the spent casing has to be given to the state police. Yes, I'm a guy and I actually read (or at least skim) instruction manuals.

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EDIT: RANGE REPORT

[The Annoyed Man]

Desantis Nemesis II seems to be a popular choice. I have both the I and the II, one for my snubbie, and the other for my PM9. There are lots of other choices, some better than others, and some of those may be better than the Desantis. But the advantage of the Nemesis is price.....I think they go for about $19.95, or something like that. But, unless you're really lucky, you might find that buying pocket holsters for your gun means that you'll buy more than one, maybe several, until you find the one you really like......just like with IWB or OWB holsters.

[Scott in Houston]

My first piece of advice...

Please, please, don't make this a primary carry. The pocket gun should be a last-resort type of carry.
I have a TCP738 .380, and occasionally, it's fine for pocket carry, but Lord help me if I'm ever in a situation where I need to defend myself and all I have is my little "mouse gun".

The LCP is a great little shooter. I bought a pocket holster Uncle Mike's (size 4) that works well, but again, it's only when I have no other options.

Next, shoot it!!! Shoot at least 1000 rounds through it. Make sure you're comfortable with its capabilities and you're comfortable that it will perform.

Most people buy these little .380's and never shoot them. They're not "fun" to shoot and .380 is expensive, so people neglect practice with their LCP or similar gun. Practice, practice, practice.

[Vandelay Ind.]

High noon holsters/ pocket grabber

[FL450]

http://www.elsiepeaforum.com. A great forum dedicated to the LCP and lots of holster makers advertise there

[Thomas]

Thank you The Annoyed Man and Vandelay Ind. I'll check them out.

Next, shoot it!!! Shoot at least 1000 rounds through it. Make sure you're comfortable with its capabilities and you're comfortable that it will perform.

Most people buy these little .380's and never shoot them. They're not "fun" to shoot and .380 is expensive, so people neglect practice with their LCP or similar gun. Practice, practice, practice.

I'll shoot it alright. Gotta make sure it works should I ever need to use it.

Please, please, don't make this a primary carry. The pocket gun should be a last-resort type of carry.
I have a TCP738 .380, and occasionally, it's fine for pocket carry, but Lord help me if I'm ever in a situation where I need to defend myself and all I have is my little "mouse gun".

Interesting opinion, one that I'll have to ruminate over. I now have a full-size handgun, compact handgun, and pocket handgun. I always thought I would have at least one of each size to fit the situation (like one has different clothing for different weather). Bigger gun means bigger magazine and longer barrel. I'll determinately carry my compact handgun until I get a holster or someway to protect the trigger of my pocket handgun. I'll probably take your advice. Thank you.

http://www.elsiepeaforum.com. A great forum dedicated to the LCP and lots of holster makers advertise there

Cool! I'll check it out.

[javieljb]

I've had one for a couple of years now. I have added the crimson trace laser, it adds a nice shoot quick from the hip option.

I would second the advice to shoot it a bunch. I've probably have shot 500 rds through mine. Seems that it will fail to feed ocassionally. I had called ruger (at about 200 rds) and they said to shoot some more and try different ammo then call if I still had the issues. I'll probably call within the next month or so.

My brother's lcp has never had any issues, so I'd say just shoot it a bunch so you know what to expect.

[A-R]

1. Pocket holster ...
Either Mika's ... http://www.frontiernet.net/~akim/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
or Guru's ... http://www.pocketholsters.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

2. Ammo - Hornady Critical Defense is only load I've personally tested out of my LCP that provided adequate expansion and penetration in milk jug testing media. Winchester PDX and Speer Gold Dot (my go to rounds in other calibers) expanded better, but penetration was subpar.

3. The Crimson Trace laser is worth the money ... just be sure you order your holster to fit it.

4. If you have access to a range that let's you draw and fire in a tactical type situation, practice a lot with this pistol drawing from pocket holster and putting rounds on target while retreating or side stepping. This is a last resort kind of gun, so practice last resort tactics with it. Standing flat footed and shooting two-handed is not a likely real world scenario with this gun.

[wgoforth]

Desantis pocket holster is fine. I carried that way for a couple of years, then went to a OWB holster. It is small enough it disappears under just a polo shirt and can deploy much faster.

If you put a laser on it, it will be accurate at 25 yards.

Break it in, hard to do on these mouseguns because it isn't fun.

Hornady Critical defense that reliably expands the hollow points.

Carry a spare mag... 7 rounds is small enough, but if the mag fails.... one is none/two is one.

[speedsix]

...take it back and get a 9mm...(you asked...don't kill the messenger)...

...I held the new Ruger 9mm subcompact...don't like it, won't buy one, but it's concealable and slim...and much more potent...

[wgoforth]

...take it back and get a 9mm...(you asked...don't kill the messenger)...

And the next guy tell you, take back the 9mm and get a .45!

[speedsix]

...that'd be great advice, but even the smallest .45s are hard to pocket carry, whereas there are a lot of pocketable 9mms...sometimes you have to settle for less than the best...but you never have to settle for .380...(NOW you can shoot the messenger)...


...an interesting comparison between the smaller 9mms and the smaller QUALITY .380s shows the size of the 9mm to be minimally more...and the performance of the 9mm is much more than minimally better...I'm being serious...though some won't take it seriously...

[wgoforth]

...that'd be great advice, but even the smallest .45s are hard to pocket carry, whereas there are a lot of pocketable 9mms...sometimes you have to settle for less than the best...but you never have to settle for .380...(NOW you can shoot the messenger)...


...an interesting comparison between the smaller 9mms and the smaller QUALITY .380s shows the size of the 9mm to be minimally more...and the performance of the 9mm is much more than minimally better...I'm being serious...though some won't take it seriously...

True on that, I don't disagree. Comes to preference I suppose. I had a Taurus 709 (9 mm) that was easily concealable and didn't like it. I just couldn't shoot it well, though others could. Now I have a Sig P238 and love it... shoots easily, doesn't beat the web of my hand and I can shoot it accuratly at 25 yards with 8 rounds. Anyone would be a fool to deny that bigger calibers are better, but I don't feel undergunned with modern ammo. Better powder and computer design lets the .380's now dependably expand with quality ammo. The Buffalo Bore ammo puts the results of a .380 to be on par with a 38 special +p. BTW, there are actually a few pocketable .45's... though I wouldn't care to shoot one!

[speedsix]

...any smaller than the Kahrs???

[wgoforth]

...any smaller than the Kahrs???

Semmerling .45, or the Downsizer . AMT Backup is smaller than the Kahr. I would not consider the Downsizer a legitimate gun though... even the manufacturer does not suggest shooting it more than 5 times a day.