LCP .380 Opinions?

[jashoffa]

Originally Posted by fangus

had mine for a year love it . one thing you have to do is polish the barrel throat and ramp, clears up any feed problems you will have. i use hornady critical defence rounds.

This is the first I have vever heard of the LCP needing a fluff and buff. Are you sure this isn't old information left over from the P3AT? My LCP has preformed flawlessly without any polish at all.

[fangus]

go to elsiepeaforum- great info on the gun with over 2500 members

[mtncrash1]

Originally Posted by Ninja Piper

That's one of the big factors attracting me to the gun is its price. Let me know how it handles for you Mtncrash.

Just got back from the range. The LCP wasnt bad. At 25ft I was able to get a 3inch grouping. Didnt think it all that bad considering sites are a pain to see and first time out.Trigger is a bit long and heavy but nothing a person cant get used too.For what I intend on using this gun for it will be just fine.Goes right in a pocket and cant be seen so it will make a good backup or for those really hot days and a pair of shorts it will work well as a primary.

[ProfessorP]

First shot out of any gun is always fun, isn't it?!
When I took my LCP out to shoot for the first time, I set up an old skid and chose a nickel-size knot as my target. With such a short barrel, I was hoping to hit the plank itself! Pulled the trigger, and pulled, and pulled, then let off. I thought something was wrong, so I emptied the mag and chamber, then pulled it for a dry fire. It has a REALLY long pull.
I reloaded it, now with a feel for the trigger, and aimed at the same nickel-sized knot. Once fired, the knot was just a hole. This was at 21 feet.
Similar performance ever since...which is PLENTY good for the gun's purpose!

[TACAV]

Originally Posted by jmp8927

^Hey! Someone else here watches Nutnfancy's vids!

lol thats what I said I like his handgun reviews too.

As for the ball vs hollow point, some ammo I think works better than others but for the size of bullet, FPS, and expansion issues, I think Ill just use ball anyways which I know works all the time. I dont think a HP .380 is gonna be all that much better anyways.

Either way I dont carry a .380 as my CCW anyways. I just got one so I can say I have a pocket pistol lol.

[Luckyjimster]

This pistol ROCKS!!!. first, weight is its main advantage. having a concealed weapons means you need to have it on you. i tend to leave mine at home because of weight. i was watching youtube ( nutnfancy guy ) do a review and I decided to get one. I am so happy. sometimes, actually most the time you dont even know that it is there.
The Range:
first I put a box threw it at 20 feet and had a 4 inch group.
this is a close confrontation gun and really if you are any further than that it really is not consider a threat. Ya, i have 17 rounds in my SR9. but really it is a pain to carry. at least i feel better having something on me all the time. im just worried i will forget it in my pants and wash it in the laundry. as old as im getting it could happen.
this is a must have pistol.
there is one problem you need to watch and thats the ammo you put in. one brand of 380 auto is just a little longer in length causing a jam in the mag. you shoot out a couple rounds and gun goes in to empty position.
i noticed it on the fiochio ammo. and that is not how you spell it but im not going to look it up right now.
one other big problem is getting 380 ammo right now. it took me a month.

[stevec]

corbon dpx. .70 wound channel in gelatin medium. badass!! had mine since dec. it goes everywhere.

[shinerjohn]

Guys, the main reason I started reloading my own ammo was for availability. I haven't tried yet to calculate any $ savings, but I will soon. I have a nice inventory of store-bought ammo, but I'll save that for self-defense. I enjoy reloading only slightly less than actually shooting! Lead round nose bullets work just fine in my LCP.

[jerry]

Originally Posted by jmp8927

^Hey! Someone else here watches Nutnfancy's vids!

He does a decent job.

[KW Gary M]

Save yourself $100 + and get a better gun; Kel-Tec. The LCP is a Kel-Tec P3AT exact copy with a bigger price tag and a few recalls. Ruger tried to snaze the P3AT up and just had problems.

[Paper]

Originally Posted by KW Gary M

Save yourself $100 + and get a better gun; Kel-Tec. The LCP is a Kel-Tec P3AT exact copy with a bigger price tag and a few recalls. Ruger tried to snaze the P3AT up and just had problems.

Dealers around here are selling the LCP for $280. Where can I get the Kel-Tec for less than $180, as you claim?

Also, there was ONE recall and it was something that the majority of gun manufacturers wouldn't have recalled, including Kel-Tec.. My LCP went in for the recall and was returned in less than a week, and came back with an additional magazine, a nice Ruger hat, and a letter stating that they were sorry.. Oh, and the "recall" was also a modification to the original copied design (Kel-Tec's) and the trigger was greatly improved after the modification.

I had a choice when I bought my LCP and chose the Ruger because of fit and finish. The Kel-Tec looked like it was carved out of a big dried up green eraser. Given the choice again today, I'd still by the Ruger without hesitation.. That is unless I can buy a couple dozen Ket-Tec's at less than $180.

I'm not trying to be a jerk with the above comments, but just replying to your comments.

[KW Gary M]

Originally Posted by Paper

Dealers around here are selling the LCP for $280. Where can I get the Kel-Tec for less than $180, as you claim?

Also, there was ONE recall and it was something that the majority of gun manufacturers wouldn't have recalled, including Kel-Tec.. My LCP went in for the recall and was returned in less than a week, and came back with an additional magazine, a nice Ruger hat, and a letter stating that they were sorry.. Oh, and the "recall" was also a modification to the original copied design (Kel-Tec's) and the trigger was greatly improved after the modification.

I had a choice when I bought my LCP and chose the Ruger because of fit and finish. The Kel-Tec looked like it was carved out of a big dried up green eraser. Given the choice again today, I'd still by the Ruger without hesitation.. That is unless I can buy a couple dozen Ket-Tec's at less than $180.

I'm not trying to be a jerk with the above comments, but just replying to your comments.

If you can buy an LCP for $280 buy 10 dozen and sell them on Gun Broker. They are selling at $400 + every day there. I shot a Kel-Tec and LCP owned by my neighbor side by side and both the LCP owner and I prefered the Kel-Tec. The LCP might be prettier and I'm sure it is a nice hat Ruger sent you but the whole time your pretty LCP was being repaired my Kel-Tec was working. I don't want to be confronted by a would be attacker and say to him "Stop or I'll shoot you with my gun after the dealer returns it with my hat". I have a couple thousand rounds through my P3AT and haven't had a misfire and have never sent it back. If the event ever happens that I do need to send my Kel-Tec back they have a lifetime warranty too.

[shinerjohn]

Originally Posted by KW Gary M

If you can buy an LCP for $280 buy 10 dozen and sell them on Gun Broker. They are selling at $400 + every day there. I shot a Kel-Tec and LCP owned by my neighbor side by side and both the LCP owner and I prefered the Kel-Tec. The LCP might be prettier and I'm sure it is a nice hat Ruger sent you but the whole time your pretty LCP was being repaired my Kel-Tec was working. I don't want to be confronted by a would be attacker and say to him "Stop or I'll shoot you with my gun after the dealer returns it with my hat". I have a couple thousand rounds through my P3AT and haven't had a misfire and have never sent it back. If the event ever happens that I do need to send my Kel-Tec back they have a lifetime warranty too.

The only LCP's I just found on Gunbroker that were more than $300 included and extra magazine and 100 rounds of ammo. They were still less than $400. The one I just saw for more than $400 had crimson trace laser sights. Just do a search on LCP and you will see..... The LCP is selling every day now for well under $300.

It is not necessary to put down the LCP in order for the Kel-Tec to be a good value. You have a P3AT and like it. I have the LCP and like it. That should be good enough. When I sent mine in for the recall, I carried a different handgun. It wasn't a problem at all.

[jim433]

I can't knock the keltec(I don't own one) I bought my LCP because I haven't heard many bad things about them. I researched it for a long time. I might of bought a keltec if I would of read more positive things about them. There were just to many people that were unhappy with them. It seemed like some people really liked their P3at, but I found a lot who said the were junk. I'd rather go with the gun that has the better reputation. Like the last guy said I didn't mind sending mine in to be fixed(I also had a different gun to carry). I am very happy with their customer service at ruger. I think the free hat/mag was well worth it being gone for a few weeks. For me it is a great shorts & t-shirt/pocket carry gun that is accurate, reliable, and well made.

[Paper]

Originally Posted by KW Gary M

The LCP might be prettier and I'm sure it is a nice hat Ruger sent you but the whole time your pretty LCP was being repaired my Kel-Tec was working. I don't want to be confronted by a would be attacker and say to him "Stop or I'll shoot you with my gun after the dealer returns it with my hat".

My dealer had nothing to do with my recall. It was returned to ME in 5 days.

And if I were carrying my LCP while in the state I work or the state I live, I'd be commiting a felony, and would be giving up my right to own a firearm, as I live in IL and work in WI. My home carry weapon is a SIG.. My LCP is my weapon I LEAGALLY carry when I'm in states that honor my Utah CCW.

I read too many complaints about the Kel-Tec quality to make me interested when I made the decision to buy the Ruger, and as mentioned by others, there's serveral places selling them for well under $300.. My IL dealer that I bought my LCP had a sale on Sunday and sold LCP's at $280, and a good friend of mine bought one last week from his WI dealer for $285, with no haggling.

Anyone fool enough to spend $400 on one needs to see just exactly who's robbing him before he even gets a gun..

[Elvis Is Dead]

Originally Posted by Paper

My dealer had nothing to do with my recall. It was returned to ME in 5 days.

And if I were carrying my LCP while in the state I work or the state I live, I'd be commiting a felony, and would be giving up my right to own a firearm, as I live in IL and work in WI. My home carry weapon is a SIG.. My LCP is my weapon I LEAGALLY carry when I'm in states that honor my Utah CCW.

I read too many complaints about the Kel-Tec quality to make me interested when I made the decision to buy the Ruger, and as mentioned by others, there's serveral places selling them for well under $300.. My IL dealer that I bought my LCP had a sale on Sunday and sold LCP's at $280, and a good friend of mine bought one last week from his WI dealer for $285, with no haggling.

Anyone fool enough to spend $400 on one needs to see just exactly who's robbing him before he even gets a gun..

KW might be off a bit in his prices but I agree the Kel-Tec shoots better and is cheaper for sure. Living in hot Florida myself I can tell you there was a time when The Obama Scare was on that you couldn't touch a LCP under $400 here. Most Florida dealers were getting $450 + for them and couldn't keep them on their shelf. That has changed some now. They are still more than $280 in FL though. Maybe the supply and demand is higher here because we dress lighter all year round and all you have to do to get a CCW Permit in FL is take a 60 minute class and pass a criminal background check. My class watched 2 videos for about 10 minutes each. The instructor loaded, unloaded, took down and put his gun back together. We paid him $75.00 and left with a certificate to mail to The State of FL. Nobody in the class had to even touch a gun never mind fire one. Between dress and ease of getting a CCW I assume the Kel-Tec or LCP are a little more scarce in FL than WI where CCW is not allowed. Not to mention you dress a lot different in WI due to weather. I can't exactly hide a Mac 10 in my bathing suite. I have a Kel-Tec P3AT and a Kel-Tec .32. Both are great pocket guns but otherwise pretty useless. I don't see I high demand for one in a state that outlaws CCW.

Back to the topic. I also shot the LCP before I bought my P3AT. I already owned the .32 Kel-Tec long before the LCP came out. I liked the way the Kel-Tec shot better. I also live very close to Kel-Tec in Coco, FL. If I have a problem I will drive over there and address it with them in person. I might not get a fancy hat but I will get my gun repaired or replaced. I have a friend who had a Kel-Tec 9MM they couldn't repair so they gave him a brand new one right there the day he walked in. They stand behind their product. The LCP might look nicer but if I want to look at something pretty I'll look at a Play Boy. When I want a pocket gun I trust I'll carry my Kel-Tec.

[neophyte]

KW Gary M: Sir; hop your hot rod and come to the ''gun-show'' with me Sunday They started week before last at $280-$330, with a couple of 'sellers' at your $400.00 mark.
As best as I remember; the $400.00 ones didn't sell and the $300.00 did alright to the dealers.

[KW Gary M]

Either way I still prefer the P3AT. My prices I mentioned might be off because I haven't priced them since I bought my P3AT and that was when the LCP was still new anf hot. I shot both the LCP and P3AT side by side and I like the P3AT better. If they were both $1,00 or both $300.00 I'd take the P3AT. It doesn't make the LCP a bad gun it just means I personaly prefer the P3AT. Others may prefer the LCP. Life goes on.

[TACAV]

I bought my post recall manufactored LCP off of gunbroker for $310 and it works fine.

[cyendrey]

Originally Posted by FISHPOND

Your welcome, hope it helps your case!!!!

I've had one about three months now. It is a fine pistol and extremely concealable; just keep in mind that it was not designed to be a range/paper puncher but rather a close in defense weapon of 'last resort'. Short sight radius, rudimentary sights, small grip, and heavy DAO trigger pull all mitigate away from any predictable accuracy beyond 15 to 20 ft under stressful circumstances. I've got slightly large hands and I can get my thumb, trigger finger and one additional finger on the grip. Given the light weight, it tends to 'squirm' in my hand as result when fired which makes aimed shots slower.

If you check out the Elsie Pea forum, you'll find most members are recommending changing out the recoil spring with a Wolf Spring pack item. The heavier spring addresses some of the recoil/squirming issues and also changes the brass distribution if you want to find/reload the empties.