LCP Ammo Recommendations

[Fatal]

Hey All,

First, let me say, I am not a "gun" person. So that brings me here looking for help and recommendations. TIA for reading!


I picked up an LCP from Bass Pro and took it to the range a few days later. First time ever shooting 380. The only FMJ rounds Bass Pro had were Herter's 380 Auto 95gr. After almost every shot I took, the gun jammed. Managed to only get 35 rounds through it before I gave up on trying to problem solve at the range (wiped it down, added oil, etc). Cleaning it at home, the hammer managed to get jammed/locked forward so I was not able to reassemble to slide. Contacted Ruger, sent to back to them (of course the day I go to box it up for shipping, now the hammer wants to work and I can reassemble the slide. Like taking your car to the mechanic, big problems until you arrive in the parking lot *facepalm*), Ruger looked everything over, fired the gun, could not find anything wrong.

The customer service rep I spoke to recommended using (I can't remember the exact wording) "smaller" rounds to prevent jamming from happening.

So does anyone have any recommendations for 380 ammo that runs perfectly in their LCP? I also purchased a box of Hornady Critial Defense but don't want to start going though that stuff because of the price until I can at least find some brands that I know are not going to jam the gun.

On both the Herter's and Hornady, when I load the gun, then pull the slide back to eject and rechamber a round, there is still some jamming happening. But I don't know if this is because I am doing this by hand and not firing the gun.

Thanks for any help!

 

[davevabch]

Big time pocket gun shooter. Found PrecisionOne (non plus P) and swear by it. I use it for the LCP's (the many I have owned since they first came out in 2009)

And for my Kahr's and Pico's I use the PLUS P PrecisionOne.

 

[Cholo]

I had to look up Herter's and it's Made in USA by one of the major manufacturers. 95 grs. is a little heavy for caliber, but that shouldn't make a difference. The nose profile is a bit odd for a FMJ. Ruger might be right so try a 90 gr. round nose ball ammo. Make sure you have a tight grip on the gun and only shoot it when clean and properly oiled.

 

[Gator89]

My LCP functioned great with both the Herters and the Hornady.

 

[hittman]

Using the same ammo you had problems with, let a couple of your buddies or experienced shooters shoot it. If they have the same failures, it's the gun. If not, maybe it's YOU. Maybe limp wristing or something of the sort.

And welcome to the forum

 

[Gator89]

My LCP functioned great with both the Herters and the Hornady.

Edit: I have some Sellier & Bellot (S&B) 92 grain FMJ that I used in my LCP, not Herters.

The boxes are very similar.

 

[DGW1949]

The way I read your post, you are worried because you are getting hang-ups while cycling live rounds through the gun...If that is the case, then yeah, that sort of thing happening with the little pocket-sized pistols occours often enough that it could be referred to as "normal"....In other words, the ejection port on those things is almost too small to start with, meaning that the fired case is much shorter than the full-length (unfired) round that you are trying to force through it....And just in passing, a 95 grain FMJ bullet is what the .380 cartridge was designed to use, so no....assuming you are using SAAMI-spec brass-cased ammo, the problem does not lie with the ammo......IMO, what you need to do is buy a known-good brand of FMJ ammo and go shoot the gun. Then you'll know if your gun is defective or not. Simply sitting around playing with it ain't going to tell ya much.....Hope this helps.

DGW

 

[davevabch]

Using the same ammo you had problems with, let a couple of your buddies or experienced shooters shoot it. If they have the same failures, it's the gun. If not, maybe it's YOU. Maybe limp wristing or something of the sort.

And welcome to the forum

Number one cause of failures in Pocket guns. Most likely nothing wrong with the gun.

 

[Fox Mike]

As was previously mentioned; have a more experienced shooter shoot it and see if the same problem occurs. I have an LCP II and have used numerous different brands of ammo with no problems.

 

[GunnyGene]

Might be the magazine (common problem with many makes and models of pistols). Take your mag apart and make sure it's clean and operating smoothly. You only got one with the gun, correct? If so, buy another mag or 2 and see if the problem continues. You might also try loading only 5 instead of 6 rnds in the mag. Also, if you're riding the slide back to battery instead of just releasing it, that can cause a round to not chamber properly.

 

[GVTC09]

My first generation LCP seems to run well on loads that use the Hornady XTP bullet..

 

[NC FNS]

Maybe sticking on the feed ramp? Mine got better over time, had a few stick when it was new. Usually when hand-cycling in a less than robust manner, as I recall.

 

[davevabch]

Gosh, I have had so many of these LCP's and have been a RO for years at my club. These guns at least 99% of them do not have a issue. Yet so many will call Ruger. And when it is a problem with a jam they always blame the gun. I have shot all of mine with zero issues. Except about 15 years ago when I was new to shooting them I would limp wrist the gun. And when ever I shoot all the one's I have owned no Problem ever. But when I let some one else shoot them and BINGO! Issue happens. Been at the range so many times and someone has a failure. I take the gun and shoot it and zero issue.
The issue is the User. You cannot let 5 other people shoot the gun and believe they all have experience with these little guns. Do not send it in right away, that drives me crazy. Take a very tight firm grip and focus on proper hand placement and be sure and use your off hand firmly as well.

These guns are little. But a big explosion takes place when fired. And that will cause a weak wrist to make that sucker flip up and that will invariably cause a failure. These guns are NOT hard to shoot. The learning curve is just LONGER than a standard gun. If it goes in failure, rack the slide and keep shooting. You will get the hang of it.

 

[larry8]

Get some Flitz and polish the feed ramp.

 

[Pál_K]

Pay attention to Davevabch in post #13. He is correct.

I have put all sorts of ammo through my LCP, including Hornady Critical Defense, and it works just fine.

First - make sure you do the disassembly and re-assembly steps properly. Don't pull the trigger. The hammer should be in its rearward position throughout the whole process. Here is a good video:



Second, when chambering a round - do not be gentle or slow: "slingshot" the slide forward: pull back on the slide with one hand while pushing the frame forward with the other hand, then just release the slide and let it slam forward.

Third, when shooting a small lightweight semiauto like this, get a firm hard grip, keep your wrist straight and tight while shooting. Be careful that no flesh is in the way of the moving slide!

 

[Fatal]

I would like to thank everyone who took the time to reply. The advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[hat28726]

Using the same ammo you had problems with, let a couple of your buddies or experienced shooters shoot it. If they have the same failures, it's the gun. If not,