Lcp max design

[brianp]

As a new LCP Max owner, I am a bit confused on its design related to DA & SA terminology. Is it correct that racking the slide, either manually or by firing it, puts the internal hammer into a half-cock position so that the trigger's function is to fully cock & then release the hammer? If so, it would explain why it is designated as DAO, meaning the trigger must cock the hammer & release it.

 

[hittman]

Welcome to the Forum.

 

[ImDrRich]

Welcome to the Forum. The LCP Max is a double action only semi-auto. There is no half-cock position of the hammer, which can be seen in the firing position when a round is in the chamber. I believe the gun is considered double action as there is travel distance for the trigger before every round is fired.

Enjoy your LCP Max. It is a fantastic little firearm.

 

[brianp]

Hi, Bearcat. Well, it is confusing, as I always thought double action meant the gun could be fired either by pulling the trigger to cause the hammer to move to full cock & then release on the same trigger pull, or just release the hammer that is already cocked. I have an older LCP and when I watch the hammer from the rear of the gun, it is all the way up & therefore not cocked even after racking the slide. Pulling the trigger moves the hammer all the way down (toward the rear of the gun) & releases it to fire. When the slide moves after firing & puts another cartridge in the chamber, the hammer is back to fully up & not cocked. The LCP max is different. Slide motion moves the hammer almost all the way to fully cocked but leaves it there. The trigger moves the hammer the rest of the way to fully down (cocked) & releases it to fire. It appears that Ruger did this to lessen the amount of trigger force to fire the gun, make the trigger pull smoother & probably contributed to their decision to put a motion safety on the trigger itself. Anyway, those are my observations that may or may not be correct as I'm no gunsmith.

 

[DEG1]

The max is NOT DA. It is SAO.

 

[IPSC]

This ends up being confusing. Take one apart and look at the mechanism....or even look at Ruger Ad-copy with an X-ray view of the internals. Here's the deal which can be confusing. The gun is SAO. When the slide is racked back and released, the hammer is rotated back ( for sake of argument, "fully"....but let's say it's 90 degrees). When you pull the trigger,....yes, the trigger rocks back more, but only a BIT more....say to 91-93 degrees. This is due to the hammer/sear interface which is not perfectly "square" surfaces between these 2 pieces, but each is a bit angled to create a "locking" effect between the 2 mating surfaces...so the hammer has less of a chance to be jarred off the sear. This is COMPLETLEY DIFFERENT...than (say) a Glock, where the slide action compresses the striker spring about 60%....and pulling the trigger compresses the striker spring, the remaining 40%. Or even compared to a Kahr pistol where pulling the trigger compresses the spring from zero to 100% and it then releases (DAO). The MAX has it's spring pretty much "fully-compressed" after the slide action cocks the pistol. And then this point---> yes, MAX does have a half-cock notch between the hammer and sear. If after all this....if the hammer should ever slip off the sear without consciously pulling the trigger,.... it will be arrested half-way down by this half-cock notch... and will not strike the primer.
Just to illustrate....here's an article describing the 3 ways a hammer/sear interface can exist....positive / negative / neutral. MAX has "positive" angles ---> https://jovianthunderbolt.blogspot.com/2018/01/searhammer-engagement.html
With "positive" sear engagement geometry,... the hammer will always rock back a bit from it's "true" full-cocked position when pulling the trigger.

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

I'm seeing some very favorable reviews on YouTube. Even Hickok 45 said the next one he sees, he's buying.

 

[Rumrunner]

I just won an LCP Max 75th Anniversary model last night at a Friends of the NRA banquet. I hadn't even seen or held one yet. Hopefully it will replace my LCP II.

 

[bear007]

I just won an LCP Max 75th Anniversary model last night at a Friends of the NRA banquet. I hadn't even seen or held one yet. Hopefully it will replace my LCP II.

It should easily replace you LCP2. It's only a tiny bit bigger than the LCP2 and has some fair sights on it for a pocket pistol. LCP2 sights aren't much as I remember. I traded in my 2 for the max when it came out. I bought the 12 round mag 2 pack. 12+1, +12, not bad for a pocket pistol. It is my go to when I am limited to pocket carry. And as all my Rugers, it's very reliable, it shoots every time.

 

[Rumrunner]

I've already ordered a 2-pack of the 12-rounders and an extra 10-rounder from Midway.

 

[bear007]

I've already ordered a 2-pack of the 12-rounders and an extra 10-rounder from Midway.

Lol, I don't think I've used the 10 round mag since I got the 2 12 rounders. Enjoy your new LCP MAX!

 

[ImDrRich]

One of my two EDC. Awesome little gun. Accurate, too.

 

[Rumrunner]

I took mine to the range and fired 100 rounds through it. Five different loads using all 4 magazines with no problems. After one more trip to concentrate on which ammo it prefers it will replace my LCPII as a secondary EDC. My Max-9 is my first choice for EDC. I will keep my LCPII to carry when working in my garage or yard.