New LCP Max (Possible crack)

[Thepocketsand]

Hi,

I purchased a new LCP Max on Friday, and I just noticed this mark on the frame near the takedown pin. Is it a crack or just a deep scratch, and should I contact Ruger to have them repair it? If it's just a cosmetic issue I don't mind, but I don't want it to compromise the structure of the frame? Would it be fine to take it to the range tomorrow, or should I hold off and have it repaired?

Thanks.

 

[s4s4u]

Looks to be a surface scratch. I don't see anything continuing up into the slide rails. It wouldn't hurt to send a pic to the mothership and see what they have to say, but I would shoot it.

 

[NikA]

Do a penetrant test: apply generous isopropyl alcohol, wipe off and see if any weeps out of that mark. If it does, you have a crack on your hands.

 

[Thepocketsand]

Disregard.

I posted this question on a couple other forums as well, and one suggestion was to remove the FCU and check the other side to confirm it's a crack. I did and nothing was there. It is just a surface scratch. It made my heart skip a beat, as it is new and I haven't even shot t yet, but I can live with a little cosmetic scratch.

Thank you for your assistance.

 

[Fox Mike]

I could go with "surface scratch" if it was a straight line but the darker "dot' in the center and the uneven line says 'crack' to me. It doesn't need to be through and through to be a crack. Having done untold numbers of 'non destruct testing' as a Tech Inspector on helicopters I can say that many cracks look like a scratch till tested. Were it mine it would be going back to the dealer and have them contact Ruger to send it back. Your pistol; your decision.

 

[Thepocketsand]

I sent it back to Ruger, though for a different reason. I took it to the range Monday for the first time, and on the 147th round the trigger broke. It started getting sticky on the 140th round or so before finally going dead, not resetting or activating the hammer. It shot flawlessly before that. No feeding issues or anything, and the crack/scratch held up. Just this trigger issue.

The trigger bar and spring popped off of the trigger. You could actually see it bulging in the frame. Taking the fire control unit out and reassembling the trigger bar and spring solved nothing, as it would happen again after dry firing it a couple times. Something broke or was out of spec.

Ruger just received it today, but they said it could be 2-4 weeks for repair. I'm fine with that, so long as they can keep it from happening again. At least for more than 147 rounds. They do seem to have good customer service, so I'm hopeful.

 

[Fox Mike]

FYI: I just picked up my MAX and the first thing I did was look at the place where yours looked cracked. Guess what; I have the same type mark there but it is very light. I can only assume that it is a tooling mark One 'dislike ' I see is the magazine safety and the fact that it take a LOT of pressure on the extractor button to extract the magazine. I absolutely cannot press the extractor button while holding the pistol. I have to place it on a solid object the REALLY press to have it work. I have contacted Ruger. Let's see what comes of it. Not a happy camper

 

[Fox Mike]

UPDATE: Going back to the 'mother ship'. Ruger sent a letter and suggested I send it back. Took it back to the dealer and he agreed that the extractor button was unreasonably difficult to operate. He is sending it home.

 

[Tom-R2]

I sent it back to Ruger, though for a different reason. I took it to the range Monday for the first time, and on the 147th round the trigger broke. It started getting sticky on the 140th round or so before finally going dead, not resetting or activating the hammer. It shot flawlessly before that. No feeding issues or anything, and the crack/scratch held up. Just this trigger issue.

The trigger bar and spring popped off of the trigger. You could actually see it bulging in the frame. Taking the fire control unit out and reassembling the trigger bar and spring solved nothing, as it would happen again after dry firing it a couple times. Something broke or was out of spec.

=====
Mine did that a few days ago, I was shooting some rather warm handloads and the trigger spring and trigger bar appeared to disengage. I put it back together and shot some more and it seems OK. I'm certainly going to keep an eye on it.

 

[Fox Mike]

I received my MAX back and they had replaced the frame because of a very very difficult to press mag release button. I looked at the new frame and guess what...it too has a mark similar to the OPs though, I might add, I couldn't see it until I looked with a magnifying glass and bright light . The frame that came with my MAX before replacement also had a such a mark. I can only assume that it is a tooling mark of so kind.

 

[JackBull]

I received my MAX back and they had replaced the frame because of a very very difficult to press mag release button. I looked at the new frame and guess what...it too has a mark similar to the OPs though, I might add, I couldn't see it until I looked with a magnifying glass and bright light . The frame that came with my MAX before replacement also had a such a mark. I can only assume that it is a tooling mark of so kind.

Probably left over from the molding process. Plastic molds have vents to allow air to leave as the plastic is injected. These vents which are in the 0.003 inch range or smaller, enlarge over time. We would send the molds out and have them micro-welded then we would grind them to tolerances of ~0.0005 inch.