Ruger LCP MAX
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This is a review of the Ruger LCP Max .380 acp pistol that I had the opportunity to test out. The gun was new, and both the owner and I experienced a
failure to feed on literally every round. We couldn't see what the issue was but when the owner called Ruger and gave them the serial number they
seemed to know what the problem was. The lady told him he could sent it in to CS or they could send him a new slide and barrel, and he chose the 2nd option.
After 2 weeks it arrived, and when he replaced the slide and barrel everything functioned fine. The gun only came with one 10 rd. magazine, but he
found a genuine Ruger magazine online for $30. The places that carried on wanted more than that. It also came with a metal lockbox and a loader tool,
because getting the last rounds in without it is difficult. It has a dot type front sight that captures or reflexes light in low light conditions,
making it easy to see in low light conditions. (tritium) The rear site is drift adjustable, and after finding that it shot to the left at distances past 10 yards regardless of which hand you used, and whether you shot it 2 handed or on the device for shooting a handgun that holds it steady while you pull the trigger, he made a very slight adjustment, which worked fine. It's not adjustable for elevation but up and down it was spot on at 10 yards for both of us.
The further out you go the lower the point of impact. IDK if that's due to the slower speed of the .380 ammo or not.
A lot of people who have an LCP 1 have issues with the trigger but I measured his LCP 1 and it had a steady pull of 6.5 lbs, while his new Max had
a extremely light pull until you get to the back of the trigger guard, then you feel resistance that broke at 8.5 lbs. Unlike the LCP 1 the Max
locks open on the last shot. He had a Hogue rubber grip sleeve on both guns, and it felt about the same amount of recoil. With the grip being
slightly wider on the max it might feel more controllable in some peoples hands than the LCP one. The Max is only slightly larger than the #1,
and easily fits in a pocket holster that is designed for it. I think he said it came with a thin cheap holster but he chose to get a good stiff
leather pocket holster that has a solid piece of leather between the holster and the pocket with the rough side out. This way you can stick it
in a front of rear pocket and the outline of the gun doesn't show, looks just like a wallet. If you have to draw it out the holster stays in the
pocket.
The trigger has a blade safety on the front like most striker fired guns, except it's actually a mostly cocked hammer fired gun. The #1 is also
a partially cocked hammer fired gun but it does not have a blade safety. Neither gun had a thumb safety. If I were going to carry it and ever
needed to reholster, I would not stick it in the holster while in the pocket. I would take out the holster, put the gun in, and then put the
whole thing in the pocket. This way the trigger is covered. And of course I wouldn't put anything else in that same pocket, even though the trigger is covered by the holster.
Although he and I were getting hits on the man shaped target out to 25 yards, the group size wasn't anything to write home or brag about shooting
2 hand unsupported.
If I were going to have to shoot this gun at a distance past 15 yards I would do much better supporting my hands, whether
it's on something like a table or trash can, etc, or in a kneeling position. At anything up to 10 yards it's fine, easily shooting 12 oz
aluminum cans filled with water. At 15 yds we shot 2 liter plastic bottles filled with water. We mostly used FMJ rounds, but we also tested
it with his carry ammo, which is HPR HP and it was reliable with those. With 11 rds in the gun and a spare mag you have 21 rounds available.
He did better than I did on the paper targets because he has a lot of experience shooting the #1, but I still did okay with it. It doesn't
recoil as bad a lightweight snub nose revolver, which I've shot in the past. Between the two of us we shot about 200 rounds over a few days.
While it's not a gun I would feel comfortable shooting a lot at any one time, or shooting at long distances, if I wanted a pocket pistol,
I think it would be a good choice, particularly if the trigger pull lightens up a little over time. The pull weight was lighter on the #1, but
then again that pistol had 1200 rounds thru it when I measured it, not brand new like the Max.