Is the Ruger LCP safe to carry with a loaded chamber????

[15AcreWoods]

My son who has a Texas CCW emailed me today saying that he has read reports that the Ruger LCP 380 will fire if dropped with a loaded chamber. Supposedly the instruction manual advised against carrying with a round chambered.

Those of you who were fortunate enough to get a LCP will you look in your manual to see if this is in fact true. I tried to find a online down load for the manual and could not.

We were both thinking about getting the LCP but this raises a flag.

I know Ruger has gone to great lengths to make their single actions safe against drops and I would think they would do the same on all their new firearms.

Some one give us some wisdom here!!!

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[JD]

Here's the link to the LCP manual.

http://www.ruger-firearms.com/Firear...Manuals/65.pdf

Stand by for a larger reply.

From pg. 31:

Firearms should be loaded only when
you are in the field or on the target
range or shooting area, ready to shoot.
Firearms and ammunition should be
securely locked in safes, racks or
cabinets, or by using the locking
device supplied with the firearm when
not in use. Ammunition should be
safely stored separate from firearms.
Store your firearms out of sight of
visitors and children. It is the gun
owner’s responsibility to be certain
that children and persons unfamiliar
with firearms cannot gain access to
firearms, ammunition, or components.

This pretty much sums up what all manuals say regarding loaded firearms.

"Don't store loaded"
"Don't transport loaded"
"if your not ready to shoot the gun at a designated firing range, keep it unloaded"

etc. etc. It's almost as if they ignore the fact that people carry these things for self defense. In almost every manual I have ever read, it's worded for "range use", and not for carry.

The LCP is safe to carry with a round in the chamber, provided that the trigger is covered while being carried, if nothing can manipulate the trigger, it shouldn't go bang. In other words, keep it holstered.

Regarding the drop, I will attach the portion from the manual, I haven't heard of any issues, but then I don't own a LCP, nor do I listen intently for issues regarding them.

Here's an attachment from the owners manual.

LCP.JPG

(click on the picture to make it bigger)

You will notice the following.

Do not load the pistol until you are ready to use it, and
unload it immediately when you have completed shooting.

And..

Use decock lever to decock
pistol before moving with pistol or when not actually
firing.

Can ANYONE show me where the decock lever on the LCP is? ANYBODY??

When the gun is being carried for self defense purposes, you are ready to use it at a moments notice.

Mainly it's just firearms manufacturers liability that keeps the wording as such.

[HowardCohodas]

I carry mine in a DeSantis Super Fly holster with one in the chamber. Modern handguns are engineered to be carried with one in the chamber. However, there is no engineering a lawyer.

[soundguy1969]

The owner's manual
http://www.ruger.com/Firearms/PDF/In...Manuals/65.pdf

If dropped or struck, the pistol may fire. Keep chamber
empty unless actually firing! Use decock lever to decock
pistol before moving with pistol or when not actually
firing.
For maximum safety when carrying the pistol with a
loaded magazine in place, the chamber should be empty,
the slide should be closed. If placed into a holster,
check it to be sure that the slide is not retracted far
enough to either chamber a cartridge from the magazine

[ranburr]

Carry it fully loaded or not at all.

ranburr

[Kevin]

Carry it fully loaded or not at all.

ranburr

you can't say it any clearer than that! Otherwise it's just a paperweight in your pocket...

[JonInNY]

Can ANYONE show me where the decock lever on the LCP is? ANYBODY??

I have the LCP. There is no decock lever. The gun is always ready to fire if there's at least one in the chamber. I carry mine fully loaded and ready (6+1), at all times.

The trigger takes a fairly good squeeze to get a round off, and since it's always double action, there's no chance that it will fire without that good pull.

I don't want to test this, but since the LCP is double action, I believe the firing pin does not have enough energy to fire the gun, even if dropped. It needs that travel distance to get the pin to hit with enough force.

If anyone else wants to elaborate on this, that would be great!

[mr surveyor]

since it's so close to the KT P3AT, which I do have experience with, I'm gonna guess at what the de-cock lever is...


the TRIGGER...


surv

[maclean3]

Sounds like they just copied the decock lever statement from the P series manual. I guess a proof reader would've been a good idea before going to press.
Jack

[mtcraigco]

Carry it fully loaded or not at all.

ranburr

Yep, +10

It's no more dangerous to carry with one in the chamber than to carry a (modern) revolver with one under the hammer

As a side note, we will be coming out with a holster spefically tailored to the new LCP, we'll probably call it the MiniClip.

Look for it to be available before the end of July.

[HowardCohodas]

As a side note, we will be coming out with a holster spefically tailored to the new LCP, we'll probably call it the MiniClip.

And don't forget those of us who will be adding a Crimson Trace Laser.

[preachertim]

if you ever pulled the trigger on an LCP you would nt worry about carrying it with one in the pipe. It is a long pull. On another note my Kahr cw40 works the same way. no safety, but i knew that when i got them

[ccw9mm]

if you ever pulled the trigger on an LCP you would nt worry about carrying it with one in the pipe.

The concern is not over unintended movement of the trigger, though hanging up on a reholster is a slight risk, as with the Glock or similar. The concern is over dropping causing the firing pin to strike the primer.

I've carried the KelTec P3AT. One up the pipe, holstered. Unsafe if dropped? Perhaps, but then I don't plan on dropping it. Weak, but there it is. I view my need to have that first round in a fight as being far more important as the need to pray if dropped.

[mtcraigco]

And don't forget those of us who will be adding a Crimson Trace Laser.

Already in the works.

I don't plan on dropping it. Weak, but there it is. I view my need to have that first round in a fight as being far more important as the need to pray if dropped.

The "safety" between your ears is the only one that really counts.

[Hivoltage]

I dont see how it could fire if dropped. It is not cocked until the trigger gets pulled is it? The hammer I mean.