In 2008, Ruger released one of their most popular handguns in the sub-compact, .380-chambered LCP, short for “Lightweight Compact Pistol” (an accurate, if uninspired name).
The original, first-gen Ruger LCP debuted at the 2008 SHOT Show and very quickly became one of Ruger’s most popular pistols.
As confidence in the .380 round increased and Ruger’s little pop-gun sold like hotcakes, they actually updated the original in 2013 with a slightly shorter trigger-pull and some better sights, while also releasing a seven round extended mag that mag that made it a little easier to get a grip on the gun.
These changes dramatically improved the shootability of the gun and helped Ruger move even more of these pint-sized pocket guns.
Now, Ruger releases the updated LCP II, an upgraded and improved version of the gun that defined the pocket pistol.
The question is, are those changes worth upgrading for?
I carried it for about six months last year (basically what we call “summer” here in Georgia) to find out.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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The Case For a Pocket Pistol
So, all my fellow Southerners should understand my desire for a small, lightweight carry gun that can easily be hidden away under a t-shirt.
I don’t lose sleep over the occasional printing issue with my Glock 19, rare as those instances are.
However, I don’t love advertising the fact that I’m carrying a gun. I very much follow the same philosophy my buddy Travis outlines in his gray man article. The only people that should know I’m carrying are me, and my family.
Despite this, I’ve carried some big guns like a Beretta 92fs, full-size 1911’s, and other things in that range.
That being said, I’ve also left those guns in my glovebox, or even at home entirely, and gone out without a gun at all because it’s hot and I’m wearing light clothing, or because I just don’t feel like carrying a heavy gun around.
Enter the pocket pistol.
The Ruger LC9, S&W Bodyguard, Glock 42/43, and of course the Ruger LCP and LCP II are all fantastic options for a gun that’s svelte enough to just slip into a pocket or tuck into a waistband and forget about until you need it.
There are of course other options from Kahr, Colt, Remington, Beretta…everybody makes a pocket pistol basically, but these are some of the most popular.
I personally own a 43, LC9s, and of course the LCP II.
I’m really fond of the ability to just slip a holstered gun into a pocket and not worry about it printing or dragging my pants down. I own probably way too many other options for carry, but I very often find myself coming back to my smaller choices.
For this gun, I actually carried it in the factory pocket holster for a while before I got this IWB holster from Concealment Express ($34.95).
As far as stopping power, it’s important to remember that a .380 has about 70% of the same power as a .38 Special round fired from the same length barrel.
Modern 9mm rounds are as powerful now as .45 ACP ammo from the 80’s. Yes, there’s always something to be said for firing a bullet with more meat to it. And yes…we’ve also covered .380 vs 9mm.
However, a larger caliber generally means a larger gun, which is harder to conceal, but easier to shoot.
The Ruger LCP II
So, what about the LCP II? Well, like the original it’s a locked-breech, single-stack, hammer-fired .380. Somewhat surprisingly, the updated version is actually 1/8th of an inch wider than its predecessor, but make no mistake.
This is still a small gun.
The LCP is still smaller than its stiffest competitor, the Glock 43 as you can see below.
The new model comes equipped with a much better than the aggressively mediocre bang switch in the original LCP, and it also has a more heavily textured grip that helps control the snappy yet still fairly tame recoil. This is one area where the .380 shines over a similarly sized 9mm.
Even the best shooters can struggle to quickly shoot a hot 9mm round out of such a small gun. The .380 chambering makes follow-up shots and rapid fire a much easier prospect with this gun.
Unlike a lot of other pocket pistols, the LCP II is really a joy to practice with. It shoots well, the new sights are a massive improvement over the original’s, and the extra width really makes the gun easier to grip if you have a fairly large palm like I do.
Shooting the LCP II
So, all that being said? How does it shoot?
All in all: pretty well.
Now, I’m no Jerry Miculek. I’m not out here shooting this thing upside down and clanking steel at 100 yards. For my purposes, this is a 7-10 yard gun. Most self-defense engagements are going to be at close range, and over quickly. This is not a gun you carry into battle (not as a primary weapon anyway).
I’m also not John Wick (though I did get to interview the guy who trained him). I’m not going to be testing this gun the way I would a competition gun, running it through a practice stage.
So, using this bad boy at its preferred distance, how does it do?
Pretty freaking well.
Honestly, much better than I expected. I was able to get groups averaging around one inch at 7 yards, and good center mass groups all the way out to 20 yards, which is honestly waaaaay farther than I’d want to stretch a .380 in this form factor in real life.
The gun is mechanically very accurate.
Maybe it’s the uptick in my shooting over the past few years that’s just made me better, but I think this might actually be the best-shooting .380 I’ve ever had my hands on.
Realistically, at the ranges you’re likely to need it at, this gun is probably more accurate than it needs to be. It’s just going to come down to the shooter.
The sight radius is of course very short given its size, but Ruger has wisely designed their sights to be very usable with a relatively narrow front post and wide rear notch that allows plenty of light in on either side of that front sight.
I’d like to see at least a different colored front, or maybe a three dot setup rather than the all black sights, but that’s easily remedied with some aftermarket options or even just some paint on that front post.
Target sights these are not. I’m very glad to see that Ruger has put more combat-oriented sights on this, but I’d really like to see a differentially colored front post that would make finding that front sight a little easier when drawing and shooting quickly.
The gun, in my hand at least, points surprisingly well with a grip angle that reminds me a lot of the Smith and Wesson M&P series.
I’d be more than comfortable point shooting it, especially if it had a nice bright front post (this is my main hangup with a stock LCP, honestly). I’d recommend holding one before you buy though, as the way a gun like this fits your hand is going to be one of the most important considerations.
Reliability
A long reliability section in a review of a defensive firearm is a bad sign.
Ideally, there shouldn’t be much to say, which is the case here. A defensive firearm like this absolutely has to go bang everytime you squeeze the trigger with a round chambered.
That should be your main concern. Fortunately, most modern firearms with a defensive focus are going to go bang on the first shot, which is often the most important shot.
The real deciding factor is going to be the geometry of the feed ramps, the design of the extractor, and the other things that contribute to the way the firearm feeds that second round, third round and so on. So, judging it by that criteria, how does it do?
Really freaking well.
I fed this little thing everything from bargain basement steel-cased ammo to high-end defensive ammo and I didn’t have a single failure to feed, or failure to extract. I didn’t have any light strikes or other more serious failure to fire issues either. Altogether, I’d say this gun, if adequately maintained, will go bang when you need it to.
Ergonomics
You can’t judge the ergonomics a pocket pistol like this against something like a competition G34 or 2011 that’s been tuned to be as shootable as possible.
The goal here is a firearm that is concealable first. Everything about this firearm is intended to make it easier to tuck away somewhere on your person, so in that respect it does really well.
The other way we can judge it is how well it stacks up to other pocket pistols in this category.
That being said, I think the LCP II is a really good example of just how shootable a pocket pistol can be.
I like the aggressive skateboard-tape-type grip texture. I like the new cocking serrations that help your grip the thing slide better in a high-stress situation. I like the changes to the sight from the channel of the first version to a more traditional notch and post (even if the all black kills me).
I’m glad that the serrations are there too for those older shooters, or shooters with less grip strength in general that might struggle to grip and rack the slide on such a small gun.
I think too often we get guns that are designed to be run the way a competitor, MIL/LEO, or other trained shooter with a few thousand rounds behind similar guns would run them, so seeing a gun designed to be as easy to use as it can be is nice.
The grip itself is a two finger grip, three with the extended mag that lets you get a pinky in on the action as well and for me, being a relatively big dude, I can suuuuuper easily conceal the gun with the extended mag, so I’d definitely say it’s worth it. Being able to get a full grip on a gun like this is huge as far as shootability goes.
Ruger LCP II w/ Laser Gun Deals
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By the Numbers
Ergonomics 4 / 5
Judging it against other weapons of this size, it’s actually very good. Extremely comfortable to hold. However, it’s still a pocket gun and as such its way less comfortable than a full-size or even compact weapon like a Glock 19.
Accuracy 4 / 5
The gun is mechanically about as accurate as a gun this size can be, but I would like to see a higher contrast front sight.
Reliability 5 / 5
I didn’t experience a single issue in several hundred rounds, or in an actual life-threatening scenario. I have no complaints, and haven’t heard of anyone else having any issues either.
Customization 3 / 5
This is one of the gun’s weaker areas, but as time goes on we are seeing more and more trigger options and holster choices. I’m also impressed with the number of aftermarket sight options.
Looks 4 / 5
It’s pretty smooth, I like the lines, but…something about the grip bugs me. More of… something, would be good. Really, some smoother styling would be good.
Price 4 / 5
I’ve seen them on sale for under $300.
Overall 4 / 5
Conclusion
The Ruger LCP II is a fantastic option for people looking for an easily concealed .380 ACP pistol. It is surprisingly accurate, considering its size, and plenty reliable for self-defense. One thing we’d like to see is better customization options. All in all, we really like this gun.
I carried it off and on for a while, I’ve shot it a ton, and I even used it to dispatch a particularly aggressive copperhead while walking my dog around the pond at the old family homestead. I’m absolutely confident in this guns ability to put rounds where they need to go in a defensive situation.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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It also just disappears into a pocket, or in a waistband, and is a good candidate for alternate carry options like garter holsters and the like (just not the Lethal Lace) holster (Best Concealed Carry Holsters). I really think Ruger has hit it out of the park with this one, and the insane number of units they’ve moved seems to back that up.
What do you think of the Ruger LCP and pocket pistols in general? Or looking for other .380’s? Check out our Top 5 Pocket Pistols article.
If you own a Ruger LCP II, help us out by leaving a review below!
Rating score
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I have had an LC9S for 3 or 4 years now. Hundreds of rounds through it with no problems. Cheap ammo to top shelf. I have several other CC choices.... This is my go to carry pistol! Practice sessions, low recoil, quick follow up shots, 20 to 30 yard gun with control. Under 10 yards, with practice, point shoot and hit. Factory sights could be better, but I now know this gun, (you gotta pick one, learn it, and have trust in it!) and it is my choice to carry. Fits in my pocket, and it is always there. How do I like it? I'm betting my life on it! Just sayin!!
I love Ruger revolvers. My favorite is the gp100, 357 mag. Awesome! Semi’s are a different story. Only Sigs will do, I love my “365” 9mm. I think the 12 round mag. Is too stiff. I load 11+1 in the chamber. Just my opine.
BIG x Ruger fan / instructor. Bought an LCP 2 a year ago and it jammed with 3 types of ammo. Called Ruger Service dept. to report quality control problems with trigger and hammer springs, cheap breakable take down pin, and constant jamming. She offered to repair it with UNRELIABLE Ruger parts only which means that it would still be an unreliable piece of useless crap. If you don't mind spending another $60 in parts PLUS labor then buy it. Other wise you can carry it in your ass because thats where crap like that belongs.
I have two of them ever have been a problem don’t be snarky
X2 sir. Never ever… Seriously.
I have ran hollowpoint Fmj never a problem with it, Accurate not really but it’s not intended to be a long range gun Think about Max 20 feet it works fine I have the first model it works even better for me shit sites but it runs flawlessly. I love the damn little thing
Pretty easy to limp wrist with this little thing just saying
Ruger has a redesigned slide assembly to solve the extractor-going-missing problem.
Good post. I purchased an LCP about three weeks ago. So far, am disappointed. I’m a big Ruger fan, having numerous Blackhawks in my collection and love them all. This little gun, while it’s fun to shoot, has a nasty habit of jamming. Have tried two different ammo makes, and tried just six in the Mag, instead of one in the chamber and six in the mag. Makes no difference- jam city. Jams up every other shot, every third shot- whatever. Have fired 100 rounds now, hoping it just needed a little break in period. It’s only fired one six round magazine with no mishaps. Unacceptable. Any idea out there of what’s the problem, or is there his a send back and let Ruger deal with it gun?????? Thank you!
bought gun yesterday, gun would not do anything, took back to dealer, he polished the ramp and something to the ejection system. He said it still wasn't right, so he sent it back to Ruger. 1-4-23
I have the lcp2 with wide mouth ammo it will jam up with hornaday
Self defence or winchestr white box
No problem
Is anyone else who owns one of these having an issue where the slide doesn't always lock back with an empty magazine? A quick Google search suggests it's a break in problem (I only have a few hundred rounds through the gun), but it's still frustrating. Other than that I really like how the gun feels and shoots.
the slide on my ruger380 is extremely hard to pull back. what can be done to lessen the tension for easier chambering.
I installed the Talon Slide Grip on my hard-to-rack LCP ($9.99 at Talon), and it
makes a HUGE difference. My wife can now rack it.
I've put a couple thousand rounds through mine with no problems. A lot of reviewers complain about the sights being difficult to see. It took me less than a minute to paint the front sight Hi-Vis orange to solve the problem.
The LCP 2 is the perfect form and size for it’s intended purpose, it’s also very accurate. Unfortunately it isn’t reliable or durable. After 2000 rds fired and three trips back to Ruger the best reliability I ever got was 358 rounds before something would break or wear out. Luckily Ruger took pity on me and offered to replace it with a different model gun of my choosing. I really wanted the thing to work, but Ruger didn’t get the design/application right on this one. I Definitely advise against using it for carry or self defense.
You cannot condemn an entire line of any product based on a sampling of ONE.
I own a LCP 2 and am really happy with it. It fits in the pocket of my shorts which is great for Florida weather. At the range, it hits the target where I aim it at 6-7 yards. Works as advertised I am happy
i order a lcp ruger more the n a month ago have talked to about three sales people said they would check see what was going on call me back i said if any question please let me know you was sent email the license losie's gun shop oneonta ny13820
I clicked on the recommended IWB Holster from Concealment Express that went to Amazon. The Q & A in the listing states it's definitely NOT for the LCP II? I'd like to buy based on your recommendation for carry but is it the correct holster for the LCPII?
Weird. I just clicked on it and the title is Concealment Express IWB KYDEX Holster fits Ruger LCP II | Right | Black
My LCP II has had to go back to Ruger TWICE for repairs. The first time was for an extractor that was ejected from the pistol while I was shooting at the range. The second time was for errors which resulted from the repair trip for the extractor: (1) magazine would drop out after every shot; (2) slide would hold open after the last shot only half the time; (3) when it did hold open, dropping the mag would cause the slide to go forward; (4) expended shells would fly over or hit my head half the time; (5) frequent failures to feed and failures to extract. These problems were repaired by Ruger. Ruger customer service is superb. They are courteous, concerned, thorough, helpful, and very quick at getting repairs done and the pistol back to the owner.
I own both the LCP and LCPII in .380 and value both for everyday carry. I've found them to be easy to shoot accurately at the distances for which they are intended and absolutely dependable.
I own 2 lcp 2 380 pistols with 400 rounds through both to test for reliability and they eat everything with no failures.i can raphid fire at 25 yards and have all 7 rounds on a fist size group on an 8" plate and ring a 10" gong at 100 yards so very accurate with a nice trigger.i used nail polish and painted my sights white.
BS... Rapid fire at 25 yards into a fist sized group, Yea right.
The LCP II is a blocky turd that is bigger (slightly but still bigger) and is as smooth as a gravel pit. The LCP was one of the top, if not THE greatest, personal carry pistols ever. The design was so sleek and made for your hand. To top it off they are a lot cheaper now at around 200 dollars when they were about 350 new in 2008. Guess how much the LCPII is. Right around 300 if you are lucky usually a bit more. The designer of the LCP was real artist, the designer of the LCPII should be fired. There is no question someone else designed the 2nd it is just too horrible.
I carry my Ruger LCP II w/intigrated Viridian laser everywhere legal, all the time.
One important note: it does NOT cycle flat nosed rounds well, at all, and I will never load anything but a round with a parabolic tip in it. My JHP rounds have a parabolic tip and also are polymer filled.
No flat tip rounds in the LCP II, EVER!
Mine loves flat nose done put over 400 through it with no problems and I own 2 of the lcp 2 pistol
I bought the LCP II never having fired a gun in 40 YEARS for personal protection. I had feeding problems till I figured out it needs a bit of oil around the feed ramp. This gal eats any thing as much as you feed it. I got 6 mags of 6 and did 300 rds in one sitting.no sweat. Properly cleaned and oiled I think she would do 1000 without a problem except your hand.
Gun jammed out of the box and New and the magazine release sticks prevent spangling from being inserted into weapon poor quality built weapon poor workmanship poor performance would not recommend this weapon
I’ve owned the unofficial generation two of the LCP for a little over a year now and never had any kind of failure with any ammo in over 300 rounds of fmj & self defense hp. I painted the front sight and added a Hogue slip on rubber grip. The only problem is the mag has popped out while in the supplied pocket holster about four times. I have found a polymer pocket holster that covers the mag button and that seems to have solved that problem. The little gun is accurate out to 7 yards. I carry it w/ a factory 7 round mag backed up by a factory 6 round mag in my off pocket, giving me 13 rounds in a small-light package.. I’m a retired cop/senior citien whose orbits are pretty tame so my LCP is all I need and doubt I’d upgrade to the LCPII.
The LCPll is one of the most over rated firearms made. Aluminum chassis that is full of failures that eventually lead to cracks in the frame, grip and split rails. Pathetic sights, no ability for night sights, The idea of a such a light short trigger on a pocket gun is ridiculous. Only for those that do not shoot often and treat the gun like a target gun. The LCP's have the worst recoil and a horrible snappy muzzle flip. There are much better quality guns out there. The Pico for instance is one of the most mild mannered little guns made, so is the Khar and Sigs. The Pico is all stainless, and extremely durable, great sights, ability to add night sights, modular design, etc. The Kahr is stainless chassis as well, nice sights, and they use steel inserts in the chassis and frame at the stress points. And again both guns super mild to shoot and little muzzle flip.
The LCP's come with a whole list of problems. Log on to the Ruger forums and do a search of Problems and malfunctions and you will see hundreds.
The LCP is a mass produced, gun sold by the millions. Nothing about them is top notch. For a real review and comparison, break each one down and compare all the parts. Huge difference.
I just purchased my 4th LCP. I have 2 of the originals and 2 LCP2’s. Love them all. Especially theLCP2’s! I have nearly 1,400 rounds through one of them and it eats anything I feed it, no problems. And I shoot them more accurately than any of my Glocks to include the 43! Wonderful little pocket guns that go bang every time! Everbody I know that has one likes it!
Pfft. I have over 5000 rounds each through 3 LCP2s, not a single issue whatsoever.
I have to ask, have you fired one enough to bring about all.of those chassis failures and frame cracks . Ive only got about 1100 rounds through mine but so far no cracks. Im also kindnof happy with the trigger considering that the lcp trigger was total crap. Anyway, sounds likenyou're just parroting and have no idea what you're talking about.
I didn't see that you ever answered your initial question - is it worth upgrading from either the original LCP or the LCP custom?
RE: Matthew Collins' Jan. 11, 2018, Ruger LCP II Review: just what does "...an agressively mediocre bang switch in the original LCP" mean? I haven got a clue.
The trigger in the original LCP is very average, maybe even a little on the poor side, even for a defensive gun. The new one is world's better.
I shoot the LCP II. I agree with all that it is snappy, but can any other micro say it isn’t? I also note that beyond 30 feet accuracy begins to fade noticeably. Again,my same question. I’ve noted a great trigger, superb concealability, and flawless reliability with several brands of FMJ and JHP rounds. Add the price tag and the LCP II ISIS really hard to beat in its class.
I strongly disagree with the reliability portion of this review. There are too many issues with reliability to ignore. Misfeeds, bad extractors, touchy magazine seating (sitting too high) etc. Too many returns to the repair shop without fixes. I purchased a Sig P238 to replace this item and have never had a problem.
I have the original LCP which I've carried for years concealed openly with a Sneaky Pete holster.. I think it's the best holster out there. I used sight paint to make the sights pop, and Talon grips for better hold. With these two upgrades for a total of about $30 this gun shoots perfectly..
Great little gun. I carry with Lehigh Defense Xtreme Penetrator ammo. And you can fix the front sight with a glue on Nitesiter luminescent white dot. Cheap, easy, and makes a huge difference. Another great upgrade is the Hogue Handall grip sleeve. Fills your hand and doesn't all much bulk at all. Both upgrades for about $20 and it's money well spent
Perhaps the biggest difference is the LCP has a double action trigger, whereas the LCP II has a single action trigger.
Yes, a nice write-up. But I have to agree with Justin that the LCP II is literally a pain to shoot. My 238 and PPK are much easier but also much heavier. Guess what I carry the most? The LCP II. I don't mind the snappiness at practice when I realize just how easy it is to carry. After all, I don't think any of us will notice the pain in our hand if we ever really need to use it. But it's no fun to train with. Still, for me its a great size that just disappears in a jacket pocket. I much prefer shoulder holstering my PPK or a small 9 like the PPS, 43, etc. but that's not always practical. Let's face it, no one gun will fit all our needs in carrying, but for pocket carry, the Ruger is a real keeper. (BTW, the caption under the first photo of the two Rugers should really be "Ruger LCP Custom and LCP II" so people less familiar with the line will know.)
And, oh yeah, I really like the site. Especially the logo.
Thanks for your viewpoint too, John! And glad you like the site!
Thanks for the write up Megan! Lots of good info but I have to disagree about the ergonomics with the LCP II.
Just to give readers an alternate view, I've owned one for about 5 months now and while it carries really nicely, it's a bit of a pain to shoot. The boxiness of the frame, particularly in the grip area, makes it uncomfortable to train with. Obviously one won't be shooting off more than one or two mags in a self-defense situation, but it's something to keep in mind. I recommend that people compare it with other similarly sized pistols, in particular the Glock 43 and the Sig P238.
Hi Justin, thanks for writing about your experience, great to hear all sides.