The Ruger LCP 380 is a popular handgun model which managed to become a classic although it was launched by Ruger as recently as 2008. Enjoying constantly high ratings in owner feedback polls, the Ruger 380 is the ideal piece to own for many firearm enthusiasts. Still, in spite of its generally favourable reviews, the gun lacks some of the features required to make it available for sale in California and Massachusetts, although subsequent improved models have been released in an effort to improve the original Ruger LCP model. If you haven’t managed to catch up with any Ruger LCP handgun reviews, or you’d simply like to hear another point of view over it, we’d be happy to fill you in the next overview of this handgun model.

The Ruger LCP 380 Handgun Specs and Features

As previously mentioned, the Ruger LCP was initially announced in 2008 by Sturm, Ruger, at the then edition of the SHOT Show. The LCP initials stand for ‘Lightweight Compact Pistol’ and this .380 pocket gun did indeed distinguish itself by its ultra-light weight and sleek design. Actually, it can be argued that the entire reason for the LCP design was precisely the need to respond to consumer’s concealed carry needs, by offering them a reliable but very compact handgun. Below are the main features and specs of the Ruger 380:

• Ultra-light weight (the exact weight depends on the precise model of Ruger LCP 380 you’ll be choosing, but you can expect it to be negligible);
• Very compact and pocketable: the Ruger LCP is 5.16’’ long and 3.60’’ tall, with a design meant to fit a wide variety and different brands of holsters, as well as offer multiple concealed carry options;
• The 380 may be small, but it’s very sturdy: its rugged construction contains through-hardened alloy steel or a stainless steel slide (depending on the exact model);
• The pocket pistol’s frame is one piece, black, high performance, made of glass-filled nylon (for better security and resistance);
• Firm grip: the LCP from Ruger comes with a checkered grip for greater comfort and security;
• Integral slides: The Ruger 380 handgun comes with fixed front and rear sides and you’ll discover upon further inspection to be integral to the slide, while the hammer functions differently, being recessed within the slide.
• Sturdy barrel: the 380’s barrel is made of blued alloy steel; the barrel length is 2.75’’;
• Comes with a 6 piece round (making its total capacity 6+1), and a soft case to protect it from scratches;
• The sights are good: black rear and photoluminscent front;
• You can find the Ruger LCP 380 Auto in multiple colors besides the black default (including ‘lady colors’ like pink or purple, as well as multi-colored or teal), but these are only available from selected distributors (like Bill Hick’s or Talo).
• The price of this LCP from Ruger can vary from $250 to $450, depending on the exact version, specs, color and so on. There are also plenty of accessories available for this Ruger pistol, including concealed carry holsters and belts, usually priced at around $20-$30. While the gun is only available from selected and certified distributors (or directly from the manufacturer), the accessories can be bought from mostly anywhere, including from major portals like Amazon.

Pros of the Ruger LCP 380 Handgun:

• It all depends on what handgun reviews you are reading, but some LCP reviews tended to be less favorable if they were discussing the old versions of the gun (2008 and 2009), while new reviews for the recent Ruger 380 models are much more praising on the gun’s capabilities and usefulness.
• Comfortable to wear, carry (in a concealed carry holster or belt), and use. Since Ruger updated the design on its newer models, the shooting of this pocket gun has also gotten much easier (there had been some recoil issues reported before).
• Lightweight and suitable for civilians with minimum training in gun shooting.
• Very suitable grip length (which reportedly older LCP models didn’t have), for extra comfort and safety.
• Very fit for self-defense (it was probably created with this purpose first and foremost in mind, anyway). Both the sleek design & size, and the ease of use &carry contribute to make the 380 an ideal choice for users interested in self-defense.
• The main in-brand competition for this gun is the Ruger LCP 9mm, but both users’ reviews and experts analysis tend to favor the Ruger LCP 380 as better than its LCP 9mm counterpart.

Cons of the Ruger LCP 380 Handgun:

• Some Ruger LCP 380 handgun reviews complained of the gun having a trigger with a too big length of travel, making it difficult for the average user to keep their hands on the pistol during recoil. Still, this not-so-great feature has reportedly been fixed by the manufacturer since, and new generations of the 380 don’t have this problem anymore (if they’re fabricated after 2009).

Our Final Verdict:

If you were among the owners of the older LCP models and weren’t very happy with your purchase, you wouldn’t be the only one feeling a bit discontent. On the other hand, the owners of newer models of this pocket pistol seem perfectly content with its high performance and sleek, concealable size. The gun seems to be design just the way everyone wanted. So if you too are looking for a gun suitable for self-defense, look no further: the Ruger LCP 380 is just what you need (provided that the model you get is a new one, made in 2010 and up).