Ruger LCP Max 380 Review & Accuracy

In the word of pocket concealed carry handguns, the Ruger LCP is not a new name to most. But a lot has changed with this little pistol since 2008 and with the release of the 10-round max version, Ruger may have finally created what many now consider the best pocket-carry handgun on the market today and in this video we discuss why...

RELATED VIDEOS:
Glock 42 Review:    • Glock 43 vs 42 - Which One Is Better?  
S&W 442 Review:    • Smith & Wesson Model 442 Review | Acc...  

Ruger started producing their original LCP I back in 2008 and at the time, many people including myself had to get one. The pistol hit the news a few years later in 2010 when then Texas Governor Rick Perry famously shot a coyote with his LCP while out jogging – which TRIGGERED many people in the press – no pun intended.
Ruger evolved the pistol to the LCP II variant in 2016 with a number of upgrades including a locking slide on empty, a slightly wider grip, making it easier to rack the slide, and a better trigger - using the same standard LCP 6 round magazines and minimalist sights.
In 2021, Ruger upped the ante with the release of the LCP Max series which now includes a 10-round standard double-stack magazine, improved magazine feed lips, extractor, slide serrations, reversable mag release button, and most notably a new tritium front night sight with white outline and U-shaped rear sight with a flat front face for one-handed cocking. Both sights are dovetail mounted for drift adjustments and upgrades.
The new MAX is the reason why many people DON’T want to buy the first releases of new pistols and would rather wait for when they get it right. And in my opinion, they got it right with the Max. It is nearly the same size as the LCP II, only weighs half an once more, and can hold 10 rounds instead of 6 – or 12 with the extended mags. For most people, the LCP and LCP II were small in the hand and the slightly wider grip not only adds more rounds but is simply easier to control for most shooters.
The LCP MAX is chambered in 380 ACP which is basically a shorter and weaker version of the 9mm and a round I would best describe as a fire and flee round. If you want to drop and kill what is coming after you, then this should NOT be your first choice of rounds. This is purely a self-defense round and I for one would be much more comfortable with 10 of these in the LCP than 6 if I would ever need to use it. The best part of the LCP platform is the weight and concealability. Fully loaded the LCP Max comes in at 14 ounces (less than a pound!) – so it will NOT weigh you or your pocket down. It is also small enough to fit in nearly any pocket and after a short time you will likely forget that it is even there. Mine also came with a soft pocket holster and a nice little reloader that will help save your fingers. The LCP currently ships with ONLY one 10-round magazine - so I suggest you pick up at least one more or buy one of these 12 round magazines instead – that way you have at least one for carry and one for practice and/or backup. Despite the vastly improved sights on the MAX, this is not a target pistol. Most encounters with a little pistol this will likely be at very close range and will be a point and shoot rapid-action scenario which means - even though the sights could help, they will likely not be needed. But just in case they are, they do work well and as you can see from my targets here which I fired free-hand at rapid succession at 7 years, this group works for me – and having 10 rounds helps my odds of hitting the right place in a hurry.
Trigger pull (Lyman Guage): 5 lb, 5oz. It should also be noted that despite its looks, this is NOT a stryker fire action but an internal hammer fired system. This means that if you half-cock the actions nothing will happen – the easiest way to see if the action is fully cocked is to look at the rear of the slide to see if the hammer is fully back (show example).
OVERALL IMPRESSIONS
As previously mentioned, like many others - I bought the original LCP when it came out – and I ended up hating it and getting rid of it. But most of the things I disliked about the original LCP seem to have been addressed with the LCP MAX and this is finally a pocket carry gun I can confidently now carry without reservations. Is it perfect? No. But no handgun is. All handguns are a compromise between utility and effectiveness. There are more powerful and better carry handguns, many of which I have reviewed on this channel. But if I don’t end up carrying them, then the only thing really safe is my safe where it sits. The LCP Max is in my opinion one of the best carry COMPROMISE guns currently on the market today and if you find yourself NOT carrying because of your current pistol’s size and weight - or if you simply don’t mind having an extra pound in your purse or pocket, then take a look at the LCP MAX - it might be exactly what you need.