[robhic]

Checked the forum(s) for other posts but only found one about magazine drop problems. So I figured I'd go for it! :supergrin:

I bought a used LCP about a year 1/2 ago. Runs fine and hasn't given a problem with any and all types ammo ... until recently. Two weeks ago I started getting a jam in the form of a FTEject with the empty casing stuck parallel between the slide and breech face.

Drop magazine, invert and tap pistol while pulling slide and FIXED. But annoying. It had run flawlessly until then and I keep it clean and lubed. So I took it apart and pulled the extractor (what a PITA!!!) because it didn't flex real easily.

The LCP extractor is sorta like the one in the MkIII .22lr pistols so I took it, cleaned it, scraped the cavity of junk and re-assembled. Still stiff but I could hand-cycle and it worked. Took it to the range and it fired but still jammed. Not as frequently, but jammed, nonetheless.

So, any LCP owners experienced this? Could more powerful ammo make a difference? Using some reloads from a professional reloader (Freedom Munitions) which have always worked fine in the past. Any ideas? Thanks for any ideas.

 

[southernshooter]

Tried several magazines?

 

[Wishoot]

Freedom makes some great ammo IMO.

Have you tried new springs?

 

[F106 Fan]

I have an LCP and when it was new, it wouldn't always chamber a round. I fluffed and buffed the feed ramp and all has been well.

As to not ejecting, it sounds like the slide isn't going far enough back to cause the empty case to hit the extractor. I would suspect wimpy ammo. I don't care who made it!

Try something else. I use Blazer aluminum case for blasting ammo and Fiocchi Extrema XTP for SD ammo.

There is the possibility that the case is getting yanked off the extractor when it hits the casemouth of the incoming round. I think that is the problem with my G36. But that usually results in the expended case being left half way in the chamber.

The gun comes with two magazines, does the problem happen with both?

Richard

 

[robhic]

Tried several magazines?

All 3 that I have. Came with one (used) when I bought it and I got 2 more that are now 1 1/2 yrs old like the gun. Didn't check what mags (my fault) but I think all 3 gave the problem.

 

[robhic]

Freedom makes some great ammo IMO.

Have you tried new springs?

No, the mags (at least 2) are only a year and a half old. Third one came with the gun when I bought it (used) and all have only got around 400 rds through them by me. I've used other brands and a lot of new ammo but the Freedom reloads I used when it jammed were probably rounds 300+ of that 400 or so rounds. And rds 150-200 of the Freedom used.

 

[robhic]

Try something else. I use Blazer aluminum case for blasting ammo and Fiocchi Extrema XTP for SD ammo.

The gun comes with two magazines, does the problem happen with both? Richard

Problem happened with all 3 (I believe -- my fault for not noticing individual magazine) but just when I was using the Freedom Munitions ammo.

I'm gonna try some different, hotter, or at least factory ammo and see if that makes a difference. The LCP ran flawlessly up until recently and that included probably 1-200 of the Freedom rounds I had shot previously.

 

[Cheseldine]

Just send it back to ruger and let them deal with it.

 

[ithaca_deerslayer]

Either try different ammo, or put in a new recoil spring. You can also get heavier recoil springs. Try Wolff Springs.
http://www.gunsprings.com/

LCP
http://www.gunsprings.com/Semi-Auto Pistols/RUGER/LCP .380/cID1/mID52/dID422


Also could need a new extractor?

 

[robhic]

Either try different ammo, or put in a new recoil spring. You can also get heavier recoil springs. Try Wolff Springs.
http://www.gunsprings.com/

LCP
http://www.gunsprings.com/Semi-Auto Pistols/RUGER/LCP .380/cID1/mID52/dID422


Also could need a new extractor?

Extractor looks OK but you may be on to something. I'm gonna try some factory hotter ammo first. if that fixes it I'll be happy. As I said, it has run flawlessly for probably around 1000 rds and I bought it used.

If ammo doesn't fix it, I'm gonna pay more attention to which mags (something I should have already done :steamed are involved if not all 3 that I have.

If THAT doesn't fix it, I have a new set of recoil springs that I got for spares and may get used to see if that fixes things. And I can do that at the range.

 

[cbird77]

Just send it back to ruger and let them deal with it.

Yup, let them worry about it. My first LCP 2 years ago would not cycle rounds. Ruger replaced it no questions asked. Now I have the replaced LCP and the newer Gen 2 (better trigger and sights), they run great, my wife carry's one every day.

With the issue aside, the customer service from Ruger and the 2 LCP's I have shoot great with all types of ammo.

I live 20 min from Freedum and shoot alot of it as well. Great ammo.

 

[ca survivor]

I could not get a full mag out of my lcp, constantly FTF every other round.

 

[F106 Fan]

I could not get a full mag out of my lcp, constantly FTF every other round.

Mine started out the same way. A little fluff and buff of the feed ramp and all has been well. Don't take any metal off, just polish it. I used Flitz Polish and a cotton buffing wheel on a Dremel.

Richard

 

[robhic]

Yup, let them worry about it. My first LCP 2 years ago would not cycle rounds. Ruger replaced it no questions asked.

It just seems like a lot of trouble for a more-or-less minor problem. It jams once in a while. The fact that it didn't jam at all for around probably 8-900 rds after I bought it (used) makes me think it's just something that's recently popped up. Plus the fact that I was using reloaded ammo when this current problem happened makes me not so in a hurry to send it back. I'm sure Ruger would frown on that.

I'm going to try some factory ammo of a little hotter persuasion and then if not successful I am gonna change the recoil springs like Ithaca Deerslayer suggested. I already have both of these items so I want to at least try them before I go through the annoyance of mailing. But that may end up being my last effort if all else fails. :shocked:

 

[robhic]

OK, just for knowing and to not let this issue just hang...

I changed the recoil springs and no luck. Intermittent jams continued. So I tried some different and hotter types of ammo and same thing. Then hotter ammo and new recoil springs together with NO success.

So I took the errant LCP home and went over it with a flashlight. Noticed the lower corner of the extractor looked chipped and a bit rounded. AHA! It was. Must have chipped and been rounding off with use for a little while so it would pick up rounds hit or miss.

So I ordered a new extractor and will replace that sucker when it gets here. This should fix things. The gun ran flawlessly for a year and a half and only gave the FTE problem for the last 3-4 weeks so I am confident the chipped extractor is/was the problem. I feel better.... :supergrin: