This was posted on 4-23 as "Probable Trigger Bar Failure". After 250 flawless rds, the trigger started frequently going all the way to the rear of the trigger guard and the hammer would not drop. Now "Probable" is "For certain." Initially, the trigger bar would move to the right until it contacted the grip. This means that only about half, or .025 in. of the hammer axis is inside the rear of the trigger bar. I first saw this on a P3AT of mine and it failed. When I saw it on the LCP, guess what, it failed.

Tx: You didn't say I told you so,(Ha). No Mod, S/N 006XX. Test fired 4-2. Dealer got 4-15. Musta been on a repair table for something and not with the rest of the production group?? Ask me how many more I'm gonna buy!

I may have read too superficially, but most of the issues I have seen have been of the nit-picky variety,i.e. ass'y pin works it's way out, burr on mag catch so you have to depress the mag release to put the mag in. A few failure to feed--usually fixed by feed ramp polishing. The"peening" under the extractor that is aggravated because this area jut about 1/16" further forward than on the P3. Basically the LCP is a 3rd Gen P3, ejector becomes a slide lock, trigger pin goes in from the top, the hammer travels in a long tunnel, some grip revision. The fit and finish are more attractive, and the interior machining marks are less pronounced. I think Ruger is in a new world, however. The trigger bar system is weak, no matter who builds it.After disassembly, I'm surprised either works well. I had to "pull teeth" to get to talk to anyone knowledgeable a couple of weeks ago. "The repair technician was out to lunch" Only one? I did talk to Mr Cramer, the Cust Ser Mgr, who has good credentials for a management type. He assured me the trigger bar wouldn't come off. Personally the nicer appearing grip does more for appearance than function.I view the LCP as a 3rd gen. P3AT and anyone thinking they are going to get a maintenance free high volume range gun for under $300 is deluded. Yes, rj, I am aware that you are having an endurance test. Tx, I think your analysis is reasonable and accurate.

The issues cropping up with the LCP is why I prefer my P32 to the P3 AT. It may be that 380 ACP is just too much for such a small design. The 32 ACP is more forgiving.
 
TX,
 
The LCP was pushed as "built like a tank" and "its a Ruger" when the gun was launched over on Downrange TV by Michael Bane. I think many fell for this advertising hype and believed Bane (even tho Ruger is a sponsor and was no doubt paying for those podcasts, etc) when he said the gun "was built like a tank" even tho he is in effect a Ruger employee. Interestingly, even tho issues with the LCP have been reported frequently on rugerforum.com the Ruger fan club hasn't dissed the gun the way some diss the P3 AT. I find that an interesting comment on people.

I agree with nicneufeld...the 32naa would interest me.  

380 in your pocket beats a 45 in your truck any day.  
 
                 Steve

Quote from Mnog on 05/06/08 at 16:11:02:

 
Those of us who have chosen the P32 for the most part have given careful consideration. The Evan Marshall data on One Shot Stops shows the 32 ACP Silvertip and the 380 Silvertip and Hydra Shok to be pretty darn close to one another in effectiveness. Now, there are all kinds of problems with Marshall's data. You have to read it and think things thru and come to your own conclusion. My personal assessment is I prefer the P32 over the P3 AT because of a perceived enhanced reliabilty factor on my part. Nor do I feel I've given up much between the two cartridges.
 
There is a wealth of data out there on 9mm that shows today's loads such as Gold Dot 124 +P rival tha fabled 45 in effectiveness. Truth is the 9 has something all over the 40 & 45 and that's the ability to shoot faster and more accurately than with a 40/45. There is a great deal of mytholgy and personal bias in peoples choices of cartridges for SD. I have sorted thru the data and made what I feel to be reasonable choices.
 
ETA:  Also keep in mind the One Shot Stop is not to be counted on. If you dig around in the literature enuff you will find that multiple shots are probably the norm. What's more, you will find plenty of example of BGs shot in a vital area with one of the mythological cartridges like 45 who kept on doing bad things. I believe it was Cooper who said, "if it's worth shooting once it's worth shooting twice". I practice the double tap and intend to keep shooting until the BG ceases and desists.

Anyone interested in the original topic? Ruger "LCP Trigger Bar Failure." When I made my last post, I regreted it later before the response, because I knew it would bring cliches, scientific wild assed guesses, arguments, opionion, speculation, etc. Now if you are protecting yourself from a ballistics table, a block of gelatin, a jug full of water and the like, make your judgement based on that.Personally I have more faith in autopsy results. Now, how about "trigger bar failure." Frankly, I didn't trust the LCP I had from the beginning. Ruger has it now.They don't know it, but a report from the beginning to the end will be posted on two websites and the editorial staff of Guns, and Ammo.Lets see what they will do. After posting delivery charges and sending an e-mail to the Customer Service Manager, they offered to reimburse the $42.50. When I followed the instructions on page 25 of the Owners manual on shipping, UPS charged $42.50 for overnight delivery. I don't care about all the rosy reports about wha a fine weapon. I can't carry or fire those rosy reports. I can assure you that, statistically, when your sample size is one and it has a catastrophic failure, the probability that you got a "flier" is very very low, near 0. I wondered how I got a serial no 6xx on 4-17, and the dealer got it 4-15 when it is the first weeks production. Product that leaves its "mates" during an assembly process usually goes to a repair operation. Kel-Tec lost no sale, as I have 2 P3AT's. Ask me how more LCP's I will buy?To me, based on my experience only, the LCP fanfare is much ado about nothing. Give them credit, they copied so closely, they took a design weakness with it.