I Need A Little Help With A Handgun I'm Looking At.

[shilala]

I just visited the gun shop in town here, never knew it existed until the boy told me about it at dinner the other night.
I saw 3 or 4 handguns I'd like to drag home, but one in particular has really captured my attention.
It's a Ruger LCP .380 with a factory Crimson Trace Laserguard.

There's a little problem in that my hand is too big for the grip. My entire pinky is off the grip. I've never fired a handgun that was like that, so I have no idea if it'd be an issue. I think most guys would have the same issue. The gun is very small and very light at 10 oz. I'm wondering if the modified grip would effect accuracy. Have you guys ever experienced a handgun like that?

The gun is used and in excellent or even better than new shape. I think they were asking around $359, maybe $379. It lists at Ruger for $559 new. I wondered what I should expect to pay for it? I think they started offering the Crimson Trace in January of 2011, so the gun can't be more than 3 years old, max.

I'm just after a nice, small ccw. I've never thought much of laser sights, never even wanted one, but this Crimson Trace trigger guard setup is ideal. The on button is pressed naturally just by gripping the weapon. It's far and away the nicest laser sight I've ever seen, and it runs around $175 all by itself, making the cost of the gun less than 200 bucks. It sells for around $450.

I think that's all I wanted to ask. Any input you guys have for me would be hugely appreciated, positive or negative. Maybe I should be looking another direction altogether? Really, anything you guys can add will be a huge help.
Thanks!!!

[Ogre]

I believe there is an extended mag for this pistol. Adds about half an inch.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/271202806741?lpid=82

[TJarv]

Originally Posted by Ogre

I believe there is an extended mag for this pistol. Adds about half an inch.

There is. Just remember this is a little bitty gun so it's not fun to shoot.

[shilala]

Originally Posted by Ogre

I believe there is an extended mag for this pistol. Adds about half an inch.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/271202806741?lpid=82

I bet that'd be just enough to solve the problem, Larry.

Originally Posted by TJarv

There is. Just remember this is a little bitty gun so it's not fun to shoot.

We have a 9mm and a nice .22 match pistol for the fun shooting.
Honestly, I think we'll have a blast shooting at stuff with the laser. Like I said, I've never had one. I've shot one, just never owned one. As a result, my kids have never shot one.

This is just going to be for a CCW, Jason. I've not gotten permitted since I moved to Ohio, and I need to, so this may actually get me off my ass to go do it. They make people take a 12 hour course and make an appointment to put in your application. That's 200 bucks right there.
In PA I had to show up, smile, ask the old girls how it was going, pay 20 bucks, and have my picture taken.
My Ohio permit is good in one state. Ohio. My PA permit was good in something like 20 states.
Ohio kinda sucks.

[dijit]

There are aftermarket mags that add about a half an inch and some even have a dovetail to help keep the pinky in line. For most men that carry pistols of this size barring any abnormalities just folding the pinky under the grip should be fine and not affect control. The one thing that may change that is if you are using the heavier bullets such as more than 120 gr jhp or fmj. This will increase the recoil and may make that extra half inch critical. Personally I would recommend some silver tips or gold dots in 115 gr jhp both should feed well and have solid knock down performance for .380.

[Remo]

Originally Posted by Ogre

I believe there is an extended mag for this pistol. Adds about half an inch.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/271202806741?lpid=82

Larry knows all about a half inch!

[JoeCool87TC]

IMO the LCP is a good little pistol for concealed carry. They come new with a clip extension floorplate, which gives your pinkie somewhere to rest so it's not just hanging in the air. Price new from Budsguns.com is about $289, but that's without the laser.

My friend Gary never went anywhere without it. He preferred an ankle holster, but it's small enough to keep in a pocket holster and shove into your pocket. IIRC they're double-action only like a revolver.

HTH.

[themoneycollector]

I have the LC9 version of this. I think I paid ~$350 for mine new with the lasermax and from the looks of the deal, it's like you are getting the crimson trace for the same price, which is worth it.

They come with a slight grip extender on the floor plate of the mag. I have mine with it, but my pinky still doesn't sit on it.

[replicant_argent]

.380 is pretty hard to find around here, I don't know about where you are. Keeping up your skills and practicing with something that is hard (or expensive) to feed is something to think about.
Ruger makes the LC9, which might be a better choice, along with quite a few other options. For the tradeoffs, I would always take a 9 over a 380.

[themoneycollector]

Originally Posted by replicant_argent

.380 is pretty hard to find around here, I don't know about where you are. Keeping up your skills and practicing with something that is hard (or expensive) to feed is something to think about.
Ruger makes the LC9, which might be a better choice, along with quite a few other options. For the tradeoffs, I would always take a 9 over a 380.

^ stopping power and cheaper ammo price are what convinced me to get the LC9 over the LCP.

But after owning the LC9, I'd somewhat like to get an LCP just because it's so much smaller.

As far as ammo goes, I can't find either 9 or 380 anymore, so I guess that's out the window.

[dijit]

Originally Posted by themoneycollector

^ stopping power and cheaper ammo price are what convinced me to get the LC9 over the LCP.

But after owning the LC9, I'd somewhat like to get an LCP just because it's so much smaller.

As far as ammo goes, I can't find either 9 or 380 anymore, so I guess that's out the window.

Have you ever thought of reloading your own? Its not as expensive as retail bullets unless you go for exotic high power powders and hollowpoints. I have loaded my own for years and even my defense rounds now are handloads.

[Remo]

Scott, are you set on a 380? I am getting a new 9mm Shield, u may wanna check it out.

[shilala]

Originally Posted by replicant_argent

.380 is pretty hard to find around here, I don't know about where you are. Keeping up your skills and practicing with something that is hard (or expensive) to feed is something to think about.
Ruger makes the LC9, which might be a better choice, along with quite a few other options. For the tradeoffs, I would always take a 9 over a 380.

1000-2000 rounds will last me for years, Pete. I doubt I'll even buy more than a single 1000 case. I don't shoot much here in OH because I don't know whee there are any Gamelands ranges. Back home there are a couple within a 10 minute drive of the house.
We shoot at my FIL's now. His neighbor has a nice range in the back yard, so it costs me nothing to shoot aside from ammo, and that's not gonna kill me for all the more we go.

Originally Posted by dijit

Have you ever thought of reloading your own? Its not as expensive as retail bullets unless you go for exotic high power powders and hollowpoints. I have loaded my own for years and even my defense rounds now are handloads.

I reloaded shot for years when we used to shoot trap every weekend. I kind of remember having stuff to reload .35 remington brass, but don't remember ever doing it.
I save all my 9mm brass just in case I ever get the urge, but it's not likely. I'll probably just end up giving the brass away. I can't stand to waste it, ya know?

Originally Posted by Remo

Scott, are you set on a 380? I am getting a new 9mm Shield, u may wanna check it out.

I'm not married to the .380 at all, Mikey. It's the price and that super sweet Crimson Trace that put a hook in me. $450 and the cost of a laser are way off what I'm looking at, plus that 9mm is twice the weight. Plus I already have a 9mm S&W Sigma. So the Shield isn't really an option, although it's a beautiful gun. If I had your money I'd get two!!!

[Sweet_Leaf_PDX]

380's don't kick much at all so I would not be too worried about not being able use your pinky finger to grip it. If you go with the mag extender then you won't have this problem as others have said. I think it's a solid little gun and it would be easy to get your money back for it if you end up wanting to sell it at some point down the road.

I have a crimson trace on my Sig Sauer P228 and love it! They are great sights and very well made.

[shilala]

Originally Posted by Sweet_Leaf_PDX

380's don't kick much at all so I would not be too worried about not being able use your pinky finger to grip it. If you go with the mag extender then you won't have this problem as others have said. I think it's a solid little gun and it would be easy to get your money back for it if you end up wanting to sell it at some point down the road.

I have a crimson trace on my Sig Sauer P228 and love it! They are great sights and very well made.

It's not the kick, it's the draw that I wonder about. I worry that it'd be awkward in an emergency, ya know?

[Sweet_Leaf_PDX]

Originally Posted by shilala

It's not the kick, it's the draw that I wonder about. I worry that it'd be awkward in an emergency, ya know?

That's a good point. It's going to be hard to know how you feel with it unless you go shoot it. One idea is to go into the store and see if they will let you draw it a few times and see how it feels.

If you really get into the tech specs there are better guns out there in that size category, but you are going to pay a much higher price for the quality/features. Say something like a Sig P238.

Sounds like Col. Kurtz has some first had experience with the weapon, so I would consider his comments. Especially if you really want this to be for self-defense. If you just want to go shoot cans with it, then that's a different story.

[BlkDrew]

I went with the S&W Bodyguard .380 which had a built in laser and has a longer grip. great gun for in the house.

[SvilleKid]

Originally Posted by BlkDrew

I went with the S&W Bodyguard .380 which had a built in laser and has a longer grip. great gun for in the house.

I have a LCP that I carry in my jean pocket, in a cloth holster. No imprinting at all, very small. But mine does not have the laser. On issues with shooting it. I did add a rubber overlay on the grip which helps. My wife has the S&W Bodyguard with the laser. Shoots ok, but the Bodyguard has trigger pull problems (have to do a full pull every time, and that doesn't help with accuracy. It can be fixed for $90, but that's 25% of the gun cost new. My LCP trigger breaks at about half way thru. Bodyguard breaks at very end of pull, almost against the gun body.

Clip extenders, grip overlays, trigger pull fixes are here:

Galloway Precision :: Smith & Wesson Performance :: Bodyguard 380 Performance Parts :: Short Trigger Bar for Bodyguard 380 pistols

[Col. Kurtz]

I would not recommend this.

[Col. Kurtz]

I would not recommend this.

Edit to add. I had a chance to play with one a friend bought. Very long, heavy, gritty trigger pull. No safety, not a big deal. Mag did not drop free. Defense type sights. Shot about two feet low. I prefer apple-on-post. There was something else that was a rather large detract ion that I can't think of at the moment. IMO this is a pistol of last resort when you're getting your fanny kicked and have your primary taken from you.

I'd look at the beretta nano bu9. 9mm and similar size. Same long trigger take up, but it was fairly accurate for me. I loved shooting the one I borrowed.

All that said here is the disclaimer. I have had terrible luck with every ruger I've had. Jam monsters all. I sold my mini 14 during the "scare" and gave away my 10-22. I had a Taurus 709 slim and got rid of it for the same reasons listed above. I chose to put my confidence in my old reliable sig 239 in .40. It's damn near "duty size" compared to some of the new guns, but it works and I trust my life on it. The nano would be my second choice. Ruger somewhere behind bottled water and NATO meals.

Take that for what it is. Possible unfounded ruger hate, but my experience nonetheless. I have tried to like ruger, but I've been let down often. Now if someone were to bomb me a single six I'd review it here