Reliable? We give the Ruger LCP Max 380 ACP a 220 round torture test!

[@tonyrome5584]

In addition to having that first round in the chamber go bang, it is critical that the first shot land on target. One thing I do is to load a mag full, chamber a round and do not top the mag off. Most guns have less feeding issues without the spring in full compression. Also I watched you shooting, recoil and followup shots seemed very much under control. Good test and very nice video!

[@AzureCaribe10]

Look at his finger control. LOL

[@roadking681]

I did that same thing in my LCP Max, all my Kahrs and my Diamond Back DB9 for the first 500 rounds and then after they broke in I started loading one in the chamber and then topping of the mag and all now work flawlessly w/no hickups. Thanks for sharing.

[@Truth-f2q]

@@AzureCaribe10 dont cry sissy

[@roadking681]

LOVE MY LCP MAX!! 700 rounds stock and no hickups!! It was nice stock up to 500 rounds and got even more nicer, smoother and flatter after I put the Gallow precision trigger shoe and recoil spring and guide rod in it and a Hogue slip on grip and now I call it my micro midget tack driver. Great gun!! Thanks for sharing.

[@imdrrich]

400 rounds through my LCP Max without a single hiccup.

[@kennethdowd6853]

Own this firearm and it is great. No issues at all at about 750 rounds thru it. Use as my CCW piece.

[@marklipman6376]

Your videos are by far the best in regards to my issues with the Max! Thank you

[@GeographyCzar]

Glad I could help! Freedom by me Homesteading also has an LCP Max and his experience has been flawless out of the box. A lot of people have had issues with them, though, so it may be a case of user error, or a break-in period, or a mechanically flawed magazine. I think this is a good gun over all, but I wish I hadn't traded in my old LCP when I bought it. That thing ran like a top right out of the box.

[@Valorius]

I'm at 600+ rounds in mine. I had a couple hundred rounds of remanufactured 100gr low velocity ball ammo that it hated but everything else it gobbles up without a problem. That includes almost 100 rounds of various types of plus P ammo. I even ran a round of Underwood xtp plus p through it that had the bullet set back way deep into the case as a worst case scenario experiment and it fired it without any problems or failures. My preferred carry round is Underwood 90 grain plus p xtp.

[@GeographyCzar]

Excellent range report! I have no idea why I had the magazine drop issue with those S&B fmjs, but it only happened in May when I did the first 200 round torture test. I shot two or three boxes of them through this same pistol when I first bought it 13 months ago and never noticed the mags fall out. In other 380s I believe it can be caused by very hot ammo. This time around I was very pleased that none of the magazines came loose with any of the ammo tested. The failures to feed were all with the flat nose fmjs, and only with the two new(ish) magazines. I'm currently keeping them loaded in storage to break in the springs. The more I get to know them, the better I like the 12-round mags.

[@Valorius]

@@GeographyCzar I think it was because you were resting the gun that you had the failures that day and once you knew tha was the problem was you knew how to mitigate it

[@GeographyCzar]

@@Valorius yup, just reconfirmed with a video that will come out on 9/15

[@Valorius]

@@GeographyCzar looking forward to it my friend

[@whoknows8678]

@@GeographyCzar There is no real +p .380, only bubba'd up "overpressure".

[@whoknows8678]

Putting a round directly in the chamber and dropping the slide on it is a great way to chip/break your extractor. Don't do that. Feed from the mag only.

[@GeographyCzar]

I will from now on. Thanks.

[@saurabhsonic]

I had no idea this was a thing....

[@Norseman311]

Hmmm really?

[@Norseman311]

If that's the case then it's a shitty gun

[@whoknows8678]

@@Norseman311 Yes, really. Do your own research.

[@Fudmottin]

My S&W M&P340 reliably fails on round six. The only cure is to knock out the empty casings and load more ammo into it. It doesn't matter what the ammo is. It all behaves the same way.

[@ryanranard5187]

Lol okay?

[@Fudmottin]

@@ryanranard5187 Heh heh. Yes. It was an obvious joke about the five round capacity.

[@Countryboy87878]

200+ rounds of federal red box FMJ through my LCP and not single hiccup.even during rapid fire.I’m sticking with the federal.it’s always done great by me in all firearms.

[@EducatedBlackMan]

After watching videos of newer ammo, the only two I now carry in my LCP Max that I am confident will work are the Defiant Munitions TCX and Underwood Xtreme Defender. Defiant is the best penetrating and expanding JHP on the market.

[@Valorius]

My 800 round 6 month EDC review of the LCP Max will be going live on Monday 9/19 for anyone interested.

[@isaacgutierrez5845]

Very solid test, I would like to add that instead of just seeing if the cycle take advantage of your ammo and shoot with your weak hand, try seeing how much you can limp wrist before it jams or if it even jams in the first place, basically try all kinds of shooting positions to get the most out of your ammo. Run a couple drills and get a feel for the gun.

[@GeographyCzar]

LOL, I may need to do a round 3 of 200+ shots...

[@oscopin74]

Thanks for the video! Just bought me one two days ago. Just waiting for it to arrive at a local FFL

[@captquest1]

I took my standard LCP (newer improved one) and my brand new out of the box LCP Max to the range. I have run several hundred rounds through the standard LCP flawlessly, and was getting nice groups at 7 yards using Winchester fmj. I shot about 40 rounds of fmj (Winchester flat nose) and 12 rounds of Critical Defense from the Max. Slide failed to lock back on the last shot pretty consistently, I had three failed to full battery (had to bump it in), and once almost dropped a mag. I feel the fail to battery may be due to the flat nose ammo, so I slightly polished the ramp on the barrel. And I believe the slide lock issue is due to a new mag follower that seems a bit sticky, so I slightly polished it and slightly lubed it with silicone. Otherwise it would probably be fine with some break in. As for the mag drop, I just need to adjust my grip a bit. I was hitting low left with the Max, so I need to adjust to the different trigger type and feel. Back to the range and we'll find out.

[@GeographyCzar]

Good range report. Thanks!

[@captquest1]

Update: I've been back at the range twice with both guns and my daughter. She shot about 80 rounds through the LCP standard and long story short, she exceeded my expectations and the gun was flawless with only once doing a stovepipe jam on the last round of a mag. As for the LCP Max, I've run four different brands of FMJ and various defense rounds (Winchester Silvertips, Hornady CD, and Underwood Extreme Defense). Out of 70 rounds on my last session, I had one failure to feed, and once slide failed to lock open on last shot. My accuracy needs a bit of improvement with the Max but it has proven to be a very reliable gun. Love it!

[@tonycolca2241]

Not good to release side with slide release. Also should not put a round in barrel and then release slide can damage extractor.

[@yellowboxster06]

I have an LCP Max with somewhere around 1,000 rounds through it. A few of my magazines don’t always lock back on the last round but the gun always fires reliably. I bought this model because I was disappointed with the LCP II. I actually had two of those and neither one was reliable. MY biggest problem with the LCP II was the magazine would often pop out before it was empty. Ruger fixed each one of them twice but I decided this model was not for me. Enter the LCP Max. It has been a great gun; I’m glad I was willing to give them another try.

[@mattt9298]

Has your Max experienced any excessive wear to the area where the butt of guide rod contacts the frame? I have heard this can possibly be an issue with this design after a higher round count has been put through the pistol.

[@yellowboxster06]

@@mattt9298 No that I have noticed.

[@TheWilferch]

@@mattt9298 ....hmm....the guide rod is captured by a slot in the underside lug of the barrel (to capture the "head" of the rod, on one end)...and the other end of the rod is "free"...with only the spring tension pushing against the slide. Where is there a "butt of the guide rod contacting the frame'".... there really isn't such a contact point touching the frame. So...what do you mean?

[@mattt9298]

@@TheWilferch The piece of the guide rod that is not resting in the barrel lug can and on my LCP II and my LCP Max also contacts the metal portion of the frame that is in front of the trigger group. Neither of my pistols have the round count of the OP but I have noticed some wear in that area. I have also watched another YT video where the poster had put about 6000 rounds through his LCP II .22. That poster had reported enough wear that his pistol was at or near the point of failure iirc. I was wondering if this particular wear was an isolated incident or if it was a common problem with the design.

[@TheWilferch]

@@mattt9298 ....there is no "metal frame" that the other end of the rod contacts. First of all, the "frame" is plastic.....and furthermore, the "other" end of the rod ( the end closest to the front of the gun) can pass thru a small hole in the slide ( but actually doesn't pass thru, as it's too short). The front end of the rod is "supported" by the dual recoil springs that surround the guide rod, and that end of the springs contacts the inner surface of the slide....so I still don't understand what it is you are saying. ( EDIT---> are you talking about the front-edges of the aluminim chassis that is embedded in the plastic frame?....the slide-rails that engage with the slide?. Yes.....the front edges of the slide guide rails, will see "shine" to take off the black finish to some degree....but that has nothing to do with the guide rod).

[@gobucs3146]

How does ammo cause a magazine to drop? Literally never heard that before. You’re probably hitting the mag release with your grip.

[@GeographyCzar]

Probably. Didn't have that issue in this test, happily. Either I stopped doing something wrong, or the gun did.

[@charleywalker2982]

I didn’t read all the comments so someone might of pointed it out but don’t load your semi auto pistols by putting a shell in the barrel and then making your slide go forward. Your ejector has to jump over your rim of your cartridge and causes premature wear. Try it in slow motion and you will see the resistance when the ejector hits the back of the rim . When loading through a magazine the rim is always in front of the ejector.

[@GeographyCzar]

You are right. And somebody did point that out a couple months ago, not that I'd expect everyone to read all the comments, lord knows I don't, lol...

[@KD-lb9bg]

Good stuff 👍🏻, thanks for the run down. Now to backtrack to the 22 Tuesday video.

[@GeographyCzar]

A bunch more are coming! Glad you're enjoying them.

[@FargoFX]

Looks like you’ve been keeping the weight off, brother. I never thought I’d say this but I think I finally outweigh you, I mean significantly… I won’t get into numbers. Anyway, another great video providing much more value than KZbin deserves. Keep them coming 👍

[@Valorius]

I will definitely be watching this tonight

[@YellowHammer26]

Thanks Dave , looks pretty reliable 👍👍.

[@rileyneufeld7001]

A gun is only as good as it's magazines. Unreliable magazines = unreliable gun simple as that. And I agree of all the malfunctions that I have seen in actual shooting footage I'd say 80% of those are from someone chambering a round. Always carry chambered! We won't always have both hands available to do so.

[@Deevel79]

Purchased 2 Max’s a year apart. Both were unreliable and inconsistent. Several failure to feeds and eject. Even after a 200 round break in period. Sold them both.

[@GeographyCzar]

Thanks for the range report. I'm glad our community is able to provide feed-back to the manufacturers through this medium. I hope they're listening. This little gun has potential, but I think they pushed it to market too soon, and now Ruger is reluctant to make upgrades while sales remain high. We'll see if they improve it. I think the magazine could be better engineered for sure, and the slide spring should be a touch heavier as well.

[@GlenMones-le6yf]

I had problems with armscore 380 ball and of all things FIOCCI 380 ball.. jam jam Remington green and white box perfect no malfunctions...perfecta no problems

[@noahcount7132]

Definitely enjoyed the shoot-a-thon, Dave. Recommend that you be kind to yourself and get a Lula-Loader. You'll be glad you did. It will be money well spent. I have no connection to the company other than being a satisfied customer.

[@Followme556]

The LCP Max comes with an auto loading thingy

[@vtxdaryl]

It’s amazing how dirty the Winchester Silvertips were, lots of unburned powder. It looked like it was reloads.

[@__hjg__2123]

the slide didn't lock on that third mag run...

[@Calibir1]

1 year after you made this video - I watched. 2:58 minutes in, I had to stop it to make this comment... and will continue watching after I write this: NOT a good idea to ever just drop a round in tge chamber then drop the slide on it!!! The extractors is designed to grab and strip the round off the mag and put it in the chamber. When you do as you did here - the front of extractor has to slam into and ride over the rim of the round (it is not designed to do that), and their for damage or break the extractor. It could perhaps also cause later extraction issues. Okay, now back to the video... and that's all I got to say about that.

[@GeographyCzar]

Duly noted! I will probably change my ways.

[@Calibir1]

@@GeographyCzar 10-4 - good idea.

[@MarineBiologist533]

Nice test. Recently picked up an LCP Max, the Cobalt Cerakote version along with two 12 round magazines. Been my EDC since getting it. I only have about 85 rounds through mine (380 ammo is hard to find around here), mostly Fiocchi, some Sig V Crown and Critical Defense (I carry it with Critical Defense). I shoot it well and I am accurate with it, really enjoy it, and since getting it the 365 has stayed at home.

[@GeographyCzar]

Leave those 12 round mags loaded for a few months so the springs break in a bit.

[@soulerflare7]

I've heard that these don't like fiocchi so much .

[@MarineBiologist533]

@@soulerflare7 fed just fine for me. I put another 75 rounds or so through it this past weekend, more fiocchi, and this time some federal and ammo inc. All fed just fine, shot fine, zero issues. It has been a great little shooter so far.

[@soulerflare7]

@@MarineBiologist533 great !

[@randysmith7312]

I'm trying to decide on this lcp max or the Sig p365 for dedicated pocket carry in jeans front pocket. Since you have both what's your opinion? Since you own both. Thanks!

[@shj2000]

Dave do you plan on keeping the Max? Do you CCW with the 12 round mag? Where'd you get the Carson ammo - I've never heard of that brand. 🍻

[@GeographyCzar]

I found that ammo on Lucky Gunner. Only order the one-piece case, IMHO.

[@charliestrange9574]

Sir, could you please tell me where you got the holster for this gun, and also is it leather or kydex? Also what size would I need to ask for? Thank you .

[@GeographyCzar]

It comes with a cloth pocket holster. I bought the kydex belt holster off eBay and it specified it's for the LCP Max.

[@dangerman007]

I agree with you about not having a round chambered...that's just asking for it.

[@DeadPool632]

I feel like my LCP MAX needs to be cleaned every 400 rounds or so before it starts to jam from being dirty. That being said I try to clean it every range trip to make sure it’s reliable 100% when carrying

[@CColumbus]

I had a mag drop while using a shooting bench as a rest once too.

[@jamesvatter5729]

I'm at about 400 rds now. Wide variety of ammo. Zero failures. My only gripe is it groups tight, but low at 6 o'clock. I'm guessing that's going to have to be acceptable.

[@GeographyCzar]

My solution is to use the rear sights as "crab claws" and center the front sight between the tops of the rear sights. Seems to bring that group up nicely to the bulls-eye area.

[@americanmade422]

All my lcps hate the bull ose ammo... its hit and miss. Everything else runs.

[@AzureCaribe10]

I got about 1,500 rounds with my Ruger LCP Max. No issues. Only thing that went sideways are the Ruger Mags,

[@ryanranard5187]

What’s wrong with the mags?

[@mickeyclayton1312]

The little pistol was designed for a ten round mag so it’s not unexpected that there could be problems when you stuff a 12 round mag in it. I don’t understand why folks can’t just accept the pistol as designed and offered. The first thing that always happen is that they want higher capacity mags and then they want longer barrels and grips and the whole design concept is lost. The SIG P365 is, in my opinion, the perfect EDC as originally designed but it has been enlarged to the point that it is no longer recognizable. If you think that you have to have more mag capacity, buy a bigger pistol! Problem solved. If the ordinary citizen gets into a firefight requiring more than ten round they are in big trouble and they are probably not going to survive even if they have 12, 13, 15, 17 or 20 rounds onboard. Leave these little guns as they were designed and buy a bigger pistol if they don’t meet your requirements!

[@jerroddooley374]

There was a banger posted a video with a 50 round drum and an lcp. I’ll never understand it

[@zaydenreactss]

Bro wtf are you talking about it’s a ruger standard 12 round mag I have the gun it shoot fine noons wants so self firing sige

[@philber57]

@@jerroddooley374reloading sucks I guess.

[@elche1976]

@mickeyclayton1312 the 12 round may is perfectly fine. Ruger "designed it" as well. I've been using them exclusively for 2 years and no issues.

[@infernofairy8810]

Or a spare mag or 2

[@gregb6469]

I ran 100 rounds (50 round-nose FMJs and 50 flat-nosed FMJs) through my new-to-me Max today, with both 10- and 12-round mags. Other than a couple of times where I had the thumb-push the slide into full battery (probably a case of newer mags not fully broken in), it ran flawlessly, and locked back on every empty mag. I can't say the same about my shooting ability; my shots were all over the target. But I have confidence that the gun will go bang if I ever need to defend myself.

[@michaelsherfield3749]

How's the trigger? I'm looking into one for a pocket pistol

[@michaelsherfield3749]

And are you still having issues? Or was it a break in thing you were experiencing with the slide not going back into battery. I have heard before some rugers need to be broken in first (that's why I never bought one)

[@gregb6469]

@@michaelsherfield3749 -- When I pulled the trigger it went 'Bang!' every time. I don't have enough experience with pistols to compare it to other guns' triggers. I have not fired the gun since I posted my original comment, so I have no idea if it might still be having issues. I will probably be selling it anyway in the near future; financial setbacks are forcing me to downgrade to a less expensive pocket pistol.

[@michaelsherfield3749]

@@gregb6469 what are you looking into? Check out those sccy pistols they are 150 at classic firearms. It's a 9mm tho.

[@joseywales9101]

Just need pull slide back with some force and let it sling shot the round in, you were just being to gentle with it.

[@GeographyCzar]

Yup. I'm not gentle when I want it to work no matter what. Testing on this occasion.

[@superfisto]

Thanks man.

[@gregb6469]

Running hollow-points through a Max is a waste of money, because the gun, being so short-barrelled, does not generate enough velocity to enable the rounds to expand properly upon impact, turning them into expensive target rounds.

[@wm4113]

Sig v-crown

[@MasterTechlvl2]

3 minutes in the video drooping a round in the chamber. Mostly all semi auto's over time slamin the extractor to go over the lip of the round you dropped in. Will cause the extractor to fail in time. The correct way feeding the round is from the magazine.

[@GeographyCzar]

Well, sure, I don't disagree, but I thought I'd try it to see if it was faster than inserting the mag, racking the slide, popping the mag release and topping off before reinserting. Nope. I should have done it the right way.

[@poppatello]

This is not an accurate test at all. If you are going to use 10 round mags use 10 round mags or all 12 round mags. If your going to use a couple break in mags then run all of the rounds in them. If you know that the 12 round mags are stiff you should have made a choice to run all rounds in them or just in the 10 rounds to see if there were issues with each ammo brand.

[@marksummers463]

The mag fell out???!!! Forget that!!!

[@GeographyCzar]

Yup. Traded up to a G42

[@brucepayne1900]

Stop dropping the slide

[@artfulalias3984]

Too many failures.

[@whatsup24_7]

1,285 rounds thru mine with 9 different types of ammo and zero malfunctions.

[@Deevel79]

@@whatsup24_7 I guess your one of the lucky ones. The forums are filled with complaints about this firearm. I suffered many failures with all different types of ammo. Sold it. Not a firearm that I can reliable count on as an edc.

[@krazyrican2009]

@@whatsup24_7 I love my LCP MAX. Not one malfunction so far.

[@whatsup24_7]

@@krazyrican2009 Yeah I don't believe the haters. Mine works flawlessly, still has never jammed. Everyone I talk to in the real world that has one has never had a malfunction either. Great pistol

[@inojoking]

I got one about a month ago. Shot ball ammo fine but went to range yesterday and had several failure to feeds with hollow points. That was with the 12 round magazine. Also some kinda way i tap the 12 round magazine hard to get it to seat and the bottom came out dropping all the rounds out. So Im going to switch back to ball ammo and the 10 round magazine and see if that makes this thing run smoothly. If still issues then im just going back to my shield 9 😞