[Kelty]

Just picked up a new LCP II yesterday and took it out for a spin.

I was shooting Sellier & Bellot 92gr FMJ ammo and was getting failures to feed about just about every other round. Rather, they would feed but the slide wouldn't fully go into battery (off by 3-5 mm). In two cases the bullet appeared to be wedged right into the feed ramp (full jam). I ejected and inspected each bullet involved in a failure and there was a clear line-like dent in the top of each one. I also fired 6 rounds of Hornady XTP and there were zero issues.

When I got home I inspected the feed ramp and there is a very sharp edge just under 1 mm wide at the bottom of the ramp. I am pretty sure that is what was catching the bullets. Shouldn't the feed ramp be the same smooth angle all the way down? This isn't something I can polish away. I'd have to hit is with a grinding wheel. Did I get a barrel milled Friday afternoon or is this typical? Is this something you would contact Ruger over?

There was also some consistent marking on the brass.

 

[ETS]

Just checked my II. It has the same flattened area @ base of the ramp, so that is unlikely to be the problem. Good pics....suspect someone will have a pretty good idea of the problem. Have you been able to test other magazines? Have never used Sellier & Bellot, but, that could be the problem, also.

 

[Kelty]

Just checked my II. It has the same flattened area @ base of the ramp, so that is unlikely to be the problem. Good pics....suspect someone will have a pretty good idea of the problem. Have you been able to test other magazines? Have never used Sellier & Bellot, but, that could be the problem, also.

I only have the original factory magazine to test with. The only other issue I noticed was a bent recoil spring.

Here is the ammo
9 mm BROWNING COURT / 380 AUTO (V310332) ? Sellier & Bellot

 

[ETS]

Did you check the Hornady cases for marks/dents?

 

[Kelty]

Did you check the Hornady cases for marks/dents?

Yes, no dents. I was thinking the pointier truncated cone would contact the feed ramp at a higher point than the FMJ would and that would keep the casing from getting drug along that lip. Just guessing at this point.

 

[ETS]

If you can get it to fire 100 consecutive Hornady xtp rounds successfully, I would consider it good for s.d. carry and would consider it "good to go". There is really no point in firing cheap ammo, since I don't think there is any point in seeing if you can get 1000s of rounds through it. I have had good luck with most of the cheaper .380 rounds and have shot more than 2000 rounds through my 5 LCPs(one standard, 3 LCP customs and and a II), but it took 3rd replacement of the II from Ruger to get one that worked. I, far and away, prefer the Custom for reliability and ease of shooting. Also, don't forget to replace the recoil springs every 300-500 rounds--on the II, the outside spring always seems to acquire a slight curve.

 

[louchia]

I agree with ETS. If you have no issues with the Hornidy rounds, in my opinion it is good to go. Try another brand of range ammo and see if you have any issues. If not you know the problem. not all guns like all range ammo.

 

[Denny4kids]

Welcome to the forum Kelty! Bummer you are having problems.
In my view you have the worst feedramp/chamber that I have ever seen! The mouth of the chamber looks like it has sharp edges and the feed ramp shape appears wrong. Also I don't see consistent blueing. I have owned 2 LCP's, still own a Custom and have found these weapons to have very loose tolerances and should shoot any Saami spec. ammo. Mine sure do.
Kelty can you tell is the empty cartridges are being scraped on the way in or out? And how do loaded cartridges fit in the chamber?
Ruger should have fast turnaround repairing your weapon. They make and repair them under one roof. Den

 

[SkipD]

When I got home I inspected the feed ramp and there is a very sharp edge just under 1 mm wide at the bottom of the ramp. I am pretty sure that is what was catching the bullets. Shouldn't the feed ramp be the same smooth angle all the way down? This isn't something I can polish away. I'd have to hit is with a grinding wheel. Did I get a barrel milled Friday afternoon or is this typical? Is this something you would contact Ruger over?

I strongly suggest that you contact Ruger's Customer Service. If you email them, attach the closeup photos you made. My guess is that they will want you to send the pistol to them (at no cost to you) and that they will replace whatever parts that are not up to their tight standards. They should be able to get your pistol back to you quickly. They might even replace the whole pistol for you.

 

[toytraindoc]

Without actually having the barrel in hand to examine, it looks like a lot of metal fatigue from the feed ramp to the barrel entrance. I would expect this type of machine work done by a third party vendor not Ruger. It also looks like the tempering has changed while machining process was taking place. I definitely would contact Ruger about this issue and make sure you attache your pics.

 

[Kelty]

Thank you for all the helpful replies. This was purchased new from from a reputable dealer. They opened 101 years ago and I have been shopping there for close to two decades.

I am not sure if the scratching on the brass is from loading or extraction. I'm leaning towards loading but I have nothing to back that up.

I spoke with Ruger and agreed to try at least two other brands of ammo before sending it in. I picked up a box of Blazer Brass 95gr and Aguila 95gr to try since those were the only other two practice ammo brands available locally.

I have ordered two additional Ruger brand mags to see if I can eliminate the factory supplied magazine as the issue.

I also worked the slide 400 times (yes, I counted) to smooth out any roughness (I have ordered a new recoil spring from Wolff just in case).

I gave the edge on the ramp a little work with 350, 650, and 1600 grit sandpaper followed by a light polish with Flitz and a dremel.

Once I have the new mags I'll test again with the Aguila, Blazer Brass, and Sellier & Bellot.

I'll shoot until I have a single failure or all 150 rounds are shot. No failures and I'll consider it good to go.

Any failures and it goes back to Ruger.

New Pics

 

[Denny4kids]

Good job Kelty! Now that looks like a feed ramp. I hope it works out for you. Denny

 

[Denny4kids]

Upon further review I agree. That barrel is junk. Just send the weapon back to Ruger. Don't let them give you the try another ammo BS! The LCP is a loose tolerance casted self defense firearm and should shoot any sammi spec. ammo Den

 

[Kelty]

Here is the latest update.

I finally got back to the range to try the Blazer Brass 95gr and Aguila 95gr along with more Sellier & Bellot.

I installed the new 13lb recoil spring from Wolff before heading out.

I had three different failures while working through 72 rounds (24 of each flavor). I used the factory magazine and two new Ruger Italian made LCP II magazines.

Failure 1: I had the slide lock back when there was still one round in the magazine. It was one of the new magazines and it was an Aguila round. When inspected the round was about a 2mm forward in the magazine.

Failure 2: I could not insert a magazine into the gun when the slide was open. I had to close the slide to get it past the magazine latch. I had a few snags before and after but a slightly heavier tap got it past the latch. In this instance I gave the magazine a good thump and it would not move any further. This was also a new magazine.

Failure 3: One failure to go into battery. This was the only failure of this type and it was with an Aguila round and it was the last round I fired for the day. To be fair I was shooting it one handed with my non-dominant hand so I believe limp wristing could very well have been the issue.

I think the polishing and heavier spring helped with the feeding issues I was having. Other than the single failure to feed (which was probably my fault) it ran perfectly.

I believe the other issues could be due to the new magazines just being new. SkipD mentions smoothing out the sharp edges on new magazines as a potential solution.

At this point I trust it a little more. With a little work on the magazines (or just more use) I think it will be ready to go.

 

[Kelty]

Just wanted to post an update on this topic.

I finally got the pistol off to Ruger for repair and they turned it around in two weeks, including shipping time.

They replaced the barrel, slide stop, and slide spring.

You can see an immediate and clear difference in the feed ramp of the new barrel.

The overall quality of the new part seems much improved over the original.

Ruger test fired a combined 30 rounds of Black Hills and American Eagle ammo without issue.

Though I haven't had a chance to test it myself I am quite pleased with the replacements Ruger made.

I really want this pistol to work because I just love the size. I have forgone carrying too many times because my other carry gun was just too big.

 

[bill-e]

Mine looks like your replacement, not your original...that must have been a factory defect...missed a grinding and polishing stage...or the guy who was doing it took a break and forgot where he left off

 

[ETS]

Mine looks like your replacement, not your original...that must have been a factory defect...missed a grinding and polishing stage...or the guy who was doing it took a break and forgot where he left off

Ya, but looks aren't everything--does yours work?

 

[bill-e]

Ya, but looks aren't everything--does yours work?

Haven't had a miss-feed yet!

 

[LCPor9mm]

For what it’s worth, my newest LCPll wouldn’t run Aguila either when new. How many rounds have you run through it? Will it fire the S&B now?

 

[Greg B.]

When I first got mine I had the exact same experience. Failing to go fully into battery. I ordered two OEM magazines and had 0 problems with the new magazines.
I called Ruger and explained to them and they sent me another magazine to replace the original that came with the gun. No questions asked.
I now have 3 magazines and 0 issues with failure to go into battery.