[lcp18c]

So I recently acquired a new condition LCP MAX after liking my LCPII so much. Unfortunately the Max not only came from the factory with a bent front sight, but a defect in the slide machining that results in a failure to go into battery for about 10% of the shots fired. Specifically, the slide does not close the last few mm, requiring the shooter to manually close it after each failure. The initial malfunction happened almost immediately, on the first trip to the range, and persisted through two boxes of ammo.

Attempting to diagnose the problem at home, I began to cycle dummy rounds through the weapon. Now- every single time I release the slide slowly, the exact same thing happens as was occurring sporadically during semi-auto fire. Having already owned the LCPII, I know that this behaviour is not normal- the LCPII will go completely into battery every time, regardless of how slowly I rack the slide.

Disassembly yields some answers. I notice that there is a little notch in the slide, directly opposite the extractor (circled in yellow). As I manipulate the slide only, without the spring installed, and try to "cycle" a round- the cartridge is fully seated in the barrel, but the face of the cartridge fails to make contact with the breach face of the slide, instead resting in the little notch (circled in orange). If I manually release tension on the extractor (pressing to the rear, past the pivot) it allows the rim of the cartridge to clear this notch and the round will seat properly. (This also rectifies the malfunction on a fully assembled weapon.)

I have included pics of the LCPII for reference. This MAX slide does not look like anything that would ever come out of a factory machine shop, given the odd shape of the notch, and given the fact that it causes such an obvious malfunction, I have no idea how it got past Ruger QC.

Does anyone else have this little notch on their slide at this same spot? Or can explain why it is there?

Thanks!

 

[mveach99]

That looks like a machining defect.

 

[feet]

For both my LCP and my LCP Max, when cycling rounds through manually, I always slingshot the slide, and then I don’t have a problem. Cycling rounds slowly usually doesn’t work for my LCP guns - the rounds won’t always feed all the way into the chamber. I don’t recall seeing any machining defects.

 

[Denny4kids]

Looks like a casting flaw to me. The notch in the frame that keeps the barrel centered should keep the barrel away from that flaw. And like feet suggested, you should slingshot the slide. It also would be common for an owner to send the weapon back to Ruger to examine. Den

 

[w]

For both my LCP and my LCP Max, when cycling rounds through manually, I always slingshot the slide, and then I don’t have a problem. Cycling rounds slowly usually doesn’t work for my LCP guns - the rounds won’t always feed all the way into the chamber. I don’t recall seeing any machining defects.

Slingshotting or slowly made no difference with my new LCP Max, the bullet won't go into battery, not 10% of the time, 100% of the time. Then when i push it in i can't get it out except by taking the gun apart. I posted this on the other thread.

 

[mveach99]

Slingshotting or slowly made no difference with my new LCP Max, the bullet won't go into battery, not 10% of the time, 100% of the time. Then when i push it in i can't get it out except by taking the gun apart. I posted this on the other thread.

Send it back to Ruger.

 

[mtkfish]

LCP......LITTLE CRAPPY PISTOL!!!! I just don't understand why Ruger can't get it right!! They copied the kel-tec P3AT and in many cases it is worse than Kel-Tec as far as reliability. My friend just sent his LCP Max back to Ruger for the second time. He was getting failure to feeds every other shot with gold dots!! Meanwhile, my original LCP from 2008 feeds and eats everything, in spite of the long trigger pull(which I like for safe pocket carry.

 

[Instymp]

I had the Kel-tec in .32 and .380. The .380 wasn't good to me so I got rid of it and bought a LCP that has been flawless. No problems, nada. Gen 2
I wish at times I still had the .32, it was good too.

 

[stuartskelley]

So I recently acquired a new condition LCP MAX after liking my LCPII so much. Unfortunately the Max not only came from the factory with a bent front sight, but a defect in the slide machining that results in a failure to go into battery for about 10% of the shots fired. Specifically, the slide does not close the last few mm, requiring the shooter to manually close it after each failure. The initial malfunction happened almost immediately, on the first trip to the range, and persisted through two boxes of ammo.

Attempting to diagnose the problem at home, I began to cycle dummy rounds through the weapon. Now- every single time I release the slide slowly, the exact same thing happens as was occurring sporadically during semi-auto fire. Having already owned the LCPII, I know that this behaviour is not normal- the LCPII will go completely into battery every time, regardless of how slowly I rack the slide.

Disassembly yields some answers. I notice that there is a little notch in the slide, directly opposite the extractor (circled in yellow). As I manipulate the slide only, without the spring installed, and try to "cycle" a round- the cartridge is fully seated in the barrel, but the face of the cartridge fails to make contact with the breach face of the slide, instead resting in the little notch (circled in orange). If I manually release tension on the extractor (pressing to the rear, past the pivot) it allows the rim of the cartridge to clear this notch and the round will seat properly. (This also rectifies the malfunction on a fully assembled weapon.)

I have included pics of the LCPII for reference. This MAX slide does not look like anything that would ever come out of a factory machine shop, given the odd shape of the notch, and given the fact that it causes such an obvious malfunction, I have no idea how it got past Ruger QC.

Does anyone else have this little notch on their slide at this same spot? Or can explain why it is there?

Thanks!

View attachment 15551

View attachment 15550

I have this exact same problem with an LCP Max I bought this month. Same groove resulting in the same issues. Sent a message to Ruger, waiting for reply.

 

[stuartskelley]

Follow up to yesterday's post. Hand cycled about 150 rounds to try to loosen up the slide, half using a 10 round mag and half using a 12 round mag. Same problem with the rim catching in the groove. Cleaned and lubed and went to the range with some different ammo thinking something with a little more kick would overcome the resistance of the groove - 50 rounds Blazer Brass round nose 115, 50 rounds Winchester flat point, and 11 rounds Ammo Inc. hollow points. Not because I thought these were more powerful, just different and I've had on the shelf for about a year. No failures of any kind. Went and looked at a brand new LCP Max in the gun store. Definitely didn't have the groove in the slide.

 

[LordSabre]

So I recently acquired a new condition LCP MAX after liking my LCPII so much. Unfortunately the Max not only came from the factory with a bent front sight, but a defect in the slide machining that results in a failure to go into battery for about 10% of the shots fired. Specifically, the slide does not close the last few mm, requiring the shooter to manually close it after each failure. The initial malfunction happened almost immediately, on the first trip to the range, and persisted through two boxes of ammo.

Attempting to diagnose the problem at home, I began to cycle dummy rounds through the weapon. Now- every single time I release the slide slowly, the exact same thing happens as was occurring sporadically during semi-auto fire. Having already owned the LCPII, I know that this behaviour is not normal- the LCPII will go completely into battery every time, regardless of how slowly I rack the slide.

Disassembly yields some answers. I notice that there is a little notch in the slide, directly opposite the extractor (circled in yellow). As I manipulate the slide only, without the spring installed, and try to "cycle" a round- the cartridge is fully seated in the barrel, but the face of the cartridge fails to make contact with the breach face of the slide, instead resting in the little notch (circled in orange). If I manually release tension on the extractor (pressing to the rear, past the pivot) it allows the rim of the cartridge to clear this notch and the round will seat properly. (This also rectifies the malfunction on a fully assembled weapon.)

I have included pics of the LCPII for reference. This MAX slide does not look like anything that would ever come out of a factory machine shop, given the odd shape of the notch, and given the fact that it causes such an obvious malfunction, I have no idea how it got past Ruger QC.

Does anyone else have this little notch on their slide at this same spot? Or can explain why it is there?

Thanks!

View attachment 15551

View attachment 15550

Just took my new LCP Max to the range for the first time and has this exact problem. Failed to go into battery about 20%-25% of the time.

Reached out to Ruger and they said to send it in. Let's see what happens.

Based on this posting I looked at my slide and the same groove is present on my slide.

When it did fire I found it to be quite accurate. Really hoping that this is something they can get fixed because I like the size of this little pistol as a backup gun or when even my Glock 43X is too big. But it's useless as it is.

 

[mtkfish]

Just took my new LCP Max to the range for the first time and has this exact problem. Failed to go into battery about 20%-25% of the time.

Reached out to Ruger and they said to send it in. Let's see what happens.

Based on this posting I looked at my slide and the same groove is present on my slide.

When it did fire I found it to be quite accurate. Really hoping that this is something they can get fixed because I like the size of this little pistol as a backup gun or when even my Glock 43X is too big. But it's useless as it is.

Ruger will regret the day they made the LCP Max.....a total piece of junk that was not necessary, no need in a pocket pistol with high capacity. The return rate on these guns is astonishing!!!! I would never trust my life with a Little Crappy Pistol (LCP) that can't work out of a box. My LE Agency has revoked the authorization to carry the LCP off duty because of the unreliability! Disgracefull

 

[louchia]

Ruger has great CS but I find it very puzzling the some guns ever make it out of the factory.

 

[stuartskelley]

Follow up to yesterday's post. Hand cycled about 150 rounds to try to loosen up the slide, half using a 10 round mag and half using a 12 round mag. Same problem with the rim catching in the groove. Cleaned and lubed and went to the range with some different ammo thinking something with a little more kick would overcome the resistance of the groove - 50 rounds Blazer Brass round nose 115, 50 rounds Winchester flat point, and 11 rounds Ammo Inc. hollow points. Not because I thought these were more powerful, just different and I've had on the shelf for about a year. No failures of any kind. Went and looked at a brand new LCP Max in the gun store. Definitely didn't have the groove in the slide.

Ruger replaced the slide and did some other work. The gun works much better now. This is an excellent gun for conceal carry but now there are some choices in 9mm almost as concealable and easier to shoot. 9mm ammo is less expensive too.

 

[jwsatsafcodotcom]

Had the same problem with my Ruger LCP max. 20-25% of the time after firing the slide stopped short of closing all the way stopping short 5-10 mm. The issue is the factory outer recoil spring is a 9 lbs spring. It does not consistently have enough power given the compact design of the gun to cycle the slide all the way. A company called Galloway sell a 13 lbs after market outer recoil spring that cycles the slide all the way. It's a $10 fix. With that said, a 13lbs recoil spring will give you muzzle dip on each shot (the slide dips below center after slide cycle because of the extra force), so you have to get used to it to compensate.