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Magazine is loose?

11181 Views 13 Replies 9 Participants Last post by  Ooben
I don't know about the rest of you, but I feel the Ruger LCP OEM Magazine seems a little loose. I notice mostly because when I fire the gun, it has such a kick that my fingers around the grip actually kind of smash onto the lip/edge of the bottom of the magazine, and almost feel like it is being pulled/tugged against the magazine release catch.

I worry about long-term affects of this - i.e. could it hurt the magazine catch so much that it causes the magazine to one day fall out accidentally, like when it counts most.. ???

I read on rugerforums.com about someone who used a 3/32" Black Silicone O-Ring as a spacer to help keep it from being so loose, but I don't know if that is much of a long-term solution or if it is even warranted.

ANY THOUGHTS ON THIS?!?!?
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I havent really noticed, but next time I shoot it, I will look for it.
I just think it is a sad day when we have paid good money for our guns and still have to modify them ourselves with O-Rings! Looks like Mr. Ruger should be doing a fix for us!
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The O ring is used to take up the space between a aftermarket finger extension baseplate and the magazine.
Yes, but it would help this situation, too. Also would hide the gap that is present with the OEM magazine.

If it solves this looseness problem, I'd be happy with it. I will go get one and see if it works (again, using the OEM magazine which has a gap big enough for 3/32" o-ring easy).


Also, side topic, but alone the same lines.. Has anyone looked into modding the LCP to have an ambi-magazine catch release? I fire lefty, so....

:)
LCP_Dogg said:
Yes, but it would help this situation, too. Also would hide the gap that is present with the OEM magazine.

If it solves this looseness problem, I'd be happy with it. I will go get one and see if it works (again, using the OEM magazine which has a gap big enough for 3/32" o-ring easy).


Also, side topic, but alone the same lines.. Has anyone looked into modding the LCP to have an ambi-magazine catch release? I fire lefty, so....

Have shot left handed for over 50 years, every semi I owned back then and right up until present was built for a right hand shooter. I have zero problems with the mag releases built for rightie's. I really think I am extremely fast even with my left index finger doing all the work. My Smith M & P has the ambi mag release and to be honest I never use the right side part of it . It certainly is not on my priority list for a semi auto. If anything I wish Ruger would have incorporated an auto slide lock instead of a manual one, I realize it is not needed for 99% of people who carry without a spare magazine but it sure would be nice for general range shooting, but again, that would not stop me from owning one, or two of the lcps. These are striclty defense gun and the less moving parts the better for me.. great gun that little lcp..

:)
Two O-rings 1/16th in. wall, 1/2 inch diameter together will help to hide the gap. I prefer one O-ring at the bottom of the mag - it hides the gap a bit and keeps the mag snug. If you want a few, PM with your snailer.
I shot it some more today and it didn't bother me as much. Once out of maybe 50 rounds I had to check on it because it felt like the magazine had released and was sticking out slightly. But memory should have reminded me that gravity should have made the mag fall if indeed it had been released. And sure enough, it was locked in there, just kind of wiggly.

On my AR-15, my mag fits VERY tight and in fact the guys on ar15.com had indicated that often times you can have a failure to feed if the mag is pushed up in there too far, or it is resting on the magazine, or the magazine is hanging down because it is loose and is heavy (e.g. 30 rounds)..

So that is why it is bothering me so much with the LCP magazine. I'd hate to fire a shot and have pulled on the mag some way that caused the next round not to load properly or jam up. So I am concerned mostly about that happening, but of course it has not happened yet. So far this little guy has had an amazing display. I'm very proud and pleased to own one.

Kraig: Thanks, although I was planning to hit up True Value tomorrow and pick some up. They're having a going out of business 50% off sale and I figured it would be a good oppty to stop in and say both hi and goodbye. :) I planned on getting some 1/32 and a 3/32. I didn't know which diameter, though, was planning to bring the mag with me. But thanks, I'll look for 1/2".
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You need a 1/16th in. wall o-ring. If the wall is too thick, e.g., 1/8th it will snag. If you look at the www.mcmaster.com site you want equivalent to their 9464K19, a 1/16th wall, half inch diameter Vitron ring. Shown with two rings, I now use just use one to keep the mag snug - I don't get crazy over the gap.

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I think a note of appreciation to kraigster414 is in order. What a thoughtful gesture to send O-rings to tighten the fit of the LCP magazine. Thanks.

P7
My pleasure P7.

And welcome! :)
2
Here's my solution, of course it involves little pieces of plastic... :D





Regards,
Mike
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Ooben, does that shim go all the way up the mag well or just on the heel/baseplate?
96GTS said:
Ooben, does that shim go all the way up the mag well or just on the heel/baseplate?
Hi GTS, the shim is just on the heel. It's just enough to keep the mag from wiggling around, it really didn't seem to make a difference in the function of the LCP, the wiggling just bugged the heck out of me :D
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