LCP on the range

[mr.72]

My friend brought his LCP to the range last night and we shot it.

Little bugger is no fun to shoot, let me tell you. Grip is too small (in diameter) for me to get a good grip on it, the trigger guard pounds your trigger finger on recoil, and it is real snappy.

I don't imagine anyone would shoot one for fun. It is perfectly concealable though.

We also shot his STI Rogue. Now that's another story. Still not nearly as comfortable to shoot as my Sigma but very accurate. Everyone's groups were better with the Rogue than with any other gun.

[Kerbouchard]

That's pretty much my take on the LCP, also. I carry it when I can't carry anything else, but it is definitely not a fun gun to shoot. Feels like it wants to jump right out of your hands. On, the plus side, an LCP in a Smartcarry is completely invisible. I do have a little trouble pocketcarrying in dress slacks. Perhaps I just haven't found the right pocket holster yet, but the Desantis Nemesis prints too much for me.

[KBCraig]

The LCP, like the 3AT, has a singular purpose in life: to be carried often, and shot very little.

They're not range guns. They're guns that let you carry a gun when you can't carry more gun.

[flb_78]

I started breaking in my LCP Saturday, put 143 rounds through it. Brought it home and cleaned it up. I never even cleaned it from the factory. I'm waiting on my practice ammo to show this week. Then I'll take it out and try to put 2-300 rds through it to finish the break in. I need to practice holding onto it while I shoot. I was all over the paper with it.

[RiverRat]

I took my LCP to the range yesterday for the first time, also. The term "Snappy" about covers it. I shot about 70 rounds of 5 various types of ammo. One Rem ball, the rest HP, personal defense. Some of the hotter loads caused me to readjust my grip after each shot.....it jumped around in my hand. I couldn't find a sweet spot to grip it well.

It shot everything I loaded in it with no jams or FTF. Agree, it is not one I'll spend much time target practicing with. It was relatively accurate at 7yds, probably could be better with someone used to having to pull a double action through. It stayed within 3" of where I wanted, after adjusting [abbreviated profanity deleted] the different ammos. I honestly didn't shoot enough of any single ammo type to get familar with the indivdual characteristics.

I wouldn't pull it out to shoot at a snake and expect to hit it. I'd go get a hoe.

It does what it's made for.... ....I'll stick to the 1911's for target practice.

[mr.72]

my dad and I both tried it for the first time and thought it was not loaded correctly because the trigger pull is so long before it breaks...

yeah I agree it could be a great last option ultra concealment defense handgun. I might consider one for my wife, or a P3AT, for that very purpose. But beyond basic familiarity and proficiency I think I'd avoid shooting one at the range.

FWIW a Kahr PM9 is far better to shoot, but it's also much bigger.

[Mike from Texas]

One thing I have found on my P3AT is that I shoot it much better one handed rather than trying to get a battle grip on it and shoot it.

[Kerbouchard]

One thing I have found on my P3AT is that I shoot it much better one handed rather than trying to get a battle grip on it and shoot it.

Same thing with the LCP. It's much easier to shoot one handed, then two handed. Which is fine for me, cuz if I ever have to use it, I'm probably going to be using my weak hand to try to fend off my attacker.

[AFJailor]

Two words: Sig P232

Its my everyday concealed carry and its small enough to carry with just jeans and a t shirt (or shorts).

Plus its very fun to shoot and accurate to boot.

[mr.72]

P232 is a WHOLE LOT BIGGER than an LCP. Not even close.

Also for me, it's very uncomfortable to shoot.

Just MHO I know others like it.

[ShilohShooters]

Personally I am with AFJailor here. I will not sacrifice quality for size. The 232 is small enough to conceal easily and it makes a joyful noise everytime I press the trigger. That has not been my experience with the couple of hundred rounds I have burped through the LCP. It's kind of like comparing an STI to a Sigma...Oh wait that's already been butchered.

[Mike1951]

I would like to have an LCP, but there is no urgency, so I will wait for prices to drop.

I would point out, that for me, the most useful accessory for the P3AT is the belt clip, something not yet, or maybe not ever, available for the LCP. If I want to pocket carry, it will be a J-frame or my PM9. And certainly, if I choose to wear a belt holster, it will be for a larger gun. So without the belt clip, the LCP won't have any functionality for me.

The belt clip allows me to simply clip the P3AT to my jeans or pants and rides unseen just below my belt line. Maybe it works because I have enough overhang to completely conceal it. So it is a way to discretely carry a second gun, or third, if I so wished without added weight or discomfort.

I do not wish to denigrate the LCP for those who might have a use for it. Simply that for any possible use, I have something better.

[mr.72]

Well that STI was jam-zilla. About every third round failed to feed and it never would feed the first round without monkeying with the slide manually. I'll take my Sigma, and an LCP, and a Kahr CW9, and a few hundred bucks left over and have three reliable pistols that actually go bang rather than a range queen that is accurate but totally unreliable.

[NcongruNt]

Perhaps I've been conditioned by my PA-63, but I have no issues with the recoil nor had any serious grip/trigger guard issues with the LCP. I'm ordering a set of finger extensions for the mags that should address the limited (1 1/2 fingers) grip that I can get on it. My only similar comparison has been the NAA Backup .380, which has a considerably sharper recoil (not to mention hammer bite), but is far more accurate than the LCP. Now I'll have to bring my PA-63 to Forum Day to teach you folks what "snappy" recoil is all about!

For me, the LCP is a range gun. While I don't go shooting targets at 25 yards or anything with it, I do enjoy practicing drawing, moving, and shooting drills with it. I like shooting my LCP. Perhaps it's better suited for my hands than most of you, but I don't have the issues with recoil or shooting comfort that many of you seem to.

[fenster]

I remember trying out NcongruNt's pa-63. I tried a trigger pull, checked to make sure safety was off, tried again, did a puzzled visual inspect, and finally put the required muscle to it and got that first shot to go.

I find the lcp kinda fun to shoot. the trigger pull is long, but not stiff. the frame is tiny, but seems to find a secure spot in my grip. it seems to pretty reliably keep all hits on a paper plate at 7 yds. the sights are small, and quite vague, but it seems to point pretty naturally.

my list of gripes is rather short. small sights, need a tool to disassemble, I tried cor-bon HPs and got a hard jam (unclear-able via simple tap/rack).