O.T. New Pistol Review.

[jkevinlilly]

I finally picked up a Ruger LCP (Lightweight Compact Pistol) over the weekend. .380 caliber, 7 shot, small, light, and you can drop it in the front jeans pocket, or a holster clipped to the inside of your boot and it blends right in. Recoil is a bit more than expected, probably due to the small size, and light weight. Not a good gun if you have big hands. Seems to be accurate, but still getting used to the feel of a double action semi-auto, never had one before. And since it is a Ruger, it should only appreciate over the years. I have a .22 single six that Mom bought me in 79, since I wasn't old enough, that has went from $139, to $400-450 since then.

Kevin

[Coyote]

I assume you bought this for home protection and not for picking off those pesky neighbors kids I have 3 myself. A Bersa .380 semi, a Smith and Wesson 6 shot revolver and a Rusian Makerov .380 semi. The Makerov is new (never been shot). It was a police carry for many years in Russia. I bought it and a box of 50 shells at a gun show here. I paid $80.00 for the whole mess. Came with holster and extra clip. I have seen these selling for around $400 now. A few other guys I know that bought them say it is an extremely accurate hand gun. But like all short barreled guns, it is only accurate for short distances. My next want is a 12 ga. lever action with a sawed off barrel. I think there is no better deterrent than the sound of a lever action cocking. Feet don't fail me now

[jkevinlilly]

No Chris, it is not for home protection. I have a 12 ga. pump for that. This is for concealed carry. I figure I can talk my way out of 98% of any situations I get into, but you can't reason with druggies or insanity, and regretfully they are both out there. This is to replace my normal CCW, a CZ-52. Chec made military surplus, 7.62X25, not pretty, but very well made, and tough as a boat anchor. The LCP is not nearly as effective, but adaquate and easier to carry without being noticable and making others nervous.

It is accurate, and like any Ruger, will appreciate with age. I have a .22 single six that my Mom bought me when I was 19,(to young to buy it myself) for $139. Now they are going for $450 around here. But the LCP is not a gun for those with large hands. Then again, I don't have that issue, so it works well for me.

Just wish the ammo was cheaper, but that is life in todays world.

Kevin

[tz375]

I was looking for a 380 some years ago, and tested a bunch of them at a range in TX where I was at the time. I found the Walther PPK to be the most accurate if I took the time to aim it, but the SIG 230 was far better for quick draw, no time to aim situations. I eventually realized that the grip angle is slightly different so it sits more naturally in my hand.

Both nice, but for my wrists, the SIG was a better solution.

Ruger 9mm used to be the staple at one range I shot at and I was not impressed with their accuracy. The 22 bull barrel MK2 was a whole other story. Fun to shoot and more accurate than I was.

[Craig380]

It's a little odd reading this thread from a UK perspective, where (legal) gun ownership is very rare, and of course people are not allowed to carry loaded firearms publicly, whether concealed or not. Further, using a firearm for home defence would see the homeowner in court for discharging a weapon illegally.

Given the ease with which criminals seem to obtain guns, it wouldn't be a bad idea if the UK general public could arm themselves.

The quaint old notions of honourable criminals and smiling British 'bobbies on the beat' are long gone ... if they were ever real in the first place.

[two-stroke-brit]

I had an interesting chat with a officer from the sheriffs department about the difference between uk and us , and basically he said if everyone is armed it's a level playing field but not everyone is going to be rational about settling small disputes without it escalating into a quick draw comp.
But what about when you go touring from state to state and the laws on concealed carries change?
I guess you must check ahead before you go ?
Cheers mark

[markj]

I had an interesting chat with a officer from the sheriffs department about the difference between uk and us , and basically he said if everyone is armed it's a level playing field but not everyone is going to be rational about settling small disputes without it escalating into a quick draw comp.
But what about when you go touring from state to state and the laws on concealed carries change?
I guess you must check ahead before you go ?
Cheers mark

That's correct Mark. Different states have different laws and not all allow you to carry without a permit specific to that state. Unless your activly work in law enforcement that is. In that case you are allowed to carry in any state even while off duty.

[Barry S.]

My Alabama pistol permit is honored in many other states, there is a list on the back. I have a Springfield XD9 that I like a lot but it is too large for a pocket gun, I would like to have a Ruger .380 for that.

[doug rooney]

Here in the "Socialist State" of Wi, there are no carry permits allowed but hopefully that will change with a new Governor. The law has passed the legislature twice and vetoed by our Warm, fuzzy, Gov Doyle. I'm all for it passing. There are so many guns on the streets and I have my share (legally), that it's time for responsible folks to start packin'. Those who would be issued a permit I feel would need to be carefully screened by the appropriate authorities. That leaves me out and I know it. My temper can be short and I don't need to be settling a road rage incident with gunfire. I WOULD NOT apply for one if I can. That's just me but there are many responsible citizens who SHOULD be armed to protect us all. My $.02

[markj]

I don't always carry off duty but when I do it's usually a 5-shot j-frame revolver. Small, compact and easy to get to if the stuff ever hits the fan.

[jkevinlilly]

In WV the laws are a whole lot more liberal than most. If the weapon is unconcealed, you can carry it without any type of permit. Seriously, you can go grocery shopping legally carrying a pistol as long as it is in plain sight. But this rarely actually happens. If you carry one concealed you have to have a permit, which is obtainable by taking a fairly simple class, and passing a police background check. Only exceptions are you cannot carry in Govt. buildings, on school property, or anywhere it is plainly posted that you are not allowed to have one. The law used to be a lot more restrictive, until a state constitutional ammendment was passed by a 2/3rds+ majority to change it to what it is today.

And amazingly, when the law changed, WV did not turn into the wild, wild west, like the gun control folks predicted it would.

Overall, we have real low crime rates compared to a lot of places. There may not be a relationship, but then again, there may be.

Now on the other hand, cross over into Maryland and see how the world works regarding gun control and crime rates.

WV currentyly has reciprocity with 17 other states, which mean if you are legal for CCW in WV, you are legal there. But you have to live by the laws of whatever state you are going into. Be sure to research them before you go. There are a couple other states that recognize a WV CCW permit as allowing you to carry, but have not yet signed on formally to reciprocity. One or two that do not require any permit for concealed carry. And several that no matter what you do, you can't carry a concealed weapon legally.

Kevin

[johnakay]

are you a copper markj ?

[jkevinlilly]

Some points to think about.

Why Carry a Gun?

I don't carry a gun to kill people.
I carry a gun to keep from being killed.

I don't carry a gun to scare people.
I carry a gun because sometimes this world can be a scary place.

I don't carry a gun because I'm paranoid.
I carry a gun because there are real threats in the world.

I don't carry a gun because I'm evil.
I carry a gun because I have lived long enough to see the evil in the world.

I don't carry a gun because I hate the government.
I carry a gun because I understand the limitations of government.

I don't carry a gun because I'm angry.
I carry a gun so that I don't have to spend the rest of my life hating myself for failing to be prepared.

I don't carry a gun because I want to shoot someone.
I carry a gun because I want to die at a ripe old age in my bed, and not on a sidewalk somewhere tomorrow afternoon.

I don't carry a gun because I'm a cowboy.
I carry a gun because, when I die and go to heaven, I want to be a cowboy.

I don't carry a gun to make me feel like a man.
I carry a gun because men know how to take care of themselves and the ones they love.

I don't carry a gun because I feel inadequate.
I carry a gun because unarmed and facing three armed thugs, I am inadequate.

I don't carry a gun because I love it.
I carry a gun because I love life and the people who make it meaningful to me.

Police protection is an oxymoron.

Free citizens must protect themselves.

Police do not protect you from crime, they usually just investigate the crime after it happens and then call someone in to clean up the mess.

Kevin