Ruger LCP

Ruger LCP
Ruger LCP 380 Pistol
Type	Pistol
Place of origin	United States
Production history
Manufacturer	Ruger
Produced	2008–present
Specifications
Weight	9.4 oz (270 g)
Length	5.16 in (131 mm)
Barrel length	2.75 in (70 mm)
Width	.82 in (21 mm)
Height	3.6 in (91 mm)
Cartridge	.380 ACP
Action	Single Strike Double Action Mechanism
Feed system	6 round box magazine 7 round box magazine
Sights	Fixed

The Ruger LCP (Lightweight Compact Pistol) is a subcompact, .380 ACP pocket pistol announced by Sturm, Ruger at the 2008 SHOT Show. The pistol lacks certain features required for sale in California or Massachusetts.

Weighing just 9.4 oz (266.5 g) this is Ruger's first entry into the field of tiny, ultra-light defensive pistols. LCP stands for "Lightweight Compact Pistol" and was designed in direct response to customer requests for a compact firearm for use by police as a back-up, and as a defensive handgun for civilian concealed carry needs.

The pistol has a glass-filled nylon frame, a two-finger grip, and a through-hardened blued steel slide. It is similar in appearance to the Kel-Tec P-3AT which weighs 8.3 oz. and uses a similar tension spring for the lightweight hammer, identical locked breech mechanism, and similar takedown method. The main differences are the Glock style extractor and the incorporation of an external slide stop. It is possible to tell if there is a round chambered by looking at the "view hole" next to the extractor.

In 2013, a seven-round extended magazine was released for the LCP.

On October 29, 2008, Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc. announced a recall of some of the LCP pistols with serial number prefixes less than "371-xxxxx" due to the possibility of some of the guns discharging if dropped onto a hard surface. The recall announcement stated that Ruger would upgrade the hammer system, make other unspecified improvements, and compensate the owner by providing a grip extension, which may be attached to the provided magazine.

In April 2010, Texas Governor Rick Perry brought further spotlight to the weapon when he used it to shoot a coyote that was menacing him and his daughter's Labrador retriever during a morning jog near Austin. Perry stated that the coyote put him and his dog "in imminent danger" during a stare-down, and that he drew his weapon and fired a single hollow point round when it was clear that the coyote was not backing down. Perry is licensed to carry a concealed weapon, and Texas law allows the use of deadly force against any predator that places the gun owner or his or her property in imminent danger. Neither Perry nor his dog was injured, and the governor claims to have left the dead coyote where it fell, stating that "he became mulch". Sturm Ruger has since released a "Coyote Special" edition of the gun to commemorate Perry's encounter.