Feeding New Ruger 9mm EC9s and .380 LCP-II

ChasHam · August 27, 2018, 03:11 PM

I used an outdoor store discount coupon to plug a carry-gun gap in the old gun safe with a Ruger EC9s 9mm and a Ruger LCP-II .380. Unfortunately, I won't be able to get to the range for a couple of weeks to try them out.

In the meanwhile though, I manually cycled several magazines of FMJ through each of them and both fed, extracted and ejected just fine.

Then I tried the same exercise with the EC9s but using 9mm Federal Classic 115 Hi-Shok JHP-- pulling the slide fully to the rear and letting it slam home.

Repeatedly on the 3rd or 4th round in each magazine-full, the cartridge nose-jammed into the feed ramp and wouldn't chamber. I'm wondering if I can look forward to a repeat performance when I get to the range.

Any suggestions from Ruger LCP-II and EC9s owners on what you feed those little guys to keep them happy ?

MisterCrabby · August 27, 2018, 03:26 PM

Put 600 or do factory ammo through my lcp II with a couple of stovepipes early on. No issues in last 400 rounds since.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

ChasHam · August 27, 2018, 05:24 PM

What kind of ammo?

TailGator · August 27, 2018, 05:29 PM

Live fire moves the slide much more vigorously than anything we can do by hand. My advice would be to not lose sleep over the failures in the 9 until you are sure it is real. Don't trust it for defense, yet, of course, either, but don't reach any conclusions until you get to the range.

ChasHam · August 28, 2018, 07:58 AM

That hadn't occured to me; I'll stay optimistic!

MisterCrabby · August 28, 2018, 11:13 AM

I don't remember. Probably some cheap, generic practice ammo.

ChasHam · September 12, 2018, 02:38 PM

Finally got to the range today to exercise the new pistols. The news is good.

The 9mm EC9s digested and spit out anything I threw at it: factory 115 FMJ; factory 124 FMJ; some 115 lead round nose I had hand-cast and reloaded 35 or so years ago with 4.3 gr Bullseye powder and some 115 FMJ reloads from the same time period; the afore-mentioned Federal Classic 115 Hi-Shok JHP and three unknown weight truncated flat point factory rounds a previous shooter left on the shooting bench. All rounds shot tight enough groups to point of aim at around 7-8 yards.

The .380 LCP II did well too using a few different factory FMJ 94 and FMJ 95 gr loads. Shot pretty decent groups about an inch low at 7-8 yards. Noise and recoil were noticeable. In fact the perceived recoil was greater than that of the EC9s-- but with it being so light and a short barrel, I'm not surprised.

No jams, feeding or ejection problems with either gun. Neither would be my choice for a bullseye match though, as the triggers were of necessity on the heavy side. I also thought they were a little gritty on take up.

Overall, they're perfect for what I bought them for though- lightweight, compact, very concealable every day carry. Good job, Ruger!

tallball · September 12, 2018, 06:07 PM

Pro Tip: It's possible to conceal an LCP in the breast pocket of a large shirt, such as a flannel.

Mosin44az · September 13, 2018, 10:27 PM

Hogue sells a wraparound grip that attaches using the rear frame pin of the LCP. Helps soften recoil significantly.

ChasHam · September 14, 2018, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mosin44az

Hogue sells a wraparound grip that attaches using the rear frame pin of the LCP. Helps soften recoil significantly.

Thanks for the tip-- definitely worth a look.

gnystrom · September 27, 2018, 01:05 PM

I have about 600 trouble free rounds through my LCP II and no issues to date. A couple of boxes of Hornady Critical Defense, 150 Sig factory round nose, and most importantly 300+ of handloads using assorted brass.
It has been a great little gun.

Jackson Hammersmith · October 10, 2018, 08:52 PM

After 3 trips back to Ruger I got a replacement LCP II, put 200 rounds through it and had 2-3 FTE’s so I sold it. I’ll never buy another Ruger again. Even the last 10-22 I bought had issues

tallball · October 13, 2018, 09:54 AM

My LCP II and the P3AT that preceded it shot every type of cheap 380 range ammo that I shoved into them, mostly my FiL's reloads, but also samples of anything else they sell cheaply at Academy or Wally World. I don't shoot HP's through my 380's, so I'm no help with that one.

August 27, 2018, 03:11 PM	#1
ChasHam Senior Member Join Date: August 27, 2018 Location: Deep South Posts: 130	Feeding New Ruger 9mm EC9s and .380 LCP-II I used an outdoor store discount coupon to plug a carry-gun gap in the old gun safe with a Ruger EC9s 9mm and a Ruger LCP-II .380. Unfortunately, I won't be able to get to the range for a couple of weeks to try them out. In the meanwhile though, I manually cycled several magazines of FMJ through each of them and both fed, extracted and ejected just fine. Then I tried the same exercise with the EC9s but using 9mm Federal Classic 115 Hi-Shok JHP-- pulling the slide fully to the rear and letting it slam home. Repeatedly on the 3rd or 4th round in each magazine-full, the cartridge nose-jammed into the feed ramp and wouldn't chamber. I'm wondering if I can look forward to a repeat performance when I get to the range. Any suggestions from Ruger LCP-II and EC9s owners on what you feed those little guys to keep them happy ? Last edited by ChasHam; August 27, 2018 at 07:26 PM.

September 12, 2018, 02:38 PM	#7
ChasHam Senior Member Join Date: August 27, 2018 Location: Deep South Posts: 130	RESOLVED Finally got to the range today to exercise the new pistols. The news is good. The 9mm EC9s digested and spit out anything I threw at it: factory 115 FMJ; factory 124 FMJ; some 115 lead round nose I had hand-cast and reloaded 35 or so years ago with 4.3 gr Bullseye powder and some 115 FMJ reloads from the same time period; the afore-mentioned Federal Classic 115 Hi-Shok JHP and three unknown weight truncated flat point factory rounds a previous shooter left on the shooting bench. All rounds shot tight enough groups to point of aim at around 7-8 yards. The .380 LCP II did well too using a few different factory FMJ 94 and FMJ 95 gr loads. Shot pretty decent groups about an inch low at 7-8 yards. Noise and recoil were noticeable. In fact the perceived recoil was greater than that of the EC9s-- but with it being so light and a short barrel, I'm not surprised. No jams, feeding or ejection problems with either gun. Neither would be my choice for a bullseye match though, as the triggers were of necessity on the heavy side. I also thought they were a little gritty on take up. Overall, they're perfect for what I bought them for though- lightweight, compact, very concealable every day carry. Good job, Ruger! Last edited by ChasHam; September 13, 2018 at 07:54 AM.

August 27, 2018, 03:26 PM	#2
MisterCrabby Member Join Date: August 16, 2018 Posts: 90	Put 600 or do factory ammo through my lcp II with a couple of stovepipes early on. No issues in last 400 rounds since. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

August 27, 2018, 05:24 PM	#3
ChasHam Senior Member Join Date: August 27, 2018 Location: Deep South Posts: 130	What kind of ammo?

August 27, 2018, 05:29 PM	#4
TailGator Senior Member Join Date: May 8, 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 3,787	Live fire moves the slide much more vigorously than anything we can do by hand. My advice would be to not lose sleep over the failures in the 9 until you are sure it is real. Don't trust it for defense, yet, of course, either, but don't reach any conclusions until you get to the range.

August 28, 2018, 07:58 AM	#5
ChasHam Senior Member Join Date: August 27, 2018 Location: Deep South Posts: 130	That hadn't occured to me; I'll stay optimistic!

August 28, 2018, 11:13 AM	#6
MisterCrabby Member Join Date: August 16, 2018 Posts: 90	I don't remember. Probably some cheap, generic practice ammo.

September 12, 2018, 06:07 PM	#8
tallball Senior Member Join Date: October 17, 2014 Posts: 2,444	Pro Tip: It's possible to conceal an LCP in the breast pocket of a large shirt, such as a flannel.

September 13, 2018, 10:27 PM	#9
Mosin44az Senior Member Join Date: January 15, 2006 Posts: 2,585	Hogue sells a wraparound grip that attaches using the rear frame pin of the LCP. Helps soften recoil significantly.

September 27, 2018, 01:05 PM	#11
gnystrom Senior Member Join Date: July 30, 2006 Posts: 308	I have about 600 trouble free rounds through my LCP II and no issues to date. A couple of boxes of Hornady Critical Defense, 150 Sig factory round nose, and most importantly 300+ of handloads using assorted brass. It has been a great little gun.

October 10, 2018, 08:52 PM	#12
Jackson Hammersmith Member Join Date: February 10, 2017 Location: North Central Iowa Posts: 31	After 3 trips back to Ruger I got a replacement LCP II, put 200 rounds through it and had 2-3 FTE’s so I sold it. I’ll never buy another Ruger again. Even the last 10-22 I bought had issues

October 13, 2018, 09:54 AM	#13
tallball Senior Member Join Date: October 17, 2014 Posts: 2,444	My LCP II and the P3AT that preceded it shot every type of cheap 380 range ammo that I shoved into them, mostly my FiL's reloads, but also samples of anything else they sell cheaply at Academy or Wally World. I don't shoot HP's through my 380's, so I'm no help with that one.