Ruger LCP vs LCP II

Today I will be comparing the Ruger LCP to the LCP II and its Lite version. Ruger introduced LCP in 2008, and it was a huge success, taking over concealed-carry. Despite the gun’s popularity, there were still some complaints about its design. Some people felt that the trigger was too long, and that other features were poor.
Ruger LCP II was introduced to address these issues. While the Ruger LCP II was wildly popular, its second-generation was a huge success. Ruger saw the success of both guns and decided to make the Ruger LCP II design a.22-style pistol, the Ruger LCP II Lite. I will be comparing all three firearms to determine which one is the best for you.
Table of contentsSizeRuger LCP vs LCP II/Lite Concealed CarryCarry PositionsErgonomics overallFrameGrip: Buyer’s PreferenceTexture: Slide LCP vs LCP IILCP 2SightsControlsSafetyTrigger LCP vs LCP IIRuger LCPRuger LCP IIRuger LCP II LiteSlide StopsProblems Magazine Release LCP vs LCP IIMagazine WellQualityAftermarketAestheticsShootingAccuracyRuger LCP II LitePrice/ValueFinal ThoughtsReliabilityRelated ArticlesPros/ConsRuger LCP ProsRuger LCP ConsLCP II ProsLCP II ConsRuger LCP II Lite ProsLCP II Lite Cons
Size
MetricsRuger LCPRuger LCP IIRuger LCP II LiteWeight w/ no mag (Oz)8.89.59.7Weight w/ empty mag (Oz)9.910.711.0Weight w/ full mag (Oz)1212.812.2Height (top of slide to bottom of magazine baseplate) (Inches)3.63.63.92Length (Inches)5.195.155.15Width of grip (Inches)0.760.9.9Width of slide (Inches)0.760.82.82Width across controls (Inches)0.8370.86.94As you can see from our chart, the size of these guns is dang near identical. Due to the magazine design, the Ruger LCP II Lite is a little more than half an inch longer than the other options. Ruger LCP II Lit holds 10 rounds of ammunition. It is slightly longer than the flush-fit magazines Ruger LCP II and LCP II. The LCP II and LCP II both hold six rounds of.380.
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The LCP II is almost an ounce heavier than the classic LCP. There are two dimensions that are significantly different. The grip width of the classic LCP is significantly smaller than that of LCP II and LCP II Lite. It is about an eighth of an in thinner than the other guns. Although it may not seem like much, concealment will be affected for some people. It’s a significant percentage difference, if you look at it from that perspective.
Another dimension to consider is the width of the controls. Ruger LCP II is approximately a tenth of inch larger than regular Ruger LCP. This is due to the push-style safety feature on the Lite. This safety style adds some width. This safety style is very small and will not affect concealment for 99 per cent of users.
Ruger LCP vs LCP I/Lite Concealed Carry
All of these guns can be concealed carried. They are almost identical in size, weight and appearance. They can be carried in almost identical ways. These guns can be carried either inside the waistband (IWB), or in the pocket. These guns can also be used for more niche purposes, such as ankle or boot carry.
I have been known to carry a small,.380 in my cowboy boots many times before. Although this is a great way to carry a firearm, it is not an easy-to-access carry option. All these guns are well-suited for those who weigh well below the 16-ounce limit. Due to the Ruger LCP’s slightly narrower grip and width, I can’t see any advantage to it over the LCP II. This is especially important if you are wearing a more fitted or tighter shirt. This could be a problem if you use the gun to run, jog, or exercise in the gym.
Carry Positions
These guns should be carried at three o’clock for these activities. The three o’clock position is the best for concealment. It also provides the best natural tension for your waistband. At this point, your waistband curves around your hip and provides a stable platform for the gun. This is something you won’t get if the gun is carried further behind the hip or at an appendix position.
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This is especially important for cardio exercises where you will be moving a lot. You can just grab your phone and run for a few seconds. You’ll notice that your phone moves a lot. The same thing happens to a gun if it’s not supported or has less support when it’s carried behind the hip or at the appendix. You’ll notice a tighter fit between your waistband, your hips, and your body if you carry it forward or behind your hips.
Ergonomics in general
These handguns have very different ergonomics. The LCP II and LCP II Lite have identical ergonomics. We’ll treat these guns as one gun design in this instance. The Ruger LCP is very different.
Frame
These frames are all made without modularity. What you see is what your get. The Ruger LCP’s frame is thinner and more comfortable in my hand. This is a strange choice for me, as I normally prefer larger pistols. This frame feels more comfortable in the hand. It’s very well-rounded in the rear, which I cannot say for the Ruger LCP II. It doesn’t feel as comfortable there.
Grip: Buyer’s Preference
Both the Ruger LCP II/Lite and the Ruger LCP are very short in terms of grip length. With the flush-fit magazines, I can get three-quarters my middle finger on the bottom part of the grip. Ruger LCP II Lite’s grip is longer so I can get my entire middle finger on there. However, I can’t get any pinky on that grip.
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Despite this, the Lite gives me more control due to its longer grip. I’ve spoken to people who prefer Ruger LCP II ergonomics to the original LCP. It will all come down to personal preference. Ruger LCP II will not be as well-suited for most users, so I believe the Ruger LCP is better. We’ll discuss this in the shooting section.
Texture:
Both of these designs have a very good texture. Ruger has a good texture on the sides, back strap, front straps. Ruger LCP II’s texturing seems to be more aggressive on the front than on the back straps. The sides, however, have less aggressive texturing. This is a good thing, as the gun’s side will be against your body.
They have texturing on their backstrap and serrations on their front strap. They also have texture on their sides. The original Ruger LCP’s texturing is excellent. I have no complaints about any of the texturing, but I do prefer the Ruger LCP II texturing. It’s a modern touch that is better than the checkering on LCP I. These guns have a perfect texture that is appropriate for the design. You’ll be satisfied with either the Ruger LCP II or the original Ruger LCP.
Slide LCP vs LCP I
This is the most significant difference between these firearms, other than the ergonomics. It is difficult to use the Ruger LCP slide. This gun is a small.380 and has a heavy recoil spring. It is not the easiest slide to rack, unless you are very familiar with firearms. I rack pistols quite often throughout my day. Those are muscles that I have developed specifically and can use very well.
Most people are not like me and don’t use pistols as often as I do. If this is the case, the slide will be very difficult to rack due to its weight. Although the serrations at its rear are adequate, they aren’t great. They could be improved.
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It would be great to see Ruger LCP with deeper serrations. There are no front serrations on the Ruger LCP. This means that you can only rack the slide by taking your thumb and index finger and pulling the slide back. Although you could do it overhand with your palm, this slide is small enough that it’s difficult for me to punch the slides using my thumb and index fingers.
LCP 2
Separately, the Ruger LCP II has deep and well-placed serrations on the front and back of the slide. They are angled so that you can rack in a natural position. This gun also has a lighter retool spring. I find the punch method to be more enjoyable with this gun, as well as using the front serrations for pressing-checking.
This gun is much easier to use for most users. Ruger LCP II is better than the Ruger LCP II. The Ruger Ruger LCP II Light, on the other side, has the same serrations that the Ruger SCP. This is a great feature, but the recoil spring is very light. I think a five-year old could actually operate the Ruger LCP II. It’s easy and light to rack the slide — that’s why they added “Lite” at end of the name.
Sights
All of these guns have nearly identical sights. They are very low-profile and are milled into each slide. They are designed to not snag when you use the gun or take it out of your pocket. The Ruger LCP II design has serrations in the front and rear sights, while the Ruger LCP does not have any. The original Ruger LCP sights may have a bit more glare than the LCP II and LCP II Lite sights.
This means that I will have to give points to the LCP. But let’s face it, these sights aren’t great on either pistol. To make the Ruger LCP more high-contrast, I applied a little nail polish to its front sight. I will do the same to my Ruger LCP IIs. It is difficult to see the front sight on these guns and it is a weak point in their design.
These guns’ rear notch is actually not that bad. Ruger should have installed a front sight that is interchangeable or more contrast and kept the rear sight design they currently have.
Controls
These guns will have very similar controls, with one exception. That’s the Ruger LCP II Lite. We’ll get to that in a moment.
Safety
These guns do not have any external safety. The Ruger LCP II Lite, which is rimfire, has a push-forward safety at its rear on the left-hand side. This safety is designed for right-handed users and would be difficult for left-handed users to use. Personally, I don’t like the design. This is my biggest complaint about the Ruger LCP II Lite.
It’s difficult to control the safety and it’s in a terrible position. It would have been helpful if they could have moved it a bit further. I can see why they didn’t move it further forward. We’ll talk about that later when we begin talking about the slide stop. Safety is good, but not great. This is my biggest complaint with the Ruger LCP II Lite.
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Trigger LCP vs LCP II
Each gun will have a different trigger. People had a lot of complaints about the Ruger LCP’s long and heavy trigger pull. Heavy triggers seem to be a part of the territory with these small.380s. Each of these triggers will be covered separately.
Ruger LCP
The original Ruger LCP trigger has a slight takeup. Once you feel the trigger, it will be easy to pull. It is not short; it feels more like an automatic pistol. Although some people dislike the long pull, I find it manageable and pleasant as long as I pull through consistently. It is my favorite trigger among the.380 Ruger LCPs. It is much better than the Ruger LCP II trigger. Despite this, I am not the only one who prefers to trigger Ruger LCP II.
Ruger LCP II
Ruger LCP II trigger is similar in that it is a hammer fired trigger that is half pre-cocked. This trigger has light take-up, more like a striker fired trigger. Then you’ll go in and feel a bit of a rolling break. It’s somewhere in between a hard break and a rolling one. It’s shorter than the LCP and is a good trigger for small guns like this.
It’s predictable, and it doesn’t suit me on a small.380 with a lot of recoil. A trigger that surprises me slightly is better because it’s less likely for me to flinch. If you don’t mind flinching when you shoot a small.380 pistol with lots of recoils, you might consider the LCP II trigger.
Ruger LCP II Lite
Ruger LCP II Lite’s trigger feels very much like a striker fired trigger. After your light takeup, you’ll go in for some creep. This creep will be quite heavy before you reach a very hard break. It’s still a very shotable trigger, I would say.
Slide Stops
These guns also have a slide lock that is slightly different. My Ruger LCP II slide locks don’t work due to a problem in the magazine follower. This prevents the gun from reliably pushing up the lock. This is a common problem with small firearms, according to my gun shop. It doesn’t cause reliability problems, so it’s worth not sending it back to Ruger.
This slide lock is difficult to use. To lock it back, manually press the slide to the rear. It does drop quite easily if it is locked back. This design is not something I dislike, but it’s not something I love. It is low-profile and doesn’t get in the way. It’s a nice addition, but it doesn’t do much to the gun. A slide lock is not something I consider very important on these small backup pistols.
The standard Ruger LCP has a great slide lock, despite its small size. It’s made of rolled and textured sheet steel that sticks out just enough to allow you to press it up to lock your slide back manually or to drop it. Ruger’s design is amazing.
Problems
It’s the same as the Ruger LCP II Lite slide lock, with the exception that the push-button safety is located in front of the Lite slide lock. This push-button safety makes it difficult to access the slide lock.
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It is possible, but it is not as easy if you have a strong grip. My thumb joint is perfectly in that position so I can do it. However, if someone has shorter or longer thumbs than me, that safety issue will be a problem. To drop the slag, they will have to give up their grip.
LCP II vs Magazine Release LCP
All these guns have a magazine release that works by pushing a button. It is not ambidextrous. It works well for me and I don’t see anyone having any problems with it. The magazine should be accessible to anyone without compromising their grip on either gun. When it comes to magazine release, I don’t see any difference between Ruger LCP and Ruger LCP II.
Magazine Well
Loading the Ruger LCP II seems a little easier than loading the original LCP. It is slightly easier to load the LCP II magazine, and it seems to go a lot smoother when I lift my hand up to get it in.
Sometimes I have to use a different technique in order to fully see the magazine on the classic LCP. To ensure that the magazine is properly seated, I must first go up and place it in the slide. Then, I need to wrap my fingers around the slide and push the magazine with my thumb. It can be a bit awkward, but it ensures that the magazine is securely seated in the firearm.
Quality
These guns are almost identical in quality. I couldn’t tell any difference in the quality of any of them. These slides and the frame materials look identical. They also have identical texture and finishes. Although the Ruger LCP II has the better serrations, I don’t believe that this is an indication of the pistol’s quality.
Aftermarket
These guns have very few options for aftermarket. You will see more aftermarket options on the.380 series than the.22 Lite. These guns have a few aftermarket triggers. These, along with some magazine extensions and parts, are all you need for these guns. These guns are not suitable for anyone who wants guns that can be modified completely.
Aesthetics
The standard Ruger LCP looks better to me, both aesthetically and functionally. It just feels slightly more proportional than other guns. It’s not a show-stopper, but it’s not bad. The LCP II’s muzzle is narrow and the grip is very wide. The Ruger LCP is similar, but the grip seems less extreme. The grip isn’t as large on the Ruger LCP, so I prefer that firearm’s appearance.
Shooting
This is where you’ll see a greater difference in each firearm. The LCP II and Ruger LCP have a lot of recoils. The Ruger LCP II Lite, which is a.22, has very little recoil. We’ll first cover the.380 LCPs, then we’ll discuss the Lite.
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It is clear that either one of these guns is not enjoyable to shoot. Even if you have larger hands, the.380 recoil of such a small gun is not enjoyable. These grips can be very difficult to control. You’ll likely feel less recoil if you have smaller hands than someone with larger hands.
Accuracy
Ruger LCP II is a bit more accurate than the LCP II when it comes to shooting. This is due to the ergonomics and heavy trigger pull. This trigger forces me not to pay as much attention to the little hand cannon’s recoil but to my pull.
This gun is not one I can shoot for very long. I feel flinchy quickly due to the recoil of these small pistols. This is despite the fact that I have tried dry fire, dummy rounds and ball. These guns are just too recoily and not fun to shoot. This is where I will be told by commenters how stupid I am. It’s not that I don’t enjoy shooting.44 Magnum handguns, but it is fun to shoot these lightweight.380s. These guns are great for my first shot, but I find my group size increases dramatically after that.
Ruger LCP II Lite
Ruger LCP II Lite is a very easy gun to shoot accurately. As you get further out, the sights of this gun can become a problem. This is partly because you don’t know how your ammo will be regulated, since these sights are not adjustable.
The gun tracks well on target, and if you are very close (e.g. It’s possible to hit a dime-sized target from three yards away. You can quickly move back to five to seven yards and your target will be three to four inches wide.
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This is all down to the sights on this gun. You can still shoot a tight group if you bring the gun back to 10 yards. It may not be point of-aim, but point-of impact. Depending on the ammunition you use, your point-of aim, and point-of impact will likely change dramatically.
Price/Value
The MSRP for the LCP is $259, while the going price for the LCP II or II Lite is $349. The LCP is a significant value over the LCP II. However, the LCP II’s trigger and slide design may make the II more appealing to you. The LCP II Lite is a truly exceptional product. It is well worth the extra $90 if you are looking for low recoil and shootability.
Final Thoughts
This argument boils down to whether.22 or the.380 caliber is better for self-defense. This article has not covered everything. A.22 well-placed on target is my personal preference. The Ruger LCP II Lite makes shot placement very important. Regular Ruger LCPs aren’t very powerful when they are.380-round. The compromise is always.380 rounds (or any pistol). It would be better to have a rifle-caliber in self-defense situations or to avoid it altogether. However, sometimes we don’t have the option and must accept the cards that are dealt to us.
Personally, I would choose a Ruger LCP II Lite equipped with.22-caliber velocitors. I have used them in the gun and they work reliably. If you decide to purchase the Ruger LCP II Lite I recommend that you test the ammo before you buy it.
Reliability
Your LCP II Lite may not run as well as your buddy’s LCP II Lite. This is the downside to the Ruger LCP II Lite, which is better than the other.380 models. The.380 variants will be more picky about ammo. However, a friend of mine has had many issues with his Ruger LCP II Lite and has decided that it’s easier to run ball ammunition in his Ruger LCP.
You have to decide which gun is best for you. The Ruger LCP II can be used if you prefer the Ruger LCP’s heavier trigger and slimmer profile. However, the Ruger LCP II is certainly easier to rack for most users. Many people may prefer that trigger. Ruger LCP II Lite is a great gun if you are comfortable with a.22. The only downside to the gun is the thumb-safety. Let me know what you think below.
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