Background:

I have a relatively new LCP2 with a built in laser. It came with a 6-round magazine which I've loaded with defense rounds, and recently I ordered two more, one a 6-round and one a 7-round for use at the range. Took the gun to for its first trip to the range with the two newly ordered magazines to verify the POA of the laser, and found I had to press the magazine latch to get either magazines in. Once that was done, they worked fine.

However, I've never owned or shot a gun where you had to futz with a release to get magazines in place, so this seemed odd. Got home, checked my order info and, sure enough, I'd ordered old LCP magazines, rather than LCP 2 ones.

Went to the trusty PDF manual, and the LCP 2 manual says

quote:

RUGER® LCP® magazines will function in the LCP® II for normal firing, however the last round hold open for the slide will not activate using the 6-round standard LCP® magazines. Seven-round extended LCP® magazines are NOT compatible with the LCP® II.

Then, I checked found that that the magazine that came with the pistol also needs me to press the mag latch to insert it.
So..now I'm confused...

On to the questions:

1) Anyone own a .380 LCP 2 who can confirm whether or not the normal mags fully insert without messing with the latch?

2) Followon questions, assuming the factory mags should load without needing the latch depressed:

2a) what would be the best way to confirm whether the issue is with the factory-issued mag (did they maybe ship the wrong magazine with the gun) or with the gun itself?

2b) the two new 'LCP' style mags being only for dedicated range use, do I really care about the extra step? Is it worth getting a new set of mags or just press the latch to load when I'm on the range? Thinking the latter.

Download the mags by one & then test again. I'm assuming your inserting them on a closed slide?
I could insert a fully loaded mag (6 or 7 round) but had to smack it good on the 7 rounder to get it to seat.

I never had that issue with my LCP 2. I recently sold the pistol to a good friend of mine wanting something he can trust without issue. I carried and shot it without issue but carried a larger gun more and had no need of the Ruger, as it was a little small for me. We both inserted the mags and not once did we have to mess with the mag. release to lock them in. I would load the gun just as I would as any other gun I have-slide down/fully forward/closed, insert mag and then rack the slide to load.

The differences in the mags are the base plates and followers. I don't know if you can swap out base plates on the LCP mags for LCP 2 types or if that would make a difference. On a side note, I don't remember my LCP 2 slide ever locking back when the magazine was empty.

I would check the mag. release to see if there are any burrs or deformity.

You might reach out to Ruger and see what they say.

Thanks for the feedback. Looks like this should work like every other pistol.

I checked both empty and full, and looked for burrs. No obvious issues. Maybe it takes breaking in or a bit more brute force than I usually need when changing magazines.

I'll put a bit of CLP on the latch area in the magwell, and on the mating bits of the magazines and see if a little brute force + lube might make it better.

Yep, that did the trick, along with taking a closer look at the mating areas of the mags. They were not rough, but had no bevel at all.

Quick touches with a needle file and a bit of CLP and now, they go in like they should, no brute force needed!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: joel9507,

Glad to hear you got it worked out.