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UPDATE:(Just passing along my experiences for anyone interested in getting an LCP or anyone who already has one):I took my brand new Ruger LCP to the range today for a first time firing session.
I experienced no problems or hiccups using two different ammo types, other then one instance when the slide would not fully close on a chambered round due to my fault in not racking the slide vigorously enough. I shot 50 rounds of PMC Bronze 90gr FMJ, and 25 rounds of Hornady Critical Defense 90gr FTX. I found the Hornady's to be easier to load in the mag as well as a tad more accurate, but this may be due to myself switching positions while shooting. This is all good, because the Hornady's are the SD load for this gun that I'd like to carry.
I found the gun easier to shoot then I thought. I fired 75 rounds and my hands feels fine, no soreness. Although racking the slide on this little gun and loading it was difficult. I don't know how well I'd be able to reload and rack the slide with nervous, sweaty hands in an actual SD situation if I had to.
Took the Elsie Pea to the range again today. This time I fired 50 rounds of Federal 95gr FMJ's, and 20 rounds of Speer Gold Dot 90gr GDHP's. During my last visit to the range, I fired 50 rounds of PMC Bronze 90gr FMJ's, and 25 rounds of Hornady Critical Defense 90gr FTX, both of which performed flawlessly.
I had no problems with the Speer Gold Dots, but I had an FTE on almost every full mag with the Federal 95gr FMJ's. My gun is still not broken in yet but regardless, this is totally unacceptable, especially for a round nosed FMJ load. Not only did they FTE on a regular basis, their recoil was also harsher then any other type of loads I tried and unlike my last range session, my hand is sore this time. I almost lost the little gun shooting one handed when using these loads. It seems some Federal handgun loads in have high levels of recoil from what I've seen.
I mentioned this to the guy at the gun shop and he tells me to fire 500 rounds through it and it will eventually eat up anything with no problems. Maybe so, but considering that the Speer Gold Dots, PMC Bronze and Hornady's I tried all performed flawlessly, I cannot recommend using the Federal .380acp 95gr FMJ's for this particular gun. I also noticed that all the brands that performed well with the LCP were all 90gr, so I'm not going to shoot anything heavier than those anymore.
Anyone else have problems with Federal .380acp 95gr FMJ's with the LCP?