Ruger LCP II Review

​Is that a pistol in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?
The Ruger LCP II is available in .380 and .22 caliber. It's often referred to as a pocket pistol and it's a great option for when concealment is a must. Let's start with the .380, the .380 features a polymer frame and steel slide with both front and rear slide serrations. The serrations are easy to grip making racking the slide a breeze. The front of the slide is tapered making holstering your pistol easier. To the rear of the slide you see a recessed single action hammer. The fixed steel sights do not have any dots or visible markings but can be acquired in good light. 

The magazine release does protrude nicely making it easy to access with your thumb and get yourself back into the fight with a fresh magazine. Unfortunately the mag release is not reversible, sorry left-handed shooters. The trigger is polymer with a safety mechanism in the center that can prevent the trigger from firing when snaged. The trigger pull has a little pre travel but when you hit the wall it offers a nice clean break. The reset is at the wall with a nice audible click so you know exactly when to pull the trigger again. There's no thumb safety option on the .380 and the .380 does include a pocket holster. 

​This would be great as a training tool if you own the .380. They feel the same obviously except for felt recoil. The recoil is heavier on the .380. But it would get you the basic mechanics of knowing how shooting that gun works. .380 ammo isn't the cheapest so being able to save money with .22 ammo and get range time in is a win, win. 

Honestly I enjoyed shooting both these pistols Many complain that small pistols can be painful to shoot but I really didn't think that was the case. I think if you you're shooting with a proper grip they're both easy shooters. If you are in the market for a small pistol then these may be the ones for you. 

Moving down to the grip you'll notice stippling on the front, rear, and the sides of the grip. For me personally it grips pretty well when using the extended mag. The .380 comes with a 6+1 round magazine with the option of a either flush baseplate or an extended pinkie baseplate. Ruger does have an optional 7+1 round magazine that extends the grip even further making it easier to shoot. 

The .22 model is very similar in design and size compared to the .380 with some micro differences. One of the bigger difference with the .22 is the slide features new cocking ears and a lighter recoil spring making it easier to rack the slide. The .22 gives the option of a  thumb safety. The barrel is stainless steel. The 10 round magazine that's included with the .22 does have a slightly different baseplate than the .380. The .22 does have a magazine disconnect, meaning you cannot fire the pistol without a magazine inserted. The .22 also comes with a speedloader. 

If there's one thing I would change about this pistol would be the front sight. It's just a flat black sight post and it's not the easiest to acquire in low-light situations. Now I understand that this gun is designed for up close and personal defense were aiming is not going to be a major factor but to me personally I would like to be ready for almost anything. 

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