Ruger LC380CA. Multiple QC Defects. Reader Discretion Is Advised

[Mark49]

Ruger as a whole is a pretty good company. Let's start with the 10/22 and the Ranch 223/556 and revolvers are great!

Sorry you're having a bad trip! The 380 was never I gun I wanted to add to my list.

Send it back to Ruger. Ask for another type of replacement.

[Mr. Blue]

Are you using dictation to write your post? WTF are memberberries?

I freaked out my cat laughing at this.

[Mr. Blue]

Meth smoking Orcs making guns? Well thats scary. Also, I’ve had issues with Ruger guns before. They are easy to work with. Send it back, get it fixed, shoot, have fun. You can still enjoy your Christmas present.

[Che762x39]

I'll file this under; "measure twice, cut once".

Every Christmas since I got my Red Ryder BB Gun. I try to buy a nice firearm for Christmas and spend the year saving up for it and searching for that future family heirloom.

[The Gleam]

3. If Ruger asked you to send the firearm back for evaluation why are they such a holes in your opinion?

That was my thought as well - simply send it to them, it gets fixed.

4. What the f*** is an orc?

Oxford Rowing Club - and one was confirmed to be Harvey Weinstein.

Orcs - worse than trolls.

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[MrMausGuns]

You can check out any time you like
But you can never leave

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

If only it were just a song. It's errie, the way that you just dropped that in like that. I think about that very thing way more than a person should. I thought it was just me, but it's not. My girlfriend experiences it, too (also musician Beck*, maybe). I am fairly certain that you must experience it, as well.

I think the condition is most present and tangible when travelling up the coast a bit. Somewhere around Julia Pfeiffer Burns, the magnet, which I presume must exist somhow under the Hotel (maybe it's the Hotel itself?) begins to pull you back South. We can both feel it, she and I. It became sort of a mutual litmus test for "Yeah, I can feel that, too".

I'm a sucker for it though. I'm going to be that one guy that hears about the place and then actually goes and seeks it out:

'Bongg, bongggg...'

"Yes, sir?"

"Hi, I take it this is the Hotel California, who might you be?"

"I'm the The Night Man, sir. There is no need to ring the mission bell, you may knock".

"Well, as I understand it, you have antique lighting fixtures that need repair, women that sound like they are complicated enough to keep me amused, you have no mechanic, need your knives sharpened, and you are recieving neighbor complaints about smelly warm colitis. I'm most intrigued by how they can detect the temperature difference. I hear that you are programmed to receive, please take me to the Master's chamber so that I may fill out an application for employment."

*Song by Beck: "Whiskeyclone, Hotel City 1997".

[MrMausGuns]

Hi, Folks.

Thanks to everyone for their input. I thought I would share a little more, and let you know what I plan to do with the LC380CA.

Yep, 4 months ago the basic truth is that I sort of snapped out of it and realized that after about 30 years I was going to have to upgrade my self-defense situation and that it would require firearms. The correct, most applicable firearms that I could lay hands on, due to the fact that the gun-logic where I live is nightmarish due to, well, living in one big building that is merely separated in to a bunch of small spaces divided only by thin walls. You know the deal.

Anyhow, long story short: I had a lot of catching up to do, and I was sold two used guns as new that I had to work like hell to make work, a Buck Mark, and now this Ruger. I fixed the Buck Mark, got confident, fixed the nearly C&R-years-old S&W auto pistol that wasn't working, and when confronted with this Rugerian nonsense thought "I now have the chops to fix this, too". You can't fix stupid (this seems to include me). I don't know why I bought one of these plastics nightmares. I knew better. Had been steeped in the primitive ways of avoiding their allure. But I can't have a pair of Browning 1911 .380s. I can't even have Springfeild's Colt pocket pistol knock-off (I'm not looking for a CC weapon anyhow). Yes, I should have purchased the Bersa. But, it's supposed to be Ruger, right? It looked like they were in there innovatin', and I did not strap myself to the mast, and Ruger's siren song undermined my will.

Sorry to all of those that think that Ruger CS is great. Yes, they are very nice people. But I don;t want to speak to my grandma about guns. Or should I say, pacified by Ruger's Wall-of-Grandma style kung fu when I have serious gun stuff to discuss with serious gunsmiths that you are not allowed to speak with. I never discussed guns with my grandma, or my aunt. I know I can learn just as much about firearms from ladies as I can from men, but c'mon.

I'll go ahead and fix it. It exhibits all three big deal-breakers that characterize why folks don't care for this pistol: feed issues, spray can, does not return to full battery due to very poor QC. I will fix all three. I already have, indeed, violated the warranty and fixed the full-battery problem; it cycles flawlessly. I have a "new" used slide and barrel coming. I want the barrel especially because the slots in the lug just look way cleaner, nice have the slide. I'll use both to prove my point about the poor QC and return the pistol to an acceptable level of usefullness (I have an ace up my sleeve there, which I will show if you are all interested once I have this wrapped up). Barrel and hogue sleeve should contribute to accuracy. Meanwhile I will mess with heavier springs.

It's my precious little thing now.

Merry Christmas. Thanks to everyone for bearing with me, and trying to help where you have.

[OCEquestrian]

.380 ACP out of a barrel that short?

[MrMausGuns]

.380 ACP out of a barrel that short?

You mean the 3.1" barrel? Unfortunately, yes. The Browning has a 4 1/4" inch barrel. I am pretty sure that's as good as it's going to get right now, unless I missed one.

If you mean the 3.1", I have to agree. It really seems like they need to stop trying to stuff this cartridge in a tiny pocket gun. I think that's why the .380 can't escape the pull of the Ring O' Fire toilet bowl.

[OCEquestrian]

You mean the 3.1" barrel? Unfortunately, yes. The Browning has a 4 1/4" inch barrel. I am pretty sure that's as good as it's going to get right now, unless I missed one.

If you mean the 3.1", I have to agree. It really seems like they need to stop trying to stuff this cartridge in a tiny pocket gun. I think that's why the .380 can't escape the pull of the Ring O' Fire toilet bowl.

The problem is that everyone wants to CCW wearing boardshorts a T shirt and flipflops. IMHO, deciding to be legally armed in public is a lifestyle choice that here in CA requires modifying your wardrobe to be able to conceal a combat effective handgun.

Pro Tip...printing is NOT illegal and almost no civilian and most cops never notice.. only us gun nuts do.

[stormvet]

They serve a purpose, year round primary carry is not it. But deep cover carry when every centimeter and 1/4 ounce matter or as a back up gun, they work very well.

I carried my LCP II as a back up in my weak side cargo, it was perfect for that. But a full size Glock was on my strong side hip in a level III holster.

I’ve also carried it, when nothing else would work. There are times when even a Glock 43 can be too big, it’s all about options and the tiny 380s fill a role.

Printing is not against the law, but sometimes you can’t afford to print. Far more people notice it then you think.

[The Gleam]

I think the condition is most present and tangible when travelling up the coast a bit. Somewhere around Julia Pfeiffer Burns, the magnet, which I presume must exist somhow under the Hotel (maybe it's the Hotel itself?) begins to pull you back South. We can both feel it, she and I. It became sort of a mutual litmus test for "Yeah, I can feel that, too".

I'm a sucker for it though. I'm going to be that one guy that hears about the place and then actually goes and seeks it out:

'Bongg, bongggg...'

"Yes, sir?"

"Hi, I take it this is the Hotel California...

The actual hotel depicted on the original Eagles album (the lobby) is the Lido in Hollywood.

Yet, they were never actually referring to a hotel - they were referring to the explosion of communes and cults at the time, especially California, and even further - California's ever emerging California 'state-of-mind' which seems to invite apathy and settling for something less, control of others, and the spread of it.

That's now off the rails and we're seeing the damage of that contagion on a daily basis, bleeding to other states around it.

---

[12pewpew]

I have an LC9 and the LCP and both run well. Other than being a snappy little b!*ch I love the LCP.

[MrMausGuns]

Hey, Folks.

I'm finished up with the LC380CA, and I wanted to let you all know how it went.

I'll start with the "Ace" up my sleeve: I ordered a used LC380 upper assembly, barrel, slide, springs (I added the Galloway steel guide rod). That fixed it.

I shot at different distances, was surprised at how accurate the little guy is at about 60', and got satisfactory groupings on 6" targets throughout. The gun shoots straight, anything else is my usual marksmanship. I also put the Hogue grip sleeve on there, and it's a much better fit for my hand.

As I am sure you all know, it's not really possible to get this close to a firearm, without developing an opinion about the materials and product. One of the things that was extra disappointment-gravy was that right away I like the feel, and I could tell it was made of good stuff. It was just so frustrating to not have all that goodness in parts not working effectively as a whole.

It's nice stuff. Ruger makes really nice stuff. I like that just looking at the finish kind makes you have to remember, "Oh yeah, I remember they're supposed to be good at that". They are, I especially like that the finish on both upper assemblies are a little different. It's just nice as heck when it works, and now it does.

Anyhow, just gotta tell it like it is. It's nice stuff. I could go on about other weird stuff I discovered during this agonizing process, but all in all I appreciate the lessons learned. I learned about three whole new guns while I've been at it, and learned more about the Ring O' Fire thing, which passed me by while I was busy being a hippie. Also, since I'm a fan now I don't want to be feeling hypocritical while I save up for a Mini 14 Ranch (might go blue cheese).

Good Job, Ruger. Get those LC380CA, uppers out of the mix, and I think yer good to go.

Also? Would some manufacturer out there Please make an .380 with at least a 5" barrel and made of metal? Thanks.

[MrMausGuns]

Hey, help me come up with a new name for Ruger's LC380/CA so we can pass it on to their marketing team.

I'm thinking:

1. Glockencolt

2. Walglockencolt

or...

3. Kelbrowningglocken

Help me out here.