Ruger LC380CA. Multiple QC Defects. Reader Discretion Is Advised

[BradleyAbrams]

Should have got a PPK/s.

.

[MrMausGuns]

Should have got a PPK/s.

.

When it boils down to it, you're right. Or, I could have gotten the Bersa.

On the other hand. After being through the whole process, the little LC380 is now dependable and trustworthy. I know it seems weird to some, but I'm just hard on tools of all sorts. If it survives me, it gets to stay at home and gets a place to live and gets pampered. So now the it's part of me. I loves it.

Have to admit, I was just over eye-humping the mini 14s again. What a freakishly brilliant design.

[stormvet]

This is why hippie's and guns are rarely a good match.

Guns are consistent and straightforward.

Hippie’s are inconsistent and scattered.

[DArBad]

OP, I am sorry for your disappointment especially since it was a new gun. I have " many " stories of disappointment with (2) well known 1911 brands, supposedly well established and with good aftermarket CS - Springfield and Colt.

Things happen but its not the end of the world. Worry only when we are warned there is an incoming nuclear tipped ballistic missile from either Korea, China, or Russia.

Life is good, you will be able to recover unless you have terminal cancer. I know you are upset, but in the overall scheme of things, ITS ONLY A GUN.

Good luck!

[Mayor McRifle]

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.

4. Huge Waste of Money

5. Should Have Bought A Real Gun

6. Undersized Plastic Guns In .380 Are Silly

7. Buying a Completely New Slide and Barrel For a Brand New Undersized Plastic Gun In .380 Is Even Sillier

[crufflers]

Wanted to bring this to the attention of other Calgunners.

I purchased a Ruger LC380CA a week ago tomorrow.

Did you FLITZ it?

[moleculo]

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.

I never, ever thought I would come across someone on Calguns who could reference both Homer and Tolkien in one post. Well Done.

[MrMausGuns]

Did you FLITZ it?

Of course.

The feed ramp got Flitzed, and the slide got green jeweler's rouge. It's used, so I didn't mind taking the wheel to it.

[MrMausGuns]

Hopefully one of the mods will just lock this thing...

Since you mention it. I was sort of hoping that the mods would maybe change the title of the thread so that it's not so awful.

Maybe: "Ruger LC380CA. Multiple QC Defects. Reader Discretion Is Advised".

[crufflers]

Of course.

The feed ramp got Flitzed, and the slide got green jeweler's rouge. It's used, so I didn't mind taking the wheel to it.

I like Ruger, I don't love Ruger. Reliability of their "original" designs are typically more reliable than any designs they may be derived from IMHO.

My buddy likes his LC9 just fine.

I have a often derided Kahr P380 that I like a lot and as far as I recall, has never jammed with PMC fmj or Flexlocks. I deburred mag feed lips and broke in mag springs and slide prior to first range session while hunting down .380 ammo deals years ago.

One thing about guns... if yours is not reliable, no one else's is going to make you like yours.

I'd send it in.

[MrMausGuns]

I like Ruger, I don't love Ruger. Reliability of their "original" designs are typically more reliable than any designs they may be derived from IMHO.

My buddy likes his LC9 just fine.

I have a often derided Kahr P380 that I like a lot and as far as I recall, has never jammed with PMC fmj or Flexlocks. I deburred mag feed lips and broke in mag springs and slide prior to first range session while hunting down .380 ammo deals years ago.

One thing about guns... if yours is not reliable, no one else's is going to make you like yours.

I'd send it in.

Thanks, crufflers. I completely agree with you. The only way out of this for me as quickly as I did was to take the route that I descibed, and make it my own.

It was meant to be a Christmas present because I have surgery coming soon, and I have been too weak lately to handle more powerful firearms. I also do not collect guns, so there was no back-up nothing holding place while Ruger fiddled with my new recliner-gun.

I'm actually that one guy that really needed it to work when I needed it to work, and it was flat out broken with no time to wait for Ruger CS to help me out. The only way to fix that in one week for $100.00 was to own it and do it myself.

It's a MrMaus .380 now.

Thanks for bringing my attention to the mags. I'm going to check that out on this one, too. I think they are all roughly the same so it might be why the mags are "grindy". Also, on the Kahr. That's funny that you had a relationship with the gun like that. This Ruger cycles like a beast, by the way. No problems there. I'd love to see what it can do with a fresh ejector. I think I'll cannabilize the old/new slide.

Have a good one.

[MrMausGuns]

Annnnd,

I was a medic in the 82nd and volunteered twice for the U.S. military before I was old enough to vote.

It's my right to go home and be a hippie.

[stormvet]

Annnnd,

I was a medic in the 82nd and volunteered twice for the U.S. military before I was old enough to vote.

It's my right to go home and be a hippie.

[IVC]

This has been an interesting rollercoaster of a thread, my fellow memberberries [sic]. Lol. Ups, down, loops and barrel twists. Let's see if there is a derailment at the end as well...

[crufflers]

Thanks for bringing my attention to the mags. I'm going to check that out on this one, too. I think they are all roughly the same so it might be why the mags are "grindy". Also, on the Kahr. That's funny that you had a relationship with the gun like that.

I didn't do anything drastic, just by hand. I took small pieces of something medium grit and broke the sharp edges of feed lips facing loaded cartridges. Made it feel a lot smoother.

I was recommended all the fluff and buff pre-range preps for a P380 by a forum member I met in a LGS (I think I bought a PPT Glock from him)... so CAL GUNS to the rescue again, if it helped - even though I never had an issue with my P380 - maybe that's why. I'm all for breaking things in for free without paying for ammo to break it in. Rack that slide thousands of times for free.