Ruger LCP?

[cal74]

As stated above, you should consider doing some local shopping and handle a few different pistols. If you're not familiar with one and not a 100% comfortable handling it, than chances are it's not going to do you much good in an emergency situation.

There's 4 LCP's in my family, good little guns. No first hand experience with the laser sighted ones. All have been extremely reliable, one of them had a failure to feed after the first shot fired and hasn't had a hicup since than.

Prices you should expect to pay are 275-300.00, much higher than that and go look somewhere else.


Might also want to consider looking at an LC9 or some other compact 9 if it's not something you're going to use as a concealed carry.

[jigstop]

I'm sorry I was confusing the LCP with the LC9, all my experiance is with the LC9, not the LCP.

[Suzuki]

I've had an LCP for a while now. Strangly accurate little gun.

[AllenW]

Maybe look at the LCR, not much bigger and way more punch, also easier to shoot.
imho dots are dangerous for newbies, you need to key off what you are shooting at, not looking for a dot then moving that dot to the target.

Much quicker to point and shoot at close range.

Also take a hand gun course or three, might save somebody from getting shot by mistake.

Al

[Esoxchaser]

I have had both. Forget the LCP, get a Sig P238. Next to the Sig the LCP has all the qualities of a cereal box toy.

[jigstop]

Sure the Sig P238 is a nicer gun, but it's also a lot more expensive and most people do not feel comfortable carrying a gun cocked and locked as required with the P238.

[LLewellin]

I looked at the LCP and thought it was too small of a frame, even for the wife, and too small of a caliber. Went with the LC9 and have been very happy. Even though it's a 9 mm it is still very small and easily concealable with its single stack magazine. I purchased this gun mainly for my wife for home protection. I wanted to make sure she would not be able to accidentally shoot anybody or anything. The trigger pull is designed for exactly what I was looking for. It would almost be impossible to accidentally fire this weapon. It did come with a Crimson Lazar site on it. I think the lazar site is a good thing if you are wakened up in the middle of the night by an intruder. Just point and shoot. IMHO

[fishboat]

Thank guys for your thoughts as they have helped in figuring out a best option. As I mentioned, guns are a new topic for me and I have lots to learn. I've continued to research options for home defense and it seems a light & short shotgun is favored over a small handgun, if your home setup(kids, wife..etc..) allows it.

At this point I'm leaning toward a Mossberg 500 pump, 20 ga, 18.5 inch barrel, full stock, not pistol-grip.

Two very different styles of a weapon and reasonable arguments exist for favoring either one.

[bobk]

Originally Posted by jigstop

Sure the Sig P238 is a nicer gun, but it's also a lot more expensive and most people do not feel comfortable carrying a gun cocked and locked as required with the P238.

I'm not sure why you say that. I carry a p238 in the summer and don't carry it cocked/locked. I keep one in the chamber and it is no problem having a shot off in no time. Price has come down on them as well. Much better gun over the lcp. Shooting both will make it a no brainer as far as which one to buy.
Fishboat, I think you are on the right track opting for a shotgun for home defense over the lcp.

[jigstop]

Originally Posted by bobk

I'm not sure why you say that. I carry a p238 in the summer and don't carry it cocked/locked. I keep one in the chamber and it is no problem having a shot off in no time. Price has come down on them as well. Much better gun over the lcp. Shooting both will make it a no brainer as far as which one to buy.
Fishboat, I think you are on the right track opting for a shotgun for home defense over the lcp.

So you keep one in the chamber and the hammer down? First off that sounds pretty dangerous lowering the hammer with a round in the chamber to get it in that position and then you need to **** the hammer before using it. What are the odds that you will remember to **** the hammer if, god forbid, you ever have to use the gun for defense?

The P238 is a very nice gun and for those who understand how to carry a gun cocked and locked it makes a great carry gun. But for inexperianced people a long double action trigger like the LCP has is a better option IMHO. At the range yes the P238 will be a nicer gun but as a self defense tool it's a toss up. The way you are carrying your gun is a recipeite for disaster! In a defense situation I would take a LCP ready to shoot over a nicer gun such as the P238 carried the way you are carrying it that would require cocking the hammer any day. And for the record my main carry gun is a 1911 so I have no issue with carrying a gun cocked and locked.