Magpul Edition Ruger LCP Max 380 ACP Gun Review

The new Ruger LCP Max with the Magpul EHG grip. Let’s check it out. (Available Here)

 

Ruger started out with the LCP, which was a .380 micro pocket pistol.

It was tiny. Then they moved it up to the LCP Max, which gave it a 10 round or 12 round mag capacity and really didn’t increase the size that much. I mean, these have been excellent little handguns, especially for deep concealment.

But Ruger has been working with Magpul and with their RXM, it was so successful. Modular chassis, you could change out the grip modules for other Magpul EHGs. Now we have the LCP Max and it has that Magpul grip on it.

Now this doesn’t have the chassis, so you can’t switch them out, but there have been a number of upgrades with the new LCP Max. And guys, when you’re carrying something in your pocket that’s small, you definitely want it to be very capable. And it’s really great to see Magpul and Ruger collaborating.

So a big thank you to Ruger for sending the LCP Max enhanced version for this review. All right guys, the new Ruger LCP Max .380 ACP. Now hold on a minute.

I thought they had already come out with an LCP Max. This looks completely different. There’s definitely a lot of style changes, but still here on the side, LCP Max, LCP Max.

So same design, but upgraded with the Magpul enhanced handgun grip. And it’s in the stealth gray. They call it the EHG, but it’s really cool to see two major companies come together.

And with the RXM from Ruger, that is a phenomenal handgun with the chassis system. So you can change out a lot of things. This retains the same LCP Max design as far as the way it functions.

But the big deal is, is the new grip and there have been slide changes as well. But this all started out with the LCP. Now this is actually the LCP 2, six round magazine, very small handgun.

And yet with the Max, it comes in just a touch bigger, but it’s 10 rounds or 12 rounds. So you have a little bit of a magazine extension and we’ve done a whole video on the LCP Max. So this to me has been just a great deep pocket conceal carry option.

Very small, summer carry, beautiful. So when I saw the LCP Max come out, where they’ve upgraded it with the Magpul, I was very interested because I think this has been a very popular option. So let’s look at a few differences, but let’s check to make sure the guns are unloaded.

Okay, first we have a 10 round magazine. Check the chamber. The gun is empty, but we also have a 13 round mag as well.

And it comes with the handgun. It does have the extension that makes this grip just come down to a solid piece. So when you’re gripping it, it’s like gripping a full size grip.

And yet if you want to go with concealment, you can go with the FlushFit Mag and it does have the Magpul base plate. So that’s a pretty cool option. It has the Magpul EHG grip.

This is a really nice, well done polymer. Very textured all the way to the top. Enlarged magazine release.

I really like this. And you can switch that to the other side. Nice ample trigger guard.

We have a little bit of a bump for a finger groove. So it’s undercut just a touch. And then we have a straight grip at the back and then somewhat of a small beaver tail.

Now compare that to the original LCP Max, which we have a 10 round magazine as well. They do have 12 round magazines available, but you only get one magazine. Chamber gun’s empty.

Texturing is along the bottom, but smooth all on the top. Now that’s not a huge deal, but when you’re putting your thumb and your shooting finger right here, it does feel a little bit slick. And that’s one of the things they’ve corrected with this texturing and front’s textured and of course the back’s textured.

And so this gives you a little bit of a fuller grip. It’s a little thicker in the grip area itself. And you can see this little hump that comes down on the LCP Max original.

Plus the way the slide configuration at the back is just a little bit different. Now we have our slide stop right here. This will hold open on the last round.

This one has the frame safety, but they will be offering models without. Some people like them, some don’t. Takedown pin is right here.

And then of course we have our trigger with the trigger safety. And it’s kind of rounded off at the front. But one of the things about the LCP Max is it’s a pretty snag-free design.

And also just to show you, these magazines will interchange. So it’s the same magazine, just a different base. But even with the different base, it fits into the gun, especially with this little section at the bottom of the grip.

And then when we take our 13 rounder, it fits. But it’s not as aesthetic, but it still works. So if you already have an LCP Max, you’re going to be able to use some of those magazines.

So we can take our standard, traditional mag, and there it is. And it fits and actually looks pretty decent. So nice mag interchangeability.

Now at this point, it’s only coming out in the stealth gray. And so we’ll see how that goes. But knowing Ruger, they’ll have a ton of different colors.

This one is in a stainless steel, but they do make a carbon steel version as well. And I have that in one of the originals. This is carbon steel, and this is really just their intro model to this line.

When it comes to the top half, the slight serrations, they’re deep and they’re very slightly angled. With the original LCP Max, they’re more angled and they’re a little more shallow, even though these are very effective slight serrations. I mean, this is easy to grip.

It kind of bites into your hand with the new model. Just gets you a little deeper, a little easier to pull back. Sights, we have a U-notch at the back and we have a tritium front sight.

And it has one of the donuts around it for daylight shooting. I like this sight configuration and it’s the same with the original. And it looks like the sights are identical.

They do have a cocking shelf, which I like right here at the back. So if I want to have a one-handed reload, I can use my rear sight. Now this is a 2.8 inch barrel, same as your standard.

We did switch the slides and it may be because of the frame safety, but this does not work on either one. Even though all the geometry on the inside look the same. And we’ll look at that when we break it down.

It’s one inch thick, so it’s really small. Now at first when I looked at this, I thought it was a lot larger than the original. So here, slide configuration is the same, a little bit thicker grip, just a touch.

And then when it comes to length, they’re pretty much identical. In fact, really other than the grip being just a little bit wider in this area and maybe a little wider here, it’s just going to give you a little more to grip hold up. And still retain that very small size.

And that’s one thing about these small little micro pistols, is the size is everything. Otherwise, you’re going to carry a nine millimeter. Now the magazine feed lips have been improved on the new model and also the feed ramp, the extractor, and the barrel cam geometry, which is an unlocking system that slows the slide and that reduces felt recoil.

So it will make this even a softer shooting handgun. And sometimes with these very small pistols, that is important because it can be a little snappy. So this just comes in with the original LCP Max, which to me has been an incredible gun.

I’ve carried this quite a bit. And then we’re going with a little more shootable firearm with the Magpul EHG grip. The slide has been black nitrided and so has the barrel.

And it has a really more modern look to it. There’s a little more styling going on with Ruger here, which honestly I like. And they have produced a number of different models, a number of different colors.

So again, I think we’re going to see a lot of that when it comes to the LCP Max Magpul Edition. But let’s bring in one of the major competitors and that is the Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 2.0. And I’ll be honest guys, this has been a real game changer. And I have been carrying this quite a bit.

We have 10 rounds of .380 ACP and we have a 12 round magazine as well. Chamber’s empty. Really nice aggressive slide serrations.

Nice undercut here. And it’s got a nice smaller grip, but it feels good in your hand. Low bore axis.

This has been one of those that’s been a game changer and really a huge upgrade over the Smith & Wesson Bodyguard original model, which I really didn’t like. But the one advantage that the LCP Max has is this grip thickness. And it has that straight line.

Here we have a large curve, which this works well, but more toward that 1911 grip angle, which is going to give you more natural point of aim. This really has more advantages over the Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 2.0 than the original LCP. So definitely some distinct advantages.

So this grip is really the big deal and the reconfigured slide and some of the upgrades, but overall this is just an LCP Max. And they’re still offering the original LCP Max as well. Plus they have California models, which they don’t have with the new model.

And when it comes to your trigger, it has the blade safety. And so you have to have this depressed before the trigger will actually move. So any small accidental hit of the trigger is not going to set it off necessarily.

So as we press it down, we come back to a wall. Pretty good amount of take up. And then you can see the trigger stop there, the little nub at the end.

Then we pull the trigger and it’s a nice crisp break. It does have a little over travel to the trigger stop and it also makes that tinging sound. And it really sounds like a C. So let’s bring this back.

We’re going to reset right there and then back again. And guys, this is actually a hammer fired pistol. Again, we’ll take a look at it when we break it down, but this is an internal hammer fire rather than a standard striker fire.

Let’s check the trigger pull weight with our Lyman Trigger Gauge from Brownells. Three pounds, 14.9 ounces. Three pounds, 10.6 ounces.

Just under four pounds. And the weight on the LCP Max Magpul Edition, 11.4 ounces. Weight on the original LCP Max, 10.86 ounces.

So it is less in weight. Weight on the Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 2.0, 11.4 ounces. Now here we have the full metal jacket.

This is your training round. A lot of guys go with full metal jacket because with 380 ACP, you don’t quite get the penetration that you do with a nine millimeter. Less gunpowder, heavier bullet on the nine.

So a lot of people would opt for a jacketed hollow point. And this is the Critical Defense by Hornady. Excellent self-defense round.

I use these for my nine millimeter. But for 380 ACP, this type bullet with the conical shapes in it, this gives you penetration, it gives you good reliability, and it gives you good energy. And so Masada Ayub really highly recommends this round if you’re going to carry a 380 ACP.

The one problem with the jacketed hollow point is you’re not going to get the penetration. So this gives you pretty much an in-between and the best of both worlds. And if Masada Ayub says it, okay, that’s a high recommendation.

And this is actually from Norma, but I believe they make a number of different rounds. And this is what I carry when I have a 380 ACP. Big thank you to Piochi for sponsoring our ammo.

All made in the USA. One of the biggest suppliers of ammunition in the country. Also a big thanks to Lula Loaders.

They’re so versatile. I mean, here with these 380 mags, they work great. Nine millimeter, 45.

Your standard mags, these work exceptionally well. Well, guys, this was a surprise. The LCP Max has been upgraded with Magpul.

Magpul frame, Magpul base plate, and of course with the slide serrations. Now, I thought it would probably be a better shooter compared to the original, just because of the thickness of the grip. But I’m really surprised at how much better it shoots.

Here we have the 10 rounder. These are small, but this grip gives it just a lot. I mean, this is very suitable.

And one of the things about the grip is because these small little micro 380s are tiny. And even though 380 is less than nine millimeter. But this gives you just a solid grip with this straight.

It makes it more natural. I love the sights with the notch in the back and then that tritium at the front. Then it has that white donut.

But I really think this is a big improvement, which I really like the original LCP Max. And here we have one of the originals. It’s in the stainless steel.

I’ve owned a blue one for a long time, but I got this at Palmetto State Armory while they were on sale. We’re going to test this one out comparatively. I like the way this shoots, but now that I’ve shot the Magpul version, I don’t like it as much.

It is that much of a difference. This grip is so much thinner and the way it kind of runs up, it’s a little more snappy and a little less controllable. Again, I am a huge fan of the LCP and I like something very small, but something that is more suitable to me is definitely more appealing.

But guys, honestly, these have been very reliable for me. The blue one I carried for many years and shot quite a bit. Of course, we have a 13 rounder, which gives us an additional round.

Plus it adds to the grip. This is even going to be more suitable. I mean, that’s a lot to carry and yet it’s really small.

So while I was kind of surprised with the grip, it looked a little bigger. Very pleased with the new LCP Max. If you can shoot them side by side with an LCP, I think you’re really going to see that this is a much more suitable, more comfortable handgun.

And yet it’s not that much bigger. All right, for disassembly, we’re going to drop our magazine, check the chamber. Gun’s empty.

You can bring back your slide, but this little takedown pin actually works with either a spent shell casing or you can take a small little screwdriver and then we can just pull this right out. One thing about it that I don’t like is that this is separate, but that’s the way it’s been designed. And then we just take our slide and we just move it forward.

You don’t have to pull the trigger. Here we’ve got a recoil spring and guide rod, and you’ll notice that it has double recoil springs and the guide rod is metal. Here with the barrel, again, 2.8 inch barrel.

It has been crowned, and so that’s going to preserve some of your accuracy as well. But man, that barrel is beautiful. That black nitride finish looks nice.

Here with the slide, you can see the firing pin right through here and the hammer channel. And so very well done by Ruger as usual. And then when it comes to the frame, we have full length slide rails.

And then here is your hammer in the rear position. Now we went ahead and disassembled the original LCP Max, and we’re just going to do a little comparison. As far as what I’m seeing here, they are pretty much identical on the interior.

The two barrels, pretty much the same. The feed ramp has been improved, but I believe that’s overall on the actual LCP line. Looks like maybe this one’s just a touch wider.

Then again, maybe not. This is pretty much the same barrel design. And then when it comes to the frames, again, we’re seeing the exact same internals.

So definitely, I guess, because it is pretty much the same except for the grip and some slide cuts, keep it the LCP Max. Now for reassembly, we’re going to drop our barrel in just in reverse order. Go ahead and put your guide rod and recoil springs in.

And there’s a little catch right on the barrel. And then we’re going to bring it back over our slide. You just want to make sure that the barrel is in this position when you put in the pin.

If it’s facing up, it’ll just go through. And what I like to do is get it started. And then when I lift it back, it’ll just snap into place.

So you really don’t have to have this pulled all the way back. We’re going to test for function, and we’re back in business. And it’s the exact same way with the original LCP Max.

Otis makes some of the best cleaning equipment out there. They make a number of different kits that are dedicated for different rifles, pistols. They also have Shooter’s Choice, which makes excellent CLP and bore solvent and different cleaning materials.

The Ripcord is one of their signatures, and there’s a whole system based around it. They are suppliers to the U.S. military. So check out Otis Technologies, highly recommended.

And we want to thank Otis for being a sponsor of the channel. It’s your white Ruger box. Inside, you do get your handgun, the 13 plus one magazine.

We get a loader as well. And you do get a holster, which that’s one thing that Ruger has been including in their LCP Max. And guys, it’s just a great little pocket holster.

And then, of course, you get your lock and your chamber flag and your instructions. The MSRP, $449. MSRP on the original LCP Max, $399.

But you only get one magazine with the original LCP Max. You get two with the LCP. So that’s really going to change a little bit of the difference between the two.

And with this, you get the holster and the loader as well. But with the original LCP Max, you get just a base plate that has a little bit of a finger groove. So you can put that on your flush fit mag if you want it.

And this gives it a little bit more stability in your hand. So what are some pros and cons? First off, the LCP Max has been a proven handgun. It’s super small, incredible to carry, very lightweight.

You’ve got 10 plus one or 13 plus one in a very small package. I like the straight grip angle. The Magpul EHG grip, excellently done, a lot of texturing.

It just gives it up high. And then I just like the thickness here. Slight serrations are a plus.

And these are a upgrade to the barrel cam geometry, to the feed ramp, and to the magazine feed lips. Sights are excellent. A lot better than the original LCP, which they were molded in.

So this gives you some sight options. Those are gutter sights on the original LCP. And here we have some really decent shootable sights.

I think the one big plus for this is that it makes it more shootable, period. The grip definitely makes a big difference. And again, you’re getting a little bit more round capacity, and it is a great collaboration between Magpul and Ruger.

And guys, it really has a very modern utilitarian look to it. The Ruger LCP Max has some really cool styling. I love it.

And then again, the original LCP, this is a huge upgrade. And then this one even upgrades it more. So guys, a tiny pocket pistol with 10 to 13 round mag capacity.

And then you’ve got the ergonomics of the Magpul grip in that really small proven LCP Max configuration. This is a marriage made in heaven. And guys, especially with summer coming on, or if you just want something for deep concealment, the little Ruger LCP Max is excellent.

And now they’ve got some upgrades. And again, a big thank you to Ruger for sending the new LCP Max for this review.

 

Be strong, be of good courage. God bless America. Long live the Republic.

 

-Don