Since my last post on this thread on April 27, 2008... I attended the NRA's National Convention in Louisville, Ky... and handled the new little LCP Ruger.
I noticed the barrel extension is much heavier which undoubltedly accounts for some (if not "all") of the weight difference between the Kel-Tec P3AT and the Ruger LCP.
The Ruger is nicely finished and appeared to be a fine little pistol except for one thing. I do NOT have large hands... but I found that I could only get ONE FINGER around the Ruger's handle vs. TWO FINGERS around the handle on my P3AT.
Yep... Ruger apparently
SHORTENED the handle on their LCP... and "why" I don't know. One NEEDS at least TWO fingers on the handle of the "mouse gun" to control it's recoil to insure you can hold onto it during repeated firings.
I asked the Ruger factory "Rep" about this and he said that Ruger intends to bring out "extended magazines" with a "finger hold" on the bottom of it for the LCP... and I thought to myself, "
Yeah... exactly what is needed in a pocket pistol... something to 'catch' on clothing as it is drawn out to be used in an emergency!!!" (
NOT !!!)
Now... before you think I'm "knocking" Ruger... I have purchased 8 different Ruger firearms and believe Ruger makes great guns, but shortening that handle on the LCP wasn't a "genius" idea... definitely
NOT one of Ruger's better thoughts... trust me !!!
Would I buy the LCP or another Kel-Tec P3AT? It's a "toss-up" in my mind. While the shorter handle on the LCP is a pain-in-the-tush... and I've heard Ruger is having a bit of a problem with the LCP jamming, I'm confident Ruger will work it out since the LCP
IS a "Ruger".
My P3AT is one of the "original" models... and while it functions perfectly when fired, it won't feed rounds with BIG hollow-points like the Federal "HI-SHOCKS" or the Cor-Bons when the slide is manually functioned, but I have come to the conclusion that this is how tiny "pocket pistols" work with hollow points... and while I haven't tried it, I bet most of the LCPs won't manually feed those same hollow-points any better than my Kel-Tec.
The "bottom line" is that I'm gonna hold onto my P3AT which I carry "24/7" when outside the house. (Yes, "Martha", I have a valid CCW permit)
Strength & Honor...
Ron T.