Ruger Compact LCP and LC9 Semi-Auto Pistols Factory-Fitted with LaserMax Lasers

 

by Jeff Quinn

photography by Jeff Quinn & Boge Quinn

November 16th, 2011

UPDATED November 30th, 2011

 

YouTube Video

 

 

 

 

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LC9 9x19mm pistol with LaserMax laser sight.

 

UPDATE!

Rob Leahy of Simply Rugged Holsters is now making holsters specifically for the new LaserMax-equipped LCP and LC9 pistols. These are fine-quality holsters, as are all of Rob's products, they are reasonably priced, and they are available now.

www.simplyrugged.com

Since the introduction of Ruger’s LCP 380 semi-automatic pocket pistol almost three years ago, it has proven to be one of the hottest-selling handguns in history. The LCP was followed up more recently with the slightly larger and more powerful LC9 9x19mm pistol, which has also proven to be very popular.

As more and more people in the US choose to go heeled, these lightweight, handy Ruger pistols, and other brands which fall into the same category, are the weapons of choice for many. Larger pistols tend to be left at home, or in the vehicle, but small, lightweight handguns can always be within reach.

As I have stated many times, the statistics have proven that most gunfights take place in low light conditions. Most thugs prefer to ply their trade under the cover of darkness, and if a person is ever forced to defend himself in an attack, it is far more likely to be in some dark parking garage or alley than in a well-lighted area. Most shooters go to the public range, stand squarely facing a brightly-lit target, align the sights, and put holes into the paper at known distances of five to fifteen yards. At most public ranges, that is the way it must be done for safety reasons. However, in a fight, the attacker has the advantage. He has chosen the time, place, and victim, and the victim must react to the aggression instantly and ruthlessly, if he (or she) is to have a fighting chance.

Now, standing on a nice clean public range, the sights on these small pistols are adequate, but in dim light, they are very hard to see, if they can be seen at all. Those who have been reading Gunblast.com for any length of time know that I am a proponent of using a good laser sight. On a controlled range, it is easy to learn to “concentrate on the front sight”, as most instructors teach. Doing so makes for quick, clean hits on paper targets. However, most of us, when being attacked, will never see the front sight, nor the handgun at all. We will be focusing one hundred percent of our attention on the punk who is about to gut us like a fish. That is just human nature. We focus on the attack. Using a good laser sight places the sight and the target in the same focal plane. To put it another way, the dot is where the bullet will go when the trigger is pressed. It does not matter how dark it is, the bullet goes to where the red dot is placed. While on that subject, yes, I greatly prefer a red laser to a green laser.

Anyway, for quite a while now, Ruger has offered pistols with the Crimson Trace Laserguard, but these new pistols shown here are supplied with the LaserMax Lasers, and they will be a standard catalog item. The good part is that the addition of the LaserMax laser adds only seventy bucks to the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of the LCP and only eighty-two dollars to the MSRP of the LC9 pistols, as of the date of this review. This is considerably less than the price of the pistols when equipped with the Crimson Trace Laserguard. However, for those who prefer the Crimson Trace Laserguard, the Ruger pistols will still be offered with that laser as a distributor exclusive through Lipsey’s, but the LaserMax will now adorn the laser-equipped standard catalog item pistols.

The LaserMax lasers project a red dot upon the target, and are easily seen in all but the brightest sunlight. The activation switch for the laser is in front of the trigger guard, right where your trigger finger should be when drawing the pistol from a holster or pocket. The switch is ambidextrous, making it equally easy to activate using either the right or the left hand. The LaserMax laser adds only about one-half ounce to the weight of the weapon. For pocket carry, I highly recommend a good pocket holster, to prevent unintentionally activating the laser in the pocket. Simply Rugged Holsters makes a very good pocket holster for the LCP and LC9 pistols that will accommodate the laser sight. These holsters are thin, and being made of leather, are much better to protect the laser from activation than are the cheap nylon holsters on the market. For a good concealment holster for the belt, I recommend a Cross Breed. They are comfortable, thin, and the leather/Kydex combination will protect the laser from unintentional activation.

A good laser sight is a great asset to a defensive pistol, and with the very affordable LaserMax laser available already mounted on these pistols from Ruger, it is a very worthwhile option to have. Given a choice, I would never carry a defensive handgun that did not wear a high-quality laser sight. These new Ruger/LaserMax combo pistols are in production now. Check them out online at www.ruger.com.

For the location of a Ruger dealer near you, click on the DEALER LOCATOR at www.lipseys.com.

To order the LCP or LC9 online, go to www.galleryofguns.com.

To order a quality pocket holster, go to www.simplyrugged.com.

To order a comfortable, reliable, affordable concealment belt holster, go to www.crossbreedholsters.com.

Jeff Quinn

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LCP 380 with LaserMax laser sight.

 

 

LaserMax LCP (top) compared to author's everyday-carry LCP with Crimson Trace Lasergrip (bottom).