The LCP II

Ruger’s Best Bug— Take Two

Stopping power. Penetration depth. Knockdown power. When it comes to choosing an EDC (everyday carry) weapon, those phrases cause many gun owners to lean toward larger calibers. It’s understandable, really: bigger bullet, bigger hole, right?

But what if, for some reason, it just isn’t feasible to strap on a 5-inch-tall, 9-inch-long handgun? What if your EDC is inaccessible, fails, or you empty the mag in a blind panic during a life-or-death fight? What if your life—or the life of someone you love—is on the line and you need backup?

Enter the revamped Ruger LCP—the LCP II. Because .380 ACP is capable of more than you think.

BACKGROUND

The original Ruger LCP (lightweight compact pistol) entered production in 2008—exactly one century after its .380 ACP chambering was created by John Browning. The diminutive cartridge proved its lethality just six years after its creation: In 1914, an assassin used it to murder both the Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife. Their assassinations were one of the tipping points for World War I, and the caliber to kill them was used in battle by soldiers from no less than five European countries—meaning that arguments regarding the efficacy of .380 ACP were laid to rest nearly 100 years ago.

Now that we’ve verified the lethality of the cartridge, let’s move on to the pistol.