Ruger LCP II

About the Ruger LCP II

The Ruger LCP II is a subcompact, semi-automatic pocket pistol chambered in .380 ACP, introduced in October 2016 as a significantly improved successor to the original Ruger LCP. Weighing a mere 269 grams unloaded and measuring just 131mm in overall length and 19mm in width, the LCP II is one of the smallest and lightest centerfire pistols ever manufactured, engineered specifically for deep concealment pocket carry. The pistol features a glass-filled nylon grip frame and an alloy steel slide with a blued finish. Key improvements over the original LCP include a redesigned trigger with a shorter, crisper pull and tactile reset utilizing Ruger's Secure Action fire-control system that combines a protected internal hammer with a bladed safety trigger, a last-round slide hold-open function, improved fixed integral sights with a taller profile, front and rear slide serrations for easier manipulation, and an enlarged squared-off trigger guard. The hammer-fired blowback action provides reliable cycling of .380 ACP ammunition through its 70mm barrel with six-groove right-hand rifling at a 1:16 inch twist rate. The flush-fit magazine holds 6 rounds with an optional 7-round extended magazine available. The LCP II quickly became one of the most popular pocket pistols in the United States before being succeeded by the higher-capacity LCP MAX in 2021.

The LCP II addressed every major complaint about the original LCP -- adding a crisper trigger, last-round hold-open, and improved sights -- yet maintained the same incredibly thin 19mm width that made the original a pocket carry legend. It was ultimately retired in favor of the LCP MAX, which fit 10 rounds into a nearly identical footprint.

Ruger LCP II specifications

The LCP II was introduced at the 2016 SHOT Show as a direct improvement to the original LCP, addressing the most common complaints about the first generation: a heavy and gritty trigger, lack of last-round hold-open, and minimal sights. The Secure Action trigger system provides a lighter pull weight of approximately 26 newtons (5.9 pounds) compared to the original LCP's heavier double-action pull, giving it a feel closer to a single-action trigger while maintaining hammer-fired safety. The pistol is not rated for +P ammunition. The LCP II .380 was discontinued around 2023, effectively replaced by the Ruger LCP MAX which fits 10+1 rounds of .380 ACP into a nearly identical footprint using a double-stack magazine design. The .22 LR Lite Rack variant of the LCP II remains in production as a training and recreational pistol. The slide width of just 19mm (0.75 inches) makes the LCP II one of the thinnest semi-automatic pistols on the market, ideal for front pocket or ankle holster carry where printing must be absolutely minimized.