NRA Gun of the Week: Ruger LCP MAX

by
posted on November 19, 2021
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **

There is no doubt that Ruger has earned its reputability in the concealed-carry and personal-defense pistol market since the 2008 release of its LCP semi-automatic chambered for .380 ACP. Now in its third design phase, Ruger is well-poised to earn more kudos with its latest LCP iteration.

left side black gun pistol handgun plastic steel text on image noting "RUGER LCP MAX"

 

Meet the LCP MAX: Ruger has effectively doubled the capacity of its previous two micro-compact pistol designs with the release of its LCP pistol while also supplying thoughtful improvements throughout. Just like the older LCP and LCP II micro-compacts that came before it, Ruger’s LCP MAX comes to market as a locked-breech, polymer-frame semi-automatic.

column three stack row handgun pistol magazines ammunition

 

The LCP MAX comes from the box measuring just barely over 5”-long by 4”-tall, and though the little hand-held pistol boasts a fully loaded capacity for up to 13 rounds, it is important to note the gun weighs under 11 ozs. empty, too. For those looking for an easy-to-carry pistol with capacity to boot, the LCP MAX just might be the best choice in Ruger’s impressive lineup of centerfire and rimfire protection tools.

black gun parts metal plastic pistol handgun

 

Changes incorporated into the LCP MAX design made a noticeable improvement over past iterations by offering a widened grip with panels of enhanced texturing—needless to say, Ruger’s LCP MAX more controllable than the original. Further enhancing the shootability of diminutive LCP MAX is the supplied a single-action trigger. Additionally, racking the slide is noticeably easier on the LCP MAX, thanks to the extended slide wings.

man black shirt ballcap earmuffs shooting black handgun pistol range guns

 

Learn more by watching our NRA Gun of the Week video, where American Rifleman staff shoot and talk about Ruger’s LCP MAX.

Ruger LCP MAX Specifications
Manufacturer: Sturm, Ruger & Co.
Action Type: recoil-operated, semi-automatic, centerfire pistol
Chambering: .380 ACP
Barrel: 2.8"
Frame: glass-filled nylon
Slide: alloy steel
Finish: black oxide
Sights: adjustable U-notch, serrated rear; tritium post front
Magazine: 10- or 12-round detachable box
Height: 4.12"
Length: 5/17
Width: 0.81" (slide)
Weight: 10.6 ozs.
MSRP: $449

Latest

Finnish Mausers
Finnish Mausers

The Elusive Finnish Mausers

In the 1920s, the Finnish Shooting Sport Federation sought to replace the military’s venerable Mosin-Nagant. Its attempts to introduce Mauser target rifles as service rifles were eventually thwarted in the 1930s by design limitations and budgets.

The Armed Citizen® Dec. 22, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Rifleman Q&A: Point Of Hold

Q: I have always been a rifle and handgun shooter, with little shotgun experience, and I am a little confused about the “point of hold” shown in the pattern illustrations of our magazine.

Preview: MTM Case-Gard Suppressor Protector Case

Secure, rugged and inexpensive, the Suppressor Protector Case by MTM Case-Gard is a convenient way to transport or store as many as three (cooled) silencers up to 10" in length.

A Bigger Rhino: The Chiappa 60DS L-Frame In .44 Mag.

The Chiappa Rhino revolver design is "anything but ordinary," and for 2026, the company is upscaling the concept to handle the .44 Magnum cartridge.

Preview: Magpul MOE QD Bipod For M-Lok

Simple, inexpensive and supremely easy to use, the new MOE QD Bipod For M-Lok is Magpul’s fastest-mounting bipod model by far, as it takes only about five seconds for the practiced hand to securely affix it to an M-Lok-clad fore-end.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.