Best Ruger LCP Upgrades: One Pistol To Rule Them All?

The Ruger LCP is a .380 ACP firing pocket pistol created by Sturm, Ruger & Co. Introduced back in 2008, it generated a cult following. To the point, it has become a go-to recommendation for anyone looking for a concealable carry self-defense weapon.

The gun is great at stock and you can just keep using it. But if you are anything like me, then your search history is filled with Custom Ruger LCP searches. I can’t blame you, upgrading guns is like a drug. Once you get the taste of it, it’s hard to go back.

But unlike real addiction, this one is healthy for your mind but not so healthy for the wallet. Well, what do I mean? You will see soon enough. Without further ado, let’s find out the best Ruger LCP upgrades that you might want to do.

Ruger LCP Laser Sight Upgrades

In case you didn’t know, sights can improve your shooting. Jokes aside, sights are the most common upgrade that you see happening on handguns. As these guns are used for self-defense mostly, you need to be prepared to use them during the night as well. For that to happen, you will need a sight that is capable of providing you vision or shooting position during the night.

1. LaserMax CenterFire Ruger LCP Pistol Laser Sight

When it comes to making laser sights, LaserMax will always be in the top position of your list. They make good laser sights that are not only durable but also offer adjustment and better battery life than competitors.

This laser sight from LaserMax is specifically made for the LCP series. Thanks to that, you will not need to do any DIY or head over to your local gunsmith. The sight itself is made out of polymer and it’s waterproof. By no means do I recommend you to use this underwater, but you can use this under rain.

The laser uses a single 1/3N lithium battery that can last you up to 4 hours of battery life. As the light uses a red laser and not green, that’s why the battery life is quite good compared to similarly priced laser sights.

2. ArmaLaser TR12 Designed Ruger LCP II Laser Sight

ArmaLaser is not far behind LaserMax in terms of user and recognition. Some might even prefer one over the other and there is nothing wrong with that stance either. As for this sight, it’s also made out of a polymer that is also waterproof to an extent.

I also ask you to not use this underwater or put it to the test in your bathtub. Plastic is plastic and it can go wrong under water. The laser outputs a legal 4 mW of red laser and it’s well within the legal limit of almost the entire country.

You can see your targets from over 50 feet away. The throw distance is good and the spread is not as bad as green lasers or flashlights for example. The battery life is a bit downer. It can run continuously for 2.3 hours. But the battery is replaceable and they are extremely cheap as well. You can keep spares in your pocket. Consider them pocket changes. Aight I’ll see myself out.

Ruger LCP Holster Upgrades

The next thing you might want to do is get a holster if you don’t have one already. Or if your holster is withering away and you need to upgrade to a better one, these holsters below might pique your interest.

1. Fobus KT2G Evolution Holster

This holster from Fobus is crafted around the dimension of the Ruger LCP series and it can handle the gun with a sight as well. The design of this holster features a passive retention design.

The holster is made out of polymer. So, you can easily carry this without cover in the rain as well. While it’s not “waterproof” per se, it’s splashproof. Will give your gun the much-needed cover.

More importantly, it’s not poorly made or too expensive. The price is what makes it the go-to choice for any Ruger LCP owner.

2. Galco Kingtuk IWB Holster

IWB holsters are the most popular style of holsters among concealable carry users. As this gun is small, going for a small holster that stays secured and somewhat hidden on your belt is a bonus for sure.

The Kingtuk Holster is made out of Kydex and leather. Two of the most durable materials for holsters you will ever come across. Kydex gives it the much-needed durability and the leather gives it a premium feel to the touch and an extra bit of comfort that you don’t find in cheap holsters.

Yes, you can hold your Ruger LCP 2 on this holster as well. It supports a lot of weapons from Springfield Armory as well. Make sure to go through the entire list of supported guns on their site.

Ruger LCP Grip Upgrades

The LCP is a polymer gun. It’s not made out of wood or metal. That’s why, often people just don’t bother upgrading the grip as the stock grip and frame are good enough. But we are not looking for good enough. We want the best upgrades for Ruger LCP. That includes the grips as well.

1. Hogue Ruger LCP HandAll BGS

Dread it, run from it, and Hogue grip arrives all the same. Jokes aside, you just can’t ignore the value Hogue provides in their grips which tends to be affordable as well. Just like the LCP you are holding now, this set of grips is also made out of polymer.

As it’s designed for LCP and cut through CNC, the grip just sits in the gun without having any issues. You don’t need to tinker with anything or sand down your gun to make them comfortable.

If you have an unusual color edition of the LCP, chances are Hogue made a grip for that color as well. If they don’t, well play around with contrast and grab the pair of grips that suits your gun. All the colors have the same material so they are all durable.

2. Hogue HandAll Hybrid Ruger LCP Grip Sleeve

This pair of grips is also from Hogue. This one is also made for the LCP series and crafted for people who find thermoplastic or polymer a bit too hard to grip. This one is made out of rubber.

The rubber is not sticky and is comfortable with or without gloves. The pattern is nice and what’s even nicer is the installation. It takes two minutes to put them on and that’s it. You can now enjoy your LCP with even more comfort.

Ruger LCP Trigger Upgrade

You might have seen this coming. The trigger is one of the most important parts of any gun. That includes the Ruger LCP as well. While there is no massive complaint of the trigger jamming or not working at all about the LCP. Prevention is better than cure. Also, if the stock pull is too much or too little for you, an upgraded trigger might solve that problem for you.

1. Peacemaker Short Stroke Trigger

This trigger was designed to fit the LCP series made by Ruger. The trigger is made out of CNC-machined aluminum and it’s a short-stroke trigger. Aluminum is as durable as you can hope for an accessory to be. Thanks to that, your trigger won’t break from a drop or accident either.

The main appeal of the Peacemaker Short Stroke is the price tag. Unlike many other triggers that are also available for the LCP, this one is quite inexpensive. And it’s easy to install as well. Yet, if you don’t have any prior experience in disassembling a gun and replacing the trigger, head over to your gunsmith. They know better.

Unfortunately, this one is not supported by the Ruger LCP 2. If you are looking for the best trigger for Ruger LCP 2, then you might want to take a look at the Sigurd Short Stroke Trigger. This trigger is made for LCP 2.

Ruger LCP Magazine Upgrades

Now that you are done with the massive upgrades of the gun which also cost quite much, time for some convenient upgrades that will not cost nearly as much. That’s right, I’m talking about magazine upgrades. AKA extended magazine for Ruger LCP.

1. Ruger LCP II .22LR 10-Round Magazine

This magazine isn’t that different from the one that comes with your gun. Rather it’s an added benefit that will make your shooting life a breeze. You will find two magazines in this bundle and you have one from the factory as well. Allowing you to quickly switch magazines and shoot 30 bullets with ease.

2. Magazine Extension

Instead of buying some more magazines, you can invest in magazine extenders instead. They are quite literally extensions that you install in your magazine and they add an extra grip to your gun. You can also take them out faster. If you want a good combo, try out the Magazine Extension for Ruger LCP pistols by Galloway Precision and pair that with the ADCO Super Thumb VI speedloader.

How To Upgrade Ruger LCP?

Now that you know what are some of the best upgrades for Ruger LCP, how do you choose the best one for you? Well, you can handle the task in many different ways. For me, I divide it in two.

The first one is the budget. Depending on how much I want to spend within a certain period, I shortlist the items that will benefit my shooting directly. After that, I slowly buy all the other upgrades as time goes on. You can follow this simple rule of thumb and start slowly building your ultimate LCP.

The second option is to find out the necessities. You will need to find out what items are required for your build first. If you are planning on changing the guts then the trigger is a good way of starting. After that, you can slowly upgrade things as you go.

Conclusion

And with that, you and I have reached the end. I hope you had fun while reading it and learned something new as well. That’s all I could ask for. I know upgrading a gun is not easy and can be a tedious task. But the reward is exhilarating.

Thanks for reading as always and I hope to see you back soon. Don’t worry, I’ve got more of this coming for you guys soon. Till then, take care and have fun.