By Peggy Tartaro
Executive Editor

Acknowledging customer demand for a gun in the concealed carry category, Sturm, Ruger & Co. introduced its LCP model at the 2008 SHOT Show in a press conference led by company president Steve Sanetti. "LCP" stands for Lightweight Compact Pistol, and the .380 Auto Ruger certainly looked like it would live up to that billing. A full review of the gun will appear in W&G later this year. The gun is designed on the smallest frame Ruger has ever used.

Designed for the growing concealed carry market, Ruger showed the new pistol in a variety of settings, including as a back-up gun for law enforcement and as a lightweight concealed carry option for both men and women. When size and weight savings count, Ruger said, the LCP pistol is a natural for personal defense carry, in a purse, briefcase, or inside hiking gear.

The 9.4 ounce LCP pistol has a capacity of 6 + 1 rounds of .380 Auto; a height of only 3.6" and a width of .82". The high-performance, glass-filled nylon frame is topped by a through hardened steel blued slide. The Ruger LCP features a 2.75" barrel and an overall length of 5.1".

Each LCP comes with a soft case, instruction manual, external locking device and one magazine.

"The development and introduction of the Ruger LCP is in direct response to customer demand," said Sanetti. "We have not been part of this market, but the growing number of states authorizing the licensed carry of pistols for personal protection by law-abiding citizens, and continued demand by law enforcement for quality back-up guns, cannot be ignored. The Ruger LCP is a .380 Auto pistol with superior ergonomic design and handsome styling. It incorporates state-of-the-art polymers, aircraft quality aluminum alloys and high-grade precision steel components engineered for strength and maximum weight savings."

The company used the slogan "When and where you need it," to introduce the LCP, but "when and wear you need it," might also be appropriate as the small pistol looks to be a natural for a variety of concealed carry options.

Ruger says the gun will fit a variety of small holsters, such as those offered by Safariland, Bianchi and Blackhawk. The gun was tested by Ruger in Don Hume's leather J.I.T. slide holster, Fobus' Tactical Elite Ankle and Paddle holsters and Uncle Mike's Size 10 holsters.

The gun was not available for test firing at Ruger's range event at the show, but both Gila Hayes and I handled a sample-no two women are alike, and while we both have relatively small hands, mine are quite a bit stubbier than hers, but we both managed a decent grip on it. I later took my brother, Mark, by the Ruger booth, since he teaches defensive tactics at the Erie County, NY police academy. He handled the little gun as well, and went off with a catalog. My dad's standard sized men's billfold was about the same size as the gun. We were by no means the only ones at the Show who were interested in the LCP as we had to wait our turn to handle it.

The LCP will be available from Ruger dealers in mid-March and carries the manufacturer's suggested retail of $330.

For more information on the Ruger LCP pistol, the company has set-up a specially designed microsite at http://www.ruger.com/LCP/. The company, which has always had female fans, seems to have made a special effort to include women in their marketing plans for this gun.

Also debuting at SHOT was Ruger's new Mini-14 in .223 Rem., the Ruger NRA Mini-14 will be a limited edition, with a portion of the proceeds going to the National Rifle Association's Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA).

Where legal, the NRA Mini-14 will ship with two 20-round magazines. In states where full capacity mags are prohibited, it will ship with a 5-round magazine.

The rugged centerfire autoloading carbine comes with a black Hogue Overmolded stock and gold-toned NRA medallion in the grip cap, and will feature serial numbers beginning with "NRA."

In addition to instruction manual and magazines, the gun comes with a lock and scope rings and retails for $1035. The NRA Mini-14 will also begin shipping in March and further details are available at the company's website: ruger.com.