Ruger LCP tough on brass.

[mnhogrider]

I started reloading .380 auto since I bought an LCP. It's hard enough trying to find the ejected cases, but the ones I get back have a nice "ding" about half way up the case. I figure this is from the ejector, being it's kind of a sharp edged, pointy design. The case rim also takes a beating. The extractor is beefy for a small gun. Looks like someone was teething on the case rim. When I run the cases through the sizing die and powder die on my 550B, it doesn't get rid of the ding, but does improve it quite a bit. My questions:

Are the dinged cases safe to use again? (I'm working up some lower powered plinking rounds), or is that blemish going to cause a weak spot in the case to possibly blow out? I've been using 1X CBC cases without any dents with good results, but I'm hesitating re-using the dinged cases.

Should I try to modify the ejector so it doesn't cause the dent? I think I risk ejection problems if I start to change it.

The cases eject so hard that they go about 15 ft. straight up and then land about 25 ft. to my right outdoors. In an indoor range, they hit the drop ceiling panels so hard it chews the ceiling panel up and drops the bits on the gun tray on the firing line. Would there be a way to make the gun not eject so forcefully? Extractor spring modification?

Should I try to smooth the sharpness of the extractor so it doesn't chew up the case rim?

Steve-O

[creophus]

My advice is to not modify the gun in any way. The brass being dented will cause it to get worked more (compressed when ejected, expanded when fired again), and as a result, you may experience a failure sooner than if the brass were not dented.

Just inspect the cases before you load them each time. 380 rounds are expensive, and you should still be able to get some use from them a few times.

Keep us posted on how that LCP does. I'm thinking of getting one myself.

[Vulcanese]

I don't think it's the ejector. The ejector hits the back of the case, not the side. The dent is likely created when the case is flipped into the sharp edge of the back of the ejection port on its way out of the action.

In any case, I would not modify the ejector. It might be possible to round the sharp edge of the port. It will probably create a "bare" spot where the steel will be left "in the white" if material is removed.

These dents are not uncommon, and probably are not a cause for concern.

[Steve Koski]

If you can get a spare ejector (in case you ruin the first one) you can try changing/filing the shape of the tip to alter the ejection angle. I've read of folks doing this successfully. Never done it myself.

[mnhogrider]

That's a good idea, Steve. The spent cases have a perfect ding like if I took an ice pick and hammer and hit the side of the case. Somebody suggested it was bouncing off the hood of the slide, but I don't think it would leave a dimple type of mark if it was hitting there. I don't know if I'd have any luck trying to get a spare ejector out of Ruger at this time. I'm thinking of trying some of that rubber dip stuff. Paint some over the sharp part of the ejector and see what happens. If it screws things up, I can just peel it off.