I wish I had a successful first trip to the range with my Davidson's Exclusive Ruger LCP Max Elite back in March, but it wasn't meant to be. It was pretty greasy in the bag when I picked it up at my LGS so I cleaned it up when I got home. A few days later at the range, I took a few pistols but started out with the Max yet was only able to try six shots with it as I had multiple FTF's and fortunately noticed that the takedown pin was working its way loose. I pulled the pin out, inspected everything, and then had a lot of difficulty trying to get the takedown pin to go back in. As I kept trying, the pin popped out and landed in front of the railing where all of the spent casings are swept, so I figured it was a lost cause. I snapped a quick photo with my cell phone and thought there might be a chance and as I zoomed in, there it was propped up against the front of the concrete and a spent casings.
So after not doing anything with my LCP Max for awhile since I had some other pistols to break in, I decided to try it again but I was still having issues getting the stock takedown pin to go in. Before sending it back to Ruger, I ordered the MCARBO Heavy Duty STRESS-PROOF Takedown Pin and the Galloway Precision 13 lb Outer Recoil Spring and Stainless Steel Guide Rod and installed them a little over a week ago and went to the range a few days later. Well wouldn't you know it but I had no issues what so ever. So while I am not sure which one did the trick or if it was the combo off all three, I ran over 100 rounds of different ammo and grains without a hitch.
I even tried putting the stock takedown pin back in and it just would not back in like the MCARBO pin does. I'll probably put the stock guide rod and spring back in just to see what happens but since mine was a Davidsons Exclusive, it was supposed to have a stainless steel guide rod in it already but the stock one already looks a bit chewed up like some that I have seen pictures of and it does not look like it was stainless steel. Not sure what I will do but I am happy that it is running well now and I plan on taking it to the range anytime I go now so I can keep putting rounds through it to see how it holds up.
I really wanted to be already using it as my small and light summer EDC but I have not put enough rounds through it to feel confident in it yet. Fortunately my new Sig P365-380 is running great and my trusty Glock 42 is still serving me well. I'll update again once I take it to the range and may also end up putting all of the stock parts back in, if I can get the takedown pin back in of course, and then send it to Ruger to see what they can find.