Ruger LC9s as good as a S&W Shield 9mm?

No experience with that model Smith. But the Ruger I had impressed me. I sold mine after going to the Sig 365 which I like better. But the Sig was 2 1/2 times more. I paid $200 for the Ruger, $500 for the Sig. I wouldn't have felt handicapped with the Ruger.

I rented the LC9 to see if it would work for me. It didn't feel right in my hand, didn't like the trigger but I understand the LC9s corrected that problem and I couldn't shoot it accurately enough. Tried a Shield and the gun and I worked well together, it was my carry gun for a long time before I gifted it to my grandson. Put a lot of rounds through it and so has the grandson with no problems. The only way for you to decide is to do as previously suggested, go to the range and rent both.

pbearperry said:

I have one and it shoots well. However, I miss the fact it has no slide release lever and you have to pull the slide back manually to chamber the first round in the mag. I also wish the safety didn't come off so easy.

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As I mentioned, I loved mine except for the trigger. Got rid of it. And you are right, the gun was not meant to use the slide release. Not that I mind, I sling shot all my guns. But then go to the internet and see crap like this video below.
The Poster called others a liar that the said the gun was not meant to to use the slide lock. Of course he had all comments stopped. You can see in the video that he had trouble using the Slide lock.And he either filed down the lock or just forced it down over and over.
This is the type of crap you see on the internet. I had two of the LC9s and never could even force the lever down without moving the slide to the rear.Ruger actually calls it a "Slide Hold Open:,

You be the judge.So who is the liar? Is the LC9S a slide stop by the manufacture or a slide release?

I have owned a G43, 9mm Shield & LC9 Pro. I still have the G43 & LC9. I carry the Ruger all summer long and with tight clothes. It is a slightly light trigger, but I like it. I'm comfortable with the trigger drawing from the holsters I have, but I understand it could be a source of concern. I shoot the G43 slightly better over 25 feet, but that's not something I worry about for concealed carry. The Shield didn't fit my hand well and I just didn't shoot it well, so I sold it. The LC9s seemed to fit my my hand from moment I picked it up.

I'd recommend finding a gun range with a shop that rents pistols and try as many as you can until you're comfortable.

Doesn’t matter what we think in this instance. Shoot them both, buy the one you shoot better and more comfortably. Those are the things that matter. If you can’t shoot it for **** it doesn’t matter “how good” of a gun it is or how much one of us liked it.

I've got two Ruger EC9s and a first generation Sheild. The Ruger trigger is better than the Shield. All three have proven to be reliable. Each were purchased on the cheap (around $100 or less) and I would feel confident with any of them in a crisis. Each serves as a car gun when I am out and about.

Had a Shield. Grip angle wrong for me. Had a LC9, o.k. Have a LC380 (long story) and an EC9s. I carry the 9 a lot. And shoot it a lot. No problems in about a thousand rounds

I looked at both, came home with the LC9s. Good shooter, very dependable with all types of ammo, and very accurate. It's my EDC, and 3 of my friends also carry one.

I had the first LC9 and it was just too snappy for me but was great in a pocket holster. Sold it and got the Shield. It sort of works in my oversized cargo shorts pocket but it usually in in a IWB and it has the TLR6 on it. I think it is a much better made gun that the Ruger.

Semper Fi

paul

I have both. A Ruger LC9S and a first generation Shield. I like them both, but carry the Ruger while the Shield is an occasional range toy. I have a bunch of the M&P line and the quality is excellent, but the Ruger is smaller, lighter, has a better trigger, and a better manual safety. I insist on a manual safety on a carry semi auto. The Ruger is slightly wider and a tad more natural to engage. Never had an issue with the Shield safety. Just wish it had a little bit more of a ledge.

The Shield is not a pocket gun. The Ruger fits that role better, though I usually carry it in the waistband. If the Sug 365 came out when I bought the Ruger I might have gotten the Sig, but the Ruger is way cheaper. The Ruger and the Sig are virtually the same size and weight.

I’d take the Ruger over the Shield for carry, just because every ounce matters to me in a carry gun. Mine has fired virtually nothing but my own reloads. Never had one malfunction. Same for the Shield. I’d stake my life on either one.

I am with edwardware.
The LC9s fits my pocket, the Shield doesn't.
It is slow on the reload, a handicap in BUG matches.

Glock 43 is a good alternative.

I'd check out the Sig 365, too.

I like the Walther PPS far better than either ! I like the Classic because of its paddle mag release and the rail on the front. I have an Olight Min Baldor 600 Lumen light /green laser ($129 !) mounted on my .40 (or my 9mm version, I have both) and a light bearing kydex paddle holster for it I wear at appendix position . Very well armed and lightweight and concealable and easy to use the toilet The walther has a much better trigger than evewn gen 2 shields , and although the Ruger trigger is lighter it feels cheap and uncertain IMHO.

I have owned both and regarding reliability I didn’t have an issue with either. I prefer the Shield because it just fit my hand better though. The LC9 grip just felt a little too square to me.

I've got both, both shoot well, but I prefer the shield and couldn't say why.
I guess if one gun suited everyone they'd just make one (boring) gun

I have had both the LC9s & the shield 9 in the safe. The shield is the only one still there. My Ruger had a horrible trigger & was sold off. My shield is still in the safe & is on my list of carry guns. I enjoy shooting the shield from time to time. I never liked shooting the Ruger. just my .02

It is interesting to see the many threads from all forums comparing the Shield to the LC9 which started off years ago and still continues to this day. You have to wonder why the comparison of just these two Micro 9mm's. The LC9 was so popular when it came out and got a lot of advertising, then the Sheild and it was off to the races. Shield would seem to be the favorite for a long time, then Ruger came out with the LC9s and the very light trigger and again the battles continue to wage on and on. Back then, I had the original LC9, then the Shield, then the LC9S. Ended up getting rid of them. Not that they were not good guns, but just not for me, in one way or the other. Just moved on to other guns that I either shoot IMO nicer, or preferred certain features.
Both nice guns, but it is important to know the differences when shooting, the triggers etc. before makes a judgement. And that can be determined only by actually shooting both guns side by side. And any gun, it is always ideal to shoot two guns side by side with as much ammo as possible. I typically will go out and shoot 200 rds of mixed ammo though each gun before I make a judgement. Some guns IMO will really tell the difference as the ammo down range continues. One gun usually comes out far ahead at the end of the session. Felt recoil and other characteristics are much more noticeable.

Paul Toms said:

I have had both the LC9s & the shield 9 in the safe. The shield is the only one still there. My Ruger had a horrible trigger & was sold off. My shield is still in the safe & is on my list of carry guns. I enjoy shooting the shield from time to time. I never liked shooting the Ruger. just my .02

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Your Ruger had a horrible trigger? Sure it wasn’t the LC9 and not the LC9S? The Ruger LC9S has a super light and smooth trigger. Hickock 45 comments on it. Best trigger of any sub compact carry gun I’ve handled, and I’ve shot the Sig 365 and own the Shield. Ruger trigger is so light they while I prefer a manual safety on a striker fired semi auto, I would insist on it for the LC9S. I’ve owned and carried Glocks but would never carry the LC9S Pro because it has no safety.

I guess you could call me the Economy King. I found the Ruger EC9s, apparently unfired, in a Pawn shop for $175.00 with a box of
Blazer Brass 115grain FMJ. I put a Hogue Handall on it, and it works for me when I can't carry a full-sized gun. I have two 7 round and two 9 round magazines for it that all function perfectly. That brings me to the S&W SD9 with fiber optic sights that I got for $300.00 BNIB. I bought an extra magazine, so now I have four 16 round magazines that I have yet to get more than 15 rounds loaded in any of them. The little Ruger gets carried in a DeSantis Thumb Break Scabbard ($22.00 on eBay) or a CYA IWB holster ($24.00 in a big box store), usually the CYA. The SD9 initially rode in a Phalanx Systems Stealth Operator Full-Size ($27.00 in a big box store), then a CYA IWB ($29.00 in the same big box store), and lately a Bianchi Accumold Duty Holster ($24.00 on eBay), mostly in the CYA IWB.

Homerboy said:

Your Ruger had a horrible trigger? Sure it wasn’t the LC9 and not the LC9S? The Ruger LC9S has a super light and smooth trigger. Hickock 45 comments on it. Best trigger of any sub compact carry gun I’ve handled, and I’ve shot the Sig 365 and own the Shield. Ruger trigger is so light they while I prefer a manual safety on a striker fired semi auto, I would insist on it for the LC9S. I’ve owned and carried Glocks but would never carry the LC9S Pro because it has no safety.

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Hickcock45 also said when reviewing another gun and I will paraphrase 'These triggers have become so light, the LC9S for example is so light it feels like a Target gun'. One reason I traded off mine. I loved the slim design, actually thought it had a cool look and was very reliable. But the trigger was just too light for me. Just Not my style in any way. It eventually became even lighter after shooting about six thousand rounds and I had it sent up to Ruger to see if they could do something about it. They sent it back and said they could not and I traded it. I do not want, desire or need a Target gun trigger on a EDC gun. And it was always a gun that I would use the safety when carried. Glad to now have a dao trigger that I shoot not only as good as the light triggered Ruger but better and more enjoyment.
If Ruger had just improved the original trigger to get a nice dao, I would still own the gun. JMO.

Ernie Bass said:

Hickcock45 also said when reviewing another gun and I will paraphrase 'These triggers have become so light, the LC9S for example is so light it feels like a Target gun'. One reason I traded off mine. I loved the slim design, actually thought it had a cool look and was very reliable. But the trigger was just too light for me. Just Not my style in any way. It eventually became even lighter after shooting a few thousand rounds and I had it sent up to Ruger to see if they could do something about it. They sent it back and said they could not and I dumped it. I do not want, desire or need a Target gun trigger on a EDC gun. And it was always a gun that I would use the safety when carried. Glad to now have a dao trigger that I shoot not only as good as the light triggered Ruger but better and more enjoyment.
If Ruger had just improved the original trigger to get a nice dao, I would still own the gun. JMO.

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Yeah, but the price I would get for a polymer Ruger is just too low to consider selling, although it is a sellers market now. I also have too much invested in holsters and mags, although I could probably sell those separately and get my money back.

For me, the Ruger just hits all the right spots. It’s lighter than my Shield with the same capacity. Has a manual safety that operates better than the Shield (that little ledge is great. The Shield safety works fine but it is a hair too flush for me. I operate it easily on the draw but who knows under pressure.). It also has the magazine disconnect which I like. So the light trigger is no issue since the gun is always holstered and the trigger is covered, plus the safety.

Homerboy said:

Yeah, but the price I would get for a polymer Ruger is just too low to consider selling, although it is a sellers market now. I also have too much invested in holsters and mags, although I could probably sell those separately and get my money back.

For me, the Ruger just hits all the right spots. It’s lighter than my Shield with the same capacity. Has a manual safety that operates better than the Shield (that little ledge is great. The Shield safety works fine but it is a hair too flush for me. I operate it easily on the draw but who knows under pressure.). It also has the magazine disconnect which I like. So the light trigger is no issue since the gun is always holstered and the trigger is covered, plus the safety.

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Here is my LC9S and LCR9mm from about 4 years ago. Still have the LCR and shooting it very often PV days any way.And like I said, love the slim design and looks of the LC9. My brother has my original LC9 and every time I talk to him, he says it is still going strong.

For me the trigger is much too light for a sd pistol. Too much take up too. The safety is awkward as it's just the opposite of a 1911 or Browning.