Advice LC9s vs. S&W Shield 9mm

[NINEX19]

I'm not usually this direct, but that's an absurd statement.

I agree!

I suppose there is no point in voicing my opinion since it looks like you have already made a choice, but I would say the LC9s is the better choice. My reasons: 1) better styling, smoother edges for C. Carry. 2) much, much nicer trigger. The only thing that the S&W has over the LC9s is the ease of dis-assembly.

Both are nice quality guns. It just comes down to personal choices.

 

[basicblur]

I'm not usually this direct, but that's an absurd statement.

Maybe not absurd, but I would disagree with him.

I have both the Shield and LC9.

I think the Ruger actually looks / feels like a higher quality product - the magazine fit on the Shield is not great - a bit of gap at the bottom, and not a real satisfying feeling when slamming one in. Not bad, but I have many other pistols that give you a satisfying "snick" when you insert a mag, and there is no gap between the mag base and bottom of grip.

As I stated earlier - I'm pretty impressed with the old LC9 trigger - feels a LOT like the trigger on my SP2022 SIG.

 

[PabloJ]

The only problem with LCP was carbon slide was oxidation prone. Otherwise it was very good pocket gun. Ruger makes about the most svelte elegant looking polymer framed pistols out there. Just look at SR9C its beautiful.

 

[JohnnyBravo]

I always think controls are the most neglected aspect of gun buying, but one of the most important aspects in reality.

Finding out that you don't really like working the controls on a pistol after you've already plunked down the cash is finding out a little too late, but so many people don't take controls and MOA into consideration when they're buying.

I know someone who purchased a Nano - which IMO, and his opinion has a nice trigger and shoots great. But he started to feel uncomfortable carrying it in his pocket with the trigger the way it is, he really started to want a thumb safety. A lot of people test a gun's trigger, they see how it feels in the hand, they might shoot it at the range but the whole time they're not thinking about what they have to do to draw from the holster to deploy the handgun and shoot and they don't think about carrying the gun for hours day after day in their mode of carry.

The Shield was the best choice for me out of what was available at the time but I heartily agree with your post.

 

[george burns]

Then tell me why ruger told me the trigger had excessive play in it intentionally because they couldn't stop the trigger from seizing during rapid fire from heat. Instead of redesigning the entire trigger assembly they just left 1/8 if play on either side to stop the gun from locking up. This from a Tech I called because the wobble was so bad that I replaced it with a custom trigger that cost half as much as the gun, and it then would not reset at full adjustment about 1/2 the time. It was a piece of junk, and if you took the gun apart you could see how cheaply it was made. The trigger bar was slid in between the frame and metal firing assembly, which made it too easy to slide out during rapid fire.
If it was so absurd then why did they finally redesign the trigger.
Shield, XD, or PM9,Glock, are much better guns. Take them apart and look at the way the gun is made, do you want to rely on a trigger spring that is thinner than a paper clip? With all of the major parts made from plastic. except the fire control carriage, even the rivets and fasteners, it's really not made for men who rely on their weapon. It's ok for a backup or a woman if she doesn't really shoot it much. Much like an LCP, how many people who bought one still have or carry it? I don't know one. That would be a third gun for when someone has over run you and you are out of ammo and guns.
This movement to miniature pistols is very dangerous, it's become a contest on who has the smallest lightest gun. That was never the intent of carrying a gun for self defense, it should be a gun that can take some abuse and and those little delicate Rugers can't. Throw one across the room and see if it still fires, because when you are wrestling with a perp or two your gun can get banged around pretty good. get one that will take some abuse.

 

[TarDevil]

If it was so absurd then why did they finally redesign the trigger.

Because they DID redesign the trigger. The entire gun industry is ripe with issues. What separates good from bad companies is their willingness to correct problems, as Ruger did. And just exactly what is junk inside that gun??

This type sentiment is akin to beating up Ruger for Bill's magazine stance. The past is the past. They make good, quality guns.

 

[george burns]

They do make some great guns, I just found that whole series of LC9, Lcp to be flimsy and not a gun to carry for protecting your life.
I happen to like their 1911's and their SR9. But not these plastic fantastic wonders.

 

[PJSprog]

I haven't shot the LC9, but I have shot the Shield. Based on feel in the hand alone, I didn't like the Ruger. It just wasn't as comfortable to me. I didn't think it felt like junk. It just felt like a plastic pistol. Ergonomically, though, I would prefer the S&W.

All of this, of course, is academic, as the OP has already made his decision.

 

[Teachu2]

My wife thought she wanted a LC9, so we bought one. Three rounds was all she fired, then set it on the bench and was done with it. The rear of the grip is almost sharp on the corners, and was painful to her. Rather than be mad, I rented every 9mm the range had and she shot them all. The M&P 9c was the clear winner for her.

I later bought a Shield for when attire won't allow a G26/30. She shot it a few times, but preferred her 9c - until she got a CCW. Then she got a Shield. We both carry them as our summer guns.

 

[george burns]

duplicate

 

[george burns]

I also like the 26 and 30S, I upgraded my 30 for an "S" about 10 months ago and it is indeed as smooth and has less recoil than my 30 regular did. Where else can you get 11 rounds of 45 in a 20 oz package, and for bullet weight, try the aluminum "Liberty Ammo" with the 50 grain bullet, 10 of those weigh less than 10 standard 9mm does, and they are deadly as you require for distances up to 100 feet. I believe I read at longer distances they aren't as accurate ut I read a lot so I cant swear that distance was correct, I did make a mental note at the time that they were fine for my use, it could have been 100 ft, but do the work if you want to carry a weightless round. My spare mags have FMJ and Hornaday XTP's in there, so if I need barrier penetration I would go right to ball.by the way they make these in all popular flavors now.

 

[PJSprog]

My wife thought she wanted a LC9, so we bought one. Three rounds was all she fired, then set it on the bench and was done with it. The rear of the grip is almost sharp on the corners, and was painful to her. Rather than be mad, I rented every 9mm the range had and she shot them all. The M&P 9c was the clear winner for her.

I later bought a Shield for when attire won't allow a G26/30. She shot it a few times, but preferred her 9c - until she got a CCW. Then she got a Shield. We both carry them as our summer guns.

This is quite similar to our storyline. My wife thought she wanted the M&P40c. She shot it - eh, OK - and thought it would be fine. I convinced her to try the 9mm. We rented one and she shot out the X ring with it at 10 yards. So, she bought the M&P9c. For purse carry, it's fine, but she wanted something smaller for light clothes days (she's small), and ended up getting a Ruger LCP380. She hates it. Can't shoot it worth a darn (neither can I). Her oldest son recently got a .40 Shield, so she wanted to try one of those. We rented one a couple of weeks ago (in 9mm), and she shot it nearly as well as her 9c. She hasn't bought one yet, but I fully expect her to show me her new toy any day now. I admit, as little guns go, I liked it, too.

 

[Theohazard]

The LC9s has a slightly better trigger pull than the Shield, but the Shield has a much shorter reset. So depending on your preferences, you may decide the Shield has a better trigger for you. Also, a Shield Apex trigger kit is about $85 and makes the trigger much better; it smooths out the pull and lightens it a bit, and it shortens the reset.

I really like my 9mm Shield, it shoots great and has a suprisingly low amount of recoil for such a small gun. I've owned it for about 18 months now and I've had zero stoppages.

 

[w129]

Between the two guns you mention I would say it depends.

I like the Shield I purchased a lot but the thumb safety is too small to use consistently. That is fine if you intend to carry it with the safety off but sometimes I want to carry it AIWB and the tiny safety lever does not inspire confidence.

If I were to make the choice today I would buy the Ruger as the larger safety lever suits my mode of carry and temperament better.

I've had the LC9 & LC9s, shield, Kahr PM9, G43, Bersa BP9CC & a few others a don't recall (sold the Rugers, still have the shield, BP9CC and Glock 43) the shield is bar far IMO the softer shooter between the LC9 and the shield. As for conceal ability, The LC9 and shield were egual to me. The Glock 43 is equal to LC9/LC9s IMO.

YRMV of course

 

[TreeDoc]

I carry an lcp everyday.

 

[Edcnh]

I think you will like the Shield. I bought a 9mm Shield a couple of weeks ago and am very impressed with the accuracy for a sub compact. The recoil is quite mild for a small gun. I never tried an LCR. I was debating between the XDS Mod2 and the Shield. No gun shops in my area had The XDS and most were not carrying Springfields at all.

 

[deputy tom]

I've owned them all and currently have a Shield NTS. This has been the best subcompact 9mm I've shot/owned to date. YMMV. tom.

 

[JR47]

They do make some great guns, I just found that whole series of LC9, Lcp to be flimsy and not a gun to carry for protecting your life.
I happen to like their 1911's and their SR9. But not these plastic fantastic wonders./QUOTE]

Not to put too fine a point on it, but that SR9 is also a plastic fantastic wonder, isn't it? I'm always amazed at hot ONE person's experience with ONE sample of a gun can somehow be expected to give them some power to condemn ALL of the guns in that line.

My neighbor bought a Shield for his CCW weapon. Out of the box, it shot 12" to the left. It took a trip to the gunsmith to drift the sights, as neither of us wanted to possibly damage the gun at home. They were that tight. Locally, spare mags for the Shield are in the mid-$30 ranges. The extended mags are near $40.00. We've both shot it, and it's nice, but IMHO hardly outstanding in trigger, recoil, or accuracy.

Just after that purchase, Ruger introduced their LC9s. After trying the trigger, I bought one. Compared to the Shield, BOTH of us like the LC9s more. He has much less experience shooting than I do, yet is more accurate with the LC9s.

I had no trouble ordering mags from Ruger for the gun, at $39.95 each. The extended mag is $44.95. Both are readily available at ShopRuger.com.

In the end, it's up to the individual. If a single example was going to be grounds to condemn an entire line, having to have a gunsmith drift the Shield sights for us would likewise put the Shield in the dust-bin of good guns.

Shoot them both, make your choice, and be happy.

 

[Lord Teapot]

I'm not usually this direct, but that's an absurd statement.

i've always thought ruger's lc9/lcp/etc 'line' feels cheap. i rarely carry my lcp because of it. much prefer the much sturdier nano.

 

[stevekozak]

I shot these guns side by side today. The Shield felt better in my hand. It filled my hand better. When I commenced to shooting them, I found, to my surprise, that I shot the LC9s better! The sights worked better or me. I just couldnt get the Shield to put rounds where I wanted. I wanted to like the Shield. I really wanted it to be the better gun, as it comes with two mags, looks to be better built, and disassembles easier than the Ruger. Proof was in the pudding, though. The LC9s just shot better. I will be buying the Ruger. Maybe down the road I will try the Shield again (maybe the one I rented just sucked?) but for now, the Ruger is what works for me.

 

[Sulaco]

I had an LC9S Pro for a bit and liked it a lot until I shot my buddy's Shield. The Shield fits my hand much better and is easier for me to shoot. I did prefer the absence of an external safety and the really nice trigger of the LC9S Pro though.