Advice LC9s vs. S&W Shield 9mm

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oldways

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Have decided to buy a single stack compact 9mm.
Narrowed down to these two. Price is within ten dollars at my gunshop.
Comments and suggestions appreciated.
Thanks.
 
I have both the Shield and LC9 (not the s, although recoil should be the same), and can tell you the Shield is a (much?) softer shooting gun.
 
I have fired both and while the Shield trigger was not fantastic, it was still way better than the LC9 trigger, which was shockingly awful.
 
I looked at both, and I found the Shield to feel a bit better built. This is coming from a Ruger guy.

I ended up with a Nano, because I liked it even better than the Shield. Between the LC9s and Shield, I would probably go with the Shield.
 
I almost went with a shield myself but instead changed my mind at the last moment for the xds. Probably would have been happy either way.
 
I've shot the Shield & LC9s. I ended up buying the LC9s. It is snappier, iow not as soft feeling as the Shield. I like the trigger on the LC9s better.
 
I think the LC9s conceals a little better since it is smaller/lighter (though not by much)

Personally, I have hands on the larger size so the Shield fit better also the LC9 with a pinky extension or extended mag made it useable

I'm not positive on this, but i think Shield mags are cheaper/more plentiful (based on that i have actually seen them for sale and not @ $45 like some of the LC9 extended mags)

I do not own either but I know a few owners for both and havent heard any significant complaints from either. I tend to prefer Ruger products over S&W but i think that is just because I am younger and wasn't around for the S&W heydays.

As suggested, you really just need to shoot them both to figure out which you prefer (i have not had that experiment/test fail me yet)

-Matt S.
 
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 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.
 
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I went with the LC9s. Lighter (hence a tad more recoil), better trigger, small enough for pocket carry without being too small to shoot well.

It may not be the gun for you, though. Buy the one you shoot best.
 
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If you have it down this close, you'll likely benefit from shooting each and deciding afterwards. Pretty much all guns look good on paper, but there's a whole lot more to getting a gun that fits you than just comparing the specs.

We prefer the LC9s but I know several shooters who swear by the Shield. Funny thing is ... we're all right.
 
I had an older LC9 which had the worst trigger in the world. I sold it and bought a Shield which is just about the most perfect carry gun for me. Small, lightweight, accurate, easy to carry IWB and actually fun to use at the range. Recoil has been extremely manageable with the Shield. Even my teenage kids shoot it exceptionally well.

I have not had an opportunity to shoot the striker versions of the LC9. They're supposed to have a vastly improved in the trigger. The LC9 would be slightly easier to conceal based on it's size.
 
I had an older LC9 which had the worst trigger in the world.
I still have my LC9, and have no problem with the trigger.
It may not be as light as the Shield (light triggers seem to be the holy grail these days), but I'm not sure which one I'd say is better.

The Shield has a much lighter trigger pull, but the LC9 is smooth, consistent, repeatable, and I can always tell what's going on.

And here's one of those 'Net head scratchers...
I have a SIG SP2022, and everyone raves about what a great trigger it has (arguably one of the best).
My LC9 trigger reminds me a LOT of the SP2022, yet you constantly hear about how lousy the LC9 trigger is.

Go figure... :scrutiny:
 
I owned a shield and did not like it. I own a LC9 and LC9 s pro and absolutely love them. Lc9's are true single stack pistols which fit me better than the shield does but thats my choice.
 
I never liked polymer Ruger guns. They are cheap feeling, and the triggers suck big time. Always go with S&W over Ruger, unless it's Metal or Rifles we're talking about.
 
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