Ruger LC9- Review

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Who makes a gun that seizes under pressure, then relieves the problem by making enough room between the frame and the trigger to put a match book in, Oh yea, Ruger does, they could have re-engineered the trigger so it would not wobble like an old bridge, but instead left it alone, or it would have broken through their price point.
They openly admit to doing this on the phone. I find that to be like having to bend the wheel well out because you made the fender too small.
 
NIce collection, but no Kahr?
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No. The only Kahr I have is the Thompson. :)



They openly admit to doing this on the phone. I find that to be like having to bend the wheel well out because you made the fender too small.
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Where exactly is the problem here?
How has this given you trouble when shooting your LC9?
How many rounds have you put through your LC9 and what malfunction have you had?


I have about 2,000 trouble free rounds through my first LC9. I had no idea there was a problem with the trigger until you pointed it out.
I still see no problem.
 
Slow day, so I just fired another 48 rounds through the old LC9.

Six different loads through two magazines.

Winchester White Box-factory.

115 grain JHP Hornady XTP bullets-reloads.

115 grain JHP Speer Gold Dot bullets-reloads.

Federal 135 grain "Hydra-Shok" JHP-factory.

Berry's 115 grain FMJ flat nose bullets-reloads.

Berry's 115 grain FMJ RN-reloads.


If this gun doesn't start giving me trouble soon I won't have a good excuse to get the other two new LC9 pistols out of the box. :D
 
gym said:
Who makes a gun that seizes under pressure, then relieves the problem by making enough room between the frame and the trigger to put a match book in, Oh yea, Ruger does, they could have re-engineered the trigger so it would not wobble like an old bridge, but instead left it alone, or it would have broken through their price point.
They openly admit to doing this on the phone. I find that to be like having to bend the wheel well out because you made the fender too small.
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I did not notice the very slight side movement when I shot the friend's LC9 or when I was pulling the trigger on mine with snap caps, but now that you mention it, yes there is some very slight side movement in the trigger.

I personally haven't heard of anyone at the range having any kind of trigger problem with the LC, but I'll see when I actually shoot the pistol Thursday.

I don't doubt you had a problem, but until I have a problem with the trigger I'll just assume it is not a chronic problem. I'll let you know after I get some rounds through it.

When I purchased a P238 a person that posts frequently on this board posted a number of times that the P238 was a flawed design and he was very adamant about it continually warning that the gun would never be reliable because of the design flaw. I think he was very irritated that I did not just accept his warning.

Well mine is now close to two years old and has been nothing less than superb as are the two my son owns and as the seven or eight people at the range I go as well.
 
You may never have a problem with it, but the fact that they openly stated that the trigger seized under heavy use, was enough for me to first replace the trigger, then replace the gun.
I had no problem with the gun until then, but the fact that it actually was a problem that they kind of left alone by allowing that much slop in the trigger, made it feel like a toy gun. I wouldn't carry it to protect my life after that.
That goes for any gun or other thing that could get me hurt or killed for that matter.
It just made me lose respect for the gun and the company. At least Springfield and S&W and Kahr admitted having problems and recalled their products. Why would you allow a pistol to market that you knew was intentionally sloppy work when a little fix like a shim or a wider trigger would have fixed it so it felt tight like it's supposed to.
Perhaps they may have changed it by now, but a lot of guys felt the same way, or "Galloway" and "RTK", would not have been "sold out" for the first year of the replacement trigger and sear parts. People don't go and spend over a hundred dollars on a replacement trigger for a new $400 dollar gun, for no reason.
What I am saying is there are better choices, and knowing that the problem exists why buy into it by purchasing a flawed product, Go to Galloway's site or utube it and see for yourself how many problems there were with the guns.
If I hadn't liked it I wouldn't have spent 25% of the cost on trying to fix it. Unfortunately it made the gun unreliable and at times it would not reset. Before I attempted to start grinding the sear I just sold it back to the dealer, with both triggers, who was aware of the problem, and did the right thing in allowing me to kick in 100 dollars for a Shield.
You can't take these things personally, I am glad you like the gun, but if I didn't make you aware of the flaw, it would bother me more than having a couple guys upset because they felt I said something negative about their gun, That's not the case. I am merely giving you the information that cost me money to learn.
 
side slop on the trigger

I didn't know what you were talking about till I wiggled the trigger on my LC9 a bit. Yes is has some slop in it. I checked out my other guns, My M&P40c has almost as much movement ( though it is a 2 piece trigger) My Glock is much tighter and neither of my revolvers have any side to side play at all.
Until and unless it becomes a problem I'm not going to worry about it. A lot of folks have put a lot of rounds through their LC9's without an issue.
 
Kayaker 1960 said:
I didn't know what you were talking about till I wiggled the trigger on my LC9 a bit. Yes is has some slop in it. I checked out my other guns, My M&P40c has almost as much movement ( though it is a 2 piece trigger) My Glock is much tighter and neither of my revolvers have any side to side play at all.
Until and unless it becomes a problem I'm not going to worry about it. A lot of folks have put a lot of rounds through their LC9's without an issue.
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My gut feeling is we're in search of a non existent problem, I hope and we'll find out soon.

I did a little research on the Galloway trigger mod and it sounds like it's a waste of money since most say it did nothing beneficial for the trigger. Most of the people that purchased the Galloway mod did so thinking it would shorten the reset and not to fix any wiggle.
 
I shoot my CCW and HD guns often. I carry with the presumption that I may actually need to defend life/lives with my carry gun. I can do that with a LC9, or even a LCP, but I can do it far better with a Shield, a 9c, a G26, a 1911, or many other guns. Since I can comfortably conceal a larger gun that I shoot far better with, that's what I choose to do. That doesn't mean that everyone should make the same decision.

The LC9 falls on the high end of my "darn sight better'n nothing" list, but it missed the "keeper" list. It's just too dang slow in my hands. I shoot 10 rounds on-target with a G26 in about the amount of time it takes me to get two or maybe 3 hits with the LC9. I'm sure there are others who shoot the LC9 better than a G26, but I'm not one of them. I really don't question the reliability of the LC9 - I'm confident it will go bang, eventually...in about the same time that I can make the G26 do that four times. For me, the performance difference far outweighs the size difference. Others may disagree. Everyone is different.
 
Teachu2, I partially agree with you. If were to be expecting trouble I'd rather have my M&P40c with me. However the LC9, being smaller and lighter is more likely to be with me more of the time. I'll put some trigger time into it and hopefully never need to use it for anything serious.
 
That's what I have mentioned before when saying that some guns were just too small to be considered for an EDC, for my use. If you can't get it out and on target without difficulty, the small size can actually be detrimental. I go as low as the Kahr pm9, one of my favorite guns, but sometimes it can still be hard to get out of your pocket.
Where as a Glock 26 or 30 is easier, even more attractive is the XDS with the extended magazine.
I tend to , use a talon grip on all,the gritty ones, a versa carry with small guns, even though a Remora is better for concealment in the pocket. If they get too rounded and smoothed out, they are hard to hold on to, and shoot.
If I had a choice, I would go "Owb" with grip tape, in a Galco half holster or G10 grips, on a Commander size gun.
 
Kayaker 1960 said:
Teachu2, I partially agree with you. If were to be expecting trouble I'd rather have my M&P40c with me. However the LC9, being smaller and lighter is more likely to be with me more of the time. I'll put some trigger time into it and hopefully never need to use it for anything serious.
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Certainly a LC9 in the hand beats anything that's home in the safe.

I can - and do - comfortably conceal a variety of larger handguns. For me, it's a deliberate decision NOT to carry in my pant pocket. I carry a large set of keys and a knife there, and it's a slow draw for me. A good IWB hybrid holster works great for me, but may not for someone else.

Each of us has to find what works for us. All handguns have limitations, so practice often and thoughtfully, then design your strategy to minimize shortcomings and play to strengths.

A generation ago, I faced down eight gangbangers with a 2.5" S7W M66. The biggest mouth in the group was suddenly looking right down the muzzle, and he was close enough to see the HP at the other end of the barrel. He knew, with utter certainty, that I could take his life in an instant - and they backed off. I got lucky, and so did he, and so did the woman and her very young children that I was protecting. Today? Probably would have a less favorable outcome.

If I know ahead of time there is going to be trouble, I avoid it. In today's world, trouble pops up with very little warning and over very insignificant matters. Situations get violent very quickly. That's why I carry, and carry the most effective weapon that I can.
 
Shot my new LC9 today.

Ammo used was 124gr Gold Dot, 115gr Personal Defence, 115gr Freedom Munitions jhp and Freedom Munitions 115gr fmj.

There were no failures of any kind, felt recoil is very moderate and accuracy at 21' was excellent.

P.S. The trigger did not fall off-LOL
 
I found the grip a little small for my hand. I put a Pachmayr sleeve on and it fixed that. It also toned down felt recoil. Still conceals IWB very well.
 
Odd, we run the LC9s pretty hard in our Secondary Weapon classes and quals and haven't seen any issues with the triggers. Ruger made a couple of changes for the guns they sell us (no thumb safety, pinned front sight) but otherwise the guns are the same as the regular runs. My only concern with the design is the way you field strip it. I can see that latch getting loose or me losing the pin.

We approve the 642 (and similar Smith .38 models), the LC9, and the Sig P290. The LC9 and 290 just got added this year and have made up the bulk of the guns coming through quals. I have all three. I prefer the Sig (it just feels more solid) but have no real problems with the LC9. The trigger is rough, but this is a last ditch self defense piece, not a Olympic target pistol. It will suffice.
 
I looked at LC9 and PPS. While both felt good in my palm these were too large for my needs. Wanted something similar size to DB9 but who in right mind want's to rely on that piece for critical defense. I was fortunate to find used R9.
 
I wanted to like the Ruger, but the trigger wouldn't let me.

IMO, it's not like a DA revolver trigger - most of the Smiths I've pulled had smoother and shorter triggers than the LC9.
 
Well it isn't a 1911 trigger, but it only took two magazine through mine before I was then able to consistently put all rounds into center mass at 21'.

It works just fine for me for it's intended purpose.

I have carried guns with much worse triggers, especially DA/SA style triggers.
 
LC9

I took my LC9 to the range for the 1st time today. Shot about 120 rounds, no issues. I am pleased with the accuracy. My wife and her friend both tried it, a bit too much recoil for both of them.
 
Bought the LC9 when the Shield's were hard to come by. After having it awhile I have really come to like it. Comparing it with the other micro 9's stats doesn"t give you a real idea of how the guns conceal. I've fired the Shield, Nano, 290, and so on since buying. But the LC9 just seems much easier to pocket carry. Ruger got it right.
Each of the above guns have their pluses. Most great summer IWB guns. Bt the LC9 will go into a pocket very easily. Not so muh with the others. The little Ruger seems to have a "melt" job on it. Not so blocky. As for the trigger it's fine for what the gun is made for. Just a matter of training with it. And do you reall want a short, light trigger on a gun that's riding on your front pocket. Don't like all the safties. But don't use them thumb safety and the rest don't get in the way.
Mine shoots the 124gr. +P HST's all day long with no problem. recoil is milder than the little LCP's even with the hot load. 7+1 rounds of hot +p ammo in a very slim gun. What's not to like?
 
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