Ruger LC9 vs LC9s

[Mauserguy]

I carry an LC9 most days. I love the form factor. It’s a 9MM that I can drop in my pocket. Also, I feel it’s a very safe gun for pocket carry. It’s just not going to go off unless you really try. Having said all that, I hate certain aspects of the gun. They are:

1. The trigger. The gun is so thin and the trigger so long that my skinny fingers cause me to almost have to shift my hold on the gun to get it to the trigger to the release point. The reset is almost all the way forward too, so you can’t really stage the trigger. It’s hard to shoot accurately fast and in a defensive incident you just can’t afford to take your time. It can be an accurate little gun if you take your time, but not in fast shooting.
2. The magazine disconnect. I’m not twelve years old. I don’t need that feature. I’d try to remove it, but since I’m in California I don’t want to have a modified safety device on my carry gun lest it comes under scrutiny.
3. Mag Drops! When I first got the gun it would often drop mags in recoil. Given the magazine disconnect, this would render the arm inoperable. After a fair amount of fiddling, I took the mag release button to my bench grinder and removed about an eighth of an inch of material from the top of the button. That remedied the problem.

With all of the problems noted above, I may replace the gun when my CCW renews. The problem is that I’m in California and the guns I like, with the features I would choose, are hard to find here. We’ve got a handgun ban underway, the infamous roster, and some of the best guns on the market are just not available to use out here. I’d look at an LC9S, but they will never be available here, so Oh Well…
Mauserguy

 

[SIGLBER]

I had the DA LC9. I started off shooting revolvers so the trigger was no problem for me. When I tried the LC9s I traded the old LC9 that day. The trigger is superb. Mine is right at 4 lbs. It makes the gun much easier to shoot fast and accurately. Mine will shoot at realistic ranges as well as a lot of full sized guns. So yes to me it was that much better.

 

[harleyjeepster]

As has been already stated opinions are gonna vary on this.I own a LC9S Pro and I love it. However I am use to lighter triggers and I don't pocket carry so the lack of a safety doesn't bother me. If I was to pocket carry I wouldn't do it with my Pro because of the lack of safety. Triggers are a personal thing and you should go with what you like or are use to.

 

[mavracer]

I wouldn't have traded my LC9 for a LC9s just because of the trigger but the pro option losing the thumb safety pushed me over the edge as I often carry it in left front pocket.

 

[TarDevil]

3. Mag Drops! When I first got the gun it would often drop mags in recoil. Given the magazine disconnect, this would render the arm inoperable. After a fair amount of fiddling, I took the mag release button to my bench grinder and removed about an eighth of an inch of material from the top of the button. That remedied the problem.

This is s known, but somewhat rare, issue with the LC9. I had mags dropping in the holster.
Ruger fixed it, got my gun back in a week. Not a single issue since.

 

[stevekozak]

What are people finding to be the best pocket holster for the LC9s?

 

[MDI_Weapon]

Mag drops. The LC9 I had was bad about that. The pistol is so small that it is easy to bump the mag release under recoil and, in my opinion, the spring used in the original LC9 mag release was too weak. My LC9s has a slightly stiffer mag release spring and that has not been a problem. I have seen a couple of the newest LC9s pistols which have a mag release spring that is actually a little too stiff as it makes it downright difficult to drop the mag. That may improve with some break in but accidental mag drops would definitely not be a problem.

Things I would change/add to the LC9s:
1. night sights - I put tritium fiber optic sights on mine.
2. The slide's finish. It isn't horrible but the slide's finish is not the most durable or corrosion resistant. I will likely Cerakote mine as I have the equipment and supplies to do so and all it will cost me is some time. I will likely go with flat black but I am tempted to use FDE or Sniper Green.
3. I wish they came with a spare mag but at this price point having to buy an extra one or two mags isn't a deal breaker.
4. The feed ramp needs a bit of a polish but I am never happy with a feed ramp's finish until it looks like a mirror.

 

[Ceemo]

The LC9 series guns are great IWB carry weapons! Lightweight very thin and no sharp edges. Owned both the LC9 and LC9s. Could never get the hang of the long trigger pull on the LC9, nor did I like the very light trigger pull on the LC9s. Wasn't a big fan of the teeny weenie 3 dot sights either. The LC9s does have a sweet trigger pull though! Very smooth. Just didn't feel comfortable with the trigger pull weight for a carry gun. With that said, both guns were totally reliable and well made. If Ruger were to come out with an LC9s with a slightly heavier trigger pull and larger 3 dot sights, I'd be all over it!

 

[SARuger]

I'll be the oddball;

I bought the LC9s as a carry weapon when they first came out. Cleaned it before my first range trip. One mag through it and I hated it! The trigger was too light for me! I have the grip of a gorilla and very little feeling in my fingers/hands from years of being a diesel mechanic. I tried, I really did, maybe a couple of hundred rounds but that trigger was too good for me and my hands.

I took it back to the store and traded for the last LC9 they had. I love that pistol and its in my waistband everywhere I go and I can shoot it very accurately. I practice every Friday with it and after a couple of thousand rounds, its been nothing but stellar.

I'm not a light trigger fanatic, I like the DA/DAO trigger feel so that works for me.