Ruger LC9s Pro: Enough gun?

Do you think a Ruger LC9s Pro is a good primary CCW?

  • Yes

    Votes: 124 92.5%

  • No

    Votes: 10 7.5%
  • Total voters
    134
  • Poll closed .
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Not open for further replies.
Panzerschwein

Panzerschwein

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Hello all!

Well I am about to buy a Ruger LC9s Pro to replace my S&W 642 as my primary CCW carry piece. I have a tiny NAA .22 mini-revolver that will be my backup gun, and I intend to carry one extra magazine, possibly an extended factory magazine if they make those.

I am wondering though, do you think that the Ruger LC9s Pro is "enough gun" for primary CCW? It is a 7+1 capacity gun and fires 9mm ammo. Is this gun more of a pocket or backup style weapon, or is it made to be a primary?

How would you all feel if you had an LC9s Pro as your primary CCW option? Would you feel well enough armed, or would you rather have something with more capacity and power?

I'd love to hear some feedback on this. Thanks guys!
 
I've never handled a LC9, only have an LCP to compare it to. I'm not confident with my LCP as a primary weapon not because of caliber, but because the little gun is difficult to operate compared to my G26 or G19 that I regularly carry.
 
Carrying one now. Obviously I wouldn't be carrying it if I didn't think it would do the job. Having said that, I'd still be carrying my larger SR9c if not for back issues. It concealed quite well and was far more shootable than the LC9 subcompact.

I'm a firm believer in carrying the most gun possible and dressing for that gun.
 
I have a LC9s and I think it is perfectly fine for my primary. It shoots really well and has a MUCH nicer trigger than the LC9. Never bobbeled in any way. Put 'em where they need to go and it should solve your problems quite well.
 
I'd feel well armed with a .32 single action revolver, let alone a 9mm. IMO, 9mm is the largest CCW caliber one should carry, anything more than 9mm it's going to have one of three cons:

1. larger size
2. more recoil
3. less capacity

The point of CC is to have a gun with you if you need it, not a war pistol along the lines of the Wildey Magnum Charles Bronson used in Death Wish 3. The LC9s has a great trigger and is small enough to have with you most of the time.
 
I am concerned about the lack of capacity with the revolver and the slow reload compared to a semi-auto pistol. Yes, I know all about speedloaders but they are too bulky for CCW. Trust me, I've tried. I do use a Bianchi speed strip but talk about a slow reload compared to a pistol.

And yes, I know the odds of needing the reload are small, but I'd rather have it and more capacity and the more powerful 9mm ammunition to boot. It's a dangerous world, and IMHO I don't feel comfortable with just the revolver anymore.
 
I would feel the same way about a Ruger LC9s Pro as I do about my Kahr CM9; it's very well suited as a primary CCW. Both are compact in size, relatively lightweight, have decent triggers, and are chambered for a very capable self defense round.
 
Look into a Smith Shield if you have large hands or you are recoil averse

I have handled the small LC9 and it immediately struck me as very small, almost too small to be accurate in the 9mm +P cartridge so I did not purchase it. I purchased a S&W Shield instead and its holds one more cartridge with the extended magazine. The Shield is manageable but it is difficult to shoot over standard CCW distances. If you have large hands you may be only able to get two fingers on the LC9 when holding it. The Shield allows for a full grip just like a larger pistol with a trigger comparable to a Glock though a bit tough until broke in.
 
Unless you are bound by some departmental mandate then it really comes down to what you are comfortable with. 7+1 capacity beats your 642. If you've been comfortable carrying 5 rounds why wouldn't 8 be sufficient? As you mentioned, faster reloads is a plus, not to mention more rounds onboard after said reload and then there is the feature you didn't mention, if you get into a tussle and feel like you are going to lose control of the gun you can drop the mag in the LC9 and the bad guy has only one round to use on you if you can't get that one round fired before losing the gun. Can't do that with your 642. Regain control of the LC9, insert spare mag and you are back in business.

I carry 8+1 and a spare mag and am perfectly comfortable. 8+1 because that is the capacity of the gun I prefer to carry not because I was trying to hit a particular capacity.

Since the G crowd has shown up to gratuitously mention brand, I'll throw in that 7+1 on the LC9 still beats 6+1 on the G43 or G36 and lots of Glock folk feel comfortable carrying those, which again is personal choice.
 
I am 6'6". My hands are large. I can shoot my LC9 plenty good enough at reasonable SD ranges - 20 feet or less.

I feel fine with my LC9 or my 38 snub, but that's just me. Everyone has their own opinion about things like that.
 
The LC9s Pro is a great little weapon with a great and easy to use trigger. There exists a 9 rd magazine available that I carry for reloads. So, you can easily have 17 rounds at your disposal.
 
The J frames that some of us carried for years and felt quite comfortable with, have been replaced with smaller lighter, more powerful pistols. The LC9 fills that role quite well. Even those of us with larger hands can shoot them well with practice. Some one mentioned the Shield with it's larger grip. Grip length is the single most important factor in concealment for me. I can carry a Glock 26 or 27 just as easily as the shield and have more rounds in a much more suitable package. I carry a 27 daily, and frequently use it in IDPA. It's easy to shoot well.
str1
 
While not a Ruger LC9S (pro or otherwise), My Taurus 709 slim is a 7+1 9mm. It's my primary carry gun. I don't feel underarmed with it. I keep a reload of another 7 round mag, but I don't always actually carry it with me.

I thought about trading up into the LC9S Pro, but have decided against it since the Taurus has been flawless and I've yet to really discover the added benefit of the LC9S Pro.
 
I alternate carrying a LC9s Pro and a Glock 27 with Xgrip and G23 mag. While I think the LC9 is probably enough gun, the extra capacity/power of the Glock is really comforting.
So my vote is: it's enough gun until it's not enough gun ;)
 
Any gun you have is more than "enough gun", until it isn't. Then, it's "enough gun", until it isn't.

People keep asking this, but I don't know what it is they want to hear. There just isn't an absolute answer; it simply "depends".

That being said, I carry a Kel-Tec PF9, which also has a seven-round magazine. Though I admit I probably should, I rarely carry a spare magazine (I do sometimes drop a P32 or a Bauer .25 in a front pocket, though.)
 
I carry my LC9S Pro often due to the need to carry something small with my dress requirements. With the choices of 7+1 or 9+1 if I IWB carry I'm absolutely comfortable carrying it. I can easily throw a couple of magazines in my pocket and have 26 to 28 rounds available.

It shoots well and is accurate at SD distances. Given that it has a 3 inch barrel, the ammunition does make a difference as some ammunition works better out of a short barrel than others. I use Cor Bon's 115 grain +P DPX. Web sites such as Shooting the Bull and Pocket Guns and Gear will give you a good place to start as far as what ammo works best.
 
I voted that the LC9s Pro is enough gun. That being said, I generally carry a CZ75D PCR. Not because I don't think my LC9s Pro isn't enough gun, I just haven't put enough rounds through it to trust my life on it. I have had one or two failures to feed, although that was with my reloads which are a bit light. SD ammo has been 100%. Last week, I actually outshot my full sized CZ75BD with my LC9s Pro at 10 yards. I shoot the LC9s Pro much better than my original LC9. Before I had my PCR and until I felt comfortable with its reliability after I bought it, I used to carry the original LC9. I never felt under-gunned.
 
I traded my 642 and have the lc9s. I wanted a slimmer package, cheaper practice ammo and a little more capacity. The lc9s was also easier to shoot and stay on target. After researching the 9mm and how it compares to the 38, I'm quite comfortable with this caliber in a defensive role.
 
I'll let you know in a couple weeks. My DIL just bought one and is having it refinished, everything that girl has is pink, thus the refinishing. Once she gets it, we'll be doing some testing and will let you know what that reveals.

We will be testing with full throttle Longshot loads, 115 gr., 124, and 147 JHP's. I'm expecting some solid results though, I like Ruger.

GS
 
Cooldill said:
Hello all!

Well I am about to buy a Ruger LC9s Pro to replace my S&W 642 as my primary CCW carry piece. I have a tiny NAA .22 mini-revolver that will be my backup gun, and I intend to carry one extra magazine, possibly an extended factory magazine if they make those.

I am wondering though, do you think that the Ruger LC9s Pro is "enough gun" for primary CCW? It is a 7+1 capacity gun and fires 9mm ammo. Is this gun more of a pocket or backup style weapon, or is it made to be a primary?

How would you all feel if you had an LC9s Pro as your primary CCW option? Would you feel well enough armed, or would you rather have something with more capacity and power?

I'd love to hear some feedback on this. Thanks guys!
Click to expand...
You're asking if you have enough hammer. The answer is yes, you have all the hammer you need.

Don't forget the screwdriver, wrench, piers, tape meashure, level....
 
Cooldill said:
I am concerned about the lack of capacity with the revolver and the slow reload compared to a semi-auto pistol. Yes, I know all about speedloaders but they are too bulky for CCW. Trust me, I've tried. I do use a Bianchi speed strip but talk about a slow reload compared to a pistol.

And yes, I know the odds of needing the reload are small, but I'd rather have it and more capacity and the more powerful 9mm ammunition to boot. It's a dangerous world, and IMHO I don't feel comfortable with just the revolver anymore.
Click to expand...
You're looking for a teddy bear.
 
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