OP
OP
Ruger LC9s Pro: Enough gun?
- Thread starter Panzerschwein
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Om
Member
You're looking for a teddy bear, a security blanket...you want a gun that gives you more of a sense of security. I do this also with a 15rnd magazine, I just acknowledge it for what it is. And I love it. There may be 2-3 perps, but there's 15+1 of me, and that does help me sleep better at night and while on the road.
If you want to go strictly by data then your S&W642 will do the job. 5rnds of .38+p is all the typical civilian will 'need' in a self-defense situation.
What constitutes "enough gun" is going to highly if not soly depend on your feeling of vulnerability.
huntsman
Member
I voted yes but then my EDC is an LCP, if I didn't believe it was "enough" gun I'd be a fool for carrying it.
Its not really the gun its the cartridge right?
If you were comparing this to a hi-capacity nine that held 17+1 rounds or a full-sized 10mm pistol or something that would be one thing but you're comparing it to a 5-shot 38 spl revolver. So, IMO the question is really about the caliber and bullets available.
There are plenty of tests of the standard pressure 147gr Ranger "T" - RA9T, the 147gr Federal HST and other rounds out of short-barreled pistols that perform well in tests and should perform well in real-life situations.
If you were comparing this to a hi-capacity nine that held 17+1 rounds or a full-sized 10mm pistol or something that would be one thing but you're comparing it to a 5-shot 38 spl revolver. So, IMO the question is really about the caliber and bullets available.
There are plenty of tests of the standard pressure 147gr Ranger "T" - RA9T, the 147gr Federal HST and other rounds out of short-barreled pistols that perform well in tests and should perform well in real-life situations.
Phaedrus/69
Member
The answer probably varies with the time and the circumstances. Short answer - yeah, it's probably enough. I have carried a Beretta Nano with the eight round magazine +1 quite a bit and haven't worried about it much. I'll confess though that most of the time now I carry my Hk P2000; it's almost the same size in height and length but a bit thicker. For me it conceals just as well given the way I normally dress and gives me 13+1 of 9mm.
Still when I need something a bit more discreet I'm not tho worried going with nine rounds plus a spare magazine with the Nano. The Ruger LC9s Pro has a better trigger than my Nano, too.
Still when I need something a bit more discreet I'm not tho worried going with nine rounds plus a spare magazine with the Nano. The Ruger LC9s Pro has a better trigger than my Nano, too.
Om
Member
9mm and .38cal are the same bullet.
USAF_Vet
Member
Not really.
9mm is a .355" or .346" bullet, whereas the .38 is a .357 or .358".*
9mm is generally also lighter, where the .38 can fire much heavier projectiles.
Bullet shape is also different, with .38 having a much wider range of bullet styles and shapes, where 9mm is pretty much limited to two, in different weights.
It's closer to say that the .380 and the 9mm are the same bullets, but even that's not entirely true. Those two are more closely related than the 9mm and .38spl.
*.356" and .358 are generally for the hard cast lead bullets, where as the .355 and .357 are plated/ jacketed.
Om
Member
I didn't say they were technicaly identical I said they were the same. Unless we're compairing like 22lr to a 44mag, all self defence calibers are the same. It doesn't make any difference at all if you go .38 or 9mm. Caliber wars are stupid.
shooter1
Member
I didn't say they were technicaly identical I said they were the same. Unless we're compairing like 22lr to a 44mag, all self defence calibers are the same. It doesn't make any difference at all if you go .38 or 9mm. Caliber wars are stupid.
If they're not technically the same, then they are not the same. USAF VET did a good job of clarifying the difference. The devil's in the details when it comes to ammunition.
str1
If they're not technically the same, then they are not the same. USAF VET did a good job of clarifying the difference. The devil's in the details when it comes to ammunition.
str1
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Zendude
Member
If you are going to carry IWB then you can choose a higher capacity gun if you are concerned about reloading. The Bersa UC 9 is compact and holds 13 I think.
I live in Columbia shorts and a golf shirt , because of that I carry a keltec P3 AT . Is it the best definitely not , however I can carry it every waking hour and I have never had anybody say oh that's just a 380 go ahead and shoot me! Know one wants to leak! I don't frequent places whwere most of the assaults happen , bars and such however women were getting mugged in the middle of the afternoon in the Nordstram parking lot so this stuff does happen. If you need to empty 6 or 7 rounds and reload the average guy is not going to do well anyway. All that being said if I lived in s climate where I wore clothes that would let me hide it I would be carrying my Glock 21
Om
Member
Oh please, caliber wars are stupid. The balistics are the same and .009mm is nothing to get your panties in a bunch over. We're talking close range self defense with the smallest of small arms not interplanitery missle tragectory.
Give it a rest. Caliber does not matter, at all.
Shot placement is key. Better a well placed .38 than a sloppily placed 44mag.
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I am not voting in the poll as whether a LC9 pro is enough to be a primary or not is your decision. I have heard they are nice guns. I have a couple of smaller 9's but I lean towards the double stacks. If you study the smaller 9mm's the only difference in between double stack guns & single stack guns is about a tenth of an inch thickness & being slightly heavier. It is all for you to decide though.
MICHAEL T
Member
Your main gun is fine. Its the back up that needs replaced. A 22 5 shot slow. SA tiny revolver Move on up to at least a 32 KelTec
If you want the 9mm that fine I have a compact PF-9 I carry Just need better than 22 for back up maybe 2nd back up .
If you want the 9mm that fine I have a compact PF-9 I carry Just need better than 22 for back up maybe 2nd back up .
Shouldn't take but a trip or two to the range to get the Shield dialed in at 10-15 yards. My Shield is more accurate than my full sized M&P9.
shooter1
Member
Om
I'll try one more time to break it down for you. This is not about a "Caliber War", it's about your erroneous statement. Ballistically, the 9x19 and .38 special may be close with some bullets and loadings. That point is not in contention. Your statement, suggesting the bullets (projectiles) are the same is incorrect. A couple thousands inches is not a large difference, but it IS a difference. In your world it's likely unimportant, it can be very important to a reloader.
str1
I'll try one more time to break it down for you. This is not about a "Caliber War", it's about your erroneous statement. Ballistically, the 9x19 and .38 special may be close with some bullets and loadings. That point is not in contention. Your statement, suggesting the bullets (projectiles) are the same is incorrect. A couple thousands inches is not a large difference, but it IS a difference. In your world it's likely unimportant, it can be very important to a reloader.
str1
Om
Member
Oh just stop. Just....stop. Caliber wars are so stupid. What caliber you carry does not matter. At. All.
USAF_Vet
Member
It's not now, nor ever was, a caliber war. Continuing to say it is such is pointless and infantile. You were wrong, too proud to admit it, and want to deflect it on everyone else as if we're waging a caliber war.
I'll reiterate, pointless and infantile.
Still not the same thing.
I'll reiterate, pointless and infantile.
Still not the same thing.
Om
Member
I get to decide what I'm proud of, not you. Please take your trolling elsewhere.It's not now, nor ever was, a caliber war. Continuing to say it is such is pointless and infantile. You were wrong, too proud to admit it, and want to deflect it on everyone else as if we're waging a caliber war.
I'll reiterate, pointless and infantile.
Still not the same thing.
What caliber you carry doesn't matter. Yes, they are all the same. That doesn't mean they're identical, that means the difference between them is so small as to not matter. Unles one compairs the extremes of the scale, such as 22lr vs 454casual, or a .38cal in snubi vs 5.56mm NATO in an AR pistol, there is no meaningfull difference other than perhaps cost and wear. They are all the same.
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Captains1911
Member
Let me go get my crystal ball....
Seriously though, it should be enough gun if you are involved in a self defense encounter where you are able to stop whatever threats you might face with the gun and ammuntion on hand....
Seriously though, it should be enough gun if you are involved in a self defense encounter where you are able to stop whatever threats you might face with the gun and ammuntion on hand....
USAF_Vet
Member
The guy who has been here a few weeks, has under 50 posts, and tells people they'rd looking for a teddy bear is calling me a troll?
You're funny.
Actually, to me, it does matter.
I still disagree.
So you admit, that within different extremes, they are not the same? Better put, caliber does matter, at least in part.
This isn't a caliber war, since no one is arguing that one is better than another. 9mm and .38spc are similar enough in performance, it's a matter of preference whether you want a semi auto or a revolver, higher capacity or limited, etc.
I guess I have no idea what you're trying to even say.
Om
Member
Ahh, you believe forum membership = total experience. You must be new to the internet.
Carry what you like, practice often as that's what important. Caliber is not important.
That's ok. There is room for disagreement.
They are not identical, but they are the same.
Caliber does not matter.
Great, then stop talking about calibers. They don't matter. OP should shoot what he likes.
That much is obvious.
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