Thoughts on LC9

[FireInCairo]

TD, everything on the LC9 is just lighter and smaller. It's not as robust as a Glock which can use used as a range gun a lot.

Most subcompacts are lighter and therefore not really made to run 20,000 rounds through. I've carried the LC9 and the Kahr PM pistols. Both are good in their own right, but their made for daily carry and occasional practice at the range.

If you buy the LC9 with that in mind, I think you would be pleased
with it. If you want something that you can carry and pound rounds at the range there are better options.

 

[george burns]

XDS, why not carry a 45, it will fit in the same space, I have tried many, including the LC9, and Shield. I would go with the Shield before the LC9, It was a terrible trigger, I heard it's redone, but once I have a bad experience with something I don't usually go back.
But if you can pocket carry a 45 that doesn't kick any more than the 9, it just makes more sense. These small guns are the weapon of last resort. If you have to use one, you are in real trouble, and for me nothing dispenses trouble better than a 45.

 

[Saleen322]

I have a LC9 and I am happy with it. It is functional, reliable and more accurate than I expected. In fact I was fooling around with it @ 25 yards and it was shooting groups in the 4" - 5" range. Now it was hitting about 6" high and you can't do anything about that but I didn't think it would be that accurate and certainly more than good enough for 10 yards and in.

 

[TarDevil]

TD, everything on the LC9 is just lighter and smaller. It's not as robust as a Glock which can use used as a range gun a lot.

Most subcompacts are lighter and therefore not really made to run 20,000 rounds through. I've carried the LC9 and the Kahr PM pistols. Both are good in their own right, but their made for daily carry and occasional practice at the range.

If you buy the LC9 with that in mind, I think you would be pleased
with it. If you want something that you can carry and pound rounds at the range there are better options.

Well, you are still speaking in very general terms. I'm curious to know what you saw when you "opened it up" that convinced you it is less robust than other guns.

This isn't a powerhouse micro gun here. Some would even argue it's a pocket gun; borderline at best. I don't see any reason why the LC9/LC9s should be considered less durable until proven otherwise.

 

[george burns]

There are better options for a single stack pocket gun

 

[ku4hx]

There are better options for a single stack pocket gun

And those would be? You can almost always find better and worse guns than model "X", but unless you say how a certain gun is better or worse, such a claim of "comparative quality" carries little merit.

 

[Orion8472]

BTW, how it the recoil on the LC9? Is it pretty snappy?

Has anyone, who owns one, also shot a Sig 938 or Kimber Solo?

 

[ku4hx]

BTW, how it the recoil on the LC9? Is it pretty snappy?

To my wife and I the LC9 is quite pleasant to shoot. By comparison, I'd say it's on a par with our SR9c or Glock 19. It IS, however; a little more to handle than our Glock 42s. But all in all it's quite nice for extended shooting ... 100 rounds or more.

 

[Orion8472]

I've heard that they were "very snappy". Guess it is a matter of perspective.

 

[jimbo555]

I can't find any photos of a kaboomed lc9 or any reports of one worn out. But it's only been around since 2011. I have 2 that function just fine. Recoil is subjective but I find it to be easily controllable. I have over 2000 rounds shot with my first one and it looks fine inside and out. My son uses it now.

 

[Vlad357]

I picked one up for my wife when they first came out. We both thought the trigger and recoil were OK. She has since adopted one of my .357 snubbies for a purse gun, so I use the LC9 for a backup and occasional shooter. 2000 + rounds and it's still perfect. Oh it is as accurate as you will be should you ever really need it.

PS: Don't tell any of my wheel gun friends I occasionally carry and even shoot a 9. I might loose my card!

 

[Ryushin]

Ending up selling the wife's LC9 for the Sig P938. What an incredible difference. Not even a comparison really. The P938 is better in almost every regard to the LC9. Much easier to rack. Recoil is far better than the LC9 and putting 250+ round through a range session is not punishing by any means. Comes with night sights. Great trigger.

 

[mdauben]

Ending selling the wife's LC9 for the Sig P938. What an incredible different. Not even a comparison really. The P938 is better in almost every regard to the LC9. Must easier to rack. Recoil is far better than the LC9 and putting 250+ round through a range session is not punishing by any means. Comes with night sights. Great trigger.

Can't argue that the P938 is a great gun. It also costs $350-400 more than the LC9s (Buds lists the LC9 for around $359 while the P938 goes for $700-750). If you can afford twice the price, I'd go for the Sig, too.

Sent from the Andromeda galaxy using Tachyon particles

 

[southoftheboarder]

I bought my LC9 a year ago and I am disappointed with the trigger pull. It has to much play. I would suggest going with the Smith & Wesson M&P 9mm. If you can try shooting different guns at a range.

 

[TarDevil]

I bought my LC9 a year ago and I am disappointed with the trigger pull. It has to much play. I would suggest going with the Smith & Wesson M&P 9mm. If you can try shooting different guns at a range.

The LC9 of a year ago is much different from the LC9s just released. No comparison with the triggers of the two.

 

[basicblur]

I bought my LC9 a year ago and I am disappointed with the trigger pull. It has to much play.

I guess we have to define "play"?

Been a while since I shot it (and I ain't gonna fish it out to check), but I remember stating in an earlier post that I think I actually prefer the LC9 trigger for the aforementioned reasons.

I don't remember my LC9 having play (unless you're confusing play with travel?) - I DO know the Shield has that darn articulated plastic trigger that feels spongy to me. The travel / play between the bottom of the trigger and the top is not real solid feeling.

Iff'n I'm not mistaken, the LC9 has a metal trigger and feels solid & gives good feedback.

As with all guns, the OP definitely needs to take notes and try 'em out before deciding.

 

[ku4hx]

... Guess it is a matter of perspective.

So very true. "Snappy" for me starts with full house 10mm.

 

[burk]

Ending up selling the wife's LC9 for the Sig P938. What an incredible difference. Not even a comparison really. The P938 is better in almost every regard to the LC9. Much easier to rack. Recoil is far better than the LC9 and putting 250+ round through a range session is not punishing by any means. Comes with night sights. Great trigger.

Can't argue, but I really believe you are comparing apples to oranges. You also can't carry the 938 without a holster (safetly). I've had more than one customer tell me they gave up pocket carry because they pulled their 938 out and the safety had already been engaged. It's a very good gun no doubt. But I would not feel safe grabbing it and sticking in my waste band or pocket for quick run to the convience store.

So while it's a very good gun, probably more robust, with a better trigger and sights. There are some things the LC9 does better, but there is the one huge disadvantage with the LC9, your wallet ends up being heavier.

 

[Ryushin]

Can't argue, but I really believe you are comparing apples to oranges. You also can't carry the 938 without a holster (safetly). I've had more than one customer tell me they gave up pocket carry because they pulled their 938 out and the safety had already been engaged. It's a very good gun no doubt. But I would not feel safe grabbing it and sticking in my waste band or pocket for quick run to the convience store.

I keep forgetting that some people pocket carry. I just find that very risky and decided never to carry that way. When sitting down, imagine trying to fish out your pistol when you need it most. I just wear a N82 Tactical Pro model for the P938 and my Beretta PX4 Compact. For me, I will only carry with a holster.

But the LCP or LC9 (not the LC9s), I can see being much safer in the pocket then the P938.

 

[Orion8472]

Ryushin, you are saying that the P938 had LESS felt recoil than the LC9? By how much?

 

[Ryushin]

Ryushin, you are saying that the P938 had LESS felt recoil than the LC9? By how much?

By a lot. The difference is quite dramatic. Where the LC9 is actually painful to shoot (even with a Hogue grip), the P938 is enjoyable.

The wife sold both her LCP and LC9 due to them being painful to shoot and bought the Sig P238 HD. The P238 HD in .380 is so easy to rack and shoot it's almost a joke. I can easily think you can shoot the P238 HD all day and not have any issues with it. My wife will put through 250 rounds at the range through the P238 with no issues at all. When she had the LCP, 50-75 rounds was her limit.

I wanted to have a thin single stack 9mm to compliment my double stock PX4 Compact in .40. After shooting my wife's P238, and handling the P938 at the store a few times, I bought the Rosewood version hoping it would be as a dramatic of a difference for the LC9 to the P938 as compared to the LCP and P238. It was. Even my wife took the P938 and put 150 rounds through it and found it pleasant to shoot.

The only notes I would is the following:

The P238 HD has both a stainless steel slide and frame (20.1 oz), while all the other P238 versions have a stainless steel slide and aluminum frame (15.2 oz). Sig does not make a P938 HD version unfortunately and my P938 weighs 16 oz. So my P938 Rosewood is lighter then my wife's P238 HD but it's still very enjoyable to shoot. Recoil is so manageable I'm going to start training with 147gr +P loads exclusively.

The second note is the trigger. Both the P238 and P938 seem to have the same trigger. The trigger purchase and serrations is fine for shooting a bit, but after awhile the edges of the trigger actually start to cut into your finger. I'm going to change out the triggers to an all steel version with a smooth finish. That is probably the only gripe I have about the pistols.

 

[Orion8472]

^ Thanks for thei insight.

 

[mdauben]

You also can't carry the 938 without a holster (safetly). I've had more than one customer tell me they gave up pocket carry because they pulled their 938 out and the safety had already been engaged.

Errr... I would not recommend carrying ANY gun in your pocket without a holster. While IMO this is particularly important with a cocked-n-locked single action pistol, I would use a pocket holster for striker, double action or even revolvers.

Both the P238 and P938 seem to have the same trigger. The trigger purchase and serrations is fine for shooting a bit, but after awhile the edges of the trigger actually start to cut into your finger.

I have not had a chance to shoot the P938 but I have shot a friend's P238. I agree the serrated trigger can be uncomfortable for extended shooting and is something I would probably have to change I'd I owned one.

 

[jimbo555]

Recoil is subjective, I haven't found any 9mm painful to shoot. The keltec pf9 is what I would call snappy and that's because it's so light. You can get a better grip on the ruger with the mag finger rest provided. Also there is a 9 round extended mag available that gives you a even better grip.

 

[Ryushin]

Recoil is subjective, I haven't found any 9mm painful to shoot. The keltec pf9 is what I would call snappy and that's because it's so light. You can get a better grip on the ruger with the mag finger rest provided. Also there is a 9 round extended mag available that gives you a even better grip.

I guess I should say, the LC9 stung the hand when shooting it. I don't have this issue with any of my (or my wife's) pistols. Ranging from the 380, 9mm, 40 S&W, .45 ACP, and 10mm (proper high powered loads). The 10mm recoil is stout but it's still fun to shoot. The LC9 and LCP were not. We actually nicked named the LCP the angry gun.

Now I will totally acknowledge and actually encourage that the LCP and LC9 where absolutely flawlessly reliable. Even after 1000 rounds through each, not a single solitary malfunction. Ruger makes are first rate reliable firearm and they will do exactly what they were designed to do.