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1.) DParker - 04/18/2018
Brand new Ruger LC9s...



For quite some time now I've been wanting something significantly lighter and more compact than my full-sized M&P9 for concealed carry, but for various reasons had just never made that move. Then I got wind of this deal at Palmetto State Armory and just couldn't resist:

[URL="http://palmettostatearmory.com/ruger-lc9s-9mm-pistol-psa-ar-15-safe-fire-lower-receiver-psa-gen2-pa10-308-lower-receiver.html"]RUGER LC9S 9MM PISTOL, PSA AR-15 SAFE/FIRE LOWER RECEIVER, & PSA GEN2 PA10 .308 LOWER RECEIVER for $299.99[/URL]

I have no use for either of the lowers, so those will be sold to make the final cost of the LC9s even lower than the $259.99 it's currently on sale for separately.

Here it is next to my M&P9 for size comparison:

2.) Swamp Fox - 04/18/2018
3.) DParker - 04/19/2018
I just weighed the M&P9 and the LC9s, both with fully loaded mags. The M&P9 weighed in at a hefty 34.5 oz, while the LC9s was a much lighter 20.25 oz. That's a reduction of just over 41%, or just under 2 oz shy of a full lb. That's going to make a big difference in carryability, I think.
4.) Triton Rich - 04/19/2018
[B]My Dad carrys an earlier model LC9. I took it to the range once and thought the trigger was awful. I've read about the newer ones having a much improved trigger, what are your observations? BTW, the leader in my mind for a carry 9 (if I ever bother to get my CCW) is an M&P shield :-)[/B]
5.) Jon - 04/19/2018
I'm interested in 2 things with your purchase and current gun.
A. Can you keep a good pattern at 21' with the LC9 and
2. How's the trigger on your M&P?

The reason I ask? I couldn't hit the paper at 21' with the LC9 and I had to get rid of my M&P 45 because the trigger was awful.
Some folks have zero issues with either. Just wondering what your experience is.
6.) DParker - 04/19/2018
[QUOTE=Triton Rich;55692][B]My Dad carrys an earlier model LC9. I took it to the range once and thought the trigger was awful. I've read about the newer ones having a much improved trigger, what are your observations? BTW, the leader in my mind for a carry 9 (if I ever bother to get my CCW) is an M&P shield :-)[/B][/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Jon;55693]I'm interested in 2 things with your purchase and current gun.
A. Can you keep a good pattern at 21' with the LC9 and
2. How's the trigger on your M&P?

The reason I ask? I couldn't hit the paper at 21' with the LC9 and I had to get rid of my M&P 45 because the trigger was awful.
Some folks have zero issues with either. Just wondering what your experience is.[/QUOTE]

I just picked the LC9s up on my way home from work yesterday and haven't had a chance to put any rounds through it yet, so useful answers to most of these questions will have to wait until I've made it to the range...hopefully this weekend. However, I did some dry firing last night and can say that while it will never be a competition gun, the trigger does appear to be significantly improved when compared with both the LCP and the hammer-fired LC9, based on the complaints about those two that I've read and watched on YouTube. The reset is longer than it should be, but it breaks earlier than the older models, which was their major deficiency. The pull weight feels like it's just shy of 5 lbs, is pretty smooth for a brand new trigger and the break is fairly crisp. I watched Hickock45 do a video review and he was easily and consistently putting rounds into 4" steel targets at 10 and 20 yds, so I'm expecting it to deliver more than acceptable accuracy for a close-range personal defense weapon once I get used to it. But we'll see.

As for my M&P, I have one of the older models from before they made improvements to the trigger. Even then it was a good enough shooter for me to get a perfect score on my CHL range test. But it was a bit heavy, with slightly excessive over-travel and reset length, so I dropped in a [URL="https://store.apextactical.com/WebDirect/Products/Details/191852"]hard seer from Apex[/URL] and that addressed all 3 issues. It's been a damned fine shooter ever since.
7.) bluecat - 04/19/2018
I wonder how many guns Hickock45 has sold over the years. Love his videos.
8.) DParker - 04/19/2018
[QUOTE=bluecat;55695]I wonder how many guns Hickock45 has sold over the years. Love his videos.[/QUOTE]

The old boy can shoot, too. In the same review video he was also ringing a 4" plate from what appeared to be about 30 yds or so. He was only able to hit it once about every 6 rounds on average, but that ain't bad shooting off-hand with a compact pistol. It would probably take me a whole box of ammo to hit it once at that range.
9.) bluecat - 04/19/2018
He's humbling to say the least. I wonder if I could hit the gong.
10.) DParker - 04/19/2018
[QUOTE=bluecat;55697]He's humbling to say the least. I wonder if I could hit the gong.[/QUOTE]

I used to be able to bang a gong...even get it on...but that was back in the '70s.
11.) Swamp Fox - 04/19/2018
[QUOTE=DParker;55698]I used to be able to bang a gong...even get it on...but that was back on the '70s.[/QUOTE]


Another +4. You're rollin', man ...


12.) DParker - 04/19/2018
[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;55699]Another +4. You're rollin', man ... [/QUOTE]

Thanks. I'd like to credit it all to lots of hard work and plenty of clean living. I'd like to...but we all know better.
13.) bluecat - 04/19/2018
Let us know how the gun runs for you. It was probably a good choice given your freakishly small hands.
14.) bluecat - 04/19/2018
15.) DParker - 04/19/2018
[QUOTE=bluecat;55701]Let us know how the gun runs for you.[/QUOTE]

Assuming no malfunctions, the only issue I'm anticipating is it being somewhat less than fun to put the +P Golden Sabers I use for carry through it, as I expect the recoil from them to feel pretty snappy due to the pistol's light weight and shorter+thinner grip.

[QUOTE=bluecat;55701]It was probably a good choice given your freakishly small hands.[/QUOTE]


I could post another photo that would make them look even smaller by comparison...but this is still a semi-family-friendly site.
16.) bluecat - 04/19/2018
[QUOTE=DParker;55703]

I could post another photo that would make them look even smaller by comparison...but this is still a semi-family-friendly site.[/QUOTE]

lol +3 for the reversal
17.) bluecat - 04/19/2018


I was kinda hoping it was one of these.
18.) DParker - 04/20/2018
I love it when a company doesn't mince words. It makes it so much easier to get useful Google results when using honest search terms.

[URL="http://aliengearholsters.com/blog/concealed-carry-for-fat-guys/"]Alien Gear Holsters: Concealed carry for fat guys[/URL]
19.) Swamp Fox - 04/20/2018
You know, this reminded me to refresh my search for "Concealed Carry Holsters For Women In Skimpy Outfits."

It was interesting the last time I looked. I learned a lot.
20.) DParker - 04/21/2018
[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;55710]You know, this reminded me to refresh my search for "Concealed Carry Holsters For Women In Skimpy Outfits."

It was interesting the last time I looked. I learned a lot.[/QUOTE]

21.) Swamp Fox - 04/21/2018
I want to state categorically that you did not find that on MY search.


Or at least I didn't get that far, nor dig that deep ....


LOL
22.) Swamp Fox - 04/21/2018
Why do you have to go and ruin everything? ----LOL
23.) bluecat - 04/21/2018
[QUOTE=DParker;55712][/QUOTE]

Oh dude...why?
24.) bluecat - 04/21/2018
Congealed carry
25.) DParker - 04/21/2018
[QUOTE=bluecat;55715]Oh dude...why?[/QUOTE]

Wait....[i]you're[/i] asking that?

[QUOTE=bluecat;55716]Congealed carry[/QUOTE]

OK...that gets a +5 and a golf-clap.
26.) bluecat - 04/21/2018
Lol...
27.) DParker - 04/21/2018
[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;55714]Why do you have to go and ruin everything? ----LOL[/QUOTE]

Everyone needs a hobby.
28.) bluecat - 04/21/2018
Swampy is at his hot yoga class.
29.) DParker - 04/21/2018
Took the LC9s out this morning for a brief visit to the range...brief because the sky opened up about 20 minutes after I got the targets set up, and it's an outdoor range. When I got there all of the 7 yd stalls were taken, so I decided to have some faith and set up at 15 yds.



My phone's camera lens makes that look farther away than it is.

After doing some reading I opted to not try any of the 124 gr Golden Saber +P rounds that I carry in my M&P. Instead, I used up the 18 rounds of 115 gr Hornady Critical Defense that I had left over from back when I was testing different PD loads for the M&P. The results weren't even remotely Hickock45-worthy, but the rounds all fed smoothly and all of the lead landed on the paper.



With it about to rain any minute I shifted to let's-see-what-other-stuff-it'll-digest mode. I was out of my preferred Winchester White Box plinking ammo, but had a little each of some Remington UMC, Blazer Brass and...cheapest of the cheap...Tula steel cased, zinc plated projectile rounds (these things are truly crap). Save for the first Tula round, which jammed while feeding into the chamber (the case edges on them are abysmally wide and sharp) all rounds fed, cycled and ejected without problem, and also stayed on the paper...though some just barely.



Between the gun's shorter sight radius and the fact that my vision had slowly degraded to the point that it's difficult for me to focus on the sights at all I think I'm probably going to mount a grip-activated laser on it. That and a lot more practice should allow me to tighten up those sorry-assed groups considerably. But even those aren't unacceptable if you shrink the distance to typical self-defense range.

Obviously this isn't enough rounds to get used to the gun, let alone draw many conclusions about it yet. But, so far so good. The trigger was smooth with a fairly crisp break, though the take-up and reset are both a little longer than I'd prefer. The biggest problem, at least at first, was that the bottom end of the trigger is quite narrow...rather than flat against your finger...and almost comes to a bit of a point. As a result, the recoil from the first several shots drove that edge/point into the pad of my finger...which kinda' hurt. But I found I could prevent that by making sure my finger was up at the top of the trigger (which is relatively short anyway) and up against the bottom of the frame. That kept the end of the trigger from digging into my finger while not negatively impacting my ability to pull the trigger smoothly.

And as expected, the shorter and narrower grip made it less ergonomic than the excellent grip on my M&P. But that's the inescapable price of the size reductions required in order to make a 9mm pistol light and small enough for deep concealed hot weather carry.

So I definitely wouldn't call it a fun gun to shoot, but I didn't buy it to be a fun range toy, and it's not unpleasant enough to prevent me from practicing with it...so that's OK. So now I'm off to contemplate holstering options.
30.) bluecat - 04/21/2018
Thanks for the write-up. It's always fun to shoot a bit.
31.) Swamp Fox - 04/21/2018
Really, at 15 yards, with a small pistol, all you absolutely have to do is shoot well enough to make them flinch, reconsider their lives real quick, and let them know if they come any closer you'll bite their legs off.

If you want to do more, don't let me stop you ... LOL
32.) Swamp Fox - 04/21/2018
[QUOTE=bluecat;55716]Congealed carry[/QUOTE]


I'm going to give this a +2, just because I think anything higher might encourage this type of behavior ...


And nobody needs to see that ...
33.) DParker - 04/21/2018
[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;55723], and let them know if they come any closer you'll bite their legs off.[/QUOTE]

34.) Swamp Fox - 04/21/2018
:-)

I've been called worse. :wink
35.) bluecat - 04/21/2018
You have three last chances.
36.) Swamp Fox - 04/21/2018
Sorry, I've use them all up.

Oh, wait.
37.) Jon - 04/23/2018
I'm happy with those groups at that distance for a sub compact, I rarely even shoot my 938 farther than 21'.
Looking forward to seeing how/if the laser sharpens up the grouping
38.) DParker - 04/23/2018
[QUOTE=Jon;55749]I'm happy with those groups at that distance for a sub compact, I rarely even shoot my 938 farther than 21'.
Looking forward to seeing how/if the laser sharpens up the grouping[/QUOTE]

That was my attitude as well. I have a [URL="https://www.lasermax.com/cf-lc9-c-g.html"]LaserMax trigger-mounted light/laser combo[/URL] coming from MidwayUSA (for significantly less than what LM is charging directly), so we'll see.
39.) DParker - 04/27/2018
My LaserMax arrived today and I just installed it on the LC9s trigger guard. Holy crap, is that green laser [i]extremely[/i] visible, even in a well-lit room. I also tried it out from the back door to the part of the backyard fence farthest from the house (just shy of 50 ft) while it was still light out and it looked like a really bright Christmas tree light. I like this thing.
40.) Triton Rich - 04/27/2018
[B]I'm interested in your experience with the laser. The only time I've tried a laser, I shot significantly worse than iron sights. So did the other two people with me. I'm pretty sure some practice would help but it was still unexpected.[/B]
41.) Jon - 04/27/2018
I've also tried the laser on both bow and a few pistols. My experience wasn't positive, the movement messed with my mind.
DP, did the spot on the back fence get large and/or pixelated at that distance?

Funny story with the laser on my bow, I originally installed it for hog hunting so we could hunt them at night in Tx. Worked pretty good for that BUT they are spooked by the spot if you let them see it.
I also used it on deer and was messing with some does, they would follow it around like a cat does. I would shine it on the ground in front of the deer and then move it, smaller does chased it around bucking and carrying on.
Bucks, on the other hand, didn't put up with it.
42.) DParker - 04/27/2018
[QUOTE=Triton Rich;55818][B]I'm interested in your experience with the laser. The only time I've tried a laser, I shot significantly worse than iron sights. So did the other two people with me. I'm pretty sure some practice would help but it was still unexpected.[/B][/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Jon;55819]I've also tried the laser on both bow and a few pistols. My experience wasn't positive, the movement messed with my mind.[/quote]

Yeah, it's a little weird at first. But you get used to it with practice (I've shot with someone else's before).

[QUOTE=Jon;55819]DP, did the spot on the back fence get large and/or pixelated at that distance?[/quote]

Probably a little, which is to be expected from an inexpensive diode laser at that range. But there was such a "splash" effect due to the light being scattered by the rough surface of the wood it was hard to tell.
43.) Swamp Fox - 04/27/2018
I always wondered if you shot a laser a lot, would you have problems going back to iron sights? I could see training yourself to watch the target and dot, and then instinctively "overlooking" your traditional sights on a pistol not equipped with a laser. I suppose this would only be a real problem for people who go back and forth between different carry guns, but many do. I'd want to be consistent so I don't get caught with the wrong "instinct" at the wrong time with the wrong gun. I think a good laser makes a lot of sense if you can shoot it well.
44.) DParker - 04/27/2018
[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;55822]I always wondered if you shot a laser a lot, would you have problems going back to iron sights? I could see training yourself to watch the target and dot, and then instinctively "overlooking" your traditional sights on a pistol not equipped with a laser. I suppose this would only be a real problem for people who go back and forth between different carry guns, but many do. I'd want to be consistent so I don't get caught with the wrong "instinct" at the wrong time with the wrong gun. I think a good laser makes a lot of sense if you can shoot it well.[/QUOTE]

Between my inability to focus on the small LC9s sights even under practice conditions, and the fact that I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be taking the time to try to use them under stress (self-defense) conditions my purpose for the laser is as a point-shooting aid:

1) Point the gun.
2) See the pretty bright green dot in the general vicinity of where I'd like the lead to end up.
3) Pull the trigger.
4) Repeat steps 1-3 as needed.

While I think replacing the sights with tritium versions...with different colors for the front and back...would help to compensate for my increasing inability to see the sights well (especially in low/no-light conditions) I'm still doubtful about my ability to focus on the sights AND the hostile moving target while I'm in the throes of an adrenaline dump.

P.S.

Last night, while the house was pitch-dark, I tried a little test of the LaserMax in "laser-only" mode (laser on, but the light off) by standing at the top of the stairs and pointing it at the wall across from the bottom of the stairs, as might occur in a hypothetical home-invasion scenario. The laser was so bright that it's reflection off the wall illuminated the whole area at the bottom of the stairs so much that I decided that, for home use, the light wouldn't even be necessary for me to make out what I was aiming at.

P.P.S.

I found that I really didn't like the laser in "strobe" mode. It made me want to have a seizure after a couple of seconds.
45.) Swamp Fox - 04/27/2018
I've heard about strobe mode for aiming lasers. What's the point supposed to be? Is it supposed to disorient the bad guy? Help you conceal your position and/or movements?
46.) DParker - 04/28/2018
[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;55824]I've heard about strobe mode for aiming lasers. What's the point supposed to be? Is it supposed to disorient the bad guy? Help you conceal your position and/or movements?[/QUOTE]

I think the idea is that it grabs your attention and makes it easier for you to find the dot under conditions in which it is otherwise not terribly visible. Sort of like the LSD trails you can configure your Windows mouse cursor to leave when it's moved so that it's easier to find on a visually busy screen.

But with this green laser, I think you'd need to aim it directly at the sun before it became difficult to see.
47.) Swamp Fox - 04/28/2018
That makes sense. Thx.
48.) Swamp Fox - 04/28/2018
I wonder if anyone has ever done a write-up on "The Sweetest-Shooting 9mm Sub-Compact"? ....Hmmm....
49.) Swamp Fox - 04/29/2018
A derringer in your ear will get your attention, too ...
50.) DParker - 04/29/2018
[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;55831]A derringer in your ear will get your attention, too ...[/QUOTE]

[i]"An elegant weapon, for a more civilized age."[/i]

51.) Triton Rich - 04/29/2018
[QUOTE=DParker;55823]Between my inability to focus on the small LC9s sights even under practice conditions......[/QUOTE]

[B]Speaking of old man vision, I put some cheap flip-up iron sights on my AR mounted at 45 degrees for up close work. Holy crap, as soon as the target got more than 10 feet away I couldn't focus worth a damn. If I focused on the bullseye, the sights completely disappeared. If I focused on the sights, the bullseye completely disappeared. I finally got my reflex red dot sight and that works a lot better. :-)[/B]
52.) DParker - 04/29/2018
[QUOTE=Triton Rich;55835][B]Speaking of old man vision, I put some cheap flip-up iron sights on my AR mounted at 45 degrees for up close work. Holy crap, as soon as the target got more than 10 feet away I couldn't focus worth a damn. If I focused on the bullseye, the sights completely disappeared. If I focused on the sights, the bullseye completely disappeared. I finally got my reflex red dot sight and that works a lot better. :-)[/B][/QUOTE]

Welcome to the club. Hey, someone's got to keep the optics manufacturers in business.
53.) Triton Rich - 04/29/2018
[QUOTE=DParker;55836]Welcome ro the club. Hey, someone's got to keep the optics manufacturers in business.[/QUOTE]

[B]Exactly![/B]
54.) DParker - 04/29/2018
The next time someone tries to tell you that pistol-mounted lasers aren't easily visible in the daylight, show them this green dot against a green background at 21 feet on a sunny TX day at 1:00pm.



It ain't too bad on a red background either.

55.) Triton Rich - 04/29/2018
[B]So as long as the bad guy isn't wearing a shirt that is glowing bright green, you should be fine! :grin:[/B]
56.) Swamp Fox - 04/29/2018
Chartreuse: What the bad guys are wearing this year.


(Otherwise, that's impressive. Thanks for posting.)
57.) Swamp Fox - 04/29/2018
[QUOTE=DParker;55834][i]"An elegant weapon, for a more civilized age."[/i]

[/QUOTE]




:clap: ... LOL
58.) bluecat - 04/29/2018
[QUOTE=DParker;55838]The next time someone tries to tell you that pistol-mounted lasers aren't easily visible in the daylight, show them this green dot against a green background at 21 feet on a sunny TX day at 1:00pm.



It ain't too bad on a red background either.

[/QUOTE]

Yeah that is nice.
59.) Swamp Fox - 04/29/2018
[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;55831]A derringer in your ear will get your attention, too ...[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=DParker;55834][i]"An elegant weapon, for a more civilized age."[/i]

[/QUOTE]




I have been thinking about this most of the afternoon. (The picture helped.)

Everything considered, I am fairly stingy with this award with good cause, but upon much reflection I believe it should be said that you, sir, are a Great American.
60.) DParker - 04/30/2018
[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;55843]I have been thinking about this most of the afternoon. (The picture helped.)

Everything considered, I am fairly stingy with this award with good cause, but upon much reflection I believe it should be said that you, sir, are a Great American.[/QUOTE]

LOL! Thanks. And here I thought I was just a dirty old man.
61.) bluecat - 04/30/2018
Would you like to take a victory lap dance?
62.) bluecat - 04/30/2018
[QUOTE=DParker;55844]LOL! Thanks. And here I thought I was just a dirty old man.[/QUOTE]

Meh, you're not that old.
63.) DParker - 04/30/2018
[QUOTE=bluecat;55845]Would you like to take a victory lap dance?[/QUOTE]

I know a trap when I imagine one.
64.) Swamp Fox - 04/30/2018
One of the greatest music videos of all time ...


(I know: Not a very high bar. But it works.)


65.) DParker - 04/30/2018
Proof that the '80s weren't all bad.

I got to see Rusty and the boys live at the UNLV Thomas and Mack Center in '86. I recall it pretty clearly because I had to climb steep stairs to the nose-bleed section while on crutches, so was forced to remain uninebriated lest I end up busted up even worse than I was when I walked in. Good times.
66.) crookedeye - 05/01/2018
Why does snoopdog carry an unbrella?FO DRIZZLE
67.) Swamp Fox - 05/01/2018
Oh no you di'int! ....


LOL