LC9 reliability/range report

[rogerthedodger]

I went to the range today with my new LC9, first 115 rounds of Remington UMC. All I can say is WOW, this is a fun gun to shoot. Not one problem, thank you Ruger!!! I prepped it by first giving it a good cleaning and lube, followed by 100 strokes of slide back and forth, followed by about 25 dry fires, to loosen it up. Still getting used to the trigger, even though I have an LCP, but am VERY satisfied with the LC9. :D
Roger

 

[rich642z]

Roger,comparing the LCP to the LC9 on the trigger pull,how do you like your two?

 

[Stimo3]

I've noticed the trigger has gotten much better since i first got mine, although i do have ~2500 dry fires and ~1k rounds through it now, 300 rounds with the SS guide rod and so far so good! Nothing but good things to report back!
Also curious though how you like the two triggers (LCP vs. LC9)

 

[Jer75]

Rich642z; I'm not Roger but thought I'd weigh in on my two just FYI.

I have one of the very first (370 series) LCP's and it has countless rounds through it. And my LC9 is a fairly early one too I think (320 series) that I have close to 800 rounds through.

Neither of these guns has ever had a failure of any kind - each has been flawless.

Both have the long trigger pull of course, but in both of my guns the pull is smooth (no grittiness or pronounced stacking that I can tell anyway)

But I've found that because I do have big hands/long fingers that I have to use a different technique when shooting the LCP due to the short distance between the backstrap area of the grip and the point where the trigger breaks. So I have a hard time getting the gun to fire if I place the first joint of index finger around the trigger and pull back. It's not impossible, but very difficult, so instead I have to make sure the pad of my index finger is on the trigger and that ensures I can get the trigger back far enough to break.

On the LC9 that isn't as much of an issue because the distance is a tad greater from backstrap to trigger.

But otherwise both triggers feel real similar to me in terms of it being a loooong but smooth trigger on each.

I know there is a ton of talk about the long - heavy trigger on the LC9 lately and maybe it's just that I've shot mine quite a bit, but I just don't see it as an issue (for me anyway) and the gun is scary accurate. I say that without benefit of ever shooting it at a paper target yet through almost 800 rounds, but I know water bottles and pop cans are scared to death of me!!!!!... (and one snake)

 

[GaryT]

I agree with you...really liking my LC9! The more I shoot it, the more I like it and the better it shoots. Just need to find a good holster for it and, come November, it'll go everywhere with me...

 

[rogerthedodger]

Well, now that you ask about the LCP and LC9 trigger, I placed one in the right hand, one in the left hand, and pulled the triggers(unloaded of course), then I swapped them to the other hand. The triggers feel identical. If I close my eyes, I cannot tell one from the other, (of course the LCP is a smaller grip). They even make the same sound.
Roger

 

[Lateck]

Yes,
The LC9 is a great carry gun
and once you get used to the trigger it's better.


Lateck,

 

[rich642z]

Thanks for the info on the trigger pull Roger and everyone else that replied to my question.

 

[Stimo3]

I agree with you...really liking my LC9! The more I shoot it, the more I like it and the better it shoots. Just need to find a good holster for it and, come November, it'll go everywhere with me...

If you're looking for just a good working, cheap pocket holster that can also be used kinda as an IWB holster with no straps, i'd recommend the DeSantis pocket holster, it's what i use for summertime and it blocks the printing perfectly, even my friends that know i carry all the time ask if i'm carrying every time, not even my friends can call it and they know it's there so they work great for pocket carry, and CAN be used as IWB, but if you want THE BEST IWB holster for it you'll have to look elsewhere.
For my IWB holster needs for smaller sized guns including revolvers, some of the kel-tecs, the LCP/LC9, etc. I contact Tommy Theis of Theisholsters.com.. He makes ALL holsters by hhand himself, NO HELP from anyone, and he can usually have it in your hands within a week of your order unless he's really backed up. He makes IWB holsters exactly like Crossbreed Supertucks, in a lot of people's opinion, the #1 IWB CCW holsters. The only difference with Mr. Theis's is he uses a TAD bit thinner leather with horsehide (dunno about cowhide) and with these smaller, lighter guns the extra leather isnt needed for the support. For steel frame/full-size handguns i'd recommend a Supertuck over a Theis because the heavier guns do need a bit more support and that bit thicker leather helps a good deal, i noticed this when i bought a Theis and Crossbreed IWB holster for the same full-size gun and i noticed that it was supported a bit better and felt a bit better with the Supertuck. But again, light guns like this LC9 and i wouldnt even consider Crossbreed, they take 7-8 weeks to receive and it won't be any better than Mr Theis's, in fact it may be a it worse to conceal since the LC9 is so light that extra leather isnt needed so it'll just add bulk which is not necessary for this small gun.

I know i'm long winded but i like to explain myself and the reasons why i choose the way i do. So for pocket carry, i have the regular DeSantis pocket holster and it works great, they have an upgraded one that is a bit grippier and has an extra pad to hide printing, but IMO i didnt like the look of the "extra grippy" stuff, looked a bit girly to me lol so i just went with the regular one and it works great for pocket carry, like i said my friends cant even tell, hell half the time i forget it's there!
For IWB for an LC9, Theisholsters.com, he makes holsters just like Crossbreeds but a bit thinner leather and without the 7-8 week wait. I also didnt mention that Mr. Theis is and has been BY FAR the best customer service i've ever have had the pleasure of dealing with. He answered/returned all my calls/emails in a quick manner (no more than an hour to be honest most of the time, except on late night emails) and he stands behind his work, if you dont like it send it back for a full refund. Guaranteed for IWB, you'll LOVE it! I'm a repeat customer of his, already own 3 holsters and about to make it 4 from him for my LC9 once i scrape up some extra pennies.. But again this is my summertime gun only, every other month i carry my FNP-40 IWB so i only have this for hot days and light clothes so i can still carry and be concealed.

 

[ArmedinAZ]

I went to the range today with my new LC9, first 115 rounds of Remington UMC. All I can say is WOW, this is a fun gun to shoot. Not one problem, thank you Ruger!!! I prepped it by first giving it a good cleaning and lube, followed by 100 strokes of slide back and forth, followed by about 25 dry fires, to loosen it up. Still getting used to the trigger, even though I have an LCP, but am VERY satisfied with the LC9. :D
Roger

Your thread title says range report. You mostly gave a reliability report. What about distances, hits, you know...it goes bang every time but where does the bullet hole end up?

 

[rogerthedodger]

Well, now you are asking the embarrassing part, how good a shooter I am. LOL I put all my shots in a 2" circle at 10', at 20' not as good. My old(72) eyes do not work as well at longer ranges, so I use will use a CT, then dont need to wear glasses. Gun puts all shots where you aim, very accurate, like the LCP. ArmedinAZ, thanks, I changed the heading!!
Roger

 

[ArmedinAZ]

Well, now you are asking the embarrassing part, how good a shooter I am. LOL I put all my shots in a 2" circle at 10', at 20' not as good. My old(72) eyes do not work as well at longer ranges, so I use will use a CT, then dont need to wear glasses. Gun puts all shots where you aim, very accurate, like the LCP. ArmedinAZ, thanks, I changed the heading!!
Roger

Didn't mean to embarrass you about shooting. CT = Crimson Trace laser? Good solution!

 

[Bolohead]

Well, now you are asking the embarrassing part, how good a shooter I am. LOL I put all my shots in a 2" circle at 10', at 20' not as good. My old(72) eyes do not work as well at longer ranges, so I use will use a CT, then dont need to wear glasses. Gun puts all shots where you aim, very accurate, like the LCP. ArmedinAZ, thanks, I changed the heading!!
Roger

Didn't mean to embarrass you about shooting. CT = Crimson Trace laser? Good solution!

When I shot mine, I had to use my glasses, simply without them I can only see a blure of the rear sight, and can faintly make out the front sight alignment. The CT will be an additional item, that I will be needing to get.

 

[rogerthedodger]

Yep, Crimson Trace Laser. I have it installed, ready for my next range trip. When I feel ready, it will go on my CCW( Concealed Carry) permit.
I have installed a CT on all my handguns that I may use for defense, as my eyes dont work as well, but I still practise with iron sites.
Roger

 

[claimbuster]

Guess I'll just have to be boring here and agree with all that has been said. Had my LC9 out again today and it is flawless.

It has become my #1 carry gun with summer weight clothes.

 

[rogerthedodger]

Hey claimbuster, how many rounds?

 

[claimbuster]

400 +/-, and it eats anything and everything I feed it. Hand loads with FMJ, lead TC's, Gold Dots and anything in store bought loads including Hornady Critical Defense.

I may get another one just for a "Sunday go to meetin'" gun! :)

I know I've posted this photo before, but she rides in a DeSantis IWB most of the time. A great combo!

 

[rogerthedodger]

400 +/-, and it eats anything and everything I feed it. Hand loads with FMJ, lead TC's, Gold Dots and anything in store bought loads including Hornady Critical Defense.

I may get another one just for a "Sunday go to meetin'" gun! :)

I know I've posted this photo before, but she rides in a DeSantis IWB most of the time. A great combo!

Looks good, shoots good, cant get better than that. I'm glad to hear you shoot Hornady CD, that is my fav carry ammo!!
Roger

 

[rogerthedodger]

400+ rounds, just broke in! I'm glad to hear you shoot Hornady CD, that is my fav carry ammo!!
Roger

 

[Stimo3]

Just to add, i'm probably a bit over 1k rounds now on my LC9. In those 1k, i've had 2 FTL's, and one was my fault, my finger slipped and hit the slide stop, perfect timing, the other was a real FTL, so technically ice had 2, but only one because of the gun.
I'm actually pretty big on ballistics and doing my own testing. I've done it mostly with my .40cal into some water jugs with the first one full of newspaper/water and the rest water, but have only tested 2 different rounds out of the LC9. I've tested Federal 147gr. JHP +P HST's, and those had great expansion with good penetration too. I don't have the numbers but i wrote down and still have the bullets that i fired if i in fact lost the paper with the measurements, but i believe it was somewhere around .65. Also tested Winchester Ranger T-series 124gr. +P's, and those expanded very well too, just under the 147gr. +P federals and the talons deployed very symmetrical, not to mention they;re razor sharp! My favorite SD load is the 124gr. +P Winchester Ranger T-series, good penetration and one mean looking bullet, i sure as hell wouldnt want to get shot by it ;). Not to mention they're a very popular and proven SD round, just like the Hornady but i've NEVER tested those out of either 9mm or .40, and i've tested almost all SD rounds in .40.
In .40, i've tested Winchester Ranger Talons and Ranger Bonded, also tested Federal HST's. Tested some Federal HSt's with a bit hotter load in them for border patrol, was lucky enough to buy 1k rounds of those, but they expanded to ~.95 consistently whereas the regular HST's are around ~.85. Also tested Speer Gold Dots, Remington Golden Sabres, Federal Hi-Shoks, and Fiocchi JHP's, all 180gr. and i have them all saved with the measurements too, this was done out of an FNP-40 with a 4in. barrel. I like both the Federal HST's and Winchester Ranger T/B's, but the regular Talons first. They penetrate just as well as bonded in my testing basically (1 1/2in. difference) but they deploy the talons whereas the bonded bullets the lead doesnt peel off exposing the sharp talon. For SD though i'll use either HST's or Rangers, i DO need to test a couple more brands though i just never got around to it, hornady being at the top of the list actually because a lot of people use it, i just have never seen any pictures of them expanded that really impressed me,but again i like to see and do things myself so i'll get around to it eventually.
Must be a good SD round though as it's very popular.