Shield & Ruger LC9 Size Comparison

Had my LC9 for 8 months. Had my Shield 40 one week. The Shield is the better of the two. I have fully modified the LC9 to improve trigger pull. I've installed a Galloway trigger kit and put many hours on internal modifications. I used the LC9 for pocket carry and I also pocket carry my Shield.

LC9 specs: The LC9 does not have a trigger safety. Trigger free play/takeup: stock 1/4 inch; mine 1/8 inch. Trigger pull to break: stock 3/4 inch; mine 5/16 inch. Break point: stock is back of trigger guard; mine is middle of trigger guard. Trigger pull in pounds: stock 8; mine 6 1/2.

The stock Shield has: 1/8 in trigger safety free play/takeup; 1/4 inch trigger free play/takeup; 3/32 inch trigger pull to break. Trigger pull in pounds: 6 1/2.

The big difference is the Shields trigger pull of 3/32 inch compared to 5/16 inch for my modified LC9. The trigger reset for the Shield is 1/8 inch and 3/8 inch for the LC9.

The LC9 is 1/8 inch shorter in height and 1/8 inch shorter in length, and 1/16 inch thinner. The LC9 weighs 16 ounces and the Shield weighs 19 ounces.

I've been on several Ruger forums and a lot of people have had problems and complaints about the LC9. Long trigger pull, too heavy of trigger pull, trigger pull stacking, too deep of break point, long reset of trigger, light hits, trigger reset problems, nylon recoil guiderod breaking, and more.

The LC9's bore axis is 3/16 higher than the Shield's, which relates to less felt recoil in the Shield 9mm. My Shield 40's felt recoil is about the same as my LC9.

The Shield does have a very short trigger pull and reset. The reset is very positive and can be heard and felt. The Shields trigger is not perfect. It has some "gritty feeling" in the pull, due to the way the trigger bar lifts the striker blocker. However there are many companies that can fix and improve the M&P trigger. Most trigger parts can be purchased and self installed.

I thought my modified LC9 was a perfect carry gun. However with some of the problems I have heard about the LC9, I question it's reliability, even though I have not had any problems with mine. Reliability is not a question in the M&P line. I have a trigger kit ordered and in the mail, for my Shield. The Shield might be the best subcompact gun on the market, especially for the price. The stock trigger is very good, but it will be great with the kit.

Bob

I live 10 miles from smith and in mass we can,t buy. One ,not approved for mass what BS

Original poster needs to take another picture of the two guns side by side NOT one on top of the other. Cannot get a fair comparison of size using the original picture.

I own both those guns. No matter what the camera angle is, you can not get the correct view the human eye sees. I tried and it would take 10 or more pictures to accurately show the differences. So the difference is:

The LC9 length is 1/8 inch shorter than the Shield
The LC9 height is 1/8 inch shorter than the Shield
The LC9 width is 1/16 inch more narrow than the Shield
The LC9 weighs 3 ounces less than the Shield.

This would favor the LC9, except for one thing. The Shield has so much of a better trigger, the Shield is the winner. I've shot them both. No comparison in the shooting contest. The Shield is more accurate, just because of the trigger. The Shield is more comfortable to shoot, just because of the trigger.

Anybody want to buy a super modified LC9 with Crimson Trace Lasersite? I have over $600 invested and all the original parts, plus many backup parts. My LC9's trigger pull length is less than half that of the stock LC9. The trigger breaks in the middle of the trigger guard. It has an improved shape trigger. It has a super smooth trigger pull.

But I like my Shield 40 much better. I've already made a good trigger better. Apex trigger kit is installed. My total trigger pull length is just under 1/4 inch, that includes pretravel, sear pull to break, and overtravel. Trigger pull weight is 4.25 pounds.

Anybody want to buy my LC9? I did say buy, not that I was going to give it away. I know no one is going to buy the LC9 after this post about my much better Shield. The LC9 will easily sell. I just have to take it to a gun show.

Bob

Good decision!

Canoe said:

picked up a Shield yesterday after messing endlessly with my PF-9 Keltec trying to make it reliable. The trigger on the Shield is short and crisp. nothing like the LC-9 or the PF-9. The felt recoil is less than half the PF-9. Odrered a Phantom OWB holster for the Shield today. The Shield is a solid smooth operating little gun. My impression is that it won't pocket carry well due to weight. Very favorable impression of the Shield thus far.

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what he said but I pocket carry .40 in cargo shorts or Regular Jeans in a Galco PH286 horsehide. The .40 has less felt recoil than the PF-9.

robkarrob said:

I own both those guns. No matter what the camera angle is, you can not get the correct view the human eye sees. I tried and it would take 10 or more pictures to accurately show the differences. So the difference is:

The LC9 length is 1/8 inch shorter than the Shield
The LC9 height is 1/8 inch shorter than the Shield
The LC9 width is 1/16 inch more narrow than the Shield
The LC9 weighs 3 ounces less than the Shield.

This would favor the LC9, except for one thing. The Shield has so much of a better trigger, the Shield is the winner. I've shot them both. No comparison in the shooting contest. The Shield is more accurate, just because of the trigger. The Shield is more comfortable to shoot, just because of the trigger.

Anybody want to buy a super modified LC9 with Crimson Trace Lasersite? I have over $600 invested and all the original parts, plus many backup parts. My LC9's trigger pull length is less than half that of the stock LC9. The trigger breaks in the middle of the trigger guard. It has an improved shape trigger. It has a super smooth trigger pull.

But I like my Shield 40 much better. I've already made a good trigger better. Apex trigger kit is installed. My total trigger pull length is just under 1/4 inch, that includes pretravel, sear pull to break, and overtravel. Trigger pull weight is 4.25 pounds.

Anybody want to buy my LC9? I did say buy, not that I was going to give it away. I know no one is going to buy the LC9 after this post about my much better Shield. The LC9 will easily sell. I just have to take it to a gun show.

Bob

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I also sold my LC9 when I got a Shield. I have a feeling many others have/will do this.

I have both and prefer the Shield totally. In fact, I have put my name on my local gun shop's list to get the forty as well. Will probably hold onto the LC9 as well, but sell the Nano. For pocket carry I'll stick with my PM9 as the Shield is a bit too big in my minds eye to pocket carry right not. I prefer it IWB. Concur with all that has been said in previous posts.,

ultratec00 said:

Local shop has the LC9s on sale for $299. Never been a big fan of ruger semiautos other than maybe their 22s. I'm going to look at the Shield, but already have a Kahr CM9. If it's not much bigger than my Kahr, will be sorely tempted.

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I owned a Kahr CM9 and now a Shield. The Shield will max out your pocket for concealment. It is about the size of a Glock 26 only thinner.

I believe the trigger on the Shield is excellent and my targets show I can group my shots tight. When I owned my Kahr CM9 I could never get as tight of groups.

I pocket carry my Shield in Dockers (36x32) with no problem, but some have said it is not a pocket gun.

Russ

A friend of mine had a pair of LC9s and kept trying to talk me in to buying one, but, they felt weird in MY hand.
He played with a Shield, bought one, and dumped the Rugers.

I held and shot the lc9 not to bash anybody but inthought it felt cheap. Its not a good gun by all means. I love my shield and i love my bodyguard 380. The lc9 is a hunk of ****

Robby3006 said:

I held and shot the lc9 not to bash anybody but inthought it felt cheap. Its not a good gun by all means. I love my shield and i love my bodyguard 380. The lc9 is a hunk of ****

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Interesting opinion. I hated the 380Bodyguard. I much prefer the LC9 over it.

I did a lot of comparing when getting ready to purchase a small 9mm. I wanted something that had more than my 380 auto and the 9mm fit the list. It came down to the LC9 or the Shield and because of the trigger and overall feel in my hand I purchased the Shield. I'll say this for it the trigger is great and it shoots very great groups. I'm very pleased with my choice.

Yup, I'm interested. Send me a msg or email.
Thanks, Kelly

robkarrob said:

Anybody want to buy a super modified LC9 with Crimson Trace Lasersite? I have over $600 invested and all the original parts, plus many backup parts. My LC9's trigger pull length is less than half that of the stock LC9. The trigger breaks in the middle of the trigger guard. It has an improved shape trigger. It has a super smooth trigger pull.

Anybody want to buy my LC9? I did say buy, not that I was going to give it away. I know no one is going to buy the LC9 after this post about my much better Shield. The LC9 will easily sell. I just have to take it to a gun show.

Bob

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I bought my LC9 last year and my Shield the first week in May. My LC9 has never given me any trouble and is malf free. I just can't stand the trigger. I have spent plenty of time and ammo with it at the range and shoot reasonably well with it BUT the Shield's trigger is hands down MUCH better. I have an Apex DCAEK inbound and will install it to make my Shield even better for my use. My Shield has taken my LC9's place as my EDC.

Here are some pics for those wanting a visual comparison:

Hi Bob,

I joined this forum to respond to your LC9 /shield information. I really liked the LC9 and put alot of $$$$ in it. I'm a Ruger junkie. But, i was cleaning mine after a range shoot to find my barrel cracked in the rear of the block under the feed ramp. just a hair line crack. sent it to Ruger who said the frame cracked somewhere. they were to replace it. I opted for a SS frame/barrel, striker fired sr9. Same as the Shield! i am going w/ a 9mm shield also. the LCP is a good little bug. But it also has it's issues. Ruger is great on service but their products are disappointing for reliability/fit and finish. Regards, kurtj58

kurtj58

Sorry to hear about your LC9 barrel. I've been on two Ruger forums for over a year, and I have heard a lot of problems, but never a cracked barrel. The LC9, with the Galloway trigger mods, is a fine gun. Since it is hammer fired, it would never have as good of trigger as the striker fired Shield. I do believe the LC9 is Ruger's upgraded copy of the KelTec PF9. Many parts are almost identical. The LC9 uses better parts, less plastic.

Anyone with a LC9 there is a new, improved trigger on the way. Galloway Precision (Galloway Precision) will sometime early next year have a new drop in kit that will reduce the length of pull by half and move the break point from the back of the trigger guard to near the middle of the trigger guard. Pull should drop from 1 full inch to 7/16 inch. Keep checking the Galloway Precision website for the announcement when these kits will be available. They are getting tooling ready for the manufacturing of the parts. Should be mid January to the end of February.

That being said the Shield is a better shooting gun, due to the much better trigger. In such a small sub-compact SD gun, I don't know of any similar sized gun with a trigger as good as the Shields.

Bob

One thing I like about the Shield IS the location and size of the safety. I know that sounds odd but think about it...

With the Shield it is out of the way so u never have to use it unless you want. I use it only when loading and unloading. I carry the Shield w/out the safety used at all. With several rounds down range and several shooter having fired the pistol, no one has flipped it on without wanting it on.

Thr LCR has the larger safety and is something that might get knocked on when don't want unless u practice with it.

Just something about.

I had a Lc9 when they first came out, had problems with the firing pin hole shaving and filling with primer metal. I sent it back to Ruger, they fixed it and sent it back. I sold it and bought one of the first Shield 9mm that came to my LGS. Great gun, had a problem with marks on the crown of the barrel, sent it back, they installed a new barrel, extractor, and returned it. Sold it and bought a Airweight snub. Have recently bought a new Lc9, while the trigger is long, I feel it is an advantage as it allows me some security of not firing off an unintended round which I did at the range with the Shield. Both guns are accurate but the Lc9 is more like a flat revolver in that respect.
I personally like the Lc9 for pocket and concealed carry and with much range work and applying the trigger control I have used with my Airweight, the Ruger works very well for me. Buy what works for you and practice, practice, practice.
Be safe, Frank.