Shield vs LC9

[Zoner]

i'm Mike,63 yrs old and never planned on buying a plastic framed gun. I shoot 1911's, DA revolvers. But times have changed and i have need for a easily concealable carry gun. I purchased a Ruger LC9 and is very well set up for what it is meant to do. Trigger pull is long,smooth and the break is an acceptable pull weight, but the break is all the way to the rear of the triggerguard, and with my long fingers i'm having trouble keeping my trigger finger from brushing against my shooting hand thumb before the trigger breaks. Yesterday i made a deal for a nib 9mm Shield. I'll shoot em both and decide which to keep and sell the other. Is the break on the Shield all the way to the back of the triggerguard too? On the Ruger its so far back the rear of the triggerguard is like a trigger stop.

 

[kbm6893]

You should get the LC9-S. You can use the same holsters and magazines as your LC9. It's a bit smaller and lighter than the Shield. I had an LC9 and a Shield. Shield has a great trigger, but I like the mag disconnect on the LC9-S and the trigger on the LC9-S is fantastic.

 

[RobzGuns]

The original (hammer fired) LC9 and the (striker fired) Shield are two different animals. The original LC9 has one of the worst triggers (for the reasons you described) I've ever felt. As kbm6893 wrote, the LC9S (S for striker fired) has a much nicer trigger, but shooting the LC9 (or LC9S side-by-side, I feel that the felt recoil of the Ruger is a bit harsher than that of the Shield... But perceived recoil can be subjective.

Had I not liked the Shield better than the LC9/LC9S/LC9S-Pro, I'd have had no reason to join the S&W forum.

 

[Gaucho59]

I had a LC9 and did all the trigger work out there. Galloway and St Arms Kits, adjustable triggers, you name it. All it really did was mess up the reliability. I looked closely at the LC9s and shot it side by side with the Shield. I bought the Shield and could not be happier! I still like Ruger and currently own a SR9c, SR22 and and LCP Custom. But the Shield was better for me, than the LC9 or LC9s.

 

[Zoner]

thanks for input

appreciate the input folks. I still would like to hear from Shield owners about where in the triggers travel the break is....is it in the middle of the trigger guard, all the way to the rear of the triggerguard, or somewhere in between. Once again the only thing i don't like about the trigger is where the break is( all the way to the rear).......Mike

 

[RobzGuns]

For where the trigger breaks, check this video.
It's one of the better I've seen over the years.
Just looking at the marks on the trigger guard, the last 3 marks indicate where you pick up the sear, where the trigger breaks and where over-travel stops (respectively). Reset is pretty much the same line as where you pick up the sear.

robkarob also has a (similar) video comparing the LC9 to the Shield.

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsDVhqtZPFc[/ame]

 

[Lee in Quartzsite]

Mike....I have owned all three guns; the Shield, the LC9, and now the Ruger LC9s-Pro. The Shield trigger is by far better than the LC-9 because the Ruger LC-9 is hammer fired and the S&W Shield is striker fired. The long trigger pull of the LC-9 is why I traded it for a Shield. I liked the Shield but because of some arthritis in my hands I had some difficulty operating the slide. It was my daily carry gun until I discovered the Ruger LC9S-Pro. I traded the Shield for the Ruger and have carried it ever since. The LC9S-Pro has a trigger equal or better than the Shield and the slide is easy to operate. The LC9S-Pro is striker fired like the Shield, has no mag or external safety, and is small enough for pocket carry.

Good luck with your Shield, I am pretty sure you will chose it over the LC-9.

 

[CaptRon956]

When I was on the market last yr for a new carry gun I was first looking at the Ruger LC9 (hammer fired). I was attracted to the price, the looks, and the good reviews it recieved. When I went to my LGS to check it out in person it felt nice in my hand, until the salemen suggested I first check out the M&P Shield. The M&P shield had a better feel in the grip & grip angle. It felt like a combat weapon compared to the very civilian feeling Ruger.... I chose the M&P shield and I am soooo glad I did. The M&P Shield is one of the most awesome shooting pistols I've ever owned... Surprisingly more accurate than I thought It's be... In addition to it being my main EDC, I also IDPA with it...

I say go with the Shield 9mm

 

[Radco]

i'm Mike,63 yrs old and never planned on buying a plastic framed gun. I shoot 1911's, DA revolvers. But times have changed and i have need for a easily concealable carry gun. I purchased a Ruger LC9 and is very well set up for what it is meant to do. Trigger pull is long,smooth and the break is an acceptable pull weight, but the break is all the way to the rear of the triggerguard, and with my long fingers i'm having trouble keeping my trigger finger from brushing against my shooting hand thumb before the trigger breaks. Yesterday i made a deal for a nib 9mm Shield. I'll shoot em both and decide which to keep and sell the other. Is the break on the Shield all the way to the back of the triggerguard too? On the Ruger its so far back the rear of the triggerguard is like a trigger stop.

I just got a Shield and love the trigger pull. I also like Rugers I have the SR9E 9mm. Have you checked out the Ruger forums about a LC9s ?
Ruger Forum | Ruger Forum for Ruger Guns and Firearms Tons of info on the LC and a lot of Shield owners as well ...may have more info you want!
(hope it is ok to put up their link! If not delete it Thanks)

 

[Zoner]

thanks

thanks much. Learned what i wanted to know watching the video, the break is more forward on the Shield than the LC9 based on what i'm seeing there.

 

[ladder13]

There were two guys on the range the other day, both had LC9's. Each let me shoot their guns.
One has the LC9S Pro, and the trigger was superior to the original LC9 that the other one had.
Even better, for me, the Pro has no safety, don't need it.

I have not shot a Shield yet but many guys have them around here. Sooner or later I'll get a chance to try one. Again, if buying a Shield I'd get the no safety model.

 

[Cal44]

I bought one of the original LC9's about three years ago when I was just getting back into shooting after a 25 year hiatus.

I had a lot of trouble hitting anything with it, and ended up putting it into the back of the safe.

I recently bought it out. Now, after a few years of practicing with double action revolvers, and after putting the mag extensions on (so my pinky finger fits on the grip) I can shoot it reasonably well.

I'm thinking of adding it to my license at some point to have an option with more fire power than my 5 shot J frames.

I think for someone who has shot a DA revolver a lot, the original LC9 long trigger may be manageable.

 

[jstanfield103]

Congratulations on the Shield. The Shield is a better range gun because it wont beat you up as bad. The Ruger LC9S has a little better trigger but is snappier due to the smaller size and grip with being smaller. I have had all three in my stable. I am a heavier guy and I really do not carry IWB so I looked for them as a pocket gun. The LC9 I hated and traded it for a Shield. The Shield I really liked but really big for the pocket so I traded it for a BG380. When the LC9S came out I took the BG380 and traded it for the LC9S and have been happy ever since. It is a larger pocket gun but not uncomfortable at all in you're pocket like the Shield.
I now pocket carry between my LCP Custom and my LC9S. Great Guns but they are not range guns I just fire enough from them to be proficient with them.
You will definitely take the Shield over the LC9 but with the LC9 trigger pull you really don't even need a holster for pocket carry, with the LC9S a holster is a must.

 

[Zoner]

looked at the Shield

i just got back from the LGS.....i DROS'ed the Shield. The trigger is much easier to manipulate than the lc9. The grip feels better and i can get my thumb out of the way. Like others have noted it feels a little "beefier" than the lc9 but it's a good trade off for the ergonamics. i'll work out both guns at the range then make my final decision. I am now leaning toward the Shield

 

[swsig]

In my experience, the Shield's break point is just right. If you're used to shooting DAO, it might even feel a bit "hair triggerish". I was a the range yesterday with my Shield 9 and my SIG P250sc .380. I started with the DAO hammer-fired P250, which I hadn't shot in a couple of months. It has one of the better DA triggers around -- long, but very smooth. After 90 rounds or so, I switched to the Shield. In contrast to the P250, the Shield felt like it had about a one millimeter break point. I had to be sure that I had the Shield properly aimed before I touched its trigger because initially, I was pulling it like it was the SIG, and the bang came very quickly. Fortunately, muscle memory kicked in after a couple of rounds, and my Shield's trigger feel returned to normal (i.e., great!), but the initial contrast in break point with the P250's DAO trigger was substantial.

Bottom line: I think you'll find the Shield's trigger break to be not only acceptable, but nearly perfect.