Shield Vs. Ruger lc9s

[WillBrink]

I prefer a FS gun as primary SD/CCW at all times. But, I felt it might be time to look into some of the sub compact offerings these days for those rare (for me) times a sub compact was best/only choice. My buddy has both the Shield 9mm and Ruger lc9s which he loaned to me.

I put 100rnds through each. Both performed without any drama. Recoil was notable but not punishing, and considering the weight and size, very reasonable. I found the Shield had slight less perceived recoil. Honestly, in a sub compact I don't care all that much about trigger pull and sites. Both seemed good enough for gubment work to me for their intended use and costs. Ergos slightly better on the Shield for my hands, but neither could be rated as having "great ergo" which is also not surprising consider the size of a sub compact.

I could live with either but the deciding factor for me was the Shield based on the proven and vetted M&P design and Ruger never know for it's quality pistols. I was actually surprised the lc9s was as well put together as it was considering past experiences with Ruger pistols.

I picked up a Shield yesterday and now need to get that checked out at the range. The Shield seems an excellent choice for appendix carry. Anyone doing that with the Shield? What holster being used?

[Tigereye]

Will,
I also got a Shield in the past few months and it's been very reliable so far. I don't appendix carry but ordered an Alien Gear Cloak 2.0 for IWB carry. Alien has a 4 week lead time and by then I'll have shot enough rounds to trust the Shield. On another thread, I think it was Grant who suggested locking the slide open to help remove some of the stiffness in the spring and speed the break in process, so that's how it sits in the safe right now. I'll post some info on the holster when I receive it.
Eric

[WillBrink]

Will,
I also got a Shield in the past few months and it's been very reliable so far. I don't appendix carry but ordered an Alien Gear Cloak 2.0 for IWB carry. Alien has a 4 week lead time and by then I'll have shot enough rounds to trust the Shield. On another thread, I think it was Grant who suggested locking the slide open to help remove some of the stiffness in the spring and speed the break in process, so that's how it sits in the safe right now. I'll post some info on the holster when I receive it.
Eric

Thanx for the info Eric.

[MegademiC]

I Aiwb the shield on occasion where the fs just can't be hidden. I use a raven vanguard with a qd Keychain attachment to make on/off fast. Been using it for a few years with many practice draws and hasn't failed yet.

As for the shield, I love it. I can hide it with any clothing and can dump a mag in a fist sized group at 7 yds at a decent pace (in my opinion). I put 200 rds through it in 45 minutes first day out and probably have about 7-800 total now. No malf to date.

I'm testing 25yd accuracy next time out. Best I got was 9" offhand but I didn't know what I was doing then. Even so, it's a chest shot and it's not made for those distances.

[Sam]

The Shield is what I carry mostly in the warmer weather period. My wife has the first generation LC9. I've shot both guns and the Shield definitely shoots like a bigger gun, the recoil is hardly noticeable. I've shot one full day of the Ken Hackathorn pistol class last April with the Shield as well as my friend John Harrison, the pistolsmith. Both of us were extremely impressed by our Shield's performance. We had zero malfunction during many drills in the eight hour portion of the first day, we switched to full size guns after our little experiment. I am very confident in the Shield's performance.

I've shot enough of my wife's LC9 and so has he. The recoil of the Ruger is quite a lot more fierce than the Shield, but it's controllable. We've had zero malfunction in the two years we've had it. The trigger on the original LC9 is very heavy, it is pretty hard to have a negligent or accidental discharge with it. I've only dry fired the second gen LC9s. The trigger is night and day lighter than our gun. I bet it is a lot easier to get good accuracy with it. I am thinking about selling our LC9 to get the newer 9s. The first gen is accurate but the shooter have to make a bigger effort to keep the sights on target. The LC9 is slightly thinner in the slide and grip than the Shield.

Between the two guns, due to the more comfortable recoil of the Shield, it would get my vote. The Ruger though could be had for $50 to $75 less than the Shield if you look hard enough. My wife picked the LC9 because it's her car gun and she feels that if it gets stolen from her car, it would be a smaller loss ($300) than the M&P.

I carry the Shield in one of three holsters depending on the occasion. I have a kydex IWB holster from Chris Edwards that can be carried AIWB, he advertise them in the EE subforum here. I use a conventional leather IWB from Ritchie Leather and also an OWB I-BAK holster from Milt Sparks.

Sparks IBAK:


Ritchie Leather Stakeout:


Chris Edwards AIWB kydex (it will also work as conventional IWB, the holster will ride straight instead of forward cant):

http://www.f3holsters.com/f3foapiwbaih.html

[2ac]

I'll be picking up a Shield next week. And I have an INCOG sitting here waiting for it. I'll be running it with one clip, and modding it, as seen in this vid..
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZHd0ce8ZHc

[jdavis6576]

My wife has a Shield that I carry occasionally. I've tried AIWB but it doesn't work for my...um...build. That said, I believe I still have a Jmcustomkydex.com AIWB for the Shield I'd be willing to part with. PM me if interested and I'll dig through my box of holsters.

Will, your mailbox is full.

[Campbell]

I am just shy of 2k rounds thru my Shield, which has been equal parts of blaser, steel, and brass. Not one single malfunction to date.
I carry in a IWB/AIWB from D&D Custom Leather, carries like a dream. I am actually looking to buy another one before the summer is over.

[yat-yas]

Will,
I also got a Shield in the past few months and it's been very reliable so far. I don't appendix carry but ordered an Alien Gear Cloak 2.0 for IWB carry. Alien has a 4 week lead time and by then I'll have shot enough rounds to trust the Shield. On another thread, I think it was Grant who suggested locking the slide open to help remove some of the stiffness in the spring and speed the break in process, so that's how it sits in the safe right now. I'll post some info on the holster when I receive it.
Eric

I got my AG Cloak Tuck 2.0 a few weeks a go and so far I'm impressed with it. It didn't have any retention so I had to install the small rubber spacers and it is now good to go. Very comfortable.I ordered it with the J clips and found those to be crap. The J part of it is small and pushes my belt up. I use a smaller 1 1/4" leather belt so it doesn't bother me but it did get uncomfortable when I tried to use it with my Wilderness Instructors belt. I just use the standard plastic clips now. I also have a Bianchi Professional IWB holster mostly just to hold the gun when I'm not wearing it but the few times I have carried it it has been comfortable. Haven't carried the Sheild AIWB yet since I don't have an appropriate holster for that. A good friend just got the LC9s Pro and I got to put 100rds through it. Nice gun, no malfs but I like the Sheild better, maybe I'm just used to it though. On a side note, the slide will not lock back on an empty mag on the Sheild when shooting strong hand only but it did lock back on the LC9

[Slvr Surfr]

Shield 9 here. I carry mine appendix carry about 75% of the time in a MIC holster.
http://www.themicholster.com/store_holster.php

The other 25% it lives in a pocket holster. I usually carry the 8 rd magazine in a Black Hawk single stack magazine carrier.
http://blackhawk.com/Products/Holste...gle-Stack.aspx