LC9 or M&P Shield?

[gograsshopper]

I'm looking to purchase for CCW. Read some reviews and both of them seems to be solid but could use more info and perspectives from everyone here. This is just the two that I'm looking at. I'm open to suggestions. Also want something that I can take the little woman out to the range with. She has small hands and had a hard time racking the slide on my Sig.

[rromeo]

Kahr CW9

[cnj]

Kahr CW9

This.

[adrenaline]

I don't have both to make a comparison, but I thought I'd share my LC9 experience.

I picked up an LC9 recently BNIB (brand new in box). I took it with me to my CCW renewal qualifications yesterday and qualified with it. No issues with the gun.

The first run at 15 yards I had 3 misses (one off paper - first time I have ever shot the gun). The 7 and 3 yard runs I had zero misses. I re-did the 15 yards and grouped it well without any misses (just had to focus on the unique trigger characteristics at that distance).

I'm very pleased. One very nice pocket pistol will now be on my permit. Yay.

I did add a handall Jr to it. The slight palm swell fit my hand better and with the pinky extension the ergos were great for me.

[El Toro]

Im not impressed with the Kahr trigger, very long pull and for me I feel a pinch at the back of the pull. The LC9 is a little better though its not as balanced as the Kahr but easy to shoot. I have settled on the Springfield XDS 45 which is everything I wanted for CCW. I bought it before the 9mm came out but .45 is awesome and shoots like butter. You may not care for the lack of external safety which seems to be a deal breaker for some. Im fine with the backstrap and trigger safeties, use your thumb on the back of the slide to reholster and youll be much safer. The XDs isnt on the roster and doesnt have a mag disconnect safety :hooray: so you'll need to buy from an outta-state FFL and ship it to a local SSE friendly FFL (SEE SSE STICKY ABOVE)


Check out XDtalk.com if you want to learn more.

[El Toro]

Forgot to mention my wife loves and can easily rack my XDs. 9mm version should be even easier.

[nickel plate]

I can only write about the Shield as I have a 9mm and is my CCW EDC. Extremely accurate, reliable and comfortable to carry. Although the slide will loosen up a bit, I doubt your wife will ever be comfortable attempting to rack it or load the magazine without the help from an Uplula.
If your both leaning toward a semi auto, search out a Sig Sauer 9mm P938 or a .380 P238 as they both run the same action. I have the P238 and most children could probably rack it so I'm assuming the P938 might be a little stiffer yet manageable for your wife. They will cost more and their break-in records are less than stellar however they will smooth out with warranty help from Sig (there are recent posts about Sig not accepting California SSE models but this issue is new and I don't think fully examined) so hit the Sig forums if your at all interested in them.

[El Toro]

+1 on the M&P mags. My wife hates those and I have even cursed at them from time to time. I dont have a Shield but my 9c is almost identical. The slide release is almost useless so racking is the only way. My wife is ok with the racking but when at the target range she likes to insert a mag, come up on target and hit the slide relase.... No Go on the M&P.

There is a wierd abberant behavior with some M&Ps, slamming the mag hard will release the slide. Good for comp shooters i suppose. :-)

[stacym]

I don't care for the long (longer) trigger pull on the LC9. I recently tried a Shield, and really liked it. Of course, that may be because I already own an M&P9 and M&P9c. When the Shield finally gets here, it will get added to my permit.

OP, have you had the opportunity to fire, or at least dry fire these 2 guns?

[ryang]

Have you considered a Walther PPS? It's about the same dimensions as the Shield but has a better trigger reset.

[DBADRAT]

I have owned both, still have the shield, got rid of the LC9. enough said

[tonyxcom]

Lc9 has one of the most ridiculously long and creepy trigger pulls I have ever felt. If you can get a Shield get one.

[DRAB_81]

Shield. I had one, but I ended up selling it because the slimness of the gun ended up not being a major factor for me. Great trigger, low recoil for a slim 9 & built extremely well.

[Dannicus]

The pull and break on the shield is WAY better than the lc9. I just happen to pull on the trigger from to high and the stupid hinged trigger hangs up.

Vote PPS or XDS9.

[sholling]

It's not even close - I'd buy the Shield because I do not like the LC9's trigger. Of course LC9s are readily available while the CA Shield won't even start shipping until the fall.