Ruger LC9 help

[tnlrat37]

My father in law just bought an LC9 for him and his wife, they are having a hard time racking it, he's 78 she's 68. Is there any LC9 owners that know of a kit or something else to help this? Besides just shooting it enough to break it in? Google only came up with a Galloway precision kit that replaces stock with a heavier spring to reduce recoil but would make it even harder to rack I would imagine. Also the slide release is very hard to manipulate without sliding it back a little. Any suggestions, thanks

[subrvin]

It sounds like they need to pick the lesser of two evils, install a weaker spring to ease racking of the slide? Or a stronger spring to help with the recoil. I would side with the 20# spring because if they have a hard time racking the slide, then they would have a heck of a time controlling the gun when firing. I would also recommend the trigger bar kit too.

[Dannicus]

That's too bad. It's always a good idea to through all of the operations of the gun before you buy it.

Being a sub compact 9mm, it will always have a dramatic "jump" to it. It can be lessened with spring rates, but only to a minor degree.

As for the operating the slide, there's very little you can do about that as well. Start messing with spring rate enough and you start inducing malfunction or excessive battering of parts.

Maybe they can trade it in for an LCR.

[tnlrat37]

I'm going to look at it tomorrow, the Kahr we also looked at was even worse. Hopefully it will break in good. Were going to range next week. If not ill buy it from them and we'll get them something else. Then I'll be asking for suggestions.

[Excaliburr]

LC9 is notorious for that and terrible trigger pull. Meant to be that way IMO, but the perfect firearm for the elderly imho. Revolver is WTG.

[hermosabeach]

Two thoughts

Skateboard aka tread tape on the slide

Technique - are they holding the gun in front of them towards a target or are they using a push pull method?

Different examples of ways to rack the slide that might work-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVqauVDhjBU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_m8ioBKQkxk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Q8ZRlkdWVc

For a holstered carry gun the lc9 shines

The safety really cannot be used.... It is too tiny but it does meet the lawyers requirements.


I hate to hear these stories after a purchase was made...

Small guns are hard to shoot well
Compact guns are hard to manipulate
The trigger on the LC9 is long and has a false or double click reset

The sights are good for a small gun
The size is great for a 9mm

[knucklehead0202]

they may have bought the wrong gun. the lc9 is a nice pistol, but not for everyone. the trigger is the way it is for a reason and the only thing I plan to do is remove the mag disconnect. anyhoo, a small double-action revolver would have served them better and any smart gun-store employee should have somebody who may have questionable strength see if they can successfully rack the slide of any automatic pistol they may potentially purchase. my dad works at a shop and usually with women and elderly people, he tends to point them toward revolvers, especially if they have trouble with the "rack" test. this being the case, tell them to wait a month then put the lc9 up for sale, it should sell quickly and for more than they paid!

[FreshPrinceofRP]

I agree with revolver, they wouldn't be able to reload in a high stress situation so magazines are pointless.
They should get a 380 revolver, no handgun bullet creates a cavity bigger than the projectile itself. So less recoil, and easier to use makes the right choice.

[tnlrat37]

they may have bought the wrong gun. the lc9 is a nice pistol, but not for everyone. the trigger is the way it is for a reason and the only thing I plan to do is remove the mag disconnect. anyhoo, a small double-action revolver would have served them better and any smart gun-store employee should have somebody who may have questionable strength see if they can successfully rack the slide of any automatic pistol they may potentially purchase. my dad works at a shop and usually with women and elderly people, he tends to point them toward revolvers, especially if they have trouble with the "rack" test. this being the case, tell them to wait a month then put the lc9 up for sale, it should sell quickly and for more than they paid!

My thoughts too, anyway I checked it out today and was able to show her the methods above and she was able to rack it. But dang that trigger is crazy long and the slide release will not work unless you slide it back a tad or have a loaded mag. Were going to the range next week and if she hates it ill probly just buy it from them if I like it. Im putting in for my CCW soon and wouldn't mind having an extra gun to put on my card.

[Dannicus]

My thoughts too, anyway I checked it out today and was able to show her the methods above and she was able to rack it. But dang that trigger is crazy long and the slide release will not work unless you slide it back a tad or have a loaded mag. Were going to the range next week and if she hates it ill probly just buy it from them if I like it. Im putting in for my CCW soon and wouldn't mind having an extra gun to put on my card.

it's more of a slight catch than a slide release on that gun.

[TigerShark]

The trigger on the LC9 is long and has a false or double click reset

Yeah the trigger pull on an LC9 is from here to Las Vegas

[Haggler]

Trigger pull

Yeah the trigger pull on an LC9 is from here to Las Vegas

It is a long way to get a POP! but that is for a reason. I have over 5,000 rounds through my LC9 and it has taught me that there is a reward at the end of the road, just have to keep going. I just picked up a Sig 290RS and found that the Ruger LC9 has trained me for the pull on that little 9mm. Unlike the LC9 the Sig P290RS has a "little" break at the backend just before the hammer is going to come down. I really like it and with no safety, no loaded chamber indicator and much better sights than the LC9 it is going to be the new back up boot gun for my CCW.

The first 50 rounds I just put through the Sig formed a 3" group at 10 yards! The P290RS has way less kick than the LC9 too.

Had to pay $75 for an SSE and wait a month for a barrel to be found before the gun shop could do it but it turns out that it was worth it.

I think the LC9 is a great little gun but the Sig P290RS is a step up for small concealed carry.

[tnlrat37]

Thanks for the input, We went to the range this wknd and good lord that trigger is horrible. My in laws had a hard time pulling it back that far, and could barely rack it to put one in the pipe. They were able to hit silhouettes at about 5 yards but barely. I shot it also and had to completely change my grip to hit anything. My finger had to come back so far it hit my thumb on the other side.

I'm going to try and put a Galloway Precision trigger in it when they come back in stock, if that doesn't help we'll probly sell it. She loved my wife's ppk .380 though so I'm gonna try and find one of those if the trigger job doesn't help.

[Nshaver127]

Thanks for the input, We went to the range this wknd and good lord that trigger is horrible. My in laws had a hard time pulling it back that far, and could barely rack it to put one in the pipe. They were able to hit silhouettes at about 5 yards but barely. I shot it also and had to completely change my grip to hit anything. My finger had to come back so far it hit my thumb on the other side.

I'm going to try and put a Galloway Precision trigger in it when they come back in stock, if that doesn't help we'll probly sell it. She loved my wife's ppk .380 though so I'm gonna try and find one of those if the trigger job doesn't help.

YES IT IS! thats why I got rid of mine. Sounds like they need a glock with a charging handle on it

[tnlrat37]

^^^nice!