LC9 vs S&W J-frame

[chsk9]

I always figured that 99% of the time a backup would be needed is because I'm rolling around on the ground in a wrestling match over a primary. With a high likelyhood of a contact shooting I'd rather have a j-frame with an enclosed hammer vs a pistol that can get pushed out of battery or not cycle properly.

Good points. I think for backup the J-frame has the advantage, but the Ruger's higher capacity makes sense for off duty.
I've put lots of rounds through the LCP & LC9 and the trigger isn't a issue for me. They also eat everything I've fed them and the LC9 is surprisingly accurate for such a small pistol.

[oddjob]

I carry the S&W 640 (enclosed hammer). I can carry it in my coat pocket and walk with my hands in my pockets and "look" normal. If needed I can fire through the coat. Reduced worries about snagging/malfunction is my reason.

Now that I'm retired (LEO) I am thinking of a S&W 442 due to weight. The 640 may become my garage/truck gun. Its so banged up no one would buy it.....but she shoots well.

[RollingCode3]

The LC9 trigger sucks. The LCP trigger is ok. J frame is a great pocket gun. Currently I am enamored with a well broken in Kahr PM9.

I have not checked out Kimber's or Sig's new single stack sub-compacts yet.

I owned the LC9. The trigger sucks monkey balls. Sold it after shooting one box through it. The LCP trigger is a little bit better but it is day and night compare to my Kahr CW9.

LCP = pocket carry
Kahr CW9= IWB

[bcj128]

I carry mine old school...something about an all-steel revolver.

My S&W 640, no-dash, just good old fashioned .38 Sp +P...

[Notorious]

I have a 640-1 all steel 357 magnum which I used for pocket backup for a while but it got too heavy and full power loads are painful so I used 38+P but if I was going to do that, I might as well go with the airweights and save some weight. I think the difference between the 640-1 (25.5oz) versus the 642 (15.3oz) is quite substantial while the 2oz savings to go with the Scandium might not be worth the $375 price tag difference.

[Jack L]

I carry the S&W 640 (enclosed hammer). I can carry it in my coat pocket and walk with my hands in my pockets and "look" normal. If needed I can fire through the coat. Reduced worries about snagging/malfunction is my reason.

Now that I'm retired (LEO) I am thinking of a S&W 442 due to weight. The 640 may become my garage/truck gun. Its so banged up no one would buy it.....but she shoots well.

I carry a S&W 442 at times. Many advantages, some disadvantages but no gun is 100% for every situation. No complaints as far as reliability goes, that's for sure. Due to it's lightweight, even with upgraded grips, it's not comfortable to shoot more than 50 rounds at any one session for me.

Those with a Kahr, I have one as well. From what I can gather from all the posts, you either get one that seems to work well, or you don't. The newer production the better from the posts. Mine is a good one.

As the years drift past, I tend to rely on a wheel gun more and more knowing it will fire when called to duty.

[Roccobro]

I'll ask him again for the details. He's on a local agency swat team so he's a bit hard to find on a regular basis. Those guys are always training like they think they are something special or something.



I use a Bob Mika pocket holster made for the S&W 6906 which comes out a bit longer than the body of the gun but it clears the grip so I can still get a solid grip on it. The extra material on the body protects the safety from being clicked off inside the pocket. I carry it in condition 1 inside the pocket as well as IWB. The safety has clicked off while IWB but since the trigger is covered, I haven't had any problems with that.

The gun works fine with Winchester range and duty ammo. If it didn't, I would be out of luck since I am mandated to only carry our Winchester duty ammo and nothing else is authorized.

The LCP is the funny one that doesn't work with anything but the 95 grain Winchester Ranger duty ammo. The FMJ range ammo doesn't feed 100% so we practice with duty ammo which can get very expensive.

That must be something new. Right after they had the factory fix for the first bug, I started reloading for mine and a friends. I got the loads so low, the brass landed right next to us (compared to 20-30 yards to the right.) NEVER had a problem with feeding or ejection. Didn't go any lower than that charge as it was 50% under maximum (both FMJ, and lead RN). My agency still uses WWB for all the guys qualifying with them without a problem. Is your range using re-loads for training?

+1 for enclosed hammer snubbie for pocket shooting (not just carrying). Try shooting your auto through (an equivalent to) your duty jacket pocket before you think of carrying one there. Slide resetting? New round feeding?

Justin

[voiceofreason]

I carry the S&W 640 (enclosed hammer). I can carry it in my coat pocket and walk with my hands in my pockets and "look" normal. If needed I can fire through the coat. Reduced worries about snagging/malfunction is my reason.

Now that I'm retired (LEO) I am thinking of a S&W 442 due to weight. The 640 may become my garage/truck gun. Its so banged up no one would buy it.....but she shoots well.

I LOVE my old, reliable guns that are all banged up and ugly. They've stayed with me so long because I know they're reliable and work.

Those are my "keepers". Every new gun gets about a year and 2 attempts at repair (FTF, light primer strikes, parts breakage), then must go about 500 rounds reliably or else they just get sold.

Had a Taurus Millenium (when they just came out) that I loved... except I couldn't get it to feed/fire reliably. After 3 trips to 2 different gunsmiths and over 10 different types of 9mm ammo, I had to sell it. Always think about getting another one, but I'm leaning more toward revolvers now.

[Notorious]

That must be something new. Right after they had the factory fix for the first bug, I started reloading for mine and a friends. I got the loads so low, the brass landed right next to us (compared to 20-30 yards to the right.) NEVER had a problem with feeding or ejection. Didn't go any lower than that charge as it was 50% under maximum (both FMJ, and lead RN). My agency still uses WWB for all the guys qualifying with them without a problem. Is your range using re-loads for training?

+1 for enclosed hammer snubbie for pocket shooting (not just carrying). Try shooting your auto through (an equivalent to) your duty jacket pocket before you think of carrying one there. Slide resetting? New round feeding?

Justin

Maybe it's something old. I haven't carried the LCP for a year but that's what they told us last time we qual'ed with it. The funny thing is that people just jack the ammo when they bring it out.

There were 3 of us with LCP's last year and they brought out an ammo can with the 380 Ranger ammo for quals, and the first 2 guys grabbed their ammo and when I got to the can, there were just a few rounds left.

The range officer got pissed because he said there's no way the ammo can should be empty with only 3 of us using the 380!

[1911su16b870]

I LOVE my old, reliable guns that are all banged up and ugly. They've stayed with me so long because I know they're reliable and work...

+1 me too! my old reliable guns (and even my duty one!)

[Samuelx]

Is the LC9 triggerjobable?

[Roccobro]

Maybe it's something old. I haven't carried the LCP for a year but that's what they told us last time we qual'ed with it. The funny thing is that people just jack the ammo when they bring it out.

There were 3 of us with LCP's last year and they brought out an ammo can with the 380 Ranger ammo for quals, and the first 2 guys grabbed their ammo and when I got to the can, there were just a few rounds left.

The range officer got pissed because he said there's no way the ammo can should be empty with only 3 of us using the 380!

Well I haven't needed to load for my LCP since about you carried yours last. We can compare serials if your looking to pinpoint your guns problem. Maybe call Ruger? If yours was a part of the small recall you get a free mag with the fix!

But your right on the ammo. Those .380 shooters are greedy at quals!

Justin

[RollingCode3]

I had a lot of FTFs with my LCP (at least one per mag). I polished the feed ramp and replaced with stronger Wolff recoil spring #12 pound. Now it runs 100 percents with both fmj and jhp.

[Notorious]

Well I haven't needed to load for my LCP since about you carried yours last. We can compare serials if your looking to pinpoint your guns problem. Maybe call Ruger? If yours was a part of the small recall you get a free mag with the fix!

But your right on the ammo. Those .380 shooters are greedy at quals!

Justin

Mine is the black barreled post recall model. I see by your location you might be familiar with what I am talking about with the range situation.

[hansen]

Kahr makes several off list pocket guns for LE. They also offer a discount program for LE firearms instrustors. Nice shooting and small.