Ruger LC9

[xl_target]

Baljit,
I was offered a very decent price for this pistol. Less than half retail value. This is a 2013 manufactured pistol and the original owner has put very few rounds through it. I had put over four times the rounds through it when I tested it. I am in the process of purchasing it and am going to give it to my wife so she can give it to me for Christmas, killing two birds with one stone.

[TC]

I am in the process of purchasing it and am going to give it to my wife so she can give it to me for Christmas, killing two birds with one stone.

I knew it.... after those test shots he would find it hard to look the other way

Enjoy your new toy XL.... jingle bang jingle bang bang bang all the way

TC

[ckkalyan]

Baljit,
I was offered a very decent price for this pistol. Less than half retail value. This is a 2013 manufactured pistol and the original owner has put very few rounds through it. I had put over four times the rounds through it when I tested it. I am in the process of purchasing it and am going to give it to my wife so she can give it to me for Christmas, killing two birds with one stone.

Merry Christmas xl_target I love this little gun....in spite of the long trigger pull...it is beautiful, awesome pocket power!

I hope you get it so we can shoot a couple of 100 rounds through it when I am there next...

BTW - love your new RAM avatar....

[Baljit]

Very nice XL, looks like Christmas came early for you.


Baljit

[thesinfulsaint]

HI XL,

Rugers are great firearms and if it is half of retail, with laser setup, I would acquire it in a heartbeat. As for the shooting pattern, it will improve as this is a new firearm and everything (Size, weight, grip angle) is different. Once you get used to it, it's downhill from there. Soon you will be shooting 2" groups

Saint

[Sakobav]

Congrats XL nice find and a informative review.
Cheers

[xl_target]

Well, I took the little LC9 out for the third time last Sunday. Thanks to the horrendous cold snap that we have had this winter, my range trips have been cut short. I managed to procure bullets and primers but powder is getting hard to come by but I did manage to load up a few rounds of 9mm and headed out to a new indoor range about 20 miles away.

As thesinfulsaint opined correctly, my groups with the little pistol have improved.


I'm still pulling a little to the left but the groups have shrunk markedly.


The large flash that you are seeing is due to the short barrel and the type of powder (Alliant Power Pistol) that I am using in that load. As you can see a significant amount of powder is burning outside the barrel. For self defense purposes, I will only be using commercial hollow point rounds which use powder that is blended to be "low flash".

As for reliability, I have not experienced a single failure to feed, fire or extract in the several hundred rounds that I have fired so far. The slide has also locked back after every magazine. I have tired several different types of hollow point self defense loads and have been rewarded with the same flawless performance. Another couple of range sessions and I will probably retire all my leather holsters and larger pistols in favor of pocket-carrying this little pistol from Ruger.


The pocket holsters that I have is made from a tacky material (on the outside) and when you pull the gun, the holster stays in the pocket. I also have a smaller version of it for the extra magazine ( in the left pocket). While it makes a bulge when wearing tight jeans, it totally disappears when I wear my dress slacks, pleated pants or cargo shorts.

[TC]

Wow... XL you got a real Flash Gun out there ...

But after the torturing cold you and your folks have gone through it is surely tine to let off some fire ....

Another great review. Nice piece XL.



TC

[thesinfulsaint]

Great grouping XL and I love that pocket holster with the mag pouch. At one point I myself was looking into pocket carry options with a Khar PM9. But then I ended up with a G19 gen4. But your setup sure looks attractive and easily concealable.

What kind of bullets do you prefer for SD ? I personally like anything in the range of 125-135 grains. Seems to be the best for 9mm considering balance between velocity and power. What is your favorite ?

- Saint

[shooter.177cal]

Congrats on the purchase

Besides other advantages, Laser sights are quite helpful in situation of combat. Since, civilians do not generally have a combat experience so adrenaline boost doesn't help much to aim, but do not worry, you have LASER Beam at your disposal.

[xl_target]

Wow... XL you got a real Flash Gun out there ...

LOL, yeah TC, that flash surprised me too. It was actually more impressive, from behind the gun, than it looks in the video.

sinfulsaint,
The G19 is a good pistol if not a great pistol. I like the 124 grain bullets out of the 9. I have used the 147 grainers in the past.

Out of the barrel of a full sized pistol or even a compact, I would prefer to use a heavier bullet. In the past, makers of SD ammo have guaranteed expansion by using a large cavity in their hollow points. In Northern part of the US, in the winter, everyone wears layers of clothing, including a heavy outer garment. Sometimes, these "flying ashtrays" will get their cavities plugged with clothing and fail to expand. This can cause them to be less effective.
With the sub compact LC9's three inch barrel, however, I want to maximize velocity so I can get expansion. So in this pistol, I will be using the 115 grain Hornady Critical Defense load. Another thing I like about this load is that the flex tip won't plug with clothing and therefore will expand properly after penetrating the clothing layer. A good reason to want proper expansion is so the bullet doesn't over penetrate and strike an innocent bystander.

Thanks Navi and shooter.177 cal.

[ckkalyan]

Nice new indoor range xl_target; how convenient and encouraging - in view of the cold spells - a Godsend!

Thanks for the images and the video; good grouping with a 3 inch barrel; lovely conceal carry - it is almost as if you are just pointing your finger and bang... no sign of the weapon -

The flash when seen from the serious end, I thought would actually add some 'oomph' to deter the attacker/opponent, imagining one happened to miss (not that XL has many misses)?

I am delighted that you are enjoying the LC9...

[PeterTheFish]

XL - What OAL are you using for the 9mm load with 6 Grains Power Pistol and Ranier 115s?

I am working up a load with Berry's 115 grain and PP - right now have 25 loaded with 5.5 - 5.9 grains and 1.130 OAL - seems like your load is right around where I might end up. Assuming at 6.0 recoil is still a bit less than normal factory ammo?

Haven't shot the LC9 yet, but just picked up a Glock 42!

[xl_target]

Peter,
I have used 1.125" as my min AOL (Info from Alliant's website) with both Berry's and Rainier's 115 gr. plated round nose bullets. I've taken them up to 6.5 grains.
According to Alliant's website, the max charge is 6.7 grains. Keep in mind that you should treat plated round nose bullets like plain lead rather than jacketed bullets.
If you try to drive the plated bullets too fast, they will start melting.
You can usually tell when your cardboard target backer starts smoldering around your bullet holes

[PeterTheFish]

Thanks for the feedback XL. I have the Alliant .pdf, but obviously OAL used is impacted both by projectile profile (does it feed?) and length. The Alliant load is taken from Speer 14, which gives the same charges for the GDHP loaded to 1.125 as when using a Speer TMJ Round Nose loaded to 1.135 OAL.

As Berrys plating is only half the thickness of Speer, I figured they should be downloaded some (as one does with softer projectiles).

Maybe I'm overthinking this - either way looks like I've got a good margin of error.