Ruger Expands Petite Pistol Line with LC9s

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Ruger Expands Petite Pistol Line with LC9s
The LC9s is a petite pistol, but one Ruger has made more controllable with the option of a finger grip extension floorplate that can be added to the magazine.
Ruger has continued its devotion to small, lightweight pistols with the addition of the striker-fired LC9s.
Ruger has continued its devotion to small, lightweight pistols with the addition of the striker-fired LC9s.

When it comes to producing reliable petite pistols, one company has ruled the roost.

Ruger has found smaller is better when it comes to semi-automatic handguns with its .380 LCP and 9mm LC9 developing dedicated followings. And the Connecticut/Arizona manufacturer doesn’t appear it plans to stray from that formula anytime soon.

Ruger reiterated its devotion to the diminutive pistol market on July 29 with the release of the LC9s (which we'll do a full gun review of in the August 28 edition of Gun Digest the Magazine).

From the outside, the new handgun appears to be a slightly refined clone of its predecessor. However, get under the slide of the LC9s and it’s a whole different ball game.

The pistol is a striker-fired version of the LC9, an alteration that has the potential to hit the sweet spot with shooters. What the switch from the double-action, hammer-fire operation of the earlier version means is a crisper and shorter trigger pull.

The LC9s trigger pull is nearly 1 pound less than and .2 inches shorter than its predecessor, according to the handgun's spec sheet. It also incorporates a blade safety on the trigger, a popular feature found on most striker-fired pistols.

Ruger, however, has retained the thumb safety on its new pistol – a feature common to the entire Lightweight Compact Pistol line. It also has included a number of other safety features, such as a magazine disconnect, inert magazine for safe disassembly and a visual inspection port that allows for visual confirmation of a loaded or empty chamber.

Ruger has kept the proportions of the LC9s identical to the earlier version of the gun, making it ideal for regular carry. The pistol has a 3.12-inch barrel and is 6 inches in length, 4.5 inches in height and .9 inches in width.

The LC9s is also lightweight tipping the scales at 17.2 ounces unloaded. As a comparison, Ruger’s standard-sized 9mm – SR9 – comes in nearly 10-ounces heavier.

Further bolstering the LC9s’ carry cred is its capacity, which is 7+1. But, where some might find a bone to pick with Ruger is the pistol only comes with one 7-round magazine.

The LC9s is a petite pistol, but one Ruger has made more controllable with the option of a finger grip extension floorplate that can be added to the magazine.
The LC9s is a petite pistol, but one Ruger has made more controllable with the option of a finger grip extension floorplate that can be added to the magazine.

The handgun boasts a through-hardened alloy steel slide, blued to prevent corrosion. It has a one-piece, glass-filled nylon grip frame with aggressive checkering.

The LC9s also features a 3-dot sight with a fixed front and windage-adjustable rear.

The one aspect of the new gun – actually any small handgun – shooters will have to deal with is recoil and muzzle flip. As light and small as the LC9s is, both of these have the potential of being pronounced.

Plenty of range time and continued practice should help shooters overcome these aforementioned aspects. But for safe measure, Ruger offers a finger grip extension floorplate that can be added to the magazine to increase comfort and grip.

The LC9s is compatible with all accessory designed for previous models of Ruger’s Lightweight Compact Pistol line. And the handgun isn’t only light on the beltline, but also the wallet with an MSRP of $449.

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1 COMMENT

  1. RE: “It also has included a number of other safety features, such as a magazine disconnect,…”
    That is *NOT* a safety feature, and renders this pistol unsuitable for personal defense. Why risk accidentally dropping the magazine, not even being able to fire round at an attacker? Instead, avoid pistols with magazine disconnects for personal defense. This is apparently a holdover from Bill Ruger’s political correctness. (At least Ruger didn’t put on the LCP).

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