The folks at Ruger have just alerted us to a new polymer pistol called the Ruger LC9, which is similar to the popular Ruger LCP (.380 auto), but offered in 9mm. Ruger says this is the “Next Handgun You Must Own!” so let's see what all the fuss is about.

This highly requested pistol was developed through Ruger’s Voice of the Customer program and incorporates the features and rugged reliability desired by Ruger customers. 
 
The LC9 has a 3.12” barrel, is 6.0” long and 4.5” tall, making for a very compact 9mm pistol. The LC9 is impressively narrow at a mere .90” wide, and weighs only 17.1 ounces with an empty magazine.  Featuring a black polymer (glass-filled nylon) frame and black alloy steel slide and barrel, the lightweight, full-featured Ruger LC9 offers the versatility and capability of the popular 9mm cartridge in a highly compact, reliable, and user-friendly pistol.
 
“On the heels of the overwhelming and on-going success of the LCP®, customers repeatedly requested a lightweight, compact 9mm pistol. Frankly, they wanted an LCP chambered in 9mm,” said Ruger CEO Michael Fifer. “Delivering an American-made, compact 9mm that provides the same legendary Ruger reliability as the award-winning LCP, LCR® and SR9® became our focus. Meeting customer expectations is our goal and key to Ruger’s continuing success,” Fifer  continued.
 
The LC9 is a double-action-only, hammer-fired, locked-breech pistol with a smooth trigger pull. Control and confident
handling of the Ruger LC9 are accomplished through reduced recoil and aggressive frame checkering for a positive grip in all conditions. The Ruger LC9 features smooth “melted” edges for ease of holstering, carrying and drawing. 
 
One seven-round, single-column magazine is provided with each LC9 pistol. The magazine’s standard flat buttplate aids concealability, while the provided finger grip extension buttplate offers an option to shooters who prefer a longer grip surface with more hand-to-pistol contact. Seven-round magazines, holsters and other accessories are available for
purchase at ShopRuger.com.

The wider rear aperture of the dovetailed, low-profile, two-dot rear sight aids quick acquisition of the single-dot,
dovetailed front sight. This high-visibility, three-dot sight system provides fast, positive sight alignment. 
 
The slide locks open on an empty magazine and the external slide stop is easy to reach and manipulate for positive
firearm functioning. A single-sided manual safety and a magazine disconnect are additional features of the Ruger LC9.
A California-approved loaded chamber indicator allows for immediate visual and tactile confirmation that the chamber
is loaded. A pivoting external extractor provides reliable extraction of the 9mm cases.
 
For more information on the Ruger LC9, or to learn more about the extensive line of Ruger firearms, visit
www.Ruger.com.