LC9s, Made Right + Range Report + A Pachmayr Grip Sleeve!

[spolct]

Just before thanksgiving, I managed to sell my 3 yr old hammer-fired LC9 and acquire a new LC9s while not paying much difference to upgrade. I was pretty excited to hit the range but then my enthusiasm was shot down when the slide locked back just a few rounds into a full mag. I shot 2 mags of Critical Defense through it and it happened with both mags in addition to once or twice with Federal FMJ. I had trouble digging up anything close to that kind of problem due to all the forum posts and comments about the slide NOT locking back after the last round. I decided to try one more range trip just to be eliminate the (very very slight) possibility that my thumb was somehow hitting the slide stop and causing the slide to lock prematurely. Second trip showed that was not the case, and to make matters worse it had a FTE, leaving the spent casing in the barrel.

I called Ruger and they emailed me a prepaid UPS Next Day Air shipping label. I enclosed a note detailing the issues I was having, including empty mags not dropping free. It arrived within 4 business days with a replaced Magazine latch/spring and slide stop spring. It also indicates they repaired the barrel but doesn't say exactly what they did. They didn't replace my 2 USA mags with Italian mags as I had hoped, and they made no mention of the extraction issue. They did enclose a Ruger sillycone cleaning cloth as a 'way of saying thank you for your support of Ruger firearms'. They also sent warm regards, presumably because they are in Arizona?

The mags still don't drop free reliably, but after running 100 rounds of WWB and ~20 rounds of Critical Defense I'm much closer to actually keeping it. The only trouble I had was that the slide didn't lock back after the final round once but that was using the 9 round extended mag that I don't plan of carrying in the gun. I'm much happier with it than I was before I sent it off. I plan on acquiring an Italian made mag and taking it to the range one more time to prove its worthiness to be carried. I like my M&P 9c much better anyway and don't have a problem continuing to carry it. I would have preferred to have a working, reliable gun right from the start, but fortunately Ruger looks to have made it right with minimal pain involved.

[Jumping Frog]

What is the difference or distinction between USA mags and Italian?

If the mags still don't drop freely, are you going to call Ruger for a second trip back?

[spolct]

My original LC9 had the italian mags, and the new one came with a USA one. The Italian ones are a more of a polished metal whereas the USA ones are more of a matte finish. I'd like to have an extra mag anyway so I'm going to pick up an Italian one and if it drops free without issues then that's good enough for me - I'll run it for carry use and keep the others for backup/range use.

[poppo]

FWIW, my LC9s USA made mags practically shoot out of the gun when released.

[johncanfield]

..... I like my M&P 9c much better anyway and don't have a problem continuing to carry it. I would have preferred to have a working, reliable gun right from the start, but fortunately Ruger looks to have made it right with minimal pain involved.

My body thanks me for carrying my LC9s and not carrying my M&P9c . Having said that, since I've put probably a thousand flawless rounds through the M&P and I trust it 100% The LC9s is a little on the 'snappy' side and not nearly as pleasant to shoot as the M&P, so it might take me years to put a thousand rounds through it (and I won't trust it 100% until the thousand round count.)

[spolct]

Update:

I procured an Italian mag and it shoots right out every time. When dry, the other two (USA made) eject ~1/2" and then stop. If I give them a quick rub with that sillycone rag, they fully eject, although they still don't quite have the force that the Italian one does.

I went to the range today and put another 150 rounds through it without a problem. Looks like it's ready for carry time - I plan on using the Italian mag for carry use with the other 2 for backup/range use. I figure that if it ever came to it and I've gone thru a carry mag + my backup, I'd have worse problems than a non-ejecting mag.

Also, I picked up a Pachmayr grip glove for it and it made a huge improvement in comfort whilst shooting (almost magical). It looks like I'm more accurate with it as well. The palm swells on the sides of the grip make it a bit thicker, but after lugging the 9c around I'm not concerned about the marginal increase in thickness. It's not super-mega tacky so I don't think it will be a problem with getting shirts hung up on it but I'll need to do some trial runs around the house over the next few days before I run it 'out in the wild'.

FINALLY! I really really like my LC9s. I've shot a Shield once or twice and I kinda wanted to replace my LC9 with one, but then the LC9s came out so I went with it since it meant I wouldn't have to replace a bunch of holsters. The shield is much easier to shoot well but is heavier and taller. With the Pachmayr grip dooliewhopper it really makes it into a nice shooting little gun.