Ruger is now shipping a new gun called the LC9s Pro. The Pro does away with the one thing that many observers said Ruger would never delete: the thumb safety.
To many people it seems Ruger has been married to the idea of a manual safety on all of their modern pistols. If the high number of sales of the company’s handguns are any indication, a large part of the market either wants the one or likes the guns so much they will put up with one. However, there are many people – also known as potential customers – who refuse to purchase a self-defense handgun that is equipped with a manual safety lever.
Here’s what we know…
The LC9s is a recently introduced striker-fired version of the compact LC9 pistol. The guns use a polymer frame, are lightweight and relatively flat. The guns hold 7+1 rounds of 9mm and can shoot +P loads. With the visible sights on top, the guns are a good choice for many people’s personal protection needs.
Thumb Safety
However, there are quite a few people who did not like the original LC9 or newer LC9s for the simple reason that it has an external safety. It is argued that the levers are not needed to safely carry and employ the guns, but have the potential to be accidentally engaged when someone needs to use the gun to shoot to stop an imminent attack.
When Smith & Wesson introduced the Shield pistols, the guns had a small safety on them similar to the LC9. Due to consumer demand, S&W added a Shield to the line-up that deleted that thumb lever. Now Ruger has done the same.
Magazine Disconnect
Another “safety delete” done on this gun is the removal of the magazine disconnect. This feature prevented the gun from firing if the magazine had been removed from the pistol. For some people, this was also a deal breaker.
The Pro Model LC9s has all of the same specifications of the non-Pro model. Weight, capacity and price are all the same. However, the lack of a safety lever opens the gun to a whole new segment of the shooting market. Frankly, I am now very interested in the gun for my own use.
Ruger makes some very good quality guns at reasonable prices. The MSRP for this pistol is $449. I’ve never heard a bad thing about their customer service department. And, since the passing of Bill Ruger, the company has proven to be a solid supporter of gun rights in the US.
I look forward to shooting this gun, and perhaps even adding it to my own collection.
Original LC9 Patent
Many times a company will hatch an idea and obtain a patent on it, but later decide the project is not worth pursuing Other times, a patent will be acquired but the final product looks nothing like the original application drawings and prototypes.
With patent #D650,880, however, the conceptual drawings match the look of the final product: the Ruger LC9.
Here are some of the drawings submitted in a design patent application filed by Sturm, Ruger & Company on January 7, 2011. Interestingly, the filing date was several days after Ruger officially introduced the gun to the public.
The patent was issued on December 20, 2011 and appears to be for the visual design of the pistol only. No references to the internal workings of the gun are made in the patent.
I’m with you, Richard. I’ve fired the gun and now that the safeties are gone, I’m buying one. This is the gun Glock should have built.
I just got the pro version. I fired several 115 and 124 grain bullets and not only was it very accurate out to 10 yds(all the distance I had available) the recoil was surprisingly mild, at least for me. I am carrying it now with Cor Bon 115 +p. It shoots them very nicely. As I live in a very warm climate I will be carrying this gun, especially in the summer months
in my shorts front pocket. I believe it may be dangerous to carry the pro model without first putting it in a good pocket holster that covers the ENTIRE trigger guard.
Thanks for the feedback on the gun. I’m very happy to hear that it sounds like it is working out good for you.
I always suggest using a pocket holster. A couple of my favorites are the DeSantis Nemesis (my review here: http://www.gunsholstersandgear.com/holsters/desantis-nemesis-pocket-holster-review/) and the RKBA (review here: http://www.gunsholstersandgear.com/holsters/rkba-holsters/)
I just bought my first pistol…the Lc9s pro…I need a holster to take to my
CWP class…please send me a link or tell me specifically what is the best holster for me..I think I would prefer a clip on & one that covers the fun well…I am nervous about there not being a safety…I need help from the experts.
I have spent hours looking but can’t figure out what I need…
🙂 DP
I just bought my first pistol…the Lc9s pro…I need a holster to take to my CWP class…please send me a link or tell me specifically what is the best holster for me..I think I would prefer a clip on & one that is fuller coverage…I am nervous about there not being a safety…I need help from the experts…I can’t figure it out after hours of looking online..
Thanks in advance 🙂
I just bought my first pistol…the Lc9s pro…I need a holster to take to my CWP class…please send me a link or tell me specifically what is the best holster for me..
I think I would prefer a clip on & one that has filler coverage..I am nervous about there not being a safety…
I need help from the experts…I can’t figure it out after a lot of time looking online.
I just bought my first pistol…the Lc9s pro…
I need a holster to take to my CWP class…please send me a link or tell me specifically what is the best holster for me (one that is made for my gun)
I think I would prefer a clip on & one that has fuller coverage.I am nervous about there not being a safety…
I need help from the experts…I spent a lot of time looking online but am not sure what I need. Also it’s a new design so some holsters won’t work.
Thanks so much
Excellent pistol. Just can’t believe the stupid warning in the side… For the sake of us that actually have a brain, make it a removable sticker warning if you feel the need to inform me not to “eat broken glass”. Sheesh what is the world coming too. Idiot labels everywhere!
Nothing but CYA because of lawsuit happy attorneys…
Same reason they need to put instructions on shampoo & toothpaste.
When will they start warning “gun will fire when trigger is pulled?”
Wear ear protection. LC9 is the loudest pistol I own!
Now, SR9c Pro!
IMO these guns have the best trigger out of the box today
This is a damn fine piece. I just bought one and it works VERY well.