If I were to buy one rather expensive lure, which one would you guys suggest, a lucky craft sammy 128 or a magic swimmer five or six and a half incher?  The main forage where I fish is big gizzard shad.

I don't know your fishery but your talking about two totaly different presentations. Both are nice but the Magic Swimmer may have more applications then the Sammy.

Tight lines  8-)

Go to Dick's Sporting Goods (there's one in Gaithersburg, MD), where they sell both of them, and use the below coupon. (I actually think Dicks only has the Sammys up to the 100 or 110 size, but they do carry the Magic Swimmers too!)

$10 off $25 Purchase (Opens a .pdf file)

A "deal" website, Slickdeals, shows this coupon. Download and print in color. Saves you $10 off of a $25 purchase.

I've got both go with the magic swimmer. You can use it on top by keeping a steady retrieve and your rod tip kept high or you can go slower and get down a couple feet. Its more realistic.

I would visit Mattlures.com  

magic swimmer 5"

I would visit Mattlures.com

Thats a good idea. You could get a baby bass or east coast series for what your going to get the magic swimmer or sammy for.