SR9c Review

SR9c review- a newbie perspective




A guy was asking about it so thought I'd put together a quick review...
After extensive research on various compact 9s (including many youtube reviews) I decided on the Ruger SR9c as my next purchase and went with the black slide option. I liked the flexibility of it having a 10 round and 17 round magazine included, figured I could use the 10 rd. for carry and slap in the 17 rd. for home use. Plus considered the price, size and weight reasonable for a decent CC weapon. With the light trigger pull the manual safety was not a big issue for me, besides it's located perfectly for a quick thumb sweep upon drawing from a holster. While the ambidextrous safety and mag release are great for the lefties, I really wish they weren't there just because I wonder about them getting pushed or bumped accidentally against something while carrying. Haven't actually heard of that happening so maybe just a little paranoia, but it just looks like it could while holstered, especially the mag release. The gun has a mag disconnect safety that will not allow a chambered round to be fired without a mag inserted, apparently this feature can be disabled by a simple procedure but I haven't had time to research it yet. The reversible backstrap, adjustable rear sight, mag loading tool and pinky extension also are included and worth a mention. All this for 405.00 (online) seemed like a good deal fit for my budget. A local shop said he'd get me one for around 400 when his distributor got some in but I got tired of waiting.



Now off to the range where I put 250 rounds thru it. I'd read about cleaning it first but other than the grease it looked clean enough, besides I figured it's supposed to work perfect out of the box...and it did. The double recoil springs are stout, almost brutal so I make sure to get a serious grip to manhandle the slide. Supposedly it loosens up and gets easier after break-in. I love the trigger on this gun but must admit being used to my other handguns- an LCP and Sigma 9 which aren't exactly known for "nice" triggers. As far as accuracy I can't really give a valid report for two reasons. 1) my limited experience and 2) have been struggling through the left-eye, right-hand dominant issue and this trip to the range was the first time I tried shooting with both eyes open. Having said that, I was much more accurate with the Ruger than my Sigma but don't know whether to credit the SR9c or my new aiming technique. Here's a couple mags worth from 10 yds...


You experts probably thinking "he sucks" but hey I was impressed

I went through 175 rounds of Blazer, 50 rounds Winchester and 25 rounds Remington (all 115g.) flawlessly. I have no complaints at all about this gun and really like it so far, looking forward to more range time and hopefully finding the right holster. Which brings up something maybe for another review- the Shielded Holster.



Read lots of good reviews about how comfortable they are but after trying it for a couple weeks have just about decided it will not work for me and you'll probably see it in the classified section soon. Nothing major wrong with it, just not working with my build and daily activities.

Nice, I am really considering a lc9 when they come out. I always like tiger pistols

Good read thanks for sharing.

Thanks for the nice review Hooter. I've been reading and studying these for the last couple of weeks and your experience seems to be pretty typical. Some of the early models did seem to experience a few growing pains, but no more than any other new release. Current models appear to be just about bullet proof. Trying to talk myself into waiting a while longer, but have to admit I have one bookmarked and I'm just about ready to pull the trigger. I'm having a difficult time deciding which frame to get, though. I like the traditional black, but have to admit the stainless slides look better on these guns than most. Stainless does have some inherent advantages for a CC weapon. My skin and sweat have a lot of acid content and the stainless might prove advantageous for me. Kinda like watches, I have to buy real gold plated, or the finish will be flaking off within 6 months. Anyways, you guys have convinced me with yours and I'll probably have one of my own by the end of the month. They really do come with a lot of nice features that are absent on a lot of guns that cost a good bit more. Don't figure it'll have me selling my Glocks, but it might replace them in some of their present roles.

Hooter,
Great write-up.
Where do you live? Maybe we can get together and knock the packing grease out of these new SR9c's.
Here is the one I picked up last weekend.


Paul

Thanks for the comments. Paul I'm in Jackson, really like the stainless slide too, it looks great. Actually think I like it better but went with black for maximum conceal-ability.

If /when ruger releases a compact 40 like this i will be buying one, the trigger was impressive on the sr9c i looked at a few months ago.

Enjoyable, well written article! Thank you!

Thanks for posting a great review. Looks like it would be something that I will look into in the near future (after getting an Enfield MK1 #4, Springfield 1903A3, Mosin Nagant, and possibly a Mauser Kar98).

You guys should be ashamed for tempting me like this. I couldn't stand to wait any longer, so I ordered one of these with the black slide this morning. Hope to pick it up either tomorrow or Friday. Looking forward to shooting it and comparing notes with you guys.

Congrats! Look forward to your thoughts.
I see you already own a Glock 19 and G26, why on earth do you need an SR9c

Just wanted another sub compact 9. Tried to trade my G19 for another G26, but didn't have any takers. I find I shoot better with the sub compacts for some strange reason. When I couldn't find a viable trade, I started looking at what else was available. Considered all of them and started to buy a Taurus 709 slim, but decide it was just too light. Also, I remembered why I got rid of the abusive PF9 I used to own and thought the Taurus was too close in size to it. Then, I started reading about the SR9c and it was pretty obvious it was a real contender. Right size, weight, and features, along with being one of the best values out there. I think this gun has had a lot to do with some of the recent price reductions by Glock and S&W. For good reasons, I might add. They don't have anything on this little gun. I think it's the equal to any of them. Sure hope mine proves me right. I still like my Glocks and intend to keep them, but I suspect I'll be shooting this one a lot more.

I have the silver slide and I like mine.

I think the silver slides look nice on this gun and started to order one, but the last silver slided gun I owned was a Sigma and I was afraid it would remind me of it. Just joking, but I opted for the black slide just because it appealed to me a little more. Just looks a little more "in your face" to me for some reason. That and I just seem to gravitate toward black guns.

Thanks for the review, I haven't seen a real knock on this little pistol yet. I'll be looking to pick one of these up at the show this weekend.

Picked it up this afternoon and just finished cleaning it. Gosh, Ruger sure believes in slathering the grease on, don't they. Not sure why they thought the firing pin channel needed so much, but I spent quite a bit of time trying to get it dry again. Left the mag disconnect behind in my parts bag, greased her up, and she should be ready to go now.

I think I'm gonna like this one a lot. It feels good in my hand and points nicely. Seems to have a very nice trigger, too. It's about half way between my G19 and G26 in size, which is just about perfect for comfort at the range or for CCW. I hope it'll loosen up some, though, because it's about the tightest gun I've ever seen. Seemed like all the Rugers I've owned in that it's built like a tank, probably a little overbuilt, if the truth was known. Barrel is thick enough to be called a bull barrel and the other components are all plenty beefy.

Anyways, can't wait to get this one to the range. Hope it's as impressive there as it has been so far. I feel good about the purchase, even if it was done on the 13th. Got the best price I could find and feel like it was a good bargain at $441 OTD. I appreciate you guys sharing your experience with your SR9cs. It sure helped make my decision to buy a lot easier. I'll let you know how it shoots when I get a chance to go to the range. I'm wondering about the sights, though, because they have the front drifted a good bit to the left. Doesn't bother me, as long as it's accurate, but I've never owned a gun that took that much adjustment before.

Just wanted to add a Shielded Holster update:
Well so much for selling it to one of you guys, I got to looking at it last night and wondered why it needed that useless 1-1/2" of leather that comes to a point below the muzzle that pinched my hip whenever I sat down. Or the extra leather on the outside corners and top near the grip that poked me in the side, so out came the scissors. Heck I considered cutting the whole front clip off and just having one but it is a fairly heavy pistol and not sure if one belt clip would suffice. May trim some more leather eventually but for now it fits so much better and feels great compared to before. It was like a full sized holster for a compact gun.
Before


After

That looks better as well. How does it feel now?

Paul

Much better, rides better and is easier to put on. I didn't realize it at first but most of the discomfort while seated in a car was from the holster itself, not the gun.

How thick is the Kydex, .060", or .080"?

Paul