Ruger SR9 Pistol Review: Reader's Comments

 
 
To see my full review of the Ruger SR9 Pistol, please visit the Gunsumer Reports website by going to this link.

4 comments:

  1. Since the SR9c review does not have a "Reader's Comments" page, I will leave my Comments here. I hope that's OK.

    In concept, every one of the reasons the author chose this pistol were the same reasons I bought one a little over a year ago. Since I live in the Democratic People's Republic of California, I knew I'd never get to shoot it in the "full-size" configuration here, but the Gunbroker seller was nice enough to send that mag and grip extension to my cousin in Missouri so I'd have it available when I get moved back to the Midwest. In the end, however, I never felt comfortable with it in use and so it went to another home through a consignment sale at a local gun shop just last month.

    I had no problem with all the safety features, in fact I quite like the Loaded Chamber indicator for the same reason I did on my LC9. I now wonder if removing the magazine safety might not have improved the trigger pull for me in a similar way it did with that LC9. That Glock-style trigger was something I never liked. Didn't like it on the Glock 19 I had for many years and this Ruger version did me no better. I also never felt right with the grip. Most of my practice is through Cowboy Action Shooting and my "natural" grip pointed the end of the barrel down a good inch under the rear sight and reversing the grip adjustment pad made little difference. Conscious adjustment was necessary to bring it up and I worried that a low light situation when I couldn't see the front sight would be a problem.

    That grip also didn't help with my comfort shooting the gun. The slide and upper felt much wider and quite bulbous compared to what I was holding onto. While my LC9 (and glove size "M" hands) feels great and the ends of my fingers fit right into the recess in the grip, my hand felt oversized and uncomfortable with the SR9c. It felt like I was gripping a popsicle stick to hold up that heavy upper, not well balanced for me.

    This past September was the last time we took it out to practice with seriously. My own 15 year old son and my visiting cousin were both less than happy shooting it, we all agreed my Sig P229 was the gun to shoot in a similar size. I realize all this is subjective and I have smallish hands and always preferred a larger grip on my tennis racquet than my hand size indicated, I never fell in love with shooting the gun and really wasn't very good with it. In it's defense, mine, too, shot everything I fed it, even my home-cast lead round nose hand loads.

    Also, I was a little underwhelmed with some of the design characteristics. Taking it down the first time left me wondering about how well built that takedown pin was, with that sheet metal side piece. The little short rails didn't thrill me, either. And the recoil spring assembly stuck a few times so I had trouble re-assembling the gun. I'm sure Ruger has tested all this stuff and it's all within acceptable parameters but adding it all together led me to use the consignment money to buy a S&W M&P 9c that I recently picked up. Everything I didn't like in the Ruger is instantly remedied with this pistol; bigger grip, better pointing characteristics (for me), and what looks like a longer lasting design. We'll see.

    Too bad you live all the way out in Atlanta, this M&P has not been shot yet and it would be a good item for you to test. Same for the FNH TSR USA (.223) I should be able to pick up soon. I'm waiting for the guy to pick up the Ruger M77 (that was nothing but trouble) I also sold on consignment at that same store so I can get the money applied to this more expensive rifle.

    Keep up the good work!

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  2. I came across this article while trying to justify why I bought the Ruger SR9 after owning...and loving...my SR9c. It seems like I went thru the same thoughts and was at a local gun store buying 9mm ammo and I saw they had both the SR9 AND SR9c.....I was smart enough to ask the loving spouse which one she preferred. We both agreed that the SR9 felt really good and she made me buy it right then (I know...wives will make us do things like that...especially after buying her 2 new pairs of shoes earlier). I have the same Blackhawk Serpa for my SR9C and it releases perfectly (did cut it down for the shorter barrel). Will try out the SR9 when it stops raining...but I already know that we will both love it as we do the C version. I really like the 2 hi-cap mags that come with it and Ruger does make affordable and reliable guns for us average guys and girls. Uncle Dave

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  3. I recently purchased the sr9c as my carry gun since the Beretta px4 is a bit large to say the least. It has taken a couple hundred rounds to get the feel of the weapon but I can now group about 2" to 3" at 10 yards. Is it the accuracy of the Beretta? No. But more than adequate for concealed carry. I believe so. Great gun, no jambs no problems. Runs like a sewing machine.

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  4. SR9 is a sweat reliable weapon from a big name company. I retired from the army and I got use to the berretta and military issue .45. The berretta was a bulky and reliable but it did not feel comfortable in my hand like the SR9. I owned 9mm Rugers before and I sold the predecessor to the SR9 and kicked myself ever since. Nice weapon to have around just in case but come on 17+1 rounds what else do you need?

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