SR9c Review

8183 Views 31 Replies 11 Participants Last post by bocephus3513, Jul 15, 2011

9c4me

Discussion Starter · Jan 11, 2011

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 :lol4:

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.

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Hrdnox

· #4 · Jan 11, 2011

Re: SR9c Review

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.

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Hrdnox

· #10 · Jan 12, 2011

Re: SR9c Review

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.

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Hrdnox

· #12 · Jan 12, 2011

Re: SR9c Review

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.

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Hrdnox

· #14 · Jan 13, 2011

Re: SR9c Review

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.

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Hrdnox

· #16 · Jan 13, 2011

Re: SR9c Review

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.

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Hrdnox

· #23 · Jan 17, 2011

Re: SR9c Review

You might want to detail strip the slide and clean the firing pin channel. Ruger put lots of grease in mine, so much that I never was able to get it completely dry to my liking. Also, I've read that the FP channel is bad about getting full of brass shavings from the spent primers. WWB uses some harder primers than most manufacturers, but I'd make sure it was squeeky clean before I laid it all off on the ammo. I feel certain it's just a temporary situation, though, because it's seems fairly common. There's an outside chance your gun doesn't like WWB, but probably not.

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Hrdnox

· #25 · Jan 17, 2011

Re: SR9c Review

Yeah, it sounds like the pin and channel need to be cleaned every 250 rounds or so, just to keep it clear of shavings. I've had a couple of guns in the past that were that way. Thankfully, these things are pretty quick and easy to clean. My Glocks do the same thing, but probably not as bad. Never had one of them light strike, but I've pulled a lot of shavings out of the channels, so it was probably just a matter of time. Another thing, don't oil the pin or channel at all. If anything, oil them and wipe them as dry as you can. A respected gunsmith once told me that the FP channel shouldn't have anything in it other than a little smoke residue from the bullets. Said he had made a ton of money cleaning them for others. He told me not to even wipe it down with anything but a dry rag. Said oil in that hole is the enemy. Took him at his word and it's always worked well for me.

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Hrdnox

· #29 · Jan 21, 2011

Re: SR9c Review

Took mine to the range today and all I can say is WOW, I love this gun. Ran 150 rounds of Federal FMJ without the slightest hint of a problem. I don't think I've ever owned a gun with a nicer trigger. I've owned some DA/SA guns that had pretty nice SA triggers, but this is the first DAO that I've seen that felt as close to a SA with a nicely tuned trigger. This trigger breaks quick, nice, and clean. I did have one slight anomoly, though. The barrel chipped a small piece off the muzzel end of the slide where it goes through. I saw this on another gun on another forum and I believe Ruger replaced his slide, but my chip is so small and the gun shoots so good that I think I'm gonna keep mine. It was just a slight sliver and it dressed up fine with a gun blacking pen. I'm afraid that if I have it repaced, I might get one that doesn't perform as well as mine does and it's not in a critical place. This gun is deadly accurate, as well. 15 yards was childsplay, 7 was too easy, and 60 was plenty doable on a steel silloette target. Never bothered with 60 before, because I thought it was a waste, but another person at the range wanted to drop back there for a mag full, so I followed. Ran 15 rounds through and hit 12 times on a 1 X 1.5 ft target. Surprised myself. I think this gun may quickly become my favorite. Feels good, shoots good, and is accurate as can be, can't ask for much more.

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