The firearm is "tuned" for a new or nearly new recoil spring and a new recoil spring isn't tighter than necessary when new - it's exactly what's necessary for proper operation. The recoil spring on an R9 doesn't need to be broken in after being replaced.
Why not Rohrbaugh?
- Thread starter Shmackey
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The firearm is "tuned" for a new or nearly new recoil spring and a new recoil spring isn't tighter than necessary when new - it's exactly what's necessary for proper operation. The recoil spring on an R9 doesn't need to be broken in after being replaced.
IMTHDUKE
Member
Sorry to hear that
I'm surprised no one here has mentioned it, and maybe that's because Rohrbaugh has fixed it...but Rohrbaugh's seem to key-hole a lot. From what I have read, the barrel is just not long enough for 9mm to achieve a high enough spin rate to prevent key-holing.
I hope Rohrbaugh fixed it and I am behind the times because their pistols are reportedly very high quality pieces and the company solid in their professionality (last I heard). The Boberg looks interesting, but I wonder if they can pull it off. In the mean time, the Kahr PM-9 is excellent and Mr. Moon has taken a renewed interest (i.e. money) in his company in recent years, so you should be good to go with them. Kel-Tec is solid in CS (one of, if not the best in the business) but I have shot the PF-9 side by side with my Kahr and I will take the Kahr...hell, I did obviously.
I hope Rohrbaugh fixed it and I am behind the times because their pistols are reportedly very high quality pieces and the company solid in their professionality (last I heard). The Boberg looks interesting, but I wonder if they can pull it off. In the mean time, the Kahr PM-9 is excellent and Mr. Moon has taken a renewed interest (i.e. money) in his company in recent years, so you should be good to go with them. Kel-Tec is solid in CS (one of, if not the best in the business) but I have shot the PF-9 side by side with my Kahr and I will take the Kahr...hell, I did obviously.
My PM9 has no roses or human fingers on the slide flats.Sorry to hear that
lobo9er
Member
and just so happens the website sells the answer to the problem.
It may not have been mentioned because it really doesn't happen a lot, though it has been known to happen.
The explanation given by the designer is that the R9 is designed with a significant amount (.250") of freebore (to reduce pressures of the 9mm round) and because of that, not every bullet of every type will engage the rifling symmetrically. Thus certain ammo with certain bullet weights may exhibit this.
I use either WWB 115gr or Speer Gold Dots 115gr and have never seen any evidence of key-holing. This ammo choice covers my needs fully - an inexpensive and readily available round for practice and a top rated round for defense, so I have never ventured into ammo that might tumble.
It has also been pointed out that the R9 is not a long range / target firearm - it's a close range / self-defense firearm and a bullet that did tumble wouldn't have a significant effect over the short ranges typical in common self-defense situations.
JohnBT
Member
Mine hasn't keyholed in 4 years. I shoot mostly WWB and either Gold Dots or Georgia Arms Gold Dots, but I have all sorts of odds and end laying around that I try to use up. Heck, yesterday I found a half a box of .38 S&W blanks.
I remember a few posts on keyholing on the R-forum many years ago, and they seem to be recycled regularly.
I remember a few posts on keyholing on the R-forum many years ago, and they seem to be recycled regularly.
SwampWolf
Member
Yep, one would reside in one of my pockets if they were reasonably priced. It would take a lot of persuasion to convince me that it costs that much to make a simple, semi-auto pistol like the Rohrbaugh. For those who might know, why does the Rohrbaugh cost so much? I've examined a couple of them and I just don't see it.
I think there's a number of reasons that make the cost high:
- No expense was spared in selecting any of the materials that go into the firearm.
- Every part is machined from bar stock or forgings - the only plastic part in the entire firearm is the magazine follower. There are no stampings used except for the magazine itself.
- Each firearm is individually machined on CNC machining centers; the tolerances are held to extremely tight standards.
- Each firearm is hand assembled and tested - by one of the "brothers Rorhbaugh" (Eric).
- Though the company is small, customer service is first rate. All Rorhbaughs have a life-time warranty (to the original owner) and they have gone to unusual lengths to satisfy customers with problems.
- Production is limited - it's more like a custom built 1911 than a mass produced firearm which it seems most often to be compared to - not only on the basis of numbers produced, but on the basis of machining and assembly as well.
There are probably other reasons that I have missed. I don't think the firearm was designed to sell at any particular price point - it was designed to fill a very specific need that the designers saw and they let the price fall where it falls.
SwampWolf
Member
Hmm...Sounds a lot like a Beretta Model 92 for selling less than half the price. Sorry, still don't get it.
SwampWolf
Member
So they did. And whether warranted or not, at that price point, the Rohrbaugh will continue to be a pocket pistol befitting silk-lined britches, not the Levi/Wrangler crowd.
Some people never understood the Python, some people don't understand a Shiloh Sharps, some people will never "get" a $5000 precision boltgun.
If you don't, you don't.
If you can't understand the difference between a Ford & a Ferrari, you'll just go through life not....getting things.
Denis
If you don't, you don't.
If you can't understand the difference between a Ford & a Ferrari, you'll just go through life not....getting things.
Denis
rellascout
member
If my life depended on the ultimate bug 9mm the Rohrbaugh would be my choice. I do not need something of this nature so I do not own one. If I needed one I would. LOL
A lot of time goes in to these little guns. The Kahr is close... The PM9 is almost there.
A lot of time goes in to these little guns. The Kahr is close... The PM9 is almost there.
45crittergitter
Member
To answer the OP, I am just about exactly your size (about 20# lighter), and my R9S is my "always gun." I think you would be very pleased with it. My rationale was that it's a lifesaving device, and for pocket carry where IWBs, etc. simply won't hide, it was simply the best and most effective available. Today, there are other 9mms that could be considered, but didn't exist at the time. My life is important enough to me to justify the price, which was actually less than the annual premium on my life (death) insurance.
Indeed so - but I don't think that fact distresses the manufacturer at all.
You can get a 1911 pistol for well under $1,000 or you can spend well over 3 times that and get a Baer, Brown, Wilson Combat or any of a number of makers of high-end / hand fitted 1911s. The cheapest 1911 will get much the same job done as the most expensive and many purchasers don't see the difference as worth the price. Enough do that it keeps the high-end makers happy.
There's room in the market for all types of firearms at all price points.
snooperman
Member
- Joined
- May 4, 2009
- Messages
- 2,143
Swampwolf , I share your sentiments.."THEY ARE NOT WORTH THE MONEY"
Why is it "ludicrous to compare it to A Ruger or Keltec"??? The keltec PF9 cost $330 and works perfectly well..THANK YOU. And, most gun writers have given it their blessings . If you go on the web site of Rohrbaugh forum.com you will see many complaints about this gun and all the trouble they are having with it. For that kind of money they should work flawlessly with anything you put in it---just like my Glock and, YES, Keltec PF9. Just because they are "made well" or out of special materials has nothing to do with it...THEY MUST FUNCTION without problems or "THEY AIN"T WORTH IT. PERIOD. Fancy name, materials , design is not enough to warrant that kind of money. My 3 cents.
Why is it "ludicrous to compare it to A Ruger or Keltec"??? The keltec PF9 cost $330 and works perfectly well..THANK YOU. And, most gun writers have given it their blessings . If you go on the web site of Rohrbaugh forum.com you will see many complaints about this gun and all the trouble they are having with it. For that kind of money they should work flawlessly with anything you put in it---just like my Glock and, YES, Keltec PF9. Just because they are "made well" or out of special materials has nothing to do with it...THEY MUST FUNCTION without problems or "THEY AIN"T WORTH IT. PERIOD. Fancy name, materials , design is not enough to warrant that kind of money. My 3 cents.
The price point has nothing whatever to do with having the gun "work flawlessly with anything you put in it".
It seems to be difficult for some people to understand that when you go that small with a high-pressured round like a 9mm, certain things have to give.
It does not have room internally for gunk to accumulate, that's a function of its size. Keep it clean, it's not a battle weapon.
It does not have a slide lock, again to retain smaller dimensions.
It has a heel clip mag release, again to keep dimensions compact, and because it wasn't intended to be an extended combat type of pistol with multiple reloads.
Materials were chosen for their individual characteristics to achieve Rohrbaugh's goals in the pistol's intended purpose. They were not chosen because they were cheap to work with, as materials in other designs were.
Slide mass & travel, along with spring size & energy, combined with the frame dimensions, do not allow the pistol to function with "everything" you may want to try to run through it. Again- the small size means compromise in ammo selection. Use what it was designed around, keep it clean, replace the spring as needed, and it'll run fine.
Comparing it to a Kel-Tec is invalid.
The Kel-Tec is not the same size & is not built as well.
You can't just hold up two "smallish" pistols side by side & declare the cheapest one a better buy because it's cheaper. It's the size & quality of the Rohrbaugh that make it what it is AS A PACKAGE.
If you don't grasp the concept, don't spend the money.
Denis
It seems to be difficult for some people to understand that when you go that small with a high-pressured round like a 9mm, certain things have to give.
It does not have room internally for gunk to accumulate, that's a function of its size. Keep it clean, it's not a battle weapon.
It does not have a slide lock, again to retain smaller dimensions.
It has a heel clip mag release, again to keep dimensions compact, and because it wasn't intended to be an extended combat type of pistol with multiple reloads.
Materials were chosen for their individual characteristics to achieve Rohrbaugh's goals in the pistol's intended purpose. They were not chosen because they were cheap to work with, as materials in other designs were.
Slide mass & travel, along with spring size & energy, combined with the frame dimensions, do not allow the pistol to function with "everything" you may want to try to run through it. Again- the small size means compromise in ammo selection. Use what it was designed around, keep it clean, replace the spring as needed, and it'll run fine.
Comparing it to a Kel-Tec is invalid.
The Kel-Tec is not the same size & is not built as well.
You can't just hold up two "smallish" pistols side by side & declare the cheapest one a better buy because it's cheaper. It's the size & quality of the Rohrbaugh that make it what it is AS A PACKAGE.
If you don't grasp the concept, don't spend the money.
Denis
JohnBT
Member
"THEY MUST FUNCTION without problems"
Mine does. Over 4 years and counting. I bought it used, too.
"Over at rohrbaughforum.com..." Yeah, I've read all those posts and you're misquoting or just stretching the truth. You make it sound like every other post is about gun failure. I read posts there for a while before joining and I've been a member for 6 years - since (had to go look) 2/22/05.
Heck, the black carbon fiber grips that came on my R9 would sell for $200 or $300 the last time I looked. (First batch had blue CF, then came the black CF like mine, then they went with G10 or something)
Like my mama used to say, some people know the price of everything and the value of nothing. In other words, just because YOU don't understand why someone would buy an R9 doesn't make it a foolish purchase. Maybe you need to try harder to gain clarity and shed your narrowmindedness. Could be.
And some people obviously don't understand R&D and start-up costs for a small business.
"They cost what they cost." - Arnold Jewell
Mine does. Over 4 years and counting. I bought it used, too.
"Over at rohrbaughforum.com..." Yeah, I've read all those posts and you're misquoting or just stretching the truth. You make it sound like every other post is about gun failure. I read posts there for a while before joining and I've been a member for 6 years - since (had to go look) 2/22/05.
Heck, the black carbon fiber grips that came on my R9 would sell for $200 or $300 the last time I looked. (First batch had blue CF, then came the black CF like mine, then they went with G10 or something)
Like my mama used to say, some people know the price of everything and the value of nothing. In other words, just because YOU don't understand why someone would buy an R9 doesn't make it a foolish purchase. Maybe you need to try harder to gain clarity and shed your narrowmindedness. Could be.
And some people obviously don't understand R&D and start-up costs for a small business.
"They cost what they cost." - Arnold Jewell
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