Just picked up a Rohrbaugh R9

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C0untZer0

C0untZer0

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It's actually the R9s Stealth - small s denotes sights, the Stealth model has a black frame and black nitride slide.

I just unboxed it, and threw a SnapCap in it to try the trigger out. The pistol is very well put together, high quality fit and finish. The DAO trigger is very smooth, only a slight amount of stacking toward the very end and it has a fairly crisp break.

It's a true pocket pistol, it fits comfortably in my Levi jeans front pocket and dissapears from view. I'm comfortable walking with it, sitting down and standing back up - it's very comfortable.

I field stripped it, cleaned it and lubed it according to the manual, but man is this thing hard to put back together. There is a special tool that makes it pretty easy, and I'm going to order it, but the guy who makes it is in NY and not fully recovered from hurricane Sandy. His should be shipping his device again in a few weeks and I can't wait. In my clean and organized workspace I twice lost the retaining pin and the second time it took me 10 minutes to find it. It took me almost 30 mintes to put the thing back together. I'm sure I'll get better at it, but I really need that tool:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58xJ9Fv0P6Y


I'll post more when I actually get it out to the range.

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One thing I am encountering already is the gun comes out of the pocket still wearing the holster. I guess i'll be looking at some other pocket holsters.

A couple more pics:

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R9

One has been my edc for years and I am sure you will enjoy it. I use the same holster as you but have never had it come out with the gun.
 
That is the smallest 9x19 one can hope to find and head and shoulders above rest of tiny stuff out there. It has been almost a year, but I'm still kicking myself for not picking up second hand one in top shape for $850.
 
Just sold mine

I had one for a few years and just sold it to a fellow in Ca. who has to have it altered to fit the Ca. spec's for a "mag fed" gun = LOL.

I own a Kimber Solo and a Kahr PM40 ,so the R-9 was an expensive extra to those.

I was not a fan of it ,and it was not really at all fun to shoot.

I did practice with gloves on as I do for most of my smaller guns.

I am curious as to if you like the way it shoots.

I did shoot a 50 round qual with the Kahr PM 40 as well as the R-9.

Was not fun but was doable.
 
scaatylobo said:
I had one for a few years and just sold it to a fellow in Ca. who has to have it altered to fit the Ca. spec's for a "mag fed" gun = LOL.

I own a Kimber Solo and a Kahr PM40 ,so the R-9 was an expensive extra to those.

I was not a fan of it ,and it was not really at all fun to shoot.

I did practice with gloves on as I do for most of my smaller guns.

I am curious as to if you like the way it shoots.

I did shoot a 50 round qual with the Kahr PM 40 as well as the R-9.

Was not fun but was doable.
Click to expand...
That is because just like LCP 9x17 the R9 is short range defensive pistol designed with deep concealment in mind a la 'Mitt Romney Style'.
 
"for not picking up second hand one in top shape for $850"

No kidding, I paid $850 for my like-new R9 ('only 200 rounds fired') in early 2007.

I've threatened to sell the original black carbon fiber grips for $200 or $300, but I like it the way it is and carry it every day.

John
 
Is the R9 all thats after all. Its a nice option as one of many micro 9mm. Those R9 may be the smallest when only lenght and height is looked at but by so little to several others and not the lightest by any margin. PF-9 and DB9 are both lighter with the db9 being thinner at there widest than the r9. The cm9 is so close overall with only 1/8" longer and 1/4" taller and thinner at there max. Weight is under an oz different and +P rated. R9 is not +p rated ether , no slide hold open and no mag release botton and less capacity with no option for larger cap mags as back up if needed or wanted. But it is and option for a few. R9 advertised weight is with out mag add the mag and its 15oz. AND you need a new recoil spring ever 200 rounds fired!!.
 
^^ I had heard the part where you're supposed to replace the recoil spring every 200 rounds, which I found amazing. But, is it true they have no magazine release button? How do you remove the magazine?
 
European style heel release.

And it's not easy.

I have to push up on the magazine plate with the ring finger on my right hand and pull back on the heel release with my left index.

This gets into the role of the pistol, and people's decisions and trade-offs. You can prepare for more situations and carry a handgun that holds 17 rounds all the time, or you can make trade-offs.

Another part of the trade off with this little pistol is magazine changes are not going to be as quick as a P7M8 - for example.
 
The R9 is 13.5 ounces empty

The magazine is 1.6 ounces

Fully loaded with seven rounds of 115gr ammo, my pistol weighs 17.8 ounces.

I got these measurments from actually weighing it on a scale.
 
"R9 is not +p rated"

Look at the Gold Dot specs. Out of a full-sized gun you will get 50 fps more than standard 9mm.

Mag capacity is more than a S&W Airweight.

My R9 with the orginial carbon fiber grips weighs 12.8 ounces. I carried a P-32 for ten years; the R9 is small enough.

The gun is small, the recoil spring wears out quickly and costs $4.95 to replace. It's a non issue compared to ammo cost. And anyway, have you shot a Rohrbaugh 200 times? I shot mine 101 times the first time out. Do it and get back to me.

I've asked more than one person what they would pick if someone offered to buy them a small 9mm. Would they really pick a Kahr or DB9 over a Rohrbaugh?
 
Kahr only lists the width of the slide, which they list at .90"

The slide width on the Rohrbaugh is .82" I'm only listing it here because Kahr lists it for the PM9/CM9.

The Kahr PM9/CM9 and MK9 have slide stop levers which takes the width of the pistol out to 1"

There is no slide stop or magazine release on the R9 to add to the overall thickness of the pistol. However, the Rohrbaugh does get a little thicker, it is widest right at the base of the grip by the magazine well, where it is .95" across.

I got these measurements by taking my digital caliber to the R9 and taking measurements at different points trying to find the maximum thickness.

I think the PM9/CM9 is a great little gun, they seem to be a lot less picky about ammo than just about any other micro nine out there. I just wanted lighter smaller and was willling to pay a premium for that.
 
What does it do? It's a gun.

It's an $1100 gun new. No, the Stealth model is $1195. Some people like really nice, really accurate, reliable guns and can afford it. Here's a review.

www.americanrifleman.org/ArticlePage.aspx?id=1932&cid=19

I stopped by a gun range yesterday. A new BHP MkIII was tagged $979. I thought I paid too much 11 years ago - $570.

I'm starting to sound like my grandparents - "It costs how much?"

John
 
JohnBT said:
What does it do? It's a gun.

It's an $1100 gun new. No, the Stealth model is $1195. Some people like really nice, really accurate, reliable guns and can afford it. Here's a review.

www.americanrifleman.org/ArticlePage.aspx?id=1932&cid=19

I stopped by a gun range yesterday. A new BHP MkIII was tagged $979. I thought I paid too much 11 years ago - $570.

I'm starting to sound like my grandparents - "It costs how much?"

John
Click to expand...
The R9 is a neat little pistol, but having had the opportunity to finally shoot an R9 not long ago I have to say that 9mm in a pistol as small as the R9 is too much power for many people to shoot accurately.

My son recently purchased a Sig 938 and it was not nearly as punishing to shoot as the R9, but still is a handful.

For me, these two comments in the American Rifleman article are pretty important when considering a pistol for self self defense.
"recoil is sharp and muzzle flip pronounced."

"the handling of the gun is such that the 25-yard standard of five consecutive, five-shot groups is a challenge."

This combined with the fact that when we talk about how much more powerful 9mm is compared to 380 we usually are thinking about 9mm out of pistols with much longer barrels than the R9 has.

For me the P238 is the perfect balance of quality, reliability, size, controllability, accuracy and with the ability for fast followup shots. JMO
 
I would certainly own the R9.
I dont think I would buy one though.
But I would not dog a guy who did.
Having paid $710 including taxes three years ago for my nite sight equipped PM9 I think it will be sometime before I spring that sort of money again for a pistol.
Fwiw my PM9 weighs exactly 20 ounces loaded.
And as long as I use the standard six round magazine it has never once choked on any type of ammo and I have run at least eight different brands of ammo through it that I can remember from 115 gr. to 147 gr. both fmj and HP.
So it isn't ammo picky at all.
 
"9mm in a pistol as small as the R9 is too much power for many people to shoot accurately."

Considering the number of people who can't shoot a full-sized 9mm accurately, I'd say you were right. :)

Otoh, I've had skinny 13-year-olds shoot mine repeatedly and ask for more. A former co-worker's wife shot it one trip and on the next trip asked to shoot a couple of mags as soon as we got to the range. She isn't a shooter even though her father was a regular at Camp Perry. She has the basic skills, lacks any fear of guns or noise, and just hasn't been interested in shooting. But she took a liking to the R9. Go figure. I think it has something to do with whether or not you expect shooting to hurt. If you're relaxed you don't tense up and can just roll with the recoil.

John
 
I seriously looked at the Boberg. The main reason I didn't go with the Boberg is the weight.

I know we're only talking a few ounces but at some point it's like that game "Don't spill the beans" that one extra ounce at some point becomes too much for pocket carry.

From what I've read, even though the Boberg has a shorter OAL than the Rohrbaugh, a lot of the guys who have one have said that they think it's a little too bulky or heavy for pocket carry. I'm sure there are people out there who love the Boberg for pocket carry just like there are people who stuff G26s in their pockets and call it good.
 
JohnBT said:
What does it do? It's a gun.

It's an $1100 gun new. No, the Stealth model is $1195. Some people like really nice, really accurate, reliable guns and can afford it. Here's a review.

www.americanrifleman.org/ArticlePage.aspx?id=1932&cid=19

I stopped by a gun range yesterday. A new BHP MkIII was tagged $979. I thought I paid too much 11 years ago - $570.

I'm starting to sound like my grandparents - "It costs how much?"

John
Click to expand...
Then I sound like mine: I don't see paying $850 for that. Gun or not, that's ridiculously expensive for a pocket 9.
 
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