Rohrbaugh Firearms

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Diesle

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I sent an email to Rohrbaugh recently asking if an R-9 could be made available in this years run for me. Got a call back from Eric Rohrbaugh personally. There has been a lot of good press and word of mouth on the R-9 so far. I just want to echo it and again bring to the forefront the R-9 for your consideration as a thank you to Eric for his commitment to the shooting culture and 'family'.

Blackhawk went here once (or twice), so Ill rip him off....

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=121291&highlight=Rohrbaugh

NEW pistols -- Rohrbaugh 9mm -- more information
R-9 and MS-9

Stainless and aluminum, tiny and potent, and they've intrigued many of us since prototypes were available for some to see early this year at the SHOT Show in Las Vegas. The website, http://www.rohrbaughfirearms.com/, doesn't really have some of the other information I think is important, so I asked Eric Rohrbaugh:

1. Warranty? (Sounds about as good as it gets.) "The warranty is to be very simple....If it should break for any reason, we will repair it to factory spec...no charge, other than the usual shipping charges." That means the owner pays to send it to Rohrbaugh, and Rohrbaugh pays return shipping costs.

2. Striker fired or multiple strike capability? "The new R-9 and MS-9 are D.A.O. hammer setups. If you have a misfire, just pull the trigger again."

3. What's the difference between the R-9 and the MS-9? "The difference between the two guns....The MS-9 is the first patented "Safe-Gun Technology" semi-auto 9mm pistol in the world. The "Model T" of safeguns if you will. The R-9 is the same gun without the magnetic safegun trigger."

4. Any restrictions on dry firing? "Dry fire it as much as you like with an empty chamber......No Problem."

5. What's the comparative recoil from a 9mm that small? "Recoil is like a Walther PPK .380 shooting Plus-P loads."

6. What kind of sights? "We are... going to put a sighting system on the gun called "The Eights"... It is basically two dots you would line up one on top of the other to look like the number "8" and there is your simple....clean sight."

7. When will they be available? "Right now we are on schedule to have the production models available we feel by around October of this year."

These guns are a shade bigger than a Kel-Tec P-32, and since they're 9mm instead of .32, they'll surely get a closer look for CCW purposes. At 14 ounces, the recoil should be about the same as a P-11 since their empty weights are about the same. I never shot my P-11 alongside my PPK, so I don't have a good basis for comparison.

I'm not a fan of internal locks, but then again, I don't have a state or otherwise mandated need for them either. The option to pass on it is nice.

Pricing is not firm yet, but $695 and $795 was projected at the SHOT Show. My guess is that it will be lower, more like the Kahr pricing, until the gun catches on. Then it should go up based on what I perceive as high demand, especially due to its sheer attractiveness as a small, potent, and good looking "Mighty Mouse" gun.

________________________________________________

Im on the list...


Diesle
 
I lifted this off a recent (posted 5-8) posting on the NAA forum, an e-mail someone got from Eric Rohrbaugh. Seems to be some conflicting info. on availability dates and MSRP. How long ago did you talk to him?:

----------------------

Thanks for inquiring about our new firearm. We are just about ready to go into production with shipments to begin in June. We will be filling orders received over the past year first so it may be a little while before you get to see one at your local dealer unless they had ordered one early on. If they did, chances are that you will see one in their showcase by the end of June. There is one question I must ask you, where do you live? There are some states that are not "gun friendly" so I hope you are in a "good" state. "Unfriendly States" will be waiting longer for the R-9 to arrive, if at all. The MSRP for the R-9 is $945.00. It comes with two magazines. The R-9 is a locked breach delayed blowback design.

Hope I have answered your questions for now, any further questions feel free to eMail or phone me at 1-631-847-3999 or toll free at 1-800-803-2233.

Best Regards,

Eric C. Rohrbaugh

V.P./ Sec.

Rohrbaugh Firearms
 
I just lifted the info from a thread started over a year ago by Blackhawk. Im sure your data is more accurate.

I was simply trying to resurect some discussion about this company and the little R-9.

Diesle
 
I think the cost is going to be much higher than a Kahr - probably at least $900.
I emailed Eric Rohrbaugh about a month ago, asking why they had decided on an aluminum frame rather than titanium. The reason I wondered was because the slide and most other components are 17-4 stainless, which is much better than the usual 416 stainless. I figured if they were going for the best stainless, which is much harder to machine, they might go for the best available light weight frame material as well.
He told me that their goal was to keep the price of the gun under $1,000 and that wouldn't have been possible with a titanium frame.
But he did say that there had been enough inquiries about making the frame out of something other than aluminum, that they plan to offer an all 17-4 stainless version in the future. That's the one I want.
Anyway, I think the cost will be close to $1,000.
 
I also sent an email to Eric.
Really nice fella, takes time to answere my question that I am sure have been asked thousands of times before.

In short

The trigger pull is 6-7 lbs.
Their test gun has over 3000 rounds.
On schedule for mid June release.
And since many people have been asking they have decided to put sights on it.


Thanks Eric.
 
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True 3000 is not that many for the life of a $1k gun
But you have to start some place, I am sure before it is over it will see alot more then 3000 rounds.

What impresses me is that they listen to the public and try to accomidate what we want, like sights.

I also love how easy it is to get hold of them and how quick and friendly they answer any and all questions. They make you feel like old friends and very much at ease.

If you read this Eric, Thanks
 
I agree. They had alot of interest in an all steel version and they plan to produce that. Same thing with the sights.
We now have to thank them by purchasing the guns. Otherwise who knows how long they can remain in business.
 
If they are as high as reported... I'll pass. Too many other options out there that don't give up enough to the R9 to justify the much higher cost.... for me.

YMMV
 
am putting my PM9 on the back burner for now.

I'm with Pocket Pistol on this one. I've been eyeing the PM9 for many months, but now I gotta' wait and see what this R9 can do.
 
I've had my PM9 for a few months now, and I love it.
Some of the things I love about it:
1. Accurate
2. Fun to shoot
3. Reliable
4. Light wt. (18 oz. empty)

I felt the $550 price of the PM9 was a little high, for my comfort zone, so I won't be looking at any $900+ guns.

The one thing that the PM9 has, that I feel the Rohrbaugh won't, is shootability. I hope I'm wrong. The all-steel NAA Guardian .32 was painful to shoot. I can't imagine how a P32-sized steel/alloy 9mm is going to feel.
The MK9 and PM9 guns have enough weight and size going for them that they are actually pleasant to shoot.
The KelTec P11, on the other hand, was no fun at the range.
I don't own any "shoot-a-little-carry-a-lot" guns. I like to really, really shoot all of my guns.
I really wanted a Centennial Airweight, but shooting my wife's with 158gr practice rounds cured me of that.
(And she has had me add target grips to it already. Still, if she shoots 20rds a year in it, she's good.)
YMMV

If the Rohrbaugh can be shootable, in addition to all of the other things it has going for it, at least I can lust after one.
Right now my comfort ceiling on long and short guns seems to be around $600. Anything over that, and I don't feel I've been a good steward of my money.
Maybe someday. :(

I hope the Rohrbaugh guns are a huge success.
Any new gun manufacturer, making quality guns, is a good thing.
It would be really cool if this gun hit the market at Kahr prices.
We've gotta be able to dream. :cool:
 
I to have been wanting a PM9 for a while and reciently I saw the all black stainless PM9 which I really like.
I also like the prece alot better then the R-9.
But since I can not affore either for now I am waiting to see the R-9.
I have a NAA 380 and it is a pleasure to shoot, as I also do not like
shoot-a-little-carry-a-lot
Guns and shoot my 380 every chance I get.

The only other thing I can think the R-9 may need is some sort of stippling or checkering on the front and back straps, and a pinkey extension mag.
That with good night sights would be a winner in my book.

Don't get me wrong I also have an MK9 I love and carry often.
 
I think the price of these guns will hold them back some. If they could make it for about $700 more people would actually get an R9. I would love to have one of these pocket nines but there are others I would consider that cost less.
 
alamo quoted Eric Rohrbaugh:
The R-9 is a locked breach delayed blowback design.
I'm surprised he said that, since the two designs are typically mutually exclusive. From what I've seen, the R-9 is a locked breech design with no blowback to it.

BTW, the MS-9 is not going to be produced according to information received during the time of the SHOT Show.
 
I emailed Rohrbaug Firearms yesterday asking when and where I might be seeing a production model of the R-9 in my neck of the woods and I received the following reply from Eric Rohrbaugh today.

Dear xxxxxxxxxxx,

The R-9 9mm Pistol will be available by this July. If you have been following our development over the past year on the different web site chat rooms for firearms: i.e. www.thehighroad.org or www.thefiringline.com and search "Rohrbaugh", you will read articles both pro and con, we have no input to these rooms but you would notice the vast majority is in favor of the R-9. You will also notice that we have been listening to our clients wishes for a defensive firearm. Karl, my brother and designer of the R-9, and myself have been involved in shooting since the nineteen sixties. We have learned quite a bit through the years, with the R-9 being the result for deep concealed carry. The project has from time to time been set back for the delivery dates because we listen to our public's wishes for a defensive firearm and have recently decided to offer the R-9 with sights. This has postponed the mid June deliveries because we have redesigned the slide for sights. Hence, the R-9 is delayed until July now so that we can accommodate those who desire sights on their carry weapon. We expect the local dealers to begin receiving sales display copies of the R-9 pistol around that time. You may order one through your local firearms dealer and we will put you "On the List". If you like, eMail me your intentions and I'll add you to our "Contact List" when one becomes available for you. Keep in mind that the R-9 pistol is really a custom firearm and therefore is rather an exclusive piece. We will add or delete features if you so desire. Again, just let us know and we will build one for you or you may just like the "standard" version as seen on our web site www.RohrbaughFirearms.com. The MSRP for the standard R-9 or the sights version of R-9 is $945.00.
Thank you for your interest in our new firearm. Any further questions, feel free to eMail or phone me at 1-631-847-3999 or toll free at 1-800-803-2233.

Hope all is well,

Sincerely,

Eric C. Rohrbaugh
Rohrbaugh Firearms
 
I spoke to Karl Rorhbaugh last week and they have 5000 rounds through the gun now with no problems. Things are looking good and the gun will be available, but I ain't sayin' when. There are still some parts issues to be worked out, it would be a shame to build 500 guns then not be able to get parts to build anymore for a year. These guys are solving all the production and supply issues BEFORE offering the pistol to the public to prevent customer complaints. This costs the company more because they are not receiving any income from the sale of units, but in the long run it is what is best for the customer and reputation of the company. Remember all the problems early versions of Kahr models have? It isn't going to happen with Rohrbaugh. I gotta tell you, I am REALLY impressed with this whole operation. It is going to be one SHWEEEET pistol and could be the only pistol to be 'right' when it first hits the market.
 
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