Rohrbaugh performance?

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ABBOBERG

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I just read the cover article on this month's American Hangunner and was very disappointed to see that they did not do any chronograph testing on this pistol. What are they trying to hide? I couldn't get this information from Rohrbaugh either. If this is considered to be a defense weapon, shouldn't the consumer know what kind of power this pistol can generate? Maybe it's a moot point since the gun would not reliably feed any flat-nose bullets, and only worked well with two kinds of ball ammo tested.

Anyone out there have any velocity numbers?
 
I am not sure that manufacturers generally provide chronograph data, nor do I think that there is any kind of conspiracy on the part of American Handgunner.

If you want some real world chrono data, take a look at:

http://www.acbsystems.com/boards/thr/r9s-tests-02/

and the thread it came from:

http://www.rohrbaughforum.com/YaBB.cgi?board=R9S;action=display;num=1087966502;start=0#0

These tests were done by a disinterested owner. Doesn't seem like there is anything to hide to me -- the numbers look pretty darn good.

There is a lot more info available on the Rohrbaugh Forum for anyone who is interested in this little gun.
 
Once again AH tells us nothing we really need to know. Nice pics, though.

Thanks DDGator for the info. Performance looks pretty good. Why no +P though? AH said they'd address that in the article, but never did.
 
They've even gone so far as to stamp "Standard pressure ammo only" (or something close) on the magazines. Maybe the chambers aren't beefy enough, or the frame would be too battered by +P?
 
Frank - I tend to agree re'' battered''. The frame is maybe the weakest link .. tho weakest is hardly a word I'd wish to use on the R9 .. but this is using the term in a relative sense.

The gun is IMO tough enough to take some punishment but let's face it - the Rohrbaughs want this gun to last and last - and not be shaken up by excessive loads .... and so - from a longevity POV ... std pressure is order of day!
 
W9 ... nope, not had any NATO around to try - as yet, plus I haven't put huge emphasis on ball ammo for most part - just shot what I had available.

As for +P ... well, in fact I did run 5 rounds thru from a bulk can of 1,000 I have ... not at first realizing they were +P! Oops! Had quite forgotten I had them in fact - 124 grain Speer Gold Dots!! Got them at a gun show early this year for about $140, which seemed a good deal considering normal cost on small boxes!

Anyways - I waffle (usual!) .. I just dug out figures, not having posted them before, as they were not really ''permitted'' ... but doubt 5 rounds will harm the pup'. Bear in mind, this was a cheaper bulk batch and could even have been so cos sl outa spec' ... seeing as spread a little high, plus as ever, a five round sample is really not as large as desirable.

Only had vel figures so ... afraid haven't worked out SD.!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Ammo type ........ Speer Gold Dot 124 grain JHP ......

Shot # 1 - 1121.49 fps
Shot # 2 - 1103.59 fps
Shot # 3 - 1100.78 fps
Shot # 4 - 1135.05 fps
Shot # 5 - 1088.70 fps

Low vel = 1088.70
Hi vel = 1135.05
Average vel = 1109.41 nom
Hi-Lo extreme spread = 46.35
Standard Deviation = (too lazy to calc!)
Muzzle energy (based on average vel) = 339 ft lbs
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
For those interested, "Gun Tests Magazine" is coming out with an article
testing the Rohrbaugh against the Kahr PM9. They usually post velocities, accuracy and the types of ammo used. The article will probably be in the
August issue. I'm looking forward to reading it.

For those not familiar with this publication, they try to be the gun version of Consumer Reports. They don't accept advertisements and pay for the guns
tested. While they are opinionated, I still find them a useful tool.
 
While they are opinionated, I still find them a useful tool.
Click to expand...
I think I'll have to subscribe.

I'm so sick of the "XYZ gun is so great" from AH and G&A. Or "At 50 feet, I shot a nice 3" group" Give me a break.

Yeah, I've never heard a bad thing said in those rags, unless you really read into what they are saying.
 
Jiml3 ... go to the link in my sig ... the Rohrbaugh Forum ..... the Gun Tests article has already been seen. Unfortunately, whilst it is not a ''ain't it wonderful'' deal like many rags - it goes other way and is not oozing great cred' IMO. When you read it eventually - just keep an open mind.

In fact - here is link to actual thread dealing with that review.
 
Not enough cred?

Hey, the Gun Tests crew found the bullets out of the Rohrbaugh were keyholing at short ranges. I don't know that there's a bias in saying that's a problem.

I have issues with Gun Tests' technical or historical know-how or common sense from time to time (not to mention their sloppy copy editing, a problem shared by American Handgunner and Guns), and I might let my (4-yr so far) subscription lapse because of it. But you have to admit that a gun that's not getting the bullets straight to a short-range target perhaps is open to some question! Don't you?

Or do you maintain that Gun Tests was unable to correctly diagnose the keyholing rounds?

I have never heard of a keyholing Rohrbaugh before, but if Gun Tests' did, that's a real problem, and I want to hear about it.
 
Regarding the Gun Tests article -- I have some new info on that. They claim to be more objective because they don't accept advertising and they go out on the market and buy their guns.

First -- even if that is all true, any review is still the OPINION of the author and is subject to the author's own personal preferences and biases.

Second -- the claim that they buy their own guns is not entirely true. I have heard from the horse's mouth that the R-9 they had was, in fact, a test gun provided by the factory and returned to the factory. You can tell this is true because they go on and on about the gun being supplied with only one magazine -- which is clearly not the case. This particular test came with one mag -- guns you BUY come with two.

Take the Gun Test review for what it is -- one man's opinion. If you want to read more people's opinions, visit us on the Rohrbaugh Forum.
 
Erich,

With regard to the keyholing, all I can say is that NO ONE on the Rohrbaugh Forum has experienced that phenomena. If I were having such a problem, I would pick up the phone and call Eric Rohrbaugh and ask about it.
 
As I recall (only got to read it quickly, then it was un-posted from a site), they stated that the keyholing they experienced was with one particular type of ammo that they then described as "not really the right type of ammo for the purpose this gun was made for" (paraphrasing). I *think* it was with some truncated cone ammo. They also clearly stated that with JHP self-defense rounds they did not experience the keyholing at all.

My *guess* is that lower velocity ammo might be the issue (though P95Carry's tests didn't show any keyholing even with that).

Anyone with access to the article that can clear up my foggy memory with the details I'm trying to recall?
 
With regard to the keyholes, they "noticed clear indications of bullets striking sideways at a range of 10 yards, with all three types of our main test ammo. There were two partially sideways strikes with Speer’s Lawman, one with PMC’s FMJ, and two with Winchester’s BEB ammo. In most cases the tipped bullet struck well away from the main group."

They had "fits" with the BEB ammo in terms of cycling performance.
 
DDGator;
Thanks for posting the link. Very interesting, especially the fact that GT does not buy all the weapons tested. It's true that they state that up front. I have been a subscriber for 6 years based upon their statement that they purchase all weapons tested to maintain a fair and objective viewpoint. And yes, if you can't distinguish between aluminium and stainless steel screws, maybe you should seek some professional advise before printing it in an article. I own a Kahr PM9 and really like it and was looking forward to seeing an honest intelligent comparison review. The article GT wrote would prejudice a buyer away from the Rohrbaugh and that is unfortunate. Once again, thanks for the link to the rebuttal and I will keep an open mind. As far as GT goes, I may have to re-evaluate whether to renew my subscription.
 
I agree -- its gives you something to think about. No one is saying the R-9 is perfect, or certainly that it is perfect for everybody -- but Rohrbaugh didn't really get a fair shake.
 
First of all, the Rohrbaugh was designed, as I understand it, to be the smallest, lightest full caliber (read-9mm or larger) pistol that you will ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS carry. Too many complain of weight, bulk etc. and leave the gun at home. Remember the FIRST rule of a gun fight is (say it with me) HAVE A GUN.

In order to make a pistol to these parameters, metals that would stand up to the pressures and forces of +p ammo would be too heavy, or the pistol would be too bulky. I'll bet a lot of people who are complaining of no +p or +p+ ammo think nothing of carrying a .380 or .32, at least on occasion. Further, no one, IMNTBHO, should be carrying a weapon until they have shot it sufficiently to give it a break in and assure its reliability.

As far as AH and GUNS magazine never saying a bad thing about a gun, someone must have a different subscription than mine. Find me another national gun rag that dares to even hint at keyholing. I find reviews from these mags to be the ONLY reviews worth reading, and especially so if Massad Ayoob is the reviewer.
 
Huh?

Did AH hint of keyholing, too? I have the review, just don't recall that being mentioned therein (although a photo of the target fired with the 147-grainers showed some weird elongated splashes of paint off the Shoot-N-See target - but I didn't think the hole looked out-of-round).
 
I picked up the Sep/Oct issue hoping to get some useful info on the R9.
That is the only reason.
AS per usual I wasted my money on the rag mag.

I'll be looking for the Aug- Gun Tests Mag.

I own shoot a very nearly love a PM9.
It is however usually just a tad large for my normal pockets.

I'd love to get my hands on an R9S or R9 to try it out.

But, Damn....$945.00 for a pocket pistol?....!

Don't get me wrong, if it does prove worthy over time I could end up with one. For now , and for an unknown the price it is way outside my budget.

Besides my PM9 is getting easier to hide all the time.

I think I will give it awhile and wait and see how it shakes out.
Maybe later!!! I will be watching .
 
Fact 1: I have been a subscriber for approximately one year, and I do read your magazine from cover to cover. Of interest, is your statement in which you categorically claim that you purchase all firearms so “as not to be beholden to anyoneâ€. I am assuming that this is your magazine’s claim to fame and subsequently has been repeated in the industry. Yet, the R9S you reviewed was sent to you from the factory as a testing and evaluation piece. I should know, since I am the one who sent it to you. Subsequently, you returned the piece after your evaluation. Nowhere, at any time did you purchase the firearm. I would think, since your reputation is such that you purchase firearms, you would have had a disclaimer in the article that you did not purchase the piece and clarify your position.
Click to expand...
Since Rohrbaugh sent GT the gun, shouldn't it be better than an off the shelf model?
As far as Rohrbaugh's claim of AH and Ayoob say it's a great gun, well sure, I've never seen them badmouth a gun whos company advertises frequently in their rag.
 
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