Ruger SR-9... thoughts and experiences

[kcmarine]

I'm looking at possibly purchasing a used SR-9 I saw at a gun store today. Felt good in the hand, though I haven't had a chance to shoot one yet. What are your experiences with this model of pistol? How are reliability and accuracy? I think I'd have one mainly for going to the range every once in a while and to keep in the nightstand with a flashlight next to it. Is the SR-9 a good choice for this?

 

[Walt Sherrill]

Before you decide handle an SR9C and see if you can dry fire both.

The SR9, when they first came out, had a good reputation, but had mediocre triggers. I have one of those, and had the Ghost trigger kit installed. Still a little on the heavy side, but very crisp/clean. The SR9cs I've handled have better triggers. It may be that the newr SR9 are better, too.

The trigger/fire control assembly is complex with a lot of small parts. If you're handy with home gunsmithing, you can probably install a Ghost kit in the SR9 -- but its much more involved than doing the same thin with a Glock. (After watching thei Ghost instruction video, I decided to lem my gunsmith do it.)

Nice gun, seems to be reliable, and very accurate. I don't shoot it a lot, but like it better than others Ruger seimi-autos I've owned or shot.

Under-appreciated, and a lot of bang for the buck...

 

[kcmarine]

I did get the chance to handle a SR9c. Unfortunately, my hands are too big.

You know big hands mean...

No compacts as range guns.

 

[TarDevil]

I have the SR9c, my favorite handgun. Sweetest trigger ever. Ergonomics are fantastic. Completely reliable through 2000 rounds.

Like Walt suggested, I don't know why anyone would get the full size. The compact come with an extented magazine which makes the compact grip feel like the full size. Th sight radius... you won't know the difference. The compact is like two guns in one.

 

[kcmarine]

Is it possible newer ones have a better trigger? I can go try to find out when the pistol was made.

Does the SR-9 or SR-9c handle recoil better in your experience?

 

[Walt Sherrill]

You can always ask if you can dry-fire the gun...

As noted above, you can get an extension unit that lets you use larger mags in the compact, and that has the effect of giving you a full-size grip.

 

[Oldman1151]

SR-9

I bought a SR-9 about a month ago. Bought it mainly for my wife to use at a shooting class she is taking. Before that she was using my full size 45 ACP 1911's. We had been looking at the SR-9 and SR-9c for a while. We decided the SR-9c was just too small. We are very satisfied with our choice. Very comfortable to shoot, nice trigger, accurate and is easy to take down and clean. No misfires or jams of any kind so far. Bought it mainly for the wife but I am really liking the gun to shoot myself. I feel better that my 1911's are not going class anymore too. Came with two full size 17 round mags too.

 

[BSA1]

Another positive review for the Ruger SR9c. When I had to have rotator cuff surgery a couple of years ago I had to shoot weak handed until it healed. I had no malfunctions and actually shot pretty good groups which is surprising if you know how bad my weak hand shooting normally is.

As the grip being too small the SR9C came with both 10 and 15 (or is it 17) round magazines. The gun comes with a sleeve that fits over the longer magazines to extend the grip.

 

[Browns Fan]

I have an SR40c that I traded a glock 23 gen4 for. One of the best trades I have done. I could not shoot the 23 well consistently after trying for 1.5 yrs. I really like the ruger, it handles the .40 recoil well and I can consistently hit what I'm aiming at, even in rapid fire.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

I bought an SR9 about 5 years ago and put a lot of rounds through it since then.

With mine (first 3 numbers of serial # is 330) the pros and cons are as follows

Pros:
Very reliable
Will shoot any factory and properly loaded ammo I've fed it.

Is pretty accurate for a $400.00 gun. ( What they cost 5 years ago).

High capacity. 2) 17 round mags came with mine.

Very easy to take down to clean

Trigger on mine broke in nicely. 4.5lbs now.

Cons:
Sights aren't the best, hard to acquire sight picture compared to better sights.

Can't shoot it left handed. Trigger won't pull. (left hand pushs in on mag release and disables trigger. (Thinks the mag has been removed)

Doesn't really fit my hand as well as my M&Ps do, so I don't shoot it any more.

Full sized model to big for Concealed Carry.

A Shield cost about the same money and is a better gun in my opinion. Has better sights already on it, doesn't have all the safety crap on it and for me is easier to shoot accurately. But is only 7 shot with extended mag.

So that depends on weather you are buying it as an all purpose gun or a Conceiled Carry piece.

 

[bannockburn]

kcmarine

I got an SR9c for just the opposite reason: smaller sized hands felt better with the downsized frame versus that of the full size SR9. My SR9c has easy to acquire sights, a decent trigger, and is surprisingly accurate. I also like that it has a manual safety. I would say if you like the feel of the SR9 and the trigger is good, it could make for a good range gun.

 

[Snowblind]

I tried one just recently. It was my favourite out of a group of pistols I shot that day. I have long, spindly hands, and it fit well and was quite comfortable. I thought the sights were fine, I actually liked them better than the Glock sights or the M&P 9's. It also has a way better trigger than both, IMO, but I'm new to the sport, so I can only say what's been said to me: try them all out, see what you like!

 

[Mike J]

I haven't owned an SR9 but if I were looking at purchasing a used one I would make sure it has a D shaped magazine catch. The earlier guns had round catches. I saw numerous threads about the early guns at rugerforum when they were first released where people had issues with peening or hard triggers. About the time the SR9c was introduced ruger made some changes to the SR9 trigger & there seemed to be less people posting about peening issues. Make sure it is one of the later guns. If you want to check the year of manufacture there is a way to do it on Rugers website using the serial number.

 

[kokapelli]

I have the SR9 and highly recommend it. Mine is one of the early ones and had to go back for the update, but has been flawless even before the upgrade.

 

[Scarpia]

How are reliability and accuracy? I think I'd have one mainly for going to the range every once in a while and to keep in the nightstand with a flashlight next to it. Is the SR-9 a good choice for this?

I don't have the SR9 nor the SR9C but I do have the "9E". My 9E is superbly reliable, accurate, smooth shooting and with 17+1, is a no brainer for nearly any occasion. For shooting 'once in a while' as a 'nightstand' gun, I'd go for the less expensive 9E. The 9E is a high capacity, easy to carry piece if you opt for that function too which is the primary reason I bought it.

I was at the range yesterday blasting paper with the 9E and my CZ-75BD, frankly, I got the same results with both guns, same loads, same distance to target(s). The 9E has become my primary 'outside the house' carry piece. I do have occasions where the Sig P238 and a selection of J-frames are used.

 

[mgmorden]

I like the SR-9 a lot, but the 9E looks very, very nice IMHO.

The 9E eliminates the obnoxious LCI in favor of a simple witness hole. It also has fixed sights - the adjustables on the SR-9 present a very poor sight picture IMHO. I just put a set of Ameriglo fixed sights on my gun with drastically improved the sight picture.

About the only thing I like better on the SR-9 versus the 9E is the SR-9 is available with a stainless slide. Other than that, I think their "budget" version is actually slightly better.

Reliability and accuracy have been good though with the SR9.

 

[LockedBreech]

While I'm not a huge fan of the SR9 overall (too much safety gunk mostly), one thing I will give the design is that it's incredibly comfortable to hold. I was in disbelief the first time I held the fullsize SR9. I could not believe it was a 17-round magazine. It felt slimmer than single-stack guns I've held. It feels slimmer than my Sig P6 which is an 8+1.

 

[mgmorden]

It feels slimmer than my Sig P6 which is an 8+1.

Yep, though the P6 for whatever reason is needlessly thick IMHO. I took some calipers to several of my handguns oneday and measured them at the grip and the SIG P6 actually measured wider than about half my double-stack guns. They're good guns for what they are but unlike most modern carry guns the single-stack nature isn't getting you a thinner profile.

 

[ku4hx]

Wife bought an SR9, SR9c and an SR40. We like them all and shoot all quite well. For bedside, she like the SR9 because she's feels more confident with the full size gun in a stressful situation. That's very likely just a training issue, but it's her choice.

All have been reliable and accurate. The SR40 is the "softest" shooting 40S&W I've ever shot

 

[stchman]

I bought an SR9 about 5 years ago and it has been a very reliable firearm with good ammo.

I recently purchased another SR9 via the used market (I got it for a really good price) and it has a MUCH better trigger. Turned out the previous owner had the internals polished and this resulted in a much lighter trigger.

I have read that the newer SR9s with the D shaped magazine release have better triggers than older SR9s.

 

[kcmarine]

Went back to the store and gave the SR9c a try with the mag extension. I like it. I still have yet to fire one, though.

The more I think about it, the more I like the idea of maybe having something in the car. The compact would be better for that.

 

[45tex]

The only negatives it experienced was a flimsy feeling unneeded safety and a tendency to FTE when the wife fired the gun. For me it was a great shooter. The LCI was so outlandish that I sold the gun. Every time that stupid flag came up I felt like Ruger was telling me I was too stupid know the condition of my own weapon.

 

[Cemetery21]

I bought a SR9 a couple of years ago for a loaner. All I had were 1911s and really didn't want to loan them. My son shoots some but would rather borrow dad's than own a rifle/shotgun/pistol.
I broke it down and liked the way it was made. Shot it for function and accuracy and liked both. Went back and got a SR9C and keep them both loaded at each ends of the house. I got to thinking that if I had to use one and the law took it while they were investigating, I wouldn't worry about it like I would a good 1911 or a Smith revolver.

 

[kcmarine]

Ended up buying an SR-9c. Was getting Minute of Bad Guy groups at 7 yards within a few hours of buying the thing. I think we have a winner.

 

[JR24]

I have an SR40c that I traded a glock 23 gen4 for. One of the best trades I have done. I could not shoot the 23 well consistently after trying for 1.5 yrs. I really like the ruger, it handles the .40 recoil well and I can consistently hit what I'm aiming at, even in rapid fire.

I had exactly the opposite happen. Didn't really like my SR40c at all, got a Glock 23 and love it. Dumped the Ruger.

That said, my SR9c is the best shooting 9mm I have short of my Hi Power. Love the trigger on that little thing.