The Rohrbaugh Forum

Rohrbaugh Products and Accessories => Rohrbaugh R9 (all variations) => Topic started by: Sonny_Boy on June 01, 2008, 12:12:15 AM

Title: Any problems with the R9?
Post by: Sonny_Boy on June 01, 2008, 12:12:15 AM: I may have found a Rohrbaugh R9 no sights in Ca for sale. The seller says he has shot about 300 rounds through it and it is LNIB. All papers and box with one recoil spring. He says the spring should be replaced at 500 rounds.

Any problems I should be aware of with the R9?

Any serial number series problems?

Any questions I should ask the seller?

Is the R9 a dog compared to the new Elites or Stealth’s or simply cosmetic changes.

Any input would be helpful. I am more knowledgeable of HKs that Rohrbaughs.

Price is not set yet, but being in California, I am going to get spanked pretty hard.

That being said thanks for taking the time to read this thread.
Title: Re: Any problems with the R9?
Post by: Jack Foulard on June 01, 2008, 12:59:48 AM: Welcome!

The current recommendation by the factory is 250 rounds. Seller should be aware of this.

Getting a rough idea of the serial number could be key. A few changes that I am aware of are:
altered chamber dimensions
different slide material
new recoil springs
new mag springs
new frame finish
new grips

Early R9 pups had different than current frame finish. A seller in the past few days posted that his R9 had a letter from the factory that stated that he had 1 of 46 or 47 R9's with that color finish. There were some posts early on that speculated to durability issues on that finish. I haven't read any confirmations that there were actual finish problems.

Springs were changed to address feeding issues and supposedly chamber dimensions were also altered possibly for the same reasons.

Grips are cosmetic but current ones are G10. The Stealth and the Elites and basically cosmetic variations. The Elite Premiums had hand fitting and such that raised the price to about $2200+. Only 16 made. Check Gunbroker to see one.

Read up on the old posts and you will fins out much more than can be posted in this thread. There is truly a wealth of information in past posts that you can use to get a better understanding of the R9. Do your research and you will be rewarded with a wonderful handgun without any surprises.

I hope you don't get bent over on the price.

Good luck.
Title: Re: Any problems with the R9?
Post by: Sonny_Boy on June 01, 2008, 01:24:15 AM: Thank you very much for the information and where to look for more R9 stuff.

I will get killed compared to being out of CA. At a some point I just may get another HK P7M8 in lieu of the R9 if we cannot reach a reasonable price.

Thanks again.
Title: Re: Any problems with the R9?
Post by: Aglifter on June 01, 2008, 01:40:31 AM: I wasn't aware of any altered chamber dimensions -- when did they change?
Title: Re: Any problems with the R9?
Post by: theirishguard on June 01, 2008, 02:23:59 PM: If he has one now in the state and offers it for sale and you want one what are you waiting for??? Tom
Title: Re: Any problems with the R9?
Post by: Sonny_Boy on June 01, 2008, 03:07:03 PM: He is asking $2,000.00! I am also looking at a HK 911 for about the same money.
Title: Re: Any problems with the R9?
Post by: Jack Foulard on June 01, 2008, 03:13:55 PM: Quote
He is asking $2,000.00!

Please don't take this the wrong way but I would pass on the R9 for $2000. But then again, I don't know what you folks in CA have to deal with to get handguns.

If there is one in the state, does this mean it is approved and could you get another one?

Was there some kind of grandfathering of guns to a certain point and then things changed?

Thanks
Title: Re: Any problems with the R9?
Post by: Sonny_Boy on June 01, 2008, 03:24:06 PM: Jack,

The reason I have not done the deal is the price. $1,200.00 to $1,400.00 seemed OK, $2,000.00 is a little rich for my blood. The seller just gave me the price today.

To answer your question, the Rohrbaugh is not on the CA Roster of Approve Handguns for sale. That means if it is not on the list the pistols cannot be shipped to us in CA, but if the pistol is already in the state or legally brought in (someone lives out of state and move here and registers same) it can be sold, but only PPT no shipping in the state.

So, if there is one in CA it commands a premium. At $2,000.00 I will purchase the HK 911 or for less money buy another P7M8 which is an awesome gun and fall of the Approved List 9/2008 and then becomes more valuable, at least in CA.

I have a Kahr PM9 so I covered for a small 9mm.

Hence, the reason for my thread. The posts have been very helpful in making my decision easier
Title: Re: Any problems with the R9?
Post by: theirishguard on June 01, 2008, 03:38:17 PM: Ca is just one day going to fall off into the ocean sad Tom
Title: Re: Any problems with the R9?
Post by: Sonny_Boy on June 01, 2008, 03:48:15 PM: After the Big One! EARTHQUAKE!!
Title: Re: Any problems with the R9?
Post by: Alphonso on June 01, 2008, 10:47:45 PM: Sonny Boy,

I, too, have a PM9. Haven't touched it since I got the R9. I choked a bit on the $1,100 I paid for mine (especially since I'd never even seen one), but would now drop 2K with out a second thought if this one was lost or stolen.

FWIW...
Title: Re: Any problems with the R9?
Post by: Sonny_Boy on June 01, 2008, 11:22:12 PM: My PM9 is a safe queen. Hmm.... $2,000.00, oh my gosh really buy one again at that price?
Title: Re: Any problems with the R9?
Post by: Alphonso on June 02, 2008, 12:52:43 AM: Maybe my post wasn't clear. My PM9 now sits in the safe since I got the R9. Before that it was my everyday carry.

I have no need for the PM9 anymore. R9 carries better and the PM9 is not a lot of fun to shoot anyway.

If I lost the R9 for some reason, I would replace it. If I had to give $2,000 for one, I'd do it...
Title: Re: Any problems with the R9?
Post by: Sonny_Boy on June 02, 2008, 01:29:36 AM: Alphonso,

You post war clear, perhaps mine wasn't.

Well the seller and I got to $1,700.00, so... this deal may go down. I'll get back to you guys.

Appreciate the responses.
Title: Re: Any problems with the R9?
Post by: Richard S on June 02, 2008, 07:50:40 AM: SB:

Quote
Welcome!

* * * Early R9 pups had different than current slide finish. A seller in the past few days posted that his R9 had a letter from the factory that stated that he had 1 of 46 or 47 R9's with that color finish. There were some posts early on that speculated to durability issues on that finish. I haven't read any confirmations that there were actual finish problems.

* * *
Good luck.

I own the 32nd of those few R9s with the original finish, having taking delivery of it in May 2004. This is a photograph of it, with its Hedley holster and some new olive drab aluminum grips, taken in May 2008 after four years of daily carry. The finish shows no wear, and the pistol has shown no vices. It originally came with blue carbon fiber grips. Those are stored in my safe with spares in black carbon fiber, G10, and clear aluminum. (The Hedley holster, of course, has worn as well as the pistol.)

As Jack noted, good luck!

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y30/RichardS/may2003.jpg)
Title: Re: Any problems with the R9?
Post by: harrydog on June 02, 2008, 08:38:11 AM: Quote
SB:

I own the 32nd of those few R9s with the original finish, having taking delivery of it in May 2004. This is a photograph of it, with its Hedley holster and some new olive drab aluminum grips, taken in May 2008 after four years of daily carry. The finish shows no wear, and the pistol has shown no vices. It originally came with blue carbon fiber grips. Those are stored in my safe with spares in black carbon fiber, G10, and clear aluminum. (The Hedley holster, of course, has worn as well as the pistol.)

As Jack noted, good luck!

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y30/RichardS/may2003.jpg)
Richard, how many rounds through this gun so far?
Title: Re: Any problems with the R9?
Post by: theirishguard on June 02, 2008, 12:44:55 PM: now things are moving in the right direction. Tom
Title: Re: Any problems with the R9?
Post by: Richard S on June 02, 2008, 04:14:06 PM: Harry:

I've not kept an exact count of rounds fired, but I try to change recoil springs every 100-200 rounds or so, and I think I'm now working on spring number four. The pistol is carried every day, is shot sparingly just to retain familiarity, and is stripped down and cleaned at least once a month whether it has been shot or not. I also rotate magazines twice a year -- when I change the clocks.

(Did I mention that I'm a bit obsessive/compulsive with this R9 of mine? ::) )
Title: Re: Any problems with the R9?
Post by: Sonny_Boy on June 03, 2008, 10:47:39 PM: To All Forum Friends,

I am doing a PPT on a Rohrbaugh R-9, serial number below 500, with about 300 rounds down the pipe + or -, box, papers and two holsters.

Due to gun laws in CA there is a 10 day wait before I pick it up. Looks like I need to buy some extra recoil springs for sure.

Thanks for all your posts and recommendations.

A happy and one of the few in CA with a legal Rohrbaugh!
Title: Re: Any problems with the R9?
Post by: Richard S on June 04, 2008, 07:14:55 AM: SB:

And the best of luck to you with your early-edition R9! I hope it gives you the same flawless service which my No. 132 has given me.

I stocked up on the original recoil springs shortly after I acquired my R9 in 2004 (purchasing some from a former member here on the Forum). As a result, I still have a couple of unused original springs left in my safe. Since I rotate my magazines regularly, I'm still using the original magazine springs as well. If and when I go to the new recoil springs, I'll probably also want to replace the original magazine springs, since I've read reports on the Forum that the new sets work well together.

Again, good luck, and please give us a range report.
Title: Re: Any problems with the R9?
Post by: Sonny_Boy on June 04, 2008, 09:29:59 PM: Went and did the PPT and she is sweet. Two questions:

1) The slide does not stay locked open on an empty magazine is this correct, the seller said that is the way it fuctions?
2) One spare magazine does not slide into the pistol without having to push (which I did not do) and looks like the magazine foot and magazine base are ill fitted (swollen). Can this be sent back to Rohrbaugh?

Other than that is is a very nice pistol. Cannot take it home though for 10 days.
Title: Re: Any problems with the R9?
Post by: Jack Foulard on June 04, 2008, 09:56:38 PM: Quote
Went and did the PPT and she is sweet.

Cannot take it home though for 10 days.

Congratulations!

Where the heck do you live?
Title: Re: Any problems with the R9?
Post by: Sonny_Boy on June 04, 2008, 10:00:40 PM: Ventura, Ca.

Did you by chance see my question about the slide not locking open with an empty magazine?

Finding this in Ca was like looking for hen's teeth.
Title: Re: Any problems with the R9?
Post by: CaptBW on June 04, 2008, 10:30:59 PM: The slide does not lock open.
Title: Re: Any problems with the R9?
Post by: Sonny_Boy on June 04, 2008, 10:32:17 PM: Thanks for the reply.
Title: Re: Any problems with the R9?
Post by: Richard S on June 05, 2008, 07:09:50 AM: SB:

As the Captain noted, the slide of the R9 does not lock open after the last round in a magazine is fired. I believe the concept of a slide lock was tested during early development of the pistol but was discarded as impractical in a pistol which was pushing the envelope for its caliber. In that regard, I like the following paragraph from the R9 Owner' Manual:

[size=10]That brought us to the reliability issue. Regardless of advances in technology, the common denominator of reliability remains simplicity. The fewer things there are that can go wrong, the fewer there are that may go wrong at the worst possible moment. By adapting the time-tested locked breech mechanism to a design utilizing state of the art materials for strength and weight, and by eliminating the frills and “gizmos” of many current semi-automatic pistols, we have tried to create as completely a reliable weapon as possible. [/size]
Title: Re: Any problems with the R9?
Post by: Sonny_Boy on June 05, 2008, 10:10:39 AM: Richard and Captain,

Not sure I like the idea of not locking open on an empty chamber as all my other autos do lock open. I understand it will not cause Rohrbaugh to modify their design but... seems odd to me.

Well, nonetheless I look forward to shooting it and have ordered several springs and an extra magazine due to the one being faulty.
Title: Re: Any problems with the R9?
Post by: Richard S on June 15, 2008, 07:50:25 PM: SB:

I'm just back from 10 days in the mountains and am catching up on my reading.

I seem to recall a conversation with Eric Rohrbaugh some time ago in which he mentioned that he and Karl had experimented with the installation of a slide lock on an early prototype of the R9 and had found it to be an unnecessary complication on a pistol which was literally redefining the size envelope for a full-power 9mm.