The Rohrbaugh Forum

Rohrbaugh Products and Accessories => Rohrbaugh R9 (all variations) => Topic started by: MRC on December 30, 2014, 08:05:51 PM

Title: Is this the new R9?
Post by: MRC on December 30, 2014, 08:05:51 PM: Scroll down to the RM380.

Looks very similar, conventional mag release and slide lock though. Personally, I welcome both.

http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2014/12/daniel-zimmerman/remington-itroing-three-new-pistols-including-r51/
Title: Re: Is this the new R9?
Post by: dddonkey on December 30, 2014, 08:53:11 PM: Wow, looks like it in my book.
Title: Re: Is this the new R9?
Post by: tracker on December 30, 2014, 09:55:55 PM: And projected to be 1 oz. lighter than the R9; I wonder where the ounce went.
Title: Re: Is this the new R9?
Post by: cargaritaville on December 30, 2014, 10:02:11 PM: JoshA has it! Hey...what happened to JoshA?
Title: Re: Is this the new R9?
Post by: tracker on December 30, 2014, 10:35:30 PM: I was wondering the same thing; he has been MIA for awhile.
Title: Re: Is this the new R9?
Post by: JoshA on December 31, 2014, 02:02:30 AM: Quote from: cargaritaville on December 30, 2014, 10:02:11 PM
JoshA has it! Hey...what happened to JoshA?

JoshA has more than the extra ounce. Disney world has put a few pounds on me, but for every ounce I put on I also gain a gray hair. This place is stressful.

What a long strange trip it's been.

Sure looks like the R9 Eh?
Title: Re: Is this the new R9?
Post by: MRC on December 31, 2014, 01:10:29 PM: Quote from: tracker on December 30, 2014, 09:55:55 PM

And projected to be 1 oz. lighter than the R9; I wonder where the ounce went.

When chambering for the 380 it would be easy to take an ounce out of the slide.

I have always thought that adding an ounce or more to the R9 slide would have increased it's reliability.
Title: Re: Is this the new R9?
Post by: tracker on December 31, 2014, 03:05:47 PM: Conversely, if that were true I don't think that dropping an ounce will help the balance or reliability. I like it just as it came from New York.
Title: Re: Is this the new R9?
Post by: Richard S on December 31, 2014, 08:41:36 PM: I also like the "New York" design. The prototype of the R9 had a slide stop, as can be seen from the accompanying photograph from SHOT 2002. However, as I understand it, Karl and Eric decided to eliminate the slide stop from production models as an unnecessary complication for such a small pistol.

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y30/RichardS/RohrbaughPrototypeat2002ShotShow.jpg)

I remember my reaction when I first saw that photograph. It was something of an epiphany, and I immediately fired off a letter asking to be placed in line for one of the first R9s. I took delivery of R9 No. 132 on May 14, 2004, and it has been my EDC for the past decade.
Title: Re: Is this the new R9?
Post by: MRC on January 01, 2015, 09:17:39 AM: Be it in your pocket, at the range, or in the safe, I do not think there is a pistol made that could not use a little re-engineering once in a while to aid the function or form.

From totally inadequate grip screws/grip panel mounting system to horribly designed grip panels that beg to be replaced to the poorest barrel quality in the business, there can be improvements.

But, from a Conglomerate that has managed to screw up their core business in the last couple of years, (ie. the model 700 and 870's) I do not expect great things.
Title: Re: Is this the new R9?
Post by: Richard S on January 01, 2015, 09:56:37 PM: I'll concede the point on changing out the grip panels:

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y30/RichardS/Rohrbaugh%20R9/R9withElephantHideGripsHolster_zpseaa27afa.jpg)

8)
Title: Re: Is this the new R9?
Post by: DDGator on January 01, 2015, 10:13:09 PM: Yeah, that is it. Rumor had it that they were going to do .380 ACP first.

Interesting confirmation to my speculation that they were dropping the Rohrbaugh name altogether.

Hopefully they will have a prototype at SHOT and I will get photos... maybe even get to shoot one at the Media Range Day?
Title: Re: Is this the new R9?
Post by: tracker on January 01, 2015, 10:50:51 PM: The R9 and the R380 weighed the same at 13.5 oz. and they were both perfectly weighted and balanced, imo.
Title: Re: Is this the new R9?
Post by: Brenden on January 02, 2015, 03:25:01 AM: I'm afraid they'll just mess it up,be it .380 (disappointing for me) or 9mm...
Title: Re: Is this the new R9?
Post by: Rich3006 on January 07, 2015, 01:19:54 AM: MRC, are you saying that the quality of the R9's barrel is poor? If so can you explain why you think that?
Title: Re: Is this the new R9?
Post by: backupr9 on January 07, 2015, 08:22:03 AM: The barrels on my R9's are both perfect...however, a pistol intended for use at a range of 7 yards or less barely even needs rifling IMO.
Title: Re: Is this the new R9?
Post by: BlueC2 on January 07, 2015, 08:29:55 AM: The barrel on the R9 that I shoot and carry (Stealth Elite) is of above average machining and material quality compared to other pocket sized pistols I have owned and handled (I have not closely inspected the barrels of the early R9s that I classify as collectibles). The barrel on the Elite Premium I have looks like a work of art.

I had an early Ruger LCP before I found my way to the R9 and if you want to see poor barrel quality take a close look at one of those. The material felt cheap, corroded significantly just sitting in my house and it was a terribly inaccurate firearm. I am a much better shot with the R9. This kind of goes without saying but the keltec barrels I have handled also have felt cheap and looked of poor machining quality.

So from my point of view R9 barrels would not be classified as a weakness of the firearm. I will add that they would not be classified as a strength either given the two pistols that I just compared it to cost a fraction of the price.
Title: Re: Is this the new R9?
Post by: MRC on January 07, 2015, 08:46:49 AM: Quote from: Rich3006 on January 07, 2015, 01:19:54 AM
MRC, are you saying that the quality of the R9's barrel is poor? If so can you explain why you think that?

This has been gone over enough here. It is a moot point as I am sure that the antiquated barrel rifling equipment that Rohrbaugh used has been sent to the junk yard.

Arne Boberg's prototype XR45 had reamer marks just like some of the Rohrbaugh's. I asked him how it affected performance. He had tested it and it decreases velocity by approximately 40 fps which is significant when the pistol already has less than a 3" barrel. Mine has the reamer marks and it is nearly impossible to get completely clean even after spending at least 4 times the amount of time cleaning than on my Solo. Look at the Walther made PM9 barrels if you want to see an "outstanding" piece of work. I have had two R9's and both had this type of barrel.

Here is the old thread for more info:

http://www.rohrbaughforum.com/index.php?topic=5258.msg63427#msg63427
Title: Re: Is this the new R9?
Post by: Richard S on January 07, 2015, 04:24:47 PM: While greatly admiring the opinions and overall taste in handguns of our distinguished fellow member of the Forum, MRC, on this point my experience is contrary to his. My R9 132 has no so-called chatter marks in the barrel and the rifling shows no flaws. After having proven its accuracy and dependability at pocket-pistol distances, I have elected not to wear it out but limit it to only occasional range sessions to maintain familiarity in the past decade during which it has served as my EDC. No. 132 is still able to hit the 10 ring at 7 yards as long as I do my part.
Title: Re: Is this the new R9?
Post by: MRC on January 07, 2015, 04:55:30 PM: I have never said that all barrels are bad, but far too many were. I am 2 for 2 on my R9's

My problem is the Rohrbaugh's complete denial that there is anything unacceptable about barrels which look like this. I have an R9 stuck in the safe which I cannot sell because of it.

Don't tell me that I do not need to make prospective purchasers aware of it. I have a conscience.
Title: Re: Is this the new R9?
Post by: backupr9 on January 07, 2015, 06:45:41 PM: Realistically, you need to cut your loss and offer the pistol at a price that you feel is reasonable. Assuming that there are no other issues with the pistol, I would be interested. What is the provenance, the description and how much do you want for it?
Title: Re: Is this the new R9?
Post by: MRC on January 07, 2015, 07:22:29 PM: I found the old post John. At that time used R9's were selling for about $900 plus shipping. I did not post it but I was offering serious inquiries $750 by email. The only offer I received was $600.

John, thanks for the inquiry, but I have had it this long so I think I will wait and see how the Remington deal shakes out rather than put it on the "fire sale shelf".

http://www.rohrbaughforum.com/index.php?topic=5998.0
Title: Re: Is this the new R9?
Post by: johnny on January 07, 2015, 07:30:54 PM: To MRC,
I would have to agree with you. Based on the quality that Rohrbaugh put out and my own experience with Remington, my old 870 Wingmaster and what they call the 870 now, case in point, I don't have a lot of faith either.
My heart goes out to the two brothers who produced the R9.I wish I knew what they think of the whole thing. Maybe they are happy they are out of the business. I don't know. But I am guessing they, nor their past employees would care to see their vision going to hell in a hand basket.
Title: Re: Is this the new R9?
Post by: tracker on January 07, 2015, 09:00:03 PM: Have you inquired about buying a new barrel from Williams Gun Sight Co.?
Title: Re: Is this the new R9?
Post by: MRC on January 08, 2015, 06:44:37 AM: Quote from: tracker on January 07, 2015, 09:00:03 PM

Have you inquired about buying a new barrel from Williams Gun Sight Co.?

No, I really have not thought about that pistol until this came up.

When I inquired about it with Rohrbaugh, Eric had Maria tell me:

" All our barrels look like that and we do not have any barrels better than that,. If the gun functions, why would you care what the bore looks like."

That is when I lost faith in Rohrbaugh and the outcome was not a surprise to me.
Title: Re: Is this the new R9?
Post by: tracker on January 08, 2015, 10:37:44 AM: That statement may have been true at the time if the barrel reamer were on its last leg but it is not accurate before then.
Title: Re: Is this the new R9?
Post by: backupr9 on January 08, 2015, 10:50:26 AM: MRC, I agree that keeping the R9 (with consideration of getting another barrel if deemed necessary) would be a smart move. Good luck!
John
Title: Re: Is this the new R9?
Post by: MRC on January 08, 2015, 12:24:39 PM: Quote from: tracker on January 08, 2015, 10:37:44 AM

That statement may have been true at the time if the barrel reamer were on its last leg but it is not accurate before then.

That statement was not true at that time either tracker. Eric just did not want to deal with it. In my opinion it was a warranty issue and that would mean as trip back to the shop, fitting time, and shipping it back. If he started replacing all the bad barrels they shipped, they probably would have gone belly up in 2010 instead of later.

Just shipping one barrel like that is too many, yet they continued doing it.
Title: Re: Is this the new R9?
Post by: tracker on January 08, 2015, 01:21:13 PM: I meant that the barrels were good up until a certain date and I don't know how many like yours were produced or how many reamers they were using at the time. They could have all been like yours at that time. Your situation prompted me to do a close barrel inspection and it was fine. Of course, that was in a late 2004 R9.

Several years ago I bought a pristine but used Colt Detective Special in a gun store. It was in its original box and was so beautiful that I didn't check the barrel with a bore light. It was a 2.5 inch model and the barrel was completely pitted. Luckily, I found a new condition three inch barrel that served as a replacement. There is nothing you could have done since you bought the R9 new from the factory. Since my Colt purchase I don't buy any guns without a bore check first.