NEW R9s test

[gun4hire]

I have read a lot of this forum and now I can contribute with some experience.
I have been in search of the perfect pocket pistol to carry. I started my quest with a .32 Guardian. I found it reliable but heavy and underpowered. I then moved onto a Keltec P38T. I had all the FTE FTF, pin walking problems that can occur with these pistols.  :-/ >:(I wanted it to work soooo bad I bought 2…and now have 2 non-reliable guns. My older one is a little better than the last one. I love the weight, but .380 is a little weak for my blood. I read this forum after seeing that some people would by a “Rohrbaugh” if they could afford one, I began researching them. I dissregarded the gun test article due to the obvious lack of research and the stupidity of the whole thing.All the other things I read pointed to me NEEDING this gun.  I made the decision on Monday to buy one. I called Aregos in Arkansas and had it in my hand today, Friday. (Good price, fast shipping, funny accent   BUY FROM THESE PEOPLE THEY ARE GREAT..ask for Benny) When I make up my mind I don’t wring my hands worrying, I dive in with both feet (sometimes twice )

I can’t put into words how nice this gun looks. It is as light as the new designed Keltecs and just a little bigger with a HECK of a lot more firepower (stopping power). The workmanship and fit/ finish of the Rohrbaugh R9S is better than I could imagine.

I broke it down. It was easy to disassemble. The recoil spring is a little strong but it can be compressed and the pin pushed out. I used my Glock armorer tool and it is the perfect size. The frame is a beautiful grey colored quality aluminum PERFECTLY fit to the slide. The slide is a machining marvel. I see why it is 900$+ with all that tooling needed WOW it is complex and simple at the same time. I did cut myself on the corner above the extractor, but quickly put on a bandaid so I did not get blood on the work of art   The barrel is well made with obvious free-bore (must be a pressure release method). The lands are a little weak with a few chatter marks. However, I noticed a nice rainbow of color as I see when looking through a borescope at a new Shilen or pac-nor rifle barrel, so it must be of good quality since it cleaned up fairly fast. The recoil mechanism is a bit of a pain but went together when I broke out the wrench and followed instructions. Scared me to get close to her with a rusty Vise grips. The trigger bar and trigger works are easy to clean and lube with the ingenious design. The trigger pull is just like a revolver, but more smooth. This is the finest designed fire arm I own. (including my 2 benchrest rifles!!)  BUT WILL IT SHOOT?

I could only find magtec brand 115 gr at the gunshop, for a “cheap” round. They had speer gold dots 124 gr that I bought. It is the black box and it says “not for Law enforcement use” No mention of +P.They couldn’t tell me if it was +P or not so I ask you all? I used a standard bowling pin looking center mass target. I fired from 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 yards. I was able to keep ALL in the silhouette!! But it shoots left about 6 inches and high 2 inches at 15 yards. I held over for an ok target. Only a few flinches on that darn phantom 8th round lol. NOT ONE MALFUNCTION!!!!! This gun feels like it could eat 9mm rocks and shoot them. It ejects well with only one hitting me between the eyes to remind me to hold on for the ride!! It recoils snappy, twisting up and left. I can control it…but 50 rounds was enough for the first session. If someone confirms the gold dot as NON +P I will shoot it SAT. and see if it can eat good ammo.THEN I WILL JUMP UP AND DOWN. I cleaned it and re-applied super lube BUT I feel it does attract a lot of crud..  I put heavy lube on the frame and barrel lug but less than the factory everywhere else. (but more that I felt I should) I would not doubt the factory.

I got a nemesis pocket holster which was a waste of money since it is EXACTLY the same one as my Keltec’s. I will buy a Hedley Holster since I have read a lot of his posts and his web site. He is a nice guy, great American, and appears to be a great holster maker.

PENDING THE QUALITY AMMO TEST. I can say this is the pocket pistol to own. BUY IT NOW and stop wringing your hands… money is like Doritos…they will make more…..

[RJ HEDLEY]

Welcome to the Forum, I like you already.    

[Wayne]

What RJ said!  

Wow, that was really comprehensive.  I know what you mean about the R9 being the finest firearm you own.  I did the same thing you did, -range trip, breakdown and cleaning, and marvel at the parts.  After that, you just wonder how much better life would have been if the R9 was available to be the first firearm you purchased!  

Welcome!

[jarcher]

Wow, sounds great!  Mine is on order from the same company ans should arrive any day not.  They are waiting from the FFL to arrive in the mail  

So, you said this pistol is accurate at 30 YARDS?  90 feet?  I would have thought such a small pistol would be next to impossible to shoot accuratly at rhat range.  That's good shooting!

Do you have a part number on the Speer ammo?  

[gun4hire]

Since I am impatient, I over-nighted the FFL

My “measurement” methods are my steps which I have “calibrated” to one yard---give or take a bit. But… ya 30 paces and I could BARELY keep it on a body silhouette target by aiming at the right edge of the target. I would say then 20 yrs is the max range..sorry I did not clarrify I shot 50 and counted all 50 holes. I am a NRA cert. firearms instructor, but I don’t claim to be a great shot. A few fell off to the left of the outside line when I would change distance and forget to hold right. I was not shooting that good at 10 yards.. but it kept shooting the same “group size” out to 20 (unless I was getting used to it) then started falling off, FAST. I have the luxury of walking out to my backyard and shooting into a dirt pile. I will soon have a small “real” range set up for a low volume of shooting.  

I found the part number on the Speer website and it is not +P so I shot all but 7 of the 124gr. in the box. (to carry). I noticed the bullets looked like they needed to be seated deeper, they stick way out. The R9 ate them all flawlessly. I had a hard time seeing where they were hitting due to using the same target. It seemed to be shooting a lot higher. I had 3 appear to keyhole, but I will get more and test correctly. The recoil was not much more noticeable over the practice 115gr. It was snowing and I was in a hurry. I would call the accuracy questionable to poor with the 124’s. I will test 115’s too. The gun loved the 115gr practice ammo.

This gun REALLY excites me!!! I was able to test the “how will it feel/ fit in my pocket test” I am using the NEMISIS Holster… In blue jeans, it feels to close to notice as my old style Keltec for weight. The R9 prints the bottom of the butt and grip in general more, but not enough to matter. The R9 is a little wider in the rear of the gun in the hammer area. This causes it to print a little more in this area, but again I have to look real close and think about it to notice. THE BOTTOM LINE.. It is so close to the Keltec P38T print that only the person testing both, putting them in and out and comparing, could tell.

TWO KELTECS IN THE SAFE, ONE ROHRBAUGH P9S IN MY POCKET

[Jim]

Welcome aboard and thanks for your observations, I appreciate them..  Jim

[gun4hire]

I now have 200 rounds through this beauty and it has been flawless ...I have cleaned it after 50-80 rounds. I am getting good at it. Thanks to some help, I can now put the spring in without getting a metal wrench near her I have been using the superlube (found at ACE Hardware) to lube her per the factory... couple observations:

It seems to like 115 gr bullets..It may keyhole 124 gold dots, have not been able to re-test. It DID keyhole 85 gr frangible that I was shooting in our dept's indoor "green" range (it was all that was available at the time). They are long and light. 75 % made sideways hits. I was wondering if this is common??This kinda' surprized me, but the range instructor still liked it and will order one. I have shot 100 rounds-115gr through it and I don't think ANY were keyholin' . Barrel cleans fast like a quality stainless will..but I don't like the very minimal lands..I wish someone could put me to ease by explaining the keyhole thing...have not seen this in a pistol before..I am guessing it has something to do with the freebore design?

I have noticed a little bit of aluminum filings in the grease in the frame right below the recoil spring..I can see wear marks on the frame in the area of the barrel mating surface and the rails. I seems to get less (filings) each cleaning, so I assume it is getting broken in and will stop. I lube it WELL in these areas.

I have carried it in blujeans for some time now (in a NEMISIS)...now that RJ stopped orders
It feels VERY close to my Keltec P3AT, It is a bit "floppier" in dress pants, but with a more quality holster I think it will be better..It aint a show stopper in dress pants, but not "perfect" just acceptable, which is ok by me.

At this point I give it a B+.... it would be an A if it did not keyhole..LOVE IT, LOVE IT,PLEASE BUY ONE FOR YOURSELVES

gun---who can't wait for RJ to fire up the holster production facility again (feed the squirrels more nuts)---

[dmobrien2001]

At this point I give it a B+.... it would be an A if it did not keyhole..

Interesting comment...