Why are there so many reconditioned R9's

[riffraff]

I am going to take a stab at this and you who are in the know can correct me if I am wrong.

There seem to be a lot of reconditioned R9's available because there have been some who have gotten fed up with the feed problems and demanded refunds?

I am not trying to diss the Rohrbaugh, I just want to know if this is what is happening or not.

Mike

[Richard S]

How many have you counted?

[riffraff]

There is one presently at the shop I purchased my Rohrbaugh from and the ones I have heard about here.

The only other other reconditioned or factory refurbished guns I have ever heard of were guns that belonged to a Police Dept. or similar.

With the newness of the R9 and the relatively low serial #'s that I have heard about so far it would seem that something is amiss.  I just want the facts, so what is up?

Mike

[Richard S]

When I do a complete search of the Forum using the keyword "reconditioned," I find only five references to recondictioned R9s:

(1)  Your post today, referring to a reconditioned R9 in your dealer's shop;
(2)  Another post today by PursuitSS referring to one he has on order;
(3)  Posts on May 20 and 25, 2006 by capt..koolaid referring to one he purchased; and
(4)  One on May 18, 2005, by Wayne referring to the auction of another member's R9 which had been reapaired by the factory.

I have run this search twice this evening -- with the same results both times.  (Perhaps others will be able to produce different results.  If so, please post them.)

I think there have been about 1500 R9s shipped.  I'm no statistician, but 4 out of 1500 doesn't appear to me to reach the level of statistical significance.  

I have found my R9 to be unfailingly reliable.  I trust it, completely -- and I recommend it to you and others.  

[MountainMan]

Riff

I have only know one person (Sawbones) where the factory bought back his R9 and it was Rohrbaugh's idea.  R9s are probably being produced at the level of Seecamps.  High quality semi-custom from smaller shops.

Some, or possibly most, of the refurbished R9s could be guns that didn't meet final inspection for some reason and were reconditioned.

My two R9s are perfect so I have no complaints.  Probably the percent of FTF problems are no different than the percent of other brands.  I have seen FTF complaints on most brand forums.

Saying that I have never bought anything refurbished.

[riffraff]

I am not trying to be difficult here Richard but all your statistics come from this forum.  I am guessing that there has to be at least "few" more reconditioned than we know about.

Like I tried to explain before, I have never heard of factory reconditioned Glocks, Berettas, Rugers, Brownings, Kimbers, CZ's etc.,etc., etc., etc., unless they were bought from some large department that was changing arms.

The question still stands.  How did these guns come to be reconditioned by the factory?  Were they sent out to dealers as display pieces?  Were they sent to shootng galleries so people could try them out to get the Rohrbaugh name brand out and about?  What?    Or were these guns returned and the original purchasers provided a refund?

Richard, I am still working on mine and I hope that I find a solution but I have found mine to be unfailingly unreliable so far.  My next range trip wil determine whether mine goes back to the factory for tweaking or not.  I will contunue to keep all informed of my progress but I would still like an answer to my original question if anyone knows any hard info., I understand that maybe no one on the forum really knows.

Mike  

[los]

...The question still stands.  How did these guns come to be reconditioned by the factory?  

I'm just a newby here but I can almost guarantee that NO ONE will have an accurate answer to your question. The problems, if any, associated with any and all factory firearm reconditioning will only be documented by the factory.

I doubt anyone on this Forum would be privy to that information unless of course they're employed at the Rohrbaugh factory. If so,... they probably wouldn't have the authority to disclose the information.

[PursuitSS]

Well I can tell you for a fact there MUST be more than four! I purchased mine from Aregos Pawn in Hot Springs, AR. They indicated they had SEVERAL reconditioned R-9's in stock and they get them on a regular basis.

Mine arrives at 09:30 tomorrow, I HOPE it "runs"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My definition of reliable (once the gun is "broken in")...............250 rounds ZERO MALFUNCTIONS!

PursuitSS

[capt.koolaid]

The reconditioned Rohrbaughs are an interesting issue. I was approached by Arego's with an offer of one of these BEFORE i knew Rohrbaugh had any reconditioned guns. According to Rohrbaugh, They were a "lot" purchased by a group of female shooters who couldnt handle the guns and Rohrbaugh bought them back. The Rohrbaugh rep I spoke with said Rohrbaugh does not as a rule buy back guns, but this was an exception. she also fully endorsed Arego's and the reconditioned R-9s. To my way of thinking, If a company endorses a reconditioned weapon, and offers/honors a warranty, the weapon should be fine. If it were "out of spec" or a "lemon" a reputable company would have bought the gun/s back, and destroyed them if for no other reason than to presearve thier reputation.

I have only bought one other "reconditioned" gun. That was a Glock 17. It seems a Police department switched to .40 calibres and the 9mm model 17s were "traded in" to Glock. Glock is known for thier preferential law enforcement treatment. The Glock came with a warranty and as was my understanding, the "reconditioning" amounted to new springs and a finish touch-up. As expected my Glock has never failed in any aspect and I doubt it ever will.

It may be these "refurbs" are from that same "lot" that the mysterious females owned. Im not sure if this was a Police agency with many female officers, a group of competition shooters, or what.

My R-9 is a refurb with serial # 3xx Deer park, without the "s" designation but has sites. Its condition when I recieved it was like new. It has the new style grips which was a BIG letdown for me as I REALY wanted carbon fiber. I believe the grips were replaced by the factory due to switching over to that style. The frame color is that purpleish hue.

[hedrok]

I would have to agree with LOS.....There is not a person among us who will have the accurate information or the authority to dissimenate it.  Probably the best coarse of action
 would be to write a letter of inquiry to Karl Rohrbaugh and give him the opportunity answer these questions....or not....as is his right (for business considerations).  
I have a pair of the R9 pistols, and, except for a guide rod end working loose, have been flawless for about 250-300 rounds between them.  
In a conversation a short time ago with Karl, he mentioned that the R9 is meant to fire 7-10 in self defense and get out of Dodge.  It is NOT meant for 50- 100 rds. at the range.  Due to
tight tolerences, the different metals in the gun will expand at different rates causing a variety of changes.
We all differ in how we shoot a hand gun....some methods work well with the R9....or any gun,  for that matter....some won't.  I had to "learn" how to shoot the R9....my 32 yr. old daughter picked it up and put 7 rds. in an 8" circle at 21 ft. the 1st time she ever shot it.  No fte, ftf...just bullets down range.  My wife will not shoot the R9.  
I believe that if we want to carry an R9 for self-defense we should adapt ourselves to ITS requirements....not the other way around.

[PursuitSS]

The reconditioned Rohrbaughs are an interesting issue. I was approached by Arego's with an offer of one of these BEFORE i knew Rohrbaugh had any reconditioned guns. According to Rohrbaugh, They were a "lot" purchased by a group of female shooters who couldnt handle the guns and Rohrbaugh bought them back.

The strange part about this is that Aregos Pawn informed me that receive reconditioned R-9's on a regular basis.

In a conversation a short time ago with Karl, he mentioned that the R9 is meant to fire 7-10 in self defense and get out of Dodge.  It is NOT meant for 50- 100 rds. at the range.  Due to
tight tolerences, the different metals in the gun will expand at different rates causing a variety of changes.

I agree with this, BUT, if you clean it after each range session it should NOT malfunction!

PursuitSS

[hedrok]

Absolutely correct....and mine never has.

[RJ HEDLEY]

Not to address the question of, "why so many ?", as that is not clear at this time.

 But to point out the fact, that regardless of how many, a "REFUB" with a full factory warranty shows the Integrity of the Brothers.

There are so many ideas of just what are the traits of a great pistol.  Some accept the idea of a long Break-in period,  some want "Perfection" out of the box.  "Limp- wristing" is a real factor, as is "Ammo Sensitivity".  There are small things like a unpolished ramp that should not be acceptable in a " Pricey Pistol", but few things in this life are perfect ..I guess you have to decide if you want to "Ride in on the first wave" ,....or not.

[PursuitSS]

 Some accept the idea of a long Break-in period,  some want "Perfection" out of the box.  "Limp- wristing" is a real factor, as is "Ammo Sensitivity".  There are small things like a unpolished ramp that should not be acceptable in a " Pricey Pistol", but few things in this life are perfect ..I guess you have to decide if you want to "Ride in on the first wave" ,....or not.

Agreed, I have a sister-in-law that you do NOT want shooting at you with a HK MP-5, BUT, hand her my Glock 17 or Glock 22 and she has at least one malfunction per magazine. It is the infamous "limp wrist syndrome". I have a sneaking suspicion that most os the R-9 malfunctions are going to be traced to this cause, not the fault of the weapon.

I just picked up my R-9s, you might know it, a town of 75,000 people and NO ONE has any 9mm hollow point ammo of any kind in stock! All I have is either ball or Winchester 127 gr. +P+.  Oh well, I guess I'll have to make a run to K.C. Saturday afternoon and grab some ammo.

PursuitSS

[tracker]

Altough it is a fair question, it seems to me that there
is no factual basis to the implication that the Rohrbaughs
would resell a refurbished gun that is not reliable
enough to return to the original owner.