Introduced a few shooters to the R9 today

[DanR9SF]

I was at a local range today w/a few friends, watching everyone shoot and helping a newbie with his Sig.  I showed the R9SF to several shooters - none had ever seen one before.  One guy said "oh one of those 380's" and then he took a closer look and said he had never seen a Rohrbaugh.  I mentioned it was 9mm and then everyone took a much longer look.  I let a few people dry fire it and all commented on the excellent, smooth trigger.

Half an hour later it was my turn and I shot 7 rounds at about 15 feet.   A decent 2 1/2 inch group (with 2 fliers due to my trigger finger contacting my left hand grip fingers). I have big hands.  But I was happy because those 7 rounds had been in the gun for almost a year.  I don't shoot the R9 all that much and it was comforting to hear that boom 7 times.  I need to shoot it a little more often.

Anyway the gun shot brilliantly.  It's accurate, reliable, and small.  And it sure gets a lot of looks.  People are amazed at how small, powerful, and accurate it is.

[kjtrains]

Great range report, there, Dan.  Rohrbaugh may get some new orders on the R9.

[Richard S]

Not many people get to see my Rohrbaugh "up close and personal," but those who do for the first time are inevitably amazed. Thanks, Dan, for that fine report.

[ccoorreeyy]

It is fun to "show off" these pride and joys at the range.

[Recluse]

I demonstrated a couple holsters to a few guys last weekend.  I pulled a Ruger LCP out of my back pocket, and the R9 out of my front pocket.

(Kind of fun when they had no idea I was carrying anything, much less two)

They were impressed with the Recluse holster, but once they found out that little gun was a 9mm, they were equally impressed.

[Richard S]

In addition to the range my brother-in-law maintains at my wife's family farm, I'm fortunate in having an outdoor range maintained by the Forestry Service near our mountain cabin. For $30.00 a year, you can purchase a permit for unlimited access to that facility. You just hang your permit on the rearview mirror of your vehicle when you get to the range (just in case a ranger might stop by on his appointed rounds), set up your target(s), go through your chosen drill for the day, and police your station before you leave. The place is usually deserted, which I very much prefer.

[kjtrains]

Both of those places are great assets, there, Richard.  Really is a joy to go shoot when nobody is around.  I enjoy that aspect as well.

[DanR9SF]

My neighbor is a law enforcement officer and the other day we were in the yard talking before he left for work.  I asked him about his service gun and he said it's a Glock in 9mm.  He said 9mm is very powerful and more than adequate.  I mentioned I have a pocket gun and he asked to see it.  When I took it out of my pocket and showed it to him he asked if it was a .22 and I said no.  He said .25? and I said no.  

He said: .32?  and I said no and smiled.

Then he said oh it's one of those .380's, and I said "no it's a 9mm just like your Glock".  He just stood there speechless.  I unloaded it and turned it a bit so that he could see the (big hole) at the end of the barrel.

Let's just say he was mighty impressed.  I mentioned that it might make a good back up for him but he said his Chief doesn't allow them to carry backup.  When I asked why, he responded because if he ever got his gun taken away by a bad guy, well, carrying a backup means two guns to be taken away and in the hands of the bad guy instead of one.  I looked at him but didn't say anything.  What kind of crap is that?  Give the man a chance to defend his life for crying out loud!  

That makes no sense to me but I didn't dig any further.

But that little 9mm pocket gun left an impression.

[Richard S]

It has been my experience over the years that, while most chiefs of police, county sheriffs, and provosts marshal are  intelligent and qualified for the important positions they hold, a few (unfortunately) appear to be generally clueless. By the same token, there are a few attorneys out here with whom I have occasionally crossed paths who cause me to wonder how they managed to blunder their way through law school much less pass a Bar examination.  

[Chief-USN]

Yes , it is amazing, that someone in charge of men in harms way, does not wish them to have a "Reserve chute" backup.
 In some of the Units I was in we carried our Main Weapon, a side arm, and a knife. Many of us carried even more self defense items. Kind of like Backups for the Backups.

 Chief

[theirishguard]

Dan, thanks for the stories, interesting to see folks understand the value of the pup.  Tom