Took the Shield 9 to the range and rented a SR9C

R

Rich_357

New member
Well I took the $10 rental (5 shots) with an SR9C today. This was my initial choice before I chose the Shield for carry purposes. I finally found a range that had the SR9C; this is my opinion.

The gun is a little bit bulky for a compact but after all it is a double stack. The weight felt nice and the action felt smooth; the rental was only for 5 shots. The recoil was minimal and the trigger was bad @ss. Truth be told, the trigger is almost worth the money. My first shot was low and left (12"x12" target), next one on the money, followed by three more in the kill zone. That's an accurate gun for a newb with only 5 rounds.

Nothing against my Shield because it is a smaller gun with a different purpose, but I have put hundreds of rounds through it and I haven't come close to being that accurate at that distance. Would I trade my Shield? No because I chose it for subcompact carry and its a great gun at short range. Compact carry, bring on the SR9C!
 
Rich_357, I own and carrying the SR9c. It really is a good compact pistol. I also have an LCP that gets carried when I need something smaller and lighter. They both have their place, but most of the time I carry the 9c. With the right holster and a little practice it conceals well. It has taken some time to get used to, but it is like carrying a wallet; you don't pay it much attention unless you don't have it in your pocket.
 
Is that correct 10 dollar rental for 5 shots? Is the range time included? Sorry, I realize this is off point, but it seemed expensive.
 
K_Mac,

I hear ya'. Like I said, I'm a newb but I'm getting there. My LCP could hit something at 5 yards but not accurately. My Shield.... Dead shot at 5 yards but working on 7. My SP101. .... She's just bad ass! I chose the Shield due to it being an low profile single stack and yes it does pocket fit with the 7 round clip.

If I ever want to go larger, the SR9C is WAY up there! The trigger makes the gun!
 
Gun, target, 5 rounds and range for $10. Each gun and 5 rounds after that are $5.

That's typical for most places around here if you just want to try a gun out. If you bring your own equipment it's $10 per half hour.
 
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I have 3 carry guns and one is the Shield 9mm and one is the SR40c (very similar to the SR9c). I agree with the OP. The Shield is a fine gun and shoots great, but I am dead-on accurate at greater ranges with my SR40c.
 
I usually pack my SR9C when I carry concealed but I have been entertaining the idea of a shield. I've packed on a bit of weight lately and it's been increasingly difficult to find a viable carry option.
 
The SR9C is one of the thinnest double stacks there is at the grip. However, my XD Mod2. 45 is shorter overall. SR9C has a better trigger than the XD, but the XD has a much better fit and finish, I never saw a feed ramp soo shiny from the factory.

My SR9C has had some light primer strike issues, its been sent back to Ruger twice now. I just got it back last week again and the same thing, light primer strikes after about the 30th round. Ruger has been great of course... , well great at everything expect fixing it.

My first gen LCP works great and SR-22 work fine... just the SR9C thats been the problem.

My EDC is the Mod2 right now. I will be switching to a Sig P938 for summer, I just picked one up for 590 on gunbroker.
 
My SR9C has had some light primer strike issues
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I believe that those are caused by the magazine safety, useless device. I removed mine right out of the box and have never had a single light strike with it.
 
Another vote for the Ruger SR.
Ruger SRs are very much underrated.
Probably the best striker fired triggers of all.
The 9mm version I rented was excellent in all regards.
And they don't even cost all that much.
 
Well I took the $10 rental (5 shots)
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That's it, I'm getting into the gun rental business.

I've shot the SR9, and I've shot the Shield. I'm a revolver guy and wasn't impressed with either. For a 9 I like the Berretta 92FS, but its not a concealed gun.

I run training classes where I suggest not buying a gun until you try several. Our club has just about every kind imaginable to try (though we don't rent them.....................yet).

Anyway I found a little Ruger LC9S Pro, I was impressed with, nice light but safe trigger, no safety to fool with in panic situations (when pushed people always seem to have problems with the safety). So I bought it on a whim, think it would be a good gun to try.

As I said, I was impressed...............until I fired it, then I was amazed. I can shoot that gun, even at distance better then I can my Berretta. Took it out when I was rifle shooting and shot it at a 10X10 gong at 50 yards, out of a 7 round clip, I hit 5 out of 7 shots.

The gun can shoot, and recoil isn't bad.

I was concerned with the light trigger. I pocket carry a 642. We know if you pocket carry nothing should be in that pocket with the gun. So to test the trigger I put it EMPTY, in my other pocket that contained all my other pocket junk, Pocket knife, keys, change, etc. Tried that for two weeks and the hammer (striker) never fell.

I got one of those sticky holsters for the LC9S, and (again empty) tried every way possible to pull the trigger, couldn't do it.

As much as a revolver shooter as I am, I'm seriously thinking of swapping my 642 for the LC9S as a carry gun.
 
I don't regret dumping my SR9c, but I do come close. That thing was a great shooter! Best striker trigger I've shot yet. Yeah, maybe I do miss it some.

It turned out to just be a little bit too small for me, I prefer a fuller grip (and I have smallish hands, go figure) so single stack 9's are completely out.

Great gun though.
 
When I was looking at the SRs about ten years ago, I opted for the SR9 over the SR9c as I wanted more of a grip. I carry OWB and the SR9 does just fine for me as I usually cover with a shirt tail, jacket, etc. SR9 or SR9c - they both are good pistols in my opinion and I've put a lot of rounds through my SR9 with absolutely no issues at all - both factory and my cast lead reloads.

I also got a 9mm Shield this past year and I love it. Two different pistols I know but I find myself shooting the Shield more than my SR9 for some reason.

Those are the only two semi-autos that I own as I am mainly a revolver guy.

I usually carry a S & W Model 36 and have for a long time. BUT, due to several circumstances in the past year or so, I began thinking about maybe I ought to carry something with a few more rounds available. With a spare mag - both of them offer that. I don't think a person could go wrong with either one and if I was looking for a double stack compact - I'd probably take another look at the SR9c for sure and just get used to the shorter grip.
 
I too had an SR9c for a few years. Superb pistol, very nice trigger, and very accurate. I do remember a day at the range when a buddy of mine swapped. He shot light out with my Ruger...far better than with his own Beretta 92.

While really liking the SR9c, I sold it. For me, a little too wide for me to CC comfortably.

In its place, I picked up a S&W 908s. It's 8 rounds of single stack goodness, noticably thinner, lighter, and much easier to carry. Pretty accurate in my hands - tho not as dead on as the SR9c - but the weight and thinness made all the difference for me.

Would I go back to the SR9c? Probably not. For me the 10 round short mag made it a little top heavy and not as comfortable to hold. (Ironically, the little Smith is VERY comfy. Go figure.) Nevertheless, the 17 rounder with the grip extension was just perfect. Nicely balanced and with that very good trigger, a wonderful shooter for me.

Live and learn. So while I generally liked the SR9c a lot, my next pistol will be the full size SR9 or the SR9E.
 
There is an informal shooting contest going on at my gun club.

At least when I am there. With my very new SR9C being compared to my almost new Walther P99 AS Compact.

I am very impressed with both guns and cannot yet say which trigger I like better. With the Walther, I can decock and carry it safely. With the Ruger, I can apply the thumb safety and carry it safely. Both have nice light sear releases.

Yes, I am in favor of the thumb safety. That gives you the striker fired equivalent of the cocked-and-locked 1911 design. And the Ruger trigger, while not releasing as crisply as a 1911, is almost as light (at least to me) as a factory 1911 trigger.

But the Ruger is the best bargain. You might get one for less than $400, new. Mine was technically pre-owned so the price was even lower.

Bart Noir
 
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