The Rohrbaugh Forum
Rohrbaugh Products and Accessories => Rohrbaugh Range Reports => Topic started by: RickP on February 01, 2008, 04:51:17 PM
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Just back from my second trip to the range, and couldn't be happier with the R9. Shot 84 rounds 115gr WWB without any problem at all. First target I shot 12 rds right handed and had a nice group in the 9 and 10 ring lower left of the X. Then switched hands and shot 6 rds 5 inside the 9 ring with 1 in the 8 ring. I don't know if that would be considered good, but I was happy with it! Put one target at 15 yds and got 12 of 12 on the target. The targets I'm using are 10.5" square. The rest of the time I experimented shooting single handed right and left, and practicing raising the gun, aiming and firing trying to be smooth and accurate. I am sure this stuff is old hat to you seasoned shooters out there, but it's brand new to me and I'm having a great time with it, and just had to tell someone. Thanks for listening.
Rick
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Its the next day and again, just got back from the range. Put another 62 rds through the R9 again no problems. When I talked to Maria she told me that the recoil springs were now good for 200 to 250 rds. I now have 206 rds on mine. When I cleaned the gun after my first 60 rds the recoil spring was about 1/8" shorter than new. When I cleaned the gun last night it was a good 1/4" shorter than new. The gun still works perfectly.
The reason I'm writing all this is that when I was waiting for my gun I read all these stories about poor reliability, gun stays locked in safe, and all that. Really had me worried. Well, my experience has been the complete opposite. Flawless operation, and a whole lot of fun to shoot. If anyone is trying to decide whether to purchase one of these jewels or not, I hope my experience helps you.
Rick
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I completely agree with you.
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RickP, Great range report and good shooting. It has been said before, You don't hear from all the people who have not had problems. The gun is supposed to work well. You do hear about any gun that does not perform as it is supposed to. Usually Very Loud and Clear. In my opinion Rohrbaugh produces the finest pocket 9 available and I am very happy with mine. Dan
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RickP, again a good range report with a great pocket carry pistol. Tom
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RickP:
Thank you for the outstanding range reports on what I consider to be the nec plus ultra of pocket pistols.
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I had a different experience. I took my new R9 to the range and put about 60 rounds of standard UMC target ammunition through the gun. It had light strikes on at least 1 round per clip and many times two rounds per clip. It jammed four times with a live round sticking out of the breach. It could not be unjammed by one person! The anodized slide is being marked up by ejecting shells. I spoke to the company owner and he implied I may not be holding the gun properly!!! He did agree to look it over to make sure it was assembled properly!? He also agreed to refund my money if I was unhappy with the gun. He never said he could send me back a gun that I can rely on every round. I am certain that if I ever have to use this gun for its intended purpose as a defense weapon, whoever is trying to harm me will run for their lives when I inform them that the company owner assures me that the gun was put together properly, regardless of if it fires.
Anyway, I brought it back to my gunshop which is a very reliable company. They will be evaluating the gun and will get back to me.
These guns are obviously beautifully put together but have some engineering problems. If my cheap little Kel-Tec can fire on each trigger pull and never jam, so should a gun for 4 times the price. Other people are having trouble with these guns, it is not an isolated experience. They should correct the problem or sales will die.
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Not that it is the cause of the problem but I would not use
UMC ammo, especially in the R-9.
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Your choice of ammo may have something to do with the problem. Please try speer Gold Dot, Winchester Silver Tip or Federal in 115 and /or 124 gr bullets. I know it's hard but try not to throw the baby out with the bath water. Tom
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I had a different experience. I took my new R9 to the range and put about 60 rounds of standard UMC target ammunition through the gun. It had light strikes on at least 1 round per clip and many times two rounds per clip. It jammed four times with a live round sticking out of the breach. It could not be unjammed by one person! The anodized slide is being marked up by ejecting shells. I spoke to the company owner and he implied I may not be holding the gun properly!!! He did agree to look it over to make sure it was assembled properly!? He also agreed to refund my money if I was unhappy with the gun. He never said he could send me back a gun that I can rely on every round. I am certain that if I ever have to use this gun for its intended purpose as a defense weapon, whoever is trying to harm me will run for their lives when I inform them that the company owner assures me that the gun was put together properly, regardless of if it fires.
Anyway, I brought it back to my gunshop which is a very reliable company. They will be evaluating the gun and will get back to me.
These guns are obviously beautifully put together but have some engineering problems. If my cheap little Kel-Tec can fire on each trigger pull and never jam, so should a gun for 4 times the price. Other people are having trouble with these guns, it is not an isolated experience. They should correct the problem or sales will die.
Sorry to hear of your problems. I use 115gr WWB at the range, about 360 rounds now, and my gun just works. As a new shooter the guys on this forum advised me to keep a firm grip, and to be careful not to limp-wrist. No, I'm not saying that that applies to you, but I understand that has been a problem for some.
My suggestion would be to give the gun a good cleaning and lube, grab some WWB and head back to the range being mindful that these guns have been sensitive to grip in the past. If that dosen't do it, I'm sure the factory will make it right.
Rick
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Thanks for your replies. However....I have never had a problem with UMC ammunition. I have shot hundreds of rounds through multiple guns, including my Sig and Kahr 9mms with no trouble.
A reliable defense weapon for two to three times the going price of other quality guns should not be so finicky. This type of carry weapon has to perform under conditions of life or death. If this was a target pistol, it wouldn't matter.
A brand new, never shot before gun is not malfunctioning because it needs to be cleaned. The gun comes well lubricated from the factory. It is vsibly well lubricated. The gun is simply not functional.
Its tight tolerences suggest to me there are design flaws rather than defective assembly. There is nothing to adjust. The gun is assembled correctly. It is just a bad design. I understand everyone's affection for this gun. I loved it too, until I shot it. You can't point a gun at an attacker on the mean streets of Miami and have it jam or misfire.
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In fact, my son and I shot exactly 350 rounds uf UMC 9mm ammunition that day through my 3 9mm pistols. Only the Rohrbaugh had a problem. You can't help but hold this gun firmly with the bite or kick it has.
Anyway, under stress fire you can't be thinking about how firmly you are holding a gun. You should just have to point and shoot. The jams we had could not be cleared by one person!!! Lastly, this is the only modern gun I have seen with warnings against +P ammunition. After shooting it with target loads, I can see why.
If I get this gun back and it performs as it should, I will be pleasantly surprised. For now I will rely on my trusty Kahr. It is not as pretty but is a pleasure to shoot and fires every time. No jams after at least 300 rounds of UMC target loads. She is not as pretty, but is always willing.
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mdfili-
No disrespect intended.
I respectfully recommend that you send the gun back to Rohrbaugh and request a refund. I simply cannot see that you will be happy with it. If its made reliable which often is a simple choice of ammo, you will still probably say that it kicks hard and costs 3 times what another 9 mm does.
You knew the cost at purchase time. I guess with your expertise you would have surmised more kick than a regular 9mm. This is not a target gun, it is a self defense gun.
Many have made ammunition recommendations. If you choose to use them, your R9 will be reliable.
I hope you get a resolution but sometimes you have to cut your losses and get what you want.
Regards
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Ditto Tom
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I sensed no element of disrespect. This about a pistol and pistol manufacturer. It is not personal for me.
Such a small 9mm is bound to have some bite or kick. That is not an issue for a true defense weapon. Once such a weapon is found to be reliable, there is no reason to shoot it repetitively at the range. If it saves your life, the kick is meaningless. My Kel-Tec bites like a weasel, but fires every time.
I payed the extra price because the weapon seemed to be well engineered and was presented as a high end carry weapon. In my opinion, this type of weapon should be the most reliable. If you have to search for and trial ammunition that it doesn't misfire and jam with, it is simply a poorly engineered weapon that one should not rely on under life and death conditions. Perhaps a 9mm load is just too powerful for such a small frame/mass.
My last few days of research and discussion with true experts reveal that these guns are in fact well known for their poor design and poor reliability. A local expert actually gave his away because it was so bad.
I think you may be right. I may not be happy with it if I can't trust it. However, if they fix it and it is flawless like my Kahr, I would be happy to keep it. I just don't think the gun's design will allow for that.
A local friend and stress fire expert (that gave away his Rohrbaugh) just gave me the gift of a brand new Seecamp 380. I am anxious to fire it. It is obviously not a 9mm, but is an adequate substitute for the Rohrbaugh while I wait.
Please don't misunderstand me, I appreciate all the feedback I have received. I just feel that a defense weapon should be as close to 100% reliable as possible. Regardless I will try the R9 again and will try the ammunition recommended.
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mdfili,
You hit upon some truths in your last post. Purhaps the 9mm is just to much for a gun this small. That is the whole enchelada in a nutshell IMO. There are lots of small guns out there and some of them even function better than the R9. Trouble is they ain't 9mm.
After a long search, I found 2 readily available rounds that function 100% in my guns. I know that most expect a 1K handgun to be perfect but the fact is the R9 is a race horse and you can't treat it like you would a plow horse.
Mike
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My last few days of research and discussion with true experts reveal that these guns are in fact well known for their poor design and poor reliability. A local expert actually gave his away because it was so bad.
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midfli:
By my count you've started this discussion on three different threads, so it's hard to keep up. I've already posted on one:
http://www.rohrbaughforum.com/YaBB.cgi?board=R9S;action=display;num=1206965061#8
I reply here, with all due respect, to inquire if any of the "true experts" you have consulted and to whom you refer in your comment might have published their credentials and opinions on the R9 for comparison with those of other commentators who have reviewed the piece in the available literature.
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I would like to be accquainted with your local friend and expert that gives away Rohrbaugh's and .380 Seecamp's.... ;D
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I would like to be accquainted with your local friend and expert that gives away Rohrbaugh's and .380 Seecamp's.... ;D
Me too!
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Pick me! Pick me!
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Also me!!!
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mdfili,
I'll add something that hasn't been mentioned. Even though the R9 came oiled from the factory, I would suggest cleaning it before you fire it.
I'm sure it was put together properly at the factory, but if you disassemble, clean, oil and reassemble it yourself; you know it is put together properly. I consider this a MUST DO to every gun before you fire it!
It would also be great if the R9 would take any ammo made, but it likes quality ammo. I have other guns that have their ammo preferences too.
After the local shop checks it out and you still don't like it. I'll give your pup a loving home!
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It appears that "mdfili" first registered with the Forum on March 31, 2008, posted 11 messages (6 of which seem to have been deleted), with all 5 remaining messages being critical of the R9's design and performance. His last remaining post is dated April 5, 2008, which will be one year ago tomorrow. He didn't even say good-bye. ;)
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Oh, well; sometimes, one wonders about the real agenda in
deals like this one. Quite often, there are other issues beneath
the surface.
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How fun to see my range reports from when I was a brand new shooter with a brand new Pup! Kind of good to remember how much fun I had.
I remember that guy dumping his negativity in my thread. Cooooooooorey had him pegged right from the start.
Rick
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Yes, and I was really looking forward to learning from the published works of those "true experts" upon whose accumulated wisdom he based his conclusions. ::)
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I have sold over 350 of these R9s and only 2 of them had problems. They were sent back and fixed. Since the new springs have come no problems at all. The design is a good one based on these results. Also I have women customers who have no problems either. Tom
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Yes, and I was really looking forward to learning from the published works of those "true experts" upon whose accumulated wisdom he based his conclusions. ::)
Richard, You are to be commended for seeking wisdom while others meerly hoped for a free gun ;).
Tom, That is quite a record. Wonder how many other firearms could match it?
Rick
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the only other outfit I know of is Seecamp. Tom
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Hey RickP. A little humor was involved in the "free gun" thing!
Sorry if it rubbed you the wrong way!!
Ken
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It was just humor all around -- with a heavy dose of sarcasm on my part, for which I apologize. I just have an old prosecutor's antipathy toward assertions purportedly made ex cathedra when in fact those assertions are nothing more than hearsay accounts of alleged opinions held by unidentified "experts."
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Ken,
I'm not sure what in my post made you feel I was rubbed the wrong way, however I appologize for giving you that impression.
All is in good fun.
Rick
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Rick
All is well!! :)
Ken