The Rohrbaugh Forum

Rohrbaugh Products and Accessories => Rohrbaugh R9 (all variations) => Topic started by: Covert23 on May 05, 2016, 10:41:03 PM

Title: Sights vs sightless #
Post by: Covert23 on May 05, 2016, 10:41:03 PM
Anyone have a ballpark figure as to a number for this history lesson?  Just curious as I couldn't find the answer myself. Thanks, Jim
Title: Re: Sights vs sightless #
Post by: ECR on May 24, 2016, 08:53:22 AM
Early on in production, Karl Rohrbaugh only wanted the sightless as this is an "up close and personal" firearm. . . . sights are not necessary for it's intended use. Bob Jensen, a.k.a. "Blackhawk" on the gun forum "The Firing Line" was insisting that the R9 should have sights, unless, he says, then that "the gun must be inherently inaccurate", surmising that that is why we did not offer sights. I spoke with my brother Karl about the "chatter" on the internet, which as most of you know well know Karl is not a fan of it, I persuaded him the make some sort of diminutive sights for the gun. Hence, the R9S was born and Bob Jensen purchased the first R9 made for the public. I stayed in contact with Bob for many years, however, after his stroke, we lost contact with him. I was able to get his serial number 102 back as we made him a special R9S with the custom serial number "BLACKHAWK-1". So to answer the question: Maybe only 8 - 10% of the approximately 7,000 or so R9 Series Pistols made by Rohrbaugh were sightless models due, in part, to the efforts and conversations with Mr. Jensen on the topic. R9S 102, the first R9 sold to the public, is currently in my possession. 

Eric R. 
Title: Re: Sights vs sightless #
Post by: Covert23 on May 24, 2016, 08:58:40 AM
Thank you for your time Eric. Was just curious if you ever made any after the change in the beginnining. Guess not!  Take care. Jim
Title: Re: Sights vs sightless #
Post by: ECR on May 24, 2016, 09:03:32 AM
Yes, we did make them, just not in quantity. Some of our retailers would order 10 to 15 R9S models and 2 of the non-sighted models. They did sell, but to certain people who understood the concept.

 Cheers.
Title: Re: Sights vs sightless #
Post by: MikeInTexas on May 24, 2016, 10:39:18 AM
Very interesting. 

I knew that my sightless model was not as common as the sighted ones, just did not realize how special it really is.
Title: Re: Sights vs sightless #
Post by: ECR on May 24, 2016, 01:52:54 PM
You bet Michael ~ It is a special breed of R9. "The Original Version" brother Karl invented years ago.
Title: Re: Sights vs sightless #
Post by: kevinqjhps on February 16, 2017, 04:59:51 PM
Years ago I read a article about a shooter some, well MOST, have heard of: Skeeter Shelton. It was about shooting ANY firearm without using sites, for speed reasons. Bring your handgun at eye level and use the frame to align to the target to NOT look for the sites. 

Now this is obviously not for 25 yard target shooting, but with only one day practice you get AMAZING results. For a small/no site gun like the R9 this is a PERFECT way to shoot.

I have a one year unlimited shooting pass at Point Blank, a midwest range, and shoot 3 times a week. Practice with something cheap to shoot, .22 lr. You will master this new skill in nothing flat. It is a lot quicker to learn than offhand shooting.


kvinqjhps
Title: Re: Sights vs sightless #
Post by: Sonny_Boy on February 17, 2017, 12:49:31 AM
My R9 is sightless and I use the slide to aim and consider it a close encounter firearm. Can one really focus on the sights and not the threat under stress? Professionals with continued practice yes, but the common Joe it is questionable.

http://www.pointshooting.com/1nosight.htm.
Title: Re: Sights vs sightless #
Post by: backupr9 on February 18, 2017, 10:27:26 AM
My R9 is sightless and I use the slide to aim and consider it a close encounter firearm. Can one really focus on the sights and not the threat under stress? Professionals with continued practice yes, but the common Joe it is questionable.

http://www.pointshooting.com/1nosight.htm.

Which begs the question, why even consider a laser sight on a close encounter gun...half the time you have to search for and focus on the dot especially in bright light, which takes longer even than sighting.
Title: Re: Sights vs sightless #
Post by: ECR on February 18, 2017, 08:50:04 PM
My R9 is sightless and I use the slide to aim and consider it a close encounter firearm. Can one really focus on the sights and not the threat under stress? Professionals with continued practice yes, but the common Joe it is questionable.

http://www.pointshooting.com/1nosight.htm.

Which begs the question, why even consider a laser sight on a close encounter gun...half the time you have to search for and focus on the dot especially in bright light, which takes longer even than sighting.

Being I am officially "Out of The Business", I will voice my opinion on small gun laser sights:  Asinine and useless item for such a small sidearm.
Title: Re: Sights vs sightless #
Post by: cargaritaville on February 18, 2017, 09:00:47 PM
I agree.
Title: Re: Sights vs sightless #
Post by: tracker on February 18, 2017, 09:38:28 PM
Not to offend anyone so inclined but I would put porting a Rohrbaugh in the same category. K.I.S.S. and leave it alone in its original condition.
Title: Re: Sights vs sightless #
Post by: cargaritaville on February 18, 2017, 11:05:08 PM
I bought a Cogan RS9 a long time ago. I thought that the porting was cool since I love to shoot my Colt Anaconda .44 Magnum PDT with an 8" barrel and factory porting. Then I read something on this Forum that stated that shooting it at night could blind me, the shooter. It was from a very reliable source. I sold it and never looked back. Love shooting my Anaconda.
Title: Re: Sights vs sightless #
Post by: MRC on February 19, 2017, 08:10:25 AM
Norm  -  I just picked up a Cogan as you know and I will let you know as I plan to try it indoors this week and see what the porting looks like.

My first inclination is that the "flame" will be a lot less than everyone thinks, but I will find out and let everyone know.

I have some real flame throwers, Magna-ported Auto Mag, comped and standard Coonan, and a comped 9X25 Dillon Glock.

The differnce is that the 44 uses 22 grains of powder for  a 240 grain bullet and 29 grains for a 180 grainer.

The Coonans and the 9X25 Glock are using 15 to 20 grains of powder.

The 9mm Rohrbaugh, about 5 grains.
Title: Re: Sights vs sightless #
Post by: cargaritaville on February 19, 2017, 08:43:09 AM
The other reason I sold it was because all the work that Cogan did voided the warranty, which I found out after the fact. I did love looking at it and handling it. As my wife would say, "It was the bomb!"
Title: Re: Sights vs sightless #
Post by: kevinqjhps on February 19, 2017, 10:42:29 AM
My R9 is sightless and I use the slide to aim and consider it a close encounter firearm. Can one really focus on the sights and not the threat under stress? Professionals with continued practice yes, but the common Joe it is questionable.

http://www.pointshooting.com/1nosight.htm.

Which begs the question, why even consider a laser sight on a close encounter gun...half the time you have to search for and focus on the dot especially in bright light, which takes longer even than sighting.

Being I am officially "Out of The Business", I will voice my opinion on small gun laser sights:  Asinine and useless item for such a small sidearm.



I have three Crimson Trace laser grips. S&W 66, Taurus 85, and CZ P01. After 10-12 yeas i find they are NOT faster to align. They do have the intimidation factor which is REAL strong if its on someone's chest, within legal bounds of course.