New to the forum with some questions

[itguy]

Good Afternoon,

I am intrigued by the R9S, since I am looking for the ultimate combination of concealability and effectiveness.  I have learned that owning a carry firearm but not carrying it is self defeating so I realize how important it is to always carry. With that said, I also know how important it is for it to be consistently reliable.

I have read with some concern about all the feed problems, even with recommended high quality ammo.  It also appears as if one needs to go to somewhat extreme lengths to clean and or lube to minimize dirt or action related problems as well. I guess I would like to be assured by all of you that I get what I pay for, not just an expensive piece of jewelry.  In the same way that you always need to carry (ie avoiding the "leaving the big gun at home" syndrome because it is so uncomfortable), it follows that the carry gun always needs to work!.

Without the flames, do all of you feel comfortable that your R9S will always function properly when you need it to?  I am not adverse to spending $1000 if it gets me more than just good looks or apparent quality.

Thanks so much for your responses.

[RJ HEDLEY]

Welcome to the forum,  a great place with some great members..

My story is somewhat short, not much to say,  but when my Rorhbaugh arrived, I loaded it with Gold Dots 115 gr,  shot the full mag thru it with no problems, reloaded and stuck it in a good holster, and put it in my pocket.  End of story..

My thoughts are, it will shoot the next mag full.  

[sslater]

I bought my R9S for exactly the same reasons you have listed.  My "big" guns have proven too big for me to carry regularly except in the cold weather.  So I bought a NAA Guardian .380 for pocket carry.  That works, but I'm not a big fan of the .380 ACP for stopping power.  

Now I have the Rohrbaugh with about 160 rounds on it thus far, and ZERO problems.  I will be shooting it regularly until I get 500 rounds on the gun, and then back off to a magazine or two per range session.

As for the "extreme lengths" you mention for maintenance,  it's really not that different from any other autoloaders I have.   The materials are a bit different from what you may have on hand, but I was able to pick up the Mobil 1 and Super Lube at the local K-Mart.
I also went to the trouble to dig out the specs of Super Lube grease and compare them to several other gun greases on the market.  The Super Lube is the real deal.

Welcome to the Forum and good shooting if you choose to buy an R9S.  Good shooting even if you don't buy one!  The folks who correspond on this forum are very knowledgable and easy to talk with.  

sslater

[Richard S]

itguy:

Welcome to the Forum.  You will find some fine people here.

Do I feel comfortable that my R9s will always function properly when I need it?  Absolutely!  I own one of the first ones shipped by the factory.  It has shown no vices.

[itguy]

RJ,

Thanks for your response.  Not to be disrespectful, but do I understand you to say that you have fired only one full mag (six rounds?) through your R9S and are now prepared to trust your life to it?

I hope I have misunderstood you!

[RJ HEDLEY]

I will shoot more, someday,  but if I shoot 6 or 600, will it shoot the next one?  I feel pretty good about this gun.  

[DDGator]

I have certainly had no problems with mine.  About 250 rounds through it, I would guess.  I don't track these things very well.

After establishing the base line reliability, I only shoot a mag full every couple months.  But, I do pull it out of my pocket at the range "as is" and shoot it with the carry ammo.  That gives me some confidence that it will go when it needs to.

At some point, when I think I am approaching 500 rounds, I will replace the spring and shoot it a bit to make sure the new spring works.

I don't expect you will have any problems.  If you do, the factory will take care of it to your satisfaction.  

[Richard S]

itguy:

RJ lives by his own rules.  Legends tend to do that.  Besides, he has tested about the same number of rounds through his R9s as NASA tested the Saturn V rocket before sending Apollo 11 to land a man on the moon.  

[RJ HEDLEY]

Richard,  
  I got a chuckle out of that !  

You are truly a good friend, and we do go back a ways..

[theirishguard]

itguy, Welcome!! I trust my life to this little gun. It is just what it should be.    Tom

[Newt]

Welcome itguy, I have shot my primary carry R9 many times and have had no problems with it. Will it fire the next round? Who can say but I trust it will. It is an automatic and its not that much differant from any other auto ie: keep it clean and properly lubed and it will do its job. Get a Hedley holster to protect while you carry it.

[itguy]

JD and Others,

I thank you for your comments.  JD...I was tough on you because I see too much of you in me.  I challenged you on your "testing" of the R9S because I am also a "Grampa" and all too easily persuaded by things other than logic.  I asked if you had fired more than 6 rounds...you said it didn't matter.  I am about to purchase this little guy SIGHT UNSEEN

[itguy]

Sorry..I must have hit some key by mistake before I was finished.  In any case, I am about to purchase this little guy sight unseen because I have no dealers anywhere around me (I live in New Hampshire).  I don't know who is more irresponsible JD or me!  Get my drift?  When ws the last time anyone on this, or any other forum, spent a $1000 on a gun unseen?

I must be acting my age!

[rbonin]

I ordered my R9S back in February based entirely on reviews from people whose opinions I have come to value highly.  I received my pistol several weeks ago but was not able to get to the range until yesterday.   I put 40 rounds of the recommended Speer Gold Dot 115g HP ammo through it without a problem.  I then fired 50 rounds of Winchester White Box 115g FMJ ammo, also without a single jam or misfire.  Accuracy was much better than expected, well within defensive needs at 21 feet.  Perceived recoil was less than my S&W 642 J-frame with standard velocity Nyclad 125g rounds.   For daily carry, I will retire my Glock 26, S&W 642, and even my NAA Guardian during summer.  This is one fine shooting CCW.    

My only compaint regarding the pistol is minor.  I too appear to have a hex head striped on one of the left grip screws.   I tried to check tightness with a 1/16 in. allen wrench, but discovered it was striped!   For all of the other quality features of this pistol I am surprised that something as simple as a grip screw is a problem.     Why didn't they use stainless steel screws?

[Richard S]

When ws the last time anyone on this, or any other forum, spent a $1000 on a gun unseen?

Yo!  Guilty as charged.

I ordered my Rohrbaugh based solely on a hearsay report of its first sighting at the 2002 Shot Show.  (But then I've always been criticized for being a "plunger.")