Rohrbaugh R9s pocket pistol

JackO

JackO

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http://www.rohrbaughfirearms.com/products

I'm seriously considering buying Rohrbaugh R9s. I did a lot of recearch on line, and most reviews and feedbacks from the owners are very positive. It's rated as the smallest and most potent pocket 9mm. Does any of NESers have first hand experience with this little pup? I know, R9s is not a "range gun", it's not a pleasure to shoot as recoil is pretty sharp. But as a concealed posket gun it's rated number one by a lot of sources, actually it's called a "Rolls Royce of pocket 9mm".

Here is an interesting chart on size of small pocket guns:
http://www.seecamp.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1297471836/8#8
 
After seeing footage of people trying to shoot it, I'd never buy one. It looks difficult to hang onto.

The Kahr PM9 is twice the gun for half the price. And you can shoot +P 9mm out of it.

I get suspicious when I see dictums like "Change the recoil spring after 200 rounds".

Hell, for what a Rohrbaugh costs, you could get a PM9, a Ruger LCP, and a couple extra mags for both, and probably still have money left over.

-Mike
 
Mike, I have an LCP and a couple of PM9. I find myself carrying LCP a lot, but PM9, as nice as it is, is not really a pocket pistol, and it mostly stays home. PM9 is very good in the holster, but again, not a in the pocket IMHO.
 
drgrant said:
I get suspicious when I see dictums like "Change the recoil spring after 200 rounds".
Click to expand...

It's 500, not 200. I'm an engineer myself, and I can understand where it;s coming from. To put 9x19 shooting power in such a small package, some design compromises have to be done. It's not a big deal to replace a $4 spring once in a while.

I played with R9s (unfortunately had no chance to shoot one), and I really admire all the engineering and especially quality machining I saw. I haven't seen anything else (including Wilsons, Les Baers, etc.) machined with such high quality and tolerances, and I deal with a lot of high end expensive competition guns.
 
A few months ago, I found a pretty extensive comparison review of the Rohrbaugh and PM9. This is from memory but the reviewer had reliability problems with the Rohrbaugh. The PM9 is quite proven.

Also, be careful of getting a gun that's too small. Yes, I realize we're talking about pocket carry so it's going to be a compromise regardless. However, I shot Mike's LCP and gave it back pretty quickly with some new, uncomfortable dents in my finger.
 
JackO said:
It's 500, not 200. I'm an engineer myself, and I can understand where it;s coming from. To put 9x19 shooting power in such a small package, some design compromises have to be done. It's not a big deal to replace a $4 spring once in a while.

I played with R9s (unfortunately had no chance to shoot one), and I really admire all the engineering and especially quality machining I saw. I haven't seen anything else (including Wilsons, Les Baers, etc.) machined with such high quality and tolerances, and I deal with a lot of high end expensive competition guns.
Click to expand...

There's certainly something to be said for quality machining and finishing, but that shouldn't be confused with engineering. If anything, it's a more difficult engineering accomplishment to produce an effective and reliable device using cheaper materials and manufacturing techniques.

That said, the materials and engineering in a PM9 are very good. They've put a lot of thought into getting a gun that small to be reliable (the offset feed ramp is one example). Also, it comes with real sights.

I've never even held a Rohrbaugh though so take this post for what it's worth.
 
JackO said:
Mike, I have an LCP and a couple of PM9. I find myself carrying LCP a lot, but PM9, as nice as it is, is not really a pocket pistol, and it mostly stays home. PM9 is very good in the holster, but again, not a in the pocket IMHO.
Click to expand...

You're really only getting a 3ish ounce weight savings, though. The gun is not that much smaller than the PM9.

JackO said:
It's 500, not 200. I'm an engineer myself, and I can understand where it;s coming from. To put 9x19 shooting power in such a small package, some design compromises have to be done. It's not a big deal to replace a $4 spring once in a while.
Click to expand...

If it's 500 then it's not so bad.

I played with R9s (unfortunately had no chance to shoot one), and I really admire all the engineering and especially quality machining I saw. I haven't seen anything else (including Wilsons, Les Baers, etc.) machined with such high quality and tolerances, and I deal with a lot of high end expensive competition guns.
Click to expand...

The Seecamp .32 is well machined but that doesn't stop it from being a POS. (at least it was in my case- I realize these are love/hate pistols, and I suspect the R9 is in the same class).

The main problem I have with the R9 is the cost of the thing. It's over $1000, and that's a lot of cash for something that is just a pocket pistol.

M1911 said:
Good luck finding a Rohrbaugh in MA.
Click to expand...

Walter Sobchak method always works. [laugh]

"You want a toe? I can get you a toe, by this afternoon.... with nail polish!"

I've bumped into at least one member here that has one, but I forget exactly who it was.

-Mike
 
drgrant said:
You're really only getting a 3ish ounce weight savings, though. The gun is not that much smaller than the PM9.
Click to expand...

RohrbaughR9-KahrPM9comparison-1.jpg


BTW, R9s is even a little smaller than Ruger LCP 380.
I hope to give you a range report in a couple of weeks ;-)
 
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JackO said:
Could you please be a little more specific? Am I missing something? I would really appreciate your input.
Click to expand...

You cant use +p ammo. standard 9mm and .380+p our of short barrels arn't a huge difference
You need to change the recoil spring often
They are Very Very Expensive
The base model doesn't have sights
Their recoil is hard to effectively manage
Reliability reports vary

I could buy an LCP, a 642, and a PF9 for cheaper than a R9, and would have 3 firearms that are superior to the R9 in each category.
 
JackO said:
RohrbaughR9-KahrPM9comparison-1.jpg


BTW, R9s is even a little smaller than Ruger LCP 380.
I hope to give you a range report in a couple of weeks ;-)
Click to expand...

Size wise, that's a wash but it does look like the P9 profile would fit better in a pocket. The angle on the back of the slide/frame would tend to print less.

Also, I don't think the R9s is smaller than an LCP. The s in R9s just means it has sights according to the web site. It's otherwise the same thing.
 
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I have shot my friends. It is very accurate for its size, and pocket carries like a dream. The quality fit and finish are superb. I am a machinist and can vouch that the machine quality is top notch. They are pricy and hard to come by.
 
PaulD said:
That's not nice.[smile]
Click to expand...

Why not?? He buys it and I get to shoot it!![banana]

The sad part is it's up for sale. So any of you guys that want to get your hands on one here in Mass this is your chance. It is the R9 stealth model with a bunch of goodies to go with it. If you want more info send me a PM and I will give you his info!!
 
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They are supposed to make an announcement on the boberg XR9-s next week. I know, good luck in Mass, but his gun to out-do was the PM9, and having been reading some of the threads on that forum it looks like this is going to be a great product once it hit's the market.

That said, being realistic, I've shot an MK9 and I loved it and shot it really well. A PM9 or MK9 will be finding it's way to my fiance when she get's her LTC.

Mike
 
Just to add another option, Kahr announced a CM9 which is a cheaper version of the PM9. The barrel has standard rifling, it has a front post type sight and the slide has less machining.
 
I shot a NES member's R9 at a shoot a few years ago. I remember it being surprisingly comfortable to shoot. The reliability wasn't great, but he said he had over 100 rounds through it that day without cleaning, and said it was totally reliable if you cleaned it more often.
 
crazymjb said:
They are supposed to make an announcement on the boberg XR9-s next week. I know, good luck in Mass, but his gun to out-do was the PM9, and having been reading some of the threads on that forum it looks like this is going to be a great product once it hit's the market.
Mike
Click to expand...

It looks like Boberg is 2 oz heaver than Kahr PM9, and significantly heavier than Rohrbaugh R9s.
Here you go:

RohrbaughR9-BobergXR9-Scomparison-1.jpg
 
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If the Boberg ends up being as good a gun as I'm hoping it will based off the work the creator claims to be putting into it the barrel length, extra round, and reliability will more than make up for the 2 ozs it has on top of the weight of the R9.

Mike
 
Looking at all the claims for the Boberg (tastes great, less filling, ends world hunger), I have to admit to being rather skeptical. Particularly since he hasn't sold a one.
 

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