The Ruger EC9 is making a splash with its price point under $300. (Photo: Ruger)
Ruger is shaking up the concealed carry market with the new EC9s. The EC9s is an everyday-carry pistol chambered for 9mm Luger with a jaw-dropping suggested price of $299.
The EC9s is patterned off the LC9 series, which will make finding holsters and spare mags a cinch. Ruger managed to deliver the EC9s at such a low price by reducing the amount of machine time needed to make each pistol.
The slide has simple rear serrations and basic integral sights. From the outside, is hard to differentiate from the LC9s, Ruger’s previous low-cost concealed-carry pistol. While it only comes with one magazine, it still ticks all the right boxes for protection.
The EC9s is a polymer-framed, single-stack striker-fired pistol with a standard capacity of 7+1 rounds of 9mm. It comes with one flush and one extended magazine floorplate to accommodate grip size preferences. Ruger also offers extended magazines for a 9+1 capacity that provide a full-length grip for even the largest hands.
The EC9s has multiple external safeties including a manual thumb safety, trigger safety, magazine disconnect and loaded chamber port. It has a 3.1-inch barrel and measures just .9 inches wide.
Unloaded it weighs just a hair over 17 ounces. It’s just about perfect for concealed-carry, especially priced so low.
With real-world prices starting around $240 and up, it’s safe to say that carrying concealed has never been so affordable. Until now if shoppers didn’t find a deal their best options in this price range have often been used or surplus firearms.
But the second-hand market can be hard to navigate, especially for first-time gun owners. Many surplus firearms are not made for concealed-carry, and being able to pick a used gun that’s solid and reliable takes know-how.
And while there are a few low-cost manufacturers that make inexpensive everyday-carry guns in this price range, none of them can match Ruger for quality control and customer service.
The EC9s is a straightforward option for anyone looking for an inexpensive way to carry a concealed handgun on a budget. While features like night sights are not an option for EC9s owners, that’s not a problem at these prices.
See Also: Ruger’s Got 5 New Pocket Revolvers in .22 through 9mm
Concealed-carry can have a lot of hidden costs. The EC9s leaves people with a little extra to handle these costs — from safety classes, licensing fees and taxes to practical costs like quality holsters and belts.
If you’re new to concealed-carry and just want a “no-brainer” pistol than the EC9s was made for you. With the EC9s you don’t have to invest a lot of money up front for protection without having to hunt for a gun on a markdown.
Down the line, if shooters decide they need something a little more featured, they can always pick up an LC9s Pro, with its improved trigger and stacks of aftermarket sights and accessories — and have all the holsters and carry stuff already in-hand.
“No gimmicks, rebates or mail-in offers for gift cards… just the rugged, reliability of the striker-fired LC9s, now with integral sights and a no-hassle price point that won’t break the bank,” said Ruger in an email blast. “This new Ruger EC9s centerfire pistol is an everyday carry pistol that will keep cash in your everyday wallet.”
I bought the EC9S for $221. I also own the Ruger SR9 and the LCP2. Ruger makes excellent hand guns and I am happy with all 3. Also own the Ruger Super Blackhawk .44 mag. Would trust my life with any of them. Have fired many rounds through them all and am very satisfied with the performance. Ruger has outdone themselves with the EC9s. The gun was designed for concealed carry this the reason for the safeties. Shoot yourself one time drawing your gun and you will appreciate it too. The trigger is awesome for a concealed carry gun. You dont want a hair trigger on a concealed carry gun. Practice at the range is easy, things change in self defense situation. Ruger has manufactured an excellent and well thought out concealed carry gun in the EC9s but there are people that will always stand true to the gun they chose and not give Ruger the credit it deserves.
Buy a piece of plastic GET a piece of plastic…I believe you’re afraid to print it…
The best pistols on the market are “Plastic guns”. This for a man who owns a 1911’s and Beretta 92Fs. This pistol is an excellent pocket pistol. I own four PC’s including .380 and 9mm. I did remove the Mag safety.
I am not used to shooting a gun with the double trigger like others, but I shot my friend’s LC9s last week and found it to be easy to shoot accurately and it did not hurt my hand as some small .380s have in in the past. I was so impressed that I will buy the new cheaper version. I was told at the gun store that Ruger intends to discontinue the LC9s.
I don’t know what’s all the fuzz about the magazine safety. In a case of a firearm being taken away from the owner in a close combat situation, releasing the magazine will save the gun owner’s life. It has happened many times before, most recently during the case of Trevon Martin, when he tried to take the gun away from the owner.
Magazine safety is another step to render the gun inoperable let’s say if you need to run inside a post office and you need to leave your firearm in your car but want to render it inoperable if stolen.
There are so many situations in which a magazine safety is a tremendous advantage that it outdoes whatever inconvenience you may have by having it.
I owned the LC9 for many years, and was able to customized it with steel guide rod and a 20 lbs spring both of it costed me under $20, and replaced the sights for night sights. Besides my cherished Para 1911, I don’t believe I have enjoyed carrying any gun more than the LC9. If the EC9 is just like it, I guarantee you, you will not be dissapointed.
Will Ruger now come out with a 380 version of this gun, an EC380S?
Hope so. I’d buy one immediately.
The LCP2 looks almost exactly the same .380ACP
Sorry Ruger- I wont be buying any firearm with any form of magazine safety- I sold my Browning Hi-Powers, 30+ years ago and am not going back to a ‘solution’ to a non-existent problem that itself hampers safety while making tactical reloads.
The mag safety can be removed in 30min without gunsmith knowledge. It is an unbeatable pistol for $200+. I own many pistols and this is the best 9mm pocket pistol on the market. S&W can’t compete, Keltec is subpar, SCCY sucks. I sold my Beretta nano, bad trigger
From what I’ve read, the LC9, in one and all versions, had what many described as a “terrible” trigger, which may account for why the Shield outsells it (even though the Shield trigger doesn’t get particularly high praise either). I can’t imagine that this will be any different.
The original LC9 had a long trigger pull, the LC9S addressed this problem and cured it. the LC9S has a great trigger. Some of the absolute worst triggers I have recently tried are Beretta, Remington and S&W.
I own a LC9 and this new pistol sounds interesting, but until I hear a positive review on the trigger pull I’ll be a little hesitant. I like the LC9 pro, the only negative is that long trigger pull. Then again in a EDC pistol during an emergency, trigger pull in close quarters is adequate..hopefully!
No such thing as a LC9 pro; LC9S Pro, yes. The LC9 was DA hammer fired with a hard trigger; the LC9S, LC9S Pro and EC9S are all striker fired with easy triggers.
Get a Glock43.
You are right ,prices are dropping on them. I just got a used one very reasonable and absolutely love it. Easy to grip, easy to hide, just over 19 ounces loaded.
I don’t like the magazine safety
The Ruger LC9s Pro would appeal to me from a practical standpoint if it did not have a magazine cutoff. It has a very smooth exterior consciously shaped to make both concealment without printing, wearing without any sharp edges digging into skin or hard catch points to interfere with the draw or re-holstering. Also, the Pro version specifically because it does not have an external thumb safety. And lastly although I’ve not yet had the opportunity to shoot one, those who have, report an exceptionally good trigger for a striker fired pistol.
Unfortunately, the magazine safety is a no-no for me.
If you’re talking about the LC9S Pro it doesn’t have an magazine safety.
One thing the author really should have mentioned is how difficult it can be for a new shooter to learn to shoot these little DAO pistols accurately. They are difficult to master and painful to shoot, and the average person who carries one does not shoot it often enough to be accurate with it. A lady I work with carries an LC380 that she’s only shot at the range once because she hates shooting it. I sometimes have to carry my Kel Tec PF9, but I take it to the range every week and put at least three or four magazines through it, and I can shoot a solid center of mass group at 10 feet but it isn’t much fun to practice with it. I can’t imagine a gun like this being good for a first time gun owner.
The LC380 is based on the older LC9 hammer fired gun that does have a long pull, which can be challenging. the LC9S & EC9S are striker fired with a very smooth, short trigger release that is not challenging at all.
This article makes no mention of trigger issues that bother people regarding the LC9 and LC9s. With even new LC9s’s selling for under $300, and used ones lower still, I don’t see why this new model that the author seems to imply is slightly cheaper due to manufacturing shortcuts is anything to get excited about. Since the author did not provide much useful information, I will have to wait until one shows up in my local gun store to learn more about this pistol.
Still do not care for the double trigger. Those of us that have been shooting the 1911 type handguns for years especially me have trouble adapting to this type of safety.I have not been able to shoot this type with any feeling of confidence.May be its just me! I don’t think I will try another one.
Rugers are great, no argument there. But I got my last Kahr CW9 off GunBroker NIB for $240, shipping included.
The proliferation of what the Violence Policy Center calls “pocket rockets” pleases me no end.
Wow, great price. I bought mine locally a number of years ago for $380. But around here (California), dealers charge $75 to do the transfer, and then there is tax on the sale. When you add in shipping, I would have saved nothing had I bought it on line.
As to the gun itself, I love it. It does not take long at all to adjust to the double action trigger, my only problem being that the break is so far back. I also found the texture too sharp, which I fixed with a Hogue HandAll. Shooting it is “bright” at first, but that is something one adjusts to quickly as well, and I can go through 100 to 200 rounds a session without discomfort.
Since this is a new model just coming out, how could you have bought your’s years ago?
He’s talking about the Kahr CW9, not the EC9s.
Ec9 looks like Ruger has learned a few things from Keltec,looks like a copy of my P32 that I have carried for years
I have a Ruger LC9s (EC9 appears to be just a price-point version) and I also have a P-32 so I understand why people carry those little Keltecs. While the LC9s is better than lugging around say a full-size 1911 (anvil that goes bang) the P-32 is so light it’s like a pocket knife-you don’t even notice it.