{"id":92996,"date":"2024-09-07T21:37:07","date_gmt":"2024-09-08T02:37:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/?p=92996"},"modified":"2024-09-08T18:46:40","modified_gmt":"2024-09-08T23:46:40","slug":"ruger-ec9s-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/ruger-ec9s-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Ruger EC9s Review – Not What We Expected"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Ruger
The EC9s definitely exceeded expectations.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

My expectations for the results of a Ruger EC9s review were not high. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With an initial sub-$300 MSRp$299 MSRP, the EC9s has a built-in excuse for whatever might happen to go wrong. I expected to encounter, at the very least, a failure to feed or return to battery during the initial break-in period. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the best-case scenario, I thought I\u2019d be able to determine which ammunition the gun shoots without jamming. Then, I could give it a pass for sub-par accuracy and a so-so trigger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As it turns out, I set my expectations unnecessarily low. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Revisiting the Ruger EC9s. In this article, we return to the archives for a comprehensive look at Ruger’s inexpensive but surprisingly reliable little handgun. This article was originally published in June of 2018.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ruger EC9s Review: Not At All What Was Expected<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Ruger EC9s ate whatever I fed it and hit the target to boot. At a price in the Hi-Point range, Ruger\u2019s new offering is worth a look for anyone hoping to carry a concealed handgun on a budget. It isn\u2019t perfect, but it does what a self-defense handgun is supposed to do: shoot where it\u2019s pointed every time.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"The
Ruger EC9S review: this little pistol will make a great addition to your everyday carry setup, especially if you’re on a budget.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Find your Ruger EC9s for sale. <\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ruger EC9S Specifications<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Capacity<\/strong>: 7+1
Slide Material:<\/strong> Through-Hardened Alloy Steel
Barrel Material:<\/strong> Alloy Steel
Barrel Length:<\/strong> 3.12″
Grip Frame:<\/strong> Black, High Performance, Glass-Filled Nylon
Sights:<\/strong> Integral
Slide Finish:<\/strong> Black Oxide
Barrel Finish:<\/strong> Black Oxide
Width:<\/strong> 0.90″
Weight:<\/strong> 17.2 oz.
Overall Length:<\/strong> 6″
Height:<\/strong> 4.50″
Grooves:<\/strong> 6
Twist:<\/strong> 1:10″ RH
Suggested Retail:<\/strong> $299.00<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"The
It’s a fun range gun, too.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

How do they make it so cheap?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The EC9s is an almost exact copy of the LC9s<\/a>, but it\u2019s about $100 cheaper. Consumers (including GunsAmerica commenters<\/a>) have been understandably wary about corner-cutting during the manufacturing process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To answer these concerns, I spoke with Ruger\u2019s Public Relations Manager, Paul Pluff. Pluff works in PR now, but he got his start in manufacturing, and he explained that Ruger\u2019s streamlined manufacturing process allows the company to produce cost-effective, high-quality firearms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many firearms manufacturers move each component from one machining area to the next, Pluff explained, which increases production time and costs. Ruger\u2019s machines, on the other hand, perform multiple operations on the same component, and the company has dedicated assembly lines for each individual product. This cuts costs because the factory doesn\u2019t have to spend time breaking down and setting up equipment: each firearm is produced in one assembly line, from start to finish.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"The
The EC9s’ simple design both promotes functionality and reduces cost.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been in manufacturing for 36 years,\u201d Pluff said. \u201cThe process that Ruger has is very smart. It\u2019s very streamlined, it\u2019s very efficient, and efficiency reduces cost. Ruger can pass that reduction in cost up to the consumer without sacrificing quality and reliability.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ruger uses this process for every firearm they produce, of course, so there are several specific ways Ruger reduced the cost of the EC9s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, Pluff pointed to the sights. The sights are machined directly into the slide, which saves costs associated with purchasing third-party products. The \u201cintegral sights\u201d prohibit sight adjustment, but, as you can see below, I didn\u2019t experience any accuracy problems that can\u2019t be explained by poor shooting rather than bad sight alignment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next, the spaces between the slide serrations on the EC9s are wider than the LC9s, which also saves machining time and costs. While Pluff admitted the LC9s slide is more aesthetically pleasing, the EC9s\u2019 wide slide serrations allow for easier handling.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"The
The barrel is finished with “black oxide,” which is somewhat less shiny than bluing.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Finally, Ruger uses a \u201cblack oxide\u201d finishing process on the EC9s\u2019 slide and barrel rather than the \u201cbluing\u201d process they use on the LC9s. Pluff explained that bluing is a penetrative process that requires the component to be placed in multiple tanks while black oxide is more of a coating that can be integrated into the production line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While black oxide is somewhat cheaper, Pluff said, it has similar weather-resistant properties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EC9s Review: Features, Feel, and Function<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Pluff also highlighted the EC9s\u2019 simple design to explain its low price, and he\u2019s right: the pistol is about as no-frills as you can get.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It features texturing on all four sides of the grip, an all-metal trigger, and serrated, non-reflective black sights. The pistol grip has a slight swell towards the back, which provides a nice surface for the middle, ring, and pinky fingers. The single, 7-round magazine comes with both an extended and a flat floorplate, and Ruger also offers extended 9-round magazines<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Ruger
The grip is textured on all four sides (including the mag extension), which helps maintain a firm hold on the small handgun.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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The sights are a simple black and almost impossible to pick up against a dark background. But they are serrated to help reduce glare.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

If you\u2019ve handled an LC9s, you already know how the EC9s feels in the hand. The texturing is rough enough without being abrasive, though I prefer checkering that extends farther up towards the slide. I also prefer handguns with a deeper pocket in the rear of the grip. For me, this helps ensure a better hold and reduces felt recoil, but you can\u2019t know how the gun fits your hand until you shoot it. (If this will be your first pistol, check out how my wife and I decided to purchase her first concealed carry handgun<\/a>.) \u201cFeel\u201d is subjective, so be sure to take the EC9s to the range before making your decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EC9S Pros and Cons<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Functionally, Ruger designed the EC9s with first-time gun owners in mind. That starts with safety. The firearm features a variety of mechanisms that guard against accidental discharge, including integrated trigger safety, manual safety, and a loaded chamber indicator.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Ruger
The external safety is only one of four safety features.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The EC9s also features a magazine safety, which prevents the handgun from firing without a magazine inserted. Internet forums abound with the benefits and drawbacks of magazine safeties, but for new shooters, it\u2019s a nice feature. First-time gun owners not used to waiting for the slide to lock to the rear can sometimes forget a final round in the chamber. A magazine safety prevents the firearm from discharging while the shooter reloads the magazine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trigger makes a bit more sense with this new-shooter paradigm in mind. It\u2019s heavy, breaking consistently between 7.5 and 8 pounds, and the lengthy take-up consists of two distinct stages of increasing resistance. The reset is almost impossible to feel, though there is an audible click<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Ruger
The all-metal trigger isn’t anything to write home about, but it’s functional and appropriately weighted for new shooters.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

While it isn\u2019t the best trigger, it\u2019s consistent and functional, and I didn\u2019t have trouble hitting targets at 7, 15, and 20 yards (more on this below). Heavier triggers also lower the chance of accidental discharge, both at the range and in a self-defense situation. No safety feature can replace safe gun handling, of course, but new shooters can benefit from a trigger that won\u2019t go bang <\/em>unless significant force is applied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The controls are similar to comparable pocket pistols. The external safety is both unobtrusive and easy to engage, and the magazine releases freely as long as the shooter doesn\u2019t have his or her middle finger pressed against the right side of the firearm. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Magazine disengagement is a common problem among subcompact handguns, and the EC9s\u2019 diminutive size requires a bit of hand contorting to move from a firing position to one that allows the magazine to be released. I found that I improved with some practice, but it\u2019s something to keep in mind.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"EC9s
The magazine can only be released if the shooter isn’t obstructing the opposite side of the release button.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Ruger EC9S Review: How did it perform?<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"The
The EC9s handles well for a small handgun, and, more importantly, it’s reliable – or so it proved in my <\/em>Ruger EC9s review. As with pretty much any firearm, your experience may vary. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The EC9s runs, plain and simple. I did everything I could (short of throwing the gun in a swamp) to produce a jam and never experienced any issues. It functioned flawlessly with a variety of bullet weights in both full metal jacket and hollow point varieties: Sig Sauer 124g FMJ, Sig Sauer 115g JHP, American Eagle 115g TSJ, Hornady 125g HAP, and Monarch 115g FMJ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I started by testing for accuracy from 7 yards using a rest. Ruger didn\u2019t design the EC9s for competition, obviously, but I wanted to ensure the gun\u2019s accuracy would be sufficient at reasonable self-defense distances. I shot 5-shot groups with each load, and they all performed more or less equally well. The Sig Sauer 115g JHP shot the smallest group, but each was well within an acceptable size range. This is not to say that EC9s pistols are exceptionally accurate, but they are certainly more than capable of doing what it\u2019s designed to do.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"I
I used a variety of loads during my review process, and the EC9s handled every one of them.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"There<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Sig's
Sig’s 115g FMJ performed the best in my EC9s review, but all loads produced acceptable accuracy. These shots were taken from 7 yards.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

I moved out to 15 yards and shot another group from a rest using the 115g Sig ammo. This group was less impressive but still within a 5-inch circle. Then, to test both myself and the handgun, I moved back to 20 yards and shot at an IPSC practice target without using a rest. The results reflect just as much on my ability as a shooter as on the gun, but even a mediocre handgunner like me landed all eight rounds on target and four in the center \u201cA\u201d zone.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Shots
Shots fired: I managed to land all eight shots within the target from 60 feet.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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The sight picture isn’t the best, but it’s functional, given an appropriate amount of light.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Satisfied with the handgun\u2019s accuracy, I moved to shooting with speed (or, at least, as well as I can approximate it) from seven yards. Eight shots and three and a half seconds later, I\u2019d managed to produce the pattern you see below. I won\u2019t be winning any awards, but I was pleased with the EC9s\u2019 performance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the heavy trigger and long reset, Ruger\u2019s new handgun can handle the shot split times that might be necessary in a self-defense situation.<\/p>\n\n\n

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These shots (just a sampling of those used in this particular review) were taken from seven yards, shooting as fast as I could while maintaining accuracy.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The limp wrist test was the gun\u2019s final hurdle, and it cleared that as well. Small handguns occasionally fail to cycle unless the shooter maintains a firm grip, which is sometimes difficult in a self-defense situation. For this test, I loaded the handgun to capacity and shot eight rounds with one hand while holding the firearm as loosely as possible. Again, it cycled flawlessly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each time I stepped to the line, I loaded a full magazine, chambered a round, and topped off with one additional round. I never experienced any issues shooting at full capacity, which isn\u2019t always the case, even with firearms from big-name brands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ruger EC9s Review: And the Verdict IS…<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ruger\u2019s new budget-friendly handgun is a great buy for anyone looking for a self-defense firearm that won\u2019t break the bank. It doesn\u2019t come with all the bells and whistles, but Ruger didn\u2019t sacrifice functionality when they reduced costs. If you can get the muzzle pointed in the right direction and pull the trigger, the EC9s will follow through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visit Ruger to learn more about Ruger EC9s by clicking here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additional reading:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n