Ruger EC9S Review

The EC9s undoubtedly exceeded expectations.

My expectations for the outcomes of a Ruger EC9s evaluation weren’t excessive.

With an preliminary sub-$300 MSRp$299 MSRP, the EC9s has a built-in excuse for no matter would possibly occur to go flawed. I anticipated to come across, on the very least, a failure to feed or return to battery in the course of the preliminary break-in interval.

Within the best-case state of affairs, I assumed I’d have the ability to decide which ammunition the gun shoots with out jamming. Then, I may give it a cross for sub-par accuracy and a so-so set off.

Because it seems, I set my expectations unnecessarily low.

Revisiting the Ruger EC9s. On this article, we return to the archives for a complete take a look at Ruger’s cheap however surprisingly dependable little handgun. This text was initially revealed in June of 2018.

Ruger EC9s Evaluation: Not At All What Was Anticipated

The Ruger EC9s ate no matter I fed it and hit the goal as well. At a worth within the Hello-Level vary, Ruger’s new providing is price a search for anybody hoping to hold a hid handgun on a price range. It isn’t excellent, nevertheless it does what a self-defense handgun is meant to do: shoot the place it’s pointed each time.

The little EC9s will make a great addition to your everyday carry setup, especially if you're on a budget. — Ruger EC9S evaluation: this little pistol will make an ideal addition to your on a regular basis carry setup, particularly when you’re on a price range.

Discover your Ruger EC9s on the market.

Ruger EC9S Specs

Capability: 7+1Slide Materials: Via-Hardened Alloy SteelBarrel Materials: Alloy SteelBarrel Size: 3.12″Grip Body: Black, Excessive Efficiency, Glass-Stuffed NylonSights: IntegralSlide End: Black OxideBarrel End: Black OxideWidth: 0.90″Weight: 17.2 ozOverall Size: 6″Top: 4.50″Grooves: 6Twist: 1:10″ RHSuggested Retail: $299.00

The EC9s is a fun range gun, too. — It’s a enjoyable vary gun, too.

How do they make it so low-cost?

The EC9s is an nearly precise copy of the LC9s, nevertheless it’s about $100 cheaper. Shoppers (together with GunsAmerica commenters) have been understandably cautious about corner-cutting in the course of the manufacturing course of.

To reply these issues, I spoke with Ruger’s Public Relations Supervisor, Paul Pluff. Pluff works in PR now, however he obtained his begin in manufacturing, and he defined that Ruger’s streamlined manufacturing course of permits the corporate to supply cost-effective, high-quality firearms.

Many firearms producers transfer every element from one machining space to the subsequent, Pluff defined, which will increase manufacturing time and prices. Ruger’s machines, however, carry out a number of operations on the identical element, and the corporate has devoted meeting strains for every particular person product. This cuts prices as a result of the manufacturing facility doesn’t need to spend time breaking down and establishing tools: every firearm is produced in a single meeting line, from begin to end.

The EC9s' simple design both promotes functionality and reduces cost. — The EC9s’ easy design each promotes performance and reduces value.

“I’ve been in manufacturing for 36 years,” Pluff stated. “The method that Ruger has could be very sensible. It’s very streamlined, it’s very environment friendly, and effectivity reduces value. Ruger can cross that discount in value as much as the patron with out sacrificing high quality and reliability.”

Ruger makes use of this course of for each firearm they produce, after all, so there are a number of particular methods Ruger lowered the price of the EC9s.

First, Pluff pointed to the sights. The sights are machined straight into the slide, which saves prices related to buying third-party merchandise. The “integral sights” prohibit sight adjustment, however, as you possibly can see beneath, I didn’t expertise any accuracy issues that may’t be defined by poor capturing slightly than dangerous sight alignment.

Subsequent, the areas between the slide serrations on the EC9s are wider than the LC9s, which additionally saves machining time and prices. Whereas Pluff admitted the LC9s slide is extra aesthetically pleasing, the EC9s’ large slide serrations enable for simpler dealing with.

The barrel is finished with "black oxide," which is somewhat less shiny than bluing. — The barrel is completed with “black oxide,” which is considerably much less shiny than bluing.

Lastly, Ruger makes use of a “black oxide” ending course of on the EC9s’ slide and barrel slightly than the “bluing” course of they use on the LC9s. Pluff defined that bluing is a penetrative course of that requires the element to be positioned in a number of tanks whereas black oxide is extra of a coating that may be built-in into the manufacturing line.

Whereas black oxide is considerably cheaper, Pluff stated, it has comparable weather-resistant properties.

EC9s Evaluation: Options, Really feel, and Operate

Pluff additionally highlighted the EC9s’ easy design to clarify its low worth, and he’s proper: the pistol is about as no-frills as you may get.

It options texturing on all 4 sides of the grip, an all-metal set off, and serrated, non-reflective black sights. The pistol grip has a slight swell in the direction of the again, which supplies a pleasant floor for the center, ring, and pinky fingers. The only, 7-round journal comes with each an prolonged and a flat floorplate, and Ruger additionally presents prolonged 9-round magazines.

Ruger EC9s Review - Small Package, Small Price, Big Results
The grip is textured on all four sides (including the mag extension), which helps maintain a firm hold on the small handgun. — The grip is textured on all 4 sides (together with the magazine extension), which helps keep a agency maintain on the small handgun.

The sights are a easy black and nearly inconceivable to choose up in opposition to a darkish background. However they’re serrated to assist cut back glare.

In case you’ve dealt with an LC9s, you already understand how the EC9s feels within the hand. The texturing is tough sufficient with out being abrasive, although I want checkering that extends farther up in the direction of the slide. I additionally want handguns with a deeper pocket within the rear of the grip. For me, this helps guarantee a greater maintain and reduces felt recoil, however you possibly can’t understand how the gun matches your hand till you shoot it. (If this can be your first pistol, take a look at how my spouse and I made a decision to buy her first hid carry handgun.) “Really feel” is subjective, so make sure you take the EC9s to the vary earlier than making your choice.

EC9S Professionals and Cons

Functionally, Ruger designed the EC9s with first-time gun homeowners in thoughts. That begins with security. The firearm options a wide range of mechanisms that guard in opposition to unintended discharge, together with built-in set off security, guide security, and a loaded chamber indicator.

Ruger EC9s pros and cons: the external safety is only one of four safety features. — The exterior security is just one of 4 security options.

The EC9s additionally encompasses a journal security, which prevents the handgun from firing with no journal inserted. Web boards abound with the advantages and disadvantages of journal safeties, however for brand spanking new shooters, it’s a pleasant function. First-time gun homeowners not used to ready for the slide to lock to the rear can typically neglect a last spherical within the chamber. {A magazine} security prevents the firearm from discharging whereas the shooter reloads the journal.

The set off makes a bit extra sense with this new-shooter paradigm in thoughts. It’s heavy, breaking persistently between 7.5 and eight kilos, and the prolonged take-up consists of two distinct phases of accelerating resistance. The reset is sort of inconceivable to really feel, although there may be an audible click on.

Ruger EC9s trigger: The all-metal trigger isn't anything to write home about, but it's functional and appropriately weighted for new shooters. — The all-metal set off isn’t something to write down residence about, nevertheless it’s practical and appropriately weighted for brand spanking new shooters.

Whereas it isn’t the very best set off, it’s constant and practical, and I didn’t have hassle hitting targets at 7, 15, and 20 yards (extra on this beneath). Heavier triggers additionally decrease the possibility of unintended discharge, each on the vary and in a self-defense state of affairs. No security function can change protected gun dealing with, after all, however new shooters can profit from a set off that gained’t go bang except important pressure is utilized.

The controls are just like comparable pocket pistols. The exterior security is each unobtrusive and simple to have interaction, and the journal releases freely so long as the shooter doesn’t have his or her center finger pressed in opposition to the precise facet of the firearm.

Journal disengagement is a typical downside amongst subcompact handguns, and the EC9s’ diminutive dimension requires a little bit of hand contorting to maneuver from a firing place to at least one that enables the journal to be launched. I discovered that I improved with some observe, nevertheless it’s one thing to remember.

EC9s mags: The magazine can only be released if the shooter isn't obstructing the opposite side of the release button — The journal can solely be launched if the shooter isn’t obstructing the other facet of the discharge button.

Ruger EC9S Evaluation: How did it carry out?

The EC9s handles well for a small handgun, and, more importantly, it's reliable - or so it proved in my Ruger EC9s review. As with pretty much any firearm, your experience may vary. — The EC9s handles nicely for a small handgun, and, extra importantly, it’s dependable – or so it proved in my Ruger EC9s evaluation. As with just about any firearm, your expertise could range.

The EC9s runs, plain and easy. I did all the pieces I may (in need of throwing the gun in a swamp) to supply a jam and by no means skilled any points. It functioned flawlessly with a wide range of bullet weights in each full steel jacket and hole level varieties: Sig Sauer 124g FMJ, Sig Sauer 115g JHP, American Eagle 115g TSJ, Hornady 125g HAP, and Monarch 115g FMJ.

I began by testing for accuracy from 7 yards utilizing a relaxation. Ruger didn’t design the EC9s for competitors, clearly, however I needed to make sure the gun’s accuracy can be adequate at affordable self-defense distances. I shot 5-shot teams with every load, and so they all carried out kind of equally nicely. The Sig Sauer 115g JHP shot the smallest group, however every was nicely inside an appropriate dimension vary. This isn’t to say that EC9s pistols are exceptionally correct, however they’re definitely greater than able to doing what it’s designed to do.

I used a variety of loads during my review process, and the EC9s handled every one of them. — I used a wide range of hundreds throughout my evaluation course of, and the EC9s dealt with each one in all them.

There may be a few Ruger EC9s problems yet to fine-tune, but its ability to digest lots of different ammo styles isn't one of them.

Sig's 115g FMJ performed the best in my EC9s review, but all loads produced acceptable accuracy. These shots were taken from 7 yards. — Sig’s 115g FMJ carried out the very best in my EC9s evaluation, however all hundreds produced acceptable accuracy. These pictures have been taken from 7 yards.

I moved out to fifteen yards and shot one other group from a relaxation utilizing the 115g Sig ammo. This group was much less spectacular however nonetheless inside a 5-inch circle. Then, to check each myself and the handgun, I moved again to twenty yards and shot at an IPSC observe goal with out utilizing a relaxation. The outcomes mirror simply as a lot on my capacity as a shooter as on the gun, however even a mediocre handgunner like me landed all eight rounds heading in the right direction and 4 within the heart “A” zone.

Shots fired: I managed to land all eight shots within the target from 60 feet. — Pictures fired: I managed to land all eight pictures inside the goal from 60 ft.

The EC9s sight picture isn't the best, but it's functional, given an appropriate amount of light. — The sight image isn’t the very best, nevertheless it’s practical, given an applicable quantity of sunshine.

Glad with the handgun’s accuracy, I moved to capturing with velocity (or, not less than, in addition to I can approximate it) from seven yards. Eight pictures and three and a half seconds later, I’d managed to supply the sample you see beneath. I gained’t be successful any awards, however I used to be happy with the EC9s’ efficiency.

Regardless of the heavy set off and lengthy reset, Ruger’s new handgun can deal with the shot cut up instances that could be crucial in a self-defense state of affairs.

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. — These pictures (only a sampling of these used on this explicit evaluation) have been taken from seven yards, capturing as quick as I may whereas sustaining accuracy.

The limp wrist take a look at was the gun’s last hurdle, and it cleared that as nicely. Small handguns sometimes fail to cycle except the shooter maintains a agency grip, which is typically troublesome in a self-defense state of affairs. For this take a look at, I loaded the handgun to capability and shot eight rounds with one hand whereas holding the firearm as loosely as doable. Once more, it cycled flawlessly.

Every time I stepped to the road, I loaded a full journal, chambered a spherical, and topped off with one further spherical. I by no means skilled any points capturing at full capability, which isn’t at all times the case, even with firearms from big-name manufacturers.

Ruger EC9s Evaluation: And the Verdict IS…

Ruger’s new budget-friendly handgun is a good purchase for anybody on the lookout for a self-defense firearm that gained’t break the financial institution. It doesn’t include all of the bells and whistles, however Ruger didn’t sacrifice performance after they lowered prices. If you may get the muzzle pointed in the precise course and pull the set off, the EC9s will comply with by means of.

Go to Ruger to be taught extra about Ruger EC9s by clicking right here.

Further studying:

Ruger EC9s Value: See What’s Listed

As you possibly can see in these screenshots from Weapons America listings for the Ruger EC9s on the market, there may be an abundance of choices out there.