Ruger has a new entry in the sub micro 9 mm market

[MillCreek]

https://www.personaldefenseworld.com/2021/03/ruger-max-9-micro-compact-pistol/?fbclid=IwAR16F-OTD_iheI3vrzxhDT-WBisVhVLICvIj1bcOu1iSk90bnwA8Uus_Yyg

I will be very interested to see one of these in person.  $ 500 list so I wonder what the street price will be.

[lee n. field]

https://www.personaldefenseworld.com/2021/03/ruger-max-9-micro-compact-pistol/?fbclid=IwAR16F-OTD_iheI3vrzxhDT-WBisVhVLICvIj1bcOu1iSk90bnwA8Uus_Yyg

I will be very interested to see one of these in person.  $ 500 list so I wonder what the street price will be.

Saw that.

"S&W.   See you and raise!"

Looks like a chassis type design, which might mean we see some easy variants of that soon (long slide, full size grip, Flat Dark Earf, mix and match).

[Hawkmoon]

Too big to be even a micro, let alone sub-micro. I'd call it a "compact."

[Ben]

Too big to be even a micro, let alone sub-micro. I'd call it a "compact."

Looks to me to be right between a P365 and P365XL, so firmly in the current industry definition of micro 9.

https://www.handgunhero.com/compare/ruger-max-9-vs-sig-sauer-p365

[WLJ]

Looks to me to be right between a P365 and P365XL, so firmly in the current industry definition of micro 9.

https://www.handgunhero.com/compare/ruger-max-9-vs-sig-sauer-p365

They must of just added the Max-9 within the last few hours since I checked if it was up yet earlier and it wasn't listed yet. The Max-9 looks very similar to the Security-9 Compact

[lupinus]

Interesting. To the list of guns to fondle it shall go...

[MechAg94]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vC5IafZB8aU
A video from Ruger's youtube page.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ql9tRDpZrwg
Gun Talk Media

I think you are correct on the size.  Looks about the same size range as the Hellcat.  I hope it shoots better than the old LCP.  Anytime a reviewer says it is a little snappy, that catches my attention.

IMO, too big would be like the HK VP9 compact which is small, but a bit fat.

[MechAg94]

Saw that.

"S&W.   See you and raise!"

Looks like a chassis type design, which might mean we see some easy variants of that soon (long slide, full size grip, Flat Dark Earf, mix and match).

Were you referring to this?  I hadn't seen this until just now.

NEW! Smith & Wesson Shield Plus: 14 Round Micro-Compact Pistol
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJtEjKCzu24

[lee n. field]

Were you referring to this?  I hadn't seen this until just now.

NEW! Smith & Wesson Shield Plus: 14 Round Micro-Compact Pistol
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJtEjKCzu24

Yep.

And Taurus ("Euuu, Taurus", sez the Internet Gun Social Media Herd Mind) also very recently released an optics ready tweak on their Millenium G2 series.  The handgunhero comparison of that, with the new Ruger, is pretty close.

Lot of stuff in that "slightly too big to pocket carry" niche, lately.

[Jim147]

I bought what i considered a micro nine about four years ago. It was a 7 rounder about the size of the old .25's. I got a pocket holster and had it in my front right pocket.

I sold it along with many firearms when I was very ill in 2018-2019.

If I get the money to get a new one I'm looking at the Hellcat.

[MechAg94]

I am very glad to see the competition.  That should make them all work to keep their designs good and costs down. 

I am also curious if this micro-9 size would work with other calibers.  What capacity could you get with 380 if you redesigned the mag?  It is close to the CZ83 in size.  Can you get the capacity increase with 40/45 or are those calibers too big?

[Hawkmoon]

Looks to me to be right between a P365 and P365XL, so firmly in the current industry definition of micro 9.

https://www.handgunhero.com/compare/ruger-max-9-vs-sig-sauer-p365

So I'm a dinosaur. A pistol with a barrel longer than 3 inches is not "micro."

[Jim147]

I am very glad to see the competition.  That should make them all work to keep their designs good and costs down. 

I am also curious if this micro-9 size would work with other calibers.  What capacity could you get with 380 if you redesigned the mag?  It is close to the CZ83 in size.  Can you get the capacity increase with 40/45 or are those calibers too big?

A .380 is 9 mm short so no mag increase in same platform.

[Brad Johnson]

Specs are similar to the EC9s, only with the addition of a narrow-angle double stack mag, slide dipped in Tacticool, and the up-uglied look of the LCP 2.

I have an EC9s (two, actually), and nothing about it could be called "sub-micro", at least with a straight face. It is at best a compact, maybe sub-compact if compared to a larger full size double-stack 9mm, and the Max is a teensy smidge heavier and a skosh larger in most every dimension. The only selling point, at least for me, is two extra rounds. Given the EC's rediculously affordable $250-$260 street price, I don't see those two rounds as being enough to justify the estimated $125-150 premium. Throw the Security 9 Compact and it's $350-ish price into the mix and the Max becomes an even harder pill to swallow.

Brad

[Lennyjoe]

I’ve never been a fan of Ruger semi autos.  Rifles and wheel guns, yes but their semi offerings never really appease me.  Besides, I’m in a love fest with my Sig P365 so I don’t want to risk that relationship

[T.O.M.]

Looks like Smith and Wesson has come to the party, and are offering a version of their Shield model with a double stack magazine.

[WLJ]

A .380 is 9 mm short so no mag increase in same platform.

There are a few guns using the same platform in both 380 & 9mm. Some may choose the 380 over the 9mm  for reduced recoil and many of them have easier racking in 380.

[WLJ]

The S&W appears to be a little bit chunkier than the 365 which some may perfer. Reviewer states the Shield Plus has the better trigger.

Gun Review: S&W M&P9 Shield Plus
https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/gun-review-sw-mp9-shield-plus/

And it's already up on handgunhero
https://www.handgunhero.com/compare/smith-wesson-m-p-9-shield-plus-vs-sig-sauer-p365

[MechAg94]

https://www.brownells.com/firearms/handguns/semi-auto/index.htm?avs%7CMake~~Model_1=Smith%2520%2526%2520Wesson__M%2526P%2520Shield%2520Plus&trk_msg=6JD90VRHJQ94R7TP4S7TCUHDRC&trk_contact=5HODPFHLQF1DBVN85D58FA3I1S&trk_sid=CQIB6MU8GC5GQR9403ATBG26EG&utm_source=listrak&utm_medium=email&utm_term=NEW+micro+carry+from+Smith+and+Wesson&utm_campaign=2021_03_16_S%26W&utm_content=Event

Brownells has them up for pre-order.

The SA Hellcat is a little chunkier than the P365 also. 

[lee n. field]

https://www.brownells.com/firearms/handguns/semi-auto/index.htm?avs%7CMake~~Model_1=Smith%2520%2526%2520Wesson__M%2526P%2520Shield%2520Plus&trk_msg=6JD90VRHJQ94R7TP4S7TCUHDRC&trk_contact=5HODPFHLQF1DBVN85D58FA3I1S&trk_sid=CQIB6MU8GC5GQR9403ATBG26EG&utm_source=listrak&utm_medium=email&utm_term=NEW+micro+carry+from+Smith+and+Wesson&utm_campaign=2021_03_16_S%26W&utm_content=Event

Brownells has them up for pre-order.

The SA Hellcat is a little chunkier than the P365 also.

The 365 is tiny.

[K Frame]

A resounding MEH from me... On all of these super duper micro tiny miniscule 9mms...

[lee n. field]

A resounding MEH from me... On all of these super duper micro tiny miniscule 9mms...

Kinda.   Buying a new model gun means stocking up on magazines, spending another $100+ on holsters, until I find one I'm happy with.  A gun with an optic is a gun I can't carry in a pocket holster.  All sorts of good reasons not to move away from something that works well enough.

[Lennyjoe]

That’s why I love my P365.  No optics and slips right into my pocket.  Exactly what I bought it for

[K Frame]

I'm set for pocket guns...

A Taurus PT-22 when I need something really small.

When I don't need something that small, my S&W Model 042 in .38.

If I can ever buy 9mm ammo again I'll finally finish putting my Walther CCP through its paces and will start to carry that one, as well. That's all the smaller I need.

I also have my P7 PSP, which is on the small side.

And an S&W Model 38 Humpback Airweight (but that one needs some work. The crane flops around a bit too much for comfort. Of course I also have my S&W Regulation Police or my Colt Police Positive, both in .32 Long. They're quite small.

And I also have my S&W Model 12 Airweight K frame.

Any of those is quite small enough for my purposes.

[MechAg94]

Mike, if you ever find one of the Kel-tec P17 pistols in 22 LR for a reasonable price ($200 or less), they are pretty cool guns.  About the same size as these micro-9 pistols.  Mine works reliably even if it is a bit cheap.  It is fun to blast through 5 or 6 sixteen round mags of 22.