Ruger's Security-9

There is a lot of verbiage in the Ruger manual describing the Ruger Security-9’s operation. Paraphrasing a bit, the Security-9 is a tilting barrel, single action pistol that fires from a locked breech. The pistol’s hammer is concealed within the slide, a blocking inner trigger safety inhibits unintentional discharge, a thumb safety blocks the pistol hammer’s forward movement.

Disassembly requires no tools, just a verified empty gun without magazine and the removal of the central takedown pin. The barrel is ramped for positive feed, the slide is bushingless. The single flat stock recoil spring is captive. The combination of Hogue® Grip Sleeve and extended magazine floorplate provide adequate purchase for control.

The grip frame is made of glass filled nylon which encloses a hard anodized aluminum chassis.  Below, the trigger guard is large enough for most fat fingers and the front is squared and grooved for a non-slip grabbing surface. I am not sure what the Internet currently thinks of using this surface these days as opinions come and go every fifteen minutes. For me, its use if consistent with the double dipping, modified Weaver, half reverse grip I employ. Yes, I just made that up and yes, I am making fun of the martial trend training that has made so many people moderately wealthy.

Controls are where you would expect to find them. Yes, of course on the pistol, but more so where auto pistol experience since the discovery of fire has taught us to reach for them. The slide stop is a nub, but then it is only used manually to lock open the slide… for some reason other than routine handling and use. I was at first concerned about the size and far rearward location of the manual safety that prevents thumbing it on, but then I realized I was reaching my thumb knuckle too far forward and under the pivot point. So a little proficiency training solved that problem. While the manual safety is positively located on or off, taking the safety off was just an easy thumb swipe downward and that is the important motion when pressed into service.

The top side is clean with low profile, snag free sights; white dot front, white outline rear, both laterally drift adjustable. Sight radius is 5 1/8″. A loaded chamber check port on the barrel tang allows just that. The blued allow steel slide is through hardened, not just surface hardened for dimensional stability and high wear resistance.

Ruger lists the Security-9 slide width as 1.02″, which checks. However, the sleeved grip measures 1.535″ which isn’t meaningful for open carry, but does figure in for concealment. For me, the added gripping surface fills the hand and makes shooting the pistol accurately much easier and without the unpleasant experience that accompanies some of the subcompact nines. For shooter who prefer greater concealment of shooting comfort, the sleeve can be removed, which sheds 0.420″ in width, bringing grip width not much more than slide width.

The sights are very good; easy to pick up against most background and able to shoot pomegranate size groups as we will see a little later on. They are especially useful when the front sight is raised level with the top ears of the rear sight. Who the heck took that picture!!…!.

For malcontents, the Ruger Store and others offers the same type sight in black, yellow and orange outline. Also offered are Tritium night sights, fiber optic, FastFire II mounts and sights, and rail mounted Tactical Light.

Two, ten round, made in U.S.A. Ruger magazines are included with the Ruger Security-9. One has the extended floorplate, one is flat and a spare flat floorplate is included for folks who don’t want to use the extended piece.

The Ruger is a 9mm Luger and 9mm Luger +P firearm. Specifically excluded is +P+ ammunition, which actually doesn’t exist outside of a concept. Ammunition loaded to a non-existent, over pressure specification is never a good thing for a manufacturer to embrace. Don’t take this as a lecture. I’m actually just trying to find enough words so the paragraph will break even with the bottom of the image.

Shooting

I think, based on the picture above, we can conclude that the Ruger Security-9 can hold ten rounds in its magazine and one in the chamber. The combination of trigger safety and manual safety make this a reasonable condition and the concealed hammer will not raise public ire associated with carrying a cocked and locked 1911 type. That said, Ruger’s manual indicates that, if the pistol is not to be used immediately, the pistol should be carried empty chamber.