Ruger’s New Security 9, by Pat Cascio

Whenever Ruger comes out with a new center handgun, people take notice. The all-new Ruger Security 9, 9mm handgun might just be their best offering yet.

Ruger Security 9 – A Perfect 9mm Handgun For Every Day Carry

Ruger never ceases to come out with more and more, and better and better products. Under review today is the all-new Ruger Security 9– a just perfect 9mm handgun for every day carry.

Many Years Ago

Many years ago, when I was working as a private investigator in Chicago, IL, my wife gifted me with a Ruger Service Six revolver. It had fixed sights, fired .357 Mag and .38 Spl ammo, and was made out of stainless steel. The grip area was a bit skimpy, so I changed the grips out for something more substantial. The gun was an excellent shooter, and I rotated it between my S&W Model 586 quite often. Ruger’s revolver was much lighter in weight than the 585, and that was a good thing in my book. In a moment of weakness, I traded that Service Six for something else. To this day, every now and then, the wife reminds me that a gifted gun is one you keep. I know that, now!

Rugers Announced “Just Right” 9mm Firearm

Whenever Ruger announces a new model firearm, I’m more than ready to request a sample for testing for an article. In this case, Ruger announced the Security 9, which is a “just right” 9mm handgun that holds 15+1 rounds of 9mm ammo. It just might be a Glock 19 killer, if you ask me. Don’t get me wrong. My fav Glock is the Model 19. But this new Security 9 might just bring down the Glock 19 for a number of reasons.

Two Versions of Security 9

There are two versions of the Security 9. One version comes with two 15-rd mags, and one comes with two 10-rd mags, for those stuck in states that have magazine limits. Other than that, there is no difference between the two guns.

Overview

An overview of the gun reveals its matte black, subdued finish, for a nice tactical look. The 4-inch barrel is made out of alloy steel. Its frame is long-strand fiber polymer and tough. One thing I really like about Ruger is that, when they come out with a brand-new handgun, they also offer holsters to fit these guns on their ShopRuger website. It was a big problem in the past; when new handguns were introduced, it was difficult to find a holster that fits the handgun. Oh sure, you could go to a generic ballistic nylon holster, if you wanted to. That’s not my first choice, though.

A Mid-Sized Handgun Perfect for Concealed Carry

Ruger describes the Security 9 as a mid-sized handgun. It is pretty much so. It is perfect for concealed carry, if you ask me. I know, I know. There are a lot of sub-compact 9mm handguns on the market that are easier to conceal. However, the Security 9 is a handgun that holds 15+1 rounds of 9mm, and it affords you a full hand hold on the grip, which is nice, very nice! The polymer frame has areas molded into it, for a sure grip under any weather conditions.

The front and back straps are nicely “stippled” as are both sides of the grip. They are not overly aggressive but “just right”, as Goldilocks would say. The trigger guard isn’t quite squared but almost; it is rounded and has serrations on the front for those who still practice placing their index finger in front of the trigger guard with their off-hand. There are also molded in Picatinny-style rails on the dust cover, for attaching lights and/or lasers.

Trigger and Magazine Catch

When your grasp the Security 9, your trigger finger automatically is drawn to the trigger because of the design of that part of the grip. We have the little safety lever in the middle of the trigger, as well as a smallish manual safety on the left side of the gun that snicks on/off with authority. The magazine catch, which is my only source of contention, has a mag release that is a little bit too small, and it should be checkered or at least have serrations on it for a sure purchase. (Others who handled the gun and fired it all agreed with me on this.)

Slide and Sights

The slide has outstanding sights. The front sight is a white dot, and the rear sight is a fully adjustable version with a squared-off white outline. It’s very fast to pick up. The slide also has grasping grooves fore and aft, for retracting the slide to chamber a round or to clear a malfunction. We have a massive extractor for pulling out empty brass or loaded rounds. (Way to go, Ruger!) The ejection port is lowered and flared as well. The slide is rakish front and rear, for ease of re-holstering, too. The slide lock/release is smallish but worked without any problems. The recoil spring guide is polymer. More and more gun makers are installing polymer recoil spring guides on the pistols; they work just fine!

Security 9 Trim Weight and Size

The Security 9 only weighs a mere 23.7 ounces. You hardly know you’re packing it. Its slide width is very trim at 1.02 inches. The chassis is machined and hard-coated aluminum, with full-length guide rails.

What’s Different? Hammer-Fired Inside the Frame

Here’s where the new Security 9 is quite a bit different from many of today’s striker-fired handguns. It is actually hammer-fired. The hammer is hidden inside the frame ala’ the Ruger LCP II, and the trigger pull is right at five pounds. The trigger breaks clean and smooth, and trigger reset is fairly short. You can feel it as well as hear it, when the trigger resets.

Magazines

The magazines sit flush with the bottom of the grip area, and the 15-rd mags are very easy to load. I like that in my old age. There are holes on the side of the mag with numbers, so you know how many rounds you’ve loaded or have left in the mags. Spare mags can be found at www.shopruger.com, and I’d suggest getting at least one more spare mag, especially if you intend to carry this pistol in uniform. If carrying concealed, I always tell folks to carry at least one spare magazine. Note that the Security 9 comes with that second mag.

Ruger’s Owner’s Manual Advice About +P Ammo

Ruger advises in the owner’s manual, which you should always read any time you get a new gun, that you can shoot +P ammo through this newest little 9mm handgun with the understanding that you will accelerate wear and tear. No gun makers state that you should fire +P+ ammo in their guns. However, I do a lot of testing of 9mm handguns, and I have run thousands of rounds of high powered +P+ 9mm ammo through them without any problems to speak of. Well, some sub-compact 9mm handguns won’t reliably handle the hotter +P+ ammo; the slide is just moving too fast, and it will often miss picking up the next round of ammo from the magazine.

Buffalo Bore Ammo Used in Testing Security 9

I wanted to run a big selection of 9mm ammo through the Security 9. So, I contacted Tim Sundles at Buffalo Bore Ammunition. He sent me a variety of all the 9mm ammo they produce, and I also had a good supply of his ammo on hand, too. In all my testing, I ran 500 rounds of various types of 9mm through this Ruger. Check out the Buffalo Bore website for a complete run down of all the ammo I fired in this pistol. We are talking subsonic as well as +P+ ammo. The little Security 9 never missed a beat.

My wife loves this little 9mm, and I have one on order for her. (When will I ever learn to not let her shoot my gun samples?) LOL

Just Right Size For Concealed Carry or Duty Handgun

The new Ruger Security 9 falls into that “just right” size, where it can be carried concealed without much effort or it can be used as a duty handgun. It is very close in size to the Glock 19, which is their hottest selling Glock. However, even though I love Glocks, I’ve yet to meet many people who say that a Glock, any Glock, actually fits their hand properly. However, everyone who handled this Security 9, said they loved the way it felt and it fit their hand. And, to be sure, at times, I have other people helping me during my testing. When ammo is free, there is no lack of volunteers to help me burn it up.

Testing

I did my accuracy testing at 25 yards, over the hood of my Jeep Wrangler, with the gun resting on a sleeping bag. I don’t use a Ransom Rest because I believe in a more real world test where I can see a person using a jacket over a hard surface to rest the gun on. Most ammo was right in there at around 3-inches. Every once in a while, I throw a round and get a 4-inch group, but that was me, not the gun. The Security 9 did its best with the Buffalo Bore 147-gr JHP Standard Pressure, subsonic heavy load, and if I did my part, the gun and ammo would give me groups just slightly under 3-inches. I think the gun has a 2.5-inch potential with the right ammo and the right person behind the gun.

Good News on Retail

The best news is, the gun has a full retail of only $379. That’s one great deal, if you ask me. However, the good news is that the street price is right around $300! What? Wait? Are you kidding me, Pat? Nope, not in the least. This puts the Ruger Security 9 several hundred bucks less than a Glock 19. I’d have no problem carrying the Security 9 on duty, if I were a cop again, or concealed. I did carry it concealed for a couple weeks, in a fit-all, do-all adjustable belt slide leather holster. The gun rode high and tight on my right side.

Better Than Ruger P-Series

If you liked the innovative Ruger P-series of handguns, you will simply love the new Security 9. It’s all that much better, if you ask me, than the P-series was.

Ruger will sell a million of these guns, this year, if they can keep up with supply and demand. Check one out at your local dealer.