Browsing the local gun store the other day and they had this for $275. Not familiar with Stoeger handguns but for the price I thought "what the Hell" and picked it up. This variant is the STR-9F with 4.7 inch barrel. Only came with one 17-round mag and one (installed) backstrap but for the price I guess I can't complain.

Seems to be a Turkish-made Glock of sorts but looks to be solidly made, and has a steel recoil spring guide. Anybody have any positive/negative experiences with the STR-9 series?

I sort of have a hobby of testing out various striker-fired polymer-frame 9mm pistols (when I have the time and spare cash) just to see what each one brings to the table despite outwardly being “just another Glock clone”. My experience with the STR-9F was mixed.

Starting with the good, the pistol’s “mechanical accuracy” was outstanding. The barrel and slide had world-class machining and overall fit/finish, not just by the standard of a cheap pistol. The frame had great texture, ergonomics, solidity, and no obvious mold lines.

However, that’s where the fun ended for me. The following problems may have just been unique to the STR-9F I had, but here they are anyway. First, the steel guide rod was pretty poorly finished. I don’t know if that contributed to the other problems I had. Next, takedown and reassembly (which are supposed to be just like a Glock) were both a total pain. On a Glock, you can choose to pull the trigger first and then follow the takedown steps (my preferred method) or follow the takedown steps first and then pull the trigger. The STR-9F almost always required me to pull the trigger after following the takedown steps. My preferred method was usually not possible even if I forcefully held the trigger to the rear - the slide just kept catching on something and forcing the trigger forward. I had a similar problem during reassembly - I had to pinch the trigger shoe and manually pull it out to the forward position or the slide just wouldn’t go back on. Testing the trigger reset was also usually impossible - the slide often wouldn’t rack while holding the trigger to the rear.

The gun wasn’t very reliable for me at the range either, but I think this was just because it was over-sprung (evidenced by a hard-to-rack slide). With 124-grain +P ammo though, it functioned absolutely flawlessly and boy did it shoot well. Whatever was causing the weird disassembly and dry-firing issues didn't seem to affect actual firing. However, any lighter or lower pressure ammo would induce very frequent malfunctions.

I didn’t spend too much time with the pistol though and I had the feeling that because the problems I was having were so weird and sometimes inconsistent, that blasting a couple thousand rounds through it would have broken it in nicely. I hope I haven’t dampened your enthusiasm and I hope you have a better experience overall!

I had the compact model. Shot well for me but I got rid of it because it did not use Glock mags.
Which, as a Glock clone, it should have. There was slight improvement with the grip ergonomics since the steel mag was thinner than a Glock.

I like mine quite a bit, particularly considering the price. It's a lot comfier in my hand than my Glocks and works at least as well. I got the 15-shot standard STR-9 model. Magazine availability is the only real issue, and the sights are proprietary from what I've been able to determine. Haven't had any malfunctions yet.
Mine takes down just like a Glock (you can either pull down the tabs and then pull the trigger as stated in the manual or pull the trigger and then pull down on the tabs). Recoil/muzzle flip feels slightly greater than a full-sized Gen 3 Glock 9mm. YMMV


I shot a video a while back if interested.

https://youtu.be/_Jisqg32sbY?si=_o0a60lWXM5nZcYQ

I had the compact and it ran great , but at the time mags were hard to find so I traded it but mine worked great . I bought the Drya G/19 copy and its a Turkish gun it been great for 299 , about all mags work in it , and it just runs ! also picked up a XD copy made in Turkey came with fact night sights and is marked PNP on the side , that thing hits right on and never missed a beat , , I think at the time it was 269 , and worth every penny , was a contract over run of some kind .

I have the exact same model you have, that I purchased two years ago. As mentioned it would be great if they took Glock mags but I’ve put 600 plus rounds through mine and have been flawless with very good accuracy. It’s what I carry in my beater work car. Great weapon for the price! I got my mags from Joe Bob outfitters.

I have the STR-9MC sub compact, red dot on it, nice IWB holster that accounts for the optic. It’s one of my 2 EDC’s (soon to be 3 in the EDC rotation). I have about 800 rounds thru it with no malfunctions of any kind. Field strip seems easy enough, maybe since I don’t own a Glock, IDK. Very accurate if I do my job correctly.