Saw one for $269 and it looked and felt good, so why not? This is apparently a variant from the usual. It came with one 12-round extended magazine (more on this later) and instead of the dovetailed fiber optic front sight, has, according to a separate insert in the owner's manual, a screwed-in front sight that can be replaced with one from the Glock 43. It has a manual safety, which I am choosing not to use, but it does click on and off very positively. In every dimension it is nearly identical in size to a P365. (Which I also have, more later).

It does have two oddities. One, the barrel cam/takedown pin is held in place by a locking tab in the frame. Pull down on this tab (which fully exposes the tip of the pin), pinch the slide back a little, and insert a small pin punch or similar tool into a hole in the other side. The pin will fall out with a slight push. Two, the slide stop is only a slide stop. It locks the slide open on the last shot, of course, and is easy to push up to manually lock the slide, but it does not release the slide. To load a fresh magazine from slide lock, you must "slingshot" the slide with your other hand. It cannot be pushed down from engagement, and the manual only specifies the "slingshot" method. It does have pretty deep and sharp slide serrations to aid in this. Many folks hold that this is how you should release a slide anyway, but I kind of like having a choice.

Even with only one magazine supplied, I figured that even a $50 mag would still put me money ahead. I was pleasantly surprised to see Greg Cote selling both 10- and 12-rounders two to a package for $42.95. (Over $20 more direct from Ruger.) I ordered a 2-pack of 10-rounders. They are supplied with both flat and finger-hooked base plates. Also got a single 12-round from another source. They are unusually shaped. Instead of gradually tapering at the top, there is a "step" or "shoulder," with the top 2-3 rounds feeding in a virtual straight line.

In every dimension it is virtually the same size as the P365. It feels a little bit heavier, but this is subjective; without magazines they weigh the same at just a hair over a pound. The trigger has a blade safety and there is a lot of takeup before it does anything. The pull is usable and also has a short reset; it does not have to return all the way forward every time.

I shot it alongside my P365. (I've had it for 3 years now but have shot it little. Long story.) That gun went first because I had a problem with it shooting left the first time. Putting my finger all the way to the "crease" of the first joint instead of further out on the tip solved that. But then I noticed a "backbite" (not a pinch, more like a blow or an impact) on the finger under recoil. It was not painful, but very noticeable. I put ~35 rounds through it. Satisfied that it was me shooting left and not the gun, I went to the Max-9. In ~90 rounds, it fed, fired and shucked 115-grain FMJ and a few hollow-points like oats through a horse, no stoppages or even hesitation. And no trigger backbite. I wished I'd brought more ammo. Next time I will.

Only time will tell if the barrel cam pin stays put with a lot of shooting, but so far I'm very pleased with this gun.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: egregore,

That was my choice if I went with a mini-9mm, and I found Greg's mags as well. For the moment I'm trying to make better use of my G-19, but if not, I'm getting a Max-9 as well.

SKU 3514 is the one I got. All Max-9 models

Thanks for the report!

Yes, Thank you for the report. I too have a P365 and it is always nice to compare what I have too other pistols the same size and caliber.

Lock N Load

Michael
USMC Ret

Another ~130 rounds today. I didn't clean it after the last session, just put a little lube on. No muss, no fuss, just bang, bang, bang. Most of the ammo was Academy-distributed & sold, Serbian-made, "Monarch"-branded, brass case 115-grain FMJ.

I bought one about the time they came out. I ordered an optic for it before I even picked it up, had it on before the first range day. I really like it, it's compact yet carries lots of rounds for it's size. I've always been a fan of Ruger.