Alien Gear Holsters Reviews the Remington RP9
In this Remington RP9 review, we'll go over Big Green's budget banger. The RP9 has been mentioned for offering some serious bang for the buck, but it is not without some foibles, which we will mention.
That said, there are actually some good reasons to consider getting one. Is it necessarily THE poly striker pistol to get? Maybe not. However, is there a purpose and place for it for someone? Absolutely!
Remington RP9: Big Green's Striker Gun
The idea behind the Remington RP9 was that Remington, back to making handguns, wanted to make a gun like the tacticool kids were buying and announced the RP9 ahead of a 2016 launch. The RP stands for "Remington Polymer."
The RP9 (and it's .45 caliber stablemate the RP45) is a full-size double-stack striker-fired pistol with a polymer frame. It is not, make no mistake, a compact, as capacity is 18+1 of 9mm. It comes in any color you want, so long as you want black. High capacity, striker-fired operation...this is a modern gun for the modern market.
They also launched it at an affordable price point. While MSRP is $418, you can easily pick this pistol up for less than $300. In fact, some stores have them for $250 or even less. You just cannot get a handgun for that amount from as big a name in guns, period.
Granted, this gun is a bit of a hoss. It's a workhorse, not a show pony, but does actually have some surprisingly good features.
Remington RP9 Review
The theme of this Remington RP9 review is that it has inspired touches, and it is a fully-functioning pistol. That said, it is a budget gun and there are a few places where that shows a bit.
The RP9 has a 4.5-inch barrel, standing 5.56 inches tall by 7.91 inches long by 1.27 inches wide. Unloaded weight is 26.4 ounces, so not overly cumbersome but not the lightest of guns either. The weight balances pretty decently though the gun is nose-heavy.
The slide is a tank, with fore and aft vertical cocking serrations. The slide has a black PVD finish atop a black polymer frame. The barrel is stainless steel and - while not a bull barrel - is fairly thick.
Takedown reveals overbuilt internals. You get the impression that there are fewer moving parts than in comparable guns from other makers and that Remington is using beefier components as well. The pistol is rated for +P, though with a bit of care, one suspects that the gun should have a long service life.
the go pedal is a bifurcated polymer trigger, a la Springfield Armory.
The frame features a 1913 rail for mounting of your favorite handgun modifications, whether they are realistic or not.
The grip frame itself reveals some inspired touches. The frame has an extended beavertail, as well as a thumb relief cut on both sides of the grip. Along with a slight undercut of the trigger guard, the RP9 lets you grip it high and tight and with ease. The grip is actually a touch on the narrow side, which actually makes for a good fit in most hands.
The grip angle is reminiscent of the M&P9 full-size or a 1911, as it has a naturally comfortable rake to the grip. Swappable backstraps allow you to get the palmswell of your choice, and it comes with a small, medium and large model of same. If you like the feel of M&P pistols instead of Glocks, you'll be right at home.
The grip texture is neither rough nor smooth, though you shouldn't have too many issues getting a good grip on the pistol.
Controls are semi-ambidextrous, with a swappable magazine release and ambidextrous slide releases. The takedown lever is only located on the left side, however, but those are the extent of the controls. Load, point, shoot and not much else on this pistol.
Standard sights - rear combat and front blade, both adjustable and dovetailed - are three-dot, but a night sight model is available for about $80 more in MSRP. Purchase gets you a cardboard box, two magazines, a lock and an owner's manual. Not bad for less than $300 in most stores.
Running The Remington RP9
You'll have to do your own shooting Remington RP9 review to see if it shoots how YOU like it, as with any pistol. The heavy slide soaks up recoil and helps tame muzzle flip. When gripped high and tight, the bore axis is very low indeed, much like a CZ-75 or similar pistol, so it's very controllable.
The RP9 is capable of greater accuracy than you'd believe in a sub-$400 pistol. If you do your job right, this pistol will reward you with tighter groups than you'd think the price point was capable of.
That said...there are a couple of points where this gun might be left behind by other models...though that may not be a problem. Let's get into that.
The plastic of the frame feels cheap and there's no way to dress that up. Is that really a problem, though? No, not really; this isn't a custom-shop gun and expecting it to be would be idiotic. Then again, the plastic frames of a LOT of poly striker guns feel cheap in this regard, even those commanding double (or more) in sticker. We won't name names, of course, but the point here is that it's a known quantity; if you're getting into a big striker pistol, you should be prepared for this aspect.
The Achilles' Heel of the gun, though, is the trigger. While it breaks around 5 lbs - give or take of course - it has the feel of oatmeal made with too much water. There's a break in there, and a short, audible and tactile trigger reset, but you can barely feel anything other than a faint, dull "click." Not that it doesn't work, of course (it does) but it feels plastic, numb and mushy. That said, it does travel smoothly, so it isn't gritty or dirty, but it lacks a certain tactility.
Then again...the same can be said of other poly striker guns that cost double or more in sticker. The segment as a whole is known for lackluster factory go-pedals in many cases, though exceptions - Walther, H&K - do exist. If you want a crisp, clean break in a factory gun, it's usually 1911 or bust anyhow. You'll make it work, but you won't really feel anything there.
With that all said though…
The Remington RP9 makes a fantastic range handgun, home defense pistol or truck gun. No question there. You get 18+1 capacity, a very comfortable feel and it's more accurate than the price tag suggests it should be. It's a bit large for daily carry, though there are folks that carry a Glock 17, M&P or even Sig P226 on the daily (that aren't police officers and therefore have the choice not to) and make it work, so you could if you wanted to.
In the end, it's actually a great budget gun. The trigger isn't great, but is far from the worst out there. However, it's actually attractive to look at all things considered, has generous capacity and - again - if you do your job, you'll be surprised at how accurate cheap and cheerful can be. Overall, a great buy at its price point.
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