Initial Review - Sterling Arms International (SAI) R9 Mk1, 9mm PCC

9.3 Hunter said:
Nice 1913 folder > to the right ... good make.

Lots of fun to shoot - gooder ✔

I have the Sig MCX on mine but folds to the left <, would be better to fold to right on this model ...
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I moved back to the factory rear stock - I needed that extra LOP adjustment to a tad longer ... I also found that it moved up + down a tiny bit on the 1913 notches... so I just put some thin material between the each of the 3 notches and voila does not move - very solid now.

At the moment, this is definitely my fav rifle to shoot, and along with a CZ 600 Alpha 7.62x39 Warsaw ... and a Bergara BMR 22 - 3 favorites I keep taking out ✔
 
Bartok5 said:
You can't compare MP5 Mags with the ubiquitous AR15 Magazine prices as they are "apples and oranges". The cheapest MP5 30-round magazine on HKParts.net is $35 USD without the added expense of the internal block at 10 rounds and the modified Follower with the Last-Round Hold-Open Actuator (a spring-loaded plunger). $35 USD = $50 CAD. Add on the cost of internal pinning and the modified Follower and you land right at...$65. So nobody is getting rich off of the mdified MP5 Mags being offered with the R9.
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Even and SKS magazine is in the 45-65 Dollar range so that's not really a bad price
 
Thank you Bartok5

My son wants to buy an R9. He previously had an FPC and an FX9. He seems to like 9mm only now, he always says that .223 has too much recoil. But I’m very worried that it might get banned shortly. So I convinced him to get another one that also looks cool — the CZ 600 Trail
 
Is the lower or the upper for the R9 the serialized part? I know Print Shoot Repeat was running a Kuna PPC with a different lower that took Scorpion mags instead of the propietary Kuna mags.
 
PatrickMT said:
Thank you Bartok5

My son wants to buy an R9. He previously had an FPC and an FX9. He seems to like 9mm only now, he always says that .223 has too much recoil. But I’m very worried that it might get banned shortly. So I convinced him to get another one that also looks cool — the CZ 600 Tra
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I've shot a lot of 9mm PCC's and a lot of 5.56 gas guns, and I have yet to find any PCC that recoils less than a 5.56.
 
Recoil is similar mostly due to the large mass blow back bolts on typical 9mm PCC's... the muzzle blast and noise is greater with .223/5.56 which makes the 9mm PCC's seem a bit tamer.
 
Can-down said:
Recoil is similar mostly due to the large mass blow back bolts on typical 9mm PCC's... the muzzle blast and noise is greater with .223/5.56 which makes the 9mm PCC's seem a bit tamer.
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Even the most advanced delayed systems (JP5, mean arms etc) that don't rely on mass have more dot bounce and felt recoil than a well gassed 5.56. But I agree the muzzle blast is likely what's causing him to prefer the 9mm.
 
Hmmm, decisions / decisions.

I really enjoy semi auto rifles and have grown very fond of 9mm PCCs.

I am amazed the Sterling Arms offering has evaded the bans, I mean long may it last and if I thought it would be forever I would pick one up but I just don't see that happening. Sooner of later some old hag will be squaking about this and calling it an "Assault Weapon".

We know what comes next.

I also dont like that it uses different mags so I would have to ANOTHER complete belt setup (as well as a bunch of new mags that can only be used for this rifle). From memory these don't easily take trigger upgrades either, another downside for me.

Beyond the Sterling the only other option for a PCC type setup (no, the Henry Homesteader wont work for me) is a kit of some kind for a pistol (assuming you have one that works) but in many ways it seems superior. They are cheaper, can be purchased with no Gestapo checks etc, are shorter / more compact (granted they need to be paired with a restricted pistol), use existing mags / belt and no concerns about heavy triggers (trigger will be pistol trigger so it is as good as that is and in most cases there are upgrade options if required.

Tough call but the kit seems like a better bet.
 
Sniffer said:
Hmmm, decisions / decisions.

I really enjoy semi auto rifles and have grown very fond of 9mm PCCs.

I am amazed the Sterling Arms offering has evaded the bans, I mean long may it last and if I thought it would be forever I would pick one up but I just don't see that happening. Sooner of later some old hag will be squaking about this and calling it an "Assault Weapon".

We know what comes next.

I also dont like that it uses different mags so I would have to ANOTHER complete belt setup (as well as a bunch of new mags that can only be used for this rifle). From memory these don't easily take trigger upgrades either, another downside for me.

Beyond the Sterling the only other option for a PCC type setup (no, the Henry Homesteader wont work for me) is a kit of some kind for a pistol (assuming you have one that works) but in many ways it seems superior. They are cheaper, can be purchased with no Gestapo checks etc, are shorter / more compact (granted they need to be paired with a restricted pistol), use existing mags / belt and no concerns about heavy triggers (trigger will be pistol trigger so it is as good as that is and in most cases there are upgrade options if required.

Tough call but the kit seems like a better bet.
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You just need to factor in the reality that the Pistol "Chassis" is likely to run you double the cost of an R9 Mk1 if you go with the SIG Legion Flux Raider, the only form of Flux Raider that currently seems to be available for purchase. You might get away with the minimalist design of the B+T P320 offering for considerably less money, however it lacks most of the key features of the Flux product. Just saying....
 
Bartok5 said:
You just need to factor in the reality that the Pistol "Chassis" is likely to run you double the cost of an R9 Mk1 if you go with the SIG Legion Flux Raider, the only form of Flux Raider that currently seems to be available for purchase. You might get away with the minimalist design of the B+T P320 offering for considerably less money, however it lacks most of the key features of the Flux product. Just saying....
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The Sig offering seems like a very nice piece of kit. Pretty sure I have seen some of the top competitors in the US running them (and they have all kinds of good PCC rifle offerings unlike Canada) but I was referring to the Kidon type kit from IMI or similar.

That would come in at much less in terms of cost.
 
b-wingpilot said:
Looks like Akdas is the real mfg of the Sterling R9

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Yup, going over the videos from prior to the R9's release, Akdas produced the majority of the parts for Sterling, customizing their existing design with a side-charger and the ported barrel for the Canadian market. The parts are assembled and tested in Canada, so it can get the Made in Canada designation and avoid the need for an FRT.

It was supposed to be a side-project to go with the R18 MK3, which had more customizations like the 180ing of lower to make it non-AR-15 compatible, in addition to side-charging. Akdas is releasing their rear-charging version of the rifle as the Akdas SAM; sadly we will never see our own R18 MK3 unless there is a change in government. Being further along in the FRT process put a bullseye on the R18 MK3, marking it for elimination by OIC. The R9 was supposed to follow later, so it had not been submitted for FRT, but was then rushed to production when the government murdered the R18 MK3.

TFBTV said:
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b-wingpilot said:
Looks like Akdas is the real mfg of the Sterling R9

Link
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This is old news to most who have been following the R18 and R9 threads. Yes, Akdas is the principal designer and manufacturer of the MAC iX "Pistol"/PCC. Sterling Arms International (SAI) provided significant design inputs to the original Akdas SMG, including the overall appearance of the machining, The counter-bored 18.5" Barrel, Left-side charging, Picatinny Buttstock interface, etc, in order to keep the R9 consistent with the external design cues and lineage of the previously designed (and currently prohibited) R18 Mk 3 Rifle. Akdas retained all of the SAI inputs aside from the Left-side Charging and the 18.5" counter-bored Barrel, opting instead for Top-Rear Charging akin to an AR15 and a conventional SMG Barrel. SAI also redesigned the entire Lower Receiver and its Trigger Pocket area to preclude modification for the installation of fully-automatic components.

SAI contracts Akdas to produce the Upper and Lower Receiver as well as the Handguard of the R9. That's pretty much where Akdas's involvement ends, however. Barrels come from Slovenia, other components from Taiwan, with approximately 30% of the R9 being manufactured in Canada. Because some key components are contracted for offshore manufacture, the R9 is "Assembled in Canada" with all of the associated QC (including test-firing) that SAI has put in place to mitigate warranty claims.

The above information was all hashed out months ago when TFB TV published a couple of videos about the Akdas Rifle and SMG family. Every time Akdas tries a new marketing angle for their SAM Rifle (Akdas' version of the R18 Mk3) or the iX PCC/SMG, this subject seems to come up. There is nothing "hidden" regarding the original design of the R9 operating system, nor the considerable makeover provided by SAI. The same applies to SAI providing Akdas with the operating system design for their "SAM" Rifle (Turkish variant of the R18 Mk3). Sterling Arms reps have been very up front and transparent concerning their joint design and manufacturing efforts with Akdas. None of this is/was a secret.

Note the external design similarities between the R18 Mk3 and the R9. This is just a small part of SAI's input to the overall design of both firearms.

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Bartok5 said:
This is old news to most who have been following the R18 and R9 threads. Yes, Akdas is the principal designer and manufacturer of the MAC iX "Pistol"/PCC. Sterling Arms International (SAI) provided significant design inputs to the original Akdas SMG, including the overall appearance of the machining, The counter-bored 18.5" Barrel, Left-side charging, Picatinny Buttstock interface, etc, in order to keep the R9 consistent with the external design cues and lineage of the previously designed (and currently prohibited) R18 Mk 3 Rifle. Akdas retained all of the SAI inputs aside from the Left-side Charging and the 18.5" counter-bored Barrel, opting instead for Top-Rear Charging akin to an AR15 and a conventional SMG Barrel. SAI also redesigned the entire Lower Receiver and its Trigger Pocket area to preclude modification for the installation of fully-automatic components.

SAI contracts Akdas to produce the Upper and Lower Receiver as well as the Handguard of the R9. That's pretty much where Akdas's involvement ends, however. Barrels come from Slovenia, other components from Taiwan, with approximately 30% of the R9 being manufactured in Canada. Because some key components are contracted for offshore manufacture, the R9 is "Assembled in Canada" with all of the associated QC (including test-firing) that SAI has put in place to mitigate warranty claims.

The above information was all hashed out months ago when TFB TV published a couple of videos about the Akdas Rifle and SMG family. Every time Akdas tries a new marketing angle for their SAM Rifle (Akdas' version of the R18 Mk3) or the iX PCC/SMG, this subject seems to come up. There is nothing "hidden" regarding the original design of the R9 operating system, nor the considerable makeover provided by SAI. The same applies to SAI providing Akdas with the operating system design for their "SAM" Rifle (Turkish variant of the R18 Mk3). Sterling Arms reps have been very up front and transparent concerning their joint design and manufacturing efforts with Akdas. None of this is/was a secret.

Note the external design similarities between the R18 Mk3 and the R9. This is just a small part of SAI's input to the overall design of both firearms.

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What Bartok said. I forgot about the extent of Sterling's input. So you could say the R9 and R18 MK3 and their Akdas versions are a fusion of Sterling Canada's thoughts of blending the AR-180 compact action with the HK gas system on the R18 MK3 and HK design cues on both the R9 and R18 MK3 with the might of the Turkish arms industry. Akdas like the designs so much they AR-15-ed / Americanized them so they could sell them in Europe, the U.S. and elsewhere as a budget alternative to the SIG Spear LT and SIG Rattler among others.
 
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