INTRODUCTION:
I received randomly-selected SAI R8 Mk1, serial #00054 this most recent Friday afternoon courtesy of Mike Scott, the Calgary-based Manager of Sterling Arms’ Canadian Operations. The carbine was brand new, one of 25 assembled for the use of Media/Reviewers/Influencers. It had evidently been test-fired, but was otherwise virgin when received. Mike warned me about the R9’s forceful ejection in the event that I wanted to save brass. Since it is SAI’s 1000 rounds of 9mm testing ammo that I am shooting, I was not fussed about keeping the brass!
Cole’s Notes: The SAI R9 Mk1 is an excellent PCC that is both accurate and reliable. There are some ambi limitations for Left-Handed firers, however there are training work-arounds. Buy it if you can find one – the quality is exceptional for the $1600 MSRP. The R9 can compete on a level field with the established pre-ban PCCs of choice.
Disclaimer. I am friends with both J.R. Cox, the head of SAI, and Mike Scott, his Calgary-based Canadian Operations Manager. Our mutual friendship extends back to shared hardship while serving in 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry together back in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The bonds are strong, but this also means that I don’t bull#### a brother. My job as a reviewer is to convey factual information to you, the reader, while pointing out areas for possible improvement to JR and Mike. I include those recommendations for future improvement in this review so that there is full transparency with you, the potential customer.
INITIAL IMPRESSIONS:
The R9 Mk1 arrives in a fairly short, plain cardboard box containing the Carbine, the QD Buttstock, one 5/10 rd Magazine, a tube of lubricating Grease, an Owner’s Manual, an SAI-branded Trigger Lock and a couple of Stickers. The Buttstock must be carefully aligned with the Picatinny Buttstock Rail in order to slide it onto the rear of the Carbine. Once you get it aligned, the Stock slides easily onto the Carbine, clicking into the height position of the firer’s choice. The Buttstock can then be slid forward and back with 6 standard locking positions. Note that the Polymer Magpul Buttstock on my Test Carbine was extremely tight on the empty Buffer Tube, to the point that it was impossible to slide in and out. I replaced the QD Buttstock with a spare SIG MCX folding and Collapsing Buttstock for live-fire testing purposes.
The Buttstock aside, my initial impression of the Carbine was extremely positive. It is a very solid, sturdy firearm that exudes purpose and instills confidence in the user. Weight was negligible and due to its excellent balance the Carbine felt very light and lively in the hands. There was zero play between the Upper and Lower Receivers and nothing rattled… anywhere. The external finish is proper Mil-Spec Type 3 Hard Coat Anodizing that seems very durable and scratch/wear resistant. All in all, my initial impression was cause for considerable excitement. The R9 shows definite promise for the Canadian market in both the short and long terms. As things currently stand, it is the only “black” tactical-style 9mm PCC available on the Canadian market. Even if it is banned by a future OIC, if and when the laws change back the R9 will be able to compete favourably price and performance-wise with the best of the former Canadian PCC market.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:
The SAI R9 Mk 1 is a lightweight, simple Blow-Back operated, air-cooled, magazine-fed semi-automatic Carbine chambered in 9mm Parabellum. The technical specifications are as follows:
Calibre: 9x19mm (Parabellum)
Action: Simple Blow-Back
Barrel Length: 18.6”/470mddm
Barrel Type: Mid-Weight, Counter-Bored approximately 6” back from the Muzzle to the rifling.
Rifling: 1:10”, 6 Groove R Hand Twist
Width: 2 3/8” / 7.14 cm
Height: 7 ¾” / 19.67cm
Length: Buttstock fully collapsed: 958mm / 37.7”
Length: Buttstock fully extended: 1020mm / 40.1”
Weight: Without Magazine: 3.1 kg / 7 lbs
Weight with Magazine of 5 rounds: 3.35 kg / 7.4 lbs
Steel Finish: Melonite
Receiver Material: 7075T6 Aluminum Alloy
Receiver Finish: Type 3 Black Hardcoat Anodized
Buttstock: Tube diameter unconfirmed due to out-of-spec sample provided. 6-position, collapsing, Magpul style Polymer Buttstock.
COMPONENTS (TIP TO BUTT):
Barrel. The Barrel is an 18.6” mid-weight design, 6 grooves with a 1:10” Twist, manufactured from AISI-SAE 4140 42CrMo4 Steel. The Barrel is Melonite treated, a process akin to nitro-carbeurizing. The innovative aspect of the Barrel is that the rifled portion is only approximately 12” long, with the last 6.5” of the Barrel given a slightly wider diameter and Back-Bored to create a non-rifled, open space for the Bullet to pass through. The walls of the last 6” off Barrel are approximately 1.5m thick, much like a shotgun Barrel. Long, oval slots are cut into the last 6” of Barrel at the 12, 3, 6 and 9 o’clock positions to function as a basic Flash-Hider. Due to the thin Barrel Walls forward of the Handguard, there is no threading on the end of the Barrel to accept aftermarket muzzle devices. Such devices are simply not compatible with the R9’s Barrel design and are not at all required in any case.
The net effect of back-boring the last 6.5” of Barrel and cutting the Flash-Hider Slots is to dramatically lighten the front end of the Carbine such that it has a perfect point of balance right beneath the Magazine Well. This is what gives the Carbine such a lively and agile feel in the hands. That is some purpose-driven design excellence, right there Ladies and Gents!
Handguard. The Handguard features an oval cross-section which fits comfortably in most hands. Manufactured of 7075T6 Aluminum Alloy and Type 3 Hardcoat Anodized, it features MLOK slots at the 2,3,4,6,8 and 10 o’clock positions. The Handguard features a continuous Picatinny Rail at the 12 o’clock position which mates to the Rail on the upper Receiver. The Handguard is retained by a horizontal Torx Screw as well as a smaller Top Torx Screw. It is rock-solid when mounted and there is no reason for removal since there is no Gas System to foul or have to maintain.
Upper Receiver. The Upper Receiver is 7075T6 Aluminum Alloy, Type 3 Hardcoat Anodized to a durable, scratch-resistant mil-spec finish. The Upper Receiver features a full-length Picatinny Rail for the mounting of Optical devices. The rail appears to be mil-spec and within specification (my optics all fit with minor adjustment). There is a small Screw on the Left side of the Upper which is the trip for a very simple Out-Of-Battery Firing Pin Safety mechanism on the R9’s Bolt. The Upper Receiver also features the Left Side Charging Handle and Race-way. Also located on the Left Side of the Upper is the extra-thick, heavy-duty Ejector Post, which is secured to the Left Wall of the Upper Receiver by a Hex Screw and Plate.
Lower Receiver. The Lower Receiver is also 7075T6 Aluminum Alloy, Type 3 Hardcoat Anodized to a mil-spec finish. The Lower Receiver Houses the Trigger Components and currently does not accommodate a Trigger Tech Cassette type Trigger. This is being remedied for the production rifles with the Trigger Pocket enlarged accordingly to accept a Trigger Tech AR15 Trigger. The Trigger Pocket is designed so as not to easily accept any illegal conversion parts. The Lower Receiver accepts any AR15 Pistol Grip with a Beaver Tail. Of note, there are 3 spring-loaded plungers in the Lower Receiver which exert upwards pressure on the underside of the Upper Receiver, thus eliminating any slop or movement. As a result, the lockup between the two receiver halves is extremely tight and rattle-free.
Controls. The controls on the R9 are mostly excellent for the Right-handed firer, however they are somewhat lacking in ambidexterity for “Lefties”. The Left-side Charging Handle is readily accessible, and could benefit from the folding mechanism that is being developed as an aftermarket add-on for the R18 Mk 3 Rifle. The Selector Switch is excellent, with a very crisp and definite operation. That said, the Selector Switch is Left-Side only and could benefit from being ambidextrous for the use of both Left and Right-handed firers. The Right-side Button Magazine Release is mostly useful for Left-handed firers, but is there for those “Righties” with hugely extended forefingers as well. The Paddle-style Mag Release is ambidextrous, being located centrally underneath and to the immediate rear of the Magazine Well. There is an adapter over top of the basic Paddle itself, which is designed to allow the operator to release a magazine with the push of a Forefinger. I personally find the Forefinger “Push” to be too far, and must break the grip of my firing hand to properly engage it. It is perhaps best used as a Thumb Lever to be depressed when manually stripping Magazines from the Carbine’s Magazine Housing. That said, I personally found the angle on the rear surface and bottom of the Thumb-lever to be off-putting, as the Lever caused a blister on my thumb after 30+ magazine changes. I would change the angle of the Rear and Bottom of the Magazine Release Lever to eliminate this irritant. The Bolt Catch is very Beefy and functions exactly as intended. Unfortunately it is also Left Side only. Strong consideration should therefore be given to creating an Ambidextrous Left and Right Side Bolt Catch identical to that found on the R18 Mk3 rifle.
Trigger. The Trigger on the R9 Mk1 is a single-stage, mil-spec trigger with an extremely smooth take-up and a surprisingly crisp break. That said, the Trigger pull weight averages 8 lbs 5 oz, which is excessive for both rapid and slow-rate, accurate fire. The R9 would greatly benefit from a Trigger-Tech style of match-grade trigger.
Magazine. The R9 Mk1 utilizes the MP5 style of magazine, albeit with the design altered to provide a last-round Bolt hold-open feature. A single 5/10 Magazine ships with the Carbine. Additional 5/10 Magazines and 10/30 “Pistol” Magazines are available for purchase at a cost of $65 per magazine, which is actually a very reasonable price for durable, steel Magazines. The Magazines are easy to load, being of the double-stack and double-feed design. Magazines are being manufactured on the basis of 5 extra mags per Carbine. If more are required, more will be manufactured.
Buttstock. The Buttstock is a non-folding, Quick-Detach Buffer Tube Style that accepts any conventional Buttstock design. It comes equipped with a Magpul-style Polymer Buttstock that has 6 different locking positions for length. The QD system allows the Buttstock to mount to the Carbine using the Picatinny Buttstock Rail on the Rear of the Lower Receiver. The QD Buttstock allows SAI to ship the rifle in a shorter box, thus avoiding the extra shipping expense for an oversized package. More important however, the QD Buttstock and Picatinny Rail interface on the rear of the Lower Receiver allows the owner too select from a broad and ever-growing range of different Buttstock styles to find the style that works best for them.
As noted earlier, the Polymer Buttstock was extremely tight on the empty Buffer Tube of the assembly that came with my randomly-selected Review R9. Rather than struggle with it and risk breakage, I simply replaced the entire Buttstock assembly with a Folding/Collapsable SIG MCX Buttstock that I had laying about. The Buffer Tube diameter on my sample measured 1.182” whereas a Milspec tube comes in at 1.148” and a Commercial tube measures 1.168”. So the tube that came on my Review R9 is larger than both a milspec AND a commercial Buffer tube. Very odd to say the least, and something that SAI will have to immediately revisit with regard to their QC checks prior to commencing Retail sales.
DISASSEMBLY AND REASSEMBLY:
The take-down procedure is extremely simple and intuitive and is covered in detail in the User’s Manual. There are no “tricks” per-se associated with the disassembly for routine maintenance. The User’s Manual also covers the Post-Assembly Tests that must be conducted to ensure that the firearm is functioning properly after it has been broken down and reassembled.
FIRING IMPRESSIONS:
Ammunition. I fired 300 rounds of mixed 9mm 124gr Blazer with an unidentified, brass-washed 124gr round with the Manufacturer’s Head Stamp “GFL”. Both rounds exhibited the same point of impact and were therefore used interchangeably. The ammunition was provided by SAI for my testing. There were no stoppages of any kind during my 300 round initial range session with the R9 Mk1. The Carbine ran perfectly, exhibiting very strong ejection of empty casings with the empties landing somewhere in the next county over….
Perceived Recoil & Muzzle Flip. The perceived recoil impulse from the Straight Blow-Back Bolt moving back and forth is negligible and on par with most other 9mm PCCs. It is not nearly as violent as the FX-9, but is slightly heavier than the hydraulically-buffered B+T APC or GHM series. It did not adversely effect my ability to keep the R9 on target nor my ability to transition between targets. Muzzle-flip was virually non-existent, mostly due to the Carbine’s excellent balance.
Balance. As noted earlier, the R9 Mk1’s balance is perfect – right on the center of the Magazine Well This is thanks entirely to the unique design of the Barrel, with its counter-bored 6” of lightweight tube to reach the 18.5” overall Barrel length. That was pure genius on the part of the Carbine’s designers, as this makes the R9 very light and agile In the hands.
IRING RESULTS:
Reliability. As mentioned, reliability was perfect – there were no stoppages of any kind during my 300 round firing schedule. Rounds were chambered using the Charging Handle and the Bolt Catch to confirm operability of both methods. The R9 was disassembled and lubricated upon receipt as part of my normal pre-firing inspection and preparation. It ran flawlessly with incredibly strong ejection. Indeed, if an owner intends to keep their brass, they are going to have to attach one of the several designs of Brass-Catcher to their carbine using the top Picatinny Rail.
Accuracy. Once zeroing was complete, all accuracy testing was conducted from 25 yards on an indoor range using a sitting unsupported firing position. Testing was conducted using a Holosun AEMS Red Dot Sight with Vortex Micro 3x Magnifier. Test targets were fired using 10 round groups at slow (full target acquisition) and medium (one round every 3 seconds) rates of fire. The results are as seen on the two test targets with 4 groups apiece. On the slow-rate target the average group size was under 2” with the rounds clustered tightly together. On the medium rate target the groups grew somewhat in size, but are still closely clustered. I’d place the accuracy results on par with any other quality PCC that was previously on the Canadian market. The accuracy would certainly improve with a lighter Trigger Press. The Mil-Spec Trigger pull weight of 8 lbs 5 oz is heavy, although smooth with a crisp let-off. A Trigger-Tech style Match-Grade Trigger would undoubtedly further improve the accuracy results.
Slow Rate Results
CONCLUSION:
General. The R9 Mk1 impressed me from the outset with its excellent fit and finish as well as its overall “tactical” business-like appearance. This carbine is built like the proverbial “Brick Sh#thouse”, with an oversized, beefy Ejector Post and Bolt Catch. All of the components are designed and integrated to work well together. The oversized components suggest that long-term durability will be a strong suit of the R9 Mk1. The Carbine delivered flawless performance at the range, firing 300 mixed commercial rounds of 9mm without a single stoppage. Accuracy was perfectly acceptable, but would be improved with a lighter Trigger press. The ergonomics are excellent for a Right-handed firer, however the lack of an ambidextrous Bolt Catch and Selector Lever compromise the ease of use for those who are Left-handed. These oversights are easily remedied with a change of specification and development of an ambi Bolt Catch like that of the R18 Mk3.
MSRP. The MSRP of $1600 is excellent value for what you receive with the R9 mk1. Priced on par with the Skorpion EVO 3 when it was available, the R9 is clearly the superior firearm based on the quality of materials and construction alone. Are there less expensive options out there? Sure – the Kodiak K9 springs immediately to mind, but it is a rattly econo-brand that did not inspire much confidence in the firer when it was available. The R9 and K9 are not in the same league – not even close.
Final Recommendation. Based on my detailed inspection and initial firing session with the R9 Mk1, I highly recommend this PCC without reservation. Yes, there is scope to improve the ambidextrous ergonomics and the comfort of the Magazine Release Lever, but those are relatively simple and inexpensive fixes that can be incorporated into R9 production as “rolling improvements” over time. I suspect that the out-of-spec Buffer Tube was a oversight in SAI’s QC system, which must and no doubt will be immediately addressed. Increasing the size/depth of the Trigger Pocket so that it will accept a Trigger-Tech Cassette style of Match-Grade Trigger Mechanism may be a bigger challenge, which remains to be seen. Failing that, efforts should be made to source a lighter trigger pull that will still provide reliable ignition of commercial pistol primers. Those relatively minor points aside however, the R9 Mk1 remains an overall excellent, highly robust PCC design with advanced features (eg. Out-Of-Battery Firing Pin Safety Mechanism) that ought to provide owners with years of trouble-free service. If purchasing decisions are any indicator of value for dollar, I will be buying an R9 Mk1 just as soon as they hit the market. I cannot provide a higher personal endorsement than that…
