Reviews Ruger EC9s: Ruger’s More-Refined KelTec Copy Mike Searson August 6, 2026 Join the Conversation At RECOIL, we review every product fairly and without bias. Making a purchase through one of our links may earn us a small commission, and helps support independent gun reviews. Read our affiliate policy. Find out more about how we test products. The most common sub-$200 firearms we find are from questionable manufacturers, in extremely poor condition, or come from a country that no longer exists. But we like to look under rocks at small gun shops and kick tires at pawn brokers during our travels — and occasionally among all the zinc-alloy Saturday Night Specials from the ’70s and assorted antiques that aren’t safe to shoot, we’ll uncover something decent from a name brand with a sterling reputation. Such was the case when this Ruger EC9s was unearthed in an Idaho pawnshop. This slim 9mm holds seven rounds in the magazine, and the price was a mere $159 — let’s find out if it’s actually worth a damn. HISTORY AND DESIGN Sturm, Ruger & Co. Inc.’s official motto and slogan is “Arms Makers for Responsible Citizens.” It reflects the company’s focus on producing rugged, reliable firearms for the commercial sporting market while emphasizing safety, quality, and responsible firearm ownership since its founding in 1949. Ruger is just one of those companies that screams ’Merica. All their products are designed and made in the USA. Although, someone snarky might say that all of Ruger’s designs aren’t designed by them. The pistol in question, the EC9s, is essentially an embiggened version of Ruger’s smaller LCP, a polymer pocket pistol chambered in .380 ACP. Which itself is a like a nicer KelTec P-3AT. The engineers and designers at Ruger essentially upsized the smaller pistol by 20 percent and re-chambered it. It is truly a no-frills, bare-bones, striker-fired, sub-compact 9mm designed to compete against the Glock 43 and S&W Shield-type pistols on the market at the time of its release. As those designs have been rendered obsolete by the introduction of the SIG P365, Springfield Armory Hellcat, and Glock 48 with their greater capacity and options for adding sights or optics, so has the EC9s. It was dropped from Ruger’s in 2025, and probably no one noticed. THE AWESOME Surprisingly, this model has a great trigger. Additionally, the EC9s points well, feels comfortable, and conceals well with a proper holster. In the major aspects, it’s a damn good concealable pistol — especially at its low MSRP of $229. (Of course, MSRP only matters if it’s still available, but remember this one was only $159.) EC9s 3.12" 7 Round 9mm Luger Pistol – Black $261.95 The Real Grit $261.95 Prices accurate at time of publishing. Affiliate disclosure. THE OK It’s a 9mm in a very small package. While that helps out when carrying concealed, it does distribute more felt recoil than a larger pistol due to its small size and light weight. It will not be brutal for an experienced handgun shooter — for a mag or two — but new people or those suffering from arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, or other similar ailments will feel every bit of it. Simply put: This is a gun to carry with, not a gun to train a lot with. Secondly, it requires a punch to disassemble the pistol. What can be frustrating is that the punch is not included. Being it is out of production, that may make it hard to find spare parts or accessories. THE AWFUL The sights are abysmal. They are molded into the slide, there is absolutely no hope for adjustment let alone changing them out, nor is there a provision to mount an optic on this polymer-framed pocket pistol. You gotta use this one up close and personal. Initially, this particular one found at Airman Pawn was probably a fine-looking little pistol, but the prior owner simply didn’t take care of it. The handling marks, finish loss, and actual rust on the magazine body indicate this may have been bumping around in a truck or maybe even a tackle box. Spending a small amount of time in a body of water would not be outside the realm of possibility, either. LOOSE ROUNDS If your goal is to get a cheap semiauto 9mm for concealed carry, the EC9s ticks all the boxes. Aside from the molded-in sights, it is not a terrible design. Then again, we all don’t need Bo-Mars or Trijicon reflex sights for self-defense encounters within 10 feet. It’s a very basic design, but it’s one that works. There are better options, but not too many for $159. Although the finish was a little rough, that’s almost to be expected of a firearm designed to be used as a tool and literally used in that fashion. Some of us take care of our gear to ensure that it will last a long time and be ready when we need it, but the majority of people do not. Just because it is no longer in production doesn’t mean it was a poor design. These pistols retailed for well under $300 when they were brand new, so finding them for almost half that amount in fair condition shouldn’t be too difficult. The initial purchase was a roll of the dice, because we were unfamiliar with this model, but Ruger’s name on it helped hedged the bet a little. A forgotten pistol, but a good buy. Why you can trust RECOIL Since our founding in 2012, RECOIL remains the premier firearms lifestyle publication for the modern shooting enthusiast. We deliver cutting-edge coverage of guns, gear, accessories and technology. We go beyond basic reviews, providing no B.S. buyer’s guides, hands-on testing and expert analysis on everything from firearms and survival equipment to watches and vehicles. 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