

This 9 mm semiauto is made in Ruger’s Prescott, AZ, factory and is available as a full-sized model with 4-inch barrel and two 10- or 15-round magazines and a compact version with a 3.42-inch barrel and 10-round mags. Ruger has its finger on the pulse of the American gun market and consistently provides firearms shooters want at a price they can afford. Mossberg may always be best-known for their tough-as-nails shotguns, but their 9mm pistol stands out in a very competitive and crowded field. The sights are basic but functional and both the barrel and slide are made from 416 stainless with a durable DLC coating. With its 3.4-inch barrel the MC1sc measures just 6.25-inches long, and it’s just over an inch wide so concealment isn’t an issue. I had reservations about the polymer magazine initially, but after more than 1,500 rounds, my test pistol hasn’t had any issues and reliability exceeded that of guns costing more money. The included 6-round flush fit/7-round extended magazines are made of polymer, but they are easy to load and operate well. This subcompact 9 mm offers several features not found on competing pistols including a unique takedown design that doesn’t require pulling the trigger to disassemble the gun and an optional crossbolt safety. Mossberg is known for making dependable American firearms that are reasonably priced, and that’s an apt description of their new semi-auto pistol, the MC1sc. If you’re one of the millions of Americans in the market for a 9 mm pistol for personal protection here’s a look at six great 9 mm pistols available under $500. But there are a handful of guns that consistently impresses by offering superb performance and rock-solid reliability at a reasonable price. As a result, that competition in the 9 mm market is extraordinarily tough. It's no surprise that 9 mm pistols make up a sizeable portion of all guns sold each year.
