The Ruger EC9s is one of the most expensive – yet reliable – 9mm pistols currently on the market. Designed for concealed carry, this micro-compact pistol offers a lot of features which I review here.
If you don’t want to read the whole article, here’s the bottom line: the EC9s is a good quality defensive tool. It isn’t ideal, but for the price, it is one of the best you can get.
Let’s dive in.
Where to Buy the Ruger EC9s
The EC9s is an incredible value. You can purchase this gun online through the affiliate links below and pick it up at your local gun shop.
- Sportsman’s Guide (best price and no-interest payments)
- Palmetto State Armory
- Guns.com
- Sportsman’s Warehouse
Introduction of the EC9s
Days ahead of the 2018 SHOT Show, Ruger announced a new handgun aimed at being an affordable self-defense pistol: the EC9s.
The Ruger EC9s was a new model, but one that design cues from the company’s existing LC9s. The two guns shared many features and were the same size.
However, the EC9s was significantly more affordable with a suggested retail price that was nearly $200 cheaper. As you might expect, people flocked to the less expensive gun. Eventually, Ruger discontinued the LC9s.
In the years since its introduction, the EC9s proved to be a reliable performer. Some early adopters reported issues with the striker mechanism, but those complaints fell away and the company seems to have fixed any problems in the production line.
EC9s Features
Sized for concealed carry, the EC9s is chambered for the 9mm cartridge. The 9mm is a proven defensive round, and when you select high-performance ammunition, it will perform admirably for you. Let’s review some of the additional features that make this gun a good consideration for CCW.
The EC9s feeds from the same 7-round magazines that run in the LC9s. This can work to your benefit as mags marked for the discontinued LC9s might be found at a bargain price.
It has a 3.12″ barrel and weighs about 17 ounces unloaded. It is relatively compact with a height of 4.5″. Its thinness – only 0.9″ – should help it to conceal as easily as the LC9s did.
This is a striker-fired pistol. As with many striker-fired handguns, Ruger added a pivoting safety lever in the center of the trigger. This helps to prevent accidental discharges when the handgun is dropped.
Like many of Ruger’s pistols, this gun has a small thumb safety on the left side of the frame. While many people do not see the need for an external safety, many of Ruger’s customers appear to appreciate this option.
One of the cost-saving measures used by the company is to use sights that are integral to the slide instead of replaceable sights that are dovetailed into place. Both the front and rear sights have serrations on their faces to reduce glare when shooting in bright light.
Another cost-saving decision made by the company was the inclusion of only one magazine. I always recommend having several magazines for each firearm you own as they tend to be the most likely point of failure in a gun. At least Ruger includes a pinky extension for the magazine floorplate.
Originally, Ruger set the suggested retail price on these pistols at $299. After more than 5 years, Ruger continues to keep the price low on these guns. Currently, the suggested retail price is only $339.
Since dealers often sell Ruger products below full retail, it is conceivable that you could walk out of the local gun shop with one of these for less than $300 total with tax, transfer fees, etc.
All of the links above are to dealers with prices well under $300.
Ruger EC9s Specifications
Here are the specifications on the base model EC9s:
| Model # | 3283 |
| Caliber | 9mm |
| Magazine Capacity | 7 rounds |
| Included Magazines | one |
| Barrel Length | 3.12″ |
| Overall Length | 6.0″ |
| Width | 0.9″ |
| Finish | black oxide |
| MSRP – at launch | $299 |
| MSRP – current | $339 |
EC9s Variants
With a gun this popular, it is understandable that Ruger would want to offer variations to appeal to as many different shooters as possible.
Ruger offers the EC9s in a rainbow of colors including those with purple, turquoise, gray, FDE and Muddy Girl colors. You can see the full line of EC9s color options through this affiliate link and this one.
Last Update: July 2, 2022
89 replies on “Ruger EC9s – Inexpensive 9mm for Concealed Carry”
I like the approach on this. It is everything I need in a defensive handgun, and I won’t feel bad when it is taken as evidence after a self-defense shooting.
Pass …got a M &p shield for 300 at cabelas last month …..much better gun in my opinion. Although I see this hurting the sells of the lcp 380 more then anything
No because their lcp is still smaller and runs 199.99 before any discounts at Cabela’s and other gun shops. Picked up my lcp 1 from Cabela’s and have been happier with it then my old sd9ve from Smith and Wesson.
The lcp2 is $299 at Cabela’s. I know cause last week I got one when it was marked down to$250 . I wouldn’t touch that older model lcp with a ten foot poll .😉😉
My lcp 1 has yet to fail after 300+ rounds through it. And to spend an additional 100 for a wider grip is a joke.
I spent the extra 80 bucks on mine because I preferred the smoother, single action trigger. I will eventually get one of the originals just to have in the collection though. Like the original lc9 they have just been proven to work.
I paid $280 out the door for my lcp2 the week it came out. Its still the same price at most of the gun shops around here. If cabelas is charging that much then they’re ripping folks off. The MSRP on them is only like $279, and nobody charges msrp.
I paid $250 on sell so you actually paid to much . That’s why you wait
Depends on when the LCP was made; serial #’s with NO hyphen, circa 2013, were an updated design with a much better trigger pull. Then there was the ‘Red Trigger’ LCP Custom that was even further tweaked that happens to be my favorite. I find triggers on SW Shield, Beretta Pico, Remington RM380 & a few others to be even worse than the 1st gen LCP’s, which were not great.
$229.99
Yep Rugers have too many recalls. Yes I know all makers have them but Ruger has too many safety recalls on practically all guns they sell. also lots of issues with roll pins rolling out, jamming issues galore, Shield is defeinitely better
NOT
I have 7 different Rugers and have had no recalls or problems with any of them..
As far as the trigger my lc9 is smoother and much crisper then my m&p shield…
I’ve currently own 16 Ruger’ s. Rarely a problem with any, from a 70’s vintage Service Six to a P90 to an AR556 and an American Ranch 300 BLK. My new EC9S works the great and got it for $229. Ruger s customer service is second to none. I managed to somehow crack the barrel of my Bisley Blackhawk 44 Mag at the forcing cone. I bought it used a nd put several thousand rounds through it. I ended up with a brand new Bisley stainless Hunter model for no charge! I don’t think anybody else would do that!
Yes, Ruger doesn’t ask questions….they just deliver. I’ve had wonderful customer service from them. I’ve had bad service from H&K and Walther. Walther acts as if they are doing you a favor by talking to you at all.
Hey Jane I can only assume you work for a competitor. I have had Rugers all my life and I have no idea what you are talking about. Jamming issues galore? What model?
Your nuts ? where did you get this from ? never had any problems with my EC9s 🙂
Hey Jane are you making this up as you go. I have 6 Rugers and have yet to have a problem. My son has more problems with his Sigs.
I have 8 Rugers and have never had a problem. They are as good a gun as anything out there.
I recently bought my first Ruger this January. I have admired them for many years, especially their revolvers. A few years ago I fell in love with the GP100 Match Champion. This January I got promoted at work and felt like it was time to get one. I thought for a while whether I wanted the 10mm auto version or the .357/38 version. I ended up setting on the .357 because I didn’t want to have to worry about moon clips. Once my pistol arrived I got it out to the range a couple weeks later. And after a few shots started having some issues. The action would get stiff every so often and I could barely shoot in double action. I got it back home and found out that the cylinder seemed out of alignment and the forcing cone was rubbing on two of the chambers/bores. I cleaned it up and it operated fine, but as soon as I took it to the range a second time, after a few shots worth of carbon/residue built up on the front of the cylinder it would start rubbing and be difficult again. I contacted Ruger, and explained the problem. They sent me a return slip to mail it back to them. Within 10 days (less than 2 weeks!) they had recieved it, fixed it, mailed it back, and I had it back in my hands. They thoroughly went through it to replace the trigger, hammer, pawl, and crane arm. Then they range tested it, smooth out the trigger and action, cleaned it up to look as good as new. It said all this on the packing slip when I got it back. After taking it back out to shoot many times I have never had an issue with it, no matter what i feed it. Cylinder appears to be perfectly aligned now, and the work they did on the trigger is phenominal. Its buttery smooth in either double or single action. To me that is awesome customer service. They completely fixed the problem, tuned up the trigger and hammer, and got it back to me in under 2 weeks, and it didn’t cost me a penny. I was expecting them to have it for a month or more, and maybe have to pay to ship it to them. The number of companies that go above and beyond in customer service these days keeps getting smaller.
I do have a Walther P99AS in .40 SW which I love to carry when I can where a jacket, but its too large to carry in the summer without wearing a really baggy shirt. I have never had a single issue with my P99 so I can’t attest to their customer service. I’m hoping that if that day ever comes that they will treat me half as good as Ruger did.
My EDC is the original LC9 model and my only complaint about it is the long trigger pull. If that issue has been fixed, I’ll definitely be picking up one of these, especially at a sale price somewhere between $200 and $300 dollars.
the lc9s fixed the trigger problem by making the guns striker fired instead of DOA as yours is. The EC9s is also striker fired (thus the s at the end of the moniker)
The trigger on the EC9s looks very similar to that on the LC9s. Are they identical triggers? I also have the LC9 and the trigger is bad on that gun.
Triggers are the same on LC9S & EC9S, both being striker firer. The trigger on your original LC9 is long and hard,same with original LCP with the hyphen in the serial #, but still better than many SW, Beretta, Remington and other triggers in production today. If you want to see just how bad it can be, try a Pico or RM380; you won’t complain about your LC9 again.
RM380 can be fixed with an aftermarket kit and about 30min to install. Love my little Remington pocket carry. Accurate to about 15 yds, no failures to feed or eject, and was $120 after the rebate check arrived.
I shoot it almost as well as my M&P Shield.
It’s fixed.
I just ordered an EC9s for 250 out the door with taxes.
$217.84 + free shipping from Kentucky Gun Co.
$217.xx where ???
$209.99 + free shipping @ Whittaker Guns, can’t wait till it arrives and take it to the range.