New Ruger MAX-9 Drops By: Tim Stetzer

Ruger just dropped a new version of its subcompact MAX-9 9mm pistol at the beginning of July. The Max-9 has been out since early 2021 so it’s time for an update, and Ruger did just that.

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The MAX-9 was Ruger’s answer to guns like the Springfield Armory Hellcat, SIG P365, and Glock 43. It’s a double-column, compact 9mm with a magazine capacity of 12+1 rounds. It has a 3.2-inch barrel and is just 6 inches in overall length. Height is 4.42 inches, and width is under an inch at 0.95 inches. Weight is 18.4 ounces unloaded.

The MAX-9 uses a glass-filled nylon frame with a one-piece steel fire control chassis. The slide and barrel are made from hardened steel with a black nitride finish. The pistol is striker-fired with a short, smooth trigger pull and a positive reset. It has both a manual thumb safety as well as an integrated trigger safety and an internal striker blocker. The MAX-9 has a fixed front sight and a drift-adjustable polymer rear sight. It even has a reversible magazine release for you lefties out there.

What’s new on the 3514 MAX-9 is that it comes with an optics-ready slide. It will accept a J Point sight or a Shield pattern micro red dot. The MAX-9 is designed to co-witness with those format sights. Additionally, it has updated slide serrations, as well as a slightly reduced height for better concealability.

Maybe the best thing is that even though it has updated features, it comes in at a new, lower price. MSRP is just $299.00. It ships with one E-Nickel Teflon-coated magazine. One mag is kind of lame these days, honestly, but I guess that helps bring the price just under that $300 barrier. Still, it’s got a lot of great features, and it is hard to argue with that price for an American-made handgun with Ruger’s commitment to customer service.