First Impressions
One of the first things I noticed about the gun was that it came in a nice soft case that could easily double as a range bag. All the extra mag spots are a welcome touch. The gun is attractive and feels good in my hand. I’ve shot some Shadow Systems firearms at shows but have never spent any quality time with one.
It's nicely textured with a great hand weld. In general, Shadow System guns have some of the best grip texture for production pistols. Plus, the texture wraps fully around the grip, which is appreciated. The CR920P also features that beautiful gold barrel that has been a staple of the company. I’m not sure it makes you shoot any better, but it certainly raises some eyebrows at the range. Several guys at the counter wanted to take a closer look when I initially transferred the gun.
Of course, the most notable part of the gun is the integrated comp, which is proprietary and features a patent-pending QD attachment system. This aids in both maintenance and sales in jurisdictions that have bans on threaded barrels. Basically, these guys are making sure more people can shoot compensated, no matter where they live.
Comparison
Specs
Caliber: 9mm
Capacity: 10+1 or 13+1
Overall Length: 7.13 inches
Barrel Length: 3.75 inches
Height: 4.27 inches
Weight: 20 ounces
Range Time
The best part about the gun isn’t its looks or feel, though – it’s stretching the legs a little bit on the range. I was able to put just over 400 rounds through the gun, which admittedly isn’t enough to give it a full rundown or sign off on it for a new EDC gun, but it gave me a great idea of how it shoots. I didn’t have any malfunctions in that time, and I put a variety of training ammunition and self-defense loads through the gun.
Even on the first shots, you can tell it’s a flatter shooting experience. It gets noticeable when trying to shoot it with any speed. I did a few mag dumps, and that is where it really starts to shine. It stays on target incredibly well, especially compared to other shorter-barreled, non-compensated guns. There is little muzzle flip or rise.
I like the slide serrations, especially on the top of the slide. They’re a nice touch and make press checks easy, if you’re into that sort of thing. The gun also features some excellent three-dot sights, with a bright green tritium night sight up front and a blacked-out rear. It’s easy to acquire and stay on target with the sights and suppressor. I liked these sights so much that I never wanted to throw on an optic, though that probably would increase my accuracy.
I have three small complaints about my range time. One, for a gun that is nearly $1,000, I would expect an extra magazine. I think all companies should include three mags, and especially when the price point starts to climb this far north. Two, the 10-round magazine doesn’t allow me to get a full grip on the gun. Again, I’d appreciate another magazine being included in the purchase – ideally a 13-rounder. Shadow Systems does offer the XR920P, which has a longer grip and a 17+1 capacity.
Finally, for this price, I would have expected a slightly nicer trigger. There is nothing egregious about the trigger, but the wall is a bit stiff. Unsurprisingly, it reminds me a lot of a Glock trigger, but slightly refined. I don’t shoot Glocks particularly well, so it would explain some of why I might not shoot this gun all that well, either. It does have a short reset, which is both audible and tactile and aids in getting back on target quickly.
Carrying the CR920P
One of the big concerns I had with a compensated handgun was that the extra length would make carrying in the AIWB position uncomfortable, thus making me not want to carry the gun. After all, we are creatures of comfort, and if a gun is wildly more uncomfortable to carry, then it won’t be carried.
I reached out to the fine folks at Galco, and they provided a couple holsters for the G48, which also work for this gun. I carried the gun for just over a month with Galco's Triton 3.0 and Paragon 2.0 IWB holsters. I was surprised at how comfortable this gun was to carry, although some of that must be due to the holster. AIWB can be an uncomfortable position with the wrong gun and holster, but this seemed to work well. It’s not as comfortable to carry as my SIG P365X, but that lacks the compensator and overall length that makes this gun more accurate.
My reservations about any additional length were alleviated after carrying it for a while. If I had to pick a holster, I would go with the Paragon 2.0. Both Galco holsters worked great, but the Paragon has two hooks that give it a slightly more secure feel. It’s mostly a matter of personal preference, and any Galco holster should set you straight with this gun.
Pros & Cons
The one thing I haven’t talked about yet is the maintenance on this gun. Shadow Systems developed a proprietary QD lock for removing the compensator and has a video explaining how to operate it. While it looks easy in the video, it was a bit of a struggle for me. At first, before I found the included punch from Shadow Systems in the pocket of the range bag, I bent a smaller punch I had at home. Eventually, I got the comp off but even then it started to bend the Shadow Systems punch too, which is a bit thicker than punch I was working with.
The lesson being, use the proper sized punch and perform regular maintenance.
Pros:
- Beautiful look
- Love the slide serrations
- Amazing stock sights
- Nice grip texture
- Compensator works very well
- Soft range case is a bonus
- Made in the USA
- Carries very easily
Cons:
- 10-round magazine doesn’t leave enough to get a good grip
- Expensive
- Wouldn’t mind a slightly better trigger
- Wish it had three mags or two 13-rounders
Conclusion
Overall, I really enjoyed the Shadow Systems CR920P. It proved to be a flat-shooting gun that didn’t feel like a burden to carry. Plus, it felt great in the hands and ate all the ammo I could send its way.
The only reason it’s not finding a place in the pistol safe is because my pocketbook is a little light after the holidays. Don’t let that stop you from taking it for a spin if you get the chance.
