Shadow Systems CR920 Review

The Shadow Systems CR920 review shines a light upon the pistol’s 9mm compact concealed carry capacity. Bullets that are more of this or barrels with more of that. Many of this is hyperbole, even though some companies do deliver on their promises. Shadow Systems CR920 is marketed to be a subcompact that shoots like a fully-sized camera. This isn’t the hyperbole I just mentioned. This subcompact is probably the most shootable you can buy. The Shadow Systems CR920 Elite with a Bronze TiCN barrel. They are concealable and easy to deploy. The CR920 is a good choice. It is flat-shooting, optics-ready, and comes in a discreet packaging that holds a respectable 10 rounds for the flush-fit model, and 13 rounds for the extended flavor. This is not the only thing that makes the pistol so special. You can get the same capacity with a Glock 26 and Sig P365. The Shadow Systems CR920 has a capacity of 1.06 inches. This is compared to a Glock 43 with a pinky extension. It also measures about the same thickness (1.05-inch for CR920 versus 1.06-inch in Glock). It is one of the most compact CCW pistols available, loaded with features, and priced at $799 for the combat version (nonoptics ready) and $940 for Elite. Grip Frame and Ergonomics Although they do sell a pinky extension, I have not equipped any of my magazines with it. The extended 13-round mag has a better grip, which allows for a full grip and makes it easier to draw and shoot. As with any other subcompact, users can choose to carry the firearm with either the easier-to conceive but harder-to grip flush-fit mags or the more difficult-to-shoot with extended magazines. I tried both depending on what I was wearing while testing the gun. You get all the familiar stippling, but in a smaller package. Also, there is extra material under the slide stop, which is very nice for such a small pistol. Texturing is available where the “accelerator cuts”, but not the standard ledge found with the MR/XR/DR. There is no NPOA system that has interchangeable backstraps, unlike its larger brothers. The Glock 26 is undoubtedly more comfortable to use than this pistol. It has better ergonomics than a block and a grip that is more refined than a Glock 43. The SlideThe slide is smaller than the MR920 Elite. It is equally impressive in machining, with small lightning cuts and directional serrations at the top, front, and rear of each slide. This makes it easier to use and less snappy. We’ll discuss the pistol’s shootability later. This pistol is small in size but it doesn’t lack attention to detail. I have not found any tooling marks on the slide. The directional serrations are a nice addition to a pistol measuring just over 6 inches. This gun accepts almost every micro RDS pattern available, including the RMRcc. I have a 407k Holosun and a 6-MOA dot attached to mine. It has been used to shoot bowling pins at 25+ meters, without missing. This pistol is also carried frequently by me, so I don’t have to worry about it being damaged when I take it on and off. It’s still holding its zero perfectly. This gun runs like a top, much like Shadow Systems CR920’s larger brothers. Iron sight-wise, the gun ships with a blacked out rear sight and tritium sight. This makes it suitable for low-light conditions straight out of the box. It comes with all the necessary sights and is ready to use for any CCW application. It comes with an optic and iron sights. This is a must-have for any carry gun. Although technology has advanced a lot, red dots are still battery-operated and may fail. It’s comforting to know that I can still get a sight image no matter what, especially when using a gun specifically designed for concealed carry. The BarrelThe barrel of the CR920 is a TiNi spiral-fluted match-grade barrel. It measures 3.41 inches in length. It’s exactly the same length as a Glock 43 barrel and the same size as the Sig P365 and Glock 26 barrels (3.4 inches and 3.42 inches, respectively). These are not designed for threaded barrels. However, this is not surprising considering the intended use and application. They are very accurate, especially for a compact. I have no problems hitting the A zone of a USPSA target on the chest or head from good distances. This barrel is perfect for real-world applications. Shootability Although the texturing is reminiscent of a Sig P365, the grip frame is a little larger than I would like, which I find a plus since I have large hands. The pistol was also easier to index than its Sig counterpart. This is likely due to my more extensive experience with Glocks and the thousands upon thousands of dry fires I’ve done with them. I was often confused by the recoil when using live fire. The Shadow Systems CR920 is lighter than a Glock 26, but it is also easier to shoot and get back on target for follow up shots. Mag dumps hit the same spot on the steel torso that I was using for practice, making a big splotch with 10 rounds at the center mass. I don’t know enough to appreciate the engineering genius that goes into leveraging grip angle and bore axis. It’s manageable for a compact. The magwell’s front beveling is a feature I like, but didn’t know if it was worth mentioning. This allows for quick reloads, as the semi-circle funnel guides in new magazines. The grip’s material at the back reduces the pinch when you bring home a new magazine. This, in turn, aids in the gun’s shootability and desire for more rounds. ConcealabilityTypically I review accuracy at this point, but I touched on that, and let’s be real–this gun is made for deep concealment. The CR in CR920 is for Covert Role. Fun trivia: MR stands to Multi-Role, and DR stands for Duty Role in Shadow Systems lexicon. It’s almost like a gun made of fabric, as it disappears once you put it on. It is compatible with most Glock 43x Holsters. I have one that I don’t like for the 43x but it works well with this gun. The pistol measures 4.2 inches high with the flush-fit mag and 4.7 inches with the extended magazine. It has an overall length of just below 6.5 inches. It fits comfortably in my palm, as you can see. It doesn’t matter if you carry it at 3-4 o’clock or appendix. This gun is like Houdini, it just disappears. Although it’s a good candidate for pocket carry, that’s not my thing. CritiqueAs with many Shadow Systems pistols it feels over-engineered. However, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. All the bells and whistles of the MR/DR Elite series are here, but in a compact, concealable, easy to use, high-capacity (for a small package), package. What’s not to love? Optics readiness right out of the box, night sights and directional serrations, interoperability with Glock43x accessories. One thing you will likely read about on the internet is proprietary magazines. This is what Fudds, Tacti-bros and all other gun enthusiasts are raving about. If you want to have more than the 10-round or 13-round magazines the CR920 ships, you will need to purchase *gasp* $29 magazines. But, I didn’t see anyone panicking when Glock discontinued their 43/43x line of proprietary single-stacks. Nor did I see anyone losing it when Sig released a new gun that had no interoperability. Could this be a problem? Sure. It’s not a dealbreaker. I buy extra mags anyway. I found that there were FTEs in the first few rounds, just like with other Shadow Systems products. The first round I shot with this gun did not eject. Shadow Systems recommends that you allow the gun to break in for a period of time due to its tight tolerances. You’ll know from my other articles that I recommend at least 200-400 rounds through any gun before you take it out on the streets. It must prove it to you. The steel sights that come standard are capable of grasping onto a range table and getting that first round out. It runs like a Singer since then. If you didn’t notice, it’s a sewing machine. Shadow Systems CR920 Final ThoughtsThe Shadow Systems CR920 is making inroads into a crowded and gimmicky subcompact concealed-carry market. We have witnessed a virtual arms race of capacity. It started a few decades ago with Sig cramming 10-12 round into a grip frame you would swear was a single stack. Since then, CCW pistols have become smaller than Glock 19. The Glock 43 was a smaller 9mm pistol than the Glock 43, but it had a small capacity. Since then, CCW pistols have become more compact. Target grids and bullseye sizes can be downloaded in MOA. This is a great option for long-range shooting. Enter your email address below.