r/canadaguns • u/ry4ned • 4d ago
News / Politics / Activism News On the Sterling R9 MK1
Looks like they could be back on the market in a few months.
Video from TACWolf on youtube.
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u/Batsinvic888 Bats888 on YouTube 4d ago
What kinda dirt does Sterling have over the RCMP Firearms Lab.
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u/Acceptable_Visit_115 4d ago
The full story is, from what I could gather from here and CGN:
Stirling marketed the R9 as a sibling to the R18 Mk3, causing the RCMP to classify it as an AR-180B variant. (The RCMP is known to use marketing materials to determine "variants", this isn't new. Their former chief Murray Smith mentioned this point in court last year when he testified against the CCFR.)
Stirling appealed and claimed that erm aktyually the R9 isn't a R18-derived firearm, therefore not an AR-180B variant. They just happened to share some superficial details.
The RCMP promptly investigated (probably by scrolling this subreddit) and found out that the R9 was indeed not an AR-18, but rather a rebranded Akdas SA-9, which was marketed as a "pistol" in the states (as the MAC IX). This theory checks out because last year Sterling was mentioning a "pistol" version in order to support their claim for the 10 round MP5-ish mags.
So the RCMP now recognizes the R9/SA-9 as a distinct design and NOT a variant of any prohibited firearm, with only one catch: Since the SA-9 pistol existed before the R9, the R9 is therefore a variant of a handgun. Canadian law states that "once a handgun always a handgun", so while the R9 is not prohib, it is still unobtanium as handgun transfers are banned in 2023.
Sterling Arms' video said they'll replace the R9 receivers with new, legally distinct RC9 rifle-only receivers free of charge, so that people can have their NR PCC again.
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u/shapoopshoot 4d ago
Good to know they have a return/exchange for the early r9 owners. Will definitely take advantage of it so I can shoot it again
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u/mjbonne 4d ago
Sick! Wonder what the changes are that now make it “legal”
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u/SolemnSpider 4d ago
Different angles for the receiver cuts and changed the diameter of the pins than hold the upper and lower together
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u/starw24-ps4 4d ago
Anyone who went to Taccom confirm if it’ll take 10 round mags? Pretty sure in the audio he was saying it’s marketed as a pistol in the US so we should have the same magazine setup
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u/567432Gains 4d ago
The one that I owned before it spontaneously broke and was rendered permanently un-operable just prior to it being issued a probing FRT did.
Although now that it’s potentially being unbanned, I may need to see if it’s suddenly fixable.
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u/SolemnSpider 4d ago
Yeap, same mags and theyre claiming same reliability as the r9. Right now theyre hoping for a price of 1700, which would be pretty competitive with the homesteader
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u/LordRaizer 4d ago
Oh shoot, that looks nice, another PCC other than the homesteader?
Looks like my wallet will take another hit this year...
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u/LowBudgetSalt 4d ago
Need more information on this, it sounds like it was a "new design" and that we can replace or old sterling R9's? I ain't swapping mine in for anything if that's the case lol
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u/jmz-jmz 4d ago
I was talking to them, they changed some geometry/machining between the upper and lower, bolt carrier group etc all stays the same. So, assuming they actually get an NR FRT you send in your rifle and get a new upper/lower, pretty sure they re-use your barrel / handguard (and maybe BCG?). They don’t need your stock back.
Grain of salt and all that, if it gets approved I’m sure there will be full details released on how and what they’re changing. But, if it works out and all you have to pay is shipping to get your rifle NR, it would be absolutely fantastic. For people whomay or may not own one already.
They will also be offering a restricted/shorter barrel version, I feel like they said 10” barrel might have been 12”.
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u/LowBudgetSalt 4d ago
I'd like to see a horse cop tell the difference between the two lol. They will just see two AR-15's.
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u/Ustauk 4d ago
I wonder if they made more or less like the sold inAmerica Mac IX, which was the semi-auto version of the Akdas SA-9, the military sister of the R9.
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u/Ustauk 4d ago
Turns out Sterling had been selling the Max IX in the States, but because they were sold as pistols, they wouldn't be able to sell them in Canada, even after convincing the RCMP the R9 was not an AR180 variant. The RCMP said if they changed the receiver so it would not interface with the pistol, then they could sell it as a rifle, hence the new Sterling RC9 rifle. The internals are the same, Sterling will for the cost of shipping back and forth allow R9 owners to send their receivers, sans butt stock and optics, to Sterling to have the internals moved to the NR RC9 receiver.
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u/Ustauk 4d ago
Interview detailing NR RC9, and the exchange of the R9 to RC9 for the price of shipping for R9 owners.
Taccom 2026: Interview with J.R. Cox of Sterling Arms International (R9 Returns & A New Lever Gun!)
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u/Weak-Coffee-8538 4d ago
The "almost" rifles. I've seen too many of these over the past decade. Sterlings timing is always way off.
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u/LieAnxious7939 3d ago
Used a few of the first ones, 2 of them didn't even last the week so they sure better be a different "improved" design
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u/Lost_Aioli4731 3d ago
Since all this is directly connected to J.R. Cox, I don't really give two poops. He was responsible for the initial Swiss Arms prohibition 20 years ago, if any of you were around.
Target Sports in Gormley under his management was running PAL courses with an instructor who wasn't certified. There were at least 300 to 500 students with PALs revoked due to Cox's business using a non-certified instructor. Dont cry no tears.
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u/airchinapilot 4d ago
It was a bit hard to hear the audio so I turned on youtube subtitles and had to laugh when it translated: "they wanted it done quick because they don't want VEGETABLES on the street"
Yup, them nasty assault vegetables