r/canadaguns • u/ry4ned • 5d ago

News / Politics / Activism News On the Sterling R9 MK1

Looks like they could be back on the market in a few months.

Starts At 1:45

Video from TACWolf on youtube.

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u/Batsinvic888 Bats888 on YouTube 5d ago

What kinda dirt does Sterling have over the RCMP Firearms Lab.

https://giphy.com/gifs/cFgb5p5e1My3K

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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.