Ruger MAX-9
- Category
- Pistol
- Barrel
- 81 mm
- Weight, empty
- 522 g
- Introduced
- 2021
About
What it is, and why it matters
The Ruger MAX-9 is a micro-compact, striker-fired semi-automatic pistol chambered in 9x19mm Parabellum, introduced in 2021. Designed as a direct competitor to the SIG Sauer P365 and Springfield Hellcat in the high-capacity micro-compact concealed carry segment, the MAX-9 offers 10+1 or 12+1 round capacity in an exceptionally slim and lightweight package weighing just 18.4 ounces unloaded. The pistol features a 3.20-inch alloy steel barrel, a through-hardened alloy steel slide, and a high-performance glass-filled nylon grip frame. It measures just 6.0 inches in overall length and 0.95 inches wide, making it one of the thinnest pistols in its class. Standard features include an optics-ready slide milled for direct mounting of micro red dot sights, a tritium fiber optic front sight for rapid acquisition in all lighting conditions, a drift-adjustable rear sight, an integrated accessory rail, and a loaded chamber inspection port. Safety features include an integrated trigger safety, internal striker blocker, and an optional external manual safety. The trigger pull averages approximately 5.5 pounds with a long initial take-up followed by a short, positive reset. The MAX-9 is rated for +P ammunition.
The MAX-9 was Ruger's answer to the micro-compact revolution sparked by the SIG Sauer P365 in 2018. After the P365 demonstrated that double-stack capacity could fit in a micro-compact frame, Ruger developed the MAX-9 to replace their aging single-stack LC9s. Ruger's entry offered competitive capacity at a significantly lower price point than the P365, making high-capacity micro-compact concealed carry accessible to budget-conscious buyers.
The MAX-9 replaced the Ruger LC9s as Ruger's primary micro-compact 9mm offering. It was designed to address the capacity disadvantage of older single-stack designs, matching the 10-12 round capacity of the SIG P365 and Springfield Hellcat. The pistol is available in multiple configurations: with or without manual safety, and with or without optics-ready slide cuts. Models 3500 and 3501 include the manual safety; models 3503 and 3535 omit it. The optics-ready slide accepts popular micro red dot sights including the Shield RMSc footprint. California-compliant 10-round versions are available. The MAX-9 shares design DNA with the Ruger Security-9 and LC series. The rifling is 1:10 right-hand twist with six grooves. Despite its compact size, the 12-round extended magazine provides a full grip for most hand sizes.
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- Sturm, Ruger & Co.
- Category
- Pistol
- Country
- United States
- Status
- In production
- Produced
- 2021
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 81 mm
- Overall length
- 152 mm
- Height
- 115 mm
- Width
- 24 mm
- Weight, empty
- 522 g
- Weight, loaded
- 700 g
ActionHow it cycles, what trips it, and what feeds it.
- Action
- Short recoil
- Firing mechanism
- Striker fired
- Trigger
- Single action
- Trigger pull
- 24.0 N
- Capacity
- 12
- Magazine
- Detachable box
MaterialsEach swatch is the material itself, not a colour chosen to stand for it.
- Frame
- Glass filled nylon
- Slide
- Alloy steel
- Barrel
- Alloy steel
- Finish
- Black oxide
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Muzzle velocity
- 340 m/s
- Muzzle energy
- 430 J
- Effective range
- 25 m
- Maximum range
- 1800 m
Trajectory
What the round does downrange
Solved from the muzzle figures and the bullet. The dashed rule is the effective range on the record, and the crosses are the steps the solver returned.
Features
What it has
What the record lists as fitted, drawn from the catalogue.
Micro compact design
Optics ready slide
Tritium fiber optic front sight
Drift adjustable rear sight
Accessory rail
Front rear slide serrations
Textured grip
Inspection port
Plus p rated
Standing
How it compares
Each figure against the firearms of the same type and cartridge that record it, or of the same type where that cartridge has too few. Positions are read to the nearest tenth.
| Measurement | This firearm | Median | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty weightAmong 560 9x19mm Parabellum pistols | 522 g | 765 g | Lighter than about 90% |
| Overall lengthAmong 559 9x19mm Parabellum pistols | 152 mm | 191 mm | Shorter than about 90% |
| Barrel lengthAmong 569 9x19mm Parabellum pistols | 81 mm | 105 mm | Shorter than about 90% |
| Magazine capacityAmong 571 9x19mm Parabellum pistols | 12 | 15 | Holds fewer rounds than about 70% |
Answers
Questions about the Ruger MAX-9
How much does the Ruger MAX-9 weigh?
The Ruger MAX-9 weighs 522 g (1.15 lb) empty and 700 g (1.54 lb) loaded.
What caliber is the Ruger MAX-9?
The Ruger MAX-9 is chambered in 9x19mm Parabellum.
How many rounds does the Ruger MAX-9 hold?
The Ruger MAX-9 holds 12 rounds, fed from a detachable box magazine.
How long is the Ruger MAX-9?
The Ruger MAX-9 is 152 mm (5.98 in) long overall, with a 81 mm (3.19 in) barrel.
Who makes the Ruger MAX-9?
The Ruger MAX-9 is made by Sturm, Ruger & Co. (United States).
When was the Ruger MAX-9 introduced?
The Ruger MAX-9 was introduced in 2021.
How does the Ruger MAX-9 operate?
The Ruger MAX-9 uses a short recoil action, and its firing mechanism is striker fired.
Compatibility
Which parts fit this firearm
Studio
Every part that mounts on this, resolved
Not a list the maker typed out: the answer comes from the mounts this firearm exposes and the interface each part needs, so it stays right when either one changes.
- Every part that mounts on any firearm in the catalogue
- Interface standards, platforms and fit overrides
- The same answers through the API and the MCP server
Requires a signed-in GunSpec account on the Studio plan. The answer is computed per part, so it is not part of the public record.
Provenance
What the record holds
Every figure above was taken from one of these pages. The confidence reflects how much of the record came from a page a claim can be checked against.
Provenance
Confidence in this record
88%
Stockists
Where to buy
Offers link straight to the shop. GunSpec never takes the order.
No shop has listed this firearm yet
Stock and prices come from the shops themselves. If you sell this firearm, you can list it and it appears here.
List a firearmMCP
Ask an assistant about it
The same record, reached the way a person asks for it rather than the way a program does.
Ask GunSpec
Works with
Point an MCP client at GunSpec and it answers from the catalogue rather than from memory. A free key covers the read tools.
API
The call that returns this record
The same fields, in the same units, from the same endpoint the page reads.
curl --request GET \ --url 'https://api.gunspec.io/v1/firearms/ruger-max-9' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "ruger-max-9", "name": "Ruger MAX-9", "manufacturer": { "id": "ruger", "name": "Sturm, Ruger & Co.", "countryCode": "US", "foundedYear": 1949, "website": "https://www.ruger.com", "logoUrl": null, "description": null, "status": null, "defunctYear": null, "stateOwned": null, "makesFirearms": null, "parentId": null, "predecessorId": null, "createdAt": "2026-02-11 23:44:40", "updatedAt": "2026-02-18 03:40:48", "version": "99f742e0e01d24b135a262603a4191a9c848e3f1d9fbb1e0caaccabcfacb5e23" }, "category": { "id": "pistol", "name": "Pistol", "description": "Handguns designed to be fired with one or two hands" }, "country_of_origin": "US", "year_introduced": 2021, "barrel_length_mm": 81, "weight_empty_g": 522, "action_type": "short_recoil"}