Firearms News January 2024 — Issue #1: Shadow Systems CR920 9mm Pistol

This Month in Firearms News

On the cover: Cracking the Codeon the Ultimate Carry Gun: By James Tarr 

This is a review of the new Shadow Systems Corp. CR920 pistol, but as Shadow Systems makes Glock-pattern guns, it’s impossible to honestly talk about their products without referencing the Glock models from which they’ve sprung. Glock, for all their success, has a long track record of ignoring commercial consumer feedback and consistently producing guns that are 90% of what they should be, which is why so many companies are now making better Glocks than Glock. Think of the Shadow Systems CR920 as a combination of all the best features of the newer Glock 43 and the older Glock 26, while being better than either of them. FYI, CR stands for “Covert Role,” and this is a pistol purpose-built for concealed carry. If you’ve heard of the CR920, you might be a bit confused why I’m mentioning the Glock 26, as Shadow Systems advertise it as fitting into Glock 43 holsters, not Glock 26. The G43 is a subcompact, single-stack six-shot 9mm. The G26 is a double-stack 10-shot 9mm. While being roughly the dimensions of the Glock 43, the SSC CR920 is a double-stack 9mm—it comes with one flush 10-round magazine, and one extended 13-round magazine. 

There are three versions of the CR920—the standard Combat model, the optics-ready Combat Optic model as seen here, and the CR920 Elite, which features additional slide texturing and ports machined into the slide. Both are available either with black nitrided barrels or as seen here, sporting bar- rels with a bronze TiCN (titanium carbo-nitride) coating. The CR920 has a 3.41-inch barrel, and overall is 6.37-inches long and 4.27-inches tall with a flush magazine in place. But the real magic is in the width of the gun. People love the G43, G43X, and G48 due to their slimline frames. They feel good in the hand and are easy to conceal carry. The slimline G43 according to my calipers is 1.03-inches thick at its fattest point. The CR920, on the other hand, is 1.06-inches thick at its fattest point, and your hand can’t tell the difference between 1.03" and 1.06." But while being basically the same width, the SSC CR920 holds 10 shots where the G43 only holds 6. If you insert the extended magazine into the CR920 it offers 13+1 capacity while still being shorter than the 10+1 G43X.

[Continue reading "Cracking the Codeon the Ultimate Carry Gun" in January 2024 Issue #1]

Also inside:

• Pioneer Arms AK .22 LR Trainer: It doesn't just look like an AK pattern rifle, it IS an AK, but chambered in the economical and fun .22 LR cartridge. By David M. Fortier, Executive Editor 
• Gemtech Abyss 5.56: On a carbine, the Abyss brings the AR up to rifle length. It is still a handy and well-balanced combo. By Patrick Sweeney
• SIG Sauer's M400-SDI X Series: A further refinement of the AR theme. By Oleg Volk
• The Tippman Ordnance .22LR Gatling Gun: The coolest gun in the world! By Will Dabbs, MD

Pick up a copy at your local magazine stand, Walmart, Barnes & Noble, or major book retailer. Firearms News prints two exciting issues per month, so be sure to get both copies or subscribe!