Polymer frame striker fired handguns are rarely viewed with affection or regarded as premier pistols. Terms such as reliable and dependable are often used instead. The Shadow Systems handguns feature not only dependability but a certain bing or flair as well as enhanced performance. The long serving Shadow Systems MR920 illustrated is a reliable handgun proven in years of service. The pistol is similar to the Glock 19 in size and weight. No need to mess with success. But the improvements found in the Shadow Systems pistol would cost much more if you began with a Glock and sought to improve it. While a little more expensive than the Glock handgun the Shadow Systems is a bargain when a custom slide barrel magazine well and trigger action are considered.
Put some work into it and the Shadow Systems 9mm will be a great defensive handgun.
A defensive shooter should train to the best of their ability given adequate finances and determination. The polymer frame striker fired handgun provides us with a simple system. Load, holster, draw, fire. I have no hesitation recommending the type based on reliability. But I sometimes wish for improvements in handguns that limit my performance. I could do better, I reasoned, with a better trigger, sights, and grip. I like the Glock action as a service pistol. The tactical doctrine of simplicity works well. There is no manual safety but safety features and a blade type lever set in the trigger. The shooter is able to concentrate on trigger manipulation and sight alignment and not give too much time to maintenance and manipulation of other controls. But there is room for improvement.
The MR920 is light enough, reliable, and accurate.
Shadow Systems didn’t manufacture a cut rate Glock in order to sell a cheaper pistol but made improvements on a the system in order to provide a better handgun for shooters. The MR920 resembles a custom Glock 19. The slide is designed with better finish and appearance and features rakish cocking serrations both front and rear. The sights include a tritium front post. The grip frame is properly designed with an excellent balance of adhesion and abrasion. There is the option of fitting a magazine funnel to enhance speed loads and improve administrative handling. The trigger action is tighter than the Glock and features a shorter lighter break. It is different and takes some getting used if you have fired a Glock a great deal and in the end you will be a better shot with this handgun. Grip angle is superior to the Glock and achieved with a barely noticeable undercut of the frame near the trigger-guard. The grip tang is longer than the Glock making for a more comfortable shooting experience. As I said Shadow Systems did not mess with success. The pistol’s controls are standard Glock and the Shadow System 9mm accepts Glock magazines. The Shadow Systems pistol offers a direct mount for popular optics. Spacers or shims are provided for stability in the gap left when the cover plate is removed and an optic installed.
In off-hand fire the MR920 is controllable and accurate.
Firing Tests
I collected a good mix of ammunition for the firing test. Most of the ammunition was the clean burning and reliable Winchester FMJ load. This is a good resource for training, affordable but accurate enough for meaningful practice. This the Glock 19 size handgun so it uses a 15 round magazine, however, longer Glock or MagPul magazines are useful they simply protrude from the bottom of the magazine. The pistol clears leather quickly and gets on target with a good natural point. The trigger action and sights combine to make for excellent work on man sized targets. The MR920 illustrated has never malfunctioned and has been a favorite carry gun. As for absolute accuracy from a solid bench rest firing position the pistol will put five shots into 2.5 inches at 25 yards all we may ask.
Shadow Systems uses the widely available Glock magazine.
The pistol features good combat accuracy.
XR920
I had the opportunity to obtain a Shadow Systems XR920 a few weeks ago. This is a pistol similar in execution to the Glock 19x. The XR920 features a short Glock 19 type slide same as the MR20 but uses the full size Glock 17 grip frame allowing the user to load 17 round magazines. There is no lanyard ring and grip extension as found on the Glock 19X. The 19X doesn’t accept the Glock 17 gen 5 bumper pad magazine which is an inconvenience not present with the Shadow Systems handgun. This handgun has proven as reliable as the first Shadow Systems but with only 500 rounds through it as of yet it isn’t as proven. This pistol is at least as fast from leather as the lighter handgun but the larger grip makes for better control and comfort during firing. I fitted this handgun with a Holosun red dot sight sighing the optic it at 25 yards. The result is among the fastest and more accurate striker fired handguns I own. The pistol is fast on target and provides excellent accuracy and is somewhat more combat accurate with the Holosun red dot sight.
The XR920 is the author’s favorite Shadow Systems.
I like each of the these pistols. If you like the slightly heavier and taller XR920 it is quite a shooter while the MR920 is a great concealed carry handgun. Either is a lifesaver well worth its modest price.
CR920
This is the Shadow Systems pistol I have spent the least time with. The CR920 is in most ways the most unique of their creations. The CR920 is similar to the Glock 43 in size but features a special metal ten round magazine that doesn’t interchange with any Glock type magazine. The cocking serrations are among the best to be found on a lightweight handgun. Performance is good and the pistol shoots better than expected for a handgun this size. It actually makes for a decent pocket handgun, it is that small.
The CR920 is small but fierce!
The CR920 easily fits in this Galco pocket holster.
Shadow Systems offers good choices for armed citizens. They are not cheap but they are affordable. Best of all they compliment a trained shooter.
Even the smallest Shadow Systems pistol is a good shooter in off hand fire.
Specifications
MR920
- Caliber: 9×19
- Action: Striker fire
- Weight: 21.5 oz )
- Frame: Polymer
- Length: 7 ⅛ inches )
- Height: 4 ¾ inches
- Slide Material: Stainless Steel
- Barrel Material: S16R Stainless Steel
- Capacity: 15+1
- Front sight: Green Outline, Tritium Dot
- Rear sight: Black Serrated
X920
Weight 23 ounces
Length 7.25 inc.
Height 5.25 inches
Capacity 17 plus 1
CR920
Barrel Length 3.4 inches
Weight 17.8 ounces
Length 3.7 inches
Height 4.27 inches
Magazine capacity Ten flush fit and 13 round extended
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