By Steve Comus
Wouldn’t it be nice if some company offered a proven, reliable and accurate pistol that had the necessary “upgrades” without any of the unnecessary whistles and bells, and offered it at a good price? Shadow Systems has it in the California version of their XR920 Elite in 9x19mm.
Shadow Systems has an earned pedigree since it opened shop in 2016 in Plano, Texas. Yes, these guns are made in the USA.
Basically, the California version of the XR920 Elite is a polymer frame, striker-fired semi-auto pistol with 4-inch barrel and combat sights. Think Glock if a comparison is in order.
The California version features a magazine disconnect, which means it won’t fire without the magazine in-place; and it has a visual and tactile loaded chamber indicator atop the slide.
The true excitement is in the details and in the shooting. Nothing else matters if a gun doesn’t go bang and cycle reliably every single time the trigger is squeezed. The XR 920 came through with flying colors.
Shadow Systems may not be a well-known brand or household name in some California circles, but that’s destined to change.
“As of today, over 350 agencies have either directly purchased or approved our pistols for use in the line of duty.” Shadow Systems reported.
When I showed the pistol being reviewed here to friend and rangemaster Dick Beutel, he agreed that it was a snazzy handgun and pulled his SS 920 with a compensator from his holster.
Turned out that Dick was so impressed with Shadow Systems pistols after he bought his first one that he has gotten two more since (he’s a serious handgun shooter).
Dick regaled me with everything anyone would want to know about Shadow Systems pistols, and his enthusiasm bubbled over in such a way that I quipped that he would make a good salesman for the brand.
SHADOW SYSTEMS XR920 is inherently accurate. Author shot this 5-shot group at 5 yards with the XR920.
A handgun is a very personal thing. It echoes the user’s personality as much as it must fit both the user and the shooting situations the shooter encounters.
Shadow Systems offers a stable of California compliant pistols, all designed to deliver top performance at an affordable price. We’re talking mega-bang-for-the-buck here.
After a number of quick, but deliberate familiarization shots, it was time to see what this pistol could do. I noticed that the pistol pointed instinctively and was on-target without having to give conscious thought.
That’s important in handguns because if the gun doesn’t go from the holster to the target effortlessly, the shooter constantly finds himself fighting the gun.
“Our frames feature the groundbreaking Shadow Systems NPOA backstrap system, which fundamentally changes the grip angle of the gun to meet the shooter’s Natural Point of Aim,” Shadow Systems reported. “It’s not about comfort. It’s not about small, medium, or large. It’s about getting fight stopping hits at close range, under stress, whether you see the sights or not.”
The Shadow Systems pistol doesn’t just slide out of the holster – it glides out and then goes on-target so naturally that its almost scary. The pistol must not inhibit the fluidity of the motions need to take the pistol from holstered to on-target. The SS XR920 shines.
The XR920 is inherently accurate. Shadow Systems spiral fluted barrels are rifled 1-10 in. The spiral fluting pattern improves the evacuation of dirt and debris and reduces barrel weight. The bronze-colored finish on the barrel is TiCN, or titanium carbo-nitride. This is a hard, wear-resistant material that offers enhanced hardness, lubricity and wear resistance. It also looks cool.
FIRST SHOTS are important in any kind of shooting. This is the result of a first shot with the XR920. Not all of the author’s first shots were that precise, but all others were close.
Inherent accuracy is the constant while achieved accuracy changes with different shooters under different circumstances. Even an individual shooter’s achieved accuracy changes from one day to the next, from different lighting conditions, etc.
When gun writers talk about accuracy, they can only report whatever level of accuracy they can achieve. The inherent accuracy of a firearm often is better than the pilot flying it, so to speak.
With combat sights (serrated steel rear sight and green outline tritium front sight), the accuracy achieved was limited by my abilities, and that’s the way it should be. The firearm itself should never be the limiting factor. I’m a geezer, so eighty-year-old eyes and hand coordination aren’t what they used to be.
Rapid fire five-shot groups, of course, were larger than the carefully aimed groups, but even so, my rapid-fire groups could be covered with my hand – enhanced by the spacious magazine well supplied with the pistol (it can be removed for those who don’t want it). That’s quite nice for the intended purposes of this model.
It was even more comforting that the first shot at each target went where it was supposed to go. I always have been more interested where the first shot goes, for all the logical reasons. First shot hits set the stage for all that follows – good or bad.
The XR920 comes with a patented optics cut atop the slide. It makes attaching things like red dot sights quick and easy.
“The XR920 frame features interchangeable backstraps to allow a shooter to adjust the grip angle to fit their natural point of aim,” Shadow systems reported. “The extended beavertail and aggressive trigger guard undercut provide unmatched recoil control, allowing quick, accurate follow-up shots. The frame’s wrap-around grip texture is aggressive enough to keep the gun firmly in the shooter’s grip without being uncomfortable for daily wear.
“The XR920 slide is designed for manipulation under stress, with directional serrations in the front and rear (as well as topside on some models) and a thinned profile at grasping locations,” Shadow Systems continued. “The drop-safe, flat-faced aluminum trigger has a 4.5-5.0 lbs. trigger pull and a crisp, tactile reset.”
The California version of the XR920 comes with two 10-shot magazines, 3 interchangeable backstraps, a lock, optics mounting screws and Loctite, and black carrying case.
XR920 SPECS. Caliber: 9×19; Action: Striker fire; Weight: 22.4 oz (Elite); Frame: Textured polymer; Length: 7 ¼ inches Height: 5 ¼ inches. MSRP: $1,164.
Bottom line is that the XR920 is a well-made pistol that does what it is supposed to do, and more.
When I wrote The Gun Digest Book of 9mm Handguns back in 1993, the 9×19 (9mmP) had really come into its own on the U.S. front. Since then, it has dominated the handgun market and it is nice to see that companies continue to offer better and better models, like the Shadow Systems XR920.
