Ohio Company BRG-USA Imports Affordable and Accurate 9mm

The irony is striking. I travelled 2,000 miles to meet a local company. I first met BRG-USA at the 2022 SHOT Show, an industry trade show held annually in Las Vegas. Prior to four full days of meetings on a traditional show floor is Industry Day at the Range, an opportunity for invited media and exhibitors to test out the latest and greatest firearms.

Thanks to COVID, 2022’s event was smaller than in previous years, but just as, if not more, valuable. I originally sought out BRG-USA’s shooting bay just because they were an Ohio company. While I had little to no school spirit in high school and college, I love my home state. There’s something exciting and special about connecting with people in a faraway place who started out in the same area as you. Business location soon slipped my mind. 

Three guns lay out on the table. All were the same model, but in varying colors. One gun was field-stripped. I soon learned the single slide sitting on the table wasn’t just for looks. 10,000 rounds had been fired through it with minimal cleaning and a bit of oil, but it showed no signs of wear. I was still a bit unsure. After all, everyone claims to have the latest and greatest gun. Time and experience reveal who the real winners are.

In partnership with Burgu Metal of Turkey, The Buffalo Cartridge Company (BCC) of Findlay, Ohio imports the BRG9 Elite under the BRG-USA name. Though released in 2021, like many new products, COVID dampened the launch with the cancellation of major industry events. The 9mm semi-automatic pistol has a similar style and feel to a Springfield XD. It has a 16+1 capacity and comes with two magazines, three backstraps (small, medium, large), mag loader, cleaning kit, and gun oil — all neatly contained in a sturdy, foam-fitted case. For anyone who travels, the case has two convenient padlock notches on the outside. 

With a polymer frame, steel slide and 4″ barrel, this gun comes to 1.87 pounds. It’s a bit hefty and large for a carry gun, but great for target shooting. The extra weight reduces felt recoil, making this a fun gun to shoot. It has a trademarked “Perfect-Touch” slide release and ambidextrous mag release. Both are ideally located, but a bit stiff. This isn’t surprising for a new gun The pistol also features a loaded chamber indicator, striker status indicator, trigger safety, and grip safety. The 5 lb. trigger pull has a relatively small amount of pre-travel and even less over-travel. Though not a match trigger, it has a smooth pull and relatively crisp break.   

The one thing I would change about this gun is to make it optics ready, though I did appreciate the high visibility dovetail sights and picatinny rail for accessories. 

What really sets this gun apart is its affordability. It is essentially a clone of a Springfield Armory XD, but a few hundred dollars cheaper. The BRG9 Elite comes in three different colors, black, two-tone, and tan, retailing for $399.99, $419.99, and $429.99 respectively. Keep in mind this is the retail cost. You can find it on shelves for as low as $330. 

This isn’t just another $350 gun. It is accurate. I was able to achieve 5-shot groups just shy of 2″ from 25 yards using a Ransom Multi-Cal Steady Rest and Ohio-made House of Payne 9mm FMJ 124 gr. ammunition.

While I’m very successful in rifle shooting, I’m still learning the ways of handguns. Shooting a pistol off a bench is one of my trouble spots, so I suspect this gun may perform even better. Even so, 2″ with iron sights at 25 yards for under $400 isn’t anything to scoff at. 

BRG-USA has crafted an incredibly sturdy gun. Run out of ammunition and I’m pretty certain it would do nicely as a blunt object for self-defense. The barrel and slide are made of dual heat-treated 4340 steel with a high nickel content for longer life. 7075 T6 Aircraft grade aluminum makes up the rear slide plate while high impact polymer composes the frame. BRG-USA claims this polymer will survive extreme conditions without fading in the sun. 

The ergonomic design fit comfortably in my hand and balanced well. Once again, it’s heavier than many 9mm guns on the market today, but it isn’t designed for concealability or pocket carry. With the rise in personal defense purchases, many gun owners, especially new gun owners, forget or don’t realize different guns are intended for different things. It’s important to continually practice and improve comfort and skill level with firearms. The BRG9 Elite is an affordable way to do that, a great starter gun for someone looking for everything all in one place, and just plain accurate!  

https://brg-usa.com/

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• Category: Gun Reviews, Pistols, Reviews
• Tag: 9mm, BRG9, BRG9 Elite, Buffalo Cartridge Company, House of Payne Munitions, Howard Leight, Ohio, Pistol, Ransom, Springfield XD, XD

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