Stoeger STR-9MC Micro-Compact Semi-Auto Pistol

If you poured a drink for every polymer-frame 9mm pistol on the market, your liver would be burned up in short order. More than any other segment, the polymer-frame striker-fired pistol market is overrun with models, and standing out in this crowded field requires something special. Stoeger has indeed managed to produce something unique among striker-fired 9mm carry guns, though: a micro-compact pistol that comes with all the features most shooters want for a price that starts below $400. Known as the STR-9MC, it’s one of the best values in carry guns today.

The STR-9 family of pistols is not new. The original STR-9 arrived in 2019, and since that time Stoeger has played with the frame and slide sizes and added features to specific models. The new STR-9MC is totally different. Rather than being a compact version of the original gun, this pistol utilizes a unique frame and slide that have been slimmed down to compete in the micro-compact field. That means it’s going up against the Springfield Hellcats and the Taurus GX4s of the world. How does the Stoeger match up against each of them?

Let’s start by comparing sizes and capacities, which are often the primary factors driving carry gun purchases. The Stoeger STR-9MC comes with a 3.3-inch 1:10 twist barrel and that gives this gun an overall length of 6.1 inches.

That’s very close to the Taurus GX4’s 3.1-inch barrel and 6.1-inch overall length, and both guns weigh around 18.5 ounces unloaded. The Springfield has a three-inch barrel, measures six inches long and weighs a couple tenths of an ounce less than the Stoeger or Taurus.

All three guns are barely over an inch wide at the controls and at or just below an inch wide at the grip. The Stoeger measures 4.4 inches tall from the slide to the base of the 13-round magazine while the Taurus measures the same. The Springfield is 0.1 inch taller with its 13-round mag.

Clearly these guns are very close to the same size, so if you’re comfortable carrying one, you can carry them all. The Stoeger comes with an extended 13-round magazine, a flush-fit 11-round magazine and an 11-round magazine with a pinky extension. The optics-ready GX4 T.O.R.O. and Hellcat OSP also come with 11- and 13-round magazines.

Stoeger has always been known as a value leader, offering solid guns at modest price points. Indeed, the Stoeger STR-9MC base model has the lowest suggested retail price of any of these guns at $399, but its slide is not cut for red dots. There is an upgraded version of the STR-9MC that comes with three magazines, a slide that’s cut for optics and tritium night sights for $479, which is $30 more than the Taurus. However, the $449 Taurus GX4 doesn’t include night sights and comes with just two magazines. The Springfield Hellcat OSPis the most expensive of the bunch at $633.

The STR-9MC is unique within the Stoeger pistol family, but it shares many features with its larger cousins. The slide has a black nitride finish that penetrates the surface layer of metal and effectively protects against corrosion.

There are angular front and rear slide serrations—although they aren’t the same aggressive serrations you’ll find on other STR-9 pistols with larger slides—and the edges of the slide have been beveled to cut weight and improve styling. There’s a beefy externally mounted extractor that takes a hefty bite on the rim of the case to guarantee reliable cycling.

On the upgraded, optics-ready model the slide is designed to accommodate the wide range of RMSc footprint miniature reflex sights on the market, so finding an optic for this pistol is no problem.

It’s standard operating procedure for handgun manufacturers to overlook the quality of iron sights on their optics-ready pistols. Thankfully, Stoeger doesn’t subscribe to the notion that iron sights on an optics-ready gun are a “break glass during emergency” type of sighting system that should be used only if the red-dot battery dies or the optic is damaged.

In fact, the Stoeger sights on the test gun, which was the upgraded night sight model, are quite good, looking as though they belong on a target pistol and not a micro-compact. The front and rear are both steel and are both dovetailed into the slide. The rear sight is drift- and elevation-adjustable using a small flathead screwdriver. The rear face of the square notch back sight is black and serrated to cut glare, and a small ledge allows the shooter to operate the gun’s slide with one hand, using the sight as an anchor point.

The front tritium dot sight is easy to see in light or dark conditions. Both sights are relatively tall and should co-witness with most red-dot sights that have an average deck height.

The black polymer frame features an accessory rail under the barrel and two recessed, textured finger pads above the trigger guard. Three different texturing patterns wrap around the grip. There’s traditional square-cut texturing on the backstrap, coarse micro-texturing in the molded finger grooves on the frontstrap and fine micro-texturing on the sides of the grip.

A substantial undercut at the rear of the trigger guard offers a secure hold on the gun. The finger grooves lock the hand in place, and the texturing extends down onto the front of the extended magazines. Grip angle is comfortable, and the beavertail is sufficient to eliminate the risk of slide bite.

The controls are minimal. There’s a slide stop that’s large enough to operate but not so big it extends much beyond the frame. A lateral takedown pin extends from both sides of the frame, and the oval magazine release fits flush with a molded ridge on the grip that prevents accidentally releasing the mag.

There’s no manual safety, but the STR-9MC does have passive trigger and striker safeties as well as a cutout in the chamber that serves as a viewing port to determine whether a round is chambered.

For testing purposes I mounted a SIG RomeoZero Elite optic on the pistol and tested it from the bench and offhand. The grip ergonomics are good, and the micro-texturing is aggressive enough to maintain a secure hold on the gun when firing. The grip feels a bit more squared-off than the those on the Springfield Hellcat and the Taurus GX4, but it’s hardly blocky.

The flush-fit magazine leaves the grip too short for those with large hands to plant their pinky on the gun, but both the extended 11-round mag and the 13-rounder allow plenty of space for a full handhold on the pistol.

The trigger broke at an average of six pounds for 10 shots using an RCBS gauge. The trigger has considerable takeup and isn’t as smooth as some competitors, but the break is clean and the reset is short with an audible and tactile click. It’s certainly on par with other guns in this class and will likely smooth out over time.

Accuracy from 25 yards was average for guns of this size when fired from a rest. A few five-shot groups squeaked in under three inches, but most were in the three- to 3.5-inch range. That’s suitable for micro-compact self-defense applications, which are generally restricted to shots under 25 feet. Standing at that distance and slow-firing offhand, I found the Stoeger was capable of keeping shots inside the vital area of a torso target, so this gun is certainly accurate enough for self-defense.

Of equal or perhaps greater importance is the Stoeger’s impressive reliability. Despite firing a variety of different ammunition, I had no issues with feeding, extraction or ejection of spent cartridges. The slide locked open after the last shot in each magazine, which allows for efficient mag changes. This should come as little surprise since the other Stoeger STR-9 pistols have similarly solid reputations for reliable function. The latest micro-compact version lives up to those same high standards.

Many shooters, particularly new shooters, find that the smallest concealed-carry guns are hard to manage at the range and anything but enjoyable to shoot. The STR-9MC, however, feels and performs more like a full-size pistol, and recoil is manageable thanks to the excellent grip design and the relatively low bore axis. There’s ample room on the frame for a thumbs-forward grip and the pistol’s size makes it suitable for shooters with big mitts.

When the testing was complete, I reviewed my notes and found that the word that appeared most often was “consistent.” I believe that’s an accurate description of the Stoeger STR-9MC: It’s a consistent performer. Its small size makes the Stoeger simple to conceal and carry, and it offers better sights and more magazines than competing guns.

Stoeger continues the tradition it began with its shotguns of offering affordable semiautos that perform well under the toughest conditions. And while the STR-9MC doesn’t dominate in any one category—except perhaps value—it does everything well and offers reliable performance. What more could you ask of a carry gun at any price?

Stoeger STR-9MC Specs

• Type: striker-fired semiauto
• Caliber: 9mm Luger
• Capacity: 11- and 13-round mags included
• Barrel: 3.3 in., 1:10 twist
• OAL/Height/Width: 6.1/4.4/1.1 in. (flush-fit mag)
• Weight: 22 oz.
• Construction: black-nitride steel slide, polymer frame
• Trigger: 6 lb. pull (measured)
• Sights: adjustable notch rear, tritium dot front; slide cut for optics (as tested)
• Safeties: trigger, striker
• Price: $479 (as tested)
• Manufacturer: Stoeger, StoegerIndustries.com