Firearm: Girsan MC9 Disruptor (MSRP: $399)
Girsan’s MC9 Disruptor pistol (imported by EAA Corp.) is designed to be a well-equipped pistol with an entry level price, and with its impressive list of features, it’s pretty easy to say it hits that mark. Multiple backstraps are available to fit the MC9 to the individual shooter’s hand, there’s an optics cut on the slide for RMSc-footprint optics, there’s a threaded barrel should a sound suppressor be desired; all of this is included in a handgun with an MSRP less than $400.
The Disruptor is on the larger side, there’s no getting around that; the barrel is 4.6 inches long, overall length is 7.9 inches, height is 5.5 inches and width is 1.3 inches. Sizewise, it’s on par with the Glock G17, rather than the more carry friendly G19. The Disruptor weighs 26 ounces, making it a few ounces heavier than the Glock and other polymer-frame, striker-fired pistols. Capacity is the same: 17 rounds; however, only a single magazine comes with the pistol and replacements are less common. They are metal, however, and can be purchased from Girsan’s importer, EAA.
Up top, the Disruptor has a standard three-white-dot sight arrangement as well as an optics cut for RMSc-footprint optics. Adding an optic is as simple as removing the cover plate, putting the optic in place and securing it with two screws. One note here: The rear sight is part of the optic cover plate, so there’s no backup sight option once an electro-optic has been added to the pistol. If this is a matter of concern, there are many different training classes that will help deal with alternate aiming methods for situations like this.
Overall, the Disruptor offers a full-size, polymer-frame, striker-fired handgun with powered optic capability at an extremely attractive price. It functioned without incident in our time with it on the range, and it handled well, as you’d expect of a pistol of its size. While we didn’t add a sound suppressor to the pistol, that capability is also there, which makes it a pretty decent home-defense option as well. Add a light or laser to the accessory rail and this is ready for pretty much any task you might ask of it. All for less than $400? That’s a pretty sweet deal.
Holster: Crucial Concealment Ambi Universal Light Holster, Streamlight TLR-1 (MSRP: $69.99)
We featured the Universal Light holster from Crucial Concealment previously, in a kit that included a SureFire light. This Universal Light holster indexes on the popular Streamlight TLR-1 weaponlight, another solid choice in lights. Where the Disruptor could see use as a home-defense firearm as well as something carried concealed, having a holster that can accommodate a pistol and light means extra versatility.
Having a holster like the Universal Light holster that indexes on a particular weaponlight, means that nearly any pistol with an accessory rail under the dustcover can fit. Sometimes, as with the Girsan Disruptor, there may not be a large number of holster fits available, so having a universal fit will help. The Universal Light holster features taco-style construction with a single sheet of kydex and offers a retention shim to hold the pistol tightly. The holster can be used by both right- and left-handed shooters, features a single-point belt clip to attach the holster and has a small wing to keep the holster tight to the body.
Accessory: Streamlight TLR1 (MSRP: $247.75)
Streamlight’s TLR-1 is designed to fit a wide variety of pistol accessory rails, including some of the proprietary and/or non-standard rail systems in different handguns. It offers 300 lumens for two and a half hours of run time on two CR123A batteries, weighs 4.2 ounces and is 3.4 inches long, meaning it will protrude slightly past the muzzle on compact-size handguns. The TLR-1 is designed to attach solidly without tools, although a flathead screwdriver can be used to tighten the attachment screw if desired.
An important note on pistol-mounted lights: These are dedicated tools with the main purpose being target identification; under no circumstances should these be used for general illumination – that’s what handheld lights are for. Specialized training in using weapon-mounted lights is invaluable to help reinforce good habits and behaviors when using these specialty tools.
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