SHADOW SYSTEMS DR920
Posted May 14, 2023
The Shadow Systems DR920 is a modern and reliable pistol designed for competition use, personal defense, and other varied uses. Despite its competition focus, the DR920 stands out from the competition by its well-rounded design, featuring a barrel length and magazine capacity that fit comfortably between subcompact and full-size pistols. Those features ensure that the pistol is suited to a wider array of users, and rather than serving as a niche competition product, the DR920 could fit the needs of many shooters. In this review, I'll cover the design, features, and performance of the Shadow Systems DR920 in more detail.
Design
The Shadow Systems DR920 is constructed from stainless steel and polymer, giving it a unique but solid look that stands out compared to the pistols in its class. The barrel and slide are machined from stainless steel and feature a classic-style, black nitride finish, which gives the DR920 a cool, tactical sleekness. Additionally, the DR920 is equipped with an ergonomic and comfortable grip, which is designed to improve the shooter’s accuracy and stability. The grip fits nicely in your hand and the beavertail design allows for a secure and reliable grip when firing. Moreover, the DR920’s slide is milled for optics and its frame is compatible with aftermarket parts and accessories, allowing you to customize the pistol to fit your specific needs.
Features
The Shadow Systems DR920 has a lot of features that make it a great gun to own. For starters, this weapon is chambered in 9mm and comes in both a 4.25” and 5.5” barrel length, both of which are great for competition. This pistol also has an extended magazine capacity of 15 rounds, which makes it an ideal pistol for competition use, personal defense, and home defense. Additionally, the DR920 is equipped with a striker-fired trigger system, giving the weapon a smooth and consistent trigger pull throughout the entire length of the pull. The weapon also features a pre-cocked striker system that releases a green-colored marker when cocked. This helps to visually signify that the firearm is cocked and ready to fire. The DR920 also has an ambidextrous magazine release, allowing you to switch magazines quickly and easily.
Performance
The Shadow Systems DR920 is a reliable and accurate firearm. It’s a good shooter and has proven its capabilities in competition, personal defense, and home defense. With its 4.25” and 5.5” barrel lengths, the DR920 can accommodate different types of ammo and fits well in confined spaces. The DR920 is fairly easy to shoot and maintain, with a slide release and an ambidextrous magazine release. The pre-cocked striker system also provides a smooth trigger pull that allows you to cycle the weapon quickly, giving you time to get back on target and easily make accurate follow-up shots. The pistol is also reliable and functions without any major hiccups when using quality, standard-pressure ammo.
Final Thoughts
After testing and using the Shadow Systems DR920 extensively, I can confidently say that it is a great pistol. It’s well-rounded design, comfortable grip, and reliable performance make it an ideal pistol for competition, personal defense and home defense. Furthermore, the pre-cocked striker system, extended magazine capacity, and ability to mount optics and accessories give you the flexibility to set up the pistol for whatever need you may have. The DR920 is also reasonably priced and competitively priced compared to other premium pistols on the market. All in all, the DR920 is a great pistol that deserves more recognition in the shooting world.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Its advanced ergonomic design offers superior comfort for shooting.
- Obtain consistent trigger press repeatability with its improved Geissele trigger.
- Its flat-face interchangeable grip allows you to customize it to your preferences.
- Its ambidextrous design offers maximum flexibility for both left- and right-handed shooters.
- Compatible with most optics and red dot scopes.
- The shallow beavertail backstrap helps reduce recoil and greater control over the gun.
Cons:
- Magazines and ammo can be hard to find, as the gun is comparatively new and not very popular.
- Expensive compared to similar guns in this range.
- Trigger pull is a bit on the heavier side and can take some getting used to.
Who Should Buy
People who should buy the SHADOW Systems DR920 include firearms enthusiasts, recreational shooters, and self-defense owners. It has a competition-ready trigger with adjustable preset, a barrel designed to manage muzzle flip, and compatibility with several handguns.
People who shouldn't buy the SHADOW Systems DR920 include those who want a reliable budget-level pistol. The DR920 comes with a steep price tag and higher-end custom finishes, meaning it is probably not the right buy for those who are looking for an economical handgun.
Comparisons
| System | Weight | Magazine Capacity | Brace | Slide Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SHADOW SYSTEMS DR920 | 29oz | 10+1 | No | Black Nitride |
| SIG P320 X-Compact | 25.8oz | 10+1 | No | Nitron® finish |
| GLOCK 19 | 21.16oz | 15+1 | No | nDLC Finish |
| Walther Q4SF | 22.7oz | 12+1 | Yes | Tenifer Finish |
| Springfield Armory XD-S | 22oz | 7 or 8+1 | No | Melonite Finish |
Features / Specs
• Caliber: 9mm
• Magazine Capacity: 15 Rounds
• Barrel Length: 4.03"
• Overall Length: 7.89"
• Weight without Magazine: 24.8 oz
• Height: 5.19"
• Sight Radius: 5.83"
• Grips: Polymer Magpul MOE
• Trigger: Flat Faced, Long Reset
• Safety: Ambi, No Manual Safety
• Frame: Polymer
• Slide: Stainless Steel
• Rear Sight: Battle Arms Development Inc. AR Diamond Rea Ramps
• Front Sight: Battle Arms Development Inc. AR Diamond Rea Foresight
• Finish: DLC (Diamond Like Carbon) w/ Ionbond Rear Sight
Popular Accessories
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Popular accessories for the SHADOW SYSTEMS DR920 include magazines, a Magwell, an Extended Mag Release, a Recoil Spring Guide Rod, an Extended Slide Stop, an Extended Barrel Thread Protector, an Extended Level 2 Trigger, a Speed Chute, and a Slide Lock.
Accuracy
The SHADOW SYSTEMS DR920 is a reliable and accurate pistol. It has a trigger pull weight of 4.5-5.5 pounds, which results in a crisp and consistent trigger pull. The gun also features a hybrid rifling design which serves to increase accuracy potential for both handguns and competition shooting needs. Furthermore, the added weight and frame size helps with recoil dampening, thus reducing muzzle rise and increasing accuracy. Finally, its squared trigger guard allows shooters to acquire a more consistent grip which further helps with accuracy. This pistol has been widely acclaimed by the gun community for its comfort, reliability, and accuracy.
