Schmeisser SP-9

Schmeisser’s SP-9 is an AR-15 that certainly seems to bring a greater element of class and precision to the generic design. A ‘Made in Germany’ assurance is coupled to this 9mm calibre rifle, which is certainly a break from the usual 223s. The rifle is screwcut and a brake is supplied, along with a 10-round magazine. Everything comes in a Negrini hard case with a cleaning kit and tools included. There isn’t much powder to burn in this pistol/carbine chambering, so the 12.5” barrel is in keeping with the fast-handling ethos.

Time to take a look

The 38mm diameter forend is aluminium and octagonal. It measures 233mm in length and shows M-LOK slots for accessories, barrel cooling, and weight saving. It allows the 16mm diameter barrel within to float freely and it’s stiff, so the addition of a bipod is no problem if you want to shoot prone.

Schmeisser supplies folding open sights that attach to the Picatinny sections located up top. The front post is elevation adjustable, and there’s windage adjustment on the ghost ring sight at the rear. The forend’s upper is ridged to avoid any additional reflection that may interrupt the sight picture.

The action has twin hinge pins through it to connect the upper and lower halves, so servicing the internal mechanics is easy. You can see the six lugs of the bolt head within its carrier, which rotates the bolt head out of battery when the side charging handle (or T-Handle) are actuated. In order to remove the carrier for a thorough cleaning, the side charging handle needs to be unbolted.

With the upper and lower back together, and the pins pushed through, there is no rattle from loose tolerances between the halves, like some ARs. All the controls follow the familiar AR-15 layout, with the rubberised grip offering a 65mm reach to the trigger blade. The non-adjustable, 2-stage trigger breaks cleanly at 1310-grams.

A 10-round polymer magazine is supplied, and the Schmeisser is Glock-compatible for spare mags. The supplied magazine features holes to display the remaining capacity, and its follower locks the bolt open when empty.

Schmeisser fits a right-side charging handle that’s 32mm long and 16mm in diameter, with radial grooves for grip. Other controls include the right-side mag release button, which is within index finger reach, and there is a small left-hand lever equivalent as well. The conventional left-hand bolt lock/release lever has an opposing right-side lever, and this can be reached with your index finger. However, you can just pull the charging handle (or T-Handle) rearward and it will spring closed after automatically unlocking. The final control is the ambidextrous, 2-position, thumb-operable safety catch, which flicks through a 45º arc for SAFE or FIRE.

Furniture

The stock’s buffer tube has a rib to minimise the wobble of the extending, rear polymer butt section. In total, there are seven extension positions that lock securely with a sprung latch located directly under the cheekpiece. The length of pull extends from 290 to 355mm, making the rifle particularly nice to handle. The sloped underside allows you to offer up a supporting bag, or hand when shooting prone, but otherwise, the lightweight structure balances the overall rifle very well, offering fast, instinctive pointability. The slim rubber recoil pad remains securely locked in your shoulder, and the only other mechanics are quick-release sling locations on either side of the stock.

Schmeisser’s rounded cheekpiece is 40mm wide, offering linear alignment when shooting with a modest red dot or reflex optic, as well as the included battle sights, and a smaller objective scope. It fits snugly under your cheekbone and there is space for your jaw below it without your head rolling for alignment.

Rounds down range

There is very little recoil on firing, but what’s present is linear, with no muzzle jump, so you can shoot with virtually no point of aim disturbance between shots. Light bolt operation also ensures you don’t need to pull excessively hard, which could disrupt your point of aim, meaning once you let go, you are straight back on target for smooth follow-up shots. There is minimal spring rattle and the mechanics are a delight to operate.

The Falke reflex sight was great for initial zeroing, as it’s a super-quick point/shoot solution with a large screen for fast target acquisition. It has a quick-release lever enabling fast changeovers to other Picatinny accessories, and I switched to a 1-6x24 Hawke riflescope for a more precise aim on paper.

Using 115-grain FMJ Hornady ammunition, the average group size at 50m was 17mm for 5 shots, and velocity was measured at 1321 fps, which equates to 445 ft/lbs of energy. Moving onward, this also enabled dialling out for longer-range shooting at steel targets at 225m. Which, incidentally, was great fun!

The gun is very gentle to shoot, and you can maintain a sight picture to see the large, slow bullets arc into the impact zone. 9mm Parabellum has a SAAMI max operating pressure of 35,000 PSI, compared to the 62,000 PSI of a .223, so it’s no great surprise that the action feels light and slick in operation. However, it still benefits from firm treatment, without any deliberate delicacy.

The side charging handle can be rotated to suit your preferences, and I found it came loose on a couple of occasions. I understand why Schmeisser doesn’t do it, but once I’d set it to my preference, I thread-locked it in position to prevent it from getting lost.

Like any AR-15, the rifle really appreciates firm operation, even though it doesn’t need significant force. Open the bolt hard and fast to ensure positive ejection, and then let the bolt close at its own speed under spring tension. Few ARs appreciate being restricted from their natural progress.

The trigger is crisp and predictable, all mechanics are well constructed, the machining standards are great, and the coatings displayed no tooling marks. The polymer injection mouldings were of superior quality when compared to a lot of AR-derived components, and showed a delicate, stippled texture, adding tactile perception and added grip for comfort.

Schmeisser is certified to manufacture to police and military standards, and details like Picatinny rails showing correct tolerances proved this. All the controls carry sufficient knurling to ensure no slips, with or without gloves on, even when wet. Plus, the hard anodising of the larger aluminium sections showed no signs of wear.

Conclusion

I really appreciate shooting a rifle when restricted to just one type of ammo! I like enjoying the gun’s purity, and just discovering what it does without feeling an overwhelming need to chase improvements that distract from personal joy. This is particularly clear on a gun, which I think, in fairness, is a ‘fun gun’ that’s for target and competition use. It’s certainly not intended to be a precision or hunting rifle, yet that’s not to say it wasn’t a reliable performer.

The SP-9 feels pure and homogenous, the product of one maker and not a combination of generic parts that are supposed to be a good fit, but aren’t always. It works seamlessly and delivers what it promises from a low-cost centrefire cartridge that makes big, easily visible holes in paper, or rings steel without the need for vast open spaces. It’s the sort of gun that makes me want to compete at a local indoor range, as it appreciates and demonstrates the skill of the shooter when physically aiming, controlling the trigger, using the sights, and reloading. It allows you to have fun without the complication of the latest ballistic coefficients, and without spending hours poring over Strelok for one shot.