SAR USA SAR9 Review (2026): 800 Rounds With the Gen 3, Now Sold as Sarsilmaz

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Table of Contents

Review: SAR USA SAR9 Gen 3, a Service Pistol With Night Sights in the Box

Our Rating: 8.1/10

• MSRP: $549.99 (SAR9 Full Size Gen 3, SAR9G3BL); the six Gen 3 models run $529.99 to $559.99
• Street Price: $506.99 for the Full Size Gen 3 at Guns.com on October 2, 2026; Palmetto State Armory had the same gun at $611.99 (Use our live pricing for the best up to date deal)
• Caliber: 9mm Luger
• Action: Striker fired, single action
• Barrel Length: 4.5 in. forged steel (dealers list it as 4.4 in.)
• Overall Length: 7.5 in.
• Height: 5.5 in.
• Width: 1.4 in.
• Weight (unloaded): 26.7 oz
• Capacity: 17+1, two magazines included; a 10-round version is cataloged
• Frame Material: Polymer, with a Picatinny rail
• Slide Material: Forged steel, cut for RMSc footprint optics
• Sights: Tritium night sights, front and rear
• Safety: Ambidextrous manual safety, trigger safety, internal firing pin safety
• Trigger Pull: 3.4 to 5.6 lb per the maker; 4 lb 9 oz on our gun
• Grip: Three backstraps and swappable side panels
• Made in: Turkey, by Sarsilmaz. The frame is marked MADE IN TURKEY

Quick Take

The SAR USA SAR9 is a striker-fired 9mm from Sarsilmaz in Turkey. The current version is the Gen 3, and the full-size model holds 17+1 behind a 4.5 in. barrel. It ships with tritium night sights, an optics cut, three backstraps and a manual safety. Guns.com had it at $506.99.

I shot 600 rounds through a Full Size Gen 3 and 200 through a Compact Gen 3. Neither gun had a stoppage. The full-size gun put five shots into 2.3 in. at 25 yards with its best load, and the trigger broke at 4 lb 9 oz.

Two things to know before you buy. First, prices on this gun are all over the place: one big store wanted $105 more than another for the same model, and $62 more than list. Second, the name on the box is changing. The old SAR USA web address now forwards to a Sarsilmaz site, so you’ll see both names on the same pistol.

Best For: Home defense and range buyers who want night sights and an optics cut without paying Glock or Walther money. Not the gun for concealed carry at 26.7 oz, and not the cheapest way into a full-size 9mm.

SAR USA or Sarsilmaz? The Name and the Gen 3 Lineup

Sarsilmaz builds the SAR9 in Turkey. The company’s own history page says SAR USA was set up in 2018 as the exclusive U.S. importer. On October 2, 2026, sarusa.com forwards to sarsilmaz.us, and the 2026 catalog and every product page carry the Sarsilmaz name. Dealers still list the guns as SAR USA, SAR Firearms or SAR Arms. They’re all the same pistol. The slide carries a SAR logo, and the frame says SARSILMAZ on the left and MADE IN TURKEY on the right.

The lineup is now six Gen 3 models. These figures come from Sarsilmaz’s SAR9 Full Size Gen 3 page and its comparison chart.

Model	Barrel	Capacity	Length x Height	Weight	Manual Safety	MSRP
Subcompact Gen 3	3.3 in.	12+1 or 15+1	6.4 x 5.2 in.	21.7 oz	No	$529.99
Compact Gen 3	4.1 in.	15+1	7.2 x 5.2 in.	26.3 oz	No	$539.99
Full Size Gen 3	4.5 in.	17+1	7.5 x 5.5 in.	26.7 oz	Yes	$549.99
Sport Gen 3	5.3 in.	17+1	8.4 x 5.5 in.	28.8 oz	Yes	$549.99
SOCOM Compact	4.7 in., threaded	15+1 or 21+1	8.0 x 5.3 in.	28.1 oz	No	$559.99
SOCOM Full Size	5.1 in., threaded	17+1 or 21+1	8.4 x 5.6 in.	28.8 oz	No	$559.99

Three things jump out. The whole line sits inside $30 at list, so you pick on size, not on price. Only the Full Size and the Sport have a manual safety. And the Compact is barely a compact: it’s 0.3 in. shorter both ways and 0.4 oz lighter than the Full Size, and it gives up two rounds. If you want a SAR9 that’s easier to carry, you have to go all the way down to the 21.7 oz Subcompact.

Every Gen 3 gets the same core kit: tritium night sights, an RMSc optics cut, a Picatinny rail and a flat-face trigger. The Subcompact has a fixed textured grip and a heavier 4.5 to 6.7 lb trigger. The others get the modular grip and the 3.4 to 5.6 lb pull.

Design Intent: Why Sarsilmaz Built It This Way

Sarsilmaz sells the SAR9 as a service pistol first. Its catalog calls the Full Size Gen 3 “the dependable choice for both civilian and professional use,” and the spec sheet reads like a duty gun: forged steel slide and barrel, a multi-slot rail for a full-size light, and night sights as standard. The Glock 17 Gen 6 we tested came with a steel front and a polymer rear, and our Walther PDP had polymer three-dots.

The optics cut is the odd choice. Sarsilmaz mills the slide for the RMSc footprint, which is the small pattern used by micro red dots on carry guns, and offers adapter plates for anything else. On a 26.7 oz full-size pistol I’d have expected a bigger footprint. It works, and a micro dot sits low, but if you already own a full-size dot, budget for a plate.

The grip is the other selling point. You get three backstraps and separate side panels, so you can change the width and the length of the grip independently.

SAR USA SAR9 Variants

The 2026 catalog lists the Full Size Gen 3 in black only, with a 17-round and a 10-round SKU. Dealers still show bronze, platinum and OD green Gen 3 guns, and Classic Firearms had all three at $529.99. If you want a color, buy it while that stock lasts. Older SAR9s from before the Gen 3 are still around too, from $289.99, and they’re a different gun from the one reviewed here.

Sarsilmaz’s numbers don’t always agree with each other or with dealers. Its site gives the Full Size barrel as 4.5 in. and the SOCOM as 5.1 in., where stores print 4.4 in. and 5.2 in. The Subcompact is 5.2 in. tall on its own page and in the catalog, and 5.0 in. in the comparison chart.

Competitor Comparison

Full-size striker 9mms run from about $320 to $700. The SAR9 Gen 3 sits in the middle, and its problem is the two guns underneath it.

Canik METE SFT ($324.99 to $499.99)

The other Turkish full-size, and the SAR9’s real rival. Bass Pro Shops had the METE SFT One Series at $324.99 and Palmetto State Armory had it at $325.99, with a 4.46 in. barrel and an 18-round magazine. That’s $181 under the SAR9 Gen 3. The Canik has the better trigger of the two. The SAR9 answers with tritium night sights and a manual safety. Our Canik METE SFT review has the full test.

PSA Dagger Full Size S ($319.99)

The cheapest serious option. Palmetto State Armory sells the Dagger Full Size S with an RMR-cut slide at $319.99, with or without a threaded barrel. That’s $187 less than the SAR9. You give up the night sights, the modular grip and the safety. See our PSA Dagger Compact review for how the platform shoots.

Glock 17 Gen 6 ($607.57 to $620)

The benchmark. Palmetto State Armory had the Glock 17 Gen 6 at $620 with three 17-round magazines and an optics-ready slide, $113 more than the SAR9. In our test the Glock weighed 21.16 oz, so it’s about 5.5 oz lighter. It also has holsters, parts and magazines on every shelf in the country, which the SAR9 doesn’t. Read our Glock 17 Gen 6 review.

Walther PDP Full Size ($539.99 to $699)

The PDP is the shooter’s pick, with a 4.5 in. barrel, 18+1 and the best factory trigger in this group. Guns.com had a PDP Full Size at $599, $92 over the SAR9, and Sportsman’s Warehouse had a 10-round gun at $649.99. Our card showed one from $539.99 at EuroOptic. Our Walther PDP review covers it.

Verdict: The SAR9 Gen 3 costs about $180 more than the Canik and the Dagger and $92 to $113 less than the Walther and the Glock. What you’re paying for over the cheap guns is the night sights, the safety and the grip. For the wider field, see our best full-size 9mm pistols and best home defense handguns.

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Testing Protocol

We shot two guns: a SAR9 Full Size Gen 3 (SAR9G3BL) and a SAR9 Compact Gen 3 (SAR9CG3BL). That’s 800 rounds over five sessions in September at an outdoor range, from 59°F to 91°F. For the last 200 rounds on the full-size gun I mounted a Shield RMSc red dot straight to the slide cut.

Ammunition Log

• Full Size Gen 3, 600 rounds: Blazer Brass 115 gr FMJ (250), Federal American Eagle 124 gr FMJ (150), Sellier & Bellot 124 gr FMJ (100), Federal HST 147 gr (50), Hornady Critical Duty 135 gr (50)
• Compact Gen 3, 200 rounds: Blazer Brass 115 gr FMJ (100), Federal American Eagle 124 gr FMJ (50), Speer Gold Dot 124 gr (50)

Phase 1: Break-In

The manual says the guns ship with an oil film and tells you to clean the barrel before shooting, so I did. The magazines loaded to 17 without a fight. The first 100 rounds of Blazer 115 gr ran clean, with brass landing in a neat pile about six feet to my right.

Phase 2: Reliability

Neither gun had a failure to feed, fire, extract or eject in 800 rounds. I didn’t clean the full-size gun between round 100 and round 600. The only hiccup was mine: twice the slide didn’t lock back on an empty magazine, because my thumb was resting on the slide stop.

I shot standard pressure ammunition only. The manual says to use factory-loaded ammunition and warns that handloads fall outside the warranty. It doesn’t publish a +P rating. It does include the line “Avoid using MP5 bullets!” with no explanation. I take that as a warning off hot submachine gun loads, and I’d stick to standard pressure in this gun.

Phase 3: Accuracy

From a rest at 25 yards with iron sights, five-shot groups from the full-size gun averaged 2.3 in. with Federal HST 147 gr, 2.6 in. with American Eagle 124 gr and 3.1 in. with Blazer 115 gr. At 15 yards the HST load went into 1.4 in. The Compact averaged 2.9 in. at 25 yards with American Eagle.

Our trigger gauge read 4 lb 9 oz on the Full Size and 4 lb 12 oz on the Compact, in the middle of Sarsilmaz’s 3.4 to 5.6 lb range. There’s a short take-up, a firm wall and a clean break. The reset is short enough to feel. It’s a good trigger. I still prefer the Canik’s.

Tracking & Observations

After 600 rounds the full-size gun showed normal wear on the barrel hood and nothing on the rails. The red dot stayed zeroed for its 200 rounds. One quirk caught me out early. The manual says the safety only works when the striker is cocked, and that forcing the lever on an uncocked gun can damage it and void the warranty. So after dry fire, rack the slide before you put the safety on.

What This Means for You

• Reliability: No stoppages in 800 rounds across two guns.
• Ammo Preference: Heavier bullets shot best. 147 gr and 124 gr beat 115 gr.
• Accuracy Expectation: 2.3 to 3.1 in. at 25 yards from a rest.
• Maintenance: Takedown needs a trigger pull, so clear the gun twice. Don’t force the safety on an uncocked striker.
• Upgrade Impact: Night sights are already on it. A light and a micro red dot are the only things I’d add.

Performance Testing Results

Reliability (9/10)

Zero stoppages in 800 rounds, 500 of them without cleaning. I’d want another thousand rounds before giving it a 10.

Accuracy (8/10)

Groups of 2.3 in. at 25 yards with defensive ammunition are better than I shoot most service pistols. The night sights are easy to pick up, and the clean trigger break helps.

Ergonomics & Recoil (8/10)

The grip is the best part of this gun. I ended up with the medium backstrap and the thin side panels, and it fit my hand better than any stock Glock. At 26.7 oz it’s heavy for a polymer pistol, and that weight keeps the muzzle flat. The manual safety is small and out of the way. I could reach it with either thumb.

Fit, Finish, and Quality Control (8/10)

The slide machining is clean, with sharp serrations and three lightening cuts near the muzzle. Both guns had tight slide-to-frame fit. The side panels on the Compact had a hair of play until I reseated them.

Value (7/10)

At $506.99 you get night sights, an optics cut and two magazines, and that’s fair. At $611.99 it isn’t. And the Canik at $325.99 is hard to argue with.

Features (9/10)

Tritium sights, an optics-ready slide, a rail, a modular grip, an ambidextrous safety and a striker status indicator. The small RMSc footprint is the only thing I’d change.

Technical Deep Dive

Slide and Barrel

Forged steel slide and a 4.5 in. forged steel barrel, per Sarsilmaz. The barrel hood is marked 9×19, and the right side of the slide reads GEN3 and SAR9. The SOCOM models swap in barrels threaded 1/2×28.

Frame and Grip

Polymer, 1.4 in. wide, with a multi-slot Picatinny rail. The SAR9 manual shows how the grip comes apart: drive out one pin, pull the backstrap back and down, then slide the side panels off to the rear.

Trigger System

Single action striker with a blade safety in a flat-face trigger. The manual describes a firing pin safety and a visual indicator that shows when the striker is cocked. For how this style of action compares with a hammer gun, see striker fired vs hammer fired.

Sights and Optics

Component	Specification	Benefit
Sights	Tritium front and rear	Usable in the dark with no batteries
Optics cut	RMSc footprint, adapter plates available	Micro dots mount low and direct
Rail	Multi-slot Picatinny	Takes a full-size weapon light
Trigger	Flat face, 3.4 to 5.6 lb	Clean break, short reset
Magazines	Two, 17 rounds each	A spare comes in the box

Parts, Accessories and Upgrades

Upgrade Category	Recommended Component	Why It Matters	Cost Estimate
Weapon light	A full-size rail light	The first thing a home defense pistol needs	$100 to $300
Red dot	An RMSc footprint micro dot	Mounts to the slide without a plate	$200 to $400
Magazines	A third 17-round SAR9 magazine	Stores carry far fewer of these than Glock magazines	$30 to $45
Holster	One molded for the SAR9 Gen 3	Check the fit before you order; choices are limited	$50 to $90

Our best weapon lights guide and best 9mm ammo picks are the places to start.

Common Problems & Solutions

• Safety won’t engage: The striker isn’t cocked. Rack the slide first. Don’t force the lever; the manual says that can damage the gun.
• Slide doesn’t lock back when empty: Check your thumbs. Mine was holding the slide stop down.
• Red dot doesn’t fit: The cut is RMSc. Larger footprints need one of Sarsilmaz’s adapter plates.
• Paying too much: We saw the Full Size Gen 3 at $506.99 and $611.99 on the same day. List is $549.99. Check the live prices before you buy.
• Ordering the wrong generation: Gen 2 and older SAR9s are still for sale under similar names. Look for GEN3 on the slide, and for G3 in the SKU on the standard models.

Who Should NOT Buy This Gun

The SAR9 Gen 3 is a well-equipped pistol. It’s still the wrong pick for some buyers.

• Buyers on a tight budget: The Canik METE SFT was $325.99 and the PSA Dagger Full Size S was $319.99.
• People who want parts and holsters everywhere: Nothing beats the Glock 17 Gen 6 for aftermarket support.
• Concealed carriers: The Full Size and Compact both weigh over 26 oz. The SAR9 Subcompact Gen 3 is 21.7 oz and 1.1 in. wide.
• Shooters who want the best trigger: The Walther PDP Full Size costs more and its trigger is better.

Final Verdict

The SAR USA SAR9 Gen 3 ran 800 rounds without a stoppage, shot 2.3 in. groups at 25 yards and came with tritium night sights, an optics cut and a grip I could tune to my hand. As a home defense or range pistol it’s easy to like.

Price is the whole question. At about $507 it’s a fair deal for what’s in the box. At $612 you’re into Glock money, and at any price the Canik METE SFT is $180 cheaper. If night sights and a manual safety matter to you, buy the SAR9 and shop around for it. If they don’t, the Canik is the better value. For more options, see our best 9mm pistols.

Final Score: 8.1/10. A reliable, well-equipped service pistol, as long as you don’t overpay for it.

FAQ: SAR USA SAR9