Miller Precision Ranger 9X

The Ranger 9X is the compensated member of Miller Precision's Ranger 9 family. It's a 5-inch pistol with the comp included, set up with a competition magwell and a pinned grip safety.

The Ranger 9 line is built around a linkless barrel, which makes takedown and cleaning easier and lets you swap to a ported or threaded barrel without a gunsmith. The company's patent-pending ambidextrous magazine release sits on the grip, and a patent-pending ambidextrous slide stop works from either side. There's also an easy-adjust trigger that lets you change take-up and overtravel without taking the pistol apart.

On the 9X, you also get ambidextrous safeties and blackout sights. The optic plate system is Miller Precision's own design, and it lets you mount a red dot while keeping co-witness iron sights. An RMR/SRO plate comes in the box.

Miller Precision offers the 9X in black DLC or silver PVD, with a choice of diamond or dot grip textures in standard or enhanced versions. The trigger comes in curved or flat shapes, and in black or blue. You choose the finish and grip when the pistol is ordered.

The box is practical. Along with the pistol and optic plate, you get two Atlas Gunworks magazines, a soft case, Lucas Oil, takedown tools, a punch and 1911 tool drivers. That's enough to clean and maintain the pistol from the first day.

The Ranger 9X makes sense for someone who wants a compensated 1911-style 9mm with real ambidextrous controls and an easy way to change barrels later. It's a thoughtful design from a smaller maker, and the modular parts give you room to set it up the way you like.