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Shadow Systems CR920 Elite
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- Design Features
- Build Quality
- Recoil
- Fun Factor
4.1/5Overall Score
Specs
- Action: Striker fire
- Caliber: 9mm
- Barrel Length: 3.41"
- Capacity: 13+1 rounds
Pros
- Look and Feel
- Price for Features
Cons
- Holster Availability
Shadow Systems is an up-and-coming pistol manufacturer located in Plano, Texas.
One of their most popular models is the Shadow Systems CR920 Elite.
Some might call this subcompact pistol a “Gucci Glock” due to its similarities to the Glock 43.
It is quickly becoming one of the best 9mm subcompacts available.
Features
I’m sure you’re wondering, does this firearm come with numerous features, or is its primary appeal solely its aesthetic?
Well, that’s a great question and one we will dive into, but you’ll have to decide on the value of this pistol on your own as that’s subjective to your wants and needs.
Barrel
Arguably, one of the first things you’ll notice about the Shadow Systems CR920 is the barrel.
There are two available barrel options: Black Nitride or Bronze TiCN. The Bronze TiCN is the most obvious with its almost gold-like appearance.
Both barrels are aesthetically pleasing and feature a spiral flute and the Shadow System logo on the side of the chamber.
Grip/Ergonomics
The grip texture on this gun is abrasive while still being forgiving to the bare hand. It has a unique texture, but it does have visual similarities to Glock Gen 3 grips.
Ergibinucs if this pistol is good, especially with the 13-round magazine, because it has a spot to rest your pinky finger.
It feels good in the hand, but you may not like the 10-round magazine feel to this gun, but that is a great magazine to maximize the concealability of this gun.
Sights
You likely won’t find these sights where else as these Shadow System sights are spec’d specifically for them and branded with the Shadow Systems logo.
The CR920 features a glow in the dark front sight and a blacked-out rear sight. This is my favorite type of sight configuration, as rear sights are often distracting.
Controls
Shadow Systems CR920 controls are very similar to Glock controls with some minor twists, some of the changes are fantastic while some could use a little polish.
Magazine Release
The magazine release on the CR920 is flush with the grip and sits just where the trigger guard meets the frame.
Using the magazine release is easy and tactile due to its large surface area and ridge style design.
The magazine release is function and easy to use when needed but doesn’t get in the way while gripping the gun.
Slide Lock
While I really like the magazine release and most of the other controls the slide lock was like my first prom date, it left me wanting more.
It’s a functional control but it’s not anything special. I was hoping for a bit better ledge to make it easier to grab with your thumb and pull down.
While I may seem critical of the slide lock/release, it does work and many won’t find an issue with it, because their really isn’t an issue. This is just my personal preference for slide release/locks.
Trigger
The trigger is probably one of my favorite stock triggers on the market today. I love the flat style trigger it feels great and the shoe pivots flawlessly.
The trigger has virtually no grit and the take up is smooth and stiff. The break is clean and crisp, no mushy play in the trigger.
Reset is back to the wall and the break is again clean and crisp making shooting this gun fantastic.
Range Bag
While the Shadow Systems CR920 comes with a small range bag similar to our Prime pistol case, you might want to upgrade your range bag.
If you need a small range bag to take 2-3 pistols to the range and some range gear the pistol range bag has you covered.
If you take a lot of guns and gear with you look no further than the concord range bag, it holds tons of extras and 3-5 guns.
Accessories
“Thou’ must accessorize” is surely one of the unknown commandments. I kid, I kid. But one of the best things about the CR920 is the fact it comes standard with some of the upgrades you would otherwise consider for your pistol.
The two major accessories you might want to add are a holster and a pistol red dot sight.
Holsters
While their aren’t a ton of options specifically for the CR920 pistol their are a few and those numbers are growing.
Alien Gear makes several options including an inside the waistband option as well as an outside the waistband option.
Amazon also has a few options that should work but with the absence of any type of product review approach with caution.
Aesthetics
There is no denying the fact that this gun looks fantastic, that’s at least part of the reason you are considering purchasing it.
The TIN barrel and slide porting add a flare that other pistols lack. The slide design and milling are first rate and the pre-cut optic mount is great.
Overall, it’s hard to beat this pistols aesthetics given everything you get for the price point.
Ammo
This gun seems to handle anything you through at it very well. With hotter rounds you might see a bit more muzzle flip but other than that you shouldn’t have any cycling issues.
Shooting
Shooting CR920 was a pleasant surprise for me, I was expecting it to be a bit more snappy and have more recoil.
However, the gun shot well and the sights were fantastic. Adding red dot sight is the only addition you really need to make to this gun to “finish” it off.
It has very similar recoil impulse to a Glock, but that’s to be expected given this guns overall design.
Final Thoughts
The CR920 is an excellent shooting gun that packs a lot into an affordable package it is still a Glock clone.
If you are looking for many extra aftermarket features and great looks, it might be time to overlook the Glock and go straight to the Shadow Systems pistols.
FAQ
Here are some of the most asked questions about the CR920 and our answers.
How much does a CR920 cost?
The CR920 falls between $679 – $799 price point.
Is Shadow Systems CR920 a Glock?
No, the CR920 is not a Glock. While it does share some similarities the gun is not made by Glock and some Glock internals and parts are not compatible with the CR920.
Is shadow system better than Glock?
Better is relative to your wants and needs, if you want something a bit more fancy than the Shadow System pistols are better for the money.
If you just want something that’s going to be rock solid and nearly bombproof than you might want to stick with a stock Glock.
Honestly, I bought my 920p and subsequently purchased two other shadow systems pistols within a week. They aren’t the fanciest of Gucci glocks but they have most of the upgrades I would make to a glock out of the box for a relatively decent price.
Excellent review as always!!