I’ve heard a lot of good things about the Ruger Max 9 and finally had the chance to find out if they were true. Besides checking it out generally, I wanted to find out how well I could shoot head shots with it. Now, why would I want to do that? Well, we always talk about shooting center mass, but what happens when the head is our only target, or the threat is wearing armor?
For a more expert opinion on when we might need to take a head shot, I spoke with Ray Bottenfield, an instructor at Republic Gun Club in Waco, Texas. He is a retired police officer and was the Police Captain at Santa Monica College when confronted with an active shooter in 2013. His heroic actions that day led to him receiving the Congressional Medal of Valor from President Obama, along with multiple other awards.
Bottenfield tells us, “The head is hard and complex, with all kinds of angles. If you’re directly facing a threat, or close to that angle, you want to shoot into the ‘eye box’ or the triangle created by the eyes and the bridge of the nose. If you don’t have a direct shot at that angle, you have the option of shooting into the ear canal area. From behind the threat, you’ll want to go to the base of the skull. Each of these options presents a different aiming point, looking for the least resistance for your bullet’s travel. The idea with a headshot is to interrupt the threatening activity as soon as possible by disrupting the aggressor’s nervous system (disrupting brain activity) so that their actions cease immediately, minimizing the ability to act after the round is delivered.”
Bottenfield does have a word of caution, however. “There are some downfalls with head shots. There are many reports of people who have been shot in the head, and the bullet never actually entered the skull itself. It’s also a harder target to hit, due to the size and speed of head movement. You need to know what is behind your aggressor, and what might catch that bullet if you might miss. When it comes to head shots, marksmanship counts – aim small and control that trigger pull.”
So, with Bottenfield’s information in mind, I wanted to practice head shots in case the need should ever arise.
I took the Ruger Max 9 to my local indoor range and shot offhand at seven yards without warming up. My groups were:
I had no malfunctions with any of the ammunition.
Shooting without warming up, the groups were acceptable, still within the size of a head. I warmed up just a few more rounds, then went for the head shot using the Hornady Critical Defense again at seven yards. Bam! Two and a half-inch group, all in the head. I was very happy with that.
After seeing how the Ruger Max 9 performed with the varieties of ammunition, as well as shooting cold, I believe it’s an excellent choice for concealed carry. It’s slim enough to conceal easily, and yet a decent size that feels good in your hand.
With even more practice and experience – following Bottenfield’s advice to “aim small and control the trigger pull” – I would feel confident using it to stop a threat with a head shot.
Specifications for the Ruger Max 9 include the following:
MSRP $439.00.
Nancy Keaton is the facilitator for the Waco Chapter of A Girl and A Gun Women’s Shooting League. She formerly shot in IDPA, ASI and 3-Gun matches, was the president of Centralia Rifle Club in Centralia, Washington, and is a retired college administrator. Her work has appeared in multiple publications and online. Check them out on her website and on Muckrack. View all posts by Nancy Keaton
