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Shadow Systems CR920 Pistol: A Subcompact that Shoots Like a Full-Size

The Shadow Systems CR920 subcompact pistol was engineered to be as easy to shoot as it is to conceal. Here's a first look.  

Shadow Systems CR920 Pistol: A Subcompact that Shoots Like a Full-Size

(Photo Courtesy of Shadow Systems)

American handgun maker Shadow Systems has released its much-anticipated subcompact pistol this week at SHOT Show 2022. The CR920 is a subcompact that is designed to shoot like a full-size pistol. All the shootability found in the rest of the Shadow Systems product line is now ultra-concealable in the CR920. 

The Shadow Systems pistol lineup includes sizes for every possible role including the full-size DR920, compact MR920, and two crossover offerings: the compact with full-length top end MR920L and full-size framed XR920 which features a short top end. The CR920 now rounds out that lineup as the micro-option, ready to hide under a spring wardrobe. The CR stands for Covert Role, which has been long requested by Shadow Systems customers. The CR920’s capacity can be 13+1 with a patent-pending basepad or 10+1 with a flush magazine option.

The engineers at Shadow Systems were tasked with the ultimate balancing act in creating a subcompact that is actually nice to shoot. Historically, shootability of subcompacts has been a bit of an afterthought, but the CR920 shoots like a full-size pistol, while concealing into holsters made for G43/43X/48. The CR920 weighs in at just 17.8 ounces.

Packed into this concealable package are all of the standard Shadow Systems features, like an aggressively textured frame. The slide features directional serrations in the front, rear, and topside (for Elite models). Steel sights with a tritium front grace the topside of the slide, where Combat Optic and Elite models feature the patented Shadow Systems multi-footprint optic cut. The optic cut on the CR920 allows for direct-to-slide mounting of most brands of mini-RDS optics, including the Shield RMS and Holosun 507k. The CR920 has a match-grade, spiral-fluted 3.41-inch barrel, available in Shadow Systems’ customary bronze or black nitride. 


Internals feature a stainless-steel guide rod and a drop-safe, flat-faced trigger. The trigger has a 4.5- to 5.0-pound trigger pull and a crisp, tactile reset. The CR920 ships in a zippered pistol rug with two magazines: a 13+1 capacity magazine and a flush 10+1 capacity magazine. CR920 will be available in Combat, Combat Optic, and Elite models, with MSRP starting at $679.

The CR920 is manufactured wholly in the United States using American labor and materials. The veteran-led team at Shadow Systems includes former law enforcement officers, members of the military, and competitive shooters. This diverse background contributes to Shadow Systems’ unique design philosophy of building pistols with features based on real-world shooting experience. Every Shadow Systems pistol is designed to be highly reliable and easy to shoot well right out of the box.

Explore every little detail of the CR920 at shadowsystemscorp.com/CR920.


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