Sturm, Ruger & Co. recently announced a new pistol called the EC9s that is an inexpensive alternative to another product in its line-up: the LC9s.

The EC9s is a compact 9mm pistol that holds 7 rounds in a standard length magazine and uses a striker-fired system for a consistent trigger pull. It does have a small, frame mounted thumb safety on the left side of the handgun. The gun also has a pivoting safety in the trigger to help prevent unintentional discharges if dropped.

Like the LC9s the gun is modeled after, the EC9s is relatively thin: about 0.9″. This makes the gun easier to carry inside the waistband than some of its thicker cousins.

For the budget conscious, the EC9s is likely to appeal. It has a suggested retail price of $299. For those that don’t understand gun pricing, the MSRP is a suggested top price the company announces. Dealers set their own prices.

With Ruger products, dealer prices are often a lot less than the MSRP. So, comparing a local dealer’s $350 price on the LC9s to the MSRP of the EC9s isn’t an apples to apples comparison. Instead, compare the $299 EC9s to the $479 suggested for the LC9s. Then you can make your own guesses at how much cheaper the local dealer might sell the EC9s.

Ruger saves money on the EC9s production by using integrated sights on the slide, eliminating some of the slide machining operations and including only one magazine with the pistol.