Ruger 45s, P Series or the newer P345

[Brian James]

I’m looking for owners of Ruger P series 45’s to see what they think of them. I have read several reviews most comment on how robust the pistol is, and how accurate it is.
I’m hoping to verify these reviews.

Whatsmore, I have read the ruger line will shoot just about anything. IS this true for semi-wadcutter.

The criteria I am looking for is a gun that is very accurate. 3’ group at 50 yards. I’ve heard it can do it, but looking for some first hand experience.

I'm looking for an inexpensive 45 for NRA shooting.


If you have one in the Ottawa area could you please let me know,

Thanks

Brian

 

[targettarget]

I have a P345 and think it is a fabulous weapon. I did have a few very minor issues with mine at first. The magazines did not drop out of the gun when the mag release was pressed. As a matter of fact, I had to literally pull the suckers out with force. I don't currently compete in IPSC, so this wasn't a big deal for me. Also, I find the 3 dot white sights are quite small (I'll assume for CC) and I have a little bit of a hard time focusing on them. The sights dots were also poorly painted (some black is visible at the top of all the dots). The magazines also ONLY hold 8 rounds, which might be a hindrance if you are shooting IPSC and get a dud round or two. The Double action pull is INSANELY LONG. The first time I shoot the gun in double action, I almost thought that I was at the limit of the trigger stroke when all of a sudden ---BANG---. It totally caught me off guard. One more negative. There was a small little plastic bit that was extended from the gun on the right hand side of the grip when I first bought it. Not knowing any better, I went to the range and put 200 rounds through it this way. To this day, I don't know what the plastic bit does or why it was extended in the first place, but I don know that as soon as I pushed it back into the grip, the magazine release started to work flawlessly. The mags now drop without issue.

Positives. First of all cost, I like the $600ish price tag. I'm not a big .45 shooter because of the cost of the ammo, but I did want a .45. The Ruger 345 fit the bill as being a cheap little .45 that I didn't feel obligated to shoot every weekend because I just dropped over a grand on the gun itself.

Second, the size. This is a small gun. The barrel is 110mm (I think) and its the perfect size for my hand. Also, it is incredibly small. I'm a big fan of small handguns and not being 12(6) licensed, I wanted the smallest size - biggest caliber I could get. The Ruger fits that perfectly.

The single action pull is dramatically light, maybe 4-5 pounds. Compared to the double action pull, its a hair trigger. I like it and it works well for snappy follow up shots.

Overall, I like the 345. I'm not sure about Semi-wadcutter bullets feeding but I will say that everything I've put through it so far has worked fine.

Also, the 3" groupings at 50 yards, for myself at least, is an urban myth. I'm lucky if I can hit the TARGET at 50 yards, never mind keep everything at less than 3". This I will attribute to my personal level of skill and my approach to shooting. I don't slow shoot, I bust caps like my life depends on it.

One more thing I'll mention, disassembly is a pain in the ass the first time. I spent about an hour reading the manual trying to figure it out. After I got it apart the first time, every subsequent time has been a breeze.

Good luck.

 

[targettarget]

Here is a picture of my Ruger with the plastic bit I mentioned earlier. If anybody knows what it does or why it should be in or out, let me know. Thanks.

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[daBear]

I also have one and I luv it. It is a joy to shoot and one strong piece of equipment. It had its growing pains, the most noticable being the trigger pull when new. As mentioned earlier, it has a long DA pull and it was a chore to pull, but it will lighten up with use. I worked the trigger release many times and its now easy and fairly crisp. As for 3in groups at 50yds, I have yet to see that but I applaud anybody who can do that with any gun. I am sure there are those who can do it but all I am saying is thats a pretty fine bit of shootin' in any case. Its compact, easy to grip being a single stack, and accurate as the person behind it. I chose to add fiber optic sights and am very pleased with the results. It eats anything I have fed it to date.
I would have no problem reccommending it to anybody looking for a polymer frame 45, but you need to be aware that it does have a break in period for the trigger.
Cheers
dB

Oh TT, I have no idea as to why that piece was protruding as it should be flush if not slightly recessed to the frame.

 

[John Sukey]

Have a P345 and a P97. No complaints, no problems. They may not be as pretty as some others, but THEY WORK. I use either one as a concealed carry gun. Nice tight little groups are the result of practice, and most two legged targets are wider than three inches.

 

[twoguntim]

The p345 is the only Ruger auto I would buy (excluding .22). It is nice to hold and shoot. I can't stand the P89 etc... The only advantage I can see is that you can beat someone to death or throw it should you run out of ammo.

 

[Brian James]

Perhaps I'm looking for a great gun at a bargin price, but I am quite capable shooting fantastic groups. I just don't want to be limited by my gun.

I really passion is shooting International Bulls-eye and for me I'm looking for an inexpensive 45 to have some fun with, shoot NRA stuff, maybe even IPSC if my heart desires.

All I want is a gun that can group well - I suspect a 1911 is the way to go, but I'd like to be different if I can. I know EFK barrels used to may a bull barrel in 45 for the Ruger P-Series but they no longer do.

If anyone has any additional insight please let me know

 

[daBear]

The gun is only as good as the person holding it. If you can produce the groups you say, the gun will not disappoint you. Its as accurate as the person behind and what its being fed. I have not had a problem with SWC's or any type of ammo I have fed it. Although I have found that if shooting factory loads, they do tend to vary in powder charge on occasion as you can tell by simply listening to the charge and the felt recoil. For <$550NIB (KP) its pretty tough to beat but maybe you should try one out befopre u decide. Its you shooting it not somebody else's opinion.
dB

 

[Brian James]

Dabear,

I agree the shooter has a lot to do with how accurate a gun can produce a grouping.


My concern is best illustrated by the following example:

A brand new basic stock Springfield M1911A1 at $550 will clearly not be accurate enough for bullseye shooting. You can expect as large as 10" groups at 50 yds., meaning that a perfectly aimed and destined "X" might end up a mere seven! - http://www.bullseyepistol.com/equipmnt.htm

 

[targettarget]

I'd be thrilled if I could hit something with groupings 10" wide at 50 yards. Right now, I'm at about 4 foot groupings at 30 yards with my SIG, never mind the 345.

I'm NOT joking either.

 

[daBear]

Well, you may want to look at something that was specifically designed for that discipline. Although the P345 is a great shooter and plenty accurate for most uses, it was designed as Rugers answer to large caliber CCW market demand. To expect it to perform as a Bullseye shooter may be a bit of a reach. If somebody on here is a Bullseye shooter and has one, let them speak to this. Other than that, if u have the opportunity to try one first, do so and put your mind at ease.
Cheers
dB

 

[NAA]

In the very early 90's I had one of the first Ruer P90's that came into Canada. Thought I'd try one out as I was already long shooting the .45ACP on the 1911 platform. What a disappointment! Turned out to be such a jamma-matic that I took it back to the dealer and traded it for a surplus GI 1911. Soured me off Ruger centerfire pistols... Anyway, would like to shoot one of the new Ruger .45 offerings just to see if there's been any improvement...

 

[ghostie]

3" groups at 50 yards is not really going to happen with anything short of a specialized target pistol, specialized ammo and an extremely good shooter.

This black circle is three inches across. Each ring is only half an inch out from the centre (or the previous ring). Inch and a half radius, three inches across. It's a lot smaller in reality than it sounds. This was shot with a SIG P229R 9mm at 15 yards. This is good shooting. At this distance, the 3 inch circle will appear as about the size of the space between the rear sight notches on your gun - or smaller. The front sight will more than cover the centre part of the target. In fact, if your eyes (and the distance you hold the gun from your eyes) are anything like mine, the front sight will basically cover the entire 3 inch circle - even at 10 yards. Everybody is a little different.

The best I have shot with my SIG is five shots into 7/8 (0.875) of an inch at 10 yards (below). That is 3 bullet holes touching/overlapping, and 2 more touching overlapping right beside the other hole. Every shot is falling "underneath" the front sight of the gun on the same point of aim. I don't think you can really do any better than that unless you use funky specialized guns. This was shot with the sights lined up right across the middle of the small circle (which is just under 2 inches across). The point of aim should be a little higher with these sights at that distance I guess. Awesome gun though. I would say if you can do this with a Ruger in .45ACP (or pretty much any gun) at this distance you are doing some great shooting. At 50 yards, a 3 inch circle would look like a tiny little black dot (or nothing, if you were using these white pieces of paper with black lines on them).

This is 10 shots into around an inch and a half with the same SIG. This was at 10 yards. This is damn good shooting in my book. 10 yards/30 feet. 7 yards/21 feet. That is what these guns are made for. If you want to put together groups at 50 yards with .45ACP, I would say get a pistol calibre carbine.