Good Review Ruger P345

[MissouriCrowinMass]

I just bought a Ruger P345. My only .45ACP semi is a Sig P220 ST which I absolutely love. I shoot mostly Pin Shoots. The P220 is a fantastic pistol and I shoot it pretty well but this Ruger is flat out more accurate. I've shot 100 Win Ball Rounds and another 100 Reloads of 200 gr. LSWC ammo without a hitch. I can't believe how well it shoots.

Pluses are:

1. The thin grip fits my hand great and I have a big hand but not huge.

2. It's got a nice weight. Frankly, the recoil is less much than my .40 S&W M&P. The Sig ST weighs a ton so maybe recoil is an unfair comparison but it's definitely more pleasant to shoot than my Beretta 96 or M&P in .40.

3. The trigger is perfect in SA.

4. The mags are easy to load to full capacity without a gizmo.

5. Price

Negatives:

1. A little harder to field strip than the M&P, Beretta or Sig's but no big deal.

2. Some folks don't like the mag safety or decocker but for what I do they are not an issue. I tested them and they work.

I've only put 200 rounds down range but so far I really like this pistol. I especially like that I didn't have to do a trigger job on it out of the box like I had to with the Massachusetts M&P. Not that the M&P is a bad pistol but the Ruger is just plain fun to shoot. Value-wise compared to the cost of a new Sig - I can't see anybody going too wrong with a Ruger P345.

P.S. - Recently got back from a trip to Missouri. First visit in 51 years. The Current River was so pretty.....I don't plan to wait another 51 years to go back.

 

[Old School]

Absolutely my favorite auto to date. Best ergonomics of any auto for me - ever. I shoot it more accurately than any auto to date. Thin profile is excellent for CC. I love the decocker feature. Nice price for such an excellent piece

A few complaints: Field strip is a pain. Wish it was a decock only - not a fan of safeties on guns with decockers. Hammer spring is a monster - drawing the hammer nearly takes two hands. Not a fan of built in gun locks. Wish the decocker was a soft release like the Sig's.

Minor compaints aside, it is my goto peice. In the next few weeks I am gonna take it to the range for a direct comparison test against the new Ruger PX4.

 

[jmr40]

I like the p345 quite a bit myself. Just a word of caution that you may already be aware of. It is possible to dry fire the gun with no magazine in the gun. The firing pin block will prevent the gun from actually firing unless the mag is in the gun but the hammer will fall and damage the firing pin block. Once this happens you will get a lot of misfires.

I bought one of the first ones made and Ruger did not include a warning not to do this and a lot of them, mine included, had to be sent back to the factory. I don't think Ruger even knew this was possible until guns started being returned. Mine was repaired at no cost and was returned with a newer owners manual that included the warning. Ruger actually encourages dry firing, just make sure to insert an empty magazine first so you do not damage the gun.

It apparently only takes a few dry firings to cause the damage because mine gave problems almost immediatly. While I loved the feel and accuracy of the gun I never felt I could trust that particular gun and sold it. I would probably buy another but be very careful with the next one.

 

[MissouriCrowinMass]

JMR,

The Ruger Instructions Book included did warn against "DRY FIRING" without a mag inserted. I did Dry Fire the pistol without a Mag at home when I cleaned & lubed it prior to first shooting. No more than 3 or 4 times. My fault for not reading thru the directions first like I know you should do!

I agree that's a major "Negative" design feature. Too easy to mess up and wreck the pistol. I hope I did no damage and I won't forget and make that mistake again. If something so simple can damage the pistol......there should be BIG red letters on the box warning buyers about the design feature.

 

[Katana8869]

I love my P345. Best value I have ever found in a .45 auto-loader. I put yet another 100 rounds through mine last week and it just keeps getting better. I have been feeling pretty "old school" lately so my edc is my 3" Sp101, but even at that, I will not give up my P345. It is and will remain my #1 bedside pistol for things that go bump in the night.

It did somehow find it's way into my belt this past Saturday for the day.... (Don't tell my Sp! )

 

[rantingredneck]

I have two. Great pistols.

One is a regular CC pistol. The other is the bedside gun at night (Only railed gun I have and it wears a TLR-1).

 

[possum]

my ruger p345 is the most accurate handgun that i own and by far the least expensive handgun that i own. they are nice, and they fit the hand well, and i must agree that the sa trigger is sweet, and the da ain't that bad either.

 

[jlh26oo]

Wish it was a decock only - not a fan of safeties on guns with decockers.

Yeah, unfortunately they discontinued the decock only version. These are not too thick either: "The widest point on the weapon is across the ambidextrous safeties, where the gun measures a trim 1.154 inches. The slide thickness on the P345 measures barely over an inch, at 1.024 inches" from gunblast.

 

[Red Tornado]

Thanks for the review, Ruger's always seem well made.

OT, but, where were you on the current? I'm doing a three day float in a couple of weeks.
RT

 

[Guns and more]

Wow, I didn't know about the dry firing problem. Now I'll have to take it to the range to try it out. Mine has been a great shooter.

 

[MissouriCrowinMass]

Red Tornado,

We went on our inner-tube trip at the Landing in Van Buren, MO. I was at a Family Reunion. The Current River was high but stil crystal clear. You could see the fish on the bottom. I'm glad it was HIGH cause I'm a big guy and I really not hung up in one shallow part. I was like a beached whale 'till I got in deep water! It is a beautiful trip. Took about 3 hours or so. Wear good footwear. The rocks are tough to walk on.