Mixed Loads in Ruger P345?

[CommanderCrusty]

Tell me if this makes sense to you.

I like TDA pistols, so I recently picked up a NEW/OLD STOCK Ruger P345. It worked fine, but kicked a lot for me and felt kind of clunky. So, I switched to a lighter 19 pound hammer spring and a heavier 17 pound recoil spring. The pistol is now much more pleasant to shoot. The double action first shot now feels like a Beretta PX4 Storm and recoil is only a little more than a full-size steel .45. Gun functioned perfectly with 50 rounds each of 230 ball and 185 flat point.

But ...

... Just now, I can't afford to run 200-300 rounds of hollow points through the pistol. Instead, I loaded the chamber with ONE 230 grain HP followed up by FMJ ball in the first and second magazines. Reasonable? Unreasonable.

Also, since almost all of my pistols are DAO, I've been carrying this one with the safety off, hammer down but ready to fire. I feel like I'm losing a layer of protection, but the Ruger P345 has SUCH low profile safety levers that I cannot reliably hit them after the draw. Comments? Suggestions?

I have been using a a Remora holster and it is very comfortable and surprisingly secure.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Also, since almost all of my pistols are DAO, I've been carrying this one with the safety off, hammer down but ready to fire. I feel like I'm losing a layer of protection, but the Ruger P345 has SUCH low profile safety levers that I cannot reliably hit them after the draw.

I would argue that it is more dangerous to not be able to get the gun into action when you need it. If the design of the safety levers is preventing this, I'd continue carrying with the safeties off and just using them to decock the pistol, which is something you don't usually need to do in a hurry. The gun won't be any less safe. It still has an internal firing pin block safety mechanism should you drop it or something.

 

[kcofohio]

I'd advise caution on the recoil spring change.

Many polymer frame pistols have embedded metal slide rails, or at least metal inserts embedded in the frame's slide rails to provide additional reinforcement against the slide and barrel recoil forces. This is not the case for the P345, whose slide rails are simply part of the molded polymer frame. One might think that all-polymer slide rails would not be adequate, particularly for a .45 caliber pistol. But that's not the case for the P345.

This is because slide and barrel recoil forces are transferred directly to the bulk of the frame through Ruger's unique "camblock" system. In this system the guide rod is fixed to a cam-ramped lug on its rear end, which replaces the traditional "falling block" found in most semi-auto's. The recoiling barrel engages the cam-ramp lug directly, which stops its rearward motion. The cam-ramp lug is attached to the frame via the slide lock lever pin, which absorbs the recoil energy and transfers it directly into the thickest portion of the upper frame, relieving stresses that would otherwise be transferred to the slide rails. A secondary captive spring on the recoil guide rod buffers the slide recoil energy as well.

http://www.genitron.com/Handgun-Review/3/Ruger-P345-Pistol

Any recoil spring change may affect the integrity of the P345 frame.

 

[JTQ]

I suspect most carry Traditional Double Action (TDA) guns like the Ruger p345 with the safety off. Most use the lever simply as a decocker and then switch it off, just as you do. I know that's how I use them.

I also think most will carry their guns with hollow point ammo and not alternate rounds. They will use FMJ for training and carry hollow point ammo after testing it sufficiently in their gun to ensure it works properly. Some may recommend a couple hundred rounds of their preferred hollow point ammo, but I think if your gun works reliably with a box or two of a particular ammo, I think it would be safe to say it works in your gun.

 

[jmr40]

I'd put the original springs back in it, buy some HP ammo I like and call it good. The idea of needing 200 rounds of HP ammo to prove reliability made some sense with 1911's 30 years ago. It's been a long time since I've seen a gun that would shoot FMJ and not HP. That Ruger in factory form will likely feed anything. I'd put one magazine of FMJ through each magazine to test the mags them use it.

 

[JDGray]

Ruger got it right with the light recoil spring coupled with the heavy damper spring. It allows for easy slide racking, and a great shooting pistol. Mine recoiled less then an all steel fullsize 1911!

 

[CommanderCrusty]

The original spring is not an option.

I have some problems with my hands. I CAN manipulate the slide with the firmer spring, but can NOT handle the recoil with the factory spring. Last time I fired 50 rounds of ball with the stock spring, my hand hurt for a week. With the new spring, 100 rounds was barely a problem. Accuracy and control were fine.

NO I CAN'T strengthen my hands--it's genetic! For me, the recoil pulse is clearly less with my steel 1911. But remember that my hands don't work right.