P90, P97 or P345?

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I have the urge to buy one of these P series 45acp pistols. I have read about the differences between the three models, and think the P90 suites me best. Any reason to consider the others? I think my next choice would be the 97, and the 345 falling in last. Opinions?
 
P345 is far superior to the others IMHO. Thinner, less weight, more accurate, light rail...only problem is Ruger discontinued it. I had one and let it go when things got tight. Did have a a P90 years ago, worked 100% but felt like a brick.

Find a P345 used, should be less than $400, and keep it.
 
I have never handled a P345, but I have experience with both the P90 and P97. They are both solid guns that will feed any type of ammo I can stuff in the magazine. At least that has been my experience. Both are more accurate than I’m capable of shooting them.

Between those two, I might give a slight edge to the P90 simply because I can use after market grips. I did have a grip sleeve for the P97, but over time it stretched a little and I would have to keep readjusting when I was at the range, so I ended up removing it.

Without the rubber grip sleeve, the plastic grip will become slippery once your hands began to perspire. Other than that, I think you will be happy with either one assuming the price is right.

BTW, all three of those guns use the same magazine, so they have that in common as well.
 
P97 would be my preference. The P90 is solid and dependable. But big, and bulky. If that is not an issue then it is every bit the equal of the P97. The 345 is trimmer, but the mag disconnect is a poor design that can cause potential issues and a useless gun at the wrong time. I'd consider the 354 as a range use only gun. The P97 has most of the good features of the 345, but without the troublesome mag disconnect.

Truthfully, I'd really rather have the SR45 if it were going to be a Ruger 45.
 
I love my P90, it was my first 45acp and I don't think i will ever sell it. It is still my go to gun when I hit the trails or go scouting for elk. I have never had a problem with it. Is it bulky? Yes. Does it feel like a brick? Yes. Could you throw it at your enemy and reach the same knock down force as the very round it shoots? Yes. Its a "big" gun. Put a hogue aftermarket grip on it and you will have a dandy companion! Best of luck!
 
I owned a KP90 and sold it. A few months later, I bought another. Not too long ago, my wife shot mine and it suited her so well she bought one. We really like ours.

The P90 is not one of the new super whamadyne polymer framed wonder guns but it does two important things very, very well: it takes everything I can load for it (my cast, plated and jacketed) and it's very accurate. Not to mention soft shooting and quite pleasant for an afternoon at the range.

And of course it's built like a tank and all that.
 
I've owned my P90 for many years now. Bought it after trying a friends out and really liked the way it shot. In the hand the P90 feels a bit big but when comparing side by side to my Sig 220 its not really much bulkier and and has a DA trigger equal to the Sig which is really light and smooth at around 5 lbs. Its SA pull has small bit of creep to it but its 4lbs or less in pull.

If I have any complaint regarding the P90 it is the lack of a grooved or serrated hold area to operate the slide.

IMGP1621.jpg
 
I had a P97DC and I regret ever getting rid of it. It was by far the most accurate and reliable pistol I ever owned.


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Jumping in a little late but P345 is my first love :) After getting my CCL I looked at a lot of semi autos and lucked into a used P345 almost NIB. It still had the 4473 copy from the original owner in the box and I doubt it had more than two magazines fired thru it if any. It fits my hand and while there is recoil the muzzle comes down on target quickly. While double action is a challenge it's a pleasure to shoot and more accurate than I am.
 
After two trips to Ruger my P90 was an awesome tack driver, that was still unreliable. My P345 had the worst trigger I've ever used in DA. The first shot was always a throw away shot unless the hammer was pulled back first. The mags had to be replaced too. Only six rounds would go in. The P345 is rather fragile in the firing pin area. The manual says don't dryfire with the mag out. Ruger support for parts is gone on the P90, maybe the P97 now. All are good for collectable models and will probably still work for decades to come. I have not had a P97, but do have a P95. Due to the P95s rep I would buy a P97 in an instant. My CZ97 is keeping me happy now. I would say get the P345 since it is newly discontinued and is a good looking gun that wasn't in production very long. I'll bet new ones can still be found.
 
Between the three I would go with the P-345 as it feels the best in my hand and its overall design and construction seem more refined than the earlier models.
 
I figure this is about which model fits you and your needs the best.

I own two P97DCs and both are great pistols as others have already said.

I use these for CCW carry.

I was looking for a 345 myself but the sources around here dried up and I like to buy guns seen first hand.

The P90 is a tack driver.

Any of these will make a excellent choice.
 
Had to choose between a KP90 & P345. Got to fondle them both. Didn't care for the polymer frame or the thin levers. Didn't like the idea of a mag disco. The firing pin block protects the user by destroying the firing pin.

For me it was no contest. P90. I haven't been disappointed. Good luck finding one.
 
Well... This isnt what I started out to obtain, but I watched several of the P series 45acp pistols, at excellent prices, get swept out from under me because I couldnt get there quickly enough. The money I had was burning a hole in my pocket, and since it has a hammer, was in the caliber I wanted, and I didnt have a real 1911...

Picture001Small_zps91d362a9.jpg
 
Well if that SR1911 was in the mix of choice, it would definitely be the winner.
After that, the P90. Good choice.
 
P345

I have a P345, which though not perfect, does run with the high end 1911's. I've done extensive work to it.
Magna-Port, Hi-Viz sights, Wolf reduced hammer spring, Wolf + 5% magazine springs, Wolf 15lb Recoil spring, Removed Magazine disconnect, Removed from grip checkering and replaced with Safety Tread Material, Added tread material under trigger guard, polished ramp, chamber, breach face. Even through it's a lot of work, any 1911 would have been more with a lot of expense.
 
P345 is far superior to the others IMHO. Thinner, less weight, more accurate,
Click to expand...

More accurate?

33n7w3r.jpg

I consider the KP90DC the BEST center fire pistol Ruger has ever built. It's also quite concealable and only weighs 33 ounces unloaded weight. Unloaded, it feels sorta top heavy owing to the very light aluminum frame. But, it started development as a 10mm and morphed to a .45 when the .40 sorta sidelined the popularity of the 10. This thing is strong as an ox. I've won quite a few shoots with it, fired an untold round count through it in 21 years of ownership, and it's still a tack driver. I wouldn't trade it for 10 P345s, personally. It don't have a magazine disconnect, another great feature. :D

I do think the OP's order of desirability is correct. But, it's all opinion here. :D
 
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