Picked up a P345 yesterday

[Nakanokalronin]

Picked up a P345 yesterday and will be shooting it sometime this week. This gun was in the used section but after taking it apart and looking it over, it must of had a mag or two put through it at the most.

It came with the original box, two mags, lock and all the paperwork for $350 before tax. The mags have the metal follower and when I took them apart they were very clean with no scratches on the followers or the mag bodies. While I was at my LGS, they had a box of used mags marked "Ruger" and from what I could see, there seemed to be quite a few single stack mags in there. Well sure enough, 2 P345 mags and about 10 P90 mags all for $15 each. Usually these mags are $30-$40 each online brand new and since I was going to change the guts anyhow, it was a heck of a deal.

I bought 2 P345 mags and one P90 mag for now since I had no other funds with me but rest assured, I'm going to buy every single one in that box. Again when I got home, I took apart the 5 magazines and replaced the internals with 5 sets of Wilson Combat ETM followers and springs. Every mag is now 7rds but those "L" shaped followers had to go.

The reason Ruger went from the P90 7rd plastic follower to a metal "L" shaped follower was to increase the capacity to 8. Reports of problems with these metal follower mags are common and mimic problems with 1911 mags using the same type of follower. After comparing the P345 mags to 8rd 1911 mags like the WC ETMs, the mag body is just not long enough to have 8rds and a non-tilt follower.

I then proceeded to take off the rear sight to remove the worthless mag disconnect which was a lot easier than I thought. The rear sight came off with a small hammer and delrin tipped punch. IMO, Magazine disconnects do more harm than good ,so now there's one less thing to worry about.

The thinner slide, thinner nicely checkered grip and slimmer controls are really the peak of the P-series pistols which seem to be transferred over into the SR series as well. The trigger pull is quite smooth and much shorter than the P90. Although I'd have this fully loaded with the safety off, the checkered decocker levers are much easier to move even though they're thinner, yet stay in place weather they are in the on or off position. The P345 is also a natural pointer. Without any readjustment, the sights come up perfectly aligned like they do with my 1911s with flat MSHs and Beretta 92s.

I still like the older P series pistols, but If you think Ruger P-series are bulky/blocky/heavy and you like the 45acp cartridge, I'd take a closer look at a P345 some day. It may just change your mind.

 

[loadedround]

I have a P345 that I purchased about 18 months ago. I fired 2 magazines through it when new and then proceeded to remove the magazine safety. Quite a difference in trigger pull in weight and smoothness now after firing several hundred rounds. I also purchased a Wolff trigger spring kit for my P345 and that also improved both the single and double action pulls even more so. Since then it's been my go to gun for HD...that's how much I like that pistol. BTW I just (a week ago) mounted a Sig CPL-1 laser sight on the accessory rail, but have not had the opportunity to try it out yet except to tease my dog. She loves to chase a flashlight on the floor.

 

[JDGray]

Nice guns, very accurate too! Another benifit of cleaning under the rear sight, is drop free mags.

 

[Nakanokalronin]

I think the P345 dosn't get as much recognition is because all of the other P-series before it either had fat and/or slippery grips. After putting wood checkered grips on my P89, it feels thinner and dosn't slip in the hand at all. The P345 dosn't even feel like a P series Ruger in the hand and I honestly wish more companies would put this type of checkering on their poly models.

 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

I also think the P345 gets passed over because it hard to justify the $500+ price tag when you can get a P95 for $300.

Your average Ruger buyer is looking for value and $500 is a bitter pill to swallow.

Good find on the used one.

 

[Nakanokalronin]

I also think the P345 gets passed over because it hard to justify the $500+ price tag when you can get a P95 for $300.

Your average Ruger buyer is looking for value and $500 is a bitter pill to swallow.

Good find on the used one.

I was hoping to find a used P345, but never thought I'd happen upon a mint one like I did. Guns like these will more than likely come up used when someone is looking for the newest poly gun out there.

I had a P95 and although it was reliable, the grip is far to slippery,it still has that overly chunky feel and it dosn't come in 45acp.

 

[JTQ]

Congratulations, that looks like a good pick up.

I've always been interested in the P345. It has a slim and comfortable grip. The thing that has always put me off is not the over done safety features, I can live with those, but what seems like cheap magazines. If my 1911 came with mags like those, I'd be off to the aftermarket for some quality mags. The problem is, Ruger mags are better than the aftermarket offerings. While they seem cheap, they must work since all three of the .45ACP P-Series Ruger's have/had good reliability reputations.

Nakanokalronin wrote,
I bought 2 P345 mags and one P90 mag for now since I had no other funds with me but rest assured, I'm going to buy every single one in that box. Again when I got home, I took apart the 5 magazines and replaced the internals with 5 sets of Wilson Combat ETM followers and springs. Every mag is now 7rds but those "L" shaped followers had to go.

The reason Ruger went from the P90 7rd plastic follower to a metal "L" shaped follower was to increase the capacity to 8. Reports of problems with these metal follower mags are common and mimic problems with 1911 mags using the same type of follower. After comparing the P345 mags to 8rd 1911 mags like the WC ETMs, the mag body is just not long enough to have 8rds and a non-tilt follower.

I'll be interested to know how your mod works. As you noted the ETM has a longer tube than the Ruger tube and I'll be interested in how the spring works long term in your Ruger magazine.

 

[Elmer]

If Ruger had made guns like the P345 back when agencies were adopting autos, they would be the most common gun in law enforcement today.

 

[Nakanokalronin]

I'll be interested to know how your mod works. As you noted the ETM has a longer tube than the Ruger tube and I'll be interested in how the spring works long term in your Ruger magazine.

I'll let you know if I encounter any problems but I just don't see it. I can almost fit a 8th round in the P345 mags with the ETM follower and spring but I'd have to really jam it in there which makes me think it's possible to modify the mag and/or spring for that 8th round. I'm just going to shoot the mags as they are now though and experiment later.

 

[Nakanokalronin]

I have a P345 that I purchased about 18 months ago. I fired 2 magazines through it when new and then proceeded to remove the magazine safety. Quite a difference in trigger pull in weight and smoothness now after firing several hundred rounds. I also purchased a Wolff trigger spring kit for my P345 and that also improved both the single and double action pulls even more so. Since then it's been my go to gun for HD...that's how much I like that pistol. BTW I just (a week ago) mounted a Sig CPL-1 laser sight on the accessory rail, but have not had the opportunity to try it out yet except to tease my dog. She loves to chase a flashlight on the floor.

If the P345 works out well, I'll have my TLR-1s attached to it for nightstand duty soon. I'm even bringing the TLR-1s with me to the range to see how it shoots with it on.

 

[JTQ]

The Devel follower, as used in the 8 round .45 ACP Ruger P-Series pistols, and in the Chip McCormick line of 1911 magazines, is mostly known for tipping forward and dinging aluminum 1911 frames.

When I started looking at the Ruger .45ACP P-Series pistols it struck me that they are all either aluminum or polymer framed pistols, and if there was going to be a problem, it would certainly surface in these pistols.

The Ruger guys reported here, and on other forums, they have had small dings in their frames, but they were only cosmetic and did not affect the function of the pistol. Additionally, the problem was limited to small dings and they did not increase in size or depth as the round count increased.

One advantage the Ruger pistols may have in this area is they all have their feed ramps on their barrels and they are all stainless steel, while most 1911's have their feed ramps on the frame and if they are aluminum frames they will get their feed ramp dinged.

 

[Fishslayer]

I still like the older P series pistols, but If you think Ruger P-series are bulky/blocky/heavy and you like the 45acp cartridge, I'd take a closer look at a P345 some day. It may just change your mind.

I have the KP90. I also ditched the Devil followers & stock springs & went with 7 round Wilson and older 7 round Ruger guts. The metal follower dings up the magwell. Ruger knows all about it but...

Got 2 mags with the (new) gun & ordered 2 more from (IIRC) Midway. All four were bad out of the box. I think they may have had The New Guy on the line assembling magazines with the springs upside down.

IMO the old metal frame P series were very underrated.

 

[Cornhusker77]

Congrats on a nice pistol
I got my Stainless version in a trade.
I gave him a Hi Point 995TS and he gave me the Ruger and $100
I've never regretted the trade.

 

[Double Vision]

Nice write-up.

My P-345 feels just right but I have never given it a proper chance to prove itself.
The only time I took it to the range was a bitter cold day, and either I or the gun did not shoot well. It was probably all me!

After reading this post, I vow to take it to the range next time out.

 

[Nakanokalronin]

I'll be going to the range tomorrow after work. Will update with a report.

 

[Certaindeaf]

Nice write up. Looks like a cool pistol.

 

[loneviking]

For $350! You stole it! I can't seem to find one for less than $400.

 

[jim243]

I had a P95 and although it was reliable, the grip is far to slippery,it still has that overly chunky feel and it dosn't come in 45acp

Yes it did, it was the P-97 dicontinued in 2004. And the grips were too thin and slippery, but a handyall fixes that.

Jim

 

[Nakanokalronin]

I don't care for the slip on grips unless absolutely necessary. The P345 needs nothing to be grippy.

I thought in the meantime, I'd post some pictures of my P89 and P345 side by side.

 

[easyg]

Congrats on the P345.
It's a great pistol.

The P345 dosn't even feel like a P series Ruger in the hand and I honestly wish more companies would put this type of checkering on their poly models.

Yep.
The P345 seems to be the "in between" pistol bridging the P series and the SR series.

 

[JTQ]

Another thread reminded me of this old Guns & Ammo video.

Encase the P345 in concrete, chip it out, and fire.

http://archives.gunsandammo.com/video/handguns/reviews/torture-tests/ruger-p345-pistol

 

[bdb benzino]

Awesome video!!

 

[Nakanokalronin]

Got back from the range and all went well. Before going, I switched out 2 of the mag internals for the original Ruger follower and springs, 2 mags with a Chip McCormick Shooting Star follower and spring and left one with the ETM follower and spring. All mags functioned perfectly so since the Chip McCormick and Ruger followers are identical, I'm going to upgrade the springs with the type in the CM mags and keep them all at 8 rounds.

Accuracy was pretty good. I brought one of my 1911s and 92A1 along as well. Like the P95 I used to have, the P89 I currently have and my Dad's P95, the P345 shot well with 100% reliability. I shot 150rds of Federal 230gr. ball and 50rds of PDX-1 230gr. HP.

One thing I've noticed about the P series Rugers is that they have a kind of "wobble" feel during recoil. When shooting my Berettas,1911s or other firearms, I get a tight back and forth recoil signature. With the P series, it's almost like you can feel the loose tolerances when firing. No big deal, but I thought I'd mention it.

I forgot to keep the targets at the beginning of the session since I throw them away after one is used up, otherwise the little space where I rest my gear is taken up. I did manage to keep the last target though. What your seeing below is 5 full 8rd magazines worth, shot rapid fire with no more than a second between each reload. I shot as fast as I could pull the trigger and was quite happy with the results. It's defiantly not a target gun and I can do better with my 1911s but considering it's an inexpensive DA/SA firearm, it's pretty darn good IMO.

ETA: Forgot to mention the target was at the 25 yard mark.

 

[Delford]

I got mine used for about $400 two years ago when new were selling between $450 - $500. Mine has the stainless slide which costs about $30 more than the black slide. I've shot something over 1000 rounds now and it has loosened up nicely and will shoot 185 gr, which initially it didn't like. I use 230 gr WWB ammo and am pleased with my accuracy. A friend of mine set up targets at different points and distances for me and I've hit twigs (.45 with it's large diameter helps) at 15 ft. and double tapped a small hole while quick firing and moving to four different targets. The piece of root at 20 yards was harder to hit. This was on a creek bank on a farm and the rise of the hill was a great backstop. I haven't done any trigger work or mag work but I like the way it handles. I have a High Noon Split Decision IWB holster for it. There have been some nice developments in .45 ACP pistols but I'll be keeping my P345.