Question on Ruger's American Pistol

[Slater]

For those familiar with Ruger handguns, is the American Pistol a completely new design or just an evolution of their earlier semiautos?

 

[JTQ]

I would say it is an evolution since just about all new designs are an evolution of some sort.

To me, the RAP advantage over the SR series is it got rid of the thumb safety (I'm a 1911 guy and like and use the thumb safety on a 1911, but it was too small and placed oddly on the SR), and also got rid of the odd loaded chamber indicator used on the SR guns.

Certainly there are other changes, but those were the two that seemed to answer complaints from most when discussing the SR series guns.

 

[JeeperCreeper]

I have never taken one apart, but I would say it is a lot more intense of a design than just a "SR9 2.0". Owning a few SR series and have fired an AMerican pistol, I'd say they handle very differently. Triggers, grips, sights, and disassembly all are very different.

It might borrow the basics from striker plastic pistols of today, but it has a removable chassis and fire control group similar to the SIG P320. I don't know if it is swappable like the SIG, but it has it.

 

[Cannibul]

The RAP is available with a thumb safety.

 

[JTQ]

The RAP is available with a thumb safety.

Yes it is, but the SR is not available without the thumb safety.

 

[MAKster]

The Ruger American pistol has a removable chassis. Other than that they are both polymer, striker fired, recoil operated, Browning tilting barrel pistols.

 

[Slater]

I remember reading somewhere that Ruger designed this with an eye towards the Army's Modular Handgun program (ultimately awarded to SIG). Any truth to that or just more scuttlebutt?