Ruger P345 why is it not more popular
- Thread starter camsdaddy
- Start date
- Status
I have always liked the way the gun looks. There was some initial issues when they first came out - 1 of which was when people would try to dry fire the gun with the installed lock in the "locked" position. Apparently it would damage the hammer strut, if I remember correctly.
But yea, many people don't go wild about Ruger semi autos. And, the gun also is just an 8 rounder. But, I've been tempted to get one several times over the years.
But yea, many people don't go wild about Ruger semi autos. And, the gun also is just an 8 rounder. But, I've been tempted to get one several times over the years.
Cornhusker77
Member
- Joined
- Dec 20, 2008
- Messages
- 635
I've got one, and it's a really good gun.
Heck, even I can hit with it.
It is also pretty forgiving on ammo.
I had some ammo my dad loaded 15-20 years ago, just lead bullets, no jackets, and 50 rounds went through without a problem.
Heck, even I can hit with it.
It is also pretty forgiving on ammo.
I had some ammo my dad loaded 15-20 years ago, just lead bullets, no jackets, and 50 rounds went through without a problem.
gb6491
Member
Yes, improper dry firing can cause problems. While I've not heard of damaging the strut, I do know there is an issue with the magazine disconnect. The portion of it that is in the slide can be damaged if the P345 is dry fired without a magazine in place. The damage results in a "click, no bang" situation.
Regards,
Greg
yhtomit
Member
Mine's been reliable (in light / coddled use -- .45's expensive!), and it's nicely shaped. For some reason it doesn't excite me as much to shoot as some other guns do, but I definitely like it. Ruger has a way of making autos that look like the adult version of Fischer-Price
timothy
timothy
mdThanatos
Member
I have a buddy that owns one, it is reliable, accurate, eats anything that has been fed to it. I tried it out and while it felt fine in my hand I did not like the way it shot. I have an XD45 and for some strange reason the recoil seemed snappier in the P345 than with mine, I am guessing it has to do with the overall fit in my hands. For me that's the deal breaker, nothing with the function of the gun but the way it shoots in my hand is why I don't care for it.
JTQ
Member
I also think it seems like a nice pistol. I think some of the problem was within the same Ruger family resided the P90 (and the P97) that had/has an extremely loyal fan base. Many Ruger fans were so in love with their P90's they stayed away from the new model.
I've always been turned off by the magazines. They use the Devel follower (which I generally try to avoid with my 1911) and seem like a low end 1911 mag. The Ruger mag is better than the after market mags, so that kind of limits your options.
I will eventually get over that though and pick one up. I think they feel great in the hand, are light and handy, and I like the barrel lock up design. It seems like a very good design, and I'm kind of surprised more pistols don't use it. I think the P95 is the only other pistol currently using it.
Hopefully, I'll get around to buying one before they disappear from the line-up like the P90 (and P97) did.
SR45 anybody?
I've always been turned off by the magazines. They use the Devel follower (which I generally try to avoid with my 1911) and seem like a low end 1911 mag. The Ruger mag is better than the after market mags, so that kind of limits your options.
I will eventually get over that though and pick one up. I think they feel great in the hand, are light and handy, and I like the barrel lock up design. It seems like a very good design, and I'm kind of surprised more pistols don't use it. I think the P95 is the only other pistol currently using it.
Hopefully, I'll get around to buying one before they disappear from the line-up like the P90 (and P97) did.
SR45 anybody?
GettinOld
Member
I bought one P345 and liked it so much that I bought another (.."two is one, etc.") It takes a while to learn the transition from the first DA shot to subsequent SA shots, but it comes with practice. For me, this is the perfect carry gun. It's the right size, right weight and nicely melted edges. Absolutely reliable and I shoot it as well as any other auto that I've owned.
CZ57
member
The locking system that JTQ referred to is one of the most underrated features of the P-345. Comparable to the H&K USP recoil reduction system in its ability to handle loads up to and including +P. I have fired a good deal of +P through mine and found it pretty tame. Accuracy is also better than it should be for a $425 .45 ACP.
I gave it a long hard look but decided I didn't like the huge loaded chamber indicator or the mag safety. I'm a big Ruger fan and I love the way the P345 looks, just couldn't get over those things after not liking them at all on my Mark III.
Plus in the polymer framed .45 market there are a lot of attractive options.
Plus in the polymer framed .45 market there are a lot of attractive options.
nazshooter
Member
- Joined
- May 7, 2011
- Messages
- 123
If you want a polymer framed .45 with a hammer fired da/sa trigger I can't think of a better choice, certainly not in this price range. I think I paid about $300-$350 for mine (used but no visible wear) a few years ago. Considering this gun will probably outlast me I think that's a pretty good deal. As for accuracy, I'm no expert but it seems to shoot where I point it.
nazshooter
Member
- Joined
- May 7, 2011
- Messages
- 123
SGW42 said:
What's the problem with those items? I mean it's not like the loaded chamber indicator gets in the way of the sights or anything and if it's going to exist at all it might as well be readily visible. Likewise, the mag safety doesn't seem to actually impact the reliability in any way so who cares?
What's the problem with those items? I mean it's not like the loaded chamber indicator gets in the way of the sights or anything and if it's going to exist at all it might as well be readily visible. Likewise, the mag safety doesn't seem to actually impact the reliability in any way so who cares?
sjdude
Member
When you consider that the Colt 1911 is now 100 years old, Ruger hasn't been in the .45 business all that long, and reputations take a while to establish themselves. Just my opinion. I own both a Colt 1911 and a Ruger P-345PR.
Sauer Grapes
Member
I shot one a couple months ago. I liked it! I'm not a fan of polymer 45s but the P345 is one I would consider if I was going to look for one.
Actually on this gun it does impact reliability a lot. Great gun otherwise, but I'd never own another one because of this feature.
I know the mag safety can be removed, but that opens up another potential legal nightmare if an accident ever happens.
As much as I like the gun otherwise, I've decided to purchase other designs without the potential problems.
wanderinwalker
Member
I've gotten to shoot a couple of P-345s, and they're nice, accurate pistols, both of which experienced a few hiccups (one was reloads, one was factory HydraShoks it wouldn't get through a magazine of). The triggers were typical of the DA/SA types I've ever tried; usable but not brag worthy.
Yes and yes! Though they're going to have to do something with the triggers. I got to try an SR-9 once and I love the ergonomics of the thing, especially for its 17-rd capacity, but the trigger was mediocre by my standards. And I shoot GLOCKs regularly, so I'm not really a gun snob!
Yes and yes! Though they're going to have to do something with the triggers. I got to try an SR-9 once and I love the ergonomics of the thing, especially for its 17-rd capacity, but the trigger was mediocre by my standards. And I shoot GLOCKs regularly, so I'm not really a gun snob!
Nushif
Member
This, very much so. I keep seeing them, keep fondling them and I keep contemplating them, but ultimately none have *ever* followed me home.
Zerodefect
member
Because it was made obsolete by the SR9 and SR40 which, IMHO, are far better Rugers.
HorseSoldier
Member
Put some rounds through one on the range once, and found it to be okay ergonomically and impressively accurate. Doesn't really fill any niche in my gun collection, but I'd feel effectively armed carrying one.
JTQ
Member
The mag disconnect safety only affects reliability if you don't follow the directions. If you do all your dry firing with an empty mag inserted, you will never have a problem.
It's like having to pull the trigger to disassemble the Glocks. Lots of folks don't like this because they think it's not safe. If you follow the directions there is nothing unsafe about it.
However, there are lots of pistols available, and you can certainly choose what you like.
JTQ
Member
Not until they make the SR45.
When you purchase a gun, even a new one, you have no idea who has dry fired the gun before you purchased it. Or whether or not they did it properly. It is perfectly safe to simply drop the magazine, check the chamber and dry fire to my hearts content with every other gun I own. It would be very easy for me at least, to do this without thinking with a 345.
I also know from experience that it only takes 1 or 2 dry fires without the mag in the gun to cause the gun to be unreliable. The owners manual in the first run of guns did not warn users about this. Frankly I don't think Ruger even knew of the potential problem until guns like mine started being returned. When mine was repaired and returned it came with a newer owners manual warning of the problem.
I'm not completely opposed to well designed mag safeties. Browning and S&W autos have had mag safeties for years. The difference is that those guns will not drop the hammer when the trigger is pulled with no magazine in the gun. This eliminates the possibility of damaging our gun. The Ruger will allow you to drop the hammer, and will damage the gun.
- Status
