Ruger RXM - An interesting response from Ruger regarding ammo and sight regulation.

[someguy2800]

So anyway, I wouldn't put too much stock in what Ruger uses to test fire. Shoot what you want to shoot and hold the sights where you want to hold. If it's shooting low order a shorter front sight and put it on, they are cheap and easy to replace.

 

[Show Me]

Ruger has always answered my phone questions quickly and politely.
I like the old gunsmith books from the 1800s that talk about bending fronts and filing top straps.
Must be quite a job now days as many as they make. Seems like sometimes a new firearm is a new project to be fine tuned.
Just this week I received another mini thirty just to send off for a custom workover. The rear sight has to be clear to the right to hit at 50. Lunch bell must have gone off while checking this one.
Best of luck.

 

[JohnKSa]

We used Koenig 110GR JHP with a Center Mass hold.

Using a rest and whatever ammo you choose, shoot careful groups at 3yds, 5yds, 10yds, 15yds and 25yds. Be sure to use the same type of targets and the same point of aim for all the groups.

Then come back with the results and explain how a response to how a pistol is sighted in that doesn't mention the range can possibly be useful.

 

[Pat Riot]

Using a rest and whatever ammo you choose, shoot careful groups at 3yds, 5yds, 10yds, 15yds and 25yds. Be sure to use the same type of targets and the same point of aim for all the groups.

Then come back with the results and explain how a response to how a pistol is sighted in that doesn't mention the range can possibly be useful.

In my second email I asked at what range they tested the sights. I haven’t received a response yet. Hoping to hear back today.

So anyway, I wouldn't put too much stock in what Ruger uses to test fire. Shoot what you want to shoot and hold the sights where you want to hold. If it's shooting low order a shorter front sight and put it on, they are cheap and easy to replace.

Yep.

My questions to Ruger are more out of curiosity. I thought it odd that standard velocity ammo was hitting where I thought it should. Also, I was a little concerned that maybe there was an issue with the gun itself.
I have been shooting fixing sight guns for years. I know the drill if adjustments are needed….


Install a red dot!

 

[PavelSJ]

I sent Ruger an email through their website the other day asking 2 simple questions. I did not ask about distance.
1. What bullet weight and velocity of 9mm ammo are the sights on the RXM regulated for?
2. Are your sights regulated for Center Hold or Combat hold?

Here is the answer I received today:
We used Koenig 110GR JHP with a Center Mass hold. We're happy to hear that you are enjoying your RXM!

Thank you for choosing Ruger!

Ruger Customer Service

I must admit that the response surprised me in that it wasn’t a “traditional” 9mm ammo in weight or velocity.
This explain my really low hits at 10 yards with my 147 grain 900fps ammo (6-8”) and low hits with my 115 grain 1150fps ammo (3”)

Koenig 110gr JHP has an advertised velocity of 1250 fps.

Koenig Defense

www.koenigshooting.com

I may have to try this ammo out and see his I like it. Probably Ruger’s reason for endorsing it. Mo’ money!

I think my ammo will hit the center of my targets at 10 yards with a combat hold. My RXM will be getting an RDS one day soon.

Stolen from a post here on THR:
View attachment 1254972

I don't think ordering Gucci-mo is going to help. I just tested my new pistol shooting 4 different loads ranging from 115gr to 147gr (1350fps to 935fps) shooting offhand at 10 yards. While I didn't bench or Ransom rest the gun I didn't see noticeable changes in bullet impact. I mixed loads in mags and reliability was 100%.
Instead of asking how the gun was tested you should have asked for shipping label.

 

[PavelSJ]

I bet if you took 20 brand new Ruger RXM's and shot them in a ransom rest you would find some shoot high, some shoot low, shome shoot right or left, and some shoot right on. I just expect I will need to drift or change the sights on every new pistol if I want them to shoot to a certain POA. If it only requires a windage drift I consider myself lucky. I have seen it before that swapping the barrels between two slides will change point of impact several inches. Recently I swapped the complete slides between one of my P80's and one of my PSA daggers and had to switch them right back because it changed point of impact on both of them by several inches at 15 yards.

No need to change sights, just have to buy products from company that has quality control department and turns out products with performance consistentency.

 

[Pat Riot]

I don't think ordering Gucci-mo is going to help. I just tested my new pistol shooting 4 different loads ranging from 115gr to 147gr (1350fps to 935fps) shooting offhand at 10 yards. While I didn't bench or Ransom rest the gun I didn't see noticeable changes in bullet impact. I mixed loads in mags and reliability was 100%.
Instead of asking how the gun was tested you should have asked for shipping label.

Nope. I have found a 124 grain load that shoots to point of aim. Tomorrow a new 115 grain load test.

 

[PavelSJ]

I am glad you found load that works. I would like to try Blaser 100gr fmj load, but no lgs carries it.

 

[someguy2800]

No need to change sights, just have to buy products from company that has quality control department and turns out products with performance consistentency.

Sure, just pay an extra $200 so you can save $20.

 

[Pat Riot]

Saturday 3-15-25 I sent Ruger Customer Service this question:
Which Koenig 9mm 115 grain ammo is used to regulate sights on the Ruger RXM, the 1150 FPS or the 1250 FPS velocity ammunition?

Thank You
Tom

Today, Tuesday 3-18-25 I received this answer:

Tom,
We use the Koenig competition 110GR JHP ammo 1150 FPS.

Thank you for choosing Ruger.

Ruger Customer Service


Hopefully this information might be beneficial to anyone that hand loads their ammo.

 

[PavelSJ]

I never thought bullet weight and velocity had significant bearing on poi at relatively short distances used in handgun shooting. I shot some 115gr, 124 gr and 147gr commercial loads with no significant changes on paper targets.

For example, in this case there are no target included or bullet weight specified. Was 180gr or 165gr load used



There is no projectile type or weight given. The gun was Alfa Proj 9x19mm revolver with 3" barrel.

 

[PavelSJ]

Sure, just pay an extra $200 so you can save $20.

Come on, the gun was shot twice into a bullet trap? to make sure it cycles. What we dealing in this topic probably boils down to customer being part of company QC team.

 

[someguy2800]

Come on, the gun was shot twice into a bullet trap? to make sure it cycles. What we dealing in this topic probably boils down to customer being part of company QC team.

That is pretty typical of pretty much any mass produced gun. I doubt there is any manufacturer putting their polymer frame pistols in a ransom rest and shooting them for groups or zeroing the sights before shipping them out. Over the 100 or so handguns I've owned there were pretty few that actually shot point of aim out of the box, so I really don't understand what your expectation here is for a $400 gun. Its luck of the draw with any mass produced firearm. You can complain about it or you can spend $20 on a new front sight and spend 10 minutes to put it on.

 

[trackskippy]

I seriously doubt they are shooting them to confirm a zero.

If you're lucky, they are mechanically zeroing the rear sights in the slide and if they are shooting the gun, its to verify function.

 

[Pat Riot]

I didn’t ask how they test fired the guns. At this point I really don’t care. I was wondering why some of my hand loads were hitting low. It may have been my fault (probably was), but out of curiosity I asked Ruger about what round they tested the RXM with. They answered.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I was wondering why some of my hand loads were hitting low.

I might have missed it before. How low are you hitting from your usual POI.

Also how tight a group is the barrel getting at 10 yards?

 

[Pat Riot]

I might have missed it before. How low are you hitting from your usual POI.

Also how tight a group is the barrel getting at 10 yards?

About 3-4 inches with my 115 grain load.

Same, about 3-4”

I am hoping to test some new loads tomorrow.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I am hoping to test some new loads tomorrow.

Consider going out to 15 yards and shooting off bench

 

[Pat Riot]

Consider going out to 15 yards and shooting off bench

I’ll do that and maybe 20 yards too.

 

[Pat Riot]

No shooting today. Range repairs going on. It’s 78 today. I guess they couldn’t resist letting a day like today get away from them. I wish I had known before driving all the way there.

 

[Pat Riot]

Consider going out to 15 yards and shooting off bench

I made up some new 9mm loads for testing the RXM that shot very well in my old Glock 34s.
115gr Hornady FMJ over 4.7gr of Winchester 244 powder. Hodgdon claims this load has a velocity of 1197 fps.
I fired it at a target at 20 yards rested on a tripod at a bench. It was chilly. 30℉


An example of my 15 round groups. They aren’t great, but I wasn’t trying for presentation groups.
I’d say I have a round that works well enough with the sights in the gun.

Group while wearing gloves


Group without gloves.


My best test will be some 124 grain loads and testing some SD ammo.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Looks close enough for government work.

Is this using the "Combat" sight picture?

In the first picture, are you 'walking" your shots in or are they drifting to the right?

 

[Pat Riot]

Looks close enough for government work.

Is this using the "Combat" sight picture?

In the first picture, are you 'walking" your shots in or are they drifting to the right?

Ah, I forgot to mention I was using a center hold. Top of the sights at the center of the diamond, as best as I could see it. The red diamond seems to blur out a bit for me when looking at it and my sights.

In the first target photo I think my gloves played a part in the my shots drifting. I wasn’t wearing them in the second target photo.
I discovered that with the knit gloves I was wearing that I really need to grip the gun tighter than usual to maintain a consistent grip. I also saw this with my Sig P229.
They’re nice gloves for shooting to keep my hands warm but they are not optimal for shooting. I have tet to find the right glove for shooting.