Bought a Ruger American 45 + Range Report

[corton93]

Stopped by my LGS on the way to the range yesterday to pick up some more ammo. Ended up walking out with a new Ruger American in 45. I know this gun has been getting some negative publicity from the bigger YouTube channels since it's release, but hey, coming out with a duty size pistol in today's market is going to be a little challenging due to all the stiff competition.

I ran the gun straight out of the case just as it came (dang near bone dry), no clean-and-lube first.

I ran 200 rounds of PMC Bronze 230g fmj's, 200 WWB 185g fmj's, 200 TulAmmo 230g steel case fmj's, 50 Hornady 185g XTP's and 50 Federal 230g HST's.

It digested everything I fed it perfectly and without complaint. 700 rounds total (with no lube) not one single malfunction of any kind. The empty brass (and steel) piled up behind and to the right where they should. Trigger is Glock like, just a little watered down. Tactile reset, but it's pretty much all the way forward. Recoil in the 31.5oz Ruger wasn't really any different from my full size M&P 9mm. It was shooting an 1" to 1.5" low-left at 15 yards but after drifting the sight (of which both front and rear are dove tailed) everything straightened out to POA.

My only complaint is the same as many others. The butt-end of the frame is very squared off, not sharp, but very square. That high and tight thumbs forward grip we all love still works, but your thumb knuckle on your primary hand takes a beating. It's not like blatantly painful, but after 700 rounds you definitely feel it.

All-in-all I love the gun. The fit and finish is top notch. The slide and all the internals are coated for increased wear resistance. And the slide rails, although not one solid piece, are hella chunky (think H&K VP + 50%). Am I going to go sell my Glock 21 sf? No. But for the 439.99 plus tax I paid for it, worth every penny.

 

[1KPerDay]

I don't get the ergos. I saw the youtube stuff and thought maybe they were blowing it out of proportion. Then I held one, both the 9 and the 45. My thumb was actually in pain just holding it thumbs forward in the store. If you lock your shooting thumb down like (few) people do anymore, it may be doable. But I really can't see why they would make a gun that actually is painful to HOLD let alone shoot.

I also don't see the reason for this pistol... the SR series already exists and is better IMO. They should have just done a "pro" version with no safety.

 

[Fiv3r]

I've been kicking around the idea of snagging one of these the next time I find one at that's not at a ridiculous price. I'm down a full size .45, so I've kind of been going back and forth whether I want to go with something brand new like the American or something like the SIG P320.

Generally, I don't like bladed triggers. However, I know the Ruger is going to be a stout and durable pistol. Ergonomics generally don't bother me that much, honestly. I have a few guns that I prefer how they feel in hand, but I can get used to pretty much anything.

 

[Bobson]

I have a few guns that I prefer how they feel in hand, but I can get used to pretty much anything.

I think the issue for many in this category will be, why bother? Even if you can get used to anything, if you've already got other handguns you prefer, why waste your time getting used to something else?

 

[JeeperCreeper]

I've played with some and almost bought one, and overall I like it. I think the square grip is an issue that needs fixed, and most likely will, but it doesn't affect everyone.

But I believe the hate for the gun is the usual internet "group think". MAC on youtube gave it a negative review, and everyone ran with it was "this guns is garbage, let's post about it and make comments even though we never held one". Same thing happened with Canik and the decocker after YankeeMarshall ripped it apart. Granted, that is a stronger case. Same thing with the SIG P250 being inaccurate, AR15s always jamming, and Glock's will kaboom.

Glad you like it, maybe I'll get one when the American Part Deux comes out

 

[bang_bang]

I can get a brand new Glock for not much more than the American. I'm a Ruger fan and hope they expand the American in the future with more calibers and size options. No need at this point for a plank-gripped, full-sized duty when my G23 can do it better from a smaller package.

 

[stchman]

I too own a RAP in 45 and think it is a really good pistol. No dumb thumb safety, no magazine disconnect, no loaded chamber indicator, just point and shoot.

I did give mine a quick cleaning and lubing after I bought it and I have put probably 200 rounds through it with no malfunctions. I did have one failure to go into battery, but the round was a reload that the case had bulged from seating the bullet in to far, so I am not counting that one. As far as getting my knuckles beat up, that didn't happen to me. I found the pistol to be a smooth shooting auto. I paid $460 shipped to my FFL.


The only complaints I can give the pistol are:

The fire control chassis is a PITA to put back in, and the trigger spring needs to be put in its proper place before the chassis goes back in.

Magazines are too expensive, I bought two additional mags and it set me back $90 with shipping.

10 rounds in the 45ACP configuration is too pedestrian, Ruger should have made the mag hold 13-14 rounds.

These are minor complaints, I fully expect the RAP to run as advertised for years to come with no issues.

 

[Hangingrock]

But I believe the hate for the gun is the usual internet "group think". MAC on YouTube gave it a negative review, and everyone ran with it was "this guns is garbage, let's post about it and make comments even though we never held one".

There is a lot of truth to that statement. I have an example Ruger American Pistol in 9mm. I also have a Glock G17 Gen3 and a S&W MP9 to compare the Ruger to . I am not a "Ruger Person" but the RAP impressed me favorably in a range session firing 400 rounds of NATO-Spec, Speer LE +P 124Gr GDHP, Federal LE +P 147Gr HST & Remington 147Gr BJHP. There were no malfunctions, acceptable accuracy, and no physical discomfort.

 

[JR47]

I, as well, own a RAP in .45 ACP. This past Sunday, after cleaning and lubing the pistol, I ran an assortment of 300 rounds through it. They included 230 FMJ steel case from Federal, Remington 185 gr +P JHP, Sellier & Bellot 230 gr FMJ, Federal HST, Hornady 230 gr XTP JHP, and a box of my dwindling cache of Speer 200 gr JHP, the old Flying Ash-cans.

No failures of any sort. Shot at both 15 and 20 yards, and everything was inside 3". This on a breezy day in a dusty environment. Bad enough that my vision got blurry a couple of times.

I have large hands. I had switched to the large back-strap. In 300 rounds in under an hour I experienced no discomfort. None.

Ruger, in it's Manual does NOT advise routine disassembly past basic field stripping.

The SR series isn't modular under the proposed military testing definition. The RAP is. Even if they never enter the tests, the modular concept is going to become a condition for LEO and even some Security proposals. While that may not bother civilian consumers, it is a consideration for the manufacturer. Ask Glock.

10 round mags accommodate the standard number of rounds of many .45 semis today. It also enables the gun to be more compact. I own an FNP45. It holds 15 rounds (14 + 1), and is physically larger and heavier. I believe that might have been a consideration.

I like the gun, and will, probably pick up a 9mm version.

My LGS has BOTH versions priced at $434.00 ($464.38 after tax). I also just bought two spare mags from them, special orders, for $31,00 each. With tax, that came to $66.34 for the pair.

 

[1KPerDay]

I have large hands. I has switched to the large back-strap. In 300 rounds in under an hour I experienced no discomfort. None.

thanks for your first-hand report. do you shoot thumbs-forward?

The SR series isn't modular under the proposed military testing definition. The RAP is. Even if they never enter the tests, the modular concept is going to become a condition for LEO and even some Security proposals. While that may not bother civilian consumers, it is a consideration for the manufacturer. Ask Glock.

What is the proposed military testing definition of modular? How does the RAP conform to it?

 

[JR47]

Not sure what "thumbs forward" means today. I shoot a handgun in the method approved by both Gunsite and Thunder Ranch. My only caveat is that I'm left-handed. OK, I looked it up. Having large hands, I have a grip quite similar to the illustration, but not exactly like it. Nothing on the gun hurts my hand while I'm shooting, and I hit what I'm aiming at. Even in rapid fire.

The military requirement specifies that the frames be both full-size and compact. Note that, like the Sig, Rugers chassis of fire control parts is "the gun". You can remove the fire control group easily. Having a smaller frame available, it should fit into a compact size. That would allow a single "gun" to fit multiple roles quickly, reducing extra inventory, and costs.

 

[1KPerDay]

Cool, thanks.