Dumb Ruger P345 mag safety/disconnect removal question

[TennJed]

Ok I have what is probably a dumb question. I picked up a used p345 today. My understanding is the P345 has a mag safety/disconnect. Does that mean the trigger will not pull back and drop the hammer when the magazine is not in?

I ask because the gun seems to fire (dry firing with snap cap) even when the mag is not in. The hammer comes back and falls when no mag is in.

I personally would rather not have a mag safety and if this one has been removed properly then great. I am worried that if it has been altered by someone other than me that it might not have been done properly.

So is this normal for a stock P345? If not how do you remove it? I have never removed one on any of my guns? Any chance the gun could have been messed up? Anything I need to look for to make sure it was done right?

 

[JDGray]

The pistol will dryfire without a mag, but the firing pin block plunger will be stopping the firing pin, causing a burr to form. Removing the rear sight, and pulling out the mag safety plunger and spring is the only way to disable. Look at the bottom of your slide, to see if there is an empty hole where the plunger used to be, if so your good to go!

 

[JTQ]

I ask because the gun seems to fire (dry firing with snap cap) even when the mag is not in. The hammer comes back and falls when no mag is in.

I'm pretty sure the warning in the owner's manual says not to dry fire without a magazine inserted. Otherwise you'll get damage as mentioned by JDGray

 

[jmr40]

What you are doing will damage the gun. You probably already have. It only takes a few dry fires with no mag in the gun to damage it. Unlike other guns with mag safeties the hammer simply won't drop with no mag in the gun. On the Ruger the hammer will fall, but it is hitting a firing pin block that is covering the firing pin. Having the hammer do this several times will damage this part. When this becomes damaged it must be replaced at the factory. Once damaged you will get falures to fire quite often.

I bought one of 1st 345's with no warning in the owners manual. It is something Ruger never anticipated and hundreds of guns were being returned. Mine was dry fired only a handful of times before problems started. Once Ruger detected the flaw they started putting warnings in the owners manual.

I'd not trust this gun for SD right now. I'd return it to Ruger and tell them it had been dry fired with no mag in place and you are getting failures to fire. Even if you're not getting them now, you will. They will repair it. When it comes back it will be a good gun for you as long as you NEVER dry fire it with no mag in place. If you want to remove the disconnect once returned that is up to you.

 

[TennJed]

Ouch, thanks for the info guys. I got it used with no manual (still should have downloaded one)

I only did it 3-4 times, but it sounds like it could be a problem. Is this something that I could buy the parts and have a local gunsmith do or does it have to go back to Ruger? I doubt Ruger would pay for shipping and my understanding is, it isn't cheap to ship a gun

 

[TennJed]

I want to add that one reason i did it was I watched Ruger's offical video on disamblely and reassembly and he dry fires it al least 3 times with out the mag.

While I was watching the video, it made me think of how hte magazing safety works and prompted me to ask this question.

If it is to the point where it can cause problems with just a few dryfires then you would think they wouldn't do it on their offical video.

Watch toward the end where he checks to make sure everything is working properly and he dry fires it with no mag

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gM9j3XW3bBc

[YouTube]gM9j3XW3bBc[/YouTube]

 

[winddummy]

P345 Magazine disconnect

You can remove the magazine disconnect with out any adverse effects. Just remove the rear sight slowly and be prepared for possible springs to jump out. The disconnect are the parts up front (muzzle). If you already have a problem and want to keep the disconnect, remove the plunger and smooth the ruff edge. I've removed mind and have used the pistol in several shoots with out any problems. Removing it will not affect trigger pull.

 

[TennJed]

I may eventually remove it, but at this point I am more worried about the potential damage I may have done.

Do most here think I need to send it back to Ruger to be safe? How much dry firing would "usually" cause the issues"

 

[Dogguy]

Just take it to the range and shoot it. If it goes "click" instead of "bang", you have a problem. If it goes "bang", make it go "bang" a good bit more times to be sure. As posted above, it's a simple task to remove the parts that might cause the problem. I have poor eyesight, ten thumbs and terrible hand/eye coordination and I removed it from mine. Other than the poorly designed mag disconnect, it's a nice pistol.

 

[TennJed]

Just take it to the range and shoot it. If it goes "click" instead of "bang", you have a problem. If it goes "bang", make it go "bang" a good bit more times to be sure. As posted above, it's a simple task to remove the parts that might cause the problem. I have poor eyesight, ten thumbs and terrible hand/eye coordination and I removed it from mine. Other than the poorly designed mag disconnect, it's a nice pistol.

I will take it to the range, it will just be Sunday at the earliest