New to me Ruger P345

[Barry loyd]

Picked up this P345 Saturday. I’ve been wanting one since I shot dad’s older P series. This thing looks like it’s never been fired. Cosmoline packed everywhere.

 

[Cornhusker77]

I've had a couple of the P345s, and still have one.
Nice shooting guns.
My first one would eat anything, the one I have now is a little finicky, but shoots nice when I find something it likes.
You probably know this, but don't dry fire it with the mag out.

 

[kcofohio]

Congrats! Looks good? I have the same two tone. It feels good in the hands. It shoots everything so far.

Good call Cornhusker77, that never can be said too many times.

 

[Barry loyd]

I

I've had a couple of the P345s, and still have one.
Nice shooting guns.
My first one would eat anything, the one I have now is a little finicky, but shoots nice when I find something it likes.
You probably know this, but don't dry fire it with the mag out.

I was unaware of that. I assume it’s not good for it. I have mostly revolvers.

 

[Cornhusker77]

I

I was unaware of that. I assume it’s not good for it. I have mostly revolvers.

Something about the magazine safety, I don't remember just what, but I think it puts up a block in front of the firing pin, so dry firing without a mag inserted will damage the pistol

 

[gc70]

Very nice! You even found an early one without a rail.

 

[Mike J]

Cornhusker is correct. The magazine disconnect safety will damage the gun if you dry fire without a magazine in place. I have an older P-series & the first time I saw/handled the P-345 I really liked the ergonomics & wanted one. The mag disconnect put me off. Strictly your decision but you can remove it if you like. If you were to do a search or ask the question at rugerforum.com you would probably get any information you might want about it.
Congrat's on your purchase. I like the old Ruger P-guns. The .45's were reputed to be the most accurate of them & while I never shot a P-345 I really liked the way it fit my hand.

 

[Shipwreck]

I came so, so close to buying one of those over the years - when they were still made.

 

[bannockburn]

I never really cared for the ergonomics of most of the earlier P Series that Ruger came out with. The only one that I liked, especially with it's grip design, was the P345. Didn't pick one up mainly because I was very much into the Colt 1911 at the time (and still am), but I did eventually get a Ruger SR9c as it's grip shape reminded me a lot of the one found on the P345. Let us know how it does at the range!

 

[C-grunt]

I totally forgot about those. I really like that gun. I remember back in 2004 I came very very close to buying one but ther day I went to the gun site to buy it they had an OD green Springfield Loaded 1911 that I fel in love with and bought instead. Luckily a buddy in my platoon ended up buying one so I got to shoot one a bit. Great pistol.

 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

Came close to getting one but it was priced too high for what it was and the dealer wouldn't budge----back in the early 2000's but don't remember the exact year but was priced at like $500---much more than the other P series guns and into Glock territory.

 

[jmr40]

Something about the magazine safety, I don't remember just what, but I think it puts up a block in front of the firing pin, so dry firing without a mag inserted will damage the pistol

Even Ruger wasn't aware of the issue until guns started coming back. Ruger actually encourages dry fire practice in their owners manual. Most guns with a mag safety will not fire if the mag is out of the gun. The 345 will still drop the hammer with no mag in the gun but a firing pin block prevents the hammer from hitting the firing pin if the mag is not inserted. It only takes a handful of hammer strikes before the gun is damaged. Literally only about 5-10 times and the gun will no longer fire and will have to go back to Ruger. And I'm not sure Ruger will even repair guns no longer in production.

Initial owners manuals did encourage dry fire, but when guns started coming in for repair the owners manuals were edited and when guns were returned after repair a new owners manual came with them warning not to do this.

I had one, and liked the gun, but this design flaw didn't leave me with confidence in the gun. After I got mine back and repaired I sold mine. If you're extra careful you probably be OK. But you have no idea how many times this may have been done by the previous owner.

 

[Maneiak]

I used to own a P345 and liked it for the most part. I never heard of the issue you guys are talking about, and I sold the gun about 10 years ago, so I do not remember how much I dry fired it with the mag removed, but I know the gun still worked when I sold it. I wish I had kept it now, I think the old P series is a much better pistol than what Ruger is selling now. The SR9 sucked IMO, and the new Security and American do not impress me. I do like my LCPII though, so maybe I shouldn't be so harsh on Ruger.

 

[OrangePwrx9]

I have a P345 I bought new on GB. About the time I got it I read about the firing pin block and found instructions for the block's removal.

It's easy to remove the block, but I don't remember exactly what I did. I do remember removing the rear sight to get at the slide's internals. An internet search should yield the info needed.