Thoughts on the Ruger American in 45 acp?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Sneakshot92

Sneakshot92

Member
Joined
Aug 14, 2019
Messages
787
Location
WI
Hi all. I've had the opportunity to handle the 45 American but have never actually fired one. I'm mainly wondering if anyone out there has a good bit of experience with this pistol and any quirks it may have. If there is enough favor i'll probably pick one up as my first striker fired pistol.
 
Everybody and their brother hates it. Says it rubs their knuckles wrong and has a crappy trigger.

All that said, I have shot exactly ONE and frankly quite liked it. Trigger was decent, shot well, was accurate and I thought it felt good in my hands. Felt stout and well built and I kinda liked the look.

Take my opinion for what it’s worth because what hell do I know, but I don’t get the hate.
Chris
 
I'll be honest that I'm more of a revolver guy but I also know that I'm not shelling out the cash for one that I can put a light on for home defense. I'll also say that a 1911 with a rail is not an option for me. I already have plans for something in that department.
 
Again this is just some idjit on the interwebz talking but if you are a revolver guy you might be happier with either a DAO or DA/SA gun. (I like revolvers too and prefer DA/SA.

The problem with the Ruger is it hasn’t gained any traction in the market place and therefore has little support and who knows how long it will be around.

If you are set on striker action .45 look for a trade in Glock 21 or 30. It pains me to say it but they just make a ton of sense.

If you are open to other calibers/actions you can get SMOKING deals on Beretta 92’s/M9s. (Well at least before the current unpleasantness) not sure what that looks like at this moment. Anyhoo the Beretta is DA/SA and a fantastic gun with support till the cows come home.

All that said, I honestly don’t think you would go WRONG with the RA45. I would just get however many extra mags and such that you want now.

Chris
 
cslinger said:
Again this is just some idjit on the interwebz talking but if you are a revolver guy you might be happier with either a DAO or DA/SA gun. (I like revolvers too and prefer DA/SA.

The problem with the Ruger is it hasn’t gained any traction in the market place and therefore has little support and who knows how long it will be around.

If you are set on striker action .45 look for a trade in Glock 21 or 30. It pains me to say it but they just make a ton of sense.

If you are open to other calibers/actions you can get SMOKING deals on Beretta 92’s/M9s. (Well at least before the current unpleasantness) not sure what that looks like at this moment. Anyhoo the Beretta is DA/SA and a fantastic gun with support till the cows come home.

All that said, I honestly don’t think you would go WRONG with the RA45. I would just get however many extra mags and such that you want now.

Chris
Click to expand...

Yeah. I was also considering an M&P 45 but apparently a couple of my local spots can't keep them in the case for more than a day or two so getting a hands on isn't all that easy.
 
Even though I have shot M&P’s with no issue, S&W autos have generally soured me. I just don’t trust them like I do others. Yeah some of the. 3rd Gen metal guns are excellent but overall my experience with Smith Autos isn’t great. Again no dig on the M&P series just some personal bias shining through. Now Smith revolvers nothing but good for me personally.

For the record anything I say is from personal experience and all the stupid bias’s that come with it. I have been blessed to have experienced a WIDE range of arms and even more blessed in that I have done so for fun not martial reasons.

All that said, what I am saying is take what it say with a grain of salt. I have shot damn near everything.........but I don’t claim to know stuff about stuff. Just trying to offer my, albeit, biased points of view.

For what it’s worth in a .45 I am personally going with the following ranking (for a self defense piece.)
HK (any of them). Crappy triggers but awesome combat guns
SIG P220 really damn near if not the top of DA/SA .45s
Glock 21/30/41etc. Glocks are well....utilitarian. They WORK. They are the best balance of price to performance.

1911s are great but in my world more for range guns only. Not that they cannot be FANTASTIC self defense guns just not my bag for serious social guns.

Again just my own personal two cents. There are many other folks who will cite three very different opinions and they are not likely wrong but in my experience those are my top 3 serious social .45s.
 
Last edited:
Had the American and the M&P .45---both were dumped after their first range trip----I don't know what it is, but the only guns I've liked in .45 are 1911's.

I've had a HK USP .45--Beretta PX4 in .45---Shield .45 etc...all were dumped quickly---did kind of like the Ruger P90 I had but pretty much if I get another .45 it will be another 1911 because I've had most all of them and they never seemed to work out.
 
The Ruger is probably a decent enough gun, but for whatever reason aren't selling. I look for Ruger to drop the entire line. If I wanted a 45 with the ability to use a light I'd be looking at Smith M&P or Glock. Right now everything is crazy with guns and you may have to wait a while. I'm ready to buy Sig M18, but none are available. I'll have to wait a month or so and you may have to do the same.
 
I had one. I bought it while my 320 went back to the drop-bang issue fixed.

It felt like someone was taking a ball peen hammer to my thumb knuckle when I fired it. It was bad enough that I developed a flinch. Love the design and robust build of the gun. Hate that when they got to designing the tail end they just sorta said "meh, good nuff".
 
image.jpeg I haven't shot the American, but for my first 45 acp striker fired pistol I bought a Ruger SR45. I really like the feel and the trigger is quite good for a striker. The reset is short and crisp and the accuracy is awesome. The price "was" over a hundred less than the American, though with all the craziness I don't know where the prices are or how available it is. If you like a 1911, the SR has a similar grip angle and feel.
 
MrShooter said:
View attachment 904577 I haven't shot the American, but for my first 45 acp striker fired pistol I bought a Ruger SR45. I really like the feel and the trigger is quite good for a striker. The reset is short and crisp and the accuracy is awesome. The price "was" over a hundred less than the American, though with all the craziness I don't know where the prices are or how available it is. If you like a 1911, the SR has a similar grip angle and feel.
Click to expand...

I'd love to find an SR 45 but they don't show up used very often around here.
 
"Yeah. I was also considering an M&P 45 but apparently a couple of my local spots can't keep them in the case for more than a day or two so getting a hands on isn't all that easy."

Other than my 1911, my M&P in 45acp is my favorite pistol in that caliber. The 40's were more common, but Kings also had some LE trade-ins in 45acp, so I got a very good deal. My FiL has the M&P in 40 caliber, and the 45 seems a little bit larger, which fits my XXL hands well.

I would highly recommend it.
Smith and Wesson M&P 45acp

Smith and Wesson M&P 45acp

 
I actually like mine quite a lot. It's not perfect, but the qualities I like about it out number those I don't.

The Good
It's heavy for a polymer pistol. You can feel the heft when you pick it up. But I think that's why it handles recoil well. I haven't shot any nuclear loads, but I have ran some pretty warm BE86 loads through it and it's quick to get back on target. If I recall correctly, it's rated for +P ammunition.

It's has a nice trigger. It has a little bit of take up, but a solid wall and reset.

The Novak sights are a nice addition as well. 2 dot rear and a fiber front. Nice target aquisition. 6 o'clock hold. I'm a big fan of the WarrenTactical sights on my Canik Elite, do much so that I put them on my Glock 40. They have a solid black rear with a FO front. I might black the dots out on the Novaks, but the I haven't yet.

The metal magazines and the mag release insert nicely and eject like they mean it. The mag release had a kind of heavy spring load, but when you press it, there is no doubt the mag will hit the ground.

The Not So Good

The grip is large and comfortable, but slick. nothing a set of Talons can't fix. The "beaver tail" issue many complain about hasn't been a problem for me. I've shot 200 to 250 rounds in a session without an issue.

While the grip is pretty wide, the magazines are are kinda thin and essential single stack. The do offset slightly, but Ruger left some capacity on the table. As far as I know, there isn't any aftermarket support for extended mags either.

All in all, Its a plain black striker fired .45acp.
But I like it more and more every time I shoot it. They were on sale a Bud's for $312 in December.
 
I have the RAP 9mm in full size and compact. They would be one of the last to go if it were to come down to that. I really want a RAP in 45. But I'm not planning to buy any guns this year. Now if someone came out with one of those $299 offers, I would probably cave in and go for it. :)
 
kcofohio said:
I have the RAP 9mm in full size and compact. They would be one of the last to go if it were to come down to that. I really want a RAP in 45. But I'm not planning to buy any guns this year. Now if someone came out with one of those $299 offers, I would probably cave in and go for it. :)
Click to expand...

Aww that's just wishful thinking! Now if I could find one for under $425 it'd be a done deal already.
 
If you’re a revolver guy, check out the kahr in .45. They shoot real nice and the trigger is every bit as nice as any stock Smith. The stroke is just shorter. I’ve always liked revolvers. I’m a big fan of idiot proof.

Unfortunately, I was cursed with short fingers and can’t get a good handle on most triggers.

Really, if you can, rent a kahr and try it out. The CT45 goes for under $400 and it’s a helluva shooter.
 
TonyAngel said:
If you’re a revolver guy, check out the kahr in .45. They shoot real nice and the trigger is every bit as nice as any stock Smith. The stroke is just shorter. I’ve always liked revolvers. I’m a big fan of idiot proof.

Unfortunately, I was cursed with short fingers and can’t get a good handle on most triggers.

Really, if you can, rent a kahr and try it out. The CT45 goes for under $400 and it’s a helluva shooter.
Click to expand...

I have nothing against kahr. They are great guns, but i'm looking for a bit more capacity than a single stack. If I do get a kahr in 45 it would probably be the CW because i'm pretty sure they accept most 1911 magazines.
 
I don't have any experience with the 45. I got my wife the full sized 9mm version when they hadn't been out long. I believe they are good guns at a reasonable price. I had been eyeballing the Compact 9mm version right before everything went nuts. Not buying anything until prices come back down.
 
Not buying anything until prices come back down.


I don't want to buy at high prices either, but if I walk into my lgs and see one down near 4 bills I might just jump on it.
 
Sneakshot92 said:
Aww that's just wishful thinking! Now if I could find one for under $425 it'd be a done deal already.
Click to expand...
Yes it is, I don't count on it happening. But if it did... ;)

I paid over $400 for my full size RAP a couple or so years ago. Then last year CDNN had a RAP compact on sale for $289 + $4.99 shipping.
Of course it is election year and then throw in this CPP virus, and all bets are off. :)
 
OP, I’ve tried out the Ruger American in .45 ACP and IMHO it’s a good shooting gun, the one I tried had a trigger that I wasn’t in love with but I’m told that it smooths out a bit with use.

If you shoot this one alongside the S&W M&P in .45 ACP, the Walther PPQ in .45 ACP, and the Gen4 Glock 21 which I own, you might actually like the Ruger better and that’s a good decision for you to make. I have shot all of the guns I mention here. The S&W M&P in .45 ACP is my favorite M&P. Personally, if I didn’t already own the Gen4 G21, I might opt for the Walther PPQ, but I don’t really like it enough to want to give up the G21. I have enough rounds through the gun to say that the gun works for me for what I want to use it for, which is range use. Nobody else I know likes this gun with that blocky grip & the large BT backstrap that I have on it, but with my big hands it works fine for me.

I’ve gotten out of the habit of recommending firearms to people who haven’t first tried out the firearm at the local range. Mr. Obvious here says it’s always good practice to try out all the choices before you decide on one.
 
Sneakshot you do realize the link I posted shows the Palmetto State Armory is selling them for $399.99 right now.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

helitack32f1
  • Locked
Ruger American pistol!?
2 3 4 5 6
Replies
143
Views
13K
RON in PA
R
H
  • Locked
Ruger 45 acp for ccw ?
Replies
11
Views
1K
bakert
B
Buck13
Smallish DA/SA .45 ACP?
2
Replies
46
Views
2K
Buck13
Buck13
D
  • Locked
Ruger SR45 ridiculousness
Replies
18
Views
2K
deadduck357
D
D
  • Locked
Thoughts on SW99 45ACP
Replies
1
Views
391
fastbolt
fastbolt
Back
Top