Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Ruger P345

I visited some 3 differ gun stores to check out the new 345 by
Ruger. In each store the pistol was sold out and they were waiting for the next shipment.
I've yet to handle one, any here seen, handled, or bought one of these?
At a slim 29 oz. I would like to check one of these out as a carry gun. I prefer the decock model over the one with a saftey, as I really dont care for a saftey on a double action pistol.

Ruger's in my experience are built like block outhouses.

I too was interested in the 345, however no one had one in stock. After all my paperwork went through I waited and I waited, but still no 345, so finally I just got something else. I really like Ruger's decocker-only handguns, however the 345 is not offered in that configuration. Still, I was willing to put up with the manual safety, as to me the 345 seems close to the ideal carry gun.

The 345 is available both ways. The KP345DPR is the decock-only, and the P345PR has the manual safety. The former has a stainless slide, the latter a blued steel slide.

My complaint about the 345 is the same complaint I have about all pistols with slide mounted controls - the bore axis is too high. In many cases this causes more muzzle flip than the cartridge justifies. Ruger pistols and their blocky slides often make the problem worse. The 345's light polymer frame and light magazine make things worse again.

Ruger pistols are economical and stout, but I haven't owned one yet - too many trade offs.

Whether they know it or not, all the above are reasons why folks like Glocks - a low boreline and heavy magazines compensate for the polymer frame. Glocks are easy and comfortable to fire. I'm not a big Glock fan for other reasons, so don't think I'm pushing that way. I'm just comparing.

I apologize if I have provided inaccurate information. However going by the Ruger website, I could find no reference to a decocker-only or blued version of the 345. I would be interested in learning more about those models. I currently have and immensely enjoy my decocker-only Ruger P90. Of course one of the things I enjoy most about my Rugers are their price. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Here ya go...

Ruger News

JOG, thank you for the information. I reallly like the looks of the blued version.

JOG, very good points about the high bore axis. Never considered that before.

I am not a big Ruger fan. too blocky and heavy compared to other similarly sized guns. I did get the opportunity to fire a 345 not long ago and was pleasantly surprised. the grip frame is probably the best polymer grip fram I have ever handled. No joke. I work in a gun store too so I've handled a few. It shot very well and unlike our esteemed collegue a few posts north of me recoil was no worse than any other 45ACP I've ever fired wether it be a 1911, HK, Glock, S&W you name it. I don't care for the high slide axis as mentioned earlier nor do I care for the aesthetics of the metal work. I hope Ruger replaces all of their polymer frames with this one as it is a winner, but as nice and "new" as this is other than the frame it's a P94 inmy book. Bottom line: Good, durable, top heavy reasonably priced shooter. My next 45 will not be this one, but if you like Ruger handguns you will love the 345.