By far my favorite pistol now. Range report and review.

[KingPolymer-III]

I know I have said this before, but I will say it again, its rare that you can continually boast about a firearm, that you end up buying a second one of the same kind (different finish though).  Originally Kevin (CZ57) turned me on to this gun, so I have always had a bias toward the Ruger P series centerfire guns, and had the old P85 and subsequently the P89,  built like tanks and a tremendous value for the $$$.
  So I ended up getting the new KP345 stainless when it came out right after Kevin got it.
  I liked it so much that last week I got the blued finish as well.  The gun is a jewel!!!.  Exceedingly accurate,  very controlled recoil,  I am particularly in love with the trigger.  I shot 200 gr. Black Hills Semi Wadcutters with it for a box of 50 and subsequently put it through 185 gr. Speer full metal jacket lawmen.  The gun is soooooooooooooooooooo accurate.  (the shooter had a minor role).  I was grouping an inch at 15 yards without lasers or optics, although they do come with a picatinny rail.   What a sweet gun.  For $400, there is no better deal for the money out there.  Don't get me wrong,  I am not going to trade in my Glock 21 or CZ97, but this pistol is very unique.  For those who have not tried it,  I simply ask you to part with $400, but then you can thank me later because its exceptional.  Once again, the trigger is what got me.

[BRASMAN]

King why did you do this! I almost had my self talked out of another pistol now I must have the Ruger! I was thinking of the Glock 21 also but do not know if I want to go that high on the price tag. The only thing that has realy held me back is 8rds instead of ten. I have seen some after market 10 and 15rders but do not know if they are any good. I also was thinking of the new poly witness with the rail but they have not realy got them out and about yet. Since Ruger is american made I think that just might be the ticket. $800 for a SIG just is not my personal cup of tea. I have always heard people bad mouth Rugers for the slide being so wide but when I campared it to the Sig at the store they looked the same in width to me. Do not get me wrong because I am not trying to knock Sigs. I am just a bang for the buck guy. If it is reliable and accurate I could care less what name comes on it for the most part and I have always liked the Look of the Rugers but their grip just did not do it for me but this new .45 feels unlike any Ruger I have held. See what you did King!

[KingPolymer-III]

brasman:
  You see will how much more narrow the profile of this Ruger is.
Now all the people complaining about the old Ruger P centerfire pistol series, must be in the minority, because my personal experience has been good, the experience of others I know has been good and so have the reviews.  They are simply built like tanks, will feed any ammo and are VERY accurate.

[mbott]

Manual safety or decocker?

I've always picked up one of the polymer P-series as they came available and the KP345PR was no exception.  My only regret was that the manual safety model of the KP345PR came out first this time.  Oh well.  It will get as much use as the P95 and P97 still do.    

--
Mike

[CZ57]

KP III: Sounds great! Now if Ruger would only bring it out in 10mm! The locking system was what sold me on the gun originially, then accuracy was reported to be on par with the P-97, which is pretty good for a carry pistol. The first report I received actually came from mbott, who must have bought one as soon as they arrived at the dealers. I really like the grip contour and checkering. I could still use a longer trigger though and I'm working on it. Probably a shoe that will also provide an overtravel stop.

I would agree, this is the .45 ACP DA pistol to beat. I believe the recoil reduction system is superior to the H&Ks, shoots almost SIG like and cost about half of either. Now you have a daytime and nightime option!

[KingPolymer-III]

cz57:  bold statement about the recoil reduction being superior to H&K, but true, I just didn't have the courage to say it.  
 
mbott:
   They have both!!, manual safeties and decocks.  Take your choice, same price either way,  I went with the manual safeties.
   I did something very demented,  ,  when I went to the police range to shoot it,  the Black Hills 200 gr. semi wadcutters, fed superbly, so I bought another box,  I had a dozen rounds left over.  I cleaned the gun, and the following night used the leftover semi wadcutters in the magazine on my nightstand and loaded it up with them as my home defense option.  
  I saved the target from the range.  The holes were amazing, they sure pack a wallop!!  

[mbott]

Quote:The first report I received actually came from mbott, who must have bought one as soon as they arrived at the dealers.

As soon as they were available, I ordered one.  I've done this with every polymer P-series Ruger has put out since the P95.  Accurate, sturdy, reliable.  And, I even like the looks.  

My preference leans to the stainless top over the black lower.  I like the contrast and the stock sights work well for me.  

I don't seem to mind the mag disconnect and the loaded chamber indicator 'cause I've dealt with both for quite a while with the Browning P35 and the Walther PP.

--
Mike

[KingPolymer-III]

My only gripe is the 8 capacity.  Ruger is advertising the P345 is law enforcement magazines like -GUNS AND WEAPONS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT- and -POLICE-.
  If they hope to match the Glock 21 with 13+1 and doublestack 1911s like Springfiled and Para, as well as high cap Sigs and Walthers/Smiths, then they need to somehow find a way to increase capacity.  I understand that its a narrow profile gun and it would be difficult, but I don't think an 8 capacity pistol is practical for law enforcement,  I know for years we got along just fine with police 6 shot revolvers, but the leave it to beaver days are long gone after the Bank of America North Hollywood shootout happened and in a post 9/11 climate.
  I think even a 10 rounder would go a long way.  , otherwise the pistol is perfect. and the good news is that it comes with two mags standard, so I gotta hand it to Ruger, another winner.  The P series centerfire Rugers are an incredible value for the money.
  Also for those who like the .40SW, the KP944 is a great gun.  

[jwc007]

Had another student bring in a just purchased KP345 in and I got to play with it a bit more.  This one did not have a magazine disconnect in it, as I was able to have our student perform some dry fire drills, without the magazine in place.  This particular KP345 had a decocker/safety.  Am wondering if the magazine disconnect is particular to the Decocker model.

Also, I noticed while loading it, there were small indents in the top rear of the magazine feed lips.  Cartridge Rims must snap past it.  I have surmised that this is to keep the first cartridge from dropping out of the magazine and quite possibly apply some angular leverage to keep the bullet nose heading in an upward angle, preventing a nose down jam.

Anyways, this particular KP345 was nicely accurate and fed my .45 200 grn Flat Pointed IPSC loads perfectly.

[KingPolymer-III]

"fed my .45 200 grn Flat Pointed IPSC loads perfectly. "

Very interesting,  I am going to have to try that.

[mbott]

Quote:This one did not have a magazine disconnect in it, as I was able to have our student perform some dry fire drills, without the magazine in place.

Are you sure?

My manual safety version can be dry fired without a magazine in place, also.  Took me a while to figure out that the Ruger differed from the HiPowers I was used to in how the mag disconnect worked.   I ended up placing a piece of tape on a deprimed case to check the functioning of the disconnect and that's how I discover that it worked via the firing pin block and not by keeping the hammer from falling.  That first time the hammer fell without a mag really caught me by surprise.    

--
Mike

[KingPolymer-III]

"That first time the hammer fell without a mag really caught me by surprise. "

,  I wish I had seen the expression on your face.  

[jwc007]

Quote:it worked via the firing pin block and not by keeping the hammer from falling

I stand corrected then.  I am used to the mag disconnects in Hi-Powers and S&W Semi-Autopistols.

[KingPolymer-III]

The price for most has now settled in the $400-$450 depending upon the finish.  , which is an incredible value for the money.
  I am also curious if Ruger will offer a 5 inch barrel model? The current model is 4.25
  It would be nice to see a 5.

[CZ57]

All of the P-345 series come with the magazine disconnect safety. It doesn't work off the trigger like the HPs. I don't have any issue with that at all and for those that do, I'm sure some have already modified their guns to disable it. You can dry fire without the magazine in the pistol,BUT, if you do, you'll be dropping the hammer on a firing pin that is blocked from forward movement and this is highly discouraged.