Brassman: There are several great polymer frame .45s. The H&K USP is probably the most expensive and many feel it's worth every penny. The Glocks are great, but have one significant drawback for reloaders, the ejection ports are not relieved as on most pistols. When your empty cases eject, they are thrown into and strike the slides ejection port, evidenced by the triangular scar on the casemouth. The .45 ACP is a low pressure cartridge in relation to 9mm, .357 SIG, .40 S&W and the 10mm, so the .45 may be the least affected. Some will tell you that they have never seen the scars and I'll tell you that since I do examine my brass before reloading, I have never seen a Glock pistol that didn't ding the casemouth. No problem if you only shoot factory ammo, but if you reload that scar on the casemouth can lead to premature splits on the casemouth. You can take the Glock to a competent gunsmith, or even a good machinist and have the ejection port relieved, but that should be a consideration of the original purchase price! Glock skips that step because they are probably the most vehement about using only factory ammo in their pistols. I like the larger grip frame of the 20 & 21 and the 21 is accurate and easy shooting, the model 30 shoots even softer with its dual recoil spring set-up, but with the purchase of any Glock, include the price of having that ejection port relieved. Add a 3.5 lb. connector and you'll be in high cotton. BTW, I have bought 4 Glocks over the years. The AGI pistolsmith videos will confirm everything I've stated.
When a new pistol really strikes my fancy, I usually wait for a track record to be established. A discipline I didn't excersize when the Glock 22 hit the market in 1990, or the H&K USP in 1994. Today, as far as 1911s go, I feel that the S&W 1911 is the one to judge all others by. As I mentioned before, my shooting partner has the commander size scandium framed Sc and I don't know how anyone could make a better 1911. I shoot it often and my next 1911 will be one of the two currently in the horserace. I really like the Dan Wesson, but a little time will bring the prices down, I think, after the acquisition by CZ. It will also provide some time for a good track record to materialize. If it doesn't, I'll buy a S&W.
I had to have a .45 for the interim period. No pistol has really excited me lately like the P-345 did, when it was first announced. All of the ergonomic features are great, even if the trigger reach is a little short for me. Starting with the P-97, Ruger developed one of the most novel designs seen to date for their locking system. The recoil spring guide is a single unit with the camblock. The slide stop runs through the camblock and the barrel does all of it's camming in a stationary fixture. That coupled with the polymer frame really minimizes frame stress and recoil to your hand. Ruger took it even further with the P-345. If you look at the Spring guide/camblock of the 345 it will look fairly complex in relation to other systems. It is now designed and manufactured to fit exactly with recesses in the frame with virtually no movement so that the polymer frame can make most efficient use of the shock absorbing polymer frame and it is held completely stationary by the slide stop. The camblock now shrouds the barrel cam to improve lock-up over the P-97 system. Ruger also added a rather unique approach to the excellent concept of dual spring stress/recoil reduction. Rather than use a heavy conventional secondary spring, They used a brass sleeve that has a helictacal groove cut into it to transform it into a spring/shock absorber. It freely rides the spring guide and the main recoil spring rides over it. In short (or long) it works! My 345 is the softest shooting .45 ACP I have ever fired and it locks up tighter than any Ruger Pistol of the past.
The P-97 was a great pistol and very accurate for a pistol with a 4.2" barrel. CDNN was selling off the last of them for $290 and I thought seriously about getting one, but all of the design features as well as the new grip shape (very CZ like) and full checkering on the grip, caused me to spend the little extra and get the pistol I knew I would have to have at some point. Ruger P series pistols are very functional/reliable and that is as far as most compliments extend. The P-90 is noted for above average accuracy and the P-97 is as well with the benefit of being more compact and ease of shooting by virtue of the stress/recoil absorption properties of its polymer frame. Strong enough that Ruger doesn't have to injection mold steel rails into the frame like Glock and H&K do. The 345 is slightly slimmer than the P-97, making it I feel an exceptonal carry pistol for those that understand what is required to conceal a service size auto. I have an Uncle Mikes mirage holster made for the 1911/Hi-Power that was gathering dust. The fit is a little snug, but the 345 will fit into it and that is how I carry at the range. Custom fit holsters are on the way and when a good pancake with a forward cant comes along for it, hopefully from El Paso Saddlery, that is what my 345 will ride in. Not only is the 345 an excellent value, I feel it will hold its own against the Glock 21, or the H&K USP, any day of the week. The low price reflects as it should, the lower cost of injection molding the polymer frame instead of marketing it as a feature you should pay extra for. My personal oppinion is, that this is Rugers first pistol that is truely world class and mine is very accurate. Ejected cases come out clean and ready for reloading. Another benefit is in the way this pistol easily handles .45 ACP +P loads. My favorite being the +P 185 gr. Golden Saber that I replicate with a handload using the excellent Ramshot True Blue powder!
The double action trigger improves dramatically with use, or if you are inclined as I was, you can polish the hammer and sear engagements surfaces being very careful not to remove any/minimal metal. I prefer DA's for a carry pistol. The chances of hitting a high primer and hearing click instead of bang are not as likely as they once were. The DA trigger is my "insurance policy" because I have never ran into such a scenario where the second double action primer strike failed to ignite the primer that got seated properly on the first strike, but failed to ignite!
My partners 1911 Sc is very accurate for an out of the box pistol. The P-345 will shoot with it with any load and since we both shoot my handloaded ammo, I can say that with confidence. I'm not really set up to post pics. I got the hand-me-down computer in my family because my daughter is a computer tech. I buy a new computer, she gets it and I get her used one. Take this as advice to young fathers in regard to having a daughter as an only child! That said, I wouldn't trade places with anyone! Same would go with someone offering me an H&K USP at the same price as my Ruger P-345!
KP III: help me out here. If you can post a pic of the 345's recoil spring guide/camblock maybe some of this will be better illustrated. One with the guide/camblock attached to the barrel and one pic of the guide/camblock as a stand alone unit. Sorry to impose, but I know you like yours as much as I like mine!
