P345 problem - Help!!

[Peacemaker]

I bought a P-345 used and planned on giving it to my daughter once she got used to it. Although used, (prduced 2005) it came in the case with two mags, papers, manual, and all the tools. Looked new. I took it out to the range and fired a whole box of 50 factory Winchesters through it, not a problem at all. Took it out with my daughter to try out, using semi-wad re-loads, and jam after jam with the slide not feeding the bullet in the chamber properly. Figured it was the lead semi-wads. Took it home, cleaned it up, new grease. Took it out again with different round nose re-loads. Same problem. Jamming at least once every 8 round magazine. OK-maybe it's the re-loads themselves. Maybe it likes only factory. Took it home and cleaned, greased, etc. Bought another box of Winchester round nose factory. Tried again. Same problem - jamming at least once every ten rounds. What gives? Anyone have this problem with the P-345? Solution?

 

[Anonymous]

Jamming in exactly what way? Are the rounds getting hung up on the feed ramp? If so, that could be a magazine issue.

 

[Peacemaker]

Some jams appear to be a round getting hung up feeding. However, most seem to be the slide not closing all the way after the round feeds, and one time the slide failed to extract the fired case and the new round could not feed into the chamber as the case was still there.

 

[Anonymous]

Do you have more than one magazine? If so, have you tried both? It really sounds like a magazine issue to me, just from the description.

As far the round that wasn't extracted? That could be anything if it was a one time issue, but just in case, check over the extractor and make sure there isn't any crud in the claw part that actually grabs the rim of the spent casing to pull it out.

 

[Chief_10Beers]

I had a FTE problem on my P345 and it ended up being a faulty extractor...............................

 

[Al James]

Did the jams happen when she was firing the weapon or you? If it happened to just her she may be limp wristing the pistol. If you are not familiar with how to resolve that issue just do a quick search here or google, etc. Good luck and let us know how it works out.

 

[black029]

2005 was still first year production and there were loads of problems with this model at that time, this Forum was a hot mess of discussion about the P345. I had one that failed to feed, fire.........at one point the trigger was just wagging back and forth.
Now, not suggesting exactly that this gun of yours is a turkey, and maybe the issue is related to who was shooting, technique, some limp wristing as well. Or the ammo. You just have to eliminate as many variables as possible.
You shoot the gun.
Use some good factory hardball, maybe Federal.
Make sure you are using proper technique, don't even worry about shooting tight groups, just shoot the gun with a good locked wrist.
If you shoot at an indoor range, have one of the guys cut loose with it, see what the results are. Hopefully he, or she, will know a thing or two, and not just be some wannabe that likes to walk around with a pistol on his belt.
I am sure others have more and better ideas, but that's a start.

 

[Peacemaker]

Okay, you guys might be on to something here. It usually happens when she fires it. I'm not familiar with this "limp-wrist" thing. Please explain how that affects the pistol's action.

 

[Anonymous]

Okay, you guys might be on to something here. It usually happens when she fires it. I'm not familiar with this "limp-wrist" thing. Please explain how that affects the pistol's action.

Because a semi auto pistol uses recoil to function, limp wristing (not having a tight grip and locked wrist) causes most of the recoil force on the gun it self to be lost which can and does very often create problems like you describe. The stronger the hold is, the more the force from the shot is used to cycle the slide, if the gun moves too much, you lose that force to cycle it.

Think of using a pump shot gun, and letting the gun go backwards as you're trying to pump the next round. You won't be able to do it unless you keep the gun stationary.

You must have a firm hold and a pretty well locked wrist to shoot semi-autos properly.

I've even purposely cause malfunctions by limply holding a pistol when shooting.

 

[Peacemaker]

Thanks a million. You guys are great. You may have saved me a bunch of money and useless attempts at repair. I'll take her back out and have her make a concerted effort to keep a tight grip and firm hand and see if problem solved. Over 50 years of shooting and I've never heard of limp-wristing. Then again, I've never owned a light-polymer semi-auto before. Thanks again.

 

[Donaldjr1969]

One thing that, while it may or may not have a bearing on your issues, should be taken into consideration is regular disassembly and cleaning of the magazines themselves. At least that will eliminate one additional variable.

 

[sixgun]

Got my P345 going on a year now. Bought it new, love at first sight. The size, weight, decocker and safety sold me. I have not had the first issue with mine. I did remove the mag disconnect. Shot all brands of ammo that are available locally and some I've ordered, without any malfunctions. Recoil is minimum and accuracy at close ranges are superb. Never tried limp wristing it. IMO a great pistol. I use it for carry and trust my life on it.
If limp wristing was your only problem then you will enjoy this gun as much as I do.

 

[H6RBW]

I traded in a Taurus PT145 Millenium Pro on a new Ruger P345 last week. I bought the Taurus when I first got my CHL, without doing very much research on it, because of its small size. But, after putting approx. 500 rounds through it, it was still, intermittently, failing to feed properly.

Anyway, I took the P345 to the range for the first time today. I put 201 rounds through it, mostly Federal 230gr FMJs, and also a few Black Hills 185gr JHPs. To my delight, I experienced not one failure to feed, or any other malfunction of any kind. I was also noticeably more accurate with it than the Taurus, and recoil was less noticeable.

Re: the problem in the OP, I did note when I first got the gun and was loading/unloading it with snap caps last week, that the slide did stick some. I'd already cleaned and lubricated the gun, but I stripped it and added more lubricant to the slide. That seemed to correct the problem and, like I said, no problems at the range today.

 

[blume357]

My guess also is limp wristing.

Oddly enough it never happens with my favorite P95 or Sig but the one time I tried a friends Glock it happened every round until he showed me how to hold the pistol. The same P95 I can't make jam holding loose and has never had a problem my sister in law jammed the first time she fired it.

 

[Tensaw]

Peacemaker,

If you are still having the jamming problem (FTF) with factory ammo after you have eliminated limp wristing, you may want to look at the magazines. I had jamming problems with my P345. I called Ruger and was told to increase the angle of the bullet guide in the factory magazines. (Somewhere I have the measurements.) He told me that this fixed about 80% of the jamming problems that were reported. This fix solved my problem. I made the change to both magazines. I probably have shot 500 rounds without any jamming.

 

[tech4064]

Also, make sure the recoil spring is installed correctly, with the larger end of the spring toward muzzle of the gun.