Ruger P345 - good choice for first .45?

[Knecht]

I'm thinking about getting the P345. Unlike other Ruger guns, this model seems to be imported very rarely to our country (no idea why), so I don't have much chance to handle one before I order it.
I'd like to know your opinion on it - I know this is a place for people who love Rugers, but I need to hear both positive and negative comments. It's quite complicated for me to return it if something goes wrong, so if there is some issue I should be aware of, some part that requires to be changed often...please let me know.
Also, I've never owned a .45 before. Is this a good gun to start with this caliber?
One more question - any chance to rebuild the mag release for left-handed user?
Thanks

 

[GR8_Outdoorsman]

The P345 was my first real handgun aside from a .22 lr. It was flawless and I never had a single failure of any kind after ~500 rounds. To be honest, I just never got very attached to that gun for some reason and traded it towards a Super Redhawk .44 mag for deer hunting. I can definitely recommend the gun as easy to shoot, reliable and accurate.

The main problem that you will see among the P345 is that people were dry-firing the gun without a magazine installed. This is a big no-no and the owner's manual states not to do that in several places.

I don't believe that you'll be able to rebuild the mag release for left hand use, but I could be wrong. Maybe someone that knows more than I can chime in on this one.

 

[Knecht]

Thanks!

 

[mohavesam]

Other than the safety being upside-down, it is a pistol without peer.

 

[B.Roberts]

I have one and enjoy it immensely. My P345 is accurate and reliable. I would recommend it to anyone who wanted an inexpensive .45 acp. As much as I love the P345, I would probably give the edge to the P90 over the p345 to someone who may have difficulty returning the product to ruger for service, if needed. Neither gun is likely to need any parts that need to be changed frequently.

 

[Yawn]

I too was looking to get into the .45ACP caliber. I looked at and did get to handle a P345. It didn't feel weighted right in my hand. I have very big hands. The grip seemed shorter then my SR9. It just felt top heavy too me, like there wasn't enough grip in my hands to keep the metal slide balance with the polymer frame. Also, as was mentioned, the safety clicks up to fire. This was a problem for me because my SR9 safety clicks down to fire... so in a Self Defense situation, that could mean life or death. One guy told me to have the safety always off, especially because it is a Double Action Pistol. But, that is still not working for me. So, I passed on it.

 

[mraywi]

P345 is a BARGAIN! Tough and reliable![/quote]

 

[Knecht]

Thanks, everyone.
So far I only have two handguns and neither of them has a safety, so I'm not used to any kind of safety switch yet and thus open to any new gun.

I think I'll give it a try...after the LC9 (or something similar, not really sure yet)

 

[B.Roberts]

Good luck, and have fun with it. I do think the p345 is a great choice.

 

[buckshotshorty]

Don't let the safety throw you, you really don't need to use it because with the hammer down (engage the safety, the hammer decocks then disengage the safety), I consider the gun safe to carry in double action mode.

What I like about the gun:
the gun eats any ammo, semi wadcutters etc.
it handles recoil very well
relatively light weight and easy to carry
it's relatively thin with a thin grip
very accurate
so far over 800 rounds totally 100% reliable
double strike capability
single action /double action

 

[Anthony Williams]

The P-345 by Ruger is a very good handgun in my opinion. It will do everything it was designed to do_____period.

A.W.

 

[btrumanj]

Don't own one myself but If Anthony Williams hasn't thrown it in the lake, it's a dang good pistol.

 

[Yawn]

I am glad that people like the gun. I mentioned above why I do not. Having said that, there is one part of my post I would like to expand on. I also personally hate DA trigger pulls. I "CAN" hit a target on one, but I am not nearly as accurate as I am with a Single Action trigger pull or a striker pull. And, if accuracy is King, then the DA trigger has been dethroned for me!

 

[revhigh]

The P-345 by Ruger is a very good handgun in my opinion. It will do everything it was designed to do_____period.

A.W.

Whadda you know AW ... you fish by throwing guns in the lake ...

How ya doin' stranger ?


REV

 

[revhigh]

Don't own one myself but If Anthony Williams hasn't thrown it in the lake, it's a dang good pistol.

LOL !!! I hadn't seen your comment when I posted mine. Some things you can just never live down.

 

[Luckyducker]

My buddy bought a used P345 for his wife and it runs flawlessly and has a great trigger, so he decided to get a new one for himself. His had to be torn completely apart to remove very small bits of steel left in the gun by the tooling and the trigger was horrible until he smoothed the hammer/sear contact. I think he removed over 20 tiny bits of metal from inside but it is flawless now and the trigger is great also. We chuckle about Rugers being sold "with some assembly required". I guess it can happen with any manufacturer of any product. BTW, I hit a small empty propane cylinder with his P345 at 115 yds with one shot from a bench, so that pistol will shoot!

 

[Knecht]

Thanks for all those opinions. I'll think about this gun yet. The only problem is, it's not being regularly imported here and if I make a special order, then with all custom payments, import license and all the crap around, the pistol will cost me about as much as a .45 Glock (sure, those are imported too, but I guess that sharing the border with Austria and being both in EU, it's not that pricey to get them here). Not saying I'm gonna buy Glock, I actually don't like them much, just comparing the price.
I want to add some .45 to my collection and I love Ruger guns, so I'd like to get the P345, but not sure if for such price.
I was really lucky to get both my other Rugers for great prices, also some of the regularly imported ones are not that expensive here, either, but a custom order seems to be a tough one.

 

[buckshotshorty]

Thanks for all those opinions. I'll think about this gun yet. The only problem is, it's not being regularly imported here and if I make a special order, then with all custom payments, import license and all the crap around, the pistol will cost me about as much as a .45 Glock (sure, those are imported too, but I guess that sharing the border with Austria and being both in EU, it's not that pricey to get them here). Not saying I'm gonna buy Glock, I actually don't like them much, just comparing the price.
I want to add some .45 to my collection and I love Ruger guns, so I'd like to get the P345, but not sure if for such price.
I was really lucky to get both my other Rugers for great prices, also some of the regularly imported ones are not that expensive here, either, but a custom order seems to be a tough one.

I am fascinated by your response, and I'm also quite curious about freedom in other countries. What kind of restrictions do you face in the Czech Republic? Can you own as many handguns as you want are there licenses involved etc.?

 

[Yawn]

great questions! interested to see the answers!

 

[Knecht]

Ok, I'll try to answer this.
Generally - we can own guns, we can carry them, we can own as many as we like (but they are not really cheap here, so your wallet is the limit).
Yes, we have to get a license first. Without a license, all 18+ year old citizens may own (and carry if they wish so) muzzleloaders with one or two shots (so not a percussion revolver for example, but a double barelled percussion shotgun is ok). Also all historical weapons (made before 1890) are in the same category as muzzleloaders.

As for modern guns, you have to get a license. Must be 21+ to get it (with exceptions for hunting purposes and sporting, those can be younger, but can't carry the guns; just use them at the range or while hunting)
To get a license, you have to pass exams - a test of knowledge of gun laws, self defence laws, first aid and such, plus pass some basic target shooting and safe handling of the guns.
When you pass, the cops check your criminal history - if you are clear, it's ok; if not - it varies - some crimes make you a lifetime gun-less guy, others make you to wait couple years before you can ask for that.
You also have to get a confirmation from your doctor that you are ok to have guns (not a big deal).
After you pass these, you get your magic card and can start buying.
Then again, the bureaucracy comes.
Some guns are A-category - mostly military guns, machine guns, all automatic ones and such - for those, you must ask for an exception to buy and have some good reason (collecting is one of them, but then you can't legally use the gun, except of range). Many times they also reject your exception.
B category means most handguns, semi-auto rifles, short barrelled shotguns and such. For these, you must get a buy permission from the police, which is more like a formality, as they don't make you any trouble to get it. These guns generally are ok to carry, as long as concealed in public.
C category - most hunting guns (except of semi-auto), bolt action and lever action rifles etc. No buy permisssion needed.
For A,B and C - EVERY gun of these categories you buy must be registered at the police within 10 days after you've bought it. Then you wait for about a week to get an ID card for every gun you register. When you carry a gun, you must also carry this card and your license card.

I'll write some more if you want, but have to go now, it's getting late here.

 

[ArmedinAZ]

Sounds like California...only easier. :roll:

Not nearly as restrictive as I expected.

 

[Knecht]

Not nearly as restrictive as I expected.

It may look too complicated at first, but it's not really a big deal once you get used to the system. There's lot of bureaucracy, but in the end the actual ownership of guns is one of the most free in the world - as long as you don't want machine guns and grenade launchers, you can buy nearly anything (including sniper rifles, saw-off shotguns and such).
Also, there's just few places you can't carry the gun - such as court and some government buildings. Nobody but police is allowed to mess with your guns.
Also, we have no restrictions for mellee weapons.

There are some other rules we have to follow, such as "don't drink and carry" (carry in our gunlaw means carrying the gun on you, loaded and ready to fire. If you have a gun and decide to get a beer with a friend, just unload it and it's ok). We may not carry more than two guns at a time (again, this means two loaded ones. You may have more guns in your bag, but must be unloaded).
What is the real trouble here is using the guns. When you shoot in self defence, it's usually very strictly judged, to decide whether or not it was necessary. Shooting to defend your life is usually ok, but shooting at a thief is mostly a problem, which is really sad.

 

[Yawn]

Without a license, all 18+ year old citizens may own (and carry if they wish so) muzzleloaders with one or two shots (so not a percussion revolver for example, but a double barelled percussion shotgun is ok). Also all historical weapons (made before 1890) are in the same category as muzzleloaders.

Sounds like California? no way... I wish!!!! The Czech Republic has a form of what we here call Constitutional carry. Ha ha ha... The Czech Republic is more constituational then the US. Well done Czech Republic!!!! People in California would pay big to be able to carry even what they can carry in the Czech Republic. In fact, Cali is in the midst of outlawing unloaded open carry of handguns. That means people will have to open carry long guns, unloaded, and not 1000 feet of ANY TYPE of school.

 

[Knecht]

Not sure if you got it right - we don't have open carry here. Must keep them concealed all the time in public, except of hunting - but when you go to hunt, you must have the gun concealed untill you get to the woods or field (not really concealed, just not visible - rifle bag or case is ok).

As for the muzzleloaders - please, don't imagine that every Czech walks around with a pair of flintlock pistols under the coat. Most people who really want to carry get a license and some modern gun. People who are not allowed to get license (with criminal history) get their guns illegally. Most of the muzzleloader owners are either collectors, or re-enactors.
I've had a wheellock carbine since I was 18, BTW.

 

[buckshotshorty]

Thank you for that information, Knecht, I found it to be very informative. I fully expected gun ownership to be much more restrictive than you describe.

I live in the great state of Florida, and our State laws here are very similar to yours, with the big exception being we do not have to register guns with police here in Florida, but we did in New York. When I lived in New York City, gun ownership was far more restrictive than in your country. All firearms licenses came through the police dept. along with high fees, long waiting periods (6 months), a lot of red tape and restrictions. Carry permits are just about non existent in NYC.

Here in Florida things are different. A license is only needed to carry concealed, and that is granted by the Dept. of Agriculture, not the police. All other legal residents may purchase and keep firearms in their homes or cars, but must be kept in some sort of case.

I would love to visit your country one day. It is very historic and beautiful from what I've seen. For now, I just drink the water brewed in to Pilsner Urquell!

 

[Knecht]

Glad to be helpful...I just hope we will be able to keep our freedom in the more and more non-gun Europe

Enjoy Pilsner!

 

[Yawn]

Not sure if you got it right - we don't have open carry here. Must keep them concealed all the time in public, except of hunting - but when you go to hunt, you must have the gun concealed untill you get to the woods or field (not really concealed, just not visible - rifle bag or case is ok).

As for the muzzleloaders - please, don't imagine that every Czech walks around with a pair of flintlock pistols under the coat. Most people who really want to carry get a license and some modern gun. People who are not allowed to get license (with criminal history) get their guns illegally. Most of the muzzleloader owners are either collectors, or re-enactors.
I've had a wheellock carbine since I was 18, BTW.

Hey! No, I was saying that California right now only has unloaded open carry as an option and they can only go in certain places. And, in January, they won't be able to unloaded open carry handguns, only long guns. My point was that your country has laws that match our second amendment (from our Constitution) much better than some of our states, especially California. I got the gist of how your country worked, and I love it!

 

[Knecht]

Ok then