blindjim
Bearcat
I got one a year or two ago as my first automatic pistol ever. My first handgun in 30 years!
Now I have a Ruger SR 40 C on order and should have it this week sometime.
I have to admit the 345 is a reliable gun. I've had only one round hang up on me failing to eject. That was in my first 25 rounds or so. Thereafter, none failed in any way! It eats everything! If it were lighter, I'd use it to carry concealed.
Either the P90 or P95 mags fit it so aftermarket mags with greater capacity aren't too hard to come by. I have two 10 round Pro Mags and have never hav one issue with them feeding at all. Also, Hoage makes a slip on grip for the 345 which might help firm up the hold. Soap it up and slip it on… the if you don't care for it, it will slip right off again…. No soap and it's a real bear to put on & off.
Mine has been sitting in the case for months now as I bought an FNH FNP45 Tactical earlier this year and do like it better… but then those two guns are a good bit different and their individual cost are separated by a larger divide. On the FNP45T.NIB, I paid $1100 OUT THE DOOR. SOME JOINTS WERE SELLING IT FOR AS MUCH AS $1375!! Whew! Now the new vewrsion is an FNX. Hardly any changes were made besides the model number change.
If you can get a P345 reasonably, pre-owned, let's say, then I'd probably get one. $300 -/+ . Otherwise I'd look into a standard FNP 45 non tactical.. Albeit, the feel in the hand of these two is quite different. The 345 feels great… at first despite my pinky barely able to hand onto the grip. The FNP45 feels more aggressive and big, but as time goes by, the FNP45 hand was easier to get used to, and having 16 rounds vs. 9 is a big deal all initself. The FNP45 take down is way easier too.
Oneother downside to the P345 as I've found out recently, it is what it is. Don't get too happy thinking about altering it's trigger too much. Sure, it can have it's hammer resprung, and it's guide rod sring too. But reducing trigger travel ain't gonna happen and it does have a fair amount. SA is OK, But DA is really long, but do-able. Pulling the hammer back to put it into SA isn't too difficult provided you have the dexterity to do so.
Naturally, the FNH guns cost more so they fit a different set of needs normally.
If I had it to do all over again, and had to have a .45ACP pistol for every need, I think I'd consider a compact 1911 instead of the P345 or the FNP45. That is IF I was aiming to get only ONE 45 CAL. PISTOL, for everything..
For a night stand or glove compartment gun, the P345 sure ain't a poor bet. Especially, considering what you can get a used one for these days. I'd not buy one new like I did with mine though. Spend $300 or so, not the $525 NIB w/SS slide, like I did with mine.
Or, given the introduction now of the new Ruger SR series, the SR 1911, if it has to be a Ruger .45, or if not… one of the newer SR compacts. They have a rail too… and why I bought one myself! I did try for a SR 9C to be real honest about it though, but supply was gone on them unless I wanted one with a SS slide. So, a 40C in all black got picked instead.
300 rounds or so later on the KP 345, and mine is back in it's box, these past few months. I guess that says something too… about me or about it one, as I've bought another .45, and now a different semi in .40SW though still, a Ruger. I can't seem to get away from Ruger!@ I keep trying, and Ruger keeps pulling me back in!
If they had not reqorked their triggers on this new line up of sR compacts, I'd not have bought any of them. The trigger IMHO is extremely important.
I don't know what I'll do if or when SW decides to put a rail onto its new M&P Shield, or makes it into a .45ACP!.
Good luck, and do have fun!!
Now I have a Ruger SR 40 C on order and should have it this week sometime.
I have to admit the 345 is a reliable gun. I've had only one round hang up on me failing to eject. That was in my first 25 rounds or so. Thereafter, none failed in any way! It eats everything! If it were lighter, I'd use it to carry concealed.
Either the P90 or P95 mags fit it so aftermarket mags with greater capacity aren't too hard to come by. I have two 10 round Pro Mags and have never hav one issue with them feeding at all. Also, Hoage makes a slip on grip for the 345 which might help firm up the hold. Soap it up and slip it on… the if you don't care for it, it will slip right off again…. No soap and it's a real bear to put on & off.
Mine has been sitting in the case for months now as I bought an FNH FNP45 Tactical earlier this year and do like it better… but then those two guns are a good bit different and their individual cost are separated by a larger divide. On the FNP45T.NIB, I paid $1100 OUT THE DOOR. SOME JOINTS WERE SELLING IT FOR AS MUCH AS $1375!! Whew! Now the new vewrsion is an FNX. Hardly any changes were made besides the model number change.
If you can get a P345 reasonably, pre-owned, let's say, then I'd probably get one. $300 -/+ . Otherwise I'd look into a standard FNP 45 non tactical.. Albeit, the feel in the hand of these two is quite different. The 345 feels great… at first despite my pinky barely able to hand onto the grip. The FNP45 feels more aggressive and big, but as time goes by, the FNP45 hand was easier to get used to, and having 16 rounds vs. 9 is a big deal all initself. The FNP45 take down is way easier too.
Oneother downside to the P345 as I've found out recently, it is what it is. Don't get too happy thinking about altering it's trigger too much. Sure, it can have it's hammer resprung, and it's guide rod sring too. But reducing trigger travel ain't gonna happen and it does have a fair amount. SA is OK, But DA is really long, but do-able. Pulling the hammer back to put it into SA isn't too difficult provided you have the dexterity to do so.
Naturally, the FNH guns cost more so they fit a different set of needs normally.
If I had it to do all over again, and had to have a .45ACP pistol for every need, I think I'd consider a compact 1911 instead of the P345 or the FNP45. That is IF I was aiming to get only ONE 45 CAL. PISTOL, for everything..
For a night stand or glove compartment gun, the P345 sure ain't a poor bet. Especially, considering what you can get a used one for these days. I'd not buy one new like I did with mine though. Spend $300 or so, not the $525 NIB w/SS slide, like I did with mine.
Or, given the introduction now of the new Ruger SR series, the SR 1911, if it has to be a Ruger .45, or if not… one of the newer SR compacts. They have a rail too… and why I bought one myself! I did try for a SR 9C to be real honest about it though, but supply was gone on them unless I wanted one with a SS slide. So, a 40C in all black got picked instead.
300 rounds or so later on the KP 345, and mine is back in it's box, these past few months. I guess that says something too… about me or about it one, as I've bought another .45, and now a different semi in .40SW though still, a Ruger. I can't seem to get away from Ruger!@ I keep trying, and Ruger keeps pulling me back in!
If they had not reqorked their triggers on this new line up of sR compacts, I'd not have bought any of them. The trigger IMHO is extremely important.
I don't know what I'll do if or when SW decides to put a rail onto its new M&P Shield, or makes it into a .45ACP!.
Good luck, and do have fun!!