New Ruger American Pistol

I think they're gonna sell a lot of these pistols if the price point settles at $400 +/-$20.00.

At that amount, especially in the high $300 range, you're getting a lot of value for a pistol with a lot of decent build features.
 
I think it is meant to replace the M9, not the SR series. When you look at it from that perspective, it all fits well.
Is there another "American" company that will be fielding a contender?
I think Ruger is sitting on a pile of cash right now. Should make for plenty of grease for those Washington wheels.
 
Well... I got to handle one today.

I didn't get to mess with it for too long, as the shop was busy, so these are initial impressions.

It felt comfortable in the hand.

The trigger pull was fairly short overall. Take up was smooth and light. The break was pretty clean, similar to a VP9 and P320, it felt like it broke around 6lb.

Reset was a little on the long side compared to a glock and some others, but not bad. It's definitely something that will not be a big problem with familiarity with the pistol.

The pistol is not too heavy, at least it did not feel as such, but I did not side by side it.

The internal rails are very large, and they are cut on an angle rather than with flat bottoms like most pistols. The internal frame seems to give the pistol a lot of rigidity.

The firing mechanism is different than most. The striker is caught by a connector/toggle latch piece. The sear prevents the toggle from rotating... when you pull the trigger, the sear moves and the toggle is free to rotate (it is spring loaded with a light spring) when the toggle is free to rotate, the force of the striker spring sends the striker forward, pushing/rotating the toggle out of the way. So the sear surface is located in a different position, which may help with getting the pull feel they managed with this pistol.

Initial price was $550 for the 9mm and 45... but these are brand new to the market, so they may drop another $50 in time.
 
The internal rails are very large, and they are cut on an angle rather than with flat bottoms like most pistols. The internal frame seems to give the pistol a lot of rigidity.
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This is interesting to me, but I'm not sure I understand what you mean. Any chance you could elaborate?
 
If you look at the rails from the front or rear...

The tops are flat, the bottom surface is cut at an angle to the top surface.

It's a triangular cut rather than a square cut... like a dovetail in wood joints.


I am sure another pistol has rails like this, but I can not recall at this time.
 
It was the Steyr pistols that I was thinking of... the rails are like those.

Hear is a pic
2004_0101GunZ0036.jpg


I actually think rails like this would increase the surface area of the bearing surface, and probably spread the forces out, reducing wear and increasing strength.
 
I'm assuming that in the photos the OP shows the pistol is all the way into battery? If so . . . why the overhang on both ends?

I like Rugers and have a number of their revolvers and a SR9 that I've had for 8 or 9 years - a good pistol. But this one? I don't really see anything that is that appealing to it . . .
 
It doesn't overhang. The photographer couldn't be bothered to remove the chamber flag before taking pictures.

I think the point of this pistol is to actually release a service grade pistol rather than the budget fare Ruger is better known for.
 
Ruger needs to price this at $300 to compete with Smith & Wesson's SDVE series, as they already have $400 models.
 
Ruger needs to price this at $300 to compete with Smith & Wesson's SDVE series, as they already have $400 models.
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They already have a $300 pistol in the SR9E. This pistol seems to be meant more as an upgrade above the SR series.
 
Bang bang Glock...Bang bang!

Judging from the recent introduction of the Ruger American rifle into the uber-competitive budget rifle class--and how successful they were in making a gun that was not only competitive but downright innovative in bringing new things to the table that the competitors didn't have--I'm giving the benefit of the doubt to Ruger that they thought these babies out very carefully (calling them American pistols--maybe a coincidence?). In general, Ruger doesn't do stupid.
 
Ruger needs to price this at $300 to compete with Smith & Wesson's SDVE series, as they already have $400 models.
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I'm giving the benefit of the doubt to Ruger that they thought these babies out very carefully (calling them American pistols--maybe a coincidence?). In general, Ruger doesn't do stupid.
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Imagine the Ruger "American" pistol is selected as the next general issue side arm for the US military.
The several hundred thousand sales to the military will be nice for Ruger, but won't make or break them like some companies.
How many M9s has Beretta sold to civilian simply because the US military adopted the pistol? How much cross marketing can Ruger do with its other products if selected? Who is going to buy a Glock , when they can buy the "American" used by US military forces? What about LE contracts?
Ruger has always been week in the semi-auto pistol area. The LCP did well, but not amazing and I don't think it has held market share well over time. Ruger is right on track with this product. My guess is they dump whatever they need to in getting this selected. It might not be too difficult with a name like the "American" and possibly being the only pistol designed and manufactured by a US company in the US.

Further, as many have noted a number of Ruger pistols have had recalls shortly after introduction in the last decade. That is really true of all the pistols that are new designs. The other comapnies are going to have similar issues. By getting these into peoples hands now, they will work out some issues before the trial even starts.

All around stroke of genius and the more I think about it the more angles I see for them.
 
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I disagree that this is aimed at the "pot of gold at the end of the rainbow" military contract. If it were I think Ruger would be putting more emphasis on robust combat reliability (which it may or may not have--I don't know). I think they have taken aim squarely at the budget but functional civilian market. Let's face it--if it's easy to grip--has a easy to pull trigger and good follow-up accuracy--this thing will likely take off in sales, no?
 
Imagine the Ruger "American" pistol is selected as the next general issue side arm for the US military.
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I think we're getting way ahead of ourselves. This pistol literally just came to market. Let's wait for some actual reports from high round count users first.

Who is going to buy a Glock , when they can buy the "American" used by US military forces? What about LE contracts?
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If this logic was true then all civilians and LE would still be using SIGs and more so Berettas.
 
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I put 50 rounds through one at the local range today. Overall, I felt it was a nice pistol.

Ruger autos tend to have trigger pulls that are very long with a long reset, and overly heavy. The American had a bit of a mushy take up (kind of like a Glock) then a crisp, short release that felt like the 5-6 lb range. Reset wasn't quite as short as a Glock but not bad at all, with a positive click.

Ergonomics were very good with the medium backstrap installed. Raising the gun to eye level, I found the gun pointed very naturally for me, sights were aligned with little need for adjustment. The crosshatched slide provided a very positive grip. Recoil spring wasn't particularly heavy, so racking the slide was not difficult. Slide stop/release and magazine release were both very easy to manipulate.

Felt recoil was pretty soft, and accuracy was pretty good.

Performance wise, I would put it in the same league as a Glock or M&P. Aesthetics are always subjective, I don't think any of the poly guns are particularly attractive, I'd put the Ruger in the middle of the road, at least it's not as ugly as a XD.
 
Yeah... this is an upgrade over the SR line I think... This is not a $300 pistol, the workmanship on it is much better than the SR line. The SR line has always felt a little loose/chincy, not that they are not well made/built well... its just that picking them up, they felt cheap somehow.

These pistols feel much more solid and better quality, and they appear to be better made overall as well, with better fit, finish, and feel.

There is no silly dingus loaded chamber indicator, not thumb safety, and no mag safety...

These are meant to directly compete with Glock, M&P, 320, FNS... etc etc... The other mainstream duty style pistols from well respected makers.



I think this was originally being designed with the Army MHS competition in mind, but Ruger announced they were not going to try for the contract after they dug into the specifics and legal mumbo involved. Basically they decided it was too much hassle, despite the potential for revenue. Maybe they thought the competition was too tight, and didn't feel like devoting resources to it.

But they had a workable design, that they knew could be marketed to civilians and agencies.
 
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