Ruger P-Series .45 ACP pistols

T

TruthTellers

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In my quest for a value priced .45 ACP pistol, I had kind of settled on the Hi Point, but recently I've rethought that and am wondering about Ruger's P90, P97, and KP345 pistols that are all no longer in production.

I'd like this thread to be about the pistols themselves and competitive options, but I'd also like input on how these directly compare to the currently produced .45 ACP Hi Point JHP pistols and the out of production .45 ACP Hi Point JH models.
 
^^^^^^

If you want to price compare the old P series to the Hi Points you are interested in; your price difference towards the Rugers could be close to 200%.

Used P series guns........... maybe $275 and UP here in Nor'east.
What do you want to pay?
 
A HiPoint really.
Save your money till you cant afford a decent weapon.
Some less expensive 1911 style 45s can be had for about 2x the price of that


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For a reliable, budget priced 45 auto the Ruger P series is tough to beat: extremely durable, reliable, and accurate enough.

My suggestion is that you pass on the hi point and keep a look out for a used P series Ruger. I found mine for $250 OTD.
 
I have owned a a P97, P345 and a SR45. Out of the 3 I only still have the P97. First of the SR45 would light strike primers with my reloads. The P345 ran great but was the safety decocker version. The P97 I kept because it was the decocker only version which I like over the safety decocker version. It also runs great. One thing parts for the "P" guns could be an issue.
Now on the Hi Point I'm kind of confused. If you want a cheap handgun like a Hi Point why would you be looking at one in 45acp. The ammo is quite a bit more expensive than 9mm. There are also some good deals on imported 9mm pistols at around $250 if you look. Sar and witness pistols come to mind.
 
^ Because I'm interested in an autoloading .45 pistol, but don't want to spend over $400 on it. Thus, Hi Point or Ruger P Series or Kahr CM45 (which is unlikely I'd get.)
 
OK TT.
I still have a P90 .45ACP.
I think if you can get a .45 Pseries for your price you will be way ahead of the Hi Point in form/ function.

The Hi Points DO shoot however; if thats what you want.
 
I have all three Ruger P series 45s. You mention the Kahr CM45, I have that, as well as the CW45, a Ruger SR1911, and an FNX-45. I guess Im qualified to give an opinion. The P series 45s are very well made. If you can master the DA first shot, SA after that, they are an excellent value. The magazines interchange between all three, the P 90 shipped with an 8 round mag, the others shipped with 9 round mags. I personally like the DC (Decocker) versions of these pistols over the safety models. The P90 and P345 series were made in both versions, Decocker, or Safety. Im pretty sure the P97 was Decocker or DAO. The P series safety is also a decocker. It doesn't make a lot of sense to me to have a safety on a DA pistol, if it has a Decocker. The P345 has the thinnest grip, it also has the thinnest slide. It also has a magazine disconnect, and a loaded chamber indicator. Its an easier pistol to conceal than the 90 or 97. To me, the 97 seems the softest shooting of the three.

All three are great pistols. They have reasonably decent DA triggers, excellent SA triggers, with a little bit of takeup, and a short reset. They are accurate, and reliable. In fact, I don't ever remember a failure from any of mine, and they get shot often
 
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^ While I like small size, I hate all the safety crap Ruger was putting into their handguns 5-10 years ago. Sounds like the P97 is the better model and probably smaller than the P90.

How difficult is it to get the magazines today?
 
I have a KP97DC and it's utterly reliable, accurate, soft shooting and feels good in the hand. In other words, it is an awesome pistol. I had a P345 and never bonded with it and all the politically correct features like magazine disconnect, stupid loaded chamber flip up, the even worse key lock safety and no "de-cocker only" version. It got traded off but the P97 is a permanent keeper.
 
How difficult is it to get the magazines today?

ShopRuger has them. I use Ebay for magazines 10 rounds and under. Easy to find
 
One thing about the P97 it shoots great but the polymer on the grip is pretty slippery. I cured this with a piece of bicycle inner tube on the grip. Another thing about older polymer rugers is some gun scrubbers will discolor the polymer. A good example is brake cleaner. I use it on most of my guns but not on the ruger. It will turn the polymer whitish in color. On the ruger I use polymer safe gun scrubber.
 
I have a P345 that has proven to be very strong and reliable. The only difference between Ruger mags and 1911 mags is a little notch that you can cut into any 1911 mag and make work.
 
I have a P90 and I love it. It is a bit heavy compared to a polymer but soft on the recoil and reliable. I have had no issues with it at all. I picked it up at a gun show about 4 years ago for 250.
 
The magazines interchange between all three, the P 90 shipped with an 8 round mag, the others shipped with 9 round mags.
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Not so. The original magazines had a plastic follower and held 7 rounds. Later on, the .45 P-series guns came with 8 rounds magazines with a metal follower. Both magazines work in all guns.

I have a P90 and I love it.
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I have a P90, and I seldom shoot it any more.
 
Yeah Lee... you are right. My round count was off. 7, and 8 is correct, not 8, and 9.

Wilson Combat has a follower kit that turns the 7 round mag into an 8. I did all my 7 round mags years ago, and haven't had any issues. I don't remember if the kit is actually for the Ruger P series, or for the 1911.
 
Wilson Combat has a follower kit that turns the 7 round mag into an 8. I did all my 7 round mags years ago, and haven't had any issues. I don't remember if the kit is actually for the Ruger P series, or for the 1911.
Click to expand...

Ruger used the Chip McCormick follower to replace their plastic follower, to make their 8 round magazines.
 
My experiences are a sample of one- but it is what is true for me, so that is all I care about. ;)

The Ruger P97DC was my first .45acp handgun.

It is not something I want to pull out for bragging rights. I isn't something I'd pull out for pictures. I isn't something I'd try to impress my friends with.

But I sold a H&K UPS 45Compact, a Sig P220Combat and a S.A. Loaded blackened Stainless target model 1911 because I was consistently more accurate with the Ruger P97.



Since then I've added some other 'toys'. And some I am more accurate with [all of which are 1911s of some form- imagine that].

However, I have NO doubts that the Ruger will go bang every time and save my life. It may not get me 2" 8-round groups at 10 yards [but that is because I need more practice]. It may have an 'odd' recoil impulse [due to unique recoil cam action in rod]. It may have only 8 rounds [but I live in California, so only give up 2 to other models]. It may not have a light rail underneath [neither do 5 of my 1911s].

Yet, I am NEVER in doubt of its reliability.

I find the reset a bit longer than others have mentioned, but love the fact that my DA pull is around 8lbs and my SA pull is around 3lbs, with stock springs. My Walther P38 has a DA pull of something like 16lbs, so this feels like heaven!

The let-off is a 'rolling break' on mine, so I am not stacking it just before it pops. I find this makes me focus on sight alignment more- and I don't flinch as often.

I like it enough that I bought a complete parts kit for it for $100 about 4 years ago [everything, except the frame itself].

I find myself preferring 1911s now a days. I find the Glock design interesting, as I have a 30sf with a .45-10mm conversion barrel, a 10-to .40S&W conversion barrel, and a .22lr top end. It is fun to have 4 calibers in one frame. I find the 'feel' of the M&P .45 full size to be the bee's knees, when compared to anything other than a 1911- and the APEX DCEAK in it is NICE.
I don't get the P97 out much any more.

However, it is one that I have more confidence in than about anything else I've shot. It just isn't as 'inspiring' in the hand.

I found the P90 too bulky for my hand, and the P97 was a better fit. I just added grip tape to mine to keep it from sliding.

I never could justify the P345, as I disliked the LCI, I disliked the 'feel' of the grip in my hand, and the only thing I liked more about it was the light rail underneath.

The SR45 was a striker fired, and felt even odder in my hand [and I am in California- it didn't make the gun list before the list froze].


One other thing to consider, depending on where you live. Rock Island Armory 1911 Tacticals are a good value for an entry level 1911.

I have 3. I have a Caspian frame/slide with all EGW parts in it also, and it IS better than the RIA Tactical- but it also cost almost 4 times as much.

I mention this as 1911 parts are ubiquitous, and Ruger P-series .45acp handgun parts are drying up FAST. If your Ruger P97 breaks a firing pin or needs a sear spring- good luck.

If a RIA 1911 Tactical needs one, you are good to go.


I don't know the KAHR .45s from experience. I had a Kahr K9 and liked it, but found the magazine design annoying, as the first round in my spare mags would work loose in the mag holder. I don't know if the .45s have that problem.

Whatever you decide, good luck!
 
I have an old P90 and I have to say that it works, has decent enough accuracy, it's built like a tank and really, just does what it's supposed to do. However, I do tend to think it's a bit bulky, clunky and is lacking in the capacity department for a gun of its size and weight. I also despise the factory grip panels as they seem to have been added as nothing more than to get it out the factory door as a complete firearm. A set of Hoage grips fixed that problem but you are still left with a clunky, bulky low capacity pistol that has long been eclipsed by better designs. The USP for example is just as reliable, overbuilt durability, excellent accuracy and offers a higher capacity than my P90. Of course though, there is a higher price tag on it too. But for a beater, backwoods, truck gun type of pistol, the P90is still a pretty good choice. I won't be selling mine any time soon.
 
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