anyone see the p345 yet?

[5ontarget]

Ruger's new .45, the p345 was reviewed in Guns & Ammo, October issue. It does look less chunky/brick-like. Still not "sleek" though. Comes with a 4.2in bbl, polymer grip. Major changes seem to be in the grip shape, LCI, picatinny rails, magazine disconnect, internal lock, Ruger Camblock (Ruger says is "linkless and designed to reduce recoil.) The review stated "Even the short-fingered should have no problem with the DA pull on this gun, which incidently, is remarkably smooth and in the low teens weightwise. The singe action pull on my test gun broke at five pounds even, after about a quarter-inch of takeup."
It seemed the reviewer like the gun pretty well. It did have a couple of failure to feed with Black Hills 200gr lead semiwadcutters, and Buffalo Bore 185gr JHP, all other 200 and 230gr fed flawlessly.

here is the press release from Ruger www.ruger-firearms.com/Firearms/News-04-16-2004B.html

[KrustyBurger]

Sounds like a typical G&A 'fudging it' gloss-over-the- negatives glowing review.

[TMan]

Yes, I was in Academy Sporting Goods in Grapevine, TX and much to my surprise they had the P345. It had a trigger lock on it, (but I wouldn't have dry fired it anyhow), so I couldn't get my finger in there. However, it felt good in my hand (I'm XL glove size). It is a lot lighter than my P90. However, this is a polymer gun and the grips are molded into it, so no changing out the grips to Hogue like I did on the P90. It is much lighter than the P90 but I didn't think to have the counter clerk hand me the P90 for comparison.

Unlike the P90, it is not ugly. I was surprised at how attractive that it actually was. However, since it is lighter, and smaller, I imagine the recoil is going to be felt more than the P90.

Academy had it for $449, and the P90 for $389. Is it worth $60 more? I'll stick with my ole P90, sloppy slide fit and all. If I didn't own the P90 and was going to buy either the P90 or P345, I bet I would buy the P345 just for the looks. (Of course I'm a jerk, and if you don't believe me - ask my wife)

Update on 10/01: stopped in and looked at it again. The more I look at this gun the more I like it. I almost bought it, but the thing is that after putting Hogue grips on the P90, I was so impressed with the improvement in shooting it. I think the P345 not having the finger grips would be harder to shoot and I might end up regreting that I bought it. (I'm running out of room in the safe - need to sell some of the wife's jewelry so I'll have more room) ;D.

Oh, one other thing - my well broken-in P90 has a break at 3.5 lbs, which just happens to be the same as my P220 Sport (same scale).