The Ruger American 45 is a fantastic self-defense handgun. Given the present pricing, you get a lot of bang for your buck, including a durable and accurate pistol.
Not to add that it appears to be futuristic technology from some angles. It is not without problems, though, which you should be aware of before making a purchase.
Premature wear, feeding issue, jamming, ejector issue, magazine problem, and striker issue are all possibilities. Aside from that, you shouldn’t be concerned because additional problems only occur in uncommon cases.
In this piece, I’ll go through the Kimber r7 mako issues in further depth. I’ll even provide some solutions to these prevalent problems.
Features & Specifications of Ruger American 45 Gun:
| Capacity | 10+1 |
| Slide material | Stainless Steel |
| Overall length | 8″ inches |
| Barrel length | 4.50″ inches |
| Safety option | Manual Safety |
| Twist | 1:10″ RH |
Common Ruger American 45 Problems and Solutions
| Problems | Solutions |
| Premature wear | Send to Ruger for fixing |
| Feeding issue | Keep the gun clean and lubed/ replace the faulty parts |
| Jamming | Clean the gun thoroughly/ Make sure the magazine and recoil spring are in working order |
| Failure to extract | Keep away dirt corrosion/ replace extractor and cartridge if needed |
| Striker problem | Send to Ruger |
| Magazine problem | Modify/replace the magazine |
1. Premature wear:
Ruger American slides may break owing to premature wear of the locking surfaces between the slide and barrel hood, according to Ruger.
Possible Reasons
Ruger has identified that some Ruger American Pistols may display early wear of the locking surfaces between the slide and barrel, which, if ignored, can result in a fracture forming at the slide’s ejection port.
This is uncommon when the round count is less than 10,000.
The Fix:
After each range session, you should clean and examine your rifle. Proper maintenance extends the life of your handgun and allows for the early diagnosis of worn or damaged parts.
Ruger will provide a free refit for the impacted firearms; for additional information, see the Ruger website.
2. Feeding Issue:
Feeding issues occur when a firearm fails to feed the next bullet into the firing chamber. Failure to feed is prevalent when the shooter does not maintain a firm grip on the handgun.
Possible Reasons
It’s possible that your manual load isn’t pushing hard enough to get to full battery. Check that everything is in functioning order on that front. It’s also possible that the extractor isn’t turning properly.
Take notice of the space between the case head and the shoulder machined into the breech face opposite the extractor.
The Fix:
A thorough cleaning of the chamber is a good idea. Clean and lubricate the extractor, paying particular attention to the region inside the hook. Make certain that the breach face is clean and smooth.
It’s critical to properly support the rifle, providing it with a nice solid base and grip to recoil against. Recoil and follow through will be clumsy if you don’t have a tight enough grip and your stance doesn’t give adequate support.
3. Jamming:
The gun is constructed like a tank, and it’s a fantastic shooter, but it falls short in a few areas.
Possible Reasons
Failure to feed occurs when the following round is not correctly fed into the chamber.
Ejection failure occurs when a round’s casing departs the chamber but becomes caught in the ejection port.
This form of jam is typically referred to as “stovepipes” because the casing frequently extends out perpendicular to the slide like a stovepipe hat.
The Fix:
- Make sure the magazine and recoil spring are in working order as they cause the jamming most of the time.
- Do not compromise with ammunition quality. Use the recommended ammo.
- Regular cleaning and lubrication are vital to avoid gun jamming.
- Also, make sure you are not inducing jamming via poor technique.
4. Failure to Extract:
When the slide or bolt moves backward, but the empty cartridge case stays in the chamber, this is referred to as a failure to extract.
Possible Reasons
There are several possible explanations for this:
- Dirt and corrosion: Dirt or corrosion in the extractor claw or firing chamber might prevent the empty cartridge from being properly picked up.
- Damaged extractor: An extraction claw that is damaged or deformed may not pick up empty cartridges effectively. This issue might also be caused by a faulty extractor spring.
- Defective cartridge: If the cartridge rim is damaged, it may fall off the extraction claw and remain in the chamber.
The Fix:
Cleaning filth is a normal practice that should be done out with every handgun, thus fixing issues often doesn’t cost too much.
Damaged extractor claws and springs may also be changed for a reasonable price because these components are available for the majority of rifles. You may throw away defective cartridges and buy better-quality ones in their place.
5. Striker Problem:
After firing a few hundred rounds, you could find the striker pin protruding from the slide’s hole, preventing the fresh round from moving up the slide’s face.
Possible Reasons
There could to two possibilities that might land you in this situation.
One, if the gun was disassembled and then reassembled incorrectly. Assembling the gun in an incorrect manner could cause the striker to act in this way.
Another reason could be a quality control issue. The problem could be induced by the factory.
The Fix:
In case of incorrect assembly, you should check this YouTube video. This video shows to correctly disassemble and assemble the gun with great detail.
If you suspect it is a quality control issue, then you should send the gun to Ruger.
6. Magazine Issue:
The magazines still don’t seem to lock in firmly and must be slapped in.
Possible Reasons
Your mags may not be inserted completely, which would prevent the locking button from latching on the locking nub on the magazine body. You have a few things to consider.
Your plastic frame could be just a little bit out of tolerance if none of your 22/45 magazines will properly insert.
The Fix:
The problem may be fixed by using a “safe-sided” file to remove a small amount of material from the grip’s underside where the bottom block meets the grip frame.
If there is just one magazine, you may use the same file to trim some material until the magazine fits snugly along the top borders of the bottom block.
User Feedback on Ruger American 45
Overall, the Ruger American Handgun is a high-quality pistol with multiple features and a few downsides. Nonetheless, the new Ruger American Pistols provide a broad list of useful features at a modest price.
There have been quite a few complaints about FTE and double feeds. These issues were also experienced by a user on rugerforum. But, it is a problem that can be solved even without sending it to Ruger for fixing.
There are also happy customers out there like one in the glocktalk forum. As Ruger is known for its great trigger, he got to experience it firsthand.
If you’re looking for a semi-high capacity.45 (10 rds) pistol with a striker fire mechanism, and you desire an American-made low-cost but high-quality rifle, the Ruger American is for you. And, this sentiment is not only mine but also shared by a user on survivalistboards.
Top 3 Alternative Guns of Ruger American 45
S&W M&P 45 SHIELD
It is a single-stack, striker-fired polymer handgun with a grip that is so aggressively textured that you can hold on even with wet or sweaty palms. With regard to ergonomics, the Ruger American is inferior.
WALTHER PPQ M2 .45 ACP
The magazine release is ambidextrous, and the 5.6-pound trigger is surprisingly effective with a smooth pull, sharp break, and simple rapid-fire action.
CZ USA CZ 97 45 ACP
The 97 B has substantial grips, safety without a decocker, and fiber optic sights that are incredibly quick and simple to use. If you choose a Ruger American, you will only be able to use iron sights.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is the Ruger American Pistol good?
Overall, the Ruger American Pistol is a high-quality pistol at an affordable price.
How much does a Ruger 45 revolver cost?
It will cost you approximately roughly a grand.
How many rounds does a Ruger American 45 hold?
Its magazine can hold 10 rounds at a time and it can keep 1 round in the chamber.
Which is better Ruger or Glock?
Although the Glock is more accurate, the Ruger offers a smoother trigger pull.
Is Ruger an American pistol?
Ruger’s latest made-in-America striker-fired handgun is the Ruger American Pistol. It’s a full-size sidearm that may be used for duty or open carry. It is available in 9mm and. 45 Auto.
Conclusion
There is no such thing as a problem-free rifle, and the Ruger American 45 is no exception. The elements that set it apart from the competition are comfort, accuracy, and performance.
After the break-in phase, the pistol becomes buttery smooth. Most of your difficulties will arise during this period.
Its difficulties can be solved with minimal effort. And once you’ve resolved these issues, you’ll see why it’s considered one of the greatest.
