Vern Evans
Polymer-frame striker-fired handguns are the typical service pistol these days, although a few of the previous generation aluminum-frame pistols are still in use. The balance of function, affordability, and economy has a great deal of appeal.
The lucrative market is far from tied up by Glock. Even a few percentage points of sales may mean millions. Ruger offers good-quality handguns, some of its own design and others based on proven designs. They make a good 1911, and their Security 9 is a credible defensive handgun.
Their newest handgun is in many ways a close clone of the Glock Generation 3. There has been a rule concerning Glock clones. Those selling for less than the Glock are pistols in which corners have been cut.
Those that cost more offer better sights or a superior trigger action. The pistol illustrated is original in some ways and, in other ways, pretty much a Glock. The first rule of logistics is that gear must be affordable and accessible. The Ruger RXM is affordable and plenty of spare parts are available – from the Glock Store and others.
RXM Features
The RXM 9mm features a frame and slide similar to the Glock 19. The barrels interchange in my Glock 19s, they lock in and function. The slide does not, but I don’t own a Gen 3 Glock, only Gen 5s. The handle doesn’t feature grip inserts. However, the grip frame fits most hands well.
Ruger redesigned the handle by two degrees. Instead of the Glock’s famous twenty-two-degree angle, the Ruger features a twenty-degree angle. You can feel the difference in a side-by-side comparison. Some folks shoot everything they pick up well, but for the rest of us, a slight difference in grip design makes a difference in the way we shoot. The grip is comfortable, and the MagPul frame is designed to offer a good balance of adhesion and abrasion.
The pistol is a collaboration between Ruger and MagPul. Those two don’t often get things wrong. The huge difference between the Glock and the Ruger RXM is that the RXM features an internal chassis like the SIG P320 or Beretta APX. If MagPul offers a range of frames and they should this will make for an interesting development. The slide is a nitride finish while the frame is finished in Stealth Gray. The slide features forward cocking serrations and is nicely beveled for easy re-holstering.
The pistol features a single tritium dot in the front sight. The sights are high profile, but they don’t co-witness with every red dot. In the case of the Riton illustrated, they co-witness perfectly as the Riton has auxiliary sights built into its housing. The slide is cut for a direct mount of the optic. This seems a solid option, but it is not as versatile as the Springfield Echelon or the Glock MOS. However, it works fine with the optics it is cut for.
The pistol is supplied with two MagPul magazines. I have used quite a few MagPul magazines with good results. The pistol is compatible with all Glock magazines, magazine availability is no issue. The slide lock is not ambidextrous. The magazine latch is easily manipulated, it seems standard Glock in operation.
The pistol features a nicely beveled magazine well—perhaps even too large for some tastes but certainly allowing a rapid-speed load. Mechanically, the trigger action is the same as a Glock. Rack the slide, and the action is prepped.
Press the trigger to finish cocking and releasing the striker. However, according to the RCBS trigger weight gauge, the Ruger breaks clean at 4.5 pounds, which is about a pound lighter than a Glock on hand.
On the Range
The initial firing wasn’t a revelation. Ruger firearms are rugged, of good value, and run reliably. This piece doesn’t break the track record. The pistol’s trigger action and good sights make it easier to get fast hits with than a comparable Glock. That is something. I fired almost two hundred cartridges in the first outing with good results. Then, more in the following weeks.
The pistol runs well I even fired several bags of steel case loads left over from the panic driven pandemic era. FMJ, hollow points, and +P loads ran well.
Firing from a solid benchrest, it was no mean feat to put five rounds of my favorite carry load, the Speer Gold Dot 124 grain +P, into 2.5 inches. The pistol is well worth the money. It is measurably easier to use well than a Glock, has much better factory sights, and features a removable chassis.
The resized grip frame more than makes up for the lack of grip inserts, but if you have large hands, you should try one on for size. It may cramp the hand.
I ordered a Falco Paterson 633LT light-bearing holster. This is a semi-pancake design that is both optics and light-capable (Falcoholsters.com). With the Streamlight TRL 7 mounted, this is a credible combination. Sure, there are Kydex rigs available, but the Falco Timeless leather is superbly nicely fitting, fast, and secure. Next, I mounted Riton 3Tactix PRD optics.
Ritonoptics.com—It isn’t top-end, but this unit has been on three pistols and given good results. I cannot recall a problem with any Riton optics, and I own several. A red dot can be difficult to master for many of us. Both eyes open, and you bring it up to the eyes, and eventually, you get it. A lot of training, and eventually, you get up to speed.
The red dot is easy enough to mount with the Ruger’s direct mounting. The revelation was in firing. The slight difference in grip angle presents the red dot to the eye more efficiently than the Glock. And that is something.
In the end the RXM is a great shooter. It is a good gun for the money, and would be a good gun for more money. Time will tell but the American made RXM just may shake the polymer world up.
Specifications
- Ruger RXM
- Caliber 9mm
- Action DAO striker fired
- Capacity Supplied with two MagPul 15 round magazines
- Overall Length 7.15 in.
- Barrel 4 in.
- Height 5.3 in.
- Weight 23 oz.
- Average Retail $399
Ratings
Reliability With FMJ, JHP, +P and steel cased ammunition *****
Accuracy *****
Note: It’s more accurate than most Glocks.
Concealed Carry *****
Note: The Glock 19 is perhaps the best sized 9mm for a mix of lightweight and concealment. This one is in the same shoe box.
Affordability *****
Note: So, does it possess the ability to add upgrades? Time will tell. Barrels and magazines are no problem. We’ll see.
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