Ruger P345: reviews & Recommendations

10/13/2007

[MichaelP]

I'm considering buying a Ruger P345 for CC. The written reviews I've read are excellent. However, it has to pass the Freeper peer review board before I buy it. So what do you think?

Mike

[matthew fuller]

Hey, that’s my 431 you got there!

[Squantos]

;o)

[Freedom_Is_Not_Free]

I am sure it will do fine. Most guns will. I’m not Ruger fan. They all seem either bulkier than necessary or less refined than necessary. Think, heavy trigger pull.

I would get a Sig P220 Compact. It will cost you more, but what is your life worth?

[Freedom_Is_Not_Free]

Forgot to add that most firearms discussions here become popularity contest. We all have our favorites and thus biased, we aren’t likely to recommend something different. Ruger is one of my least favorite arms, so YMMV with me and my bias.

The 1911 nuts won’t recommend anything else. Nor the Sig fanatics or Beretta junkies.

I’m sure that Ruger will work just fine. Under stress, the heavy trigger pull won’t matter at all. I think there are better choices, but you have your reasons for wanting it.

The worst thing about the Ruger is, you probably can’t rent it. All of the popular handguns can be rented around most larger towns. I swear by renting or borrowing handguns before purchasing. All too often people like the looks of a gun, but how it fits your grip, the way it operates, and how it shoots for you is way more important. You will never answer those questions aiming at the ceiling in a shop. You have to shoot the thing.

IMHO, renting is the ONLY way to go. If I were looking to buy a carry gun, I would rent various ones and buy the one I liked the best at the range, and I would pass on any I could not rent or try out. Two things anymore I hate to buy without renting first are, guns and cars.

[Total Package]

For when you want the really really really dead! :)

[Total Package]

The S&W is much like my Taurus 851s.

[Uri’el-2012]

The S&W is much like my Taurus 851s.

Pretty much the same

[Joe Boucher]

I like my Kimber 45.
It’s just built better.

I have 5 different Rugers and love them all.

[NY.SS-Bar9]

24 posts, and no mention of the finest handgun ever developed.

The 1911?

[sig226]

I love my P226, but it’s a bit large for concealed carry. I’ve done it anyway, but the more I carry a handgun, the more I realize that small ones are good.

[Elle Bee]

I'm thinking about this:

any thought from anyone?

Mateba Model 6 Unica auto-revolver (Italy)

Mateba Model 6 Unica auto-revolver in .454Casull caliber

Drawing from original patent (US 4,712,466 to Emilio Ghisoni) which explains the basic design of Mateba Model 6 Unica auto-revolver

Type	Double Action semiautomatic revolver
Caliber(s)	.357 Magnum, also .44 Magnum and .454 Casull
Weight unloaded	1250 g and more
Length	depending on barrel length; 275mm with 152mm (6") barrel
Barrel length	76mm (3"), 102mm (4"), 127mm (5"), 152mm (6") and 205mm (8")
Magazine capacity	6 rounds

Mateba Model 6 Unica is one of the more unusual modern weapons, which combines advantages and disadvantages of two different types of handguns - semi-automatic pistols and traditional revolvers. Obviously based on 1900-wintage British Webley-Fosbery semi-automatic revolver, Mateba Model Unica adds several novel features to this old and relatively unsuccessful design. Mateba Model 6 Unica auto-revolver has been developed by Italian designer Emilio Ghisoni by late 1980s, and put into limited production by Italian company Macchine Termo Balistiche, now Mateba Srl. Basic design was developed in three calibers (and sizes), as well as in carbine versions, fitted with long 457mm (18") barrels and shoulder stocks. Revolvers of Model 6 Unica line-up apparently are still produced on limited basis.

Mateba Model 6 Unica auto-revolver utilizes two-part frame, where upper part is allowed to recoil on the rails, machined on the lower frame. Upper frame holds cylinder and barrel; lower frame hosts the trigger and hammer unit and a grip. Six-shot cylinder swings to the left for reloading, but, unlike most revolvers, cylinder crane axis is located above the cylinder (not below), and cylinder swings up and to the left, instead of more traditional down and to the left. Also unlike most other revolvers, the barrel is located co-axially with lower chamber in the cylinder (not upper); this is done to decrease muzzle flip through smaller bore axis to grip distance. Barrels are easily removable, with separate barrel jackets; therefore, barrels of various lengths can be installed on a single gun using special wrench. Upon discharge, upper frame recoils against it return spring, automatically cocking the hammer and rotating cylinder; if necessary, revolver also can be fired for first shot in traditional single or double action mode. Sights are adjustable, but again unlike most other guns, it is front sight that is fully adjustable, and rear sight is fixed; this is necessary because front sights are fixed on removable barrel shrouds.
Like its much older predecessor, the Webley-Fosbery semi-automatic revolver, Mateba Model 6 Unica has advantage of significantly reduced felt recoil; however, there are some serious penalties for that, as it is also somewhat heavier than traditional revolvers of similar caliber and barrel length, is more complicated and sensitive to proper grip during discharge - gripping it too weakly may produce failures to cycle the action through insufficient recoiling movement. Also, it is sensitive to weak and mild rounds that may generate insufficient recoil, and the gun will fail to cycle the action.

.

[Shooter 2.5]

The one on my profile page is first generation and the one you are showing is second generation.

The Mateba is a great investment. If you decide to buy one you have to make the decision whether you want to actually shoot it or leave it unfired for collector status.
The first one I bought was around 600 dollars and I did consider it a shooter. It worked great for about three boxes of ammo and then the linkage disengaged. It was an easy fix but it was disappointing.
The next one I bought was a second generation with the shorter barrel shoud and wrench style barrel nut. It had a problem where the cylinder didn’t lock after hand cycling. The third I bought was back to the first generation. It too had a problem on deliver. It had a very small sear spring that was easily fixed.

The upside of these guns are very good investment possibilities, bragging rights for an unusual design even some gun writers have never heard of. Numbers of the guns are still less than 2000. The bad side is wishing they worked a little better and parts were easier to get if and when it has a problem. A scope mount is more than a hundred dollars from less than forty.

If you had the money, I would buy as many as you could be comfortable with and then use one as a shooter for those special occasions. Shooting one of these is a very strange experience.

[kAcknor]

I manage with a XD-45 compact most of the time.
Have you been happy with it?

I am very happy with the gun, and for carry it works well with the help of a Crossbreed IWB holster. The combination works for me. The holster is a leather backing with a Kydex pocket. Thin and (dare I say?) very comfortable.

The gun itself fits me. It's the compact 4". Came with two mags a flush fitting 10 round and a 13 with the extension. It shoots well, haven't had a bit of problem or stoppage with near 1000 rounds of mostly hand loads. If there is a complaint at all it's with the availability of magazines. The 13 is easy to find, but the needed extension or the flush fit 10 are scarce yet.

The size is a bit larger than the Glock 30 (4" vs 3") but carries and shoots very nice. It doubles as the nightstand gun too. I remove the 10 round mag and insert the 13, the slip on the Streamlight M3 I found at a VERY good price at a pawn shop, and it's ready. 14+1 with vision.

Actually, it's backup to this: A short barreled Mossy 500, but I figure it can't hurt to have it, JIC. ;)

[ErnBatavia]

I have a Ruger Single Six .22 (not the "Buntline" as shown...those are darn near 16 inches long and very heavy) that I bought in high school about 45 years ago.

I like the two interchangeable cylinders; one for 22LR and the other for my hollow point Magnums.

[Doohickey]

My own carry piece is a P345. It’s a fine pistol.

[Doohickey]

Nice, but I don’t like autos with double-stack/diagonal stack magazines. Makes the grip too large to fit comfortably in my hand. I never was able to make a comfortable transition from the M1911A1 to the M9 for that reason.

[MarkL]

Let me guess... You got married?

Lord NO!!!! To quote Marx, "I'd never join a club that would have me as a member!" (That would be Groucho, not Karl!). No, not married, just short of funds, and I've got a gun safe that's overflowing as it is right now. I'd either have to sell one to make room, or buy another gun safe. Seventeen will have to do for the time being.

Mark

[MarkL]

There is a butt plug that make it feel much more comfortable

Must... Not... Make... Smart... Ass... Comment...

Must... Not... Get... Banned!!!

Mark

[MarkL]

Got something against gun safes? :)

The key word in my original post was "another!" I don't have room, or the money, for a second gun safe. More importantly, I don't have money for all the additional guns I would have to buy to fill up the second gun safe... You know, nature abhors a vacuum, and an empty gun safe (and that counts gun safes that are less than half full), is a terrible vacuum which must be filled!

Mark

[Uri’el-2012]

I knew that was coming from someone in an alternative universe like San Francisco.