Ruger American® Pistol Pro Competition

September 25, 2022 – Fall has come to Maine and leaves on maple trees are already turning. Ambient temperatures are in the 50°F to 60°F range and rainfall is almost constant. Procrastination is leaving me with a muffler and tail pipe to change on the thrasher and a tractor to change over for snow removal, both residing in an unheated garage.

Purchased my Maine lifetime hunting and fishing license today, $8. Let us hope it was an insane bargain. By the time I get the car and tractor projects completed, it will be time for ice fishing and deer season.

The Ruger American^® Pistol Competition

OK, so maybe I did review this pistol two years ago. Look at it. How could I not create another opportunity to create more range time?

 

Above, ambidextrous slide stop and magazine latch. The accessory rail is Mil-Spec 1913 Picatinny rail. The trigger guard is oversize for cold weather service.

 

The loaded chamber view port is visible on the barrel tang, as is the reflex sight mount dust cover. The takedown lever is located on the frame just above the trigger guard. The trigger safety blade is shown protruding from the trigger’s and is depressed incidental to a trigger pull. It does prevent the gun from discharging as a result of the gun being dropped.

The Competition is the only Ruger American Pistol that is supplied with micro adjustable target sights at the rear and high visibility fiber optic sight up front. They are really fast in use against virtually any backdrop.

The open top slide design minimizes opportunities for jamming and provides access for manual clearing in the event of a malfunction. The matte black finish, raised rib striations kill glare and distracting reflections. The optic mount cover plate is secured with two fasteners and creates an uninterrupted line of sight when a reflex sight is not installed.

The Ruger’s slide top is milled, drilled and tapped to accommodate a reflex sight. Examples of drop in sights are Vortex®, Burris®, Sightmark®, Docter®, MeoRed®, MRDS and similar optics using #6-48 mounting screws.

My general rule of thumb is that optical sights remain in service until they fail or there is a significant upgrade. That Burris sight has been in service for over a decade, pistols and rifles, some very hard kickers. It was well suited to the Ruger as they are both pretty tough customers.

Rather than install the sight and then burn through $7,623.47 in ammo to get on target, a $29 laser boresighter made sighting in quick work; adjust the optical sight’s dot to overlap the bore sight laser dot and call it done. The boresight actually puts its stub in the pistol’s chamber, but it centers just fine. I’d be worried if it didn’t as perfect concentrically of chamber and bore are essential for accuracy.

Takedown is simple and requires no tools; pull magazine, clear and lock open, rotate takedown lever downward, control release of side and slide off frame. No barrel bushing, captive dual recoil spring, ramped match quality stainless steel barrel, stainless steel slide. The barrel cam timing extends the force of recoil over a longer period of time to reduce felt recoil.

The grip frame is glass fiber filled Nylon. All fire control parts are secured within an internal stainless steel chassis that also forms the pistol’s frame rails. The pre-tensioned striker system provides positive ignition without a heavy trigger pull. Two 17 round nickel-Teflon plated magazines are included with the pistol.

Interchangeable grips are quick to change and they are handy. With small, medium and large inserts included with the Ruger American Pistol Competition, there is one that will fit virtually any hand size.

Handling personality and performance

Actuation of controls is positive and magazine changes are fumble free. Reach to the trigger and short trigger pull make for holding a comfortable high grip. Racking effort is moderate, the gripping surfaces are very good and the slide release is clean.

The full size, if lightweight, Ruger American Pro Competition is soft shooting and exhibits little muzzle climb. Did social media denizens stop referring to muzzle rise, muzzle climb as muzzle flip? I hope so. Hey! Maybe they stopped referring to a grip as a handle?

Am-A-Nition

OK, so I went a little overboard with variety. It’s just that there are approximately 216 9mm Luger factory loads, a composite of 33 brands, so a few extra types represented seems fair.

Selected bullet weight was capped at 124 grains in deference to the Ruger’s slow twist, which is intended for less than maximum bullet weight 9mm ammunition, as the pistol would be used in competitive shooting.

Yes, of course I shot 147 grain factory loads and they were as accurate. Particularly Winchester Defender and Remington HTP. Ruger tends to be very conservative in defining their products and product performance. Very refreshing in a world where P.T. Barnum often rules supreme.

I personally avoid 158 grain and 165 grain grain 9mm Luger subsonic loads, because they hurt my toes when bullets roll out of a pistol barrel and immediately succumb to the laws of gravity. As the barrel is not threaded for suppression, the issue is moot. Groups were shot from a rest with a red dot sight in place.

Spoiler – Interior ammunition price rant

Ammo prices are a little wacky these days, with some manufacturers pushing ever upward to find that point where gun owners put their firearms in a safe and take up bowling. Some manufacturers are not that way. Hornady, Blazer, Magtech, and Norma have 36¢ per round, $18/50, product for the range.

Jacketed HP and other defensive ammo prices start at approximately 44¢ per round, $22/50, from Fiocchi, Aguila, Norma. Then prices take off, topping with the silly names like G2 Research’s R.I.P. and Civic Duty and the ever overpriced Buffalo Bore at $2.35 per round or $117/50 equivalent. Actually, Buffalo Bore has a Barnes TAC-HP 115 grain +P+ load priced $2.75 per round or $138/50 equivalent.

There is no performance, component material or assembly exception that justifies the latter category’s prices other than people who are willing to pay the price. Get the least expensive, get the same performance and you can shoot a lot more. Yes, I love capitalism also, but I exercise my right to decline purchasing from companies that have no respect for their customers.

End of ammunition editorial comment.

The Ruger American Competition – If it pleases you my lord.

Sorry, I’ve been watching too many British TV courtroom dramas. The Competition is an easy to shoot, accurate, and comfortable 9mm Luger. Its longer barrel maximizes 9mm Luger performance, its long sight radius enhances shooter’s skills. The Competition’s optical sight capability makes the pistol extremely fast on target and aids those who might otherwise be sidelined with less than perfect vision.

The included interchangeable grips are useful. I find the factory installed medium grip to be a tad small so I shoot with the large grip in place. Easy change out. With the price of magazines these days, the two included with the Pro Competition are appreciated.

Fit and finish is exceptional, aesthetics instill pride of ownership. The pistol is not too big for comfortable belt carry and there are literally dozens of holster types and brands available. Yes, I do know the difference between literally and figuratively. With the right selection of ammo, the Ruger makes for an exceptional range day and a lot of protection when not.