The Ruger American Pistol Compact Pro is a shooters handgun for all of the reasons noted in Part 1, summarized as the list of adjectives and accolades that follow: well made, reliable, accurate, adaptive, backed by a company that is customer oriented. Add a 9mm Luger chamber and associated one hundred fifty nine factory ammunition types and one hundred six component bullets for the handloader, it would be tough to find a personal defense application where the combination would not fit.
The standard 9mm Luger has a SAAMI assigned maximum average pressure of 35,000 PSI, the 9mm Luger +P has a MAP of 38,500 PSI. The industry standard barrel length for testing and rating 9mm Luger ammunition is 4″ for standard and +P versions. Handloads appearing within this digital pulp are all +P level handloads. For folks who speak CIP, the Pmax is 2350 BAR, approximately 34,076 PSI by transducer method and test barrel length is 150mm, approximately 5.9″. There is only a standard pressure CIP 9mm Luger standard, no +P derivative.
Quinque multarum
Five bullets were selected, yes because I had a ton of them on the shelf, but also because they are representative of useful 9mm bullet types that will exit through a relatively short barrel pistol. The Hunters Supply cast bullet has a hardness of BHN 15, or about the same as Lyman #2 alloy. It is a hardness is soft enough to promote bore sealing through obturation, but not so soft as to promote bore leading at velocities up to 1,500 fps without use of a gas check.
| Bullet | Type | Bullet Weight Grains |
Bullet Length “ |
COL “ |
| Nosler Sporting Handgun | JHP | 115 | 0.516 | 1.100 |
| Winchester – Notched | JHP | 115 | 0.537 | 1.100 |
| Remington Golden Saber | BJHP | 124 | 0.576 | 1.145 |
| Hunters Supply Cast | FP | 125 | 0.551 | 1.090 |
| Speer Gold Dot | JHP | 147 | 0.656 | 1.130 |
Reloading Notes: The Lee Precision four die set full length sized, lightly expanded, bullet seated, and taper crimped. The bore riding Golden Saber received sufficient seating depth to taper crimp on the bullet’s shoulder. Only the cast bullet with Power Pistol powder was a compressed load. It was seated to just below the roll crimp groove and taper crimped. One 115 grain bullet handload was changed from LongShot to HS-6 when acceptable velocity proved to be unattainable with LongShot.
Far left is a factory round, once fired, and middle and right examples of handload empties from new brass. All of the handload empties, regardless powder and bullet selection, looked as clean and there was virtually no bore fouling. Velocity recorded with the 3.55″ long barrel Ruger American Pistol Compact Pro is in line with factory +P ammo as the American standard is set with a 4.0″ barrel and ammunition made outside of U.S. to CIP standards is set with a 5.9″ barrel.
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Warning: Bullet selections are specific, and loads are not valid with substitutions of different bullets of the same weight. Variations in bullet material and length will alter net case capacity, pressure and velocity results. Primer selection is specific and primer types are not interchangeable. These data represents maximum loads in our firearms and test equipment and may easily be excessive in other applications. All loads should be reduced by 3%, and developed following safe handloading practices as represented in established reloading manuals produced by component manufacturers. Presentation of these loads does not constitute a solicitation for their use, nor a recommendation.
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Veniens ad finem
The Ruger American Pistol Compact Pro is an optimal size for the 9mm Luger. While a subcompact pistol like the LC9s is easier to conceal and provides reliable function, it is more difficult to control and clearly a close in defensive weapon. The Ruger 9E has a longer barrel for improved ballistics and a seventeen round magazine compared to ten for the Compact Pro, but it is significantly more difficult to carry concealed.
The Ruger American Pistol Compact Pro has an easy to actuate slide and good control of ejecting empties. The controls are well placed and positive in actuation. For folks who like to hang things on their firearms, there is the Picatinny under rail. Accuracy is good, recoil is light and easy to manage and the quality of construction will keep them in service for a very long time.
The Ruger American Pistol Compact Pro has an easy to actuate slide and good control of ejecting empties. The controls are well placed and positive in actuation. For folks who like to hang things on their firearms, there is the Picatinny under rail. Accuracy is good, recoil is light and easy to manage and the quality of construction will keep them in service for a very long time.
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