ruger p345 User Guide

INSTRUCTION

MANUAL

FOR

STAINLESS

STEEL

CALIBER

.45 Auto (.45 ACP)

For Product Service on This Model Please Call:

(928) 778-6555 (See p. 29)

STURM, RUGER & Company, Inc.

Southport, Connecticut 06890 U.S.A.

THIS INSTRUCTION MANUAL SHOULD ALWAYS ACCOMPANY THIS FIREARM AND BE

TRANSFERRED WITH IT UPON CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP, OR WHEN THE FIREARM IS LOANED

OR PRESENTED TO ANOTHER PERSON

V & KV (P345) 5/04 C

READ THE INSTRUCTIONS AND WARNINGS IN THIS MANUAL CAREFULLY BEFORE USING THIS FIREARM

RUGER

P345

MANUAL SAFETY MODEL PISTOL

WARNING

“Children are attracted to and can operate firearms that can cause severe injuries or death. Prevent child access by always keeping guns locked away and unloaded when not in use. If you keep a loaded firearm where a child obtains and improperly uses it, you may be fined or sent to prison.”

ADVERTENCIA

State-By-State Warnings

Certain states require by law that their own specified warning notices in larger-than-normal type be conspicuously included by the manufacturer, distributor, or retail dealer with firearms sold in that state. Sturm, Ruger sells its products in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Because our products may be sold in these states, we include the following:

California:

“A los niños los atraen las armas de fuego y las pueden hacer funcionar. Ellos pueden causarses lesions graves y la muerte. Evite que los niños tengan accesso a las armas de fuego guardándolas siempre con llave y descargadas cuando no las esté utilizando. Si usted tiene un arma de fuego cargada en un lugar en que un niño tiene acceso a ella y la usa indebidamente, le pueden dar una multa o enviarlo a la carcel.”

Connecticut:

“UNLAWFUL STORAGE OF A LOADED FIREARM MAY RESULT IN IMPRISONMENT OR FINE.”

Florida:

“IT IS UNLAWFUL, AND PUNISHABLE BY IMPRISONMENT AND FINE, FOR ANYADULT TO STORE OR LEAVE AFIREARM IN ANY PLACE WITHIN THE REACH OR EASY ACCESS OF AMINOR UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE OR TO KNOWINGLY SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER OWNERSHIP OR POSSESSION OF A FIREARM TO A MINOR OR A PERSON OF UNSOUND MIND.”

Maine:

“ENDANGERING THE WELFARE OF A CHILD IS A CRIME. IF YOU LEAVE A FIREARM AND AMMUNITION WITHIN EASY ACCESS OF ACHILD, YOU MAY BE SUBJECT TO FINE, IMPRISONMENT OR BOTH. KEEP FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION SEPARATE. KEEP FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION LOCKED UP. USE TRIGGER LOCKS.”

Maryland:

“WARNING: Children can operate firearms which may cause death or serious injury. It is a crime

to store or leave a loaded firearm in any location where an individual knew or should have known that an unsupervised minor would gain access to the firearm. Store your firearm responsibly!”

Massachusetts:

“WARNING FROM THE MASSACHUSETTS ATTORNEY GENERAL: This handgun is not equipped with a device that fully blocks use by unauthorized users. More than 200,000 firearms like this one are stolen from their owners every year in the United States. In addition, there are more than a thousand suicides each year by younger children and teenagers who get access to firearms. Hundreds more die from accidental discharge. It is likely that many more children sustain serious wounds, or inflict such wounds accidentally on others. In order to limit the chance of such misuse, it is imperative that you keep this weapon locked in a secure place and take other steps necessary to limit the possibility of theft or accident. Failure to take reasonable preventive steps may result in innocent lives being lost, and in some circumstances may result in your liability for these deaths.”

“IT IS UNLAWFUL TO STORE OR KEEPA FIREARM, RIFLE, SHOTGUN OR MACHINE GUN IN ANY PLACE UNLESS THAT WEAPON IS EQUIPPED WITH A TAMPER-RESISTANT SAFETY DEVICE OR IS STORED OR KEPT IN ASECURELY LOCKED CONTAINER.”

New Jersey:

“IT IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE TO LEAVE A LOADED FIREARM WITHIN EASYACCESS OF A MINOR.”

New York City:

“THE USE OF ALOCKING DEVICE OR SAFETY LOCK IS ONLY ONE ASPECT OF RESPONSIBLE FIREARM STORAGE. FIREARMS SHOULD BE STORED UNLOADED AND LOCKED IN ALOCATION THAT IS BOTH SEPARATE FROM THEIR AMMUNITION AND INACCESSIBLE TO CHILDREN AND OTHER UNAUTHORIZED PERSONS.”

North Carolina:

“IT IS UNLAWFUL TO STORE OR LEAVE A FIREARM THAT CAN BE DISCHARGED IN A MANNER THAT A REASONABLE PERSON SHOULD KNOW IS ACCESSIBLE TO A MINOR.”

Texas:

“IT IS UNLAWFUL TO STORE, TRANSPORT, OR ABANDON AN UNSECURED FIREARM IN A PLACE WHERE CHILDREN ARE LIKELY TO BE AND CAN OBTAIN ACCESS TO THE FIREARM.”

Wisconsin:

“IF YOU LEAVE A LOADED FIREARM WITHIN THE REACH OR EASY ACCESS OF ACHILD YOU MAY BE FINED OR IMPRISONED OR BOTH IF THE CHILD IMPROPERLY DISCHARGES, POSSESSES, OR EXHIBITS THE FIREARM.”

***************** *****

Please check with your licensed retailer or state police for additional warnings which may be required by local law or regulation. Such regulations change constantly, and local authorities are in the best position to advise you on such legal matters.

WHY ARE WE INCLUDING A FIRED CARTRIDGE CASE

WITH EVERY RUGER PISTOL AND REVOLVER?

Certain states and jurisdictions now require that all newly manufactured pistols and revolvers must be accompanied by a cartridge case, which has been test fired from that gun at the factory. The case must be placed in a sealed container bearing certain information concerning this test cartridge.

At the time of retail sale in those jurisdictions, firearms dealers must forward such test cartridge to a designated destination such as their State Police Laboratory. As independent Ruger Distributors have nationwide markets without territorial restrictions, we have decided to include a fired cartridge case with all new Ruger pistols and revolvers, to minimize the possibility of inadvertent noncompliance with these laws.

Retail customers located in other states, where laws or regulations do not require the dealer to so act, may be assured that the fired cartridge case they receive with the firearm at the time of retail purchase is proof that your new Ruger firearm has undergone our normal test firing procedures during manufacture.

LOCKING DEVICE

INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS

WARNING — USE OF LOCKING DEVICES

• Always keep your firearm pointed in a safe direction, including when you are installing or removing your locking device.

• Always verify that your firearm is completely unloaded before installing your locking device.

• Do not

install locking devices in the trigger guard; always keep your fingers and locking device outside the trigger guard during device installation and removal.

• Store firearms, ammunition and keys separately and securely, away from children and careless adults; do not store your firearm with the keys in the locking device.

• Do not attempt to work the action of your firearm with the locking device in place; this may damage your firearm.

• While locking devices are an important aid to security measures, they are not a substitute for safe firearm handling and proper storage. Remember that any mechanical device can be bypassed with enough time, knowledge, determination and equipment.

LOCKING DEVICES MUST BE USED

SAFELY AND RESPONSIBLY

Correct Installation of Lock

For Ruger

P-Series Pistols Only

Use the Correct Lock: While the basic locking device is substantially similar for all Ruger

firearms, due to the different shapes of the many Ruger

firearms, some firearms utilize different locking devices. The lock with a 5” shackle is for use with RUGER

P345

Manual Safety Model Pistols. It

is very important to use the correct locking device!

To Install the Factory-Supplied Locking Device:

1. Keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction and your fingers outside the

trigger guard at all times!

2. Be sure the firearm is completely unloaded and contains no cartridges or

cartridge cases!

3. Open the action completely. Use the slide stop to keep the action open during installation of the locking device.

4. Remove the magazine from your pistol and apply the locking device by placing the shackle of the lock into your pistol as shown below.

5. Close the lock by pressing the shackle into the body of the lock (the part that receives the key) as tightly together as possible. The lock has bumpers and the shackle is coated with a non-marring material that will not harm the metal finish of your firearm; be careful not to dent the frame or grip panels of the pistol.

6. Pull firmly on the lock to test the connection and be sure it is locked. Do

not leave or store your firearm with the key in the lock! Store your locked

unloaded firearm and the key in secure, separate locations, away from ammunition, children, or unauthorized adults.

Figure 1

This Instruction Manual is designed to assist you in learning how to use and care for your RUGER

P345TMManual Safety Model Pistols properly. Please

carry out its instructions should you practice loading, unloading, etc. with live ammunition. If you have any doubts about your ability to handle or use a particular type of gun safely, you should seek supervised instruction. Such personalized instruction is often available from gun dealers, gun clubs or police departments. If none of these sources can help you, write to the National Rifle Association, 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030-7400. They will assist you.

The person possessing a gun has a full-time job. You cannot guess; you cannot forget. You must know how to use your firearm safely. Do not use any firearm

without having a complete understanding of its particular characteristics and safe use. Remember: There is no such thing as a foolproof gun.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

General Information and Mechanical Characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Operation of Manual Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 - 12

Ammunition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

To Load and Fire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Operation of Loaded Chamber Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Operation of Magazine Disconnect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

To Uncock (Decock) The Pistol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

To Unload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

To Reload The Pistol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

To Extract and Eject a Chambered Cartridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

To Clear a Malfunction (“Jam”) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

To Minimize Malfunctions (“Jams”) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

To Disassemble . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 - 24

To Reassemble . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Magazine Inspection and Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Care and Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Operation of Internal Lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

Sight Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

Service and Parts Policy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

Shipping Firearms for Repair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

Ordering Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

Parts List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 -33

Parts Drawings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

The Basic Rules of Safe Firearms Handling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 - 38

Warranty Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40

“P345” is a Sturm, Ruger trademark. “Ruger” is a registered U.S. trademark.

FIREARMS SAFETY - YOUR RESPONSIBILITY

SAFETY MUST BE THE FIRST AND CONSTANT

CONSIDERATION OF EVERY PERSON WHO HANDLES

FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION.

WARNING - ALTERATIONS

DO NOT ALTER ANY GUN

Locking Devices 5 Slide Retraction 19 Alterations 8 Malfunctions 21 Manual Safety 12 Disassembly 24 Ammunition 12 Lubrication 26 Lead Exposure 13 Storage 28 Firing 15 Shipping 29 Handling 17 Parts Purchasers 30 Unloading 18

FIREARMS ARE DANGEROUS WEAPONS -

READ THE INSTRUCTIONS AND WARNINGS

IN THIS MANUAL THOROUGHLY AND

CAREFULLY BEFORE USING.

This product was designed to function properly in its original condition. Alterations can make it unsafe. Do not alter any part or add or substitute parts or accessories not made by Sturm, Ruger & Co. Inc.

GENERAL INFORMATION

AND MECHANICAL CHARACTERISTICS

The RUGER®P345TMpistols are centerfire, compact, double action, magazine-fed, autoloading, recoil-operated pistols chambered for the .45 Auto (.45 ACP) cartridge. They incorporate a different “link-less” design in the barrel locking/unlocking system than earlier Ruger P-Series pistols, and feature a streamlined slide and Isoplast

polymer grip frame construction. They comply with the requirements of the National Institute of Justice Standard - 0112.00. They include the following features with which users should be thoroughly familiar:

WARNINGS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE ARE

FOUND ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES:

OTHER CAUTIONS AND WARNINGS APPEAR

THROUGHOUT THE MANUAL.

NOMENCLATURE

Sights have high-visibility white dots both front and rear. Both sights can be adjusted for windage.

Frame is a rigid one-piece polyurethane grip frame reinforced with long glass fiber.

Double-action mechanism and strongly curved trigger provide that cocking and firing can be accomplished with a single pull of the trigger.

Oversize trigger guard permits shooting with gloved hand.

The magazine latch permits positive retention and quick removal of magazine.

Slide stop holds the slide open and is activated automatically when last shot

is fired (if magazine is in pistol), or can be manually operated.

Slide’s open-top design minimizes possibility of jamming, enables shooter to clear any malfunction easily by hand.

Grooved, exposed hammer spur enables the shooter to cock the hammer easily for accurate single-action firing if desired.

When ambidextrous manual safety is in “safe” position, the firing pin is cammed forward into the slide. This simultaneously places the firing pin out of reach of the hammer and locks the firing pin in a neutral position, preventing the firing pin from movement toward the cartridge.

The Magazine Disconnect is designed to prevent the pistol from being fired when the magazine is removed, even if a live round remains in the firing chamber.

Loaded Chamber Indicator

protrudes from the top of the slide and provides a visual indication when a round is present in the firing chamber.

Internal Lock can be used to lock the manual safety in the “ON” (S) position by use of a key-operated locking device. (See “Operation of the Manual Safety,” p. 11.)

The Accessory Rail (unavailable on some models) accepts most lights and sighting devices designed to fit the M1913 Picatinny Standard Rail.

Action: The action of the Ruger P345 manual safety model pistol is of the U.S. M1911 type that utilizes a tilting barrel design in which the barrel and slide are locked together at the moment of firing. After firing, the barrel and slide recoil to the rear a short distance while still locked together. After this initial movement, the barrel is cammed downward from its locked position, permitting full recoil of the slide and the extraction and ejection of the spent cartridge case. Upon return of the slide to its forward position by the recoil spring, the barrel is cammed back upward into its locked position in the slide.

The user of this or any autoloading pistol must always remember that when fired, it automatically reloads and recocks itself, so that simply pulling the trigger will fire the pistol again. Therefore, an autoloading pistol user must be particularly conscious to always keep the pistol pointed in a safe direction.

Slide Stop:

When the last shot has been fired and the magazine is empty, the slide stop automatically holds the slide open. When there is an empty magazine in the pistol and the slide is retracted manually, the slide stop will also automatically hold the slide open. If a loaded magazine is inserted in the pistol when the slide is closed and the slide is then retracted fully, the slide stop will not automatically hold open the slide. The user can actuate the slide stop mechanism to hold the slide open at any time by retracting the slide and pushing the slide stop up.

The slide stop can be released by drawing back slightly on the slide and depressing the slide stop thumbpiece. When the slide is released, it will move forward under pressure from the recoil spring.

The slide stop is spring loaded downward. Therefore, when there is a loaded magazine in place and the pistol is jarred, the slide can fly forward and chamber a cartridge. For this reason and as an essential safety practice, the user should

always be careful to keep fingers away from the trigger, keep the safety on, and always keep the pistol pointed in a safe direction.

Magazines:

The Ruger .45 Auto (.45 ACP) magazines are not interchangeable with Ruger pistol magazines of any

other caliber even though they may appear similar and may hold other cartridges. Use of incorrect magazines in any pistol will result in malfunctions.

OPERATION OF MANUAL SAFETY

The model you have selected is equipped with special, manual, ambidextrous safety levers that also allow you to decock (uncock) a cocked pistol without manipulating the trigger. Conventional thumb decocking procedures are therefore not necessary and should not be employed with this pistol.

To apply the manual safety and decock the pistol, point the pistol in a safe

direction. Move either the right- or left-hand safety lever downward and fully to

the “safe” position. When the safety is moved fully downward to the “safe” position, the white dot is exposed through the hole in the side of the left safety lever. In this position: (1) the firing pin is blocked from moving forward; (2) the hammer is blocked from contacting the firing pin; (3) the trigger cannot be pulled back far enough to release the hammer (at this point, the hammer will fall to its forward (decocked) position); and (4) you can engage the internal lock. (See p. 27.)

The safety mechanism provides that the hammer cannot contact the firing pin unless the safety is disengaged. With the hammer cocked, actuating the safety mechanism automatically drops the hammer onto the slide without contacting the firing pin. Thus, the safety also serves as a decocking lever.

Add

itionally, the pistol has a separate internal firing pin block which will not allow the firing pin to move forward and contact the cartridge until the operator pulls the trigger with the safety off (in its “fire” position).

The pistol can and should be loaded and unloaded with the safety engaged in its “safe” position (lever fully down, white dot exposed). The safety should be in its “safe”

position at all times except when the user is deliberately positioned to fire at a selected target. When the safety is in the “fire” position (safety lever up) the red dot is exposed through the hole in the left safety lever. See Figures 2 and 3, below, which

illustrate the two positions of the safety.

OPERATION OF MANUAL SAFETY

SAFE POSITION

FIRE POSITION

White dot exposed

Red dot exposed

FIGURE 2 FIGURE 3

WARNING - MANUAL SAFETY

Placing the safety in an intermediate position between “safe” and “fire” can result in the user thinking the pistol is in a safe or fire position when it is not. Pulling the trigger with the safety in an intermediate position may cause the pistol to fire. Therefore, always move the safety fully

to its intended position and then check to be sure it is where you want it to be. Unless the white dot is fully visible, the safety is not “ON.” Unless the red dot is fully visible, the pistol is not absolutely ready to fire.

NEVER PUT SAFETY 1/2 ON

AMMUNITION

The RUGER®P345TMpistols are chambered for the .45 Auto (.45 ACP) cartridge. Do not attempt to load any other .45 caliber cartridges into the magazine or chamber of the pistol.

The Ruger P-Series pistols are compatible with all factory ammunition of the correct caliber loaded to U.S. Industry Standards, including high-velocity and hollow-point loads, loaded in brass, aluminum, or steel cartridge cases. No .45 Auto ammunition manufactured in accordance with NATO, U.S., SAAMI, or CIP standards is known to be beyond the design limits or known not to function in these pistols.

WARNING —AMMUNITION

IMPROPER AMMUNITION

DESTROYS GUNS

Death, serious injury, and damage can result from the use of wrong ammunition, bore obstructions, powder overloads, or incorrect cartridge components.

Always wear shooting glasses and hearing protection.

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