Few firearm categories, if any, are as competitive as that of the centerfire defensive handgun—“polymer” semi-automatics in particular. Frankly, it’s surprising that so many companies are able to continuously operate in such a dog-eat-dog environment. Those that do survive manage to capture consumer interest, and their dollars, via one or more of the following means: offering something atypical; something that represents an investment or value; or something that fulfills an untapped niche. Sturm, Ruger & Co.’s new RXM pistol, which stands for “Ruger in collaboration with Magpul,” fulfills all three criteria.
Convergence
Ruger has a storied history with handguns; in fact, the Blue Book Of Gun Values, 35th Ed., reports, “Sturm, Ruger & Co. was founded in 1949 by Alexander Sturm and William B. Ruger to manufacture .22 cal. semi-auto pistols.” Known as the “Red Eagle” Standard and Target models, approximately 27,000 were built between 1949 and 1952. During the decades since, the company has devised untold rimfire and centerfire models.
Some met with long-term success, others didn’t. Clearly, Ruger aligns with the words of former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who stated, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal; it’s the courage to continue that counts.” Ruger has spunk in spades, and on the 75th anniversary of its founding, the company introduced what could be its best centerfire self-loader to date, the RXM.
Modularity and customization are (and have been) trending. Look no further than the innumerable aftermarket parts and accessories for AR-type rifles for evidence. But long guns aren’t alone; cottage industries of “upgrades” for Glock, SIG Sauer and other ubiquitous handguns have emerged, too. A quick Internet search for “best upgrades for … ” will reveal the proliferation of “enhancements” and attention-seeking measures.
For those who fancy a Glock 19-pattern pistol due to its versatility of customization, there’s a major hangup; since the frame is serialized, swapping it—for want of change in size, color, etc.—requires the completion of an ATF Form 4473, an attendant background check and assorted fees, among other things. Frustrating, to be sure. Now imagine the personalization possibilities of the Glock 19 with a removable, serialized fire-control assembly that allows for interchangeability between low-cost grip frames in differing sizes and/or colors. That’s the premise behind the striker-fired Ruger RXM.
As noted in the RXM’s owner’s manual, “the serialized component of the RXM pistol is a stainless-steel Fire Control Insert (FCI),” which is independent of the polymer Magpul Enhanced Handgun Grip (EHG). “[Furthermore] the modular design allows for the pistol to be reconfigured using interchangeable Magpul grip frames and most commonly available Glock Gen3 slides, barrels, magazines and internal components.” As Mark Gurney, Ruger’s director of new product innovation, noted, “[In purchasing the RXM], you’re investing in the future.” Why? As new EHGs are offered, the FCI can quickly and easily be switched.
Directions, with helpful images, in the owner’s manual and online tutorials detail the FCI’s removal process, but it bears mentioning here, too. Once the pistol is confirmed as being empty of ammunition, the slide is removed. Next, the locking block pin is freed using a 3/32" punch. You then depress the slide lock spring and push the slide lock out from either side. The same punch is subsequently used to remove the takedown pin (to the right). Once completed, the FCI is released and can be lifted out.
To enhance purchase, the matte-gray EHG has 3/4-scale Magpul TSP grip texture on the frontstrap, backstrap and sides. What’s more, there is a textured indexing panel—one per side—above the takedown pin for consistent finger placement. Though simple, the difference in uniform pointer finger and/or thumb positioning it facilitates is marked. Significant beveling and flaring of the magazine well facilitate fast, nigh failproof, insertion of the magazine. It, along with the beavertail grip, provide a secure hold of the handgun. While no palmswell is present, there is a slight groove for the middle finger, as well as a magazine-release scallop to aid full pressing of the control.
All in all, it’s a comfortable and functional design. According to Ruger engineers, the RXM’s grip angle is 20 degrees, which is slightly less obtuse relative to the bore axis than that of the Glock 19, which is generally considered to be at 22 degrees. But, because the Ruger’s backstrap is flat rather than humped as in the Glock, and because its trigger guard is undercut and its beavertail extended, the overall effect is a decidedly “neutral” hold that diehard fans of the M1911 grip angle are likely to find more welcoming. The large, though not overly so, trigger guard combines a flat front with a curved and angled bottom. Prudently, the dustcover incorporates a single-slot, universal-pattern accessory rail.
The RXM is fed from Magpul’s, all-polymer, 15-round-capacity PMAG15 GL9—or PMAG10 GL9 for compliance—staggered-column magazine. The U.S.-made units have high-visibility, controlled-tilt followers, stainless-steel springs, indicator windows, paint pen dot matrix for marking and ridged floorplate edges. Two accompany the pistol, but, of course, the RXM is also compatible with most Glock-style 9 mm magazines. It must be noted here that the RXM can be fired without a magazine in place.
As for the fire controls, they include: a flat-faced, polymer trigger with articulating safety; magazine release; and slide-stop lever. There is no separate manual safety, and of those mentioned above, only the magazine release is not part of the FCI. The trigger on the sample RXM broke at 4 lbs., 11 ozs. Despite being a single-stage unit, it’s reminiscent of a two-stage design; there is approximately 1/8" of movement before an abrupt stacking. Once that occurs, minimal movement is required for the trigger to break. The pull is long, yet smooth, and the reset occurs at about 1/4" to 5/16".
Aesthetically and functionally, the RXM’s black, FNC nitride-finished alloy-steel slide is brilliant. Ruger employs beveling at the front to facilitate faster holstering (and removal), as well as to accentuate its appearance. Moreover, slanted slide serrations were added to the front and rear to aid purchase, with “RXM” engraved forward of the latter on the left side. Ruger chose an open-top design to minimize the possibility of jamming and to facilitate clearing should a malfunction occur. The Glock-pattern sights consist of a fixed, ramp front with a white-outline tritium insert and a dovetailed, drift-adjustable, U-notch rear. Both have serrations to reduce glare and are elevated to facilitate co-witnessing.
According to the owner’s manual, “the RXM’s slide has been machined to allow the direct mounting of multiple optics, [including RMR, DeltaPoint Pro (DPP), or RMSc patterns].” To add an optic, the plastic optic plate must first be removed; two screws secure it in place. Once taken off, loose small metal dowels are arranged into the slots to secure the optic. Four are provided, but, depending on your optic, only two might need to be used.
The RXM’s 4" barrel measures 0.572" at its muzzle, where it ends in a flat face with only a slight recess. At the rear, its feed ramp is integral with the barrel hood, which mates with the ejection port to effect lockup. A notch in the barrel’s rear works in unison with one in the slide to create a port through which the shooter can confirm whether the chamber is loaded. The RXM is chambered for 9 mm Luger, and the owner’s manual reports that it’s safe to use 9 mm +P loads; however, +P+ ammunition must NEVER be used. As detailed in the owner’s manual, “there are no Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute (SAAMI) or Commission internationale permanente pour l’épreuve des armes à feu portatives (CIP) pressure limits on 9 mm +P+ and the use of this ammunition could result in damage to your pistol and serious injury.” Beneath the barrel resides a guide-rod assembly featuring a single spring. Rounding out the package is a large, spring-loaded external extractor and fixed ejector.
Despite being a new handgun, holsters that will fit it are readily available. Why? Because most designed for the Glock 19 will likely accommodate the RXM. The footprint of the RXM very closely resembles that of a Glock.
RXM At The Range
Before testing began, the RXM was first disassembled, cleaned and lubricated per the instructions in the owner’s manual. Next, the optic plate was removed and two locator pins positioned to accept a Holosun HE508T-GR X2 reflex sight. Although this optic offers a Multiple-Reticle System (MRS), the 2-m.o.a. dot was solely used for accuracy testing. To evaluate the accuracy of the sample pistol, I fired it at 15 yards from a sandbag rest using ammunition of various weights, profiles and price points. Specifically, the trio included utilitarian (Hornady Custom 124-grain XTP) and “premium” (Federal Premium Law Enforcement Tactical HST 147-grain JHP) defensive loads, as well as the economical, Blazer 115-grain FMJ.
Accuracy testing and chronographing—performed concurrently thanks to a Garmin Xero C1 Pro chronograph—took place during an early December cold snap in which the daily Virginia temperatures were, at a minimum, 10 degrees below average. Although the weather app reported 32° F, gusts approaching 20 m.p.h. and the 54 percent humidity made it feel much colder. Still, in the waning light, the evaluation process proceeded.
Of the three loads, the stalwart Hornady Custom produced the smallest average—1.35"—for the five consecutive, five-shot groups. Unsurprisingly, the same ammunition created the tightest single cluster, too; measuring 0.87", the knot was substantially smaller than any other of the day. However, a quintuplet of impacts that was more than double the size of the smallest group spoiled what could have been a stellar mean. Still, I could not complain.
Next up was the Federal Premium Law Enforcement Tactical HST ammunition. Despite exhibiting greater shot-to-shot consistency with regard to velocity, as well as a lower discrepancy between the largest and smallest groups, it was unable to outperform the Hornady Custom offering. The mean for all 25 shots was 1.49".
Blazer’s FMJ load was added to the mix to determine how accurate an economical “target” load would be in the RXM, as well as to ensure the reliable feeding of round-nose-profile projectiles and to further diversify tested weights. Since most range-quality “blasting” ammunition is generally inconsistent (and thus inaccurate), my expectations were tempered. Instead, I was surprised by several of the groups it created, including one measuring 1.14". The mean for all five sets was 1.77". For the complete 75-round test, the average was 1.54"—nice.
With accuracy testing completed, I got to work on confirming reliable functioning. Sure, the abovementioned ammunition cycled dependably—with the exception of a single Hornady round, which failed to feed due to the magazine—when all rounds in the magazine matched, but would the same hold true if the magazine more closely mimicked a Halloween candy dish? The answer, it turns out, is “yes.” The 115-, 124- and 147-grain ammunition—spanning the three most popular weights of 9 mm Luger loads—were stuffed into each PMAG15 in no particular order, with some pink-tipped Hornady Critical Defense Lite 100-grain FTXs sprinkled in for good measure. The RXM never hiccupped. Moreover, pressing the magazine release quickly cleared empty PMAGs for rapid reloads.
I then conducted a range of defensive drills on single and multiple silhouette targets at 7 and 15 yards. As a longtime user of Glock handguns, I found during these exercises that the RXM was quite familiar in the hands and quick to engage the targets. Delivering multiple, accurate shots in quick succession was simple, and I appreciated the extra control afforded by the design of the Magpul EHG. Specifically, I cherished the triad of integral grip texturing, a flared magazine well and a beavertail in ensuring absolute control; the pistol is effectively bonded to the hand.
It was also during this time I evaluated the co-witnessing of the sights. Should an optic fail, the elevated sights will immediately become the primary means of aiming. With the Holosun sight powered down, I continued delivering shots on target. Certainly the white-outline, tritium-equipped front sight is a blessing, as it’s easy to see across all lighting conditions, however, the usability of the rear depends on the height of the optic’s base. The top of the RXM’s rear sight was only about a 0.07" taller than the back of the Holosun optic used, and thus it affected sighting somewhat. Still, even as the sample handgun was configured for testing, the sights ultimately served their purpose.
Among other things, success in the hypercompetitive domain of firearms requires originality, and that is exactly what Ruger has brought to the table with the new RXM. Shooters who want a quality, value-packed handgun that’s nigh endlessly customizable with readily available parts and accessories will find this pistol to be a top choice.
