{"id":5294,"date":"2021-06-12T02:58:00","date_gmt":"2021-06-12T02:58:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/primegunseurope.com\/?p=5294"},"modified":"2021-04-20T00:32:52","modified_gmt":"2021-04-20T00:32:52","slug":"ruger-american-pistol-competition-9mm-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/primegunseurope.com\/fi\/ruger-american-pistol-competition-9mm-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Ruger American Pistol Competition 9mm Review"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Ruger
Ruger American Pistol Competition 9mm (Guns & Ammo photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

February 03, 2021By Guns & Ammo Staff<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ruger\u2019s new American Pistol Competition is a race-ready 9mm that\u2019s surging ahead in the game. Ruger has blended components of the standard American Pistol with special-purpose features intended to appeal to IDPA, IPSC and USPSA shooters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Competition model is still a striker-fired, polymer-frame semiautomatic. All Ruger American Pistols feature a pre-tensioned striker with a heavy-duty spring resulting in consistent, reliable primer strikes. The Competition model tested by Guns & Ammo produced a trigger pull of 6\u00bd pounds. The trigger also has a short reset, about .2 inch, which facilitates faster follow-up shots, important when earning a spot on the podium can come down to tenths of a second. Audible and tactile cues signal when the trigger is reset and ready to fire again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like the standard American Pistol, Ruger\u2019s Competition model comes with a one-piece machined stainless-steel chassis with integral frame rails and fire control housing. The chassis, barrel and slide all come with a durable black nitride finish that resists weather, wear and corrosion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ruger American Pistols are especially notable for their modular grips. The Competition comes with three grip modules: small, medium, and large. Installation and removal are slightly different than with most competing polymer pistols. Instead of a pin that is driven crossways or vertically through the base of the grip, Ruger uses a cam system. There\u2019s a cutout in the rear of the grip module with the cam inside. Using the provided Torx wrench, turn the cam a quarter-turn counterclockwise to unlock, then pull the module down and back to remove. Replace it in the reverse order, but be careful not to overtighten the cam. Functional stippling completes the grip, covering the frontstrap, as well as the sides and back of the grip module.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The American Pistol Competition sent to G&A for testing was a \u201cPro\u201d sub-model, which is how Ruger refers to handguns without manual safeties. However, the Competition\u2019s two passive safeties include an internal automatic sear block system and an integrated trigger safety. There is also a viewing port to check for a loaded chamber, and takedown does not require tools or a trigger pull.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In terms of controls, southpaws will appreciate that Ruger designed the American Pistol Competition to be ambidextrous. That means left-handed shooters won\u2019t have to spend time disassembling the gun to swap the slide stop or magazine release; bilateral controls are standard. The slide stop, which is pyramidal in cross section, is large enough that it can easily be found and manipulated. The small, triangular mag release button is located just aft of the trigger, and molded fencing on the frame helps to protect against accidental mag drops. Takedown is a breeze, and the large lever rotates to release the slide, spring and barrel from the frame.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"ruger-american-pistol-competition-9mm\"\/
As with other Ruger American Pistols, the Competition model is built around a modular, steel chassis system. Besides housing the \u201cguts\u201d of the gun, the chassis is also its backbone thanks to two sets of rails on which the slide smoothly glides.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Other features shared with the standard Ruger American pistol include an over travel stop moulded inside the trigger guard, an accessory rail on the frame, 17-round, nickel- and Teflon-plated, double-stack magazines with a chamber that\u2019s +P rated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Standout\u2002Similar as they are, the two guns are not identical. The Competition version comes with a removable sight plate with pre-drilled mounting holes that accommodate a number of modern red-dot sights, including those from Docter, Sightmark and Vortex. Screws are not included, however. You\u2019ll need #6-48 mounting screws to attach a red dot. The optics-ready design is convenient, but the iron sights on the Competition are also well-designed and perfectly suited for a match gun. An adjustable, serrated rear sight is paired with a fiber-optic front, both of which are dovetailed into the slide. Adjusting point of impact on the rear sight is simple and requires nothing more than a small flathead screwdriver. To change the impact on target, the screw on the top of the sight controls elevation while the screw on the right side adjusts windage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"ruger-american-pistol-competition-9mm\"\/
Because it controls the firing function and is removable from the polymer frame, the chassis is considered the firearm and is the serialized part.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Other distinctions include the lightening cuts, or small ports, on either side of the slide. The Competition model also comes with both front and rear serrations, unlike the standard model which only sports rear serrations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ruger\u2019s striker-fired Competition pistol sends rounds downrange through a 5-inch barrel, compared to the 4.2-inch tube of the standard. The additional length gives the Competition a heavier feel and extends the sight radius, a benefit when shooting with irons. Also interesting, the Competition\u2019s barrel features a 1:16-inch twist to better support the lighter bullets popular among competitive shooters. The standard American pistol, by contrast, has a faster 1:10 twist rate that\u2019s ideal for heavier defensive-type bullets such as 147-grainers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"ruger-american-pistol-competition-9mm\"\/
The Competition\u2019s slide is heavily machined to enhance functionality. Top-side serrations guide the eyes to the front sight. Lightening cuts in the form of ports reduce weight and speed cycling. Forward cocking serrations aid slide manipulations, too.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

With its added slide length, the Competition weighs 34 ounces empty, about 4 ounces more than the standard model. When attaching a red-dot sight and inserting a full magazine, the weight was 2 pounds, 2.1 ounces, which is on par with an iron-sighted, steel-frame Model 1911. The added weight serves the competition shooter by absorbing felt recoil and reducing muzzle flip. The nose-heavy approach is a bonus for competitive shooters because the weight smooths transitions from target to target in the same way a professional sporting clays shooter uses 32-inch shotgun barrels to even out the gun\u2019s swing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"ruger-american-pistol-competition-9mm\"\/
Three wrap-around grip modules are included with the American Pistol Competition: small, medium and large. The grips mate to the frame utilizing a cam system. The modules allow users to adjust the pistol\u2019s fit for trigger reach, comfort and circumference.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Unexpectedly, both the standard American Pistol and the Competition model share the same MSRP of $579. When compared to similar approaches to a 9mm, striker-fired and red-dot-ready handgun used in the same competitions, the Glock G34 Gen5 in 9mm with MOS carries an MSRP of $851. Smith & Wesson\u2019s M&P9 M2.0 Performance Center CORE sells for $721. All three striker-fired pistols come with 17-round magazines, and +2 mag extensions are available at kearms.com for $25. All have barrels that measure between 5 and 5.31 \u00adinches. Though all three guns are somewhat similar, the Ruger weighed 10 ounces more than either the Glock or the Smith & Wesson. In terms of price, the Ruger American Pistol Competition is the runaway winner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"ruger-american-pistol-competition-9mm\"\/
Disassembly is similar to other semiautomatic handguns. The frame-mounted rotating takedown lever offers a pronounced ledge that offers the thumb positive leverage when rotated in either direction. Notice, too, the blade-style trigger safety flattens when depressed.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

Table of Contents<\/p>\nToggle<\/span><\/path><\/svg><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n