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The http://www.ruger.com/index.html>Ruger American Pistol was the first real effort by Ruger to make a military capable striker fired service pistol. The original gun, a PRO model, was discussed in this service and in our http://thetacticalwire.com/>Tactical Wire early in the year. A seventeen shot, soft-shooting 9mm pistol, it had a unique feel overall – from gripping surface to the slide treatment to the recoil management, to the trigger.

The PRO version is different from the Manual Safety version by virtue of the existence of a manual safety on the non-PRO version. Instead of covering old ground, let's look at the newly released Compact version of the Ruger American Pistol that was just announced late Thursday.

It's a 12+1 capacity 9mm pistol with a barrel just over 3 ½" that weighs in at just under 29 ounces empty. Yes, it's heavy. To get a comparison over "like" pistols, I scoured the websites and made a comparison table – it appears below:

Table 1: Comparisons

	Ruger ACP	G19	M&P9c
Capacity	17 (extended)	15	17 (Extended)
	12 (standard)	-	12 (standard)
Slide Material	Stainless Steel	Steel	Stainless
Barrel Length	3.55"	4.01"	3.5"
Grip Frame	Glass filled nylon	Polymer	Polymer
Slide Finish	Black Nitride	Not stated	"black"
Grips	Wrap around	Modular	Palm-swell
Width	1.05	1.12"	1.2"
Sights	Novak LoMount	Polymer	Steel low profile
Weight	28.75 oz	23.65 oz	21.7 oz
Overall length	6.65"	7.28"	6.7"
Height	4.48"	4.99"	4.3"
MSRP	$579	$519	$569

http://www.theoutdoorwire.com/image_archive/2298054.jpg> The service size Ruger American is behind the Compact in this shot.

I compared it to the Glock 19 – self-identified as a "compact" and the S&W M&P9c. I didn't compare it to the Glock 26 as the manufacturer identifies it as "sub-compact." It's closer to the Smith & Wesson M&P9c than the Glock.

The RAPc is smaller than the G19 and holds fewer rounds with the single 12-round magazine supplied. The new gun is also packaged with the 17 round magazine of its larger brother and a "boot" is included. Simply slip the boot over the 17 round magazine and there is no unsightly gap between floor plate and the bottom of the frame.

You also don't pinch a finger when inserting a magazine – either magazine – into the American Compact. Like the service-size gun, three grip modules (back strap with palm swells) are included. The gun has the Novak Low Profile carry sights with the "3-dot" pattern thereon.

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Speaking of similarities, the Compact has the bilateral magazine release buttons and slide stops. The mag buttons are easily reached with either hand and, like the larger gun, the magazine release isn't accidentally released by virtue of having two release buttons. I found it handy.

The slide stops are less handy as they are hard to reach. It's also unlikely you'll accidentally activate the slide stops with your grip – and unlikely you'll prevent either from working when they're supposed to. You don't get something for nothing.

I've heard all the stuff about the gripping surface being "Walther-like" or "HK VP-like." Could be. I've not spent time with either of those products. It is unique to my experience. The single-action trigger is fine, I just need to learn to manage it. I would likely add Talon Grip or the like to the gripping surfaces of the frame to get more adhesion.

I found the Compact to be remarkably handier than the service size gun, but that's a bias: I generally find the shorter handguns to handle better for me and find the longer guns to be no more accurate in my hands. The compact is a good fit in the Blade-Tech Total Eclipse holster that arrived with the service gun. Neat thing about that holster is the ability to make it an inside-the-waistband rig, which makes it appropriate for the shorter slide/barrel of the Compact American.

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Feeling like this was going to be a walk in the park, the first item at the first range outing was an attempt at "The Test" – 10 rounds, 10 seconds from 10 yards from ready, fired on a B-8 repair center. It was a disaster, with 9 hits low below the bull. I quickly determined that the sights were configured to cover the point of impact with the white dot on the front sight – not cutting the bull in half with the top of the front sight.

Off-set made that a disaster. Setting up for accuracy, I found that the gun was hitting between just under five-inches to 6 inches low at 25 yards. Using a neck hold on the 50-yard IPSC steel target, I put six hits on the silhouette, something that one shouldn't have to do with 9mm.

On that first trip, I fired three loads for accuracy. I found some occasion of the auto-pistol "4 + 1" tendency where one round out of a group would be a flyer. The accuracy was nothing to sneeze at for a service pistol.

Table 2: Accuracy

Load	Avg. Group	"Best 3/5"	Notes
Federal Micro HST 150 gr.	3 ¾"	2"	Mild load
Black Hills 124 gr. JHP +P	2 ½"	1 3/8"
Hornady Critical Duty 135 FTX	3 ½"	1 ¾"

After a failed attempt at the Wizard Drill – one point down, but slow on two strings – I worked on singles from the holster concealed under a somewhat clingy shirt. Nine reps gave me times from 1.76 seconds to 2.35 seconds. I tended from the long time to the shorter, with some variation up or down. Generally, with practice, the times got shorter.

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A return trip saw me work the Vickers 300: Using the NRA B-8 repair center, fire 10 rounds from five yards one handed using the non-dominant hand; follow that with 10 rounds from ten yards, dominant-hand only and finish with ten rounds from 20 yards using both hands. Mindful of the tendency to hit low, I covered the bull with the front dot and hoped for the best. I had one "7" get away from me at ten yards, otherwise we had 9s, 10s and Xs, ending with 293/300.

I fired American Eagle Syntech from 25 yards and noted the low hits even though I covered the top of the ISU 10-ring with front sight. I worked a 7 ½" steel round swinging plate from 7 yards using the Syntech ammo. I wasn't surprised at the lack of spall returning from the steel target from the plastic-jacketed rounds.

So far, it's zero stoppages and shooting everything from the cheapest range ammo to pricey defense stuff.

Of the two, I'm thinking the Compact has a broader appeal – due to widespread lawful concealed carry.

-- Rich Grassi