Whenever I hear the letter combination “SR” I think of the SR-71 Blackbird, the sexiest object ever created by hand of man. While the Ruger SR45 doesn’t quite achieve the legendary spy plane’s height of horniness, it is, nonetheless, a deeply desirable ballistic battler. It’s the kind of gun that reminds a Glock guy why he’s like a happily married man; constantly reminding his high school buddies that looks aren’t everything. True dat. At the end of the day (or the muzzle) a gun’s got to git ‘er done. Does the Ruger SR45’s performance and utility match its suave demeanor? Yes and no. But first a little more about the Ruger SR45’s siren song .
There are many who believe the search for a handgun cartridge suitable for self-defense begins and ends with the .45 ACP. I know how they feel; I used to be a member of that congregation myself. I still believe the .45 ACP is the handgun cartridge against which all others should be judged when it comes to self-defense, and for everyone who thinks the same way, you now have a new pistol to put on your wish list: the Ruger SR45.
The never-ending debate between aficionados of one handgun caliber over the other has been known to get personal, but in practical applications, such as in law enforcement, terminal ballistic performance is far being from the only issue. Police agencies must select a pistol/caliber combination that delivers what they need on every level and for every officer. Several large agencies, including a few state police departments and many smaller agencies, have nevertheless opted for the .45 ACP as their standard-issue cartridge. A casual search reveals that many of these are in somewhat rural areas where having a harder-hitting round may be more of a priority.