Ruger SR45

About the Ruger SR45

The Ruger SR45 is a full-size, striker-fired semi-automatic pistol chambered in .45 ACP, introduced in January 2013 at the SHOT Show as the largest-caliber member of Ruger's SR-series pistol family. Built on a glass-filled nylon polymer frame with a brushed stainless steel slide, the SR45 features a 4.5-inch barrel with 1:16 right-hand twist rifling and traditional six-groove land-and-groove rifling compatible with all bullet types including cast lead. Weighing 30.15 ounces unloaded (855 grams) and measuring 8.0 inches in overall length with a 5.75-inch height, the SR45 is a full-service-sized pistol designed for duty use, home defense, and range shooting. The double-stack magazine holds 10 rounds of .45 ACP in a grip only 1.27 inches wide, keeping the pistol slim enough for comfortable carry. The SR45 shares the SR-series' comprehensive safety feature set including an ambidextrous manual thumb safety, trigger safety, loaded chamber indicator, and magazine disconnect, along with fully adjustable three-dot sights, ambidextrous controls, and an integral Picatinny accessory rail.

The Ruger SR45 was the culmination of the SR-series line, bringing the platform's proven ergonomics and comprehensive safety features to the venerable .45 ACP cartridge. Ruger had been fielding requests for a .45 ACP SR-series pistol since the SR9 debuted in 2007, and the SR45 finally delivered on that promise. Despite positive reviews praising its accuracy and shootability, the SR45 arrived during a period of declining interest in .45 ACP as modern 9mm defensive ammunition closed the terminal ballistics gap. The SR-series was ultimately discontinued in favor of the Ruger American Pistol for the duty/service market and the Security-9 for budget-conscious buyers, leaving the SR45 as a somewhat overlooked but capable full-size .45 ACP option on the used market.

Ruger SR45 specifications

The SR45 was developed in direct response to customer demand for an SR-series pistol chambered in .45 ACP. It debuted at the 2013 SHOT Show with an MSRP of $529. The trigger pull measures approximately 6 pounds 8 ounces (29 N) with a short travel distance and crisp break that reviewers praised as excellent for a striker-fired pistol. The stainless steel barrel features traditional six-groove rifling that works with all bullet types, a deliberate choice over polygonal rifling. Reviews consistently praised the SR45's accuracy, ergonomics, and manageable recoil for a .45 ACP pistol, though some early production examples experienced feeding issues and magazine-related problems. The SR45 was available in both brushed stainless and black nitride finishes. Production ceased around 2019 along with the rest of the SR-series as Ruger transitioned to newer platforms including the Ruger American Pistol and Security-9 lines.