Ruger RXM review.
I was fortunate to receive an advanced copy of the RXM, the striker fired a 9mm pistol collaboration between Ruger and Magpul.
I started posting videos about how the pistol was doing as soon as the embargo was up, but I did not want to rush the review in order to be the first to the release. I took my time with this pistol to be sure its reliability stayed consistent.
The new RXM is a handsome albeit more modern-looking handgun. Forward and rear cocking serrations provided plenty of slide traction for racking the slide. The controls were slightly proud, allowing ease of use with enough textured real estate on the slide lock to be used as a slide release. A deep beavertail and the textured grip area provided a comfortable yet secure purchase on the pistol. A standard rail is integrated into the receiver’s polymer dust cover. The flat-faced trigger broke just over five pounds as measured on my Lyman mechanical gauge; it is a bit smoother and crisper than a factory Glock trigger. The take-up was smooth and non-stacking, with the short rest allowing a good follow-through to prep the trigger for the next shot.
The sights are superior to most striker-fired wonder nines. The metal rear sight is drift adjustable and serrated on the face to reduce glare. The front sight is also serrated, and the Tritium night sight is outlined in white. The rear sight has enough ledge to allow the slide to be racked off a table if the situation calls for.
As far as a sight picture of a defensive pistol, this is precisely how I prefer my setup—robust sights with only the front sight with coloration, contrasting against the black rear sight.
While not very important to me, the RXM ships optics ready. Remove the cover plate, and you can directly mount a Delta Point Pro, RMR, and RMSc footprint. The sights are tall enough so you can co-witness with the optic.
The magazine well is generously beveled, giving you a large funnel to speed up that magazine change. The Magpul fifteen-round magazine sits far enough out of the receiver that it can easily be grabbed and stripped from the pistol in the unlikely event of a malfunction. The Magpul Enhanced Handgun Grip includes TSP texture, which is not overly aggressive but still aids in keeping a solid purchase on the pistol.
One of the more remarkable features is once field-stripped, the actual pistol is a removable fire control insert that can be swapped into other Magpul grip module. This, coupled with the fact that the RXM is compatible with Gen 3 parts, allows you to customize your RXM if you see fi . However, what most folks upgrade on their Glock, such as trigger and sights, is already done and at a lower MSRP.
Accuracy was as expected, with groups around two inches fired from a rest at twenty-five yards.
Conclusions
After about 500 rounds of ball and defensive rounds, there were no malfunctions or misfeed. I acknowledge that 500 rounds is not a great deal of ammunition through the pistol. However, I feel confident if there were an issue with the gun, it would have shown up. The field strip and inspection at the end of the review revealed zero problems. We ran the RXM with both supplied Magpul fifteen-round PMags and factory Glock magazines. Two women who ran the pistol, Candy and Krista, commented on how easy it was to rack the slide, and Candy went as far as to say she felt the entire pistol was easier to manipulate than her Gen 3 Glock 19. All who tried it liked it, myself included. While I am not a huge fan of the polymer striker-fired wonder nines, I can appreciate them for what they are. Ruger and Magpul released such a pistol, showing improvement over perfection, is good for all of us. This is Capitalism at its best: a manufacturer taking a proven design, going further with it, and offering it at a less expensive price point. If nothing else, you must appreciate Ruger and Magpul putting the industry on notice, ensuring everyone strives to create new designs, improve on old ones, and keep everything affordable. The RXM from the factory has a better trigger, far superior sights, and is optics-ready without an adaptor plate, all at a lower MSRP than Glock. So, those who say this is merely a clone need to take a harder look. Don’t let your pride keep you ignorant.
With that said, to me, this is a very purpose-designed carry pistol. It includes essential features such as excellent sights, a good trigger, and ergonomics that aid with natural point of aim but omits features that could overcomplicate, such as a defensive pistol. I am thankful to see this collaboration between Ruger and Magpul; their initial offering is encouraging. If you are in need of a new carry pistol or for home/self-defense, I recommend taking a look at the new Ruger RXM; I don’t think you will be disappointed.
Specifications
Caliber: 9mm Luger
Action: Semi-auto striker fired
Length: 7.15″
Height: 5.3″
Weight: 23.2 0zs
Width: 1″
MSRP: $499
Acknowledgments