In my continuing evaluation of the Ruger RXM – more for concealed carry and LE use – I decided I should use some of the older “duty” type ammo I’ve carried over the years – Hornady Critical Duty 135gr. FTX +P. It’s made for service- and service-compact length barrels, four-inches and longer. That’s needed to get the velocity up to the level that the bullets will perform as Hornady designed them to.

Why that and not other reputable defense/duty use? Because this is what I had. Like other manufacturers, Hornady went all-out to make ammo to meet the FBI standard protocols. They did that to attract law enforcement procurement contracts. If they went to all that time and effort, why shouldn’t I check to see if the ammo performs well in the type of gun in which we’d expect it gets used?

The Ruger RXM (Ruger-Magpul) is the collaborative effort of two makers to bring in a modular auto pistol to meet the needs of institutional users as well as private citizens. The basis of the operating system follows the GLOCK pattern and people like to compare it to the Generation 3 version of those guns.

The fire control is contained in a chassis that can be moved from one non-serial numbered grip module to another. Apparently, Magpul is currently producing add-on grip modules for the RXM. Ruger made the fire control as well as the “upper” (slide-barrel-recoil system-striker) components.

I’ve had the sample for some time and I shoot it quite a bit. I took the effort to use it in the semi-auto qualification for law enforcement retirees this year.

It has been trouble-free in operation.

I began the range excursion by simultaneously checking velocity and zero from fifteen yards with the RXM using the factory iron sights. The Hornady Critical Duty 135 grain FTX +P averaged 1,091fps. The rounds struck 2.5” low, and favored left.

The low strike is consistent with nearly all factory semi-auto pistols I’ve sampled since the mid-2000s time frame. It seems they want me to cover the bull with the tritium insert thoughtfully installed in the front sight.

The left tendency, I believe, is mine. I elected to try some modification to the way I grip the gun to see if there was an effect.

For the handling phase, I stole part of the Arizona Daytime Qualification from about 20 years ago. The course could be shot “close to far,” as I understand it, but some agencies elected to shoot the furthest distance first, then move up close – that to allow the shooter and coach to see what effect was had from the furthest distance.

If that needs work, we know it and can fix it.

Shooting on an IALEFI-Q “center” pasted on an IDPA cardboard target for this exercise, I later used the same target for a “micro-compact ‘plus’” gun, overlaid with a B-8 repair center and a 3”x5” label over the head circle.

The course of fire included shooting with one hand, as well as two-handed.

From 25 yards, the procedure was to draw to a pair of hits. This was followed by a pair from low ready – the real-deal, muzzle down at 45°low ready. This was repeated for a total of six rounds from 25 yards.

The Ruger RXM put the Hornady Critical Duty rounds into the “chest” circle from distance.

I moved up to five yards. A bit of a change, this began with a pair from the holster. This was followed by a pair from ready shot with the dominant hand only and a pair from the nondominant hand, likewise without “support.” This was shot “clean,” as well.

Backing up to ten yards, I shot the failure drill from the holster. The hit in the head circle was low, but still inside.

The handling target (above) showed a left-tendency in the group. Below, attempting the “switch hands” exercise from Tenicor, proved instructive.

I finished with a trigger isolation exercise I’d seen on the Tenicor YouTube channel. In that, you “switch hands,” as follows. Taking the firing grip on the gun and raising it to eye level, you maintain control of the gun while opening the fingers of the dominant hand and gripping the gun with the nondominant hand. The dominant hand becomes the “trigger” hand – only. The other is the “control hand.”

Using a focus on the target (h/t, Ben Stoeger), I printed a tight cluster, low on the bull from seven yards.

It’s clear my grip needs some work. The Ruger RXM?

It’s good to go with Hornady Critical Duty ammo.

— Rich Grassi