Ruger's RXM pistol brings together three of the industry's brightest manufacturers to build a rig that we won't forget in a hurry.
While Ruger certainly doesn't need any help making world-class firearms, the RXM stands apart thanks to a unique collaboration with two fellow heavyweights: Magpul and Dead Air Silencers.
The outcome is a mid-size combat pistol in the Ruger RXM that strikes a perfect balance between portability, reliability, and downrange thump.
But the real story begins when you thread on the Dead Air RXD910Ti. Specifically engineered for Ruger firearms, this suppressor turns a great handgun into a seamless system – the marriage of two elite technologies that were, quite literally, made for each other.
The Names Behind the Rig
Ruger is the largest manufacturer of firearms in the United States. Founded in 1949 by Bill Ruger and Alexander Sturm, Ruger has evolved into a modern manufacturing phenomenon. As of 2016, Ruger employed 2,120 people and had a net revenue of $664 million. These guys know how to make guns.
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Richard Fitzpatrick was a Force Recon Marine who started Magpul in 1999 to produce their iconic Magazine Pullers, hence the name. Since that time, Magpul has evolved into the world’s premiere supplier of tactical weapon accessories.
Their buttstocks and furniture enhance combat weapons the world over. The Magpul PMAG magazine feeds the US military, the UK Ministry of Defence and countless other military and law enforcement agencies around the globe. Nowadays, Magpul offers everything from back-up sights to complete operational firearms.
Working with Magpul to create user-preferred features on the RXM is just one reason this Ruger feels so good.
READ MORE: The Many Reasons Hunters Are Embracing Suppressors
Magpul Ergonomics and Modular Design
Magpul’s Enhanced Handgun Grip strikes the perfect balance between comfort and security on the RXM.
The grippiness ensures a proper hold even when sweaty, rushed or terrified. However, it’s not so deep as to abrade your hand during protracted range outings like the one in our review.
The flared magwell keeps things speedy. This is the Goldilocks of handgun frames. They naturally offer it in multiple colors and sizes as well. This is, after all, still Magpul. Modularity and customization drive their product catalog.
The Ruger RXM is the ultimate iteration of the striker-fired handgun. The pistol orbits around a removable Fire Control Insert (FCI).
The FCI is the serialized component that is the actual firearm in the eyes of the government. By mixing and matching sundry components, this FCI allows one single “firearm” to become many different guns.
It’s not that the RXM represents a radical departure from convention. It is more that the RXM represents the perfected state of the art.
The slide includes a direct mount optic cut that will accept RMR, DPP, and RMSc optics without an adaptor plate.
The gun comes standard with indestructible steel sights that co-witness with these common optics. The slide sports handy cocking serrations both front and rear.
RXM Glock 19 Compatibility and Optics-Ready Features
The RXM was intentionally designed for Gen 3 Glock 19 compatibility. That means that there are literally thousands of accessories and holsters that work seamlessly.
Off-the-shelf aftermarket parts, lights, and support gear are all a simple drop-in fit.
Shooting the Ruger RXM with the Dead Air RXD910Ti
So, how does this rig really run? For starters, the RXM really is the perfect size. It is small enough to carry comfortably while retaining enough bulk and mass to run both quickly and well.
The gun comes with two different interchangeable recoil springs. One is optimized for a suppressor, while the other is intended for use without the can.
This suppressor and gun were designed to complement each other. That means exceptional accuracy and unflinching reliability. With the suppressor installed, the gun remains placid and pleasant.
READ MORE: Newest Ruger Mark IV 22/45 Lite Rimfire Pistol: Range Test
Best Ammo for the Ruger RXM Suppressed Pistol Setup
Supersonic rounds still produce an annoying crack, but that occurs outside the gun.
Heavy 147-grain subsonic loads are a bit more expensive but much stealthier. Everything from 100-grain Black Hills HoneyBadger up through 147-grain Winchester jacketed hollowpoints ran like a monkey on crack.
Keeping my rounds inside a juice can lid at typical handgun engagement ranges was no great chore.
The Bottom Line
The Hook & Barrel Bottom Line is a rating system based on seven criteria. Each category is worth five points (or ampersands) for a total maximum score of 35.
- ERGOS & HANDLING: &&&&&
An exceptionally well-executed combat pistol with all the bells and whistles. - RECOIL: &&&&&
Eminently manageable, all the more so with the suppressor installed. - ACTION & RELOADING: &&&&&
A flared magwell and perfect controls make running this gun fast an intuitive exercise. - SIGHT MOUNTING EASE: &&&&
The slide accepts most common optics without a dedicated plate. - INTENDED PURPOSE: &&&&&
The ideal home defense package. - OVERALL VERSATILITY: &&&&&
The serialized Fire Control Insert can become many other guns, while the RXD910Ti suppressor will run on anything from 5.7x28mm up to 10mm AUTO. - VALUE-PRICE POINT:&&&&
True quality is seldom cheap, but this rig does represent a great value for the money. - 33/35
Final Thoughts on the Ruger RXM
So, what’s the point? Why would anyone want to invest in a Delta Force-grade suppressed tactical pistol given that the vast majority of us are not technically Delta Force operators?
Well, those same superlative tactical attributes also make for a superb home defense gun. The ergonomics are as good as physics and physiology allow, while the sound suppressor retains your capacity to communicate in a crisis.
It also looks just super cool. Owning such a rig won’t turn your into a high speed super soldier, but it will help keep you and your family safe in a crisis.