When it comes to writing articles, there are certain rules one is supposed to follow. Usually, writing starts with an introduction, followed by the body of the article containing facts and observations, and finishes with a conclusion. For this article, I’m going to break the rules and start with the conclusion. The news isn’t that Ruger introduced its version of the Glock 19. What’s significant is that one of the largest firearms manufacturers in America — Ruger — partnered with one of the most successful firearms accessory companies — Magpul. Together, they developed what has been termed a “Glock clone,” with some interesting and unique features. 

Several companies are in this segment, but with these two behemoths, I predict we are going to see a repeat of what happened to the 1911. Just as Colt no longer has a monopoly on the Model 1911, the market appears to be slipping away from Glock for the same reason.

RXM

First, the name: “RXM” is like a mathematical acronym that equals Ruger multiplied by Magpul. You will see both company logos on the hard case supplied with the RXM because this was a partnership. Ruger worked with Magpul to develop the pistol, going back and forth during the development process. When I first laid hands on early production samples, representatives from both Ruger and Magpul were present at the event to get feedback.

Second — and maybe the biggest news behind the announcement — the RXM isn’t actually a “Glock clone,” per se. The RXM is modular, meaning the actual firearm is the serialized chassis. Ruger is calling it the Fire Control Insert (FCI). It is installed inside the Magpul Enhanced Handgun Grip (EHG). End-­users will be able to assemble the RXM around different sized, shaped or colored grip modules without the need for additional paperwork.

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The RXM is just the first in a planned series of guns, and it was based on the G19 pattern, a compact, striker-­fired 9mm that is standard with a 15-­round magazine. For years, it was considered the carry gun against which all others were judged due to its combination of size, weight, capacity, reliability and shootability.

The RXM sports a 4-­inch barrel with traditional lands-­and-­grooves rifling. Total length is 7.3 inches with a height of 4.9 inches without a magazine (5.4 inches with), and the total weight with an empty magazine inserted is 23.1 ounces. Two Magpul magazines are supplied with the pistol, but it is compatible with Glock factory magazines, too. 

Your eyes don’t deceive you; this pistol is a two-­tone design. The slide has a black-­nitride finish, whereas the grip module is a medium gray. Size and color variations are on Ruger’s agenda, but, as the G19 has been Glock’s biggest seller since it was introduced in 1988, Ruger had to start somewhere. This was a smart bet.

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Repeatedly mentioning a competing brand in a review is often considered a “jerk” move, probably as much as starting an article with a conclusion, but no review of the RXM would be complete without comparing it to the G19. We also have to address why there are so many companies making Glock-­pattern guns. Glock’s unwillingness to dramatically change its pistol line is the exact reason why other companies are making clones. Many are even better than the original. Glock has often ignored the desires of the U.S. commercial market, only investing in developments when not doing so could risk a military or law enforcement contracts.

The Takedown

Instead of plastic sights, the sights on the RXM are steel. The front sight is a day/night sight made by HiViz. It has a tritium insert that glows brightly in the dark and is surrounded by a white ring that is visible in any kind of light. The rear sight is a standard square notch with a serrated face. The front of the rear sight is vertical, so if one needed to rack the slide one-­handed, it will work without tearing it out of the dovetail.

The iron sights are a bit taller than standard, just tall enough to be seen through the window of most optics, because the RXM is optic ready. Remove the two screws holding the polymer coverplate and you’ll see the slide of the RXM has been machined for direct mounting of optics with various footprints such as the Trijicon RMR, Leupold DeltaPoint Pro and Shield RMSc. Supplied with the pistol is a Torx wrench for removing the necessary screws, and metal dowel pins for supporting various spots on the slide to create the appropriate footprint. If you’re going to mount an optic, machining the slide to direct-­mount them is the best way to go, and far superior to adapters such as the Glock MOS optic-­mounting system with its polymer plates.

The slide has angular cuts everywhere — no curves. The angle cut lengthwise along either side of the slide looks stylish, but it — along with the gray lower — makes this pistol a standout on the shelf at the local gun store. There are aggressive, flat-­bottomed serrations, front and back. Even if your hands are slick, you’ll be able to cycle the slide.

Inside the slide, you’ll see a standard-looking barrel with a cutout in the hood serving as a loaded chamber indicator. The RXM has a captured recoil spring. Inside the lower half of the pistol, everything looks almost the same. The RXM follows the same tried-­and-­true principles of design, but the dimensions of the trigger system are a bit different as everything is fit inside a stainless-­steel cage, which is then enclosed by the grip module.

The trigger on Guns & Ammo’s sample was excellent, measured at 4¾ pounds. The trigger has a flat face and a slightly curved body that fires at about 90 degrees. Other test guns I’ve shot had similar triggers, which means they are superior to the Austrian products. For decades, they had 7-­pound trigger pulls, despite the claim they were about “5½ pounds.”

Magpul’s Input

Magpul is the brand king of firearms accessories, and not just for making tough products but making products that are ergonomically excellent. The Enhanced Handgun Grip on the RXM is no different. The EHG has the same grip angle as a G19, just with a flat, non-arched backstrap. There is a slight relief cut underneath the triggerguard and a scallop around the polymer magazine release to make reaching it easier. The magazine release on the RXM is not reversible. Inside, the EHG has a generous magazine well. It is barely obvious from the outside, but the funnel inside the grip is significant, easing reloads.

The texturing on the grip is more aggressive than it looks. It doesn’t look like anything, but the tiny raised bits dig deeper into your hand the harder you grab the pistol. Your hand won’t move on the gun while shooting. They’ve added some texturing to the frame at the top of the triggerguard, as well as a lip, for the thumb of the support hand when shooting. I wish texture was added to the front of the triggerguard for those of us who shoot with a finger-­forward hold, but that’s a minor complaint.

The Magpul EHG has a Glock-­style single-­slot frame rail for mounting lights or lasers. You’ll probably want a light meant for a compact pistol so it doesn’t stick awkwardly beyond the muzzle like the jutting chin of a palace guard, but the market is awash with quality choices meant for this exact size pistol.

At the top right of the grip, you’ll see the serial number of the pistol etched onto the stainless-­steel Fire Control Insert (FCI), visible through a cutout on the grip module. It appears every bit of the FCI is constructed of stainless steel, so you won’t have to worry about corrosion on this gun.

At the introduction event, the folks from Ruger told us that they spent a lot of time designing and redesigning one of the smallest parts in this pistol: The slide-­stop. A Glock factory slide-­stop is a flat piece of steel that works just fine to lock the slide back on an empty magazine. However, because it is so flush to the gun, it’s pretty much useless as a slide release. Ruger wanted the RXM to have a component that worked just as well as a stop as a release. They succeeded.

In photos, it might not look much different, but the devil is in the details. The slide release is curved outward away from the body of the pistol in a small arc, and its surface is aggressively serrated. The end result is a steel tab that, when you push with your thumb, drops the slide while being perfectly sized for a concealed-­carry piece.

You don’t need to remove the FCI for cleaning, but for switching it into a different grip module the procedure is straightforward. The instructions and photos in the owner’s manual make it a relatively quick process.

Swapping the FCI

First, remove the slide assembly as you would for field-­stripping or cleaning. To remove the FCI, use a punch to push out the locking block pin above the trigger. You’ll note there is no pin at the back of the grip for the trigger housing. Then, depress the slide-­lock spring and push the slide lock out of the grip module using the same punch.

At this point, the FCI is held in place by the steel takedown pin, which you can see just above the front of the triggerguard. Push it out right-­to-­left. Pay attention to both your slide-­lock spring and takedown spring (where they are and where they go), as you’ll need to remove them and reinstall them in a new grip module. At this point, you can simply lift the FCI out of the grip module at the front. Lift up and pull forward; at the rear it hooks under a ridge of polymer. Installation is the reverse.

The FCI uses the same design as in a Glock-­pattern pistol; only the dimensions (as it sits inside a removable chassis) differ, which means this is as proven a design as you’re likely to get in a “new” gun. At a media event at Gun Talk’s Range Ready facility in Louisiana, there were no surprises during testing. The RXM was boringly reliable and proved unfazed by the heat, dirt and humidity.

At the Range

The herd of media types at Ruger’s pre-launch event had a lot of fun ringing steel and punching holes in paper. The fundamental design has been so popular for so long simply because it is highly shootable for its weight, mostly thanks to its low bore. I can shoot a Glock better than I can anything else. Between the better-­than-­average trigger and integral magwell, I could run the RXM as hard and fast as I wanted — both of us liked it.

The RXM should fit into just about any holsters made for the G19, which means pretty much every company makes a holster to fit it. My only note on carrying the RXM concealed is this: While the Magpul magazines work just fine and are the natural choice for a Ruger/Magpul pistol, they are a bit longer than Glock factory magazines due to the basepad/plate design, which is why they stick so far out of the grip. For a tiny bit of improved concealability, you might want to try a factory Glock magazine for the one in the gun when you’re carrying it. Spare magazines (Magpul or Glock) are inexpensive and readily available.

Now I will restate the conclusion with which I started: The RXM is the product of two of the biggest names in the industry, offering features and performance that, in every way, meet or exceeds that of the design from which it has sprung — and at a lower price. This is just the start of the Ruger and Magpul partnership. 

Ruger RXM

• Type: Recoil operated, striker ­fired, semiautomatic
• Cartridge: 9mm
• Capacity: 15+1 rds.
• Barrel: 4 in.
• Length: 7.3 in.
• Width: 1.26 in.
• Height: 5.4 in. (magazine inserted)
• Weight: 1 lb., 7.1 oz.
• Slide: Steel alloy, nitride finish
• Grip: Magpul Gray, polymer
• Sights: HiViz day/night tritium (front), notch (rear), optic ready
• Trigger: 4 lbs., 12 oz. (tested)
• Safety: Trigger lever, striker drop safety
• Accessories: Two 15-­round magazines, cable lock, lockable hard case
• MSRP: $499
• Manufacturer: Sturm, Ruger, & Co., 336-949-5200, ruger.com