Preface

I keep coming back to Glock clone pistols, which is quite the 180 turn for me. Today I am taking a look at another something new, this time from one of America’s best known manufacturers and in part by another. Today I bring a you a review of the Ruger RXM 9mm pistol. The RXM is a recoil operated 9mm pistol that is fed by Magpul magazines in the very popular Glock pattern. Like many other pistol on the market today, the RXM is a clone of the extremely successful Glock. But it also has a whole new trick up it’s sleeve, and it’s sleeve is also made by Magpul.

It is hard to deny the success of the popular design of these kind of pistols, and the incredible aftermarket support already available makes it even more appealing. Not only do you get the famous reliability, but you can use the same holsters, and others accessories that you probably already have.

What is the Ruger RXM

For those who’ve been hiding under a rock (or behind a 1911), Glock clones have become extremely popular. Following the pattern of the Gen 3 striker fired poly-framed pistols has been very successful for quite a few manufacturers now. Ruger has partnered with Magpul to make the polymer frame for the RXM, while Ruger made the rest. There is a secret within the frame though, in a similar idea to the incredibly popular Sig Sauer P320 the Ruger RXM has a removable Fire Control Insert (FCI). The FCI is the trigger and serialized portion of the firearm.

This allows you as the user to swap from one grip frame to another. And with a partner like Magpul in this endeavor, I expect we will see an unprecedented flow of grip frame options come to market in the future.

So if you are wondering what makes the RXM so special, I can sum it up like this; it’s as though two of the most successful pistols of the past decades had a baby blessed by Magpul.

Ruger RXM Features

Caliber	9mm
Overall Length	7.15 inches
Height	5.31 inches
Barrel Length	4 inches
Slide Width	1 inch
Grooves	6
Twist	1:10 right hand
Weight	23.2 ounces
Optics Ready	yes
Front Sight	Tritium co-witness height
Rear Sight	Steel drift adjustable
Manual Safety	No
Barrel & Slide Material	Alloy steel
Capacity	15 + 1
Steel Finish	Black FNC Nitride
Grip Frame	Magpul enhanced grip
Magazines	Two 15 round PMAGs included
MSRP	$499.00

I was very pleased that the design team took the time to think this pistol through. It is apparent that they wanted to incorporate some of the better features in this pistol. Things like an optics cut slide and the tritium sights are definitely better than many standard features. Even my son noticed and mentioned the convenient load indicator slot so you can easily identify a hot chamber. And of course the Magpul frame that can be interchanged by swapping the FCI.

I was even more impressed when I pulled the optics plate off to see the semi-universal optics footprint. The RXM can take the RMR, Delta Point Pro, and RMSc optics, which covers a huge variety of optics. The footprint area of the RXM slide has various holes to accept screws but also comes with configurable pins to allow proper securing of your red dot.

The grip frame features Magpul’s TSP grip texture, and also has a pretty covert magwell flare. As well as an undercut trigger guard which is nice.

Unboxing the Ruger RXM

I’m always excited when I open a new gun, I’d already handled the RXM at SHOT Show 2025 but I was still excited to take it home. The hard plastic case carried the RXM and 2 fifteen round Magpul PMAGS, as well as the typical gun lock and other accessories. I will say that the case is bigger than it needs to be, allowing additional accessories and mags to be stored for transport. The box also has a cutout for an optic, whether for a user added optic or a later model including an optic is yet to be seen. You’ll also see room for a threaded barrel, giving away future options Ruger?

I lifted the RXM from its case, and felt that same familiar grip of the clones. It felt good and only got better as I played with the pistol further. All the controls felt just as you would expect, the trigger is crisp. The front and rear slide serrations make for easy gripping to pull against the stout spring. The sights line up nicely with my hold, and the front tritium pops against the dull winter overcast sky.

I ran the slide a few times against the empty magazine, and was pleased with how smooth and easy it was to actuate everything. The mag release is extended a bit, and at first I thought it might be too forward. But after all of my shooting it seemed it was perfect.

I did a quick field strip to see the curious FCI and how it was secured into the frame by a couple push pins. The whole thing looked very nice, with a great finish and quality look.

Ruger RXM Setup

I was anxious to get this pistol shooting, so I wasted no time getting it ready for a range trip. I dug through my selection of red dots, and decided to grab the Vortex Defender CCW. It was a good fit for the RXM, and would be easy to mount as well using the supplied fasteners.

Including anchor pins to secure the red dot gives the RXM another leg up, by allowing you to configure the footprint to match the red dot. Instead of forcing you to change to a dot that fits the footprint.

Because I’d planned on carrying the pistol for a while, I decided to also install my Streamlight TLR8. It’s a handy light laser combo for CCW pistols and it fits perfectly on the Ruger RXM. And the whole conglomeration fit nicely into my Hidden Hybrid IWB holster.

On the Range

All that was left was to head to the range and shoot this small wonder, I grabbed a few boxes of 115 grain ammo from MWLP for some initial testing. My first range trip would be a typical trip into the snowy Rocky Mountains, and both my son and I would enjoy the afternoon plinking away with the Ruger RXM.

I took the opportunity to try a bunch of different things like drawing from the holster, reloading after single shots and such. It didn’t take long to get comfortable with the RXM. The Defender red dot made it quick to bear and make clean shots on my targets.

I was very impressed with how easy reloads went with the gun. I am used to big guns with flared magwells, this little Ruger does have a flare but it’s hardly noticeable unless you look under the gun. It came very easy to me to stab the magazine even without looking, it felt much easier than other similar guns I’ve shot in the past.

Shootability

As you might imagine, a pistol modeled after one of the most successful pistols ever shoots very well. The RXM grip is very comfortable, and the angle lines up quite naturally with my aim. Recoil from the RXM is quite modest and keeping on target is akin to other similar pistols. Its also nice to be able to use a red dot, pushing your focus to the target.

The controls of the RXM are great. The trigger is a little longer than I would have expected but it is very smooth and breaks nicely. This allowed for great shot placement particularly when coupled with the fine aimpoint of the Defender.

At first, I did find one thing that bothered me. During the first few mags my thumb would push slightly up on the slide release causing the RXM to lock open between rounds. This was easily corrected once I realized it was just my thumb crowding the area. Even my kids had a good time shooting the RXM.

Ergonomics

Again, as a clone its hard to beat the time tested successful design. The grip angle is just right and feels natural. Slide cuts provide just the right amount of grip without being abrasive. The mag release is a touch further forward than expected but certainly caused zero problems during my reloads. The trigger blade safety isn’t even noticeable during shooting, which is the way it should be.

My hands are neither small nor large, and the grip area was just right for them. If I had larger hands I could see it getting a bit crowded, but I also anticipate that there will be additional grips available from Magpul in the near future that will solve that issue.

Accuracy

I’m a bit of an accuracy nerd when it comes to rifles. But when it comes to handguns I don’t consider myself anything but average, and I had no issues hitting what I aimed at. I don’t suspect this gun is currently going to be used for competition shooting (at least not yet), but more likely it will be used for typical semi-compact 9mm purposes. CCW use and general shooting are more likely in its future, and for that the accuracy was perfectly adequate.

Hitting paper plate sized targets from a quick draw was easy to do even at fifteen to twenty yards. I carried the pistol as my CCW for several days quite confident that should I need to use it I would be able to hit my target.

Reliability

I mentioned the occasional locking back caused by my imposing thumb, that was the only thing I could call a failure that we experienced while shooting the Ruger RXM. It has cycled through hundreds of rounds and many boxes of 115 and 124 grain ammunition now without any failures.

Value

The Glock clone market is getting steep with competition. Many companies have brought some very affordable models to market to compete with this Ruger RXM, and this has brought the prices down. The RXM is more affordable than most of the original Austrian polymer pistols, depending on which generation you are looking at. And even among its clone peers the RXM is still quite competitive with street prices just under $400.

For comparison, my ZRO Delta FKS9 can be had for around $350 but it will cost more than the RXM if you want the optics ready slide. I also have a PSA Dagger that is very comparable to the RXM, but again if you want an optics ready slide it’s price goes up to within a carton of eggs price of the RXM. So there’s plenty of competition from other good products.

BUT, we haven’t addressed some of the RXM’s advantages. Not only is the RXM optics ready, its configurable footprint will take most optics. Additionally its removable FCI allows you to swap grip frame modules, none of the other clones do that at this price. I cannot fathom that Ruger and Magpul haven’t thought this through for years to come. I expect we will see a massive and steady release of RXM variants with various sizes, slides and barrels. Time will surely tell, but with all that in mind I think the Ruger RXM is a fantastic value, with a bright future.

Pros and Cons

I’ve kind of already gone over all the pros of this pistol. Its a comfortable shooter with clean lines and a nice fit. The customization and potential for future modification make it stand out against its competition. I was even impressed with how seamless and tight fitting the FCI fits into the grip module, at a glance you wouldn’t even think it was removeable. The edges of the RXM aren’t as hard as they could be, making it less likely to snag while drawing.

I’ve also thought quite a bit about what I would change on the Ruger RXM. And to be completely candid I could hardly come up with something to pick at, I’d almost have to put myself in the shoes of another to find something. For example, the RXM isn’t built for lefties. That doesn’t bother me, but it might turn off some left-handed shooters. Though I’d imagine they are used to it by now. Also, perhaps you’re a Gen 3 critic, and would prefer clones copied a different version of Gaston Glock’s family. But you’re diggin’ really deep if you want to call these liabilities to the Ruger RXM.

Again, if I was reaching real hard I could say I wish the magazine was a touch more snug in the frame. But who am I to question Magpul’s design, perhaps it works best that way.

Preferred Ammunition

Besides the MWLP ammo, I also shot a few boxes of AAC 124 grain ammo. Both of which functioned flawlessly through the Ruger. For carry ammo I would use something predictable like Hornady Critical Duty 124 grain defense ammo.

Accessory Options

The Vortex Defender red dot worked out great for the RXM, I had no reason to dislike it. But I also like the US Optics RISE red dot as it is a bit larger window and more refined dot on the glass. The beauty of the RXM is that just about any popular sight will drop on to the Ruger RXM.

The Streamlight TLR8 was also a great choice for a weapon light, particularly for CCW use. An obvious choice would have also been the Surefire X300, though it is a bit bigger and more cumbersome for a carry gun.

My hidden Hybrid Holster fit the Ruger RXM well, but as objective as holsters can be you might want to pick your own. I also carried the RXM in a 1791 Gunleather holster that was also pretty comfortable.

Last Thoughts

My initial thoughts on the Ruger RXM turned out to be pretty dead on. I have always liked Ruger’s firearms, they seem to be optimized for the average American gun owner. And providing them with a pleasant and affordable experience.

I was quite surprised just how much I liked the RXM and how well thought out it was. It is a step above your average Glock clone, with some great added value and features. I expect this gun has a vibrant future ahead, much like the P320 is currently living. And not unlike the Dagger’s explosive popularity. Perhaps someday in the future there will be a compensated competition long-slide version and micro compact CCW versions as well, all with interchangeability. Great job and a tip of the hat to the collaborative teams at Ruger and Magpul.

-CBM

2025 Update:

After nearly a year of shooting the RXM, I have yet to come up with a down side. I have swapped half a dozen red dots across the slide cut, and used every kind of magazine I can get hands on. Magpul recently released additional frames for it, and I intend on trying at least one more size out. I have carried the RXM many different ways almost every week since I got it. I still feel it is an excellent value, and worth your consideration.