Is there something special about the Ruger RXM, Glock clone pistol? There is, and it’s kind of cool, at least in my opinion.
Glock “clones” are no longer just a replicated version of the famous Austrian handgun. They now come in all shapes and sizes, with some major modifications being made. Enough of these guns are still compatible with Glock parts to call them clones, but they are no longer just duplicates.
Just about every firearms manufacturer is producing their own take on the renowned handgun. This is both good and bad because it makes the decision tougher for buyers.
Do you stick with the proven original, or venture into the world of Glock-inspired variants? Up until now, the biggest difference was the amount of “upgraded” parts you get with the gun. For those who want more than a plane-jane gun, plenty of companies are offering flashy, Gucci upgrades. Don’t get me wrong, Glock remains the gold standard, but a Glock is a Glock, and there’s not much room for options when ordering one.
What’s different about the RXM specifically is that it has a removable trigger assembly. This means you can buy one gun, move the internal parts (from the frame), and put them in another pistol frame. After using this gun for more than a year now, I am even more impressed with it than I was in the beginning.
Ruger RXM Overview
The Ruger RXM was developed in partnership with Magpul, which is a smart move for both companies. Magpul has been making handgun grips, rifle stocks, and accessories for a long time. Partnering with a company like this is smart on Ruger’s part because the possibilities for future mutations of this gun are endless.
With the RXM, Ruger utilizes a removable trigger assembly housed within the Magpul polymer grip module called the EHG (Enhanced Handgun Grip). This unique design allows you to easily swap out the EHG for different sizes or colors.
When the RXM first came out, it was sold with a compact grey grip EHG (pictured below). The compact grip is the equivalent of a Glock 19. A couple of other color options were being offered at the time, but hard to get because they were sold out. After waiting for a while, I was able to get the black version and switch it out from the grey.
I’ll talk more about the EHG options here in a bit, but let’s finish going over the gun itself first.
The RXM is chambered in the ever-popular 9mm Luger, which is ideal for both self-defense and range practice.
They used a through-hardened alloy steel on the slide, which has a ferritic nitrocarburizing (FNC) finish. Like the slide, the barrel has an FNC finish and a .308 Enfield rifling, which is supposed to help reduce lead buildup in the barrel.
Look and feel of the RXM
Even though it’s a Glock clone pistol, it has a feel of its own. I think the flared mag-well makes the grip feel just a little shorter. This is fine with me as I have medium-sized hands. For those with large hands, the grip may feel just a little too small, but a large-size grip is available.
Another thing I’m liking about the RXM is the slide serrations. My Gen 5 Glock 19 doesn’t have any on the front. Ruger added some serrations on the front and back of the slide, which I kind of like. I’m used to racking the slide on 1911s and Glock 17s, so I grip the front of the slide as I rack it. This is just a preference, but why not add some serrations to the front of the slide?
Overall, the Ruger RXM is a comfortable gun to shoot. The only thing I wish they had done differently is the mag release. A big trend I noticed at SHOT 2025 was Gen-3 clones using Gen-5 mag releases. Ruger designed their own mag release, so it is easier to push than a standard Gen-3. But a Gen-5 mag release would have been perfect.
Ruger used some taller sights on the RXM, which work great for optics. The front sight is tritium, so it glows in the dark. This is a feature you normally don’t get on a factory pistol.
Ruger RXM Specs
- Caliber: 9mm
- Weight: 23 ounces (unloaded)
- Frame Material: Polymer (Magpul Grip Module)
- Slide Material: Stainless Steel
- Finish: Black Nitride
- Trigger: Removable Trigger Assembly
- Grip Module Colors: Factory Grey (additional colors available)
- Optics Compatibility: Multi-footprint Pin System
Installing an Optic on the RXM
In today’s world, most new handguns are optics-ready. Ruger not only added an optics plate, but they also used a system with locator pins to make it extremely adaptable.
This system allows the RXM to accommodate nearly every popular optic footprint on the market today. That means you can use the optics you already have, and you don’t have to buy an adapter plate. It’s a pet peeve of mine, but I can’t stand buying a new handgun and then learning I need a $100 adaptor plate to make an optic work with it. If the gun is “optics ready,” it should be just that… ready.
The optics plate on the RXM employs a clever pin system that easily adjusts to fit various optics footprints securely. Simply remove the screws from the plate, position the pins according to your optic’s footprint, and attach your red dot optic onto the slide.
I mounted my Gideon Omega on the RXM, which is a great optic and fits nicely. But like I said before, you can mount just about any popular footprint on the RXM.
Compatible Optic Footprints Include
- Trijicon RMR/SRO
- Leupold DeltaPoint Pro
- Shield RMS
- Doctor/Noblex Standard
How to Swap Out the Grip Module on the RXM
So, swapping out the grip module isn’t hard, but it’s not as easy as Sig made it. You will need a punch, hammer, and a small bench block is preferred.
Start by removing the two pins from the left side of the grip module. Make sure the punch you are using is not too big for the small pin, or you will damage the grip module when you start beating it with a hammer. And of course, you don’t want to actually beat the pin out.
Once the pins are removed, you need to remove the take-down bar. Use the punch to place some pressure on the spring bar directly underneath and push on one side of the take-down bar. Once it starts to slide out one end of the groove, you can pull it the rest of the way out.
You can also check out this video where I swap out the grip module in about 6 minutes.
With that removed, the fire control unit can be removed as well. Two small springs stay in the grip module. You can leave them and use the new ones that Magpul sends out with the grips, or take them out and keep the new ones for replacement parts.
Placing the FCU into the new grip module
The two small springs that came with your grip module need to be installed first. Make sure the first spring has the forks facing the back of the gun and slide it into the grooves (see photo below).
Next, drop in the spring bar with the longer “L” shape part facing down. Use the old grip module as a reference to see where it goes.
Now the fire control unit can be placed in the new grip module. Once this is done, install the take-down lever and the two pins. You may have to rotate the larger pin just a little as you’re installing it.
And that’s it. Put your slide back on, and you’re ready to go. Do a quick performance check on it to make sure the trigger is functioning correctly and the slide cycles as it should.
Three sizes of handgun grips are now offered
As I said above, when the RXM first came out, there were not a lot of options yet. This only led to more excitement as we all knew they would be coming down the pipeline at some point.
Well, here we are a year later, and we have not been let down. There are three different sizes of handgun grips for the RXM and lots of colors to choose from. Here is what Magpul and Ruger offer at the moment:
Full-Size Handgun Grip
If I’m remembering correctly, Ruger and Magpul started shipping the full-size RXM frame around the middle of 2025. This frame is the equivalent of the Glock 45, which is the slide length of a Glock 19 and the grip size of a Glock 17. This configuration has become extremely popular with police, competition shooters, and everyone in between.
You can order the full-sized EHG from Magpul for $39.95, which is extremely affordable in my opinion. When ordering, you can choose from black, FDE, Olive Drab Green, and Stealth Grey. The only thing to keep in mind is that this grip will not accommodate the original mags that came with the RXM. Because the large grip frame is equivalent to a Glock 45 frame, you must use 17-round mags instead of 15-rounders.
compact Handgun Grip
The compact grip is what the RXM ships with when you purchase it. As I mentioned above, this is the equivalent of a Glock 19-sized gun. Even though the Glock 17 was the flagship gun for decades, the Glock 19 has become one of the most popular sizes. It’s compact enough to conceal, but large enough for virtually any type of use.
When you buy the RXM, it comes with a Stealth Grey, compact EHG grip. I’m sure other variations are available when purchasing the RXM, but this is the most popular configuration from the factory.
For those who want to keep the compact grip but prefer a different color, you can choose from the same colors mentioned above. There isn’t anything wrong with the grey, but I preferred the black compact grip on mine.
Sub-Compact Handgun Grip
In January of 2026, Ruger and Magpul unveiled the sub-compact grip. My first look at this configuration was at SHOT 2026, so I haven’t been able to shoot it yet, but I’m curious.
If you think the RXM with the sub-compact grip looks a little strange, it’s because it is. We normally see configurations that are “standard” for Glock, like the Glock 19, 17, 45, etc. When you put the sub-compact grip on the RXM, you are basically putting a Glock 26-size frame on a Glock 19-size slide. Some call this the “Glock 26 Long Slide.”
The sub-compact grip frame will work with Glock 26 mags (for flush-fitting), but you can also use your Glock 19 or 17 mags as well. Those longer mags will just stick out of the gun, but function just fine.
For those wanting to carry appendix, this could be a great option. I’m not sure I will leave a sub-compact grip frame on my RXM, but I will be ordering one anyway just to try it out.
And here’s the verdict
I think having the option to swap out grips like this on a Glock-style pistol is awesome. If someone wants a Glock 45 or some other size handgun, they will be able to purchase a grip module instead of a whole new gun.
Before I went to the range with the RXM, I used my DryFireMag training system to get a feel for the gun overall. I also used it with several of my Safariland duty holsters, and it fit all of them just fine.
At the range, I fired about 500 rounds of 9mm 115 grain Federal FMJ. I won’t get into too much detail about my range time since multiple people have covered its shooting performance. But I will say, this gun has been a reliable and smooth-shooting handgun. It has great recoil, and it hasn’t malfunctioned one time.
Because it’s based on the Gen-3 model, it has a single recoil spring instead of a double, but I’m not sure I could tell much difference. I like the texturing on the grip, and the slight dip just below the trigger guard is a notable improvement. For a handgun that retails in the $400 range, I’d say the Ruger RXM is a big hit.
Questions & Asnwers
What is the most unique design feature of the Ruger RXM compared to a standard Glock?
The most significant difference is the removable trigger assembly. Unlike a traditional Glock, the RXM’s internal firing components can be removed from the frame and placed into a different “Enhanced Handgun Grip” (EHG) module. This allows owners to change the size or color of their pistol without buying an entirely new firearm.
Which optic footprints are compatible with the Ruger RXM?
The RXM features a highly adaptable multi-footprint pin system that does not require expensive adapter plates. It is designed to accommodate nearly every popular optic on the market, including:
- Trijicon RMR/SRO
- Leupold DeltaPoint Pro
- Shield RMS
- Doctor/Noblex Standard
What are the available grip sizes for the RXM, and how do they compare to Glock models?
The RXM offers three distinct grip configurations through its partnership with Magpul:
- Compact: The factory standard, equivalent to a Glock 19.
- Full-Size: Equivalent to a Glock 45 (Glock 19 slide length with a Glock 17 grip size).
- Sub-Compact: Equivalent to a Glock 26 frame, creating a “long slide” sub-compact configuration.
Does the Ruger RXM require special tools to swap the grip module?
Yes, while the process is straightforward, it is not “tool-less.” To swap the grip module, you will need a punch and a hammer (a bench block is also recommended) to remove the two pins on the side of the frame and the take-down bar.
What are the key performance specifications and factory features of the RXM?
The Ruger RXM is a 9mm pistol weighing 23 ounces unloaded. It features a stainless steel slide with front and rear serrations, a black nitride finish, and tritium glow-in-the-dark front sights. It is currently priced at $399.
