Magpul and Ruger teamed up to bring about one of the best guns of 2025, the Ruger RXM. Ruger produced the slide and metal internals, but Magpul did what they do best and worked with the polymer grip module. The RXM was built to be modular, with a serialized and removable Fire Control Insert (FCI).
The Ruger RXM is more or less a clone of the Glock Gen 3 series of pistols. The Fire Control Insert is radically different than the Glock design and is legally considered the firearm. This removable component allows you to swap grip modules. Ruger released the RXM, we all scooped it up, and waited for new grip modules.
I joked that Magpul went with Grey to get us all to buy new grip modules with a better color. The thing was, they left us waiting, and waiting, and waiting. Okay, we waited five months, but most of us thought they would have alternative grip modules out fairly fast.
Luckily, November rolled around, and Magpul hit us with the RXM full-sized grip module, and I happily scooped one up. It’s currently available in Black, Grey, Olive Drab, and Flat Dark Earth.
Going Bigger With the RXM
Releasing the RXM as a compact firearm made a lot of sense. The Glock 19 has always been the go-to, Goldilocks gun from Glock. It’s big enough for concealed carry and capable enough for duty and defensive use. It does everything pretty okay, but doesn’t do anything fantastic.
Swapping the compact grip module for a full-sized grip module takes you out of the Glock 19 size category and delivers what’s effectively a Glock 45 or a Glock 19X, more or less. It’s a compact slide on a full-sized grip. The gun industry has taken to calling these “X-series” guns, meaning they are a crossover.
Calling this the RXMX is a bit much, but that’s effectively what it is. The RXM slide is still compact, but the grip module grants you a slightly longer grip. You’re sacrificing some concealment for increased control and slightly increased capacity.
Popping In and Popping Out
Removing the Fire Control Insert is simple. You have to remove two pins and the takedown tabs. Pop it out, move two small pieces, and put it back together. It’s more complicated than similar designs from the Echelon and P365, and you need a punch, but overall it’s not hard.
Once the Fire Control Insert is correctly installed into the grip module, you can reattach the slide, throw in a seventeen-round magazine, and have yourself a great time. Reattach any light you may have been using, and that’s it.
Since the optic sticks to the slide, there is no need to rezero. It’s a simple swap that does wonders to increase ergonomics, at least for me. I suffer from 2XL-sized hands, and Glock 19 length grips are mostly fine.
My pinky dangles a hair, and with the standard RXM grip, it sits on the magwell, giving it a somewhat awkward feel. It doesn’t affect performance, but it feels odd. That’s gone with the longer, Glock 17-length grip.
The full-sized grips still feature the magwell; it’s now positioned a little further down, resulting in a more comfortable grip. The grip modules are compatible with Glock Gen 3 magazine releases, slide-stop components, and holsters. It drops right into my Glock 17 holsters without a problem.
Oh, and the best part, they include the magazine release! It’s not hard to swap, but I want to switch the FCI and slide, not fuss with the magazine release every time I swap formats.
Range Performance
The most immediate change you’ll notice is a higher degree of control. I can get a better grip on the longer grip module, which translates directly to increased control. I loaded a magazine and let it rip as fast as possible.
At 15 yards, I kept every round in a tight, baseball-sized group in the target’s chest area. Trying the same with the compact grip resulted in a group with more vertical stringing due to less control. The larger grip module cured the odd feeling of the original RXM’s magazine well.
Some smaller-handed shooters also reported issues with the compact-length grip. The pinky couldn’t wrap around the grip due to the integrated magazine well. This larger grip cures that problem.
I ran some basic speed-based drills, including my favorite, the Bill Drill. I noticed about a 0.10-second difference between the compact frame and the full-sized frame. From the holster, the RXM full-size has more to grip, and it’s a bit easier to get that solid grip prior to drawing.
The increased control also makes it easy to manage recoil, and I noticed slightly smaller groups with the RXM full-sized than with the compact grip.
With reloads, the longer grip module provided a more intuitive reload. For me, it was a bit faster and easier. This comes from the longer magazines and the better magwell integration.
The biggest difference I felt was shooting with one hand. I could control the full-length equipped RXM with greater ease than the compact frame.
The Role Of The Full-Sized RXM
The compact frame is well-suited for concealed carry. It’s the Goldilocks size. The full-length grip module makes it easier to turn the RXM into a defensive firearm or a competition firearm. I’d much rather take the full-length frame to a match than the compact frame.
The increased control and slightly increased capacity took it to the next level.
This grip module costs around $35, making it a cheap upgrade to your RXM. If you’re looking to take advantage of that increased modularity, the full-length RXM grip module is the way to go. Keep an eye on this channel because when Magpul releases the subcompact grip module, we’ll be here to cover it.
