Are Ruger pistols as durable and reliable as their revolvers ?

[Red_SC]

I have a P90, it's definitely a tough pistol. The only thing I didn't like was the cheap rattly grips. Mr. Hogue fixed that nicely.

 

[foghornl]

I have the KP-90, only problem I ever had [other than OE...Operator Error] was with really crappy American Ammunition brand ammo.

Ruger's P-series are not the most AP (Aesthetically Pleasing) handguns around, but they will always go BANG! when you need them to do so.

 

[renaissance]

Same goes for their Rifles/Carbines - See Below

PC4GR > Good News and Bad – (It could have been worse)
The Bad news is: I “Broke†my brand new (less than 50 rounds) Ruger PC4
The Good news is: I learned something valuable and walked away from it unhurt.

I have been shooting .40 S&W for years ( SIG 2340 and BHP).
Had a good feel for the cartridge in both pistols.
I had never shot it (or any other pistol cartridge) in a rifle/carbine.
Never owned one.

Saw a brand new Ruger PC4(GR) and liked it.
Short barrel, good sights, pistol caliber (My home range is limited to pistol calibers)
nice looks, good feel, and at a very attractive price.
I own a number of Ruger handguns and know them to be good, strong, sturdy, and reliable pieces………………..I bought it.
Took it out to the range with some “Full House Combat loads†and some much lower powered, inexpensive “Range Ammunitionâ€>
I had used both these loads in my pistols, with good results.

Shot 20 rounds (four clips of 5) of the heavy stuff through the PC4.
Perfect function, strong but handleable.
Switched to the low powered range ammunition, loaded five in the magazine.
First shot felt much lighter.
Tried to fire again, but no bang.
Hand cycled the action…….empty jacked out > apparently failure to eject and feed,
That should have been my first warning !!!!!!
But I had zero experience with the PC4 or any other pistol caliber rifle carbine against which to compare.
Meanwhile, the next cartridge had chambered.

I fired the cartridge which I had just jacked into the chamber.
It fired and felt MUCH stronger than the first….action cycled ….loaded fresh round
Fired again……………..Once more, the recoil was very strong.---- The shot appeared to have “Missed the target completely†………..(No hole)
I started to realize that something was not right.
Fired one more….. heavy recoil (remember this was the low powered range ammo)
Again, No hole! (I’m not THAT bad!?)
Stop….Danger…
Well you probably have guessed it by now
The first low powered bullet never left the barrel & subsequent rounds piled up behind it…
>> Bulged / Ringed barrel <<

It is a tribute to the Legendary Strength of Ruger Design and Engineering (plus the fortunate circumstance that the PC4 is a “Blowback Type†action) that the Gun held together and I was able to walk away with my body (if not my pride and dignity) intact.

My PC4GR is on it’s way back to Ruger.
My thanks go to them for designing and building such strong actions.

I will have to wait to see what they recommend to me, in the way of repairing / replacing it.

Oh yes……………….What did I learn?

1. That low powered ammo, while it may be adequate for pistols (4†barrel) are not necessarily adequate for Rifles/carbines (16†barrel).

2. Thoroughly investigate every little circumstance no matter how innocuous, until you have gained more extensive knowledge of any weapon the operational characteristics of which not thoroughly familiar to you.

3. Do not assume anything!

4. Buy nothing but the Best…..It always pays in the long run (I knew that already)

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An ARMED Society
Is a POLITE Society

 

[BigG]

Ever since I saw the Rugers in Desperado I went and hugged my Colts.