P97
- Thread starter wenger
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I almost bought one a year ago, but the only issue that I had was the price of magazines for it. I was going to be using it for some IPSC shooting and maybe some IDPA, but did not want to pay $30 plus dollars for a magazine.
I really like to quality of Ruger guns, I currently have a GP100, MKII, and a 10/22. I've owned a P95 and a P89 but have traded them.
I decided to go with a Sprinfield 1911 instead of the P97 just because I could get cheaper magazines. Might sound petty, but I made my decision and I stick by it.
Good Luck hunting.
I really like to quality of Ruger guns, I currently have a GP100, MKII, and a 10/22. I've owned a P95 and a P89 but have traded them.
I decided to go with a Sprinfield 1911 instead of the P97 just because I could get cheaper magazines. Might sound petty, but I made my decision and I stick by it.
Good Luck hunting.
ARperson
Member
I wasn't aware of any issues the P97 had. What exactly were the issues?
I love the Ruger handguns. Personally have the GP100 and P95. Was thinking of a P97 or P90 for next purchase.
Quality has always been at a minimum good. Reliability is way up there. And they're built like tanks. I kinda think of them as the AK of the handgun world. Accuracy is almost always better than the shooter behind the trigger.
I wouldn't hesitate to buy another Ruger, particularly the P97.
I love the Ruger handguns. Personally have the GP100 and P95. Was thinking of a P97 or P90 for next purchase.
Quality has always been at a minimum good. Reliability is way up there. And they're built like tanks. I kinda think of them as the AK of the handgun world. Accuracy is almost always better than the shooter behind the trigger.
I wouldn't hesitate to buy another Ruger, particularly the P97.
Ruger? You Bet!
I've been using one for over a year now and I'm still amazed by it. It may not be pretty, but it sure gives my old Colt a run for it's money. Very controllable and accurate. And then there's reliable. This thing has never ever failed to feed fire or eject any round I've given it. It absolutely loves my handloads. I have no complaints and would not hesitate to stake my life on it.
I've been using one for over a year now and I'm still amazed by it. It may not be pretty, but it sure gives my old Colt a run for it's money. Very controllable and accurate. And then there's reliable. This thing has never ever failed to feed fire or eject any round I've given it. It absolutely loves my handloads. I have no complaints and would not hesitate to stake my life on it.
lee n. field
Member
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- Dec 29, 2002
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- 4,319
You need to find a new place to buy magazines. That's higher than SRP.
P95Carry
Moderator Emeritus
Probably don't need to say much!!
I had the P95DC some while and then went for the P97DC ... they make a great team! They are close enough in size to suit same rigs ... I call em ''fugly'' but that with some affection.
Reliable .. tough .... good value ..... not over heavy .. and yeah, mags not as cheap as one would like but ... worth it I think to get the mag count to three total ... that'll do for carry anyways.
JMO ...... but for me, the P97 will do everything any 1911 will do .... leave out factors like looks, ergonomics, weight ... they just shoot good.
I had the P95DC some while and then went for the P97DC ... they make a great team! They are close enough in size to suit same rigs ... I call em ''fugly'' but that with some affection.
Reliable .. tough .... good value ..... not over heavy .. and yeah, mags not as cheap as one would like but ... worth it I think to get the mag count to three total ... that'll do for carry anyways.
JMO ...... but for me, the P97 will do everything any 1911 will do .... leave out factors like looks, ergonomics, weight ... they just shoot good.
extremefishin00
Member
- Joined
- Jan 11, 2003
- Messages
- 187
I don't know how many of you would be interested, but the latest issues of Guns magazine has a write-up on Ruger's P-series, and a lot of pics of fully engraved Rugers. Even the polymer pistols. It's worth checking out for the pictures alone.
Chris
Chris
cool45auto
Member
I've got about 500 rounds thru my KP97DC and haven't had any problems. It's very accurate, too. They're great guns.
hi,
yesterday we have tested a Ruger P94 stainless (9 mm Luger 15+1, DA/SA with ambi safety).
Yeah. It is built like a tank. Like a RUSSIAN tank.
The entire gun is made of investment castings (as Ruger-usual), even the barrel and the extractor! There are a lot of casting marks everywhere, very ugly.
There are no precision built in parts, the entire gun clattered loudly.
But it is extremly over-engineered as well, I can not imagine that some part will ever broke...
It was very reliable (one-hand, two hand, slow-fire, quick-fire), we tried four mags (10, 15 rd factory, 20, 25 rd aftermarket). One of the aftermarket mags were so well used, that we should correct it with a hammer to push in the pistols mag well. And it worked!!!
But the SA and DA trigger were heavy, crippy brrrr. We cannot fire under 5-6" from 5 rounds/25 meters. Accurate enough for selfdefence, but nothing else.
It is massive, inexpensive gun for someone who don't cares its exterrior, but wants a reliable pistol.
Our definition: Redneck City Police Dept. Issued Sidearm No. 1.))))))
yesterday we have tested a Ruger P94 stainless (9 mm Luger 15+1, DA/SA with ambi safety).
Yeah. It is built like a tank. Like a RUSSIAN tank.
The entire gun is made of investment castings (as Ruger-usual), even the barrel and the extractor! There are a lot of casting marks everywhere, very ugly.
There are no precision built in parts, the entire gun clattered loudly.
But it is extremly over-engineered as well, I can not imagine that some part will ever broke...
It was very reliable (one-hand, two hand, slow-fire, quick-fire), we tried four mags (10, 15 rd factory, 20, 25 rd aftermarket). One of the aftermarket mags were so well used, that we should correct it with a hammer to push in the pistols mag well. And it worked!!!
But the SA and DA trigger were heavy, crippy brrrr. We cannot fire under 5-6" from 5 rounds/25 meters. Accurate enough for selfdefence, but nothing else.
It is massive, inexpensive gun for someone who don't cares its exterrior, but wants a reliable pistol.
Our definition: Redneck City Police Dept. Issued Sidearm No. 1.
))))))greyhound
Member
In the early models it appeares there were a couple problems:
- the ejector was throwing brass in the face.
- the slide stop had the bad habit of "walking" and eventually falling out.
In fairness, it apparently only happened to only a few guns, and from what I have heard, Ruger, and especially someone named Mike Sminko(sp?) at Ruger were really helpful.
I have a Ruger P97 with 675 rounds through it, had a few "failure to eject" after 150+ rounds in a session, I think its due to accumulated dirt under the extractor.
Kinda regret trading my .357 Model 60 in for it; come to realize I'm more a revolver guy at heart. But I still think the P97 is a fine gun, and .45 is definitely a good caliber.....
- the ejector was throwing brass in the face.
- the slide stop had the bad habit of "walking" and eventually falling out.
In fairness, it apparently only happened to only a few guns, and from what I have heard, Ruger, and especially someone named Mike Sminko(sp?) at Ruger were really helpful.
I have a Ruger P97 with 675 rounds through it, had a few "failure to eject" after 150+ rounds in a session, I think its due to accumulated dirt under the extractor.
Kinda regret trading my .357 Model 60 in for it; come to realize I'm more a revolver guy at heart. But I still think the P97 is a fine gun, and .45 is definitely a good caliber.....
mbott
Member
I've owned 2 P97s: the first one (foolishly) sold when I was infected with CZ-itis. Had an issue with the sear on the second one: Ruger had it replaced and back to me in just over a week. No charge, of course. Not the prettiest .45, but extremely reliable and accurate.
--
Mike
--
Mike
Kaylee
Member
My first ever "real" pistol was a P97.
If I had to do it over on a similar limited budget, I'd likely look for a Springfield GI milspec type. But that's just 'cause after several years of experimentation, I found I've a liking for ol' slabsides.
specific P97 issues for me were:
1. too long in the grip, front to back. To me it felt like trying to hold on to a 1x2. Also no way to customize the grip really due to the polymer frame.
2. Once I tried a good 1911 trigger, I understood why folks said the Ruger wasn't so hot in that department. DA was a little too heavy for me as well (remember, I was a total newbie. )
3. At the time ('99) I couldn't find a good holster for it. I believe that situation's changed since.
No reliability problems though. The only real scare I had since I got into firearms, that was the pistol I had. Of all the things I was nervous about, the pistol going "bang" wasn't even on the list. That's a good sign to me.
So, while *I* wouldn't buy another one, my reasons come down to personal preference, not anything inherently wrong with the gun. If you like it, have fun!
-K
If I had to do it over on a similar limited budget, I'd likely look for a Springfield GI milspec type. But that's just 'cause after several years of experimentation, I found I've a liking for ol' slabsides.
specific P97 issues for me were:
1. too long in the grip, front to back. To me it felt like trying to hold on to a 1x2. Also no way to customize the grip really due to the polymer frame.
2. Once I tried a good 1911 trigger, I understood why folks said the Ruger wasn't so hot in that department. DA was a little too heavy for me as well (remember, I was a total newbie.
)3. At the time ('99) I couldn't find a good holster for it. I believe that situation's changed since.
No reliability problems though. The only real scare I had since I got into firearms, that was the pistol I had. Of all the things I was nervous about, the pistol going "bang" wasn't even on the list. That's a good sign to me.
So, while *I* wouldn't buy another one, my reasons come down to personal preference, not anything inherently wrong with the gun. If you like it, have fun!
-K
P95Carry
Moderator Emeritus
Hey Kaylee .... where's ya bin?? Seems you bin gone a while!
Could tho well be me .. unobservant!
The P97 sure ain't for everyone .. and I think on balance main down-side is ''fit'' ... major factor. But if it fits .... it'll do the job!!!
Could tho well be me .. unobservant!
The P97 sure ain't for everyone .. and I think on balance main down-side is ''fit'' ... major factor. But if it fits .... it'll do the job!!!
"grass,
The barrels are not cast. What do you base your info on?
Steve
"The barrels are not cast. What do you base your info on?"
Hi,
the exterrior of the chamber on the barrel is definiately cast, because there were the typical "line", as on plastic toys, which shows the two-part casting form.
"Rest that ruger and try for accuracy again. 5-6" at 25 yards means something is wrong. The bad trigger isn't exactly helpful, but there's more potential there than 5-6"."
hey,
2 weeks ago I get 1,5" 3-round group from 50 meters (about 55 yards) offhand from a .44 Magnum Taurus M444 6". So I'm not a really poor shooter.
But the my collegue (the other tester) is one of the 10 best bullseye competitor in this country. He can not produce better groups, also.
The barrels are not cast. What do you base your info on?
Steve
"The barrels are not cast. What do you base your info on?"
Hi,
the exterrior of the chamber on the barrel is definiately cast, because there were the typical "line", as on plastic toys, which shows the two-part casting form.
"Rest that ruger and try for accuracy again. 5-6" at 25 yards means something is wrong. The bad trigger isn't exactly helpful, but there's more potential there than 5-6"."
hey,
2 weeks ago I get 1,5" 3-round group from 50 meters (about 55 yards) offhand from a .44 Magnum Taurus M444 6". So I'm not a really poor shooter.
But the my collegue (the other tester) is one of the 10 best bullseye competitor in this country. He can not produce better groups, also.
gvass,
I think it's got less to do with being a good or a bad shot than it does gun-to-person fit. However, if you're turning in better performance with other pistols, I would be led to believe that something's wrong with that Ruger. I'd send it back if it were mine.
They're not target pistols in my experience, but on the whole they're capable of better than 5-6" at 25yds. My P91 shot similar groups, but it was an early .40 and I don't recall any first or second year .40 pistols being too hot in the accuracy department. The P89 I owned was no worse than 3-4" at 25y with plinking ammo. My P90 was better than the P89. I don't own any Ruger pistols anymore (sold the 9mm and .40 off and gave the P90 to my old man), but they're not (on average) as inaccurate as everyone makes them out to be.
Sorry, Ruger (in)accuracy is one of my pet peeves. They're not great, but they're not dramatically worse than anything else out there that falls in the sub-$1000 bracket. I just got my 229 and while I haven't had a chance to shoot it, I don't expect it to blow what my P89 did out of the water. Shoot better, certainly. But not in a whole different league. My 226 certainly wasn't
Sorry again, but I wanted to clear that up for the benefit of anyone reading your post and thinking that's all they could expect from any given P-series Ruger. Seems to be a fair share of Ruger-bashing coming back around again, and I just want to make sure everybody gets a fair shake.
Not a flame, just a contrasting experience.
I think it's got less to do with being a good or a bad shot than it does gun-to-person fit. However, if you're turning in better performance with other pistols, I would be led to believe that something's wrong with that Ruger. I'd send it back if it were mine.
They're not target pistols in my experience, but on the whole they're capable of better than 5-6" at 25yds. My P91 shot similar groups, but it was an early .40 and I don't recall any first or second year .40 pistols being too hot in the accuracy department. The P89 I owned was no worse than 3-4" at 25y with plinking ammo. My P90 was better than the P89. I don't own any Ruger pistols anymore (sold the 9mm and .40 off and gave the P90 to my old man), but they're not (on average) as inaccurate as everyone makes them out to be.
Sorry, Ruger (in)accuracy is one of my pet peeves. They're not great, but they're not dramatically worse than anything else out there that falls in the sub-$1000 bracket. I just got my 229 and while I haven't had a chance to shoot it, I don't expect it to blow what my P89 did out of the water. Shoot better, certainly. But not in a whole different league. My 226 certainly wasn't
Sorry again, but I wanted to clear that up for the benefit of anyone reading your post and thinking that's all they could expect from any given P-series Ruger. Seems to be a fair share of Ruger-bashing coming back around again, and I just want to make sure everybody gets a fair shake.
Not a flame, just a contrasting experience.
hi,
"Seems to be a fair share of Ruger-bashing coming back around again"
I did not want "bashing ruger". I said, that these guns are good value for the money. They are _very_ ugly, but reliable and massive, this is what I expect from a service pistol (It was made for service pistol, not for a target gun).
The bad groups: it could be different in case of each gun we try from the same batch. 4" or 5" from 25 meters or 25 yards are about the same class.
Ain't good, but for their intended purpose, it is good enough.
"Seems to be a fair share of Ruger-bashing coming back around again"
I did not want "bashing ruger". I said, that these guns are good value for the money. They are _very_ ugly, but reliable and massive, this is what I expect from a service pistol (It was made for service pistol, not for a target gun).
The bad groups: it could be different in case of each gun we try from the same batch. 4" or 5" from 25 meters or 25 yards are about the same class.
Ain't good, but for their intended purpose, it is good enough.
denfoote
Member
I've had one for a while. I have not shot it much, but I have not had any problems with it!!
I'd go for it!!
I'd go for it!!
Thanks for all the comments guys. I did get one. I've had a lot of Rugers before, so I knew what I was getting. My question about "issues" was the wandering slide stop and bad extractors. I had heard those problems had been fixed.
I put a Hogue handall on it and so far have only shot a box a Blazers though it. It gobbled them up perfectly. In just off hand shooting, I was impressed how the gun shot. It has a definite torque in the recoil, and seems to kick harder them my Glocks. That's because the bore line is so high compared to a Glock. I had one empty case hit me on the head, but ejection was generally consistent.
The double action trigger was long and heavy and more then I'm used to, but I think with practice I can get used to it. The single action pull was also heavy, but it did not have a lot of creep.
In the very limited shooting I"ve done with it, I am impressed. It appears to be a great gun for the money.
John
I put a Hogue handall on it and so far have only shot a box a Blazers though it. It gobbled them up perfectly. In just off hand shooting, I was impressed how the gun shot. It has a definite torque in the recoil, and seems to kick harder them my Glocks. That's because the bore line is so high compared to a Glock. I had one empty case hit me on the head, but ejection was generally consistent.
The double action trigger was long and heavy and more then I'm used to, but I think with practice I can get used to it. The single action pull was also heavy, but it did not have a lot of creep.
In the very limited shooting I"ve done with it, I am impressed. It appears to be a great gun for the money.
John
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