Problems with a Ruger P95

[systor]

I just bought a Ruger P95 in 9mm, and I'm having some trouble with it. The problem is it's not precise. It shoots all over the place after I put about 5 rounds through it. When I clean it thoroughly, it'll shoot almost dead-on the first 5 or so rounds at 25 yards. If I keep it up and put another 30 rounds or so through it, it'll start missing the target completely. Yesterday at the range it repeated this behavior, so I took it apart after about 20 rounds to see if the barrel was dirty. Cheap rounds tend to leave a trail in the barrel. Well, the barrel was as clean as a whistle. I've been shooting PMCs and Perlliots through it. I don't think the ammo is defective. I believe the barrel is somehow defective, or perhaps the action is. Could these be the problem? When the barrel heats up after being fired, could that cause it to shoot so wildly? Could the action be loose, causing the barrel to not be level with the frame and sights after each reload? What is going on with this gun? After a full 50 rounds, I can't hit the broadside of a barn with it, although it will shoot bullseyes the first 5 rounds. If I take it home and clean it, and then put it back together, it will again shoot straight....for about 5 rounds.

And I did buy it used. Maybe the former owner put it up on consignment after he saw it shot so poorly. Is poor precision a pattern with the P95? If it were inaccurate, but precise, I could simply adjust the sights. This gun is neither. It really is a loose cannon.

 

[Skinsanity]

Hi Systor

Thats an odd problem, I have never heard of with any pistol, let alone a Ruger, I dont think the barrel heating up would cause that wild of a transition, especially in a pistol. I am a bit baffled on this one and am going to watch and see what anyone else has to say...Normally I would attribute something like this to user error, maybe flinching or anticipating the recoil, especially if its shooting low....

 

[systor]

Most of the time when it starts going wild, it shoots low. But sometimes it will shoot high and even miss the target. I have some ammo left from a box. What I'll do is clean it up and have my friend fire it about 20 times. That will eliminate the shooter variable.

 

[Skinsanity]

Have to ask, is this your first handgun?

 

[systor]

No. I've had two before this one. One KelTec 9mm and one American Arms .25.

When this Ruger starts shooting low, I simply compensate by raising the barrel a bit. It again starts shooting straight....until it starts going sideways, that is.

 

[Kingofthehill]

shoot it from a rest.

Otherwise it sounds like user error.

And I did buy it used. Maybe the former owner put it up on consignment after he saw it shot so poorly. Is poor precision a pattern with the P95? If it were inaccurate, but precise, I could simply adjust the sights. This gun is neither. It really is a loose cannon.

you say you bought it used, but the first 5 rounds were bullseye's... if thats the case, the previous owner didn't have a problem then because it came to you accurate.

I almost dare to say you devloped a flinch or something. not that there is anything wrong with that either.

Either get someone you know who is a GOOD shooter to try it, or shoot it from a rest and increasing the distance every mag to see when you have the issue, if any at all.

JOe

 

[Skinsanity]

Im incredibly baffled

 

[systor]

Thanks for the advice, guys.

It could be user error. It's not too heavy for me. It's not making my hands tired.

I'll definitely have a friend shoot it and see what happens. If he has problems, we'll batten it down to a benchrest and shoot it that way.

Stay tuned.

 

[systor]

King, after I got it, I cleaned it thoroughly before shooting it.

 

[Lvl21nerd]

get a big piece of posterboard, paint a little 1 or 2 inch diameter circle on it, and shoot at it from about 20 feet away

be very careful of your aim (benchrest it if you can) so to be as accurate as possible

just concentrate on shooting that circle, and not flinching

after a box of 50, have a look at the poster board and then post a pic on here

 

[Skinsanity]

systor.....My BEST advice would be to go and buy yourself a couple of "snap caps" and go to the range...have a friend load a full magazine, inserting a snapcap randomly in there somewhere....this will tell you pretty quickly if you are flinching or not...

 

[LiveLife]

systor, I do this with a new shooter to remove "user" caused erratic shot groups.

- Clear the pistol and aim it at a safe direction
- Line up the sights and while watching the front sight, pull the trigger as you did at the range
- If the front sight jumps or moves, you are the cause of the erratic shot groups
- If the front sight does not move, then you may need to call Ruger customer service

If you want to verify this at the range, do the same and dry fire a few times, then repeat with live ammunition.

I hope this helps.

 

[LiveLife]

FYI to reduce your shot groups - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=6668684#post6668684

This is what I recommend to new shooters to reduce their shot groups or minimize flyers for semi-auto pistols:

- I have them hold their shooting hand as though they were shooting a pistol and move the shooting finger (index finger)
- I have them practice until the shooting finger moves independent of the hand (other fingers don't move with the shooting finger).
- I then have them clear their pistol and assume their "usual" shooting posture
- If they use the first finger joint on the trigger, I have them use the pad of the shooting finger to "press" the trigger and not pull the trigger
- While watching the front sight, I have them "press" the trigger (dry fire) until the hammer/striker falls
- If the front sight moves as the hammer/striker falls, I have them practice until the front sight does not move
- At the range, I have them start at 5 yards (15 feet) and repeat the dry fire exercise while watching the front sight
- When they confirm that front sight does not move as they "press" the trigger, I have them fire 3-5 round shot group while watching the front sight
- When they consistently maintain tight shot groups at 5 yards, then I have them move the target to 7 yards and then to 10 yards.

FYI, for match shooting pistol selection, my mentor had me select the pistols with triggers that did not move the front sight or we worked on the trigger job until the falling of the hammer/striker did not move the front sight.

Here's a Jeff Cooper video on trigger release - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKgAkwB8WRo&feature=related

 

[TexasGunbie]

shoot ten rounds, then dry fire. See if you are flinching.

 

[systor]

Thanks for all the advice, guys. I appreciate it. And I will do everything everyone recommends this weekend. Big painted target. Blank rounds. Practicing with an empty clip....And I'll take a picture of each group of 5 as I shoot about 25 rounds. It's clean now, and I won't clean it again until I've put those 25 rounds through it.