Ruger P95-anybody not happy?

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JohnGill

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Hello All,
Lately I've been knocking myself out looking for my(new) 9mm ccw.Try as I might I find next to nothing negative about these pistols.I don't want to like them,but- for the price and what's posted about 'em,I mean they work and very well at that.Ok,plus the $40. rebate.I'm fighting a loosing battle here.Does anybody have a bad word?
Thanks Folks,
John
 
I have a fairly small hand. The reach is too long for me on the Ruger P-series, leads to limp wristing. I had the same problem with the S&W 39-2.

Geoff
Who prefers a 1911 for most purposes.
 
Negative things I have heard...

1. Ugly (not my opinion, but I hear it alot)
2. Too thick, hard to conceal
3. Mr. Rugers politics
4. Some people have problems with them shooting high or low (but this is easily fixed with new sights from Ruger, seems to be a p89 problem but could effect the P95 also)

This is all I have heard. I love my P89 and it has taken 500 rouns without a single problem. If you can deal with the minor issues listed above, you will love you P95. Just my .02
 
I had one, sold it to finance something I thought I wanted worse.
Nice solid gun, digested nearly everything I fed it. Had a few fail-to-feeds but that was the fault of bad reloads not the gun.
Accuracy was reasonable but nothing outstanding.
My son had the same problems as Jeff did when shooting it, he would limp-wrist it and have problems, never did that with me though.
 
The grip is a bit slick in my opinion, but 3 cents worth of skate-board tape fixed mine.

A most excellent value in a 9mm pistol, IMO.
 
Rugers, a Jack of all trades, master of none situation. If you have to have a cheap auto, they work. But try as I might, just couldn't think of a purpose for my P94.

Some Good Reasons To Look Beyond the Ruger
1. Nearly as thick as my Desert Eagle was, which is why nobody CCW's it and good holsters are hard to find
2. Absolutely pitiful resale or trade value, they're everywhere and dirt cheap
3. so so trigger, not that accurate, a little muzzle flippy due to high bore axis.
4. Not the only auto that is totally reliable.
5. Another $50 or $100 will get a gun that's worlds more refined and is more pleasurable to shoot.
 
I carry mine 95% of the time that I carry, which is all the time I'm not working.

Don Hume makes a fine IWB holster, the PCCH. I have one for my KP95s, KP97DAO, G32/23, and have one on order for my newly purchased G30.

For carry, I now normally carry the KP95DC whereas I used to carry the KP95DAO. That Glock I use for IDPA and IPSC has spoiled me in the trigger department.

As far as concealment I don't have a problem. But I am 6'1" and 220 lb.
 
This is my post on another P-95 thread,

My experience with the P-95 was less than positive. I bought the blued steel version in 1997. For the first six months it was great. Cheap ammo, a bagful of 15 round mags and away I went. Shot every IPSC/IDPA/NRA action pistol match I could find. It was really good at chasing jackrabbits across the desert.
After six months, accuracy all of a sudden went to hell. Groups opened up to over six inches at 25 yards. Every shot was a keyhole. Took the barrel to a smith to have it looked at. He cleaned out the copper( wasn't bad) and slugged the bore. The bore slugged at almost .358. He said the barrel steel must have some sort of defect and to send the gun back to Ruger. This is where the fun starts.
Sent the gun back to Ruger Customer Service. Ruger said it would take about two weeks to check out the gun and get back to me. One Month went by, I called. For an entire week they wouldn't pick up the phone. Two months goes by, then three months. I finally got a CSR on the phone. After being put on hold for over an hour, I was told that there was no record of my gun being received by Ruger. I gave the CSR the number on the registered package receipt and she said they would call me back right away(yeah right). Another month goes by. Keep in mind I am calling twice a week to get some sort of answer about my gun. Finally I got an answer after almost six months. Ruger came to the conclusion that I had shot some bad handloads through my gun and they would not fix it. Bad handloads? I only shot Federal ball or UMC ball, I didn't even own a reloading press. I maintained there was a flaw in the barrel material and Ruger should replace the barrel for free. No dice. Ruger "offered" to sell me a new barrel for $130 and would install it for $50. Well you can all guess where this conversation went. I had Ruger send me the gun back and I sold it at a substantial loss.

No more Rugers ever.

ZM
 
Zeke,

Ruger did have a problem with their 95 bbls back when. I and my son each had the tip of the unlocking lug on the bbl break off (1/16" on one and 1/8" on the other). These were replaced with no problems and another bbl sold for a backup since we shot competition with them ( and we won often). Many thousands of rounds later and no more problems with the new bbls.

PS: Their bbls do run to the high side on specs concerning the bore. I have used .357/.358 bullets with no problem chambering or firing.
 
I have a P-95 decocker model with stainless slide that I bought new. I bought it because it was priced right and I have confidence in Ruger out-of-the-box reliability. It has digested about 75 rds. of Federal 115 gr. JHP, about 25 rds. of Proload 124 gr. JHP+P, and about 200 rds. of 115 gr. FMJ without a malfunction. If you buy one I'd say you're getting the most for the money.

The P-95 is a fairly light pistol. This isn't a "bad word", and maybe it's just me, but I think the muzzle jumps a little too much. You might want to check out a CZ75--if they are as reliable as the Ruger. It is a heavier pistol, has a nice grip, and is fairly inexpensive.

(P-95 is my wife's house gun. I am replacing it with a revolver. If anyone is interested in buying it then send an e-mail or private message.)
 
The entire P-95 episode left a foul taste. It happened in 1997-98 right after they first came out. I eventually went to 1911's and never looked back. Still won't even look at a Ruger.
 
I love mine!

The only problem that I had was when I carried it "Mexican Style" the mag release caught on my clothing when I was removing the pistol and the mag came lose. It did not drop, because I felt what was going on and caught it.

The P-95 is not my regular carry gun. I just dropped it in my waistband on that day because I was going to the hunting lease and didn't take time to get my belt holster.

I may get an IWB for it one day, but will make sure that this does not happen before I use it for concealed carry.
 
"Absolutely pitiful resale or trade value, they're everywhere and dirt cheap"

That is true. I bought my like new P95 SS with 3 SS 10 round mags for about $220. I then sold it a year or so later for $250 and I didn't feel like I got ripped off. I have seen new ones sell for $279 so I think I did O.K. I had better guns that were more accurate or smaller or something. I really had no use for the P95 but I still think it was a great gun for the money. No jams and it shot well fast. In slow fire, it wasn't very accurate but at speed it was as accurate as any gun and I could hit well with it.

For a first or only gun, it is a good choice. I got rid of mine because I could not find hi caps for it. I don't what the deal is but I looked for months and never found any. I can't carry 10 rounds in a gun that is meant to hold 15.

I did carry it a few times but is quite thick. It is light not too large in other ways but the decocker area was very thick.

A better gun that is similar would be a CZ PCR or a Glock 19. Price will be double and you won't get double the preformance but you might a little more accurate gun or a gun that you will like better. Maybe.
 
When i had a P-95DC my biggest problem was with the grip getting real slick when my hands got a little damp.I never did figure out way ruger didn't put some checking on the front and rear of the grip.Almost any other polymer framed handgun has it.On the plus side in a little over a month i put a 1000 rds thru it with no problems at all,while not a target grade pistol i could put most ammo in a 3" group at 20 yards offhand.I think it's a good value for the money and it's the only semi-auto i've that owned where the owners manual said it's fine to use steel cased ammo.
 
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Certainly not a sub compact and the grips are a bit slick but I find it an inexpensive 100% reliable gun. It’s not a target or collectors gun so I don’t mind if it gets a bit damp, dirty, or a big old scratch or on it.
 
I've more than a few reports of the slide latch backing out during shooting. I think Ruger repaired these.

Zeke,
How could Ruger charge $30 for the installation of a part that is removed for field strip?
 
SPE - I think those reports of the slide latch backing out are just about exclusively related to the P97, not the P95. At least based on the threads over at www.rugerforum.com. I have heard precious few problems reported with the P95.
 
I found the P95 to be worth every dime I spent for it. It was a very good shooter. A little large to carry , but was carried. Resell is not great but they don't cost a lot new. I sold mine to chase another weapon.
 
I'm very happy with mine, but you can find negative things to say about any gun.

1. It is a large handgun. A Glock 19 holds as many rounds, and is smaller. However, flush-fit 17rd mags are available, then it is close to the G17 in size.
I have smallish hands, but have gotten used to the large grip.
My wife and daughters regularly limp-wristed my .40 cal. G23, but it never happens with the P95.

Other negatives....
15 rd factory mags can be had for <$30, cheap after market mags can be made to work, excellent custormer service (my experience), it's accurate, relaible, .... Oh, wait, those are positive comments! :D

The only problem that I had was when I carried it "Mexican Style" the mag release caught on my clothing when I was removing the pistol and the mag came lose.
Click to expand...

PawDaddy,
I called Ruger, and asked how to remove the mag release buttons, so I could cut them down.
Not only did the gunsmith give me instructions on how to do this, he sent two new levers for free, in case I messed up the originals.
Now, my mag release buttons are flush.
:cool:
 
Ruger autos have (IMHO) all the style and grace of a brick. However, the KP95DC I had was built like a sledge hammer and just as reliable. It ate everything I fed it and never even burped. It was more accurate than my ablity to shoot it. If you want a shooter, get a Ruger. If you want to make a fashion statement, get something else.
 
Ky Larry said, "Ruger autos have (IMHO) all the style and grace of a brick". I gotta say I agree with just about everything Larry said in his post, even the above, but I kinda like bricks (and Rugers). Simple, clean lines, nothing wasted, form follows function, yadda yadda. Bricks are simple, durable, timeless, humble, strong, reliable, modest, based on sound and time-proven design. Bricks are basic. Rugers are the same. What's not to like? If more people could be like bricks and Rugers, this would be a better world. Just MO.
 
3000 plus rounds, squeeze trigger. go bang. every time. (except when I screwed the ammo, not guns fault)

my (limited) experience with Ruger CS was exellent (I called to get a couple of spare spring retaining ring thingys, they sent me rings, spring and rod gratis.. $35.00 in the parts list.)

I ccw it all the time, granted I could also CCW a Browning M2. but knowing it will go bang every time, thats good enough for me (and I could afford 2 of those and a crap load of powder, primers and bullets for the price of a Kimber)

I have kinda noticed something though, people who have problems with the way Glocks feel in there hands seem to like Rugers better, and vice versa (I have yet to try a Glock that felt comfortable (Nomex on), I have yet to try a Ruger that didn't). but those Hoage slip ons do make a lot of difference.
 
SelfProclaimedExpert
How could Ruger charge $30 for the installation of a part that is removed for field strip?
Click to expand...

Ruger never got the chance. I demanded Ruger send me the gun back. It was then sold.

From what I can tell this experience is not typical of Ruger customer service today. I have heard that back in 1997-98 when this episode took place their customer service wasn't that good. It really doesn't matter. To quote Scotty from Star Trek, "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me" Ruger won't get another chance.

ZM
 
Forgive my laziness ... haven't read every single post ... but will say from my POV .... sturdy (tough even) - reliable - does the job.

''Fugly''? ... yep, somewhat. ''Chunky'' ... yep that too ... but for my hand it suits just fine and is something I feel i can rely on (my P97 likewise). Value for money? . .......... definitely.

I have yet to find real fault.
 
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