Ruger p95 question

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rwilson37643

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Why isn’t the Ruger P95 more popular? I have long been a 1911 and revolver fan and for a while I really got into Glocks. Recently I decided I wanted to pursue my 5 gun I.D.P.A. master classification and I don’t currently own any Glocks so I started looking for SSP guns. I decided to buy a Ruger P95 largely because my funds are limited and the price of a new one in my area is amazing. I paid $289 for a new P95. After 4 trips to the range, the gun has 950 rounds through it with 100% reliability, with ammo it likes it shoots 5 shots from a sandbag rest into 1 ¾ inches at 25 yards, and all of the controls are easy to manipulate. The double action trigger pull is heavy, but after break-in and a little polishing with a felt polishing bob it is smooth. The single action trigger breaks at 4.12 pounds and is relatively crisp. Shooting from a Crossbreed super tuck (the only good IWB I could find for the gun) I was able to score master on the classifier on my first try. I have shot the course 3 times now with scores of 91.34, 88.45, and 87.98. With a gun this capable priced under $300 why are they not so popular that gun shops can’t keep them in stock?
 
I've wondered the same thing. I don't have much experience with the P95, but my buddy has a P97 that shoots lights out, has a great trigger and is generally very easy to handle. I've never seen one for $289 in a store, but I have seen plenty online at just over $300.

I think part of it is that they never developed a strong law enforcement or military following. Also, the low price tag is a turn-off to some people. Hell, it is not a Hi-Point. It is an established design made by America's largest gunmaker. I plan to pick one or two up at the next opportunity.
 
I had one for awhile. It was an outstanding pistol and I got it for LE use, however, the holster options for it were not quite as good as a glock or sig and extras were hard to find. The P95 is basically a modernized polymer P89, the P89 had the unfortunate timing to be released just after the military accepted the M9 and while the glock was sweeping the LE community. Had the P89 been released prior to the military tests and been chosen It (and the P95) would be popular.

When it hit the civilian and law enforcement market it didn't really have anything new to offer... it was just a really rugged pistol. People didn't notice the new DA/SA kid on the block when the Glock showed up from outer space.
 
rwilson37643

Ruger p95 question
Click to expand...

Yeah, I wondered about that as well. The thing is a workhorse. A drawback from before was that it didn't have a rail, but that's changed. The only downside of the pistol is that it is a bit on the bulky side. Dunno, maybe folks just have a need to pay more or they think a gun isn't worth it.
 
It's a good, solid gun. Got mine for $239 from a dealer a few years ago. I don't find it bulky at all.

I replaced the mainspring with an 18.5# 1911 mainspring which helped quite a bit.

I use a KyTac holster for mine.
 
I have better guns, but the P-95 is also my 1st choice to those on a tight budget. I've seriously considered 1 just to have. I have owned one in the past and consider it the most bang for the buck.
 
I fired a P95 for the first time the other day and immediately after my brief range session I put one on layaway. It was a pleasant surprise. Very easy to shoot and accurate with no malfunctions. Granted, I only put 35 rounds through it but I was quickly convinced. It was between the P95 or a Glock 19 and even though I like the G19 as I have fired one before, I did want to save a little bit of cash. I don't think I made a bad choice and I'm looking forward to picking it up next week. The last gun I purchased was a Sig 2022 in 9mm back in February. When I have the P95 at home I think I will have two of the "best bang for your buck" pistols in 9mm.
 
I've had one for about 5 years. They're built like tanks and are 100% reliable, but it's size and weight compared to the Glocks and such, hurt it's popularity. My P-95 weighs more unloaded than my Glock 19 with a full magazine.

LD45
 
There's nothing wrong with my P95. I polished the ramps and throated the barrel a little to improve feeding of odd ammo. It is very reliable and Ruger Stainless is extremly corrosion resistant.

But it's completely obsolete. Too big, too heavy, too slow for CCW. The DA/SA trigger isn't nessasary these days. Getting that first shot off, and on target quickly, is difficult. Stupid Bill Ruger provided 10 round chump mags. I have yet to find a real quality mag for this gun at a reasonable price. I have found a couple cheap 13 round mags that are OK. I can't even trade it in for $150, they are that hard to sell.

I like to train newbs on it becuase of it's light recoil, and weak recoil spring makes it easy to teach malf drills and press checks. The downside is training them to operate a DA/SA trigger takes too much time and can screw them up when I move them up to more modern weapons like a Glock or 1911. Mine is decocker only, so at least it's easier to train than a M9.

The Sr9, Glock, M&P are far superior weapons. I'm hopeing one day to trade mine off.
 
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My Glock is for carry---my P95 guards the homestead nightly as its kept at arms reach from the bed.

The P95 is the same "general" size as a Glock 19---but yes, its heavier.

Soft shooting and easy to rack the slide---the P95 is an excellent pistol----far better than its low price would indicate.
 
The P95 is a good pistol but, IMHO, the SR series is better.
The SR series is more refined and better in nearly every respect.

Not only is the overall design more slim and more sculpted, but there are other improvements as well:
The trigger,
The grip texturing (notice the rubber wrap on my P95 because it is too slippery as is),
The ease of detail stripping the slide,
The sights,
The magazine release (I really dislike the P95's mag release...too sharp and less sure),
The slide stop/release.


HPIM6391.gif



HPIM7193.gif
 
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I had one and got it for IDPA. I never made it to master, shot expert. But, I never got better than 3" at 25 yards accuracy off bags. That's good 'nuf, really, but I'm wondering if you were using 147s, maybe the guns like 147s? I was shooting 115s minimum power level and seem to remember that was something just sy of 1100 fps, so I guess you're shooting a heavier bullet.

I didn't like the trigger on mine, both DA and SA were stiff and the transition was hard. My P90, .45ACP, is fantastic, 1" groups at 25, the trigger is marvelous, but I didn't find that the case with the P95. I'd goof up a tac or speed reload with the P90, though, at least once a match due to the single stack mag hanging on the no tapered mag well. The mag well does not lend itself to being tapered, either. The double stack P95 mag was much slicker for me in reloads. That was the MAIN reason I wanted it.

I traded off the P95, got a P85 from a friend. It wasn't any better in trigger (still have it) nor accuracy. I might try some 147s in it out of curiosity. I don't shoot that one much since I don't shoot much competition anymore and it's just as easy to carry my stainless decocker only P90 (vs the blued DC safety P85), so I don't shoot the P85 that often anymore. But, I'm not trading or selling it like I did the P95.

One thing, that P95 WAS a bit lighter and more compact than the P85 or P90 making it easier to carry for extended periods and it fit the same leather that fits my P90. I probably should have kept it, but don't really miss it as i never fell for it the way I did my P90. Just my take. It's a GREAT gun for the money, but it's not perfect IMHO. Glocks really are better for gaming in "stock gun" classes owing to a better, more consistent trigger, though I don't wanna carry a Glock owing to its lighter trigger. :D I don't know, however, that the P95 isn't "popular". Not many show up at IDPA shoots with a Ruger, but they DO sell well.
 
The most accurate ammo for me has been corbon 124 g +p but a close second is the 124 g hot nato ball ( fortunately I have alot of it) mine doesn't seem to care for lower velocity loads. no reliability issues but accuracy suffers
 
I have 2 P95s and love them. The only complaint I have heard about them is that the trigger pull is crappy. Now this was told to me by a lady at the counter of a gun store/shooting range after I told her I bought it elsewhere........As their shops gun prices are too high and anything but a glock is trash in their opinion. Did I already say I love them...... I have also heard some people say they are ugly as hell......and the Blocks....I mean Glocks they are holding are not! :D Lastly I think the price scares people. Those who think that "you get what you pay for" applies to everything. Well not in the case of this pistola! Its cheap and damn worth the price and then some.
 
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But it's completely obsolete. Too big, too heavy, too slow for CCW. The DA/SA trigger isn't nessasary these days. Getting that first shot off, and on target quickly, is difficult. Stupid Bill Ruger provided 10 round chump mags. I have yet to find a real quality mag for this gun at a reasonable price. I have found a couple cheap 13 round mags that are OK. I can't even trade it in for $150, they are that hard to sell.
Click to expand...

Obsolete? Like the 1911? Bill Ruger provided 10 round magazines in states where the LAW limited them. BOTH of the P95 pistols that I own came with 15 round mags from RUGER. Can't find any of them? Try looking with your eyes open. CDNN has been advertising them for ten years! So has just about every other on-line retailer. Not to mention Ruger.

The gun retails for under $300.00, today. Both of ours cost just about $200.00 years ago. If that's the case, WHY would anyone pay $150.00 for a well used one, with 10 round mags? Although, you want to trade yours for $150.00, no dealer will give a trade-in that close to sales point.

As the gun was designed to be used a a Duty Weapon, in a Duty-Holster, it may not be perfect for CCW. Sort of like the Glock 17. Too big, too heavy, too slow for CCW. Then, there's zero re-strike capability on the Blocks, either.

See, all you need to do is point out what they won't do, and there isn't a gun made that can't be bashed.

The P95 is a good gun. It may not do the same things as a mini-gun, but, in the end, as MOST of us shoot paper 100% of the time, who cares?
 
I have been sorely tempted to buy one of these for a couple years. Was at the range yesterday and the guy in the next spot had a P95. This was the first one I had actually handled. I was very impressed. The guy was scary accurate with it too.

It's certainly not a compact but it's smaller than some guns I've carried IWB. I just bought a Sig P250 sub compact and have 200 rounds downrange. It's not a bad gun but if I had it to do over I'd buy the Ruger.
 
I have been eyeballing one for a while, but I already have an SR9c and it takes the 17 round SR9 mags, so I can't really justify it. It may have a longer barrel but my SR9c is plenty accurate.
 
Why not popular?

Its a bulky crunchenticker.
Not that such features are really so bad.

Just that there are more popular choices out there now, and for not much more money.

I have two.
Each mans a stationary post 24/7.

The P95 is reliable if nothing else.
 
For people , who because of age or arthritis,

have difficulty in racking the slide, it is an excellent choice. The recoil spring has a pull weight of only 11 pounds. For them and others, such as women, it is a fine choice as a house gun.
 
Kingofthehill, I agree

My wife can rack the slide on our P95 easily and it is very reliable too . At age 70 she is quite good with it, and for me it has never failed to go bang with any ammo I have put in it. I paid $289 for it about 12 years ago. It can handle the hottest loads you can find without a problem too. It is still one of the best bargains out there.
 
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