Range Report: New Ruger P95D

M

mini14jac

New member
After reading many fovorable reports from Ruger P95D owners, I decided to take the plunge.

I liked the idea of a reliable, rugged, hi-capacity 9mm, that sells for <$400.
I also like the idea that I may be able to get hi-cap mags for less than the $60 that my Glock mags cost.

I looked seriously at the P95 last year, before the rebate expired, but I couldn't make up my mind in time.
Doh!:(

Initially, I thought the grip felt too large in my hand, but I decided to make myself take an unbiased look at the gun.
I decided I could get used to the grip, after renting one, and running about 100 rounds through it.
I was also impressed by the accuracy of the gun.

My gun came in, and I hit the auction boards looking for mags.
(I'm posting a review of Sportsmans Guide P95 mag hi-cap mag seperately.)

I hit the range with 4 factory hi-caps, 2 aftermarket hi-caps, and the two ten rounders that came with it.

After 250 rounds, I am very impressed with this gun!
No failures of any kind.
Ammo was Winchester white box, Wolf, and a few Gold Dot +P jhps.
I haven't bench rested the gun yet, but from 25 yards, modified Weaver stance, I could hit a 3" target dot every 2 or 3 shots.
For me, that is excellent shooting!
(Bear in mind, this is the first DA/SA I have owned.
The different trigger pulls are going to take some getting used to.)

Each time I started a course of fire, I had 1 Ruger mag, the generic SG mag, and a Ramline (17 rd) mag, all hi-caps.
I was always amazed each time when my ammo was gone.
This gun is FUN to shoot!

I can't really explain that. I've shot 9mms for years:
Glock, Kahr, Norinco, S&W, Keltec, Browning.....
But I don't think I ever had this much fun.
Maybe the larger size of this gun reduced the recoil, or something, but my 250 rounds was gone in a hurry.

Recoil is negligible, but I would like better sights.
(Dots are too small.)

Takedown and cleaning were surprisingly easy.
I guess I can't say it enough different ways, but...
I REALLY LIKE THIS GUN!

And, I will get into this more in another post, but the $10.79 hi-cap mag from Sportsmans' Guide works like factory!

I have certainly paid more for guns before, but I don't know if I have ever come away from a first range session as pleased with a gun, and mags, as I did this time.

:) :D :cool:
 
I say again:

"No honest man needs more than 10 rounds in any gun"
"I never meant for simple civilians to have my 20 or 30 round mags or my folding stock"
"I see nothing wrong with waiting periods."
"The best way to address the firepower concern is therefore not to try to outlaw or license many millions of older and perfectly legitimate firearms but to prohibit the possession of high capacity magazines. By a simple, complete and unequivocal ban on large capacity magazines, all the difficulty of defining 'assault rifle' and 'semi-automatic rifles' is eliminated. The large capacity magazine itself, separate or attached to the firearm, becomes the prohibited item. "

These are all quotes attributed to Bill Ruger. Consider this before purchasing or recommending Ruger guns.
 
Congrats on your P95. Always nice to find a gun you like right away. In the year and a half that I have had mine it is fast becoming my favorite pistol. The long trigger travel annoys me at times but I am slowly getting used to it. Some people consider them ugly but I like the look and feel. Great price on them. In my opinion one of the great buys in guns.

Have fun with your new gun and be safe.
 
Muzzleblast:

I know what Bill Ruger said, and did.
I knew that before I bought or recommended the gun, thanks.

Here's the deal:
I probably don't agree with Junstin Moon's (Kahr) religious beliefs, but I will buy Kahr guns.

I don't agree with Bill Ruger's politics, but I will buy his guns.

I don't agree with all of what S&W has done, but I will buy their guns.

Can you honestly tell me that you agree with everything that the maker of every gun you own has done?
Do you own any Russian, German, or Chinese guns?
I have owned them in the past, but I certainly have a problem with the governments that produced them.

Many of the big name European guns are made in countries where the people have no right to own guns, or have severly restricted rights.
We need to support American Firearms manufacturers!

You can boycott Ruger and Smith and Wesson if you want.
That is exactly what the liberals want you to do.

If we looked hard at the choices, beliefs, and causes of every manufacturer, we wouldn't have anything to drive, wear or eat, not to mention guns.
I don't live on a farm, so that's not an option for me.

You buy the guns you want, I'll buy the ones I like, and let's all be happy.:)

I learned a long time ago not to cut off my nose to spite my face.
;)
 
My $199 (after rebate) p95dc is the best new-gun value I've ever found. Before that, the Makarov was my value-leader. My p95 has gone about 800 rds; almost all +p golddots, never ever failed. You're right, it's a fun gun to shoot. I put a "HiVis" (lightpipe) front sight on mine; cost about $15 and well worth it.

My only complaints: I don't like the trigger (gritty and long sear disengagement), and IMO it's ugly. I'm sure I could improve the trigger if I took the time to disassemble the lower, but disassembly isn't obvious, so I'll probably leave it alone.

But hey, it's accurate and 100% reliable; that's what you really need in ANY gun. As you've found, hicaps are available lots cheaper than most other pistols. You just don't hear of ANY problems from others on the internet, either, which is also rare these days. It's a gun I'd highly recommend to anyone wanting a good home defense gun, or a fun range gun.
 
Yeah. Let's boycott Ruger so we won't have any solid American Gun Manufacturers left. Yeah we'll show em' won't we? This is known as the Burr Rabbit tactic by Democrats. I propose that we call all who are in favor of boycotting Smith and Ruger Burr Rabbits.

Does it sting anyone to know that a country who aided Germany in the slaughter of millions produces the bulk of our LEO handguns? Does it only sting me when I see something other than an American-made weapon by an American company on the sides of our LEO and Military? Color me idealistic.

The Rugers are mud ugly tough and needed in every gun collection when a functional, durable weapon is required. I will put the P95 and P90 up against any make out there.
 
Will:
I have to agree that the Ruger autos are not the most Aestetically Pleasing (read pig-butt ugly) but my KP90 goes BANG! every time I mash the trigger.

I had 1 FTF after 95 rounds of UMC, other than that, no malfunctions of any kind after 3000 rounds. The mag/feed area looked liked it had been dunked in the molasses barrel. So, no more UMC ammo in my cabinet, and NEVER any wolf. Sorry, my Ruger doesn't speak Russian...seems to understand Czech fairly well, though...the Sellier & Bellot ball I use for practice rounds work as designed.
 
Well said Will.

As far as Rugers being ugly, I "upgraded" from a Glock, so my gun don't look so bad! :D

I did shoot some Wolf ammo with no problem.
I've not had any problems in most guns, except KelTec.

I found it interesting that the P95 manual said something like "no steel cased or NATO or SAAMI spec. ammo is outside the design parameters of this gun."
That's not an exact quote, but it is pretty close.
That's the closest thing I've seen in writing to "Our guns shoot Russian ammo OK!"

Two of you mentioned the P90.
I'm looking at one seriously.
Why would you pick the P90 over the P97?
Or P97 owners, why did you go that route?
Thanks for replies.
 
Let the revolution begin.....

Sounds like you are all set! Thanks for sharing with us. I read as many range reports here on TFL because it's real life, not some self-proclaimed expert representing some gun mag.
 
Well this is what I have been preaching all along: the virtues of the Ruger P95 series at 1/2 the price of guns having similar virtues.

And minijac,

Just in case your mags fail you, you can load directly into the chamber from the ejection (emergency) port.;)
 
Love my P95

I just love my Ruger P95. It is much more accurate than any Glock I have fired. I find the Glock grip angle screwy and I hate the feel of the trigger.

My P95 just keeps banging away. Nary a jam or misfeed. My slide failed to lock back a few times, but that was with a USA hi-cap mag that was complete crapola. Factory or even Pro Mags have never failed. I'd like a few high-cap Meg Gars.

Do any of you guys know of sight options? I was thinking of those Ashley Express combat sights. I love Sig sights where you dot the i. I am not a fan of three-dot. How about the white rear bracket with a front night sight?

One of you mentioned the fiber optic. Are those sturdy enough for more than just trips to the range? Help me now that we are all beaming about our Ruger P95s.
 
I love to shoot my P95. I've put around 2000 rounds or so through it without any problems, even that Wolf junk. My only complaint is that it's only slightly more concealable as my Mini14.:)
 
I have owned both the P90 and the P97. The P90 manual stated that it was rated for any factory loaded ammo. The P97 felt better, shot better and was more accurate but it would occasionally throw lead into my broad Norman Cro Magnum era forehead :D . The P90 shot well enough and was just plain meaty.
 
I am a "traditional weapons" kind of guy in that I feel that gun frames should be metal, not polymer. But to each his own choice. It is similar to "What color car do you drive?"

And no, I am not asking "What color car do you drive?"

///smart-a$$ mode off///
 
I drive a red car (that is none the less invisible to most other drivers). I love my 95DC.. got it NIB for $300 (just missed the rebate) it even feeds my handloads, only FTF after 550 rds. was due to a bad mag. almost bought a 30 rd mag for it this last weekend. it's my big ugly reliable carry gun and her name is Sam.
 
Mini14jac:
I applaud your philosophy. Bill isn't perfect, but he makes great guns and we come out the winners. Same for S&W and I DEFINATELY don't agree with Moons religeous beliefs. But I'm thinking of trading my daughter for her Kahr K9 (we do a lot of that in our family). About the P95. I LUV my P97 so much that I've just placed my order for a P95. Never in my life did I think I would ever own a plastic gun. I have 2 - my P97 and my HK USP 9 with the 3rd on the way.
 
functionality

My KP95DAO was my first handgun and I bought it for home defense. Yeah, the trigger pull is long but it's smooth enough, consistent and I know the gun will shoot when I really NEED it to.
Reliable, accurate, affordable and American made. A great combination.

As far as the criticisms that it's ugly. I have to ask, compared to what? The Glock? HK? The KP95DAO is much prettier.
As far as concealability, I don't think the P-series was designed for concealed carry and shouldn't be compared to a dedicated carry gun like the Kahr K9, etc. It's more along the lines of a Glock 17 and how much more concealable is the Glock than the Ruger?
 
15 yards, 15 rounds, 1 ragged quarter size hole!! Ruger KP95DC. Not even my much vaunted Glocks can do that!! (in my hand at least) The only reason I don't carry it is because it's to big!!! BTW 20rd mag sticks are a blast!!! :D
 
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