Ruger P97 owners please reply

C

Claywms

New member
Hello All,

I posted a similar thread on the Ruger Forum and thought I'd look for feedback here too. I'm wanting to hear your real-life experiences with the P97 in terms of its reliability. Mine has been great for 500 rounds, but I've heard a few negative things in terms of FTF, FTE and slide stop failure. Just wanting to reassure myself that this gun has a sound design before I buy another one for my wife. She likes it and can handle it pretty well. Just worried that there are more than a few bad ones out there. What's the consensus?
 
All I can say is that mine has been great. You will hear negative comments about all manufacturers.

I have had no FTF's or any other problems. It is also the most accurate handgun I own. I am a Glock believer, but the P97 was worth every penny. It works just as well and is more accurate than my Glock.

I'm not saying some people haven't had problems, but GM and Ford are both still turning out cars, even though there is the occasional lemon. You can't have a popular product without a few bad apples in the bunch. I got a good one :cool:
 
Great gun, but mine has a flaw

I'm probably going to end up selling or trading my P97 in.

It shoots great (accuracy, general reliability), but my slide stop has come half way out twice now, thereby disabling the gun until I could line the frame and slide up and push the pin in again. Ruger sent me replacement parts after the first incidence, and it did it again. It only does it once in a blue moon, but I just don't feel I can trust this gun.

So, my advice is if you do buy one, shoot 500 rounds through it to make sure its not one of the ones with this problem. If it is, call Ruger and ask for the replacement parts and hope that solves it.
 
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I'm in the same boat!

Clay,

I'm in the same position you are amigo! I have some "disposable funds" and I am looking into purchasing a Ruger P-97 .45 ACP. I've been doing research into the P-97 since about August and what I've found is that (mostly) everyone has good things to say about the gun.

Some people have had negative experiences with the whole slide stop issue or some other problem. But these incidents are getting fewer and further between. Methinks Ruger has resolved the problem. As someone else said, *EVERY* major manufacturer has the occasional "lemon".

In doing my research for my "next purchase" I've shot several guns and spent countless hours posting and reading on-line articles on several guns. I have to say that the folks on The Firing Line and Glocktalk.com are a WONDERFUL resource. Real people who enjoy firearms and will give you their experience and input.

That said, for me it will either be the Ruger P-97 .45 or a Glock. Why? They are *both* durable, accurate, relatively mechanically simple, and not terribly expensive. (moreso than other handguns on the market.)

Cheers!
Mntneer357
 
I'll throw in the requisite curveball.

I was consideing a P97 a little while ago. I don't need another .45, but if I were in the market now, I'd seriously consider the CZ 97 in that price range.
 
I was consideing a P97 a little while ago. I don't need another .45, but if I were in the market now, I'd seriously consider the CZ 97 in that price range.
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Shmackey,

I've got both pistols.

The difference between the two is like night and day. My CZ 97B is extremely tight and well put together (very refined) for a gun in its price range (it shoots and feels more like a 800-900$ pistol). The CZ97B can easily be used as beginning IPSC pistol--its that good (in terms of accuracy, reliability, and ergonomics).

My Ruger P97 OTOH lacks refinement. Thats not bad though, considering its intended use is defense and not competition. The Ruger P97's accuracy is very good, but its loose as hell (my P97 has excessive slide to frame rattle, and lots of tool marks and other slop). Its true that the degree of workmanship varies from pistol to pistol, but even with that said from my experience an average CZ is tighter than an average Ruger P-Series.

While I believe both pistols are a good sound design, the Ruger is more oriented towards CCW and/or home defense, and the CZ is more oriented towards target shooting, competition, and centerfire plinking.

So, yes I would recommend the CZ 97B with no reservations. The Ruger P97 OTOH, I'd only give a conditional recommendation.
 
I love my P97. It's my current carry gun. I've had it a couple years and I've never had a malfunction. I replaced the factory rear sight with a white-outline, Millett adjustable sight, and zeroed it in at about 10 yards. It's the most accurate .45 I've owned.
 
I just bought my 97 a week ago. I was able to take it to the range today, even though the roads were ice packed :eek: !

I shot 200 rounds of CCI Blazers through it (MAN is that stuff dirty), with 2 FTE. I believe it was the ammo, not the gun. Next weekend will tell; I am going to shoot some higher quality ammo.

I had no brass at the head, no failure for the slide to lock on the last round, and the slide release did not budge a bit (I was watching for this because of some of the responses I had read).

I REALLY like this gun. It is going to be fun to shoot in the future.
 
I'm a former Ruger P97DC owner. I liked mine a lot, but I sold it to buy a Glock.

I had no mechanical problems with mine. As you probably know, it will feed any kind of .45 ACP ammo made. Mine wasn't very accurate, but other fellers have had more accuracy from theirs. It is as rugged as a pistol gets and can take a lot of abuse. Mine did.
 
I have a P-97 that has been real good to me. After reading some of the bad press, I thought I would sell or trade it in, but then I take it back to the range, shoot it and can't part with it. It is accurate with little perceived re-coil. It is single stacked and therefore thin framed and thin slide. I actually prefer it for CCW since it tucks real close in my slide holster.

Find a dealer who gets weapons through davidsons on their website www.galleryofguns.com , buy the weapon from the dealer with the best price. Davidsons has a lifetime replacement gaurantee. But if you are the type of person who hates breaking in a new trigger, then rest assured that Ruger has a great service center to repair any problem you have as long as you own the gun.

Oh and by the way the CCI Blazer stuff occasionally will result in an aluminum shaving residue that can cause the FTEs but for the most part, they eat whatever you feed them.

I also read about the disatisfied owners, but when at the range all the owners I meet in person love their 97s
 
I've had my P97 for several months now and have put perhaps 400-500 rounds through it.

When it was brand new, I had one failure to extract-unexplained. It was about the 40th round through the gun. Before and after that, no FTEs or FTF. It is reasonably accurate, very reliable and pretty light for its size. I usually carry it in a fanny pack if it's going for a ride.

I've owned, used and shot lots of guns, which doesn't make me an expert-rather, a guy who doesn't satisfy easily. I wholeheartedly recommend the P97 or the P95. They're both great.

Bob
 
I'm proud of my P-97! Very reliable, deadly accurate. I'd trust my wife's life to one. Although she prefers her S&W 640 .357. :)
 
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