Some Ruger Questions

T

t-man

New member
Howdy folks!
After being such a happy owner of a Ruger p94 (.40), I decided to purchase myself a Ruger P95 9mm. The polymer frame and the availablity of hi cap mags was just too hard to resist! Well, I got the gun used and I really like it. I noticed a couple of things that I was wondering if I could get some input from some other owners out there:

First, the slide springs don't seem nearly as stiff as my p94. Is this normal? I remember that a friend of mine has a Sig p226 that the slide recoil springs felt about the same, but I just wanted to make sure my springs are not tired, etc.

Secondly, the frame seems a little scuffed up. Not bad, mind you, but having properly maintained firearms is just one of my anal retentive characteristics. The gun was listed in 99% condition, which I believe it is, but does anyone know off-hand what Ruger would charge to replace the frame (since it has the serial number on it, I don't think you could just 'order' another frame and replace it yourself)- or better yet, is there a technique to un-scuffing a polymer frame?

My third and last question is regarding pistols in general. You will often hear of someone putting 10,000 rounds through a pistol. But what do you do with it after that? Replace the barrel, recoil springs, etc and then just keep shooting? Buying a used pistol has gotten me thinking about overal pistol life, and when I should be replacing certian items.

cheers!
tman
 
well, I believe the 40 that you have is probably going to have stiffer springs than a 9mm. seems to make sense to me. My P-95 is finally my carry gun now, and I love it. It's completely reliable, and simple to operate & strip. The rails are polymer just like the frame where Glock used metal rails. I've seen NO wear on the rails fwiw. I don't know what to tell you about the scuffing though. If it's on the grip, how about some of those hogue (wraparound) grips?

Ben
 
I look at a pistol like any mechanical device. As wise man in Tejas sez, "if the space shuttle can turn into a bottle rocket, that piece of steel may fail to work."

I change the oil and rotate the tires in my eeevil, pollution-spewing, child-endangering SUV after 3000 miles. I change the recoil spring after 3000 rounds.

Take your car in for a tune up after 30000 miles. Have your pistol looked at my a real gunsmith after 25K rounds.

I just had my beloved first Colt 1911 go haywire after about 65K rounds after a Chapman Academy class recently. Never a problem until all the sudden it would not shoot where I was aiming.

They do wear out like anything (yes, even Glocks and revolvers) if you shoot them and dry fire them like you should. So, if you like a certain pistol, buy 4 of them. One to carry, one in reserve, one at the smith, and one to hide so if you are stupid and use it the police cannot find your hidden one when they come by with the search warrant to scoop everything else up.

One last thing: buy an enormous mountain of magazines. At least 100 to train with and 20 for carry (not all at once). Springs go bye-bye at the wackiest of times.

Now go get years of training and spend tons of money. It beats spending it on something bad for you like cigarettes or women.
 
When most of us buy a new car, we live in dread of a dent or scratch. When (not if) it happens, we yell and carry on and want desperately to fix it. Then we learn the cost of repair, and decide to live with it. I recommend the same approach to guns.

As to wearing out, not many of us will ever shoot 65k rounds through one gun even if some kind uncle is buying the ammo. Do the repairs when the gun seems to need them. You don't overhaul an engine every thousand miles; why replace parts that don't need replacing, or buy hundreds of magazines that you will never use. Buy a few good magazines and put the money into ammo to have fun with.

Jim
 
I know what you guys are saying about living with 'scratches'; but I can't stand it! Seriously. 65k is a lot of ammo! And I definatley see your point about 'don't fix it until it breaks'.

That P95 and I are going to be friends for a long time. The polymer frame really makes a big weight difference. Unfortunatley, I'm not like a lot of you guys here whose wife allows you to stockpile. I'm limited to the P94, the P95, my little Keltec p32 and a 22 revolver. So I just like to coddle what I have.

Although, after reading a great book on the walther p38, seems like collecting such things is not a bad financial idea. Sort of like alcohol. People will drink it when times are good and when times are bad. People like guns when times are good, and when times are bad.

Seems like investing in high capacity factory magazines wouldn't be a bad investment, either.
 
Scratches??? You're going to get those if you train with the firearm--one hand reloads, one hand mal drill, shooting around cover, etc. The pistol is only a tool that you project your will through--it's going to get beat up. I think it was Master Don'tShootIt'sMe who advised kicking the gun to the car in order to avoid crying over the first scratch. Very good, grasshopper.

Jim, please understand that I have my pistols as weapons, not sporting goods, so insuring they are working is a high priority. I object to preventative maintenance as needed. Why wait until the engine seizes to have it tuned? Change the recoil springs on a regular schedule. A fight is no place to fieldstrip a pistol!!!

You put wear on the parts by dry firing the weapon too. You don't have to replace the engine, just have it inspected. It moves; it will break; have plenty of spares.

Don't want a pile of magazines??? Maybe they will never pass a law against them? YIKES, already done that!

t-man's guns. Just my two (2) cents worth.
 
My first P95 had problems but the frame looked great. The dealer replaced it for me with a new P95. The frame looked like it had been scuffed up but it was a brand new gun. Made me sort of suspicious but I kept it and after a few thousand rounds the frame looks fine. It shoots a lot better than the first one. A P95 just doesn't have that 'drop dead gorgeous look' of other guns. It just doesn't take your breath away like a new BHP, but it still shoots fine and is reliable.

KSFreeman,

Never knew that cigarettes and women were bad for me. Thanks for the tip. :D
 
P95 problems.

You can tell what I carry. I also have the DC to compete with in IDPA, as does my son. (He placed first and I placed third last year at the Nationals in our class and division)
You might want to go to the Ruger forum and check out what I've written about our experiences with our KP95s.
 
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