Ruger P95, is it a good gun?

Question

I went to the gun store today with the intentions of walking out with an AK, but they didnt have the stock I wanted and ended up with a 9mm. I have a s&w 4506 so far and thinking I cant compare a ruger to that, but was just wondering if theres anything I should watch for or if its going to be pretty reliable? Theres a rail on it, any options worth putting on? Thanks.

Answer 1

I Had a first generation P-95 (the "slippery frame" one) and the gun was just plain inaccurate.  I chalked this up to my lack of time with the gun.  BUT-Guntests magazine tested it and confirmed that the slide is so heavy that only the really hot 9mm rounds (+p+ or mil-spec hot) produced decent accuracy.  The practice ball rounds (1150fps) and subsonic 147gr rounds (975fps) do lousy.  Years after selling mine I saw someone at the range benching the gun as I did and their shots were all over.  I believe there is a timing issue in regards to the slide when less than full-charged 9mm is used. As a self-defense or plinking piece this gun will work but don't expect neat clusters even off of a shooting perch on a bench.  Only the P-90 (had one of those) could do that in the Ruger lineup.

Update: Ruger P-95 and P-97(discont.) did have another problem. The slidestop can work it's way out of the hole on the frame.  This was especially true on the P-97 .45ACP.  For what it is worth, I find it sad that Ruger discontinued the P-85/89 gun (the original).  I find it hard to believe that this would be a lack of popularity.  I think that they are trying to gain an all-polymer centerfire auto lineup.  Ruger is really hurting right now.

Answer 2

The Rugers, with the notable exception of that new SR9, are all practically indestructible.  The accuracy is usually fair to good, but in the semi-autos it never really gets better than good.  You will want to look elsewhere if you are looking for something with bullseye type of accuracy on every shot.  If, on the other hand, you are looking for something which gives almost every shot 9 ring or better while giving total, complete, and utterly boring reliability, then Ruger is what you are looking for.  That is why Haddon Heights,  New Jersey sent back their Glocks and pulled the Ruger handguns out of storage.  The Glocks couldn't be relied on.  It seems limited to those tow particular models of Glock.  Ruger handguns are boringly reliable.

Answer 3

I had a newer model P95, blued, manual safety.  I think all Ruger guns are hard to beat for reliability, they might not be the best looking or smoothest, but for the price, I don't think you'll find a better AMERICAN made gun.  I gave this pistol to my younger bro, and his wife, because they wanted a gun for home protection, now I have a Glock m23 that I like a lot, but I think the Ruger is probably just as good a gun, and a lot more affordable, also I think the .40 s&w is WAY over hyped, wish I would've got another 9mm.

Answer 4

Really any Ruger is a good reliable gun.  

Answer 5

The Ruger 'P' series of pistols is just plain good.  I saw a girl with a Ruger P-89 outshoot a guy with a Sig 226 in a friendly contest.  Both shooters are distinguished experts but the girl turned out to be a better shot, so, it would seem, guns are only as accurate as the shooter.  My own P-89 Ruger was ultra reliable and now I'm sorry I sold it.

H

Answer 6

Ruger makes excellent handguns. The P95 being one of them. All semi-autos could jam or give some sort of issue but I have not heard anything from any of my Ruger owning friends and I have never had an issue with mine.

As for accessories, Nothing beats having a good tactical light on a handgun....

Answer 7

it is a good gun; i owned a 90's series ruger and never had any problems,   they are a good gun for the price.