Ruger P series

Infobox Weapon
name= Ruger P series


caption= Ruger P89
origin= flagcountry|USA
type= Semi-automatic pistol
is_ranged= yes
service=
used_by=
wars=
designer=
design_date= 1985 (P85)
manufacturer= Ruger
unit_cost=
production_date=
number=
variants= "See Individual model information "
spec_label=
weight= oz to g| 32|abbr=on|precision=0|wiki=yes (P89)
length= in to mm| 7.75|abbr=on|precision=0|wiki=yes (P89)
part_length= in to mm| 4.50|abbr=on|precision=0|wiki=yes (P89)
width=
height=
cartridge= 9x19mm Parabellum, .40 S&W, .45 ACP
action= Double/Single action, short recoil
velocity=
range=
max_range=
feed= 10 or 15 round detachable box magazine (9mm)
11 round box magazine (.40)
8 round box magazine (.45)
sights= 3-dot sight

The Ruger P series pistols are a line of centerfire semi-automatic pistols made by Sturm, Ruger & Company. The P series pistols are double/single action, short recoil operated designs, designed for military, police, civilian self defense and recreational use. The designs are largely based on the Browning action found in the M1911 pistol, but with minor variations, generally related to the safety mechanism and the barrel-camblock interface. Reviews have considered them rugged, reliable, and strong though this strength comes at the price of bulk and a blocky appearance.Fact|date=December 2007__TOC__

Individual model information

P85 (1985)

The first P Series pistol was the P85, which was developed in 1985, but did not reach the market until 1987. The P85 used an investment cast aluminum frame, and made extensive use of cast parts and proprietary Ruger alloys. Nearly all internal parts, including the barrel, were stainless steel, while the slide and ejector were carbon steel. Disassembly was simple, as the P85 was origninally intended to compete as a 9 mm replacement for the US Army's Model 1911A1. Unfortunately, development was not finished on time, and the Army chose the Beretta M9. The P85 met the basic requirements; it was chambered for the NATO standard 9x19mm, and was designed to handle the high velocity submachine gun ammunition commonly used by the military. From the P95 owner's manual:

:"The Ruger P-Series pistols are compatible with all factory ammunition loaded to U.S. Industry Standards, including high-velocity and hollow-point loads, loaded in brass, aluminum, or steel cartridge cases. No 9 mm x 19 ammunition manufactured in accordance with NATO, U.S., SAAMI, or CIP standards is known to be beyond the design limits or known not to function in these pistols."

It was light weight, due to the aluminum frame, and the magazine held 15 rounds. Its profile was flatter than most pistols of similar size and the grips of the P85 are set into the frame, allowing users with smaller hands to maintain a proper grip. The safety and magazine release were ambidextrous and the slide lock was large enough to be operated by the index finger of a left-handed shooter.

While described as "tank tough, solid performing, and utterly reliable", the P85 design did have some problems. The safety levers, mounted high on the slide, were too small to be easily reached, and the accuracy, while acceptable for a defensive pistol, was not up to the high standard of previous Ruger handguns. Ruger hired Irv Stone of Bar-Sto Precision, a noted manufacturer of high-quality and accurate barrels, as a consultant for an improved barrel design.Fact|date=December 2007 In addition, there was a safety issue that resulted in one accidental discharge; if the firing pin broke in front of the firing pin block, applying the safety, which dropped the hammer, could transfer enough energy to the broken firing pin to cause a discharge. The P85 was recalled, and a new safety installed that prevented contact between firing pin and hammer during a decocking operation. A new model, the P85 Mark II, was at the same time released with the safety fix, new, larger safety levers, improved accuracy, and the option of a stainless steel slide. Another series of minor improvements was made, creating the P89, released in 1989. All P Series pistols developed through the P97 would be named for the year in which development was completed.

P89 (1989)

The P89 introduced a number of new variants. The standard model used a decocking manual safety; when applied, it blocked the firing pin, disconnected the trigger, and dropped the hammer. To fire, the safety was first removed, and then the trigger was pulled. This cocked and released the hammer, firing the first shot in double action mode; subsequent shots were fired in single action mode until the hammer was decocked. The "D", or decocker models replaced the decocking safety with a decocker; when applied, it blocked the firing pin and dropped the hammer, and then sprung back to the ready position. This left the pistol in a safe, hammer down position, ready to fire with a full (double action) trigger pull. The third action variant was the "DAO", or double action only model, which had a spurless hammer, and no manual safety. The DAO model always fired in double action mode, and upon firing the hammer automatically decocked. Every shot then was fired from a hammer down position. In 1991, Ruger produced a limited run P89X convertible model, which came with a second barrel and recoil spring assembly that allowed conversion between 9 mm and .30 Luger calibers.

The P89 is a recoil operated, locked breech semi-automatic pistol. The P89 utilizes a 1911 style tilting barrel. The trigger has a lot of pretravel and overtravel, but the handgun is quite accurate and has been popular in match shooting despite its relatively low market price. This makes it a good solution both for bargain shooters and those looking for an affordable self-defense option.

In late 2007/early 2008, the P89 was discontinued. [ [http://ruger.com/Firearms/FAProdResults?function=famid&famid=3&variation=P89&bct=Yes&type=Pistol Ruger P-Series: 9mm Centerfire Autoloading Pistols ] ]

P90, P91, P93, and P94

The much anticipated P90 quickly followed the P89 to market. Initially available only in stainless steel, it was chambered in .45 ACP, and had a capacity of 7 rounds. The P91 added the new and very popular .40 S&W chambering, with an 11 round capacity. The P93 was a compact 9 mm model, with a shortened 4" barrel and a streamlined slide. The P94 was a mid-sized 9 mm, with a 4.2" barrel and the P93's streamlined styling, while the P944 the same as the P94 but in .40 S&W.

Some have claimed that the P90 was originally intended to be chambered for the 10 mm Auto cartridge, then enjoying a boost in popularity from its endorsement by the FBI. Bill Ruger, Sr. and his engineers believed at that time that with full-power loads, the high energy of the 10 mm damaged its host pistols. Reports of these damages included cracked frames in the first handgun to chamber the cartridge, the Bren Ten. The next major pistol to report problems was Colt's Delta Elite. In light of these reports, the gun was constructed with significant heft in an attempt to overcome these problems. To stave off any potential accuracy issues, Ruger once again hired Irv Stone of Bar-Sto Precision as a consultant on the barrel design for the new firearm.

By the time the pistol was finalized, the 10 mm cartridge had fallen out of favour with the law enforcement community. Therefore, it was decided the pistol would be chambered for the .45 ACP. The resultant pistol was considered to be over-built for the lower-pressure cartridge. However, a corollary of this decision was that Ruger had no hesitancy in providing a warranty for the use of .45 ACP +P ammunition, which had performance characteristics similar to the 10 mm Auto.

On the other hand, comments by the late Bill Ruger Sr. in an interview with Shooting Times magazine cast some doubt on the idea that the P90 was created with the 10 mm in mind. He makes it plain that he is not a fan of the 10 mm.

Shooting Times November 2002 Page 42Shooting Times: "Will you chamber the 10 mm in your P-series pistol?"

Bill Ruger Sr.: "We would be able to make it at the drop of a hat, but with as much as we have to do, I don't really feel like making it.And as a matter of fact, I must say that I'm a little bit offended by these firearms [cartridges] that have exaggerated performance.You know, why stop at the 10 mm, why not go on and make the thing a .45. I mean it gets to be kinda to the point of bearing on the absurd, and the 10 mm is just about there."

During the first few hundred production examples, the magazine release button springs were found to be too light, and as a result, they were replaced.

The P91 is no longer listed in the Ruger catalog, having been replaced by the P944 model. By mid 2006, P93 and P94 had also disappeared from the Ruger website.

P95 (1995)

The P95 was something of a revolutionary design. The P95 used the P93's slide and barrel, but changed from the 1911 style rotating link design to a linkless design designed to transfer energy to the frame less abruptly, reducing the stress on the frame and in the process reducing the felt recoil. More obvious to the average shooter than that, however, was the change from an aluminum frame to a long strand fiberglass reinforced polyurethane resin frame based on Dow Chemical's "Isoplast". This reduced the weight of the pistol by 4 oz., and also reduced the price significantly, as the polymer frame was less expensive to produce than the aluminum one. Unlike any other polymer framed hangun on the market at the time, the P95 had no metal inserts in the frame. The combination of the rugged Ruger design and the high strength polymer allowed the slide to ride directly on the polymer frame rails, which simplified the casting of the frame and helped keep the P95's price low. All P95's include stainless barrel, trigger and hammer assemblies.

All newly available P95's include the Picatinny rail. Several models exist that vary based on slide finish (stainless or black matte,) manual safety vs decock-only, and magazine capacity (15-shot vs 10-shot.) Aftermarket 32-round magazines and possibly higher are readily available.

In 2004, Ruger was awarded a contract for 5,000 KP95D pistols by the U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command, Rock Island Arsenal, IL.

P97 (1997)

Just as Ruger released the P95, however, the market for 9 mm pistols started to crumble. 1994 legislation limited new civilian magazines to 10 rounds, which made full sized 9 mm pistols, which normally held 15 rounds, lose a lot of their appeal. Full sized .40 S&W pistols started gaining even more popularity, since they generally only lost 1 round of magazine capacity with the restriction, and the .45 ACP surged in popularity as consumers shopping for a defensive pistol went for the cartridge that gave them the most perceived value per shot. The P97 addressed that need--based on the P95s polymer frame, the 4.5" barrelled P97 held 8 rounds of .45 ACP.

The P97 is available in two versions: a decock-only version and a double-action-only (DAO) model.

The P97 uses a single column magazine holding eight rounds. It is equipped with 3-dot sights, the rear sight being adjustable for windage, and the front sight fixed. The front sight is pinned in, and the rear held in by a set screw, so replacement of the sights is a fairly simple task with the right tools. The P97 is used by a number of police departments in the United States and elsewhere.

This completed the Ruger P Series lineup for the next six years. The P97 has been dropped from the Ruger website as of 2005, presumably due to the introduction of the new P345.

P345 (2003)

With the expiration of the 1994 magazine ban came new legislation in certain US states that required elaborate new safety measures on handguns (effectively banning new sales most handguns on the market at the time the legislation was written). Integrated locking mechanisms, loaded chamber indicators, strenuous drop tests (which most police and military handguns would fail), and magazine disconnects were all required. Most of these states also had state laws still in effect banning magazines with capacities greater than 10 rounds, so Ruger chose to address the new requirements with an all new .45 ACP design. The P345 (developed in 2003) was released in 2004, and incorporates an integrated keyed lock that locks the safety in the safe position, a loaded chamber indicator, a disconnector that blocks the firing pin when the magazine is removed, plus ergonomic improvements such as an all new polymer frame design (narrower than the double column derived P90 and P97) and low profile safety levers. The model P345PR adds a Picatinny rail to the frame, for mounting lights and other accessories. The P345 is also the first .45 ACP Ruger to be offered as a standard catalog item with a blued steel slide, in addition to the stainless steel. Consumer response to the P345 has been mixed; those who shoot it have good things to say about it, but many consumers in areas that do not require all the added safety equipment view it with uncertainty.

P95PR (2005)

2005 saw a new set of P95 variants. These variants incorporate the Picatinny rail found on the P345 into the P95 frame and a new non-slip texturing in the polymer frame. This "PR" option is available on all the P95 models, with either 10-round or 15-round stock magazines according to state and local restrictions. These upgrades at a similar pricepoint to earlier versions, combined with the re-legalization of 15-round magazines in many jurisdictions after the 2004 expiration of the assault weapons ban, have increased the P-95's popularity as a range and home defense weapon.Fact|date=November 2007

Options and Model Numbers

Most models are available with blued steel or stainless steel slides. Generally, a K prefix in the model number indicates stainless steel parts versus the standard blued finish. In addition to a manual safety, there are "Decock-Only" (D) and "Double-Action-Only"" (DAO) models, which carry the designation as the suffix. For example, a 9 mm polymer frame with stainless steel slide that can only decock for safety would be "KP95D".

Table of specifications

Ruger models are offered in variants by safety type, and this chart lists the various options that are available. This only lists standard catalog items; special two tone "T" and "TH" models were and are available through special distributor deals; these models are generally sold at a slightly reduced price, include only 1 magazine, a different case, and have a blued slide on the lighter colored aluminum frame normally used for stainless models.

Table codes:
* Blued: blued steel slide
* SS: stainless steel slide
* Al: Aluminum alloy frame; dark gray on blued models and light gray on stainless, except two tone models which use light gray with blued slides.
* Poly: glass reinforced polymer frame
* PR: Picatinny rail on dust cover
* CA: Listed on California approved hangun list
* MA: Listed on Massachusetts approved hangun list
* Manual: Decocking safety that also disconnects the trigger; must be disengaged to fire
* Decocker: Decocking lever only; automatically returns to ready-to-fire state
* DAO: Double action only trigger; no external safety lever
* MD: Magazine disconnector
* IL: Integrated locking mechanism
* CI: Loaded chamber indicator

Listed magazine capacities are for full capacity factory magazines; magazine capacities may be limited to 10 rounds in some locations, and extended aftermarket magazines may hold more than the listed quantity.

Gallery

References

*Ayoob, Massad. "Ruger: The Value 45 Auto", "Gun Combat Annual", 2000.
*Sturm, Ruger & Co. "Instruction Manual for RUGER P-SERIES P89, P90TM P94TM & P944 MANUAL SAFETY MODEL PISTOLS", 2006.

External links

* [http://www.ruger.com/ Sturm, Ruger & Co. web site]
* [http://www.ruger-firearms.com/Firearms/PDF/05.pdf P95 instruction manual] in PDF format
* [http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQY/is_1_50/ai_110470559 Guns Magazine article on the Ruger P Series, Jan 2004 (does not cover P345)]
* [http://world.guns.ru/handguns/hg05-e.htm Modern firearms site article]
* [http://www.ruger.com/News/2004-12-23.jsp?P=F U.S. Army Awards Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc. Contract for 5,000 Pistols]