resident
Single-Sixer
- Joined
- Apr 3, 2010
- Messages
- 412
I have recently acquired a used P97. I bought it from a nice gunshop down near League City, TX (The Arms Room) and I can vouch for their selection, service, and the owner's affability.
The P97 looked new, although it was a used gun...came with the original box, mags and accessories. Looked slightly fired only.
It malfunctioned horribly. In an attempt to fire 15 rounds it jammed, failed to extract, stovepiped, mis-fed 7 times. No more than a single shot could be fired at a time. Disappointed is an understatement.
I took it back to The Arms Room and they happily shipped it back to Ruger and told me "Either Ruger will make it right...or we will."
I had also complained that I thought the slide-stop was too easily dislodged and the nose of the firing pin seemd a bit sharp-edged.
Well...it's back and I took it out to test it. (Ruger had replaced the slide-spring-block assy, and the slide-stop assy, and safety-test-fired it 20 rounds with customer's mags (factory originals) and returned it to the store, where I went to pick it up.)
It has fired a half-box of PMC factory 230 gr "ball" flawlessly with no malfunction of any sort. The slide stop remains in place (although it is still surprising to me that it can be removed so easlily.... no detent holds it in place at all..... the spring-plunger only appears to keep it from jumping up to engage the slide during recoil...it does nothing to prevent it sliding left, out of the frame. Only friction appears to keep it in place other than the tab inside the slide. (I'm certain that sideways pressure during manual manipulation might allow it to disengage... but during firing at least, it did not malfunction.)
The previous owner had installed some brand of rubber, finger-grooved grip over the regular factory grips, and I like that very much. (I've never liked Ruger auto pistols except for the .22 Standards I've owned....the latest version being the Mark III with which I am in LOVE... it's their best auto .22 yet! I wish they made that thing in 9mm, similar to a Luger/P08. My chief complaint is the bulky, blocky, feel of the Ruger autopistols. This rubber finger-groove grip combination on this P97 feels VERY good, however.)
Well... I'll quit for now. Just a bit curious if anyone has any real factual information on the slide-stop issue and what the differences are between the original, which seemed to prevail with complaints, and the replacements, which I presume Ruger installed on this repair. I am very curious why Ruger did not see fit to have a proper detent for retaining the spring-plunger of the slide stop assy...instead of a "ramp" for easy re-assembly. It would have been so easy to copy the Colt 1911 in this regard. (Except for the additional complexity of disassembly, I could also be appreciative of a C-clip or E-clip on the right-side End of the slide-stop pin, in order to retain it. I guess if it proves a future problem I will have a machine-shop cut a groove and install the clip.)
Feedback from other P97 owners who have/have not experienced problems with reliability on this model?
OH YEAH...forgot to give credit.... Ruger fixed this used gun for NO CHARGES other than $21 return freight which the selling dealer picked up.
The P97 looked new, although it was a used gun...came with the original box, mags and accessories. Looked slightly fired only.
It malfunctioned horribly. In an attempt to fire 15 rounds it jammed, failed to extract, stovepiped, mis-fed 7 times. No more than a single shot could be fired at a time. Disappointed is an understatement.
I took it back to The Arms Room and they happily shipped it back to Ruger and told me "Either Ruger will make it right...or we will."
I had also complained that I thought the slide-stop was too easily dislodged and the nose of the firing pin seemd a bit sharp-edged.
Well...it's back and I took it out to test it. (Ruger had replaced the slide-spring-block assy, and the slide-stop assy, and safety-test-fired it 20 rounds with customer's mags (factory originals) and returned it to the store, where I went to pick it up.)
It has fired a half-box of PMC factory 230 gr "ball" flawlessly with no malfunction of any sort. The slide stop remains in place (although it is still surprising to me that it can be removed so easlily.... no detent holds it in place at all..... the spring-plunger only appears to keep it from jumping up to engage the slide during recoil...it does nothing to prevent it sliding left, out of the frame. Only friction appears to keep it in place other than the tab inside the slide. (I'm certain that sideways pressure during manual manipulation might allow it to disengage... but during firing at least, it did not malfunction.)
The previous owner had installed some brand of rubber, finger-grooved grip over the regular factory grips, and I like that very much. (I've never liked Ruger auto pistols except for the .22 Standards I've owned....the latest version being the Mark III with which I am in LOVE... it's their best auto .22 yet! I wish they made that thing in 9mm, similar to a Luger/P08. My chief complaint is the bulky, blocky, feel of the Ruger autopistols. This rubber finger-groove grip combination on this P97 feels VERY good, however.)
Well... I'll quit for now. Just a bit curious if anyone has any real factual information on the slide-stop issue and what the differences are between the original, which seemed to prevail with complaints, and the replacements, which I presume Ruger installed on this repair. I am very curious why Ruger did not see fit to have a proper detent for retaining the spring-plunger of the slide stop assy...instead of a "ramp" for easy re-assembly. It would have been so easy to copy the Colt 1911 in this regard. (Except for the additional complexity of disassembly, I could also be appreciative of a C-clip or E-clip on the right-side End of the slide-stop pin, in order to retain it. I guess if it proves a future problem I will have a machine-shop cut a groove and install the clip.)
Feedback from other P97 owners who have/have not experienced problems with reliability on this model?
OH YEAH...forgot to give credit.... Ruger fixed this used gun for NO CHARGES other than $21 return freight which the selling dealer picked up.