Took my P97 to the range for the first time in years

[vito]

Yesterday I took my P97 to the range for the first time in at least 4 or 5 years. I had almost forgotten what a good pistol this is. I brought along some old factory ammo that had been in boxes that had gotten flooded. Every round fired without a problem, and as I well remember, the gun is more accurate than I am. That feeling of firing 45acp was pleasantly rewarding considering that most of the time I shoot 9mm. Then I went home and of course took the P97 apart to clean. I had almost forgotten what a pain in the neck it is to put back together. The spring and cam lock took me forever to get seated properly, and lining up the slide with the frame to get the pin back inserted reminded me of how much simpler it is to do this with a Glock. So now, nicely cleaned and oiled, it is back in the safe where it likely will sit for another 4 or 5 years so that I don't have to think about cleaning it and putting it together again.

 

[rammerjammer]

I do the same thing with my P90. Get it out of the safe every 5 or more years, have a blast with it at the range and put it away again to be forgotten for another 5 or more years.

 

[vito]

I have more Rugers than any other brand, but other than the Mark IV which is nothing to dissemble and reassemble after cleaning, they are all a pain to reassemble. Ruger could really take a lesson from Glock.

 

[pyth0n]

Yesterday I took my P97 to the range for the first time in at least 4 or 5 years. I had almost forgotten what a good pistol this is. I brought along some old factory ammo that had been in boxes that had gotten flooded. Every round fired without a problem, and as I well remember, the gun is more accurate than I am. That feeling of firing 45acp was pleasantly rewarding considering that most of the time I shoot 9mm. Then I went home and of course took the P97 apart to clean. I had almost forgotten what a pain in the neck it is to put back together. The spring and cam lock took me forever to get seated properly, and lining up the slide with the frame to get the pin back inserted reminded me of how much simpler it is to do this with a Glock. So now, nicely cleaned and oiled, it is back in the safe where it likely will sit for another 4 or 5 years so that I don't have to think about cleaning it and putting it together again.

I take all my P series out more often. Like any thing else, shooting, cleaning, disassembly, reassembly, practice makes perfect.

 

[Hebraist]

The P97 was my first concealed carry pistol, some 25 years ago. It was all I could afford when I visited the Glasgow Montana gun store. I didn't need to carry a reload as the plan was to pistol whip any survivors with that chunk of plastic and steel. Now, it resides in my son’s safe.

 

[45blackhawk]

I haven't taken my P97 to the range since ....... 4 days ago !!
I haven't taken my P90 to the range since ....... 2 days ago !!

Yep, they definitely very much enjoy regular exercise.

 

[41Dude]

Yesterday I took my P97 to the range for the first time in at least 4 or 5 years. I had almost forgotten what a good pistol this is. I brought along some old factory ammo that had been in boxes that had gotten flooded. Every round fired without a problem, and as I well remember, the gun is more accurate than I am. That feeling of firing 45acp was pleasantly rewarding considering that most of the time I shoot 9mm. Then I went home and of course took the P97 apart to clean. I had almost forgotten what a pain in the neck it is to put back together. The spring and cam lock took me forever to get seated properly, and lining up the slide with the frame to get the pin back inserted reminded me of how much simpler it is to do this with a Glock. So now, nicely cleaned and oiled, it is back in the safe where it likely will sit for another 4 or 5 years so that I don't have to think about cleaning it and putting it together again.

I have the same thought with my S&W 3913. Great handgun. But it takes a delicate touch to put things back together. But I still take it out every few years to warm it up. :cool:

 

[Vus435]

The P97 is the ultimate I love you but I hate reassembling you pistol.

Shoots like a laser, eats anything, .45 ACP feels right… then you fight that damn recoil spring and camblock like it owes you money. Every single P-series owner has that exact love hate story.

Real talk: next time just leave it dirty and shoot it more. Life’s too short to let a safe queen win the reassembly war. Or do what the rest of us did buy a Glock 21 and pretend the P97 is retired for sentimental reasons.

 

[91B40]

I did buy a Glock 21. Went right back to the old P97 and gave the Glock to my #4 son. Glock’s slide is way too hard to rack for me and its high-tech barrel leaded right up with my standard 45 loads. I had to buy an aftermarket barrel so that I could use ammo that the Ruger loves.
My experience.

 

[Mobuck]

The great thing about the 'P-series' is that they WORK. Leave one laying in a drawer for a day, a year, or a decade and it's going to work if needed. :giggle:

 

[gunman42782]

I shot my P90 just less than a week ago. Great shooting pistol.

 

[bczrx]

The P97 is harder to disassemble than a Glock, but easier than my 1911 and not much different from a S&W M&P.

I won't say I 'love' my P97, but I would have a hard time giving it up. First is because it is so darned reliable and accurate. Second is because I am not likely to get much for it. I do think it doesn't look attractive, compared to so many others out there. But I haven't fired a 'combat/duty' grade .45acp that is more accurate in my hand. I've fired a few .45acp handguns set up for tight groups in bullseye or other competition shooting, but not something that is supposed to be on the hip daily.

There is one thing I really wish I could change about it- and that is to find someone who made a light rail I can add to the dust cover for a weapon's light. If it had that I'd rely on it for my nightstand before anything else.

I know- P345 has this. And a frame that felt 'flimsy' when I held it, to the point I swear I felt it flexing with my grip strength. The P97 doesn't feel as insubstantial in my hand. And, I am in california so I can't buy a used P97 or P345 unless someone near me has that gun for sale.

I also don't care for the recoil impulse as it is just 'bizarre', but it DOES reduce recoil in a meaningful way, so I guess I'll live with it.

From a purely functional point of view I can't find any fault with it and love shooting it.

I am waiting on the return of a 1911 so I can go to the range and do an accuracy shoot off of a bunch of 45acp handguns [mine and my friends]. I expect the P97 to be in the top 3 out of 10 or more. I did this before and it was #2 overall. In my hands only it was #1, but when averaging the 3 of us it was #2.

 

[45blackhawk]

I took my other P97 to the range 6 days ago.
I took my other P90 to the range 3 days ago.

Yep, no doubt about it: I'm a very very happy "P" series kinda guy, and have been for about 25 years.