Ruger P95DC - Will I like it?

[maroonandwhite]

I am getting a Ruger P95DC today and it seems to have a great reputation for dependability and cost to value. I have one concern though. It is an older model without the rail and has the "slick" frame. As in no stippling/checkering on the back. Can anyone offer first hand knowledge with how this model feels in the hand? I am contemplating stippling it but would rather not as it would be a range toy for my wife to shoot. She hates my stippled Glock 23 haha. I just saw that Talon Grips makes one for the P95 but am wondering if it will fit the older models. I assume the frame is about the same as the newer models.

 

General feel good stories about the gun are welcome too. (Keep the horror stories to yourself  :rofl: )

[MacGyver]

If you ever find yourself needing to pistol whip someone, you'll be well prepared...

[Guest The Itis]

(Keeping my negative opinion to myself) :pleased:

[maroonandwhite]

If you ever find yourself needing to pistol whip someone, you'll be well prepared...

Hey you never know!

 

 

(Keeping my negative opinion to myself) :pleased:

I guess you can go ahead and share haha. 

 

Just want to state that this won't be intended for protection use but mainly a fun/range gun. I bought a Glock 23 with the intent to get a conversion barrel but never have and now I have about 1000 rounds of 9mm with no gun to shoot them in. I am tired of this ammo crisis and am getting ready to just shoot.

[A.J. Holst]

My first semi was a P95, I liked the grip shape better over the "squared" Glock-style influenced polys.

 

I didn't love it, so it was replaced by a CZ75B

 

Long, heavy trigger pull as I recall (DAO)

 

SAO wasn't bad, but it's been a while.

 

Absolutely ZERO function issues.

 

Solid handgun

 

If you are confident with function, there is NO reason not to consider it or use for SD/HD or EDC

Edited August 22, 2013 by Gotthegoods

[TrickyNicky]

For what it's worth I think there are many better choices for a fun range gun. The Ruger is a solid dependable weapon that would be
A great HD option but I think it's just a little uninspiring to shoot. Accurate, sure. Dependable, you bet. Fun, meh. Pretty, beauty is in the eye of the beholder I suppose.

I've recommended the Ruger to several people including family who aren't really "gun folks". It's a fantastic piece as far as it goes but for someone like you who's particularly wanting something fun for recreation, I dunno.

If you wanted to hang onto your ammo for SHTF and wanted a solid gun to pack away with it, I'd recommend the Ruger for something like that. Edited August 22, 2013 by TrickyNicky

[maroonandwhite]

Well if it is that reliable it may also double as a backup HD gun. I have been wanting to stash one in the bathroom anyways. Haven't shot it yet but I like the feel.

[cgun86]

For what it's worth I think there are many better choices for a fun range gun. The Ruger is a solid dependable weapon that would be
A great HD option but I think it's just a little uninspiring to shoot. Accurate, sure. Dependable, you bet. Fun, meh. Pretty, beauty is in the eye of the beholder I suppose.

I've recommended the Ruger to several people including family who aren't really "gun folks". It's a fantastic piece as far as it goes but for someone like you who's particularly wanting something fun for recreation, I dunno.

If you wanted to hang onto your ammo for SHTF and wanted a solid gun to pack away with it, I'd recommend the Ruger for something like that.

+1^ One of my first guns. One of my cheapest guns. One of the guns I will never sell.

[maroonandwhite]

Got her all cleaned up last night and MAN is that grip slick. I almost couldn't go to sleep without stippling it but I think I am just going to buy a talon grip for it. Still haven't got to shoot it but it seems like a solid gun. It's cool that the rails on the frame have no embedded steel in them. The trigger is not the greatest in the world but its not horrible. Mine was made in '97 so the white dot sights are more like brown dots. Once I get those painted and get a grip on it I imagine it will be a great shooter!

 

Now to decide between a Glock 36 and the XDS 45.

[cgun86]

Got her all cleaned up last night and MAN is that grip slick. I almost couldn't go to sleep without stippling it but I think I am just going to buy a talon grip for it. Still haven't got to shoot it but it seems like a solid gun. It's cool that the rails on the frame have no embedded steel in them. The trigger is not the greatest in the world but its not horrible. Mine was made in '97 so the white dot sights are more like brown dots. Once I get those painted and get a grip on it I imagine it will be a great shooter!

Now to decide between a Glock 36 and the XDS 45.

36. Easy decision

[maroonandwhite]

That's the way I'm leaning.

[JAB]

One day, I was out shooting with an older (now deceased) friend of mine (actually, my now soon-to-be ex-wife's grandfather.)  He had a new to him Ruger P95DC that he hadn't shot, yet.  Well, we took turns shooting it and he said, "Do you like it?"  I answered, "Well, the first time I shot it I wasn't crazy about it but after shooting it a few times, yeah, I like it."  He then said, "Well, I don't like it, much.  Why don't you just keep it?"

 

That was how I got my first 'service level' semiauto pistol (the only other semi-auto I had owned to that point was a Titan .25.)  Over time, I came to realize just how darned reliable the thing was and came to like it even more.

 

Well, for a while after I got my HCP I carried a Kel Tec P11.  It was a perfectly decent little gun and I shot it okay but that was about it.  One day I realized that - because the only way I could carry the P11 was OWB - I could carry the P95 just as easily.  I shoot the P95 much better than the P11.  However, I didn't want to carry the P95 because of it having been a gift and having sentimental value.  Solution?  I traded my P11 even for a (barely) used, newer model P95 that was in the case at the LGS.  The new one has a rail and a safety/decocker instead of just a straight decocker (I prefer the straight decocker on my DC model but can live with the safety decocker - I just use it to decock then switch the safety off.)  My understanding is that the DC (decocker only) model is no longer made.  I am not sure if it was ever made with a rail.  Lately, I have mostly been pocket carrying my 642 but I am sure the P95 will see more carry when cooler weather gets here (making it easier to wear a cover garment.)  So, anyhow, that is how I ended up with:

 

 

As far as your 'slick grip' issue, I have since put a Hogue Handall on the one I carry and have no problems.  When I got it, someone had already put grip tape on the front and rear of the grip and that worked fine - I just prefer the feel of the finger grooves on the Handall.

 

They are also quite easy to do a basic field strip for cleaning.  One thing, though, be sure to check the manual when re-assembling.  There is a part (I can't remember specifically which part) in the frame that has to be manually pushed into a downward position before the slide will go back on.

Edited August 23, 2013 by JAB

[Moped]

For what it's worth I think there are many better choices for a fun range gun. The Ruger is a solid dependable weapon that would be
A great HD option but I think it's just a little uninspiring to shoot. Accurate, sure. Dependable, you bet. Fun, meh. Pretty, beauty is in the eye of the beholder I suppose.

I've recommended the Ruger to several people including family who aren't really "gun folks". It's a fantastic piece as far as it goes but for someone like you who's particularly wanting something fun for recreation, I dunno.

If you wanted to hang onto your ammo for SHTF and wanted a solid gun to pack away with it, I'd recommend the Ruger for something like that.

This is spot on.  I could not have said it better.