Ruger P95 Decocker Instructions Manual

							RUGER®
P95DC
DECOCKER MODEL PISTOLS*
INSTRUCTION
MANUAL 
FOR
BLUED &
STAINLESS
STEELCALIBER
9MM
*DO NOT USE THIS MANUAL FOR PISTOLS EQUIPPED WITH
MANUAL SAFETIES OR “DOUBLE ACTION ONLY” PISTOLS
READ THE INSTRUCTIONS AND
WARNINGS IN THIS MANUAL CAREFULLY
BEFORE USING THIS FIREARM
!
For Product Service on This Model Please Call:
(520) 778-6555 (See p. 21)
STURM, RUGER & Company, Inc.
Southport, Connecticut 06490 U.S.A.
THIS INSTRUCTION MANUAL SHOULD ALWAYS ACCOMPANY THIS FIREARM AND BE
TRANSFERRED WITH IT UPON CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP, OR WHEN THE FIREARM IS LOANED
OR PRESENTED TO ANOTHER PERSON
V & KV (P95DC) 6/00
R4  
						

							This Instruction Manual is designed to assist you in learning how to use and
care for your RUGER®P95Decocker Model Pistols properly. Please contact
us if you have any questions.
Only when you are certain you fully understand the Manual and can properly
carry out its instructions should you practice loading, unloading, etc., with live
ammunition. If you have any doubts about your ability to handle or use a par-
ticular type of gun safely, you should seek supervised instruction. Such person-
alized instruction is often available from gun dealers, gun clubs or police
departments. If none of these sources can help you, write to the National Rifle
Association, 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030-7400. They will assist
you.
The person possessing a gun has a full-time job. You cannot guess; you cannot
forget. You must know how to use your firearm safely. Do not use any firearm
without having a complete understanding of its particular characteristics and
safe use. Remember: There is no such thing as a foolproof gun.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
General Information and Mechanical Characteristics  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Special Feature - Decocking Lever  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Ammunition  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
To Load and Fire (with magazine)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
To Uncock (Decock) The Pistol  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
To Load and Fire (without magazine)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
To Unload  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
To Reload The Pistol  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
To Extract and Eject a Chambered Cartridge  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
To Clear a Malfunction (“Jam”)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
To Minimize Malfunctions (“Jams”)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
To Disassemble  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
To Reassemble  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Magazine Inspection and Care  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Care and Cleaning  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Sight Adjustment  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Service and Parts Policy  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Parts Drawings  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
The Basic Rules of Safe Firearms Handling  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Warranty Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
Ruger® is a registered U.S. trademark.
FIREARMS SAFETY - YOUR RESPONSIBILITY
SAFETY MUST BE THE FIRST AND CONSTANT
CONSIDERATION OF EVERY PERSON WHO 
HANDLES FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION. 
2 
						

							3
WARNINGS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE ARE
FOUND ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES:
OTHER CAUTIONS AND WARNINGS APPEAR
THROUGHOUT THE MANUAL.
Alterations 3 Unloading 12
Lockable Storage Boxes 5 Slide Retraction 13
Decocking Lever 7 Malfunctions 15
Lead Exposure 7 Disassembly 16
Ammunition 8 Lubrication 20
Firing 10 Storage 20
Handling 11 Parts Purchasers 22
FIREARMS ARE DANGEROUS WEAPONS -
READ THE INSTRUCTIONS AND WARNINGS
IN THIS MANUAL THOROUGHLY AND
CAREFULLY BEFORE USING.
The RUGER®P95DCpistols are centerfire, compact, double action, “decock
only” magazine-fed, autoloading, recoil-operated pistols chambered for the cal-
iber 9mm Parabellum (9mm x 19) cartridge.  They incorporate a different “link-
less” design in the barrel locking/unlocking system than earlier Ruger P-Series
pistols, and feature a streamlined slide and Isoplast
®polymer grip frame con-
struction. They comply with the requirements of the National Institute of Justice
Standard-0112.00. They include the following features with which users should
be thoroughly familiar:
GENERAL INFORMATION
AND MECHANICAL CHARACTERISTICS
!
WARNING - ALTERATIONS
DO NOT ALTER ANY GUN
This product was designed to function
properly in its original condition. Alter-
tions can make it unsafe. Do not alter any
part or add or substitute parts or acces-
ories not made by Sturm, Ruger & Co.
Inc.
! 
						

							4
NOMENCLATURE
Action:The action of the Ruger P95 decocker model pistols is of the type that
utilizes a tilting barrel design in which the barrel and slide are locked together
at the moment of firing. After firing, the barrel and slide recoil to the rear a
short distance while still locked together. After this initial movement, the barrel
is cammed downward from its locked position, permitting full recoil of the slide
and the extraction and ejection of the spent cartridge case. Upon return of the
slide to its forward position by the recoil spring, the barrel is cammed back
upward into its locked position in the slide.
The user of this or any autoloading pistol must always remember that when
fired, it automatically reloads and recocks itself, so that simply pulling the
trigger will fire the pistol again. Therefore, an autoloading pistol user must be
particularly conscious to always keep the pistol pointed in a safe direction.
Sightshave high-visibility
white dots both front and rear.
Rear sights can be adjusted for
windage.
Slide stopholds the slide open and is activated
automatically when last shot is fired (if magazine is in
pistol), or can be manually operated. Slide’sopen top design minimizes possibility
of jamming, enables shooter to clear any
malfunction easily by hand. Cartridges can
be loaded singly if desired.Grooved, exposed hammer
spur enables the shooter to
cock the hammer easily for
single-action firing if
desired.
To decock the pistol, depress
the decocking lever until the
hammer drops. This action
moves the firing pin forward
into the slide. This temporari-
ly places the firing pin out of
reach of the hammer stroke
and locks the firing pin in a
neutral position, preventing it
from moving toward the car-
tridge.
RELEASING EITHER
DECOCK LEVER WILL
ALLOW THE LEVERS TO
SPRING UPWARD TO
THEIR ORIGINAL
POSITION, PLACING THE
PISTOL IN A READY TO
FIRE CONDITION.Frameis a rigid one piece polyurethane
grip frame reinforced with long glass fiber.
Double-action mechanism and strongly curved trig-
gerprovide that cocking and firing can be accom-
plished with a single pull of the trigger.
Oversize trigger guardpermits shooting with gloved hand.
Recurved trigger guard bow accommodates non-shooting
hand in two-hand hold.
The ambidextrous magazine latchpermits positive reten-
tion and quick removal of magazine. 
						

							5
Slide Stop:When the last shot has been fired and the magazine is empty, the
slide stop automatically holds the slide open. When there is an empty maga-
zine in the pistol and the slide is retracted manually, the slide stop will also
automatically hold the slide open. If a loaded magazine is inserted in the pistol
when the slide is closed and the slide is then retracted fully, the slide stop will
not automatically hold open the slide. The user can actuate the slide stop 
mechanism to hold the slide open at any time by retracting the slide and 
pushing the slide stop up.
The slide stop can be released by drawing back slightly on the slide and
depressing the slide stop thumbpiece. When the slide is released, it will move
forward under pressure from the recoil spring.
The slide stop is held in place by a spring detent. Therefore, when there is a 
loaded magazine in place and the pistol is jarred, the slide can fly forward and 
chamber a cartridge. For this reason and as an essential safety practice, the
user should always be careful to keep fingers away from the trigger and always
keep the pistol pointed in a safe direction.
Magazines:
The Ruger 9mm magazines are notinterchangeable with Ruger pis-
tol magazines of anyother caliber even though they may appear similar and may
hold other cartridges. Use of incorrect magazines in any pistol will result in mal-
functions. Ruger 9mm magazines are either unmarked as to caliber or are
marked “9mm cal. only”. All other Ruger centerfire pistol magazines, which are
similar in appearance, are marked as to caliber (“.40 Auto Cal.,” etc.).
DAMAGED, NON-STANDARD, OR IMPROPERLY
ASSEMBLED MAGAZINES SHOULD NOT BE USED.
THEY CAN CAUSE THE PISTOL TO MALFUNCTION.
All Ruger pistols and revolvers are
originally sold in a lockable box,
with a key-operated padlock. While
it can help provide secure storage
for your unloadedfirearm, any lock-
ing device can fail. The ultimate
responsibility for secure storage
must depend upon its owner and his
or her individual circumstances.
Always store firearms securely,
unloaded, in a secure location, sepa-
rate from their ammunition.
Never leave the keys in the lock. See
“Storage Warning”, p. 20.
RUGER
WARNING – LOCKABLE STORAGE BOXES
A LWAY S
STORE FIREARMS SECURELY
!
DON’T LEAVE KEYS
IN THE LOCK 
						

							SPECIAL FEATURE - DECOCKING LEVER
The model you have selected is equipped with a special manual decocking lever
that also allows you to decock (uncock) a cocked pistol without manipulating the
trigger. Conventional thumb decocking procedures are therefore not necessary
and should not be employed with this pistol.
To decock the pistol, point the pistol in a safe dir
ection.Depress the decocking
lever until the hammer drops. The decocking lever first moves the firing pin into
the slide far enough so that the rear end of the firing pin cannot be struck by the
hammer. Only then will continued depression of the decocking lever safely drop
the hammer to an uncocked position (see Figure 1). To return the pistol to firing
condition, simply release the decocking lever (see Figure 2). It will spring
upward to its original position. The pistol is then ready to fire by a “double-
action” pull of the trigger. The hammer can also be manually cocked immediate-
ly before shooting a “single-action” firing. The trigger pull is both shorter and
relatively  lighter in the “single-action” mode, which is preferred for more accu-
rate shooting.
Additionally, the pistol has a separate internal firing pin block that will not allow
the firing pin to move forward until the operator pulls the trigger.
Never carry or holster the pistol with the hammer cocked, as a relatively light
pull of the trigger will fire the pistol. When not actually shooting, always imme-
diately decock (uncock) the pistol by use of the decocking lever.
6
FIGURE 1FIGURE 2
DECOCK POSITION
DECOCK ONLYFIRE POSITON
The decock lever will onlyattain this
position when held down
by the user.
This decocks the pistol.
The decock lever will automatically
spring back to this firing position
when released. 
						

							DECOCK POSITION
WHEN HELD
DECOCK ONLY
FIRE POSITION
WHEN RELEASED
Operating the decocking lever does not
prevent firing when the trigger is pulled.
Like a double-action revolver, the pistol
will fire whenever the trigger is pulled.
Therefore, never touch the trigger,
whether the pistol is cocked or not,
unless you wish to fire the pistol. Do not
decock the pistol manually - always use
the decocking lever.
DECOCKING LEVER
AUTOMATICALLY RETURNS TO “FIRE”
POSITION WHEN RELEASED
7
!WARNING - DECOCKING LEVER
Discharging firearms in poorly venti-
lated areas, cleaning firearms, or han-
dling ammunition may result in expo-
sure to lead and other substances
known to the state of California to
cause birth defects, reproductive harm,
and other serious physical injury. Have
adequate ventilation at all times. Wash
hands thoroughly after exposure.
SHOOTING OR CLEANING GUNS
MAY EXPOSE YOU TO LEAD
!WARNING - LEAD EXPOSURE 
						

							WARNING - AMMUNITION
AMMUNITION
The RUGER®P95DC pistols are chambered for the 9mm x 19 Parabellum
(9mm Luger) cartridge. Do not attempt to load any other 9mm cartridges
(examples: 9mm short [.380], 9mm Steyr, 9mm Bergmann, etc.) into the maga-
zine or chamber of the pistol. Never attempt to use caliber .40 S & W cartridges
in a 9mm pistol. The .40 S & W cartridges will jam the pistol.
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 9mm 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.
USE ONLY FACTORY AMMUNITION LOADED
TO U.S. INDUSTRY STANDARDS
Death, serious injury, and damage can 
result from the use of the wrong
ammunition, bore obstructions, powder
overloads, or incorrect cartridge compo-
nents. Even the strongest gun can be
“blown up” as a result of excess pressure.
Always wear shooting glasses and hearing
protection.
IMPROPER AMMUNITION
DESTROYS GUNS
8
!
AMMUNITION (CARTRIDGES) NOTICE
WE SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIM RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DAMAGE
OR INJURY WHATSOEVER OCCURRING IN CONNECTION WITH,
OR AS A RESULT OF, THE USE IN RUGER FIREARMS OF FAULTY,
OR NON-STANDARD, OR “RE-MANUFACTURED”, OR HAND-
LOADED (RELOADED) AMMUNITION, OR OF CARTRIDGES
OTHER THAN THOSE FOR WHICH THE FIREARM WAS
ORIGINALLY CHAMBERED.  
						

							TO LOAD AND FIRE (WITH MAGAZINE)
Practice this important aspect of safe gun handling with an unloaded pistol
until you can perform each of the steps described below with skill and
confidence. But before you do anything with the pistol, first read completely
through this manual.
1.  Keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction. (See “The Basic Rules
of Safe Firearms Handling,” page 27.)
2.  Press the magazine latch forward and remove the magazine from the frame.
NOTE:The magazine is designed to fall free of the frame of its own weight when
unloaded and the pistol is held in the normal firing position, but you should
always prevent possible damage to the magazine by not letting it drop to the
ground unless rapid reloading is absolutely necessary.
3.  Place ten (10) or fewer 9mm x 19 Parabellum cartridges into the magazine
from the top.
4.  Insert the magazine into the frame, taking care that the magazine is locked
in place by the magazine latch. Slamming the magazine into the frame forcibly
is not necessary.
5.  Hold the pistol firmly in the shooting hand but do not touch the trigger.
Keep the pistol pointed in a safe direction.With the thumb and forefinger of the
other hand grasp the rear of the slide and pull the slide to the rear as far as it
will go (See “Slide Retraction Warning” p. 13). When released, the slide will fly
forward to strip the top cartridge from the magazine and chamber it. 
WARNING:The pistol is ready for instant use in the single-action mode once the
slide moves forward. Be careful!
6.If the pistol is not to be fired immediately, keep it pointed in a safe direction
and depress the decocking lever until the hammer drops. Remember that the
decocking lever will spring back to the double-action “fire” position when
released. (See Decocking Lever Warning”, p. 7)
7.  When the pistol is in the “uncocked” mode (hammer forward), the first shot
can be fired double-action by pulling the trigger all the way to the rear, which
cocks the hammer and then fires the pistol.  Subsequent shots are fired single-
9 
						

							action until the magazine is empty, the hammer being cocked by the slide as it
recoils from each shot. Note that the trigger pull is much lighter for these subse-
quent shots.
8.  For greater accuracy and consistent trigger pull, the hammer may be manual-
ly cocked by the shooter before the first shot is fired. Keep your finger off the
trigger while cocking the hammer!The hammer will be automatically cocked as
described above for subsequent shots.
9.  Immediately following the firing of a shot, and if a subsequent shot is not to
be fired at once, depress the decocking lever until the hammer drops while the
pistol is still pointing in a safe direction downrange. Remember that the pistol
can still be fired by a full “double action” trigger pull.
10.  When the last cartridge loaded into the pistol has been fired, the magazine
follower presses the slide stop upward to engage the slide automatically holding
the action open.If the slide is shut, the shooter should always assume that 
there is a cartridge in the chamber!
Don’t rely on your memory to know if a gun or magazine is loaded. Visually
inspect the magazine and chamber.
TO UNCOCK (DECOCK) THE PISTOL
With the muzzle pointed in a safe direction,depress the cocking lever fully. The
hammer will drop near the end of the lever’s travel. Although this may appear
startling, it is important to note that the firing pin is securely blocked by the
lever, and the pistol will not fire when the lever is depressed. Manually decocking
the hammer with the thumb is neither necessary nor recommended. Always use
the decocking lever.  Remember
that when you release the decocking lever, it
will automatically return to the firing position, and the pistol will then fire when
the trigger is pulled if a cartridge is in the chamber. (See “Special Feature -
Decocking Lever”, p. 6)
SLIDE OPENS FAST -
HOT BRASS EJECTED
The slide automatically opens and shuts
quickly while firing. Keep face and hands
away from rear.  Hot brass is ejected 
quickly and can burn you. Always wear
shooting glasses and hearing protection.
10
!WARNING - FIRING