Ruger P95 Instructions Manual

							INSTRUCTION
MANUAL 
FOR
BLUED &
STAINLESS
STEELCALIBER
9mm
For Product Service on This Model Please Call:
(520) 778-6555 (See p. 24)
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 (P95) 4/01 C
*DO NOT USE THIS MANUAL FOR DECOCKER MODEL PISTOLS
OR “DOUBLE ACTION ONLY” PISTOLS
READ THE INSTRUCTIONS AND
WARNINGS IN THIS MANUAL CAREFULLY
BEFORE USING THIS FIREARM
!
RUGER
®
P95
MANUAL SAFETY MODEL PISTOLS*   
						

							WHY ARE WE INCLUDING A FIRED CARTRIDGE CASE
WITH EVERY RUGER PISTOL AND REVOLVER?
Certain states and jurisdictions now require that all newly manufactured pistols
and revolvers must be accompanied by a cartridge case, which has been test fired
from that gun at the factory. The case must be placed in a sealed container bear-
ing certain information concerning this test cartridge.
At the time of retail sale in those jurisdictions, firearms dealers must forward
such test cartridge to a designated destination such as their State Police
Laboratory. As independent Ruger Distributors have nationwide markets without
territorial restrictions, we have decided to include a fired cartridge case with all
new Ruger pistols and revolvers, to minimize the possibility of inadvertent non-
compliance with these laws.
Retail customers located in other states, where laws or regulations do not require
the dealer to so act, may be assured that the fired cartridge case they receive with
the firearm at the time of retail purchase is proof that your new Ruger firearm
has undergone our normal test firing procedures during manufacture.
!WARNING – LOCKING DEVICES
DO NOT INSTALL
INSIDE TRIGGER GUARD
INSTALL LOCK
AS SHOWN HERE
This firearm was originally sold
with a key-operated locking
device. While it can help provide
secure storage for your unloaded
firearm, any locking device can
fail. All guns are designed to fire
if they are loaded and the trigger
is pulled. Therefore, never install
the locking device inside the trig-
ger guard or in any way that it
can possibly pull the trigger!Do
not leave the keys in the lock.
The ultimate responsibility for
secure storage of any firearm
must depend upon its owner and
his or her individual circum-
stances. Guns should be securely
stored unloaded, in a secure
location, separate from their
ammunition.
See “Storage Warning”, page 23.
NEVER INSTALL
LOCKING DEVICE
INSIDE TRIGGER GUARD
3  
						

							This Instruction Manual is designed to assist you in learning how to use and care
for your RUGER®P95 Manual Safety 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 partic-
ular type of gun safely, you should seek supervised instruction. Such personal-
ized instruction is often available from gun dealers, gun clubs or police depart-
ments. If none of these sources can help you, write to the National Rifle
Association, 11250 Waples Mill, 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  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Operation of Manual Safety  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Ammunition  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
To Load and Fire (with magazine)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
To Uncock (Decock) The Pistol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
To Load and Fire (without magazine)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
To Unload  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
To Reload The Pistol  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
To Extract and Eject a Chambered Cartridge  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
To Clear a Malfunction (“Jam”)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
To Minimize Malfunctions (“Jams”)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
To Disassemble  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
To Reassemble  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Magazine Inspection and Care  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Care and Cleaning  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Storage  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Sight Adjustment  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Service and Parts Policy  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Parts Drawings  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
The Basic Rules of Safe Firearms Handling  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Warranty Information  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
“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. 
4 
						

							WARNING - ALTERATIONS
WARNINGS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE ARE
FOUND ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES:
OTHER CAUTIONS AND WARNINGS APPEAR
THROUGHOUT THE MANUAL.
DO NOT ALTER ANY GUN
Locking Devices 3 Unloading 14
Alterations 5 Slide Retraction 15
Manual Safety 9 Malfunctions 17
Lead Exposure 9 Disassembly 20
Ammunition 10 Lubrication 22
Firing 12 Storage 23
Handling 13 Parts Purchasers 25
FIREARMS ARE DANGEROUS WEAPONS -
READ THE INSTRUCTIONS AND WARNINGS
IN THIS MANUAL THOROUGHLY AND
CAREFULLY BEFORE USING.
This product was designed to function
properly in its original condition.
Alterations can make it unsafe. Do not
alter any part or add or substitute parts or
accessories not made by Sturm, Ruger &
Co. Inc.
GENERAL INFORMATION
AND MECHANICAL CHARACTERISTICS
The RUGER®P95pistols are centerfire, compact, double action, magazine-
fed, autoloading, recoil-operated pistols chambered for the caliber 9mm
Parabellum (9mm x19) 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 construction. They
comply with the requirements of the National Institute of Justice Standard -
0112.00. They include the following features with which users should be thor-
oughly familiar:
5
!
! 
						

							NOMENCLATURE
Action:The action of the Ruger P95 manual safety model pistols is of the U.S.
M1911 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 move-
ment, 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 trig-
ger will fire the pistol again. Therefore, an autoloading pistol user must be par-
ticularly 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.
The ambidextrous magazine latchpermits positive
retention and quick removal of magazine.
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 possi-
bility 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
accurate single-action fir-
ing if desired.
When ambidextrous manual
safetyis in “safe” position,
the firing pin is cammed
forward into the slide. This
simultaneously places the
firing pin out of reach of
the hammer and locks the
firing pin in a neutral posi-
tion, preventing the firing
pin from movement toward
the cartridge. Further, the
entire firing mechanism is
completely disengaged from
trigger.
6
Frameis a rigid one piece
polyurethane grip frame rein-
forced with long glass fiber.
Double-action mechanism and strongly curved
triggerprovide that cocking and firing can be
accomplished 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.  
						

							7
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 magazine
in the pistol and the slide is retracted manually, the slide stop will also automati-
cally 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 auto-
matically 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 depress-
ing 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, keep the safety
on, and always keep the pistol pointed in a safe direction.
Magazines:
The Ruger 9mm magazines are notinterchangeable with Ruger pis-
tol magazines of any
other 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. 
						

							OPERATION OF MANUAL SAFETY
The model you have selected is equipped with special manual ambidextrous safe-
ty levers that also allow you to decock (uncock) a cocked pistol without manipu-
lating the trigger. Conventional thumb decocking procedures are therefore not
necessary and should not be employed with this pistol.
To apply the manual safety and decock the pistol, point the pistol in a safe dir
ec-
tion.Move either the right- or left-hand safety lever fully to the “safe” position.
When the safety is moved fully downward to the “safe” position, the white dot is
exposed through the hole in the side of the safety and the letter “S” is completely
visible. In this position (1) the firing pin is blocked from moving forward, (2) the
hammer is blocked from contacting the firing pin, and (3) the entire firing
mechanism is completely disengaged from the trigger. At this point, the hammer
will fall to its forward (decocked) position.
The safety mechanism provides that the hammer cannot contact the firing pin
unless the safety is disengaged. With the hammer cocked, actuating the safety
mechanism automatically drops the hammer onto the slide without contacting
the firing pin. Thus, the safety also serves as a decocking lever.
Add
itionally, the pistol has a separate internal firing pin block which will not allow
the firing pin to move forward and contact the cartridge until the operator pulls the
trigger with the safety off (in its “fire” position).
The pistol can and should be loaded and unloaded with the safety engaged in its
“safe” position (lever fully down, white dot and the letter “S” exposed).The safety
should be in its “safe” position at all times except when the user is deliberately posi-
tioned to fire at a selected target. See Figures 1 and 2, below, which illustrate the two
positions of the safety.
FIGURE 1FIGURE 2
8
"FIRE" POSITION "SAFE" POSITION
Red dot
exposed White dot and
letter "S" exposed 
						

							WARNING - MANUAL SAFETY
Placing the safety in an intermediate position
between “safe” and “fire” can result in the user
thinking the pistol is in a safe or fire position
when it is not. Pulling the trigger with the
safety in an intermediate position may cause
the pistol to fire. Therefore, always move the
safety fully
to its intended position and then
checkto be sure it is where you want it to be.
Unless the white dot and the letter “S” are
both
fully visible, the safety is noton. Unless
the red dot is fully visible, the pistol is not
absolutely ready to fire.
NEVER PUT SAFETY 1/2 ON
9
!
WARNING - LEAD EXPOSURE
Discharging firearms in poorly ventilat-
ed areas, cleaning firearms, or handling
ammunition may result in exposure to
lead and other substances known to the
state of California to cause birth defects,
reproductive harm, and other serious
physical injury. Have adequate ventila-
tion at all times. Wash hands thoroughly
after exposure.
SHOOTING OR CLEANING GUNS
MAY EXPOSE YOU TO LEAD
! 
						

							AMMUNITION
The RUGER®P95 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 manu-
factured 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
10
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.
WARNING - AMMUNITION
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
!  
						

							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.Be certain the muzzle is pointed in a safe direction. (See “The Basic Rules of
Safe Firearms Handling,” page 30)
2.Move either the right- or left-hand safety lever fully downward to its “safe”
position so that the letter “S” and the white dot are fully exposed.(See
Figures 1 and 2 on page 8).
3. Press either 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.
4. For the 9mm P95 pistols, place ten (10) or fewer 9mm x 19 Parabellum car-
tridges into the magazine from the top.
5. 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.
6. Hold the pistol firmly in the shooting hand but do not touch the trigger. Keep
the pistol pointed in a safe direction and the safety “on”.With the thumb and
forefinger of the other hand grasp the r
earof the slide and pull the slide to
the rear as far as it will go (See Figure 3, below and “Slide Retraction
Warning”, p. 15). When released, the slide will fly forward to strip the top car-
tridge from the magazine and chamber it. The safety mechanism drops the
hammer automatically as the slide moves forward while simultaneously
blocking the firing pin. 
The trigger is inoperable when the safety is fully engaged in its “safe” position
(lever fully down, white dot and letter “S” exposed; see Figure 1 on page 8).
WARNING:The pistol is ready for instant use in the single-action mode once
the slide moves forward if the safety is in the “fire” position. Be careful!
11
FIGURE 3
Slide in Retracted Position