Ruger P97 Double Action Only Instructions Manual

RUGER®
P97DAO
“DOUBLE ACTION ONLY” MODEL PISTOLS*
INSTRUCTION
MANUAL 
FOR
STAINLESS
STEELCALIBER
.45ACP
*DO NOT USE THIS MANUAL FOR PISTOLS EQUIPPED WITH
MANUAL SAFETIES OR “DECOCKER MODEL” 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. 19)
STURM, RUGER & Company, Inc.
Southport, Connecticut 06490 U.S.A.
THIS INSTRUCTION MANUAL SHOULD ALWAYS ACCOMPANY THIS FIREARM AND BE
TRANSFERRED WITH...

This Instruction Manual is designed to assist you in learning how to use and
care for your RUGER®P97“Double Action Only” 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-...

WARNINGS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE ARE
FOUND ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES:
OTHER CAUTIONS AND WARNINGS APPEAR
THROUGHOUT THE MANUAL.
Alterations 4 Unloading 11
Lockable Storage Boxes 6 Slide Retraction 12
Ammunition 7 Malfunctions 14
Lead Exposure 7 Disassembly 15
“Double Action Only” 8 Lubrication 18
Firing 9 Storage 19
Handling 10 Parts Purchasers 21
FIREARMS ARE DANGEROUS WEAPONS -
READ THE INSTRUCTIONS AND WARNINGS
IN THIS MANUAL THOROUGHLY AND
CAREFULLY BEFORE USING.
GENERAL INFORMATION
AND MECHANICAL...

NOMENCLATURE
Action:The action of the Ruger P97 “double action only” 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...

6
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...

WARNING - AMMUNITION
WARNING - LEAD EXPOSURE
7
AMMUNITION
The RUGER®P97DAO pistols are chambered for the .45ACP cartridge. Do
not attempt to load any other cartridges into the magazine or chamber of 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 .45ACP ammunition
manufactured in accordance with NATO, U.S., SAAMI, or CIP standards is...

8
OPERATION OF
“DOUBLE ACTION ONLY” PISTOLS
The model you have selected is equipped with a special trigger mechanism that
permits only “double-action” firing. The hammer does not remain cocked
between shots. The pistol can only be fired by a relatively long (“double-action”)
pull of the trigger which draws the hammer rearward and then releases it to fire
every shot.
It is important to note that even though the hammer will move to a forward
position as the slide returns forward after each shot, the...

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 25.)
2.  Press the magazine latch inward from the left side, and remove the magazine
from the frame.  NOTE:The magazine is...

8. Subsequent shots are all fired “double-action” until the magazine is empty,
the chamber being reloaded as the slide recoils from each shot.
9. In the event of a misfire, keep the pistol pointed in a safe direction,manually
retract the slide and eject the misfired cartridge. Then let the slide fly forward to
chamber another cartridge from the magazine. The pistol can then be fired by a
normal “double-action” trigger pull.
10.Immediately following the firing of a shot, and if a subsequent shot is not...

TO LOAD AND FIRE (WITHOUT MAGAZINE)
In the event that the magazine is missing or for training purposes (where it is
desirable that only one cartridge be loaded and fired at a time for safety), the
pistol can be fired with the magazine removed. To do so, keep the pistol pointed
in a safe direction,grasp the slide, and retract it fully to the rear. Next, push the
slide stop upward so that the slide remains to the rear. Insert a single cartridge
directly and fully into the chamber. Taking care to keep the...