Ruger P 95 mystery

The Ruger P 95 is another gun that was coming out about the time I was slowing down from full time smithing.

So a guy brings me one the other day, tells me that it is not ejecting properly, but it did when it was brand new last fall. He did allow that he had "taken it apart" which I presume meant he filed stripped it, something most smart 12 year olds could probably do.

Well, I guess I must be not quite 12, as when I pull out the slide lock, the slide and barrel simply stop in their normal lockup, and the slide then resists any amount of normal pull, trying to get it to continue off the frame.

I have never seen a "browning" type slide lock gun that didnt come apart by doing that, but figured some "genius" might have thrown in some trick to get the thing apart. Now I recall taking apart the 85 I think it was, and seems like there was a second version, and I never ran into any mystery with them.

So looking on the net, sure enough, all the vids show just what I assumed should work.

Now the guy admits that "I may have gotten it back together wrong", but for crying out loud, few guns I am aware of, will even go back together "half way" and on top of that, still function somewhat. either they work, or they dont. Rarely will one even completely re assemble apparently in total, if any major part is not totally correct.

Only thing I can see at this point, is that it appears that part of the trigger mech, acts as part of the locking cam, to force the barrel up into lock. I have yet to prod or poke there, as it appears one of those three hand jobs, and my vise is down in the basement.

Anyone ever hear of someone getting one of these P95s bass ackwards in reassy?

Sure sounds like it, and that sounds very logical as a possible. Looking at this closer, it sure looks like the upper part of the trigger interferes with the bottom of the barrel, which is what is the main reason it appears that it wont come off, yet the trigger is prevented from going back far enough to allow that upper part to clear the barrel.

But the reverse spring could sure be forcing the trigger out of alignment enough to cause the issue.

I am not certain who designed this gun, probably a committee of bean counters. As I recall, Ruger had either died by then, or was likely out of the game to have had much influence.

Many of Rugers designs were "copies" of proven concepts, I am not aware of any totally new ideas, though he did really expand the concept of using castings. And thats far from being a failure.

Its just difficult to imagine they would sell a gun that could be tied up by simply putting the recoil spring in backwards. A service weapon at that.

thanks for the advice in any case.

thanks, I finally figured that out. the slide came off fine. What is still kind of a mystery, is that its obvious the recoil spring is captured, and not real easy to remove from the guide rod. The guy claims not recalling taking that apart.

It appears that the flared end is towards the back at present. I still have yet to attack that issue. I can see, that it would sure be way easy, to see that little circlip retainer, sail off into the deepest darkest corner of the shop.

I say again, we need another John Browning to follow the KISS principal in gun design.

this one is for sure "captured", I asked the guy if he took the recoil spring apart, he denied recalling yes or no. So he did. Why though, is beyond my wonderment, it has a little spring clip in a groove around the muzzle end, there is no way to take it off without a knife point or similar to get under it.

A guy would have to shoot ten thousand rounds to gum up that assy enough to warrant anything other than a cleaning with a spray solvent of some kind, and a rag.

As you know though, guys like taking their guns apart, or at least they usually let their kid or brother in law take them apart.