Ruger P Series - Design Details

Design Details

The P series are short recoil-operated, locked breech semi-automatic pistols. They utilize a SIG P220 type locking system, and a 1911 style tilting barrel. The P series were made with a traditional double action/single action (DA/SA), or double action only (DAO) trigger mechanism.

The standard models have an ambidextrous manual safety/decocker located on the slide; when the safety lever is lowered to the safe position, the firing pin is cammed into the slide away from the hammer, the trigger is disconnected from the sear and the hammer is decocked. The decocker models have no manual safety; instead, when the lever is lowered it only cams the firing pin into the slide and drops the hammer, when the lever is released it springs back to the normal position. The DAO models have no manual safety or decocker. All models feature an automatic firing pin safety that blocks the firing pin unless the trigger is pulled fully rearward.

The pistols make extensive use of investment cast parts and proprietary Ruger alloys. Nearly all internal parts, including the barrel, are stainless steel; while the slide and ejector are carbon steel. The P85 through P944 use an investment cast aluminum frame, while the P95 and later models use a fiberglass-reinforced polyurethane frame.

The 9mm and .40 S&W versions use double-column box magazines; the 9mm has a 15 round capacity, and the .40 has a 10 round capacity. The .45 ACP versions use single-column magazines holding 7 rounds. All P series of the same caliber use a similar magazine design, however slight modifications have been made to at least the 9mm guns so that not all P series magazines will function in all P series frames. Ruger did not keep track of the magazine models so an older magazine may not secure in a newer frame. The Ruger Police Carbine also uses P series magazines. The P series pistols have an ambidextrous magazine release located behind the trigger guard, it can be pushed forward from either side to eject the magazine.

The P95 and earlier models have fixed, 3-dot sights; while the P97 and P345 have windage adjustable 3-dot sights.