Finding the Right Gunsmith

[Savage30L]

It should go back to Ruger.

And the trigger on mine is the best of all my semi-autos.

Well, I wouldn't claim to be an expert, and I'm certainly no gunsmith, but I'll say this: I sold literally hundreds of Ruger pistols when I worked in the trade, and the characteristics I've described seem to me to be consistent with Ruger's striker-fired auto pistols generally, at least back then. I was much more impressed with the offerings from European gun-makers than I was from American producers. I have a Steyr M40 and a CZ-75, and both have better triggers than the Ruger. And much better handling characteristics overall. My next pistol will probably be a CZ P10C.

One day when I was at Bud's I had a conversation with a rep from a major distributor. I remember he said to me, "The engineers at Ruger would just as soon the guns didn't go 'bang!' when you pull the trigger!" He claimed that, earlier in the company's history, they had been sued by consumers who claimed that they had tragic accidents because the trigger pulls of the guns they purchased were too light.

I got mine in 2011. Ruger may have slicked up their pistols since then...in fact I hope they have.

 

[Savage30L]

I was asking Savage30L, since he was having trouble with the slide release.

Part of the issue is that the release is small and doesn't project out far. Otherwise it would be easier to operate.

Compare the design of that slide release with the one on the Walther PPQ or PDP. THAT is what a slide release should be.

Edit: Kahr slide releases were the worst. And their recoil springs were a dumpster fire.

Further edit....I am the sort of person who is critical of what I perceive to be design flaws. What bothers me might not bother you at all. You wouldn't want to be around me when I have to perform maintenance on a riding mower or some other mechanical device.....

 

[kje54]

Well, I wouldn't claim to be an expert, and I'm certainly no gunsmith, but I'll say this: I sold literally hundreds of Ruger pistols when I worked in the trade, and the characteristics I've described seem to me to be consistent with Ruger's striker-fired auto pistols generally, at least back then. I was much more impressed with the offerings from European gun-makers than I was from American producers. I have a Steyr M40 and a CZ-75, and both have better triggers than the Ruger. And much better handling characteristics overall. My next pistol will probably be a CZ P10C.

One day when I was at Bud's I had a conversation with a rep from a major distributor. I remember he said to me, "The engineers at Ruger would just as soon the guns didn't go 'bang!' when you pull the trigger!" He claimed that, earlier in the company's history, they had been sued by consumers who claimed that they had tragic accidents because the trigger pulls of the guns they purchased were too light.

I got mine in 2011. Ruger may have slicked up their pistols since then...in fact I hope they have.

You would think if that were true even now there would be some historic reference to it on the internet. I can't find anything about Ruger getting sued by consumers anywhere. It's possible I'm not putting in the correct search parameters but I doubt it.
Sounds to me like the rep was passing on an urban myth...........

 

[JTQ]

For @Savage30L ...

I ask because many members will comment they can't release a slide with an empty mag in the gun using the slide release.

Judging by you other comments, you probably understand this, but the guns aren't designed to release the slide with the slide release with an empty mag inserted. It should work with no mag or with a loaded mag.

I was just trying to establish if your issue was with an empty mag in the gun, which would normally require the effort you describe.

 

[Savage30L]

For @Savage30L ...

I ask because many members will comment they can't release a slide with an empty mag in the gun using the slide release.

Judging by you other comments, you probably understand this, but the guns aren't designed to release the slide with the slide release with an empty mag inserted. It should work with no mag or with a loaded mag.

I was just trying to establish if your issue was with an empty mag in the gun, which would normally require the effort you describe.

No, I'm aware of such things. I know to press the magazine release and lower the magazine before trying.

The slide and its springs are just hard to deal with.

Sometimes guns will loosen up with shooting, and that may be the case here, because I've only put about 300 rounds through the gun in the years I've had it...maybe 350. I have so many firearms I don't shoot any individual one much. I do plan to put more through it soon, though.

The reason I've not put many rounds through it, however, is because of the aforementioned characteristics....I just don't find it all that pleasant. But I find that a lot of autos don't meet my standards. I shoot S&W double-action and Ruger single-action revolvers more, and find the triggers to be better.

 

[Caplock]

I hear if you put enough money into a Ruger you can turn one into a sows ear.

Just kidding. I had a ruger p series pistol and it was a good durable handgun. I had aftermarket hogue grips that made it feel really good in my hand.

 

[SterlingBullet]

I have kept a list of potential Ruger SR9C upgrades that owners reported installing on several different forums/blogs.
I can’t speak to their value, I just made the list for me to consider for mine.
Ghost trigger bar
Galloway guide rod & springs kits
Lionheart short-stroke trigger
Crimson Trace Laser
20lb SS recoil guide rod assembly
heavier striker spring
SS striker guide
TruGlo Tritium Pros sights
Dawson Precision fiber optic front sight
Carter Custom larger thumb safety, www.cartercustom.com, Harrison, Arkansas 870.741.2265

I had the TruGlo Tritium Pros sights installed, those I can vouch for.

 

[Tallball]

People don't really mod inexpensive plastic pistols much. A local smith could maybe do a trigger job?

Most of us keep our SD pieces OEM and save the fun mods for the range toys.

Those are not expensive pistols. IMHO, haunt GB until you find a used one dirt-cheap, then mod it with everything crazy you can think of for fun practice and bling.

 

[JTQ]

People don't really mod inexpensive plastic pistols much. A local smith could maybe do a trigger job?

Most of us keep our SD pieces OEM and save the fun mods for the range toys.

Those are not expensive pistols. IMHO, haunt GB until you find a used one dirt-cheap, then mod it with everything crazy you can think of for fun practice and bling.

Well, there is the Ed Brown Fueled Series based on the S&W M&P https://www.edbrown.com/fueled-series/

and all the John Wick fans will know the Taran Tactical Combat Master on the Glock G34 https://tarantacticalinnovations.com/jw2-combat-master-package/

 

[tarosean]

People don't really mod inexpensive plastic pistols much.

There is an entire industry based on popular plastic fantastics. Ruger semi’s not so much

 

[doubleh]

I know nothing about the gun in this thread. My only contribution is that if you have a steady hand a Dremel equipped with the flexiable hand tool and a tiny round burr can do very good work stippling, both plastic and wood.

 

[jmr40]

It isn't cost effective to do much to that particular gun and there isn't much out there to work with. Pretty much anything that you could do such as sights or an action job could well cost more than the gun is worth. My best advice is to 1st locate a local gunsmith and see what he recommends.

I've had 2. The originals had very heavy DAO triggers. I gave that one to my adult daughter. The newer guns have a very usable trigger out of the box. I didn't feel it needed any work but I had other guns I liked better, and a friend was in need of a compact 9mm so I sold it to him at a bargain price.

Those are pretty darn good guns for the money, and I'd not hesitate to recommend one. If you just want to do something it's your gun. I'd use the same money to buy more ammo and magazines.

f you have a steady hand a Dremel equipped with the flexiable hand tool and a tiny round burr can do very good work stippling,

I did some Bubba gunsmithing on a Glock. I used a Dremel to cut the mag well on a G19 down to G26 length and ground off the finger grooves. I then used the tip of a soldering iron to stipple the front strap. It's butt ugly, but is very versatile in that I can now use any double stack Glock 9mm magazine from 10-33 rounds. With 10 round mags it is almost as concealable as a G26.

I don't think there are any other magazine options that would make that practical on the Ruger.

 

[kidneyboy]

With whom to entrust this work

The first time I needed a local gunsmith I went and interviewed the 3 I was familiar with. I went with the one that most understood what I wanted.

 

[orionengnr]

I was going to say MCARBO... I just bought their trigger/main/whatever spring kits for three of my handguns (including my LCP).
But the MCARBO site does not seem to show anything for the SR9 series. Sorry.

 

[vindag]

Well, I wouldn't claim to be an expert, and I'm certainly no gunsmith, but I'll say this: I sold literally hundreds of Ruger pistols when I worked in the trade, and the characteristics I've described seem to me to be consistent with Ruger's striker-fired auto pistols generally, at least back then. I was much more impressed with the offerings from European gun-makers than I was from American producers. I have a Steyr M40 and a CZ-75, and both have better triggers than the Ruger. And much better handling characteristics overall. My next pistol will probably be a CZ P10C.

One day when I was at Bud's I had a conversation with a rep from a major distributor. I remember he said to me, "The engineers at Ruger would just as soon the guns didn't go 'bang!' when you pull the trigger!" He claimed that, earlier in the company's history, they had been sued by consumers who claimed that they had tragic accidents because the trigger pulls of the guns they purchased were too light.

I got mine in 2011. Ruger may have slicked up their pistols since then...in fact I hope they have.

Back in the 1990's I bought a Sig P226, Beretta 92FS, and Ruger P90, still have all 3. The Sig and Beretta have a smoother refined trigger pull than the Ruger which tends to be a little gritty and rough, not horrible, but just not as good as the other 2. I will say the Ruger P90 had a better reset than the Sig P226, shorter and right at the wall after reset. Recently I installed the SRT in the P226, now the Sig has the best reset.

 

[TarDevil]

I have kept a list of potential Ruger SR9C upgrades that owners reported installing on several different forums/blogs.
I can’t speak to their value, I just made the list for me to consider for mine.
Ghost trigger bar
Galloway guide rod & springs kits
Lionheart short-stroke trigger
Crimson Trace Laser
20lb SS recoil guide rod assembly
heavier striker spring
SS striker guide
TruGlo Tritium Pros sights
Dawson Precision fiber optic front sight
Carter Custom larger thumb safety, www.cartercustom.com, Harrison, Arkansas 870.741.2265

I had the TruGlo Tritium Pros sights installed, those I can vouch for.

At last!!

Thanks

 

[ImperatorGray]

Upgrade the sights. Steel, fixed, with a von Stavenhagen "dot the I" configuration or something up front to draw the eye (whiteball, gold bead, big glowy dot) in a U-notch rear. Have your smith make it so it has a hook/ledge on the rear for one-hand problem solving.

Maybe play with color. (Please don't cerakote it inert/training blue.) Maybe a black slide over a white frame: Black so it looks like a firearm in the hand, white so the grip doesn't show through a light-colored shirt if going IWB.

Half-moon cutouts for tugging on your mag to check seatment after an administrative reload.

Just ideas.