Ruger P89DC Decocker Instructions Manual

							RUGER® P-SERIES
P89DC, P90DC, P91DC, P93DC, P94DC, P944DC
DECOCKER MODEL PISTOLS*
INSTRUCTION
MANUAL 
FOR
BLUED &
STAINLESS
STEELCALIBERS
9mm, 
.40 Auto & .45ACP
For Product Service on This Model Please Call:
(520) 778-6555 (See p. 20)
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 2/98
R2
*DO NOT USE THIS MANUAL FOR PISTOLS EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL
SAFETIES OR “DOUBLE ACTION ONLY” PISTOLS
READ THE INSTRUCTIONS AND
WARNINGS IN THIS MANUAL CAREFULLY
BEFORE USING THIS FIREARM
!   
						

							This Instruction Manual is designed to assist you in learning how to use and care
for your RUGER®P89, P90, P91, P93, P94 and P944 Decocker
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  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Special Feature - Decocking Lever  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Ammunition  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
To Load and Fire (with magazine)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
To Uncock (Decock) The Pistol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
To Load and Fire (without magazine)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
To Unload  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
To Reload The Pistol  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
To Extract and Eject a Chambered Cartridge  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
To Clear a Malfunction (“Jam”)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
To Minimize Malfunctions (“Jams”)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
To Disassemble  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
To Reassemble  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Magazine Inspection and Care  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Care and Cleaning  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Sight Adjustment  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Service and Parts Policy  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Parts Drawings  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27, 28, 29 & 30
The Basic Rules of Safe Firearms Handling  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Warranty Information  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
Ruger® is a registered U.S. trademark.
P89, P90, P91, P93, P94 and P944 are Sturm, Ruger trademarks.
FIREARMS SAFETY - YOUR RESPONSIBILITY
SAFETY MUST BE THE FIRST AND CONSTANT
CONSIDERATION OF EVERY PERSON WHO
HANDLES FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION. 
2 
						

							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
Alterations 3 Slide Retraction 12
Decocking Lever 6 Malfunctions 14
Lead Exposure 7 Disassembly 15
Ammunition 8 Lubrication 19
Firing 9 Storage 19
Handling 10 Parts Purchasers 21
Unloading 11
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. Alter-
tions can make it unsafe. Do not alter any
part or add or substitute parts or acces-
ories not made by Sturm, Ruger & Co.
Inc.
GENERAL INFORMATION
AND MECHANICAL CHARACTERISTICS
The RUGER®P89DC, P90DC, & P91DC*pistols are centerfire, double
action, “decock only” magazine-fed, autoloading, recoil-operated pistols. The
P89DC is chambered for the caliber 9mm Parabellum (9mm x19) cartridge,
the P90DCis chambered for the .45 ACP cartridge, and the P91DC is cham-
bered for the .40 S & W cartridge. The P93DC has a shorter, “streamlined”
slide and is chambered for the 9mm Parabellum (9mm x 19) cartridge. The
P94DChas a full length “streamlined” slide configuration and is chambered
for the 9mm Parabellum (9mm x 19) cartridge, while the P944DCis cham-
bered for the .40 S&W cartridge. They comply with the requirements of the
National Institute of Justice Standard - 0112.00. They include the following fea-
tures with which users should be thoroughly familiar:
*The P91DCis no longer in production - this manual is for reference only.
3
!
! 
						

							NOMENCLATURE
(P91DC Shown)
Action:The action of the Ruger decocker 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 movement, the
barrel tilts downward from its locked position, permitting full recoil of the slide
and the extraction and ejection of the spent cartridge case.
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.
Lanyard loopprovides security for carrying in the
field or police use.
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.
To decock the pistol, depress
the decocking lever until the
hammer drops. This action
moves the firing pin forward
into the slide. This temporari-
ly places the firing pin out of
reach of the hammer stroke
and locks the firing pin a neu-
tral position, preventing it
from moving toward the car-
tridge.
RELEASING EITHER
DECOCK LEVER WILL
ALLOW THE LEVERS TO
SPRING UPWARD TO
THEIR ORIGINAL
POSITION, PLACING THE
PISTOL IN A FIRING
CONDITION.
4
Frameis precision investment cast
in lightweight aluminum alloy,
hard-coated for toughness.
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. 
						

							5
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 automatically
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 automatically
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 up the slide stop.
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 spring-loaded to move downward. 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 and always keep
the pistol pointed in a safe direction.
Magazines:
The Ruger 9mm, .40Auto, and .45 ACP magazines are notinter-
changeable with Ruger pistol 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 malfunctions. Ruger 9mm magazines are either
unmarked as to caliber or are marked “9mm cal. only”. All other Ruger center-
fire 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.
SPECIAL FEATURE - DECOCKING LEVER
The model you have selected is equipped with a special manual decocking lever
that allows you to decock (uncock) a cocked pistol without manipulating the
trigger. Conventional thumb decocking procedures are therefore not necessary
and should not be employed with this pistol.
To decock the pistol, point the pistol in a safe dir
ection.Depress the cocking
lever until the hammer drops. The decocking lever blocks the hammer from the
firing pin while simultaneously blocking the firing pin from movement towards
the cartridge (see Figure 1, p. 6). To return the pistol to firing condition, simply
release the decocking lever (see Figure 2, p. 6). It will spring upward to its origi-
nal position. The pistol is then ready to fire by a “double-action” pull of the trig-
ger. The hammer can also be manually cocked immediately before shooting a
“single-action” firing. The trigger pull is both shorter and relatively  lighter in
the “single-action” mode, which is preferred for more accurate shooting. 
						

							6
DECOCK POSITION
WHEN HELD
DECOCK ONLY
FIRE POSITION
WHEN RELEASED
Operating the decocking lever does not
prevent firing when the trigger is pulled.
Like a double-action revolver, the pistol
will fire whenever the trigger is pulled.
Therefore, never touch the trigger,
whether the pistol is cocked or not,
unless you wish to fire the pistol. Do not
decock the pistol manually - always use
the decocking lever.
DECOCKING LEVER
AUTOMATICALLY RETURNS TO “FIRE”
POSITION WHEN RELEASED
!
FIGURE 1FIGURE 2
DECOCK POSITION
DECOCK ONLYFIRE POSITON
The decock lever will onlyattain this
position when held down
by the user.
This decocks the pistol.
The decock lever will automatically
spring back to this firing position
when released.
Additionally, the pistol has a separate internal firing pin block that will not allow
the firing pin to move forward until the operator pulls the trigger.
Never carry or holster the pistol with the hammer cocked, as a relatively light pull of
the trigger will fire the pistol. When not actually shooting, always immediately decock
(uncock) the pistol by use of the decocking lever.
WARNING - DECOCKING LEVER 
						

							WARNING - LEAD EXPOSURE
AMMUNITION
The RUGER®P89DC, P93DC & P94DC 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 magazine 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
®P90DC pistol is chambered for the .45 ACP cartridge. Do not
attempt to load any cartridges other than .45 ACP into the magazine or chamber of
the pistol.
The RUGER
®P91DC & P944DC pistols are chambered for the .40 S&W
cartridge. Do not attempt to use 9mm ammunition in this model.
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, .45 ACP or .40 S & W
ammunition manufactured in accordance with NATO, U.S., SAAMI, or CIP stan-
dards 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
7
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
! 
						

							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 31.)
2. 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.
3. For the P89DC, P93DC or P94DC pistols, place ten (10) or fewer 9mm x 19
Parabellum cartridges into the magazine from the top.
For the P90DC pistol, place seven (7) or fewer .45ACP cartridges into the
magazine from the top.
For the P91DC and P944DC pistols, place ten (10) or fewer .40 S & W car-
tridges into the magazine from the top.
8
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
!  
						

							4. 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.
5. Hold the pistol firmly in the shooting hand but do not touch the trigger.
Keep the pistol pointed in a safe direction.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. 12).
When released, the slide will fly forward to strip the top cartridge from the
magazine and chamber it. WARNING: The pistol is ready for instant use in
the single-action mode once the slide moves forward. Be careful!
9
FIGURE 3
Slide in Retracted Position
6.If the pistol is not to be fired immediately, keep it pointed in a safe direction
and depress the decocking lever until the hammer drops. Remember that the
decocking lever will spring back to the double-action “fire” position when
released. (See “Decocking Lever Warning”, p. 6).
7. When the pistol is in the “uncocked” mode (hammer forward), the first shot
can be fired double-action by pulling the trigger all the way to the rear, which
cocks the hammer and then fires the pistol. Subsequent shots are fired sin-
gle-action until the magazine is empty, the hammer being cocked by the slide
as it recoils from each shot. Note that the trigger pull is much lighter for
these subsequent shots.
8. For greater accuracy and consistent trigger pull, the hammer may be manu-
ally cocked by the shooter before the first shot is fired. Keep your finger off
the trigger while cocking the hammer!The hammer will be automatically
cocked as described above for subsequent shots.
WARNING - FIRING
SLIDE OPENS FAST -
HOT BRASS EJECTED
The slide automatically opens and shuts
quickly while firing. Keep face and hands
away from rear.  Hot brass is ejected 
quickly and can burn you. Always wear
shooting glasses and hearing protection.
! 
						

							9.Immediately following the firing of a shot, and if a subsequent shot is not to
be fired at once, depress the decocking lever until the hammer drops while
the pistol is still pointing in a safe direction downrange. Remember that the
pistol can still be fired by a full “double action” trigger pull.
10. When the last cartridge loaded into the pistol has been fired, the magazine
follower presses the slide stop upward to engage the slide automatically hold-
ing the action open.If the slide is shut, the shooter should always assume
that there is a cartridge in the chamber!
Don’t rely on your memory to know if a gun or magazine is loaded. Visually
inspect the magazine and chamber.
10
Do not load the pistol until you are ready to use it, and
unload it immediately when you have completed shooting.
(See “Unloading Warning” on page 11)
If dropped or struck, the pistol may fire. Keep chamber
empty unless actually firing! Use decock lever to decock
pistol before moving with pistol or when not actually
firing.
For maximum safety when carrying the pistol with a 
loaded magazine in place, the chamber should be empty,
the slide should be closed, and the pistol should be
decocked
. Never carry it cocked! If placed into a holster,
check it to be sure that the slide is not retracted far
enough to either chamber a cartridge from the magazine
or cock the pistol.
The user should never depend on any mechanical device
to justify careless handling or permitting the pistol to
point in an unsafe direction. The shooter should always be
alert to the possibility of accidental discharge. The
only absolutely safe pistol is one in which the slide is
open, the chamber is empty, and there is no magazine
in the gun.
WARNING - HANDLING
ANY GUN MAY FIRE IF DROPPED
!
TO UNCOCK (DECOCK) THE PISTOL
With the muzzle pointed in a safe direction,depress the cocking lever fully. The
hammer will drop near the end of the lever’s travel. Although this may appear
startling, it is important to note that the firing pin is securely blocked by the
lever, and the pistol will not fire when the lever is depressed. Manually decocking
the hammer with the thumb is neither necessary nor recommended. Always use
the decocking lever.  Remember
that when you release the decocking lever, it
will automatically return to the firing position, and the pistol can then fire when
the trigger is pulled if a cartridge is in the chamber. (See “Special Feature -
Decocking Lever”, pp. 5 - 6)