Ruger P97 Decocker Instructions Manual

RUGER®
P97DC
DECOCKER MODEL PISTOLS*
INSTRUCTION
MANUAL 
FOR
BLUED &
STAINLESS
STEELCALIBER
.45ACP
*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
!
For Product Service on This Model Please Call:
(928) 778-6555 (See p. 21)
STURM, RUGER & Company, Inc.
Southport, Connecticut 06490 U.S.A.
THIS INSTRUCTION MANUAL SHOULD ALWAYS ACCOMPANY THIS FIREARM AND BE
TRANSFERRED WITH...

WHY ARE WE INCLUDING A FIRED CARTRIDGE CASE
WITH EVERY RUGER PISTOL AND REVOLVER?
Certain states and jurisdictions now require that all newly manufactured pistols
and revolvers must be accompanied by a cartridge case, which has been test fired
from that gun at the factory. The case must be placed in a sealed container bear-
ing certain information concerning this test cartridge.
At the time of retail sale in those jurisdictions, firearms dealers must forward
such test cartridge to a designated...

This Instruction Manual is designed to assist you in learning how to use and care
for your RUGER®P97Decocker 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...

WARNINGS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE ARE
FOUND ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES:
OTHER CAUTIONS AND WARNINGS APPEAR
THROUGHOUT THE MANUAL.
Locking Devices 2 Unloading 12
Alterations 4 Slide Retraction 13
Decocking Lever 7 Malfunctions 15
Lead Exposure 8 Disassembly 16
Ammunition 8 Lubrication 19
Firing 10 Storage 20
Handling 11 Parts Purchasers 22
FIREARMS ARE DANGEROUS WEAPONS -
READ THE INSTRUCTIONS AND WARNINGS
IN THIS MANUAL THOROUGHLY AND
CAREFULLY BEFORE USING.
GENERAL INFORMATION
AND MECHANICAL CHARACTERISTICS
The...

NOMENCLATURE
Action:The action of the Ruger P97 decocker 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 the
slide to...

6
SPECIAL FEATURE - DECOCKING LEVER
The model you have selected is equipped with a special manual decocking lever
that also 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 decocking
lever until the hammer drops. The decocking lever first moves the firing pin into
the slide far enough so that...

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
7
!WARNING - DECOCKING LEVER...

WARNING - AMMUNITION
AMMUNITION
The RUGER®P97DC 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 known
to be beyond 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 27.)
2.  Press the magazine latch inward from the left side, and remove the magazine
from the frame.  NOTE:The magazine is...

8.  For greater accuracy and consistent trigger pull, the hammer may be manual-
ly 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.
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...