 Fidonet: Firearms Echo (1:270/615)  FIREARMS 
 Msg  : #167 [205]                                                              
 From : Ed Harris                   1:109/120.3006          31 Aug 94  16:10:56 
 To   : All                                                 03 Sep 94  16:51:44 
 Subj : Test of Ruger KP94L Laser                                               

Testing of Ruger's New P94L

Copyright, C. E. Harris, 1994, All Rights Reserved

By C.E. Harris, August 31, 1994

Ruger's new  KP94L is a compact 15-shot 9 mm pistol with built-in laser target
designator, neatly contained within a housing cast integrally with the frame.
This arrangement is far more rugged, durable and compact than the popular
add-on lasers.  No machine shop is needed to mount the laser, and one needn't
pray to the Great God Epoxy that it will stay put!  Instead, you merely open
the box and it is ready to go.

The TACSTAR laser sight is an interesting new wrinkle, requiring some
discussion of its potential.  Powered by five common "button" hearing aid
batteries, the laser is good for two hours of continuous operation.  Because
the laser is completely contained within its integral frame housing, it cannot
be knocked off alignment.  Two hex-head adjustment screws provide easy windage
and elevation adjustment of the laser spot strike to suit the user's shooting
style and ammunition preference.  A simple reversible (left- or right-hand)
sliding cross-bolt switch in front of the trigger guard turns the laser on or
off.  The red laser "dot" is reflected as a small visible circle on the target.
The coherent (single frequency) light energy, unlike a flashlight beam, does
not diverge and generate a larger footprint as distance increases.  Thus the
question, "How far does it shine?" is somewhat academic; how far away can your
eyes detect a dime? Suffice it to say, under operable lighting conditions, this
laser extends far beyond the plausible accurate range of any pistol ammunition.

In normal daylight the standard 3-dot iron sights would be used, because the
laser dot doesn't become readily visible until the ambient light level drops to
the equivalent of a dark, overcast day, or typical indoor conditions.  The
laser excels in twilight when it is impossible to discern iron sights, but a
threat can be identified, perhaps requiring an immediate, precision response.
In typical urban night conditions the laser dot is plainly visible amidst
ground clutter and buildings.  The laser aids rapid target acquisition by
merely pointing and shooting without paying any attention to aligning the iron
sights.  This "point- shoot" technique is particularly applicable to
instinctive hip shooting or a modified point-shoulder position, as well as in
directing accurate fire around from behind protective cover.

Lasers minimize night blindness.  Typically, a pistol shooter can get two shots
off before he is flash-blinded, if he closes one eye for the first shot, then
opens it and switches eyes for the second one.  Trying to align iron sights in
the dark leads to inevitable muzzle-flash induced night blindness.  With a
laser, however, the eyes may remain focused on the target, far removed
physically from the muzzle blast.

The P94L is available either with "manual safety lever," decocker or
double-action-only versions.  Fitting between the standard size P89 and the P93
compact, the standard P94 weighs 2 pounds, one ounce and is 8.95" long with
4.05" barrel.  The laser model is only 2 oz. heavier, because the sight is not
an add-on, but is built in.

Increased attention was given to developing a more rounded, compact,
"anti-rattle" design for undercover use.  The first thing you notice is that
the grip panels are far trimmer, producing a shorter "reach" from backstrap to
trigger which fits even a small adult hand.  The P94 grips are a welcome change
which should be incorporated in all the Ruger autos, being a noticeable 1/10"
smaller in circumference than their larger predecessors.  This trimmer grip
gives easy access to the trigger while the slide stop is within reach of the
thumb.  Grip size is important, as many police departments are enrolling
increasing numbers of diverse candidates of varying hand sizes.

Compared to earlier Ruger autos the P94 is downright sleek, with rounded
contours to ensure an unobstructed draw, the next step in the continuing
development of Ruger's "design maturity."   The cocking grooves and
cross-grooved grips are spinoffs from the .40 cal. P91, developed for trials by
Federal law enforcement agencies.  The front of the slide is tapered, giving
the pistol less of that Dick Tracy comic-strip "boxy" look.

Another important, but often overlooked ergonomic factor of the P94 is the
well-designed plastic "foot" at the base of the magazine.  Most semi-automatic
rifle or handgun malfunctions are initiated because the user fails to seat the
magazine fully.  The plastic foot is simple, but very important, in that it
permits the magazine to be positively seated in normal insertion, unlike some
other pistols where other features can cause interference. The 9 mm P94 uses
conventional P85/89 magazines without the foot, although the magazines are
readily interchangeable.  The magazine foot protects the palm from the lanyard
loop when inserting magazines (lanyard loops are available for motorcycle and
mounted officers).

I invited Master Sergeant Samuel Hotten, USAF to test fire the P94L, as he was
temporarily in Washington, DC, rather than sequestered in his usual haunts near
Nellis AFB, Nevada. Although Sergeant Hotten's billet is officially
"photographer," he is a renown bullseye and combat pistol competitor, having
twice been awarded the USAF "Excellence In Competition" medal and having won a
gold medal at the Las Vegas Corporate Challenge '94 combat shoot.  Sgt.
Hotten's diversion to my neighborhood in the Washington, D.C. suburbs provided
this opportunity to record the impressions of a combat Master, who, never
having handled the Ruger pistol before, could evaluate it without
preconceptions or bias.  The following dialog records my interview with MSgt.
Hotten upon completion of our range session:

HARRIS:  "As someone used to the Colt M1911A1 and M9 Beretta, what was your
first reaction in handling the P94?"

HOTTEN:   "Racking back the slide to first check the pistol I was struck by its
large ejection port and smooth transition from the feed ramp to magazine.
These features tell me this pistol is going to feed anything, which it did.
Upon cycling the slide a few times, I noted that it's smooth throughout its
travel, without any noticeable stacking.  That's the advantage of the dual
concentric recoil springs you later pointed out to me.

HARRIS:   "Obviously, you wouldn't use the laser all the time, so the iron
sights are important.  Did you find them merely adequate or particularly
noteworthy?"

HOTTEN:   "Firing outdoors in late afternoon on an overcast day was a good
test.  The 3-dot Patridge sights have a bold profile, which I like, and
alignment was a snap for getting a flash sight picture on the short-range 5 and
7 yard targets.  Yet they were precise enough for deliberate fire out to 50
yards even though we continued without the laser until virtual darkness.
Although the dots are not luminous, virtually any ambient light provides a
working sight picture.  The iron sights are excellent."

HARRIS:   "How does the decocking lever work for you in comparison to your M9?"

HOTTEN:   "The ambidextrous decocking levers are well placed and generally
positive in operation.  I did notice that one of the two pistols you had did
not always drop the hammer when I attempted to use the decocking lever from the
left side.  I'm not left handed, so I might not have manipulated it in my
testing the same way a left-handed user would, but that's something I always
check.  If a device is supposed to be ambidextrous it must work that way.

HARRIS:  "How about the grips?"

HOTTEN:  "The grips are great.  They feel completely natural, of comfortable
proportions.  I've heard people complain about earlier Ruger auto pistol grips,
but this is the only one I've ever fired, and I don't have large hands and they
feel good to me.  Now the magazine latch is another matter.  I don't like it at
all.  I found myself using my left hand to reach forward of the left grip to
release the magazine, because I simply couldn't do so from a shooting position.
The loss of speed and accuracy in combat would be a real problem, because you
could get shot if you take time to re-set your grip, and you might miss if you
don't.  They need to change that."

HARRIS:  "How about ease of reloading?"

HOTTEN:  "The magazines released freely of their own weight, and were easy to
insert and seat.  I like the magazine foot, because this aids in seating the
magazine positively.  As with any double-stack magazine, inserting the last
couple of rounds takes some effort, but no more than usual."

HARRIS:  "In the shooting did you notice any differences in the way the pistol
handled the various ammunition?"

HOTTEN:   "I was surprised that it put all those various weights, brands and
types into the same place.  That isn't the norm for nines I've used.  The
recoil impulse was not as sharp as I've come to expect from a nine, I guess
that's the dual concentric recoil springs again.  There was definitely some
well thought-out engineering was accomplished there."

HARRIS:   "OK, we've talked about the pistol, how about your impressions of the
laser?"

HOTTEN:   "As you know we didn't get to the range until an hour before dark.
In the rapidly failing light I had no problem with target acquisition with the
laser at 25 yards.  By the time dusk was fully upon us I was able to engage
targets at 50 yards with confidence.  I didn't expect to hold the head on a
B-27 out there, but whoever collimated the laser knew what they were doing.  I
was impressed with that.

But, I have to tell you I'm not impressed by the thought of projecting a beam
out into the unknown.  It cries out ' here I am, shoot me!'  For tactical use
it's absolutely essential that the laser have a trigger activated, intermittent
switch.  The laser should work so that when you take up the initial slack on
the trigger, it would be activated if the switch is turned on. Triggering off
the shot must turn it off instantly until the trigger is released and pressure
applied again.  The laser should remain on only long enough for you to mark
your shot, fire, and permit you to move unnoticed to your next place of cover
and concealment.  Anything else, you are a target.

HARRIS:  "Admittedly you only had the chance to fire a few hundred rounds in a
couple hours, but could you sum up your impressions?"

HOTTEN:  "Sure.  This is one of the easiest to shoot, user- friendly auto
pistols I've ever fired.  I don't know where you found all that bizarre ammo,
you must have cleaned out your cartridge collection, but it gobbled it all with
no drips, runs or errors.  The P94 has all the reliability with more speed and
combat accuracy than anyone would ever need for duty use.  It is very
comfortable to fire with any service loading, and I was impressed by how it
shot everything to the same point of impact at realistic ranges. I also like
the simple, businesslike Uncle Mike's holster.  The pistol is comfortable to
carry concealed, and uniform carry would be a snap.  This is a fine weapon that
warrants additional attention by professionals."

Lasers, like any law enforcement tool, must have sound doctrine for effective
application.  Who gets the lasers?  Everyone?  Team leaders only?  Consider
this scenario:  Several officers forcibly enter a darkened premises to serve a
high-risk warrant.  A suspect points a firearm at the police as his torso is
illuminated by a laser spot.  What is the solution to this problem, fire?
Maybe, but whose spot is it illuminating the perpetrator?  Yours?  Your
partner's?  How do you know?

A valuable law enforcement laser application is as a "stand-off designator"
instead of an aiming device:  "There they are, over there!"  "Where?  I can't
see a darned thing!"  "Watch my laser (click)!"  "O.K., I see 'em now!"  Thus,
the laser becomes the "silent tracer round" for designating potential target
areas.

Another wrinkle, said to be used by some elite units, is using a laser spot to
cue K-9's.  Dogs can be taught to chase the spot, useful for finding suspected
perpetrators in trees, across streams, i.e., in environments where scent
detection is not effective.

A major capability of lasers is bullet path reconstruction in crime scene
investigation.  For example, bullet holes are in two walls.  Were one or two
shots fired?  Directing a laser beam through one hole and lining it up with the
other can give an optical representation of a single bullet's path, or perhaps
prove two shots were fired (anyone who has been involved in a shooting
investigation knows how important the number of shots fired may be).  This
procedure disturbs no evidence and is certainly less cumbersome than the twine
and tape methods.  Further, this mode of bullet tracing can be performed
immediately at the scene without waiting for the arrival of forensic
specialists.

Laser technology has arrived on Ruger's KP94L as a creditable platform.  Law
enforcement professionals must now develop the doctrine and training necessary
to exploit this technology as a complement to their arsenal.

In Home Mix We Trust, Regards, Ed

--- msged 2.05
 * Origin: Home of Ed's Red (1:109/120.3006)


