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Ruger Security-9

• easy
• Shop tier 1
• high confidence
• Pistol
• hammer fired
• polymer frame
• budget
• concealed carry

field strip ~1 min · reassembly ~2 min · detail strip ~20 min

Specifications

Model-specific safety

• The Security-9 uses an internal hammer rather than a striker, despite its modern polymer-frame appearance.
• No trigger press is required to field strip this pistol.
• The takedown pin is pried out, not pushed. The manual specifies a non-marring armorer's tool or other flat blunt tool, and warns against scratching the slide.
• The slide is NOT locked back when the takedown pin comes out. The manual has you release the slide forward first, then retract it only about 1/16 in so the front of the slide aligns with the front of the grip frame.
• The recoil spring assembly is under tension when the slide is off.

Under spring tension

• Recoil spring assembly

Easily lost parts

Takedown lever · Recoil spring assembly

Tools

Shop difficulty

Shop tier 1 Tier 1 — easy among pistols, for the full job: strip to the parts that get coated and put it back together working. 45 parts on a pinned aluminium frame insert; Ruger's own procedures cover the front sight with a padded vise and a sight tension pin that is easy to lose, and the recoil assembly has a direction. Ruger marks the hammer, frame insert and inner trigger spring as factory-fit, so the shop leaves the insert assembled.

Parts: 45 numbered parts (Security-9 parts list, complete pistol incl. magazine (manual p. 36-37).), from Instruction Manual for Ruger Security-9 Pistols — Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc., p. 36 ruger-docs.s3.amazonaws.com [1].

Bench time: about 15 min to strip, 25 min to rebuild (estimate). Slide (firing pin, extractor and two springs, sights with padded vise) and frame insert out of the grip (insert left assembled); rebuild longer for the sight tension pin and recoil orientation.

Small parts: 14 pins, 10 springs, 2 detents or plungers (counted from the manufacturer's parts list (one per key number unless a quantity is given))

What comes off for coating

• Slide: firing pin and spring, extractor, pivot pin and springs, rear sight, front sight and tension pin — plastic or brass punch, padded vise, non-marring hammer
• Frame: takedown pin, frame insert pins, frame insert (kept assembled: hammer and inner trigger spring are factory fit), slide stop and spring, manual safety and plunger (if fitted), magazine latch — pin punches

Special tools

• vise with padded jaws — Holding the slide for sight work (Ruger's listed tools)
• plastic or brass punch and non-marring hammer — Front sight

Known pain points

• The front sight carries a small tension pin in its base that drops out and is lost when the sight leaves the dovetail. (both)
  Source: Instruction Manual for Ruger Security-9 Pistols — Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc. ruger-docs.s3.amazonaws.com [1] — “NOTE: There is a sight tension pin in the cavity under the front sight. (See Figure 18.) Be careful not to lose the tension pin when the sight is separated from the slide.”
• The recoil spring assembly's steel flange has to face the rear. (reassembly)
  Source: Instruction Manual for Ruger Security-9 Pistols — Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc. ruger-docs.s3.amazonaws.com [1] — “NOTE: When replacing the recoil spring assembly, be sure the steel flange on the recoil spring assembly is oriented toward the back of the pistol.”
• Some frame parts must be factory fit and are exchanged only by Ruger. (reassembly)
  Source: Instruction Manual for Ruger Security-9 Pistols — Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc. ruger-docs.s3.amazonaws.com [1] — “*Parts designated by an asterisk must be factory fit.”

Fit or check on rebuild

• Front sight centred and tight — Ruger notes repeated removal loosens the dovetail fit
  Source: Instruction Manual for Ruger Security-9 Pistols — Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc. ruger-docs.s3.amazonaws.com [1] — “NOTE: Like any dovetail sight, excessive removal and installation will cause the sight/slide fit to loosen.”
• Function check: trigger reset, sear/striker engagement, safeties — Standard post-reassembly check on any pistol whose fire-control parts were removed; a mis-seated spring shows up here, not on the bench

This is Pew-Takedown's rating, not the manufacturer's. How tiers are rated. Forum reports are owners' experience, not specifications.

Manufacturer videos

Official videos from Sturm, Ruger & Co.'s own channels, linked rather than copied. Where a video and the steps on this page differ, follow the manufacturer's manual and video.

• Ruger® Security-9® Disassembly, Cleaning and Reassembly Tech Tip RugerFirearms field strip, cleaning, reassembly · 2021-11-19
  Covers: Ruger Security-9 (Compact not mentioned)

Procedures

Torque specifications

No sourced torque values from the manufacturer are recorded for this firearm. Where a fastener has a specified torque — action screws, scope bases, muzzle devices, barrel nuts — get it from the manufacturer or a gunsmith rather than estimating it.

What the manufacturer does say: The manufacturer's documents give no torque value. They say: "Install the rear sight screw using a 5/64” Allen wrench (see Figure 22) and tighten." (Instruction Manual for Ruger Security-9 Pistols, PDF p. 30) "After the rear sight is adjusted, tighten the rear-sight lock screw." (Instruction Manual for Ruger Security-9 Pistols, PDF p. 31)

Reported by other sources — not the manufacturer

Materials and factory finish

As stated by Sturm, Ruger & Co.. Prep, masking and cure depend on these; a polymer or aluminium part, a nitrided or anodised finish, and a blued steel part are each a different job. Variants with other finishes may exist — check the maker's page for the exact SKU on the bench.

Parts list

Transcribed from the manufacturer's parts list (Instruction Manual for Ruger Security-9 Pistols — Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc., p. 36 ruger-docs.s3.amazonaws.com [1]) — Security-9. Exploded view on p. 37. Key numbers refer to the exploded view in that document.

Function check

• Verify the pistol is unloaded with no magazine inserted before each check.
• Rack the slide and press the trigger. The striker should release cleanly.
• Hold the trigger to the rear, rack the slide, then release slowly and confirm the reset.
• Press the trigger again to confirm the striker releases.
• Confirm the slide locks open on an empty magazine and the magazine drops free.

Maintenance

Lubrication points

• Frame rails where the slide rides
• Barrel hood and locking lug
• Outside of the barrel at the muzzle end
• Rear barrel lug where the recoil spring assembly bears

Cleaning notes

Light lubrication only — a thin film on the rails and barrel. Keep the striker or firing pin channel dry and free of solvent, since oil there collects fouling and causes light strikes.

Suggested inspection interval: roughly every 5000 rounds. This is a general guideline, not a manufacturer specification.

Wear parts to inspect

Recoil spring assembly · Extractor · Magazine springs and followers

Common issues

Also covers

The procedures above are reported to apply to: Security-9 Compact · Security-9 Pro. Verify against the manual for your specific model.

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Sourcing