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Work order — Ruger Security-9

Taking the firearm apart for a job such as refinishing, and putting it back together to specification. Generated from the Pew-Takedown entry last updated 2026-10-29. Confidence: high.

Shop difficulty: Tier 1 of 3

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. 45 parts (Security-9 parts list, complete pistol incl. magazine (manual p. 36-37).). Pew-Takedown's rating, not the manufacturer's.

Bench time: strip ~15 min, rebuild ~25 min (estimate). Actual: strip ______ rebuild ______

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

Watch for:

• The front sight carries a small tension pin in its base that drops out and is lost when the sight leaves the dovetail. (both; Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc.)
• The recoil spring assembly's steel flange has to face the rear. (reassembly; Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc.)
• Some frame parts must be factory fit and are exchanged only by Ruger. (reassembly; Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc.)

Tools

• Non-marring armorer's tool or other flat, blunt tool — Prying the takedown pin loose.

1. Clear and make safe

1. Point the muzzle in a safe direction and keep your finger off the trigger.
2. Press the magazine release and remove the magazine.
3. Retract the slide fully to eject any chambered round and lock it open.
4. Visually inspect the chamber and magazine well, then physically feel the chamber to confirm it is empty.
   Warning: Look and feel. Both, every time.
5. Remove all live ammunition from the work area.

2. Disassemble

Manufacturer's video: Ruger® Security-9® Disassembly, Cleaning and Reassembly Tech Tip (RugerFirearms)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjHWzDHiOcs

Field Strip

1. Keep the pistol pointed in a safe direction. Press the magazine latch and withdraw the magazine from the frame.
2. Pull the slide to the rear and lock it open by pushing upward on the slide stop.
3. Inspect the chamber and verify that it is empty.
   Warning: Look and feel. This is the check everything else depends on.
4. Retract the slide slightly and release it. This disengages the slide stop and allows the slide to move fully forward.
   Warning: The slide must be forward before the next step. Do not try to remove the takedown pin with the slide locked back.
5. Retract the slide approximately 1/16 in so the front of the slide aligns with the front of the grip frame, then pry the takedown pin loose using a non-marring armorer's tool or other flat, blunt tool.
   Warning: Be careful not to scratch the slide.
   Tip: The alignment of the slide front with the grip frame front is the cue that the pin will come free.
6. Remove the takedown pin completely.
7. Move the slide assembly forward and separate it from the grip frame.
8. Compress the recoil spring assembly slightly to disengage it from its seat against the barrel lug, then remove it completely.
   Warning: Under spring tension — keep control of it.
9. Remove the barrel by moving it forward slightly, then down and back to extract it from the slide.
   Tip: It does not lift straight out. Forward, then down and back.

3. Refinish

The components the procedures above separate. Coating, masking and cure are outside this database; follow your coating system's instructions. A part the manufacturer marks "factory fit" should not be swapped or reworked.

The manufacturer's full parts list (45 parts) is on the reference page.

4. Reassemble

Manufacturer's video: Ruger® Security-9® Disassembly, Cleaning and Reassembly Tech Tip (RugerFirearms)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjHWzDHiOcs

Reassembly

1. Set the barrel into the inverted slide and seat it fully forward.
2. Seat the recoil spring assembly into the cut in the barrel lug and press it down into the slide channel.
   Tip: It seats in the lug cut, not on the barrel itself.
3. Set the slide onto the frame rails and push it rearward until it seats.
4. Return the takedown pin to its locked position.
   Warning: Confirm the takedown pin is fully returned before the pistol goes back into service.
5. Rack the slide several times and perform the function check.

5. Torque

No manufacturer torque values are recorded for this firearm.

Reported by other sources — not the manufacturer

Notes: 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)

Fit or check on rebuild

• Front sight centred and tight — Ruger notes repeated removal loosens the dovetail fit
• 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

6. 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.

If any check fails, the firearm is not safe to fire. Stop and see a licensed gunsmith.

Sources

1. Instruction Manual for Ruger Security-9 Pistols — Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc. primary
   https://ruger-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/_manuals/security9.pdf
2. Ruger Instruction Manuals — Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc. primary
   https://ruger.com/dataProcess/serialHistory/manuals.php
3. Ruger Security-9 Centerfire Pistol — Specifications (model 3810) — Sturm, Ruger & Co. primary
   https://ruger.com/products/security9/specSheets/3810.html
4. Trijicon RMR / SRO, Holosun 407c / 507c Mount for Ruger Security 9 (EGW product page, installation instructions section) — Evolution Gun Works (EGW) secondary
   https://egwguns.com/trijicon-rmr-sro-holosun-407c-507c-mount-for-ruger-security-9
5. Ruger Security-9 Red Dot Mount | Fits Vortex Venom, Viper, FastFire (EGW product page, installation instructions section) — Evolution Gun Works (EGW) secondary
   https://egwguns.com/vortex-viper-venom-ruger-security-9-red-dot-sight-mount-fits-burris-fastfire-and-docter

Educational guide only. Some information comes from non-authoritative sources. Always consult your manufacturer's manual and a licensed gunsmith. Verify your firearm is unloaded before every procedure. Full disclaimer: https://github.com/Fundamental-build-LLC/Pew-Takedown

Legal notice: this material is third-party information compiled from sources of varying reliability and is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not gunsmithing, technical, safety or legal advice, it is not verified or endorsed by any manufacturer, and it must not be taken as fact. Any work on a firearm beyond the routine field stripping described in its own owner's manual should be performed only by a licensed and insured gunsmith. You use this material entirely at your own risk. Fundamental Build LLC and the project's contributors make no warranty of any kind and accept no liability for death, injury, damage or loss arising from its use. Full terms: LEGAL.md.