I replaced the fuel pump on my 97 cherokee country a few days ago with a carter pump assembly from rock auto. Still hard starts, after I get it started if I shut it off then turn it back over it fires right up. But if it sits for 15 minutes or so it hard starts again.

What fuel pressure are you getting with the new pump?

right at 49 psi running

Have you done a fuel pressure leak down test?

within 5 minutes I'm down to 25 psi does that mean my injectors are bad?

It would indicate a leak somewhere, or a bad fuel pressure regulator. Did you change the whole fuel pump assembly or just the pump itself?

the whole assembly I got a carter from Rockauto

A simple way to try and isolate the leak is to pressurize the fuel system, then clamp off the line by the tank. If the pressure falls, it will be a leak from there forward. If it doesn't fall, then the leak would be behind that.

The fuel line from the tank is like a foot of hard plastic then clips to the metal line that runs to the fuel rail .

Well I had some intake manifolds laying around with the fuel rails attached from previous motor swaps on other jeeps, connected the fuel line to the rail and it held pressure way better so I installed and it seems to be starting at the turn of the key. Thanks for your help