Ruger P90-What do u think?

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sherman123

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So I'm considering getting a Ruger P90 for sale at a local gun shop for $349. I've shot the P89 and loved it and the P90 feels just as great in my hand. It comes with a spare mag and those hogue grips that you so often see on these p series pistol. Is this a good deal? Should I pick it up asap? My main concern is all the talk about a lack of holsters and it being hard to conceal. I'm only 165 and 5'11 but I have a hard time believing it would be too hard for me to do with a wilderness 5 stitch instructor's belt and a good holster. Anyone else here carry one or know a good holster for it?
 
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I bought mine new direct from Ruger as a LE purchase for $290 in the early 90s. $349 sounds like a good price for a nice one. I carried mine as a duty gun concealed in a IWB holster or DeSantis Speed Scabbard which holds the gun high and tight to the body. Didn't check other manufacturers but DeSantis still catalogs a variety of P90 holsters.
 
I don't conider it to a carry weapon, but you can't go wrong with it. Very easy to shoot, accurate, and exremely reliable.
 
Mine carries light in a Sparks summer special, but it's sort of a lump to cover up. Only weighs 33 ounces dry, though.

My P90 is my favorite auto. I've owned 1911s, persnickety about ammo. The P90 will eat ANY ammo of proper caliber. This gun just does NOT malfunction, EVER. It is amazingly accurate, revolver accurate. Of a P95 I had, a P85 I have now, and the P90, the P90's trigger is the best. It's very good, in fact, both DA and SA and the transition DA to SA is natural. I am quite used to the gun, could be a little biased with all the rounds I've put down range with this firearm. But, it's a fantastic weapon.

I had one little problem with the gun not long ago after 18 years of ownership. The little return spring on the mag release button broke. I contacted Ruger and in 3 days, there was one in my mailbox free of charge. Man, it don't get no better than that where warranty and customer service goes.

I can't recommend the gun enough, personally, but there are more compact concealed carries out there. It being hot and humid most days down here, I rarely carry mine, preferring pocket carry to IWB. But, I ain't sellin' the P90, it's one of my very favorite handguns.

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I own an early production KP90DC (stainless, decocker-only).

I originally had to have the slide replaced under warranty because of what I was told was a galling problem reportedly caused by a hardening issue. Nice warranty service, though. Typical of the Ruger folks. ;)

I shot it quite a lot over the years and I've only had to replace a small number of parts on it due to wear and tear (extractor, firing pin, recoil springs, guide rod, magazine catch).

Ruger increased the weight rating of the recoil spring at one point (originally the 9mm & .45 ACP models used the same recoil spring). I was told by someone at Ruger that they did this because of some owners wanting to use a lot of +P in their guns. They also switched from the original 7-rd P90 to the 8-rd P97 magazines.

I carried my P90 as an off-duty weapon for a long time.

Reliable, robust, chunky, bulky, reasonably lightweight and sufficiently accurate.

I still use it at the range from time to time, but I can't remember the last time I actually carried it. I have range of holsters for it, including the previously mentioned Summer Special, a Don Hume H726 (my favorite), another open-top Hume holster (can't remember the model number) and even a plastic 'range holster' for bad weather. Probably a couple others in one of my holster boxes which slips my mind at the moment.

I think the Ruger could have better sights, but I've just never gotten around to replacing the 3-dot factory sights since it's always given me satisfactory practical accuracy under whatever conditions I've used it. Night sights might be nice, though. If I were going to return to carrying it that's probably a modification I'd consider.

Good durable, robust, reliable .45 pistol. Did I mention chunky? ;)

How about 'hand-filling'?

The rubber Hogue wraparound grips are nice additions, if the finger grooves fit your hands.

Like the with the Sig pistols, the P90 grip screws seem to like to loosen themselves for sport. ;)

This would've been a great pistol platform for the 10mm cartridge, which is supposedly what it was originally designed for during development, only being chambered to the .45 ACP when the 10mm appeared as though it was going to quickly fade from the LE/defensive market.

I have no plans to get rid of mine.
 
I don't carry mine, but I agree with the others about the P90's reliability, accuracy and ruggedness.

I also, prefer the Hogue grips, like the ones in MCgunners's photo. It makes a huge improvement to the feel of the gun, IMO.
 
My p90 and p95 are both excellent guns IMHO. utterly reliable ruger strong. They are bulky, but you'd be suprised what you can conceal. I'm 140 lbs. soak and wet and I used to carry a gp100 with 4" barrel. You just have to dress for it.:)
 
I've been very happy with mine. It's dependable and accurate. I carry it concealed (IWB) on occasion with no problems. I recently switched it to decock only and added night sights in the process. I think the Meprolights are a big improvement over the OEM sights.
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Regards,
Greg
 
Great price for a great pistol. Carrying open or concealed is relative; not trying to not answer your question, but that's how I see it. The dimensions of it would need a good holster and belt though. That said, there are plenty of holsters available. I favor kydex, at www.blade-tech.com. Mike
 
I had one a few years ago that was stolen. I replaced it with another P90. I stopped CCing the Ruger when I got a Cz82(more easily concealed). Still OC with it. Holsters are no problem. Any holster for large auto will work.
 
Not really anything new to add, but I agree with the previous posters. I have a blued P-90 and have found it to be very reliable and accurate. It's also the softest recoiling .45 ACP autoloader I've fired.
 
The P90 was my first 45 ACP. Worked great, no problems/issues. Had it for over 5 years.
 
Just picked it up today but unfortunately won't get any shooting in with it until this weekend. The manual reads that you shouldn't carry it with one in the pipe. However, I've read this in other gun manuals such as the one included with my Bersa and Glock. I figure it's just to cover them from bs lawsuits but it does specifically say the gun may fire if dropped or struck. I've never seen this in any other manuals so I suppose there is still no prob with carrying one in chamber and safety off correct?
 
Lawyers, though the Ruger is a little bit different animal than other decocker pistols. The decocker actually moves the firing pin forward instead of "blocking" the trigger. Still, I'd never own a gun that was never made to carry one down the pipe when needed. Good gun though, I may sell mine soon, she just sits in the safe.
 
All user manuals have butt-covers printed in them. My Kimber said not to use anything other than "Factory-loaded, jacketed, 230 grain ammunition." Oops.

The main thing that keeps me away from Ruger centerfire autos is the creepy trigger. as you squeeze, it's eek....eek...eek..............bang. Glock triggers are gooey, but they're also smooth and consistent.
 
Ruger P series pistols

I've owned two of these...a P89 and a P90. Aside from the fact that they are big, heavy and ugly, both shot anything I cared to put in them and never failed to run...EVER. Both pistols were extremely strong and over-engineered as is Ruger's custom. I bought the P89 new at a gun show years ago for $317.00 out the door. Got the P90 as a used LE trade in for $250.00...typical LE gun...carried some but not shot much. I ask myself regularly what the hell I was thinking about when I sold these. I'm going to keep an eye out on the auction sites to find replacements. Once I get them, I'm leaving instructions in my will to have them buried with me! They may not be as sexy as some of the other makes but if these were all I had when it came to a matter of life or death, I wouldn't run around feeling sorry for myself!!!
 
It is hard to imagine wearing one out. Mas Ayoob has written that this gun was originally made to handle a steady diet of full power 10mm Auto, so the lower pressure .45 Auto should be a piece of cake for it.
 
Yep thats one of the things I love about Rugers is that they're built so damn tough. As far as looks go I don't mind at all. I bought it for self defense and for the fun of shooting it.
 
Say what you will, but I think the Ruger P series is more attractive than a Glock. Oh horrors! Blasphemy! Did I say that?

(why yes I did). But that's just my opinion.
 
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