Model specific questions for Rugers

[FlaChef]

I do not normally like to double post, but I originally posted this over on GT's Ruger club and am looking for further input...

I have a friend (actually two, they're a couple but it seems to be the bride to be who has the most interest) who is interested in learning to shoot and maybe getting a pistol.

She is interested in 9mm autos only, but has not voiced any preferance on da/sa, sa, dao, safe action, etc (much of this discussion has been by e-mail and she never replied to that question).

She even went to a gun store and looked at some, but did not buy at the time. The two she says she remembers as feeling the best in her hand are a Ruger auto and a Walther P1.

I told her I would do some research, and next time I go back to the old home town the wife and I will take them out shooting (June), and maybe window shopping.

Funds are an extreme issue (ever plan a wedding?$$$), and this might not be an anytime soon purchase. An option might be for me to find one for her and consider all, or a large portion, of the cost as as a wedding gift (shooting the snot out of it untill the wedding, just to break it in you know) if I can find a SMOKING deal locally (under $300 OTD).

I know Rugers build quality, durability, reliability, and value are all excellent. This puts them pretty much at the top as being good choices for her/them.

I am however more familiar w/ Ruger Revovlers. My autos are steyrs and a sig (one is out of her price range and the other as much as I love it is higher maintenace and can be ammo picky). The wife's carry is a SP101, and she almost got a sec six for her idpa gun, but wound up w/ a SW19 instead.

CDNN has P94DAO models listed for $269, so my first question is how heavy is the trigger on a dao auto (hopefully lighter than the 101)? I believe the da/sa modes might be more appropiate for a new shooter to still enjoy the hobby, but if the DAO is smooth and not like 10#+ it's worth considering. Is there any way to convert a dao (new hammer, or slide change maybe)?

I read in somebodys post that the newer 94's use a linkless locking system, does anyone know what year and/or serial range the switch happened? Probably not a big deal, but all else being the same I think it would make stripping easier.

Other than the very small difference in listed weight and dimensions what are the differences between the 94 and 93?

I've read the 89's are rougher in appearance and not as smooth, any merit to this?

If I handle one in the store can I assume the trigger reach to be about the same on the 89, 93, 94, 95, etc.?

95's are not out of the question, but she stated she liked a decent heft in a piece.

I just might have an excuse to go drop the $8 next time I'm at the corner range and rent the P?? I see in their case.

Thanks for any advice




OH, and before someone goes off on a tangent I could care less about the companys politics and anything that happened under the Clinton admin

I also gave her a list of many other makes and models (I've shot most on the market, except the Ruger and the new S.W. M&P), I'm looking for ruger model info not "just go get a glock".

 

[CAnnoneer]

One of my babies is a Ruger KP89. I love it. It is built like a tank, eats any and all commercial ammos, has a nice DA/SA trigger, produces little recoil because of the solid mass, has a 4.5" barrel with a good sight radius. Also, the sights are not fixed, so they can be changed to tritium etc. I slapped some hogue grips for a few bucks and it is the smoothest ride in town.

If the lady is looking for something solid, reliable, quality, and inexpensive, the Ruger KP89 is the way to go. The others in the series are also nice but their barrel is shorter and half of them have plastic frames. The later models do look a bit more smooth and streamlined than the 89, but that's an aesthetic feature - mine has a very smooth functionality, so all urban legends about the 89 being "rough-hewn" etc. are rubbish.

Ultimately, isn't it best to invite her to the range and have her shoot some of these? It will become pretty obvious which suits her best. Then you can buy one for her as a wedding gift.

Btw, the P1 is nice as a historical piece, but ultimately outdated - single-stack, bad center of gravity, problems with cracking slides, rough trigger. It should not be anybody's first gun.

 

[osteodoc08]

I have a P89 that I bought about 4 years ago used. It is built well and I've never had any problems with it, except for the slide going forward when slamming home a full mag. Other than that, nothing. This is with 4000+ rounds down range. I've put more money in ammo through it than I have invested in the gun itself. I say buy one.

 

[Navy87Guy]

I have a KP89D and a KP93. The KP93 is actually my wife's gun...she shoots it the best out of all my autos.

I just replaced the hammer springs on both guns with the Wolff reduced (19 lb) spring and it lightened the pull for both DA and SA considerably. It was easy enough for my wife to shoot before -- she's even happier with it now.

Converting a DAO to a DA/SA would cost you more than buying the new DA/SA outright. The 93's are getting harder to find...I heard that CDNN ran out.

I've never owned a 94, so I can't give you a side-by-side comparison. I can tell you that I'm very happy with my KP93. You can probably find one in the $300 range, which is downright affordable!

Jim

 

[Hal8000]

Try before you Buy...

Rugers are fine handguns.One of my Friends prefers Rugers over other pistols that cost more than twice as much because he can "HIT" with them.
The only thing I've noticed that I don't particularly care for is that their triggers are "hit N miss". Most are good but some have very noticeable creep in them. I'd recommend that you "feel" the trigger of several different ones, if you can, then take the pick of the litter...

 

[psychophipps]

MY P97DC is my pistol of choice thus far for both 'fun to shoot' and CCW. Feeds anything I give it, shoots better than I do and is definitely going to last as long as I need it to. I would have her try the P95 series as they're reasonably light, have all of Ruger's best attributes, have a polymer frame for reduced recoil and won't cost an arm and a leg in the initial purchase or the ammo it fires.

Mark(psycho)Phipps( HAHAHA! )

 

[gandog56]

I have a Ruger KP944DC, and I love it. While mine is a .40 S&W, they do have a 9 mm P94 version. The thing I like about it, (Other than it is an extremely accurate shooter), is that it will eat any kind of ammo I feed it. I would also advise against getting her a DAO gun. Big damn difference between a double action/single action pull.

 

[JohnKSa]

I've owned a couple of P89 pistols and a P95. The P95 shoots softer, comes back on target faster and has a better out-of-the-box trigger in both SA and DA.

That P95 is now my wife's--gonna have to get me another one.