Rugar .45 ACP Worth $475? Is it a good gun?

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Blain

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Ruger .45 ACP Worth $475? Is it a good gun?

Hi all, how are you? I don't know much about handguns, but since I am getting a CCW soon I suppose I ought to learn. One of the smaller gunshops near me (friendliest service) has a Ruger .45 ACP with a 5" barrel and what looks like a DA trigger for $475.

Not knowing much about handguns I have a few questions.

1. Is this a good gun? Reliable, accurate, durable, etc?

2. Is this gun priced around what it is worth?

3. Is this a good carry gun? I was thinking about carrying either a .375, a .45 acp, or a .40 S&W as I have heard bad stories about the 9mm. For instance, the cop that taught our "firearms saftey" class told us a story of how a Cop's 9mm bounced off a suspects head. Which is why they all carry .40s now....I think I would like my gun to put somebody down.

4. 8 round mags enough, and to the .45 Rugers have any larger capacity mags with them?

5. Anything lse you feel I should know about this gun, or a good carry gun in general? Thanks!
 
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Is this a P90 with alloy frame or P97 with polymer frame? I have one of each. These are both good weapons, but either should be obtainable new for less than $400 at a gun show (from a dealer) or through ordering from a gun shop. Good gun, bad price.

Drakejake
 
I will second the good gun/bad price. Don't pay over $350 for one.......
 
I agree with what the others said ,very good gun , in my area you never need to pay over $400 for a new one if you shop around a bit.
 
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3. Is this a good carry gun?
Click to expand...

You're call. Most people seem to think they're on the high end of concealability, weight and bulk-wise.

8 round mags enough, and to the .45 Rugars have any larger capacity mags with them?
Click to expand...

"Eight rounds should be enough for anyone" -- or something like that. There are aftermarket 10 rounders out there. OTOH, if 2x8 rounds of .45 ACP doesn't solve your problem, a handgun is probably the wrong tool.
 
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Sounds a bit high to me as well.

Might want to take into account Rugers current rebate of $40 into the price as you look. Believe it's all the P-series pistols so I'm thinking the 90 or 97 would qualify.
 
There can be a bit more to buying the gun than just price. If the shop really is friendly and if they will provide warranty service and assistance, it might be worth it in the long run to pay a bit more. If you buy at a gun show, the seller won't be around next week or next year. If you buy "off the web", and the seller is out of state or far away, you then have to have a licensed dealer handle the transfer; the service charge can eat up any savings, plus asking a dealer to handle a transfer when you did him out of his profit is not a great way to build good will with the dealer.

That doesn't mean you can't dicker, and having cash money is a good way to start.

Jim
 
Hmmmmm, it may be just me, but $400 and under for a new good quality .45 semi auto pistol seems cheap! I thought semi 45's usually ran in the 600-800 range? Or is that just 1911s? What makes the 1911 such a good .45 that is better than the rest? Thanks.
 
Blain,

Some 1911 advocate will come along and sing praises and technical data far beyond my mear abilities about the 1911, but till then...;)

1911's and many other 45's are just more expensive to make than the Ruger. Nothing wrong with that of course just different designs made to different tolerences. Some people think "Tolerences" are a bad word, but frankly lots of AK and Glock fans disagree.

Ruger has made a succesfull business by using castings and I don't think it would be rude to say "Cutting a few corners" and leaving off a few bell's and whistles on guns that a lot of folks didn't want, need and or have the ability to pay for. His first .22 was basically designed to appeal to people who could not afford the Colt Woodsman, their over and under shotguns were designed to be "affordable" as compared to the european competitors, his speed six was a more affordable (and stronger btw) S/W model 19.

P-97 is kind of the poor mans Sig 220, or HK. They seem to have a following and a lot of fans. A few folks even prefer them to more expensive guns.
 
That price is high. I purchased my P-90T last year , brand new, for $325. The P-90 is a great pistol. Extremely durable, outstanding accuracy, adn ultra reliable. I do carry mine concealed if I am wearing a sweatshirt or untucked button down shirt. I have found it no harder to conceal that when I used to carry a 1911, or the HK USPC 45 I carried for a little while. You really don't see many peole knocking this gun. If you happen to like the readings of Mas Ayoob, he can't sing enough praises about it.
 
I'm more concerned about that load of horse hockey that instructor fed you. A 9mm bouncing off someones head? Please don't tell me you're naive enough to believe that. My guess is, the Officer involved actually grazed the suspect, as opposed to it bouncing off his head :rolleyes:. I've saw numerous people survive multiple gunshot wounds from local Depts, a majority of which carry .40's. Frankly, given what I have seen, the only ammo I have 100% confidence in, is 00 Buck.

If its your first handgun, you might find .45 cost prohibitive to practice. Whats your experience with firing handguns? A .45 *might* be more powerful than the 9mm, but if you can't hit jack with it, its not gonna do you a bit of good. Many here have stated, and I agree, a Center mass hit with a .38spl, is better than a miss with a .44 magnum. The difference between the 9/40/45 is so minimal, that its just not enough to get really worked up about. Practice, carry reliable JHP ammo, and you'll be one step ahead in the game.

As for the Ruger. Not a very good carry gun, and the price they are asking is way to high. Night sights are also difficult to find for the Ruger Pistols, but that has gotten a lot better.
 
Go to the Ruger web page, they list manufacturer's suggested retail price. You should be able to get it for approx. 75-80% of that.

Ruger autos are good guns, but not good for concealment because of size IMHO, better for range or HD.
 
The Ruger KP-90 (Stainless Steel matte finish uppers, alloy frame) is $440 at my local very friendly gunshop, a bit higher at Gander Mountain. The P-90 series is bulkier than a 1911-A1 style but the Ruger is a good solid design that will go BANG! every time you need it.

I have 2500+ rounds through my KP-90, with only 2 FTF, from the same box of Rem/UMC ammo.
 
I would recommend starting with a 9mm as the ammo is much cheaper and more available. The more you shoot, the better you will get.

The Ruger P89 and P95 both are 9mm pistols with standard (14-16 rd) capacity magazines available for cheap. They are built like tanks and claimed to be very reliable. I don't know that they would be very concealable.

Perhaps you can give us more insight into what you are looking for in a pistol and we can help you out.

-Pytron
 
My dad has owned his P-90 .45 for nearly 10 years, and he's still waiting for his first jam. Super reliable, and accurate enough for most "social" situations.

What area do you live in? Here in Texas, brand new Ruger pistols rarely get near $400, much less over that (unless it has a laser mounted). But I do understand paying more for better service. If they can get it down under $450, I'd grab it.

As for CCW, it can be done, but it's a big pistol. Great for home or car defense, but a little difficult to conceal. With a good holster/belt combo, you could do it.

1911's are great guns when put together properly from quality parts. Unfortunately, you don't usually find those unless your willing to pay over $500 for one (i.e. Kimber, Springfield, Colt, etc.). You can get 1911's for less, but you may end up spending more for better sights, extractors, etc. I got very lucky w/ my 1991A1 (only changed the sights), and some people have had good luck w/ the Charles Daly & Rock Island .45's, but just as many have gotten lemons. Caveat emptor...

For 1911's, you get what you pay for. For Rugers, you always get a LOT more than you pay for...
 
So 1911's are smaller than ruger .45's and are thus better carry guns?
 
Stout firearm and price.

Everyone has an opinion don't they? The old 9mm vs. .45 debate goes on even today.

9mm will be cheaper to shoot in the long run, thus you can practice more until you too will be able to perform the unbelievable feat of glancing a 9mm round off a bad guys noggin, thereby stunning him into compliance and sparing his little life to continue his evil deeds later on.

Any round you mentioned (you did mean .357 not .375 right?) will do you well in a quality firearm and Ruger definitely makes quality (but not small... and thats a major buzzword in todays handguns) firearms.

Let us know what you decide, eh?

Adios
 
Read my first Post, and I explained it clearly. I've seen enough people who've been brought to an ER, etc, after being shot, and still fighting like hell. Have seen individuals take COM hits, only to continue fighting, etc.. This is all calibers involved, so I'm not prejudiced in which one to use. Carry what you want, I could care less, but the difference between 9/40/45 is so small, that if money is going to be a factor, which it probably is since you're looking at a Ruger, Get a 9mm. At least then you can practice hitting your target.

If you do your job, there's a pretty good chance whatever JHP you're carrying, will do its job.

IGF
 
My first "real" pistol was a Ruger P97 .45... I got it for just under $300 as I recall, back around 1999 or so.

First, I'll agree that the price is too high for that model. I'd not go over $350, and wince at that, given what I got the last one for.

Since then, I've owned a Glock 30, an old S&W 36, and a Kimber.
Of all of 'em.. the Ruger had the worst trigger, was *almost* as much of a PITA to carry as the Glock, and didn't have any decent holsters for it available when I was looking... that last has prolly changed since.

However, it WAS very reliable, very durable, and reasonably accurate. (Butt ugly to, but hey... ya can't have everything :) )

Personally, I wouldn't carry a Ruger autopistol again knowing what I know now*. But lotsa folks seem to do it, and you'd not be undergunned. As to the whole 9mm/45 thing.. do a search here. Seems to come up pretty regular. Given the number of enthuiasts on both sides, I tend to think you won't be really hurting either way.


-K

*Heck though.. after a few years of off and on carry, I'm starting to think the revolver folks were right in the first place. :p
 
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