Ruger P-series stories and experiences

[tercel89]

I am a hardcore Glock guy but I still keep a few old Ruger P-Series like the P89 , P95 , P94 and P97. Those guns will eat any ammo I throw at it , even handloads that are not exactly right and still work great. Currently I dont know any gun that will eat that variety of ammo with complete reliability.
I know they are blocky and fat but their performance and reliability makes up well than enough for their thickness. Let's hear your P-Series stories and experiences .

 

[Coogs.]

Had a 1st issue P-85.Bought it when they 1st came out. You are right, it digested anything I put in it. Actually could shoot it better than the Berrretta 92 I had. Unfortunately the P-85 had to go to fund a couple other puchases. Coogs.

 

[itchy1]

I have a P89 that I use as a truck gun. It is fine for that. The trigger is not the best and I can't shoot it nearly as well as I do many of my other pistols. However, it is rock solid reliable and accurate enough for what I would need it for. It is one of the few pistols that I actually prefer a Hogue finger groove grip on. The stock grips are very slippery. Best of all they can be had for fairly cheap.

 

[tercel89]

Yes they are great guns but they are getting harder to find . I normally dont like aluminum frame guns but these are my favorite. The way Ruger did their aluminum made them very strong from what I have read over the years.

 

[weblance]

I bought a P89 right after they came out. I ordered the decocker, and waited for it. I didnt want the "safety" model. I owned it for a few years, then sold it to a friend. It was never terribly accurate on paper, but would hit what it was aimed at... most of the time. I sold it to a friend, then decided I wanted it back. He wouldn't sell it to me, and after years of trying, I finally bought a P95. THAT gun can shoot. I used the P95 to qualify for my CHL, and after the range session, the instructor pointed out my target to the rest of the class, and told them that was what they needed to strive for. Im a good shot, but the P95 makes you look like an expert. I now own 2 P95s, and all three of the P series 45acp pistols. My favorite is the P97. Its the softest shooting 45 I have ever shot. and is very accurate. It will "one ragged hole" a target at 10 yards, and the sights are perfect at 25 yards. The P90 feels the best in my hand, and I have the Hogue finger groove grip panels on it. My P345 is good, but is my least favorite. It hammers my hand pretty hard, but is right on the money. Curiously, the mags dont drop free from it, and I need to look into that little glitch.

The P series Ruger pistols are an exceptional value. You wont find a better made pistol for the money they cost. They always were "budget" priced, and offered excellent service. I will always be a Ruger P series fan. A KP91DC is on my bucket list.

 

[Zebraranger]

I've had this P90 DC for a few years and as others have stated, big and thick but 100% reliable and pretty accurate.

 

[Zerodefect]

My P95DC only liked absurdly hot ammo, and weirdly deformed ammo.

It choked on any normal 9mm.

 

[Quercusalba]

Love my p89, sold other "better" guns but kept the p89. It's robust and I shoot mine with scary accuracy.

 

[ritepath]

My P89 has been bullet proof since I bought it new in 94.....before it goes anywhere, everything but my Sig and CZs would have to go bye-bye first.

Anytime I try a new brand of powder or 9mm load the P89 comes out to do the testing.

 

[MIL-DOT]

Having heard for so long how reliable,and economical, these pistols generally are, I was on the lookout for one for a good while. But,they don't seem to pop up very often on my local used market, and on the very few occasions that they did, I thought the prices were unreasonably high.
But then, I eventually re-discovered the old S&W 3rd generation pistols,which also have that old-school vibe, while also being as highly reliable and economical.......and never looked back.
BTW, they have the added bonus of being much better looking pistols .

 

[PapaG]

Had a first issue P85, with two hicap mags. Got the recall, sent the gun in for the fix with no mags and they sent it back with two hi cap mags.
It shot well with everything I put in it. It was especially fond of the RCBS 38-150kt sized to .356 over a charge of Unique (a load that I think Taffin recommended years back for just that gun model). My only complaint was hauling around a 9mm built big enough for a 45. (Just like my Beretta 92).

 

[Antihero]

I have a p85, had it forever and have shot tens of thousands of rounds thru it with only one jam, a corbon 90 gr plus p.

It's getting up there in age now, I probably should put a new barrel in it soon. It's still service pistol accurate but its not as accurate as it once was

 

[palmetto99]

Years ago I borrowed my brother's P89. Thought it was a little bulky looking. I don't remember if the trigger was good or not, but I do remember it being very accurate. As far as I know, my brother still has it in the safe.

 

[CleanHarry]

P89

Bought one at a pawn last year. Heavy and solid. Never a malfunction. I shoot more accurately than most of my other pistols. An awesome weapon for the price!

 

[itchy1]

"My P345 is good, but is my least favorite. It hammers my hand pretty hard"
No kidding! I was surprised at the recoil when my buddy let me shoot his. One of the few pistols I didn't mind setting down after emptying several magazines. Of course, I was shooting a S&W 4506 at the time and everything seems to kick compared to those.

 

[herrwalther]

I had a P94 in .40 for quite a few years. Bought it used at a gun store with CT laser grips already on it for a song, about $300 out the door. Great gun and very accurate. My .40s have never been ammo picky so I wouldn't know about the P94 eating handloads or anything. I was still pretty new to carrying and using cheap one-size-fits-all nylon holsters off the rack, so the thickness was a little much for daily carry. I sold it for more than I paid for it because of the grips. Great gun but I don't miss it too much.

 

[Rodentman]

I had a P89 many years ago and like a fool I sold it. I never had an issue with it. I truly wish I hadn't given it up, as I really didn't need the money. Frankly in all honesty I don't recall why I parted with it.

 

[Quentin]

Many years ago a buddy wanted me to help him buy a "Glock". We made a day of it hitting all the local shops. He bought a P89. I stumbled across an Argentine FM Hi-Power at a low price. We both were happy!

I could shoot the P89 well and it was reliable but I never warmed up to the slightly clunky grip. I like the P95 better. I like the FM Hi-Power a WHOLE lot better!

 

[tercel89]

Awesome stories . Yeah I pull out my P-94 9mm when I start loading a different powder or make a different 9mm round . It's my test gun since it's built so thick and strong .

 

[Hammer059]

A P95 was my very first gun that I purchased for myself (prior to that I was gifted a Marlin model 60). I have moved on to handguns that I like much better, but I wish I would have kept it for the sake of nostalgia

 

[jrdolall]

My P-85 went back to Ruger for the recall. It is extremely ammo sensitive and I never found a factory HP that it would reliably shoot. It likes hot ammo and does quite well with my reloads but I really don't shoot it a lot anymore. I like it but other guns have replaced it as range toys.

 

[REB]

I have my P89DC since 92. I have ran most everything through it and I don't remember ever having a malfunction other than maybe a bad range remanufactured round that wouldn't chamber.

With a little trigger work they can have a pretty nice single action trigger. The double action trigger is not bad for what it is.

 

[Mike J]

I have a .40 caliber P94 I bought new back around 99 or 2000. It was the semi I had when I got serious about learning to shoot a handgun. I spent a lot of time with it. It seldom gets shot anymore but I don't have any desire to part with it. It is a good gun though I am not in love with the grip or the slide mounted safety (I wish I had gotten the decock only version but I didn't know any better then).

 

[golden]

Very reliable

I was posted outside the U.S. and wanted a double action .45ACP. So I bought a RUGER P-90 for about 60% of the cost of a SIG 220.

I found that trigger was smooth and the gun very reliable. It shot everything without fail and was accurate enough for a house gun.
My only complaint was the grip. It just never felt right and I sold the P-90 before returning to the U.S.

It was a good gun for the money, but somebody really needed to let shooters try it before putting it into production.

Jim

 

[jaysouth]

I saw Massad Ayoob shoot a .45 Ruger at a defensive match in Richmond, Va in the late 90s.

It ain't the bow, it ain't the quiver, it ain't the arrow, it's the indian.

(none of the folks shooting tricked out high end 1911s that could keep up with him.)