Ruger P89 opions

[Scott13]

Iam looking to get a range gun in 9mm , and i have heard that
Ruger auto's are pretty durable . I don't really like the p95 because of it's 3 inch barrel , i like longer barrels and fuller size auto's for some reason. I was just wondering if anyone has one of these "P89 " and could tell me how they like it and if it's reliable ? Thanks

 

[trapguy]

Accuracy is decent with mine and it is the most reliable semi auto i have. ( makarov is just as dependable though )

 

[chaim]

I had one as my first auto and I wasn't crazy about it (I sold it about six months after I got it).

It is durable and 100% reliable. However, it was "clunky" and for me it provided exactly zero "pride of ownership". It also wasn't particularly accurate (and it wasn't just me- I was more accurate w/ range rentals than with this gun, and I was far better w/ a friend's P90 than my P89).

If you want a 9mm and you want a Ruger I'd say get a P95 or P94. I've heard from some others that the P89 isn't as accurate as their other guns. Most people seem to have more positive experiences with the P95 and P94 and they sound like they are reasonably accurate (now if you wanted a .45acp I think the P90 is a good choice in inexpensive .45s).

If you were open to other possibilities in the price range I'd suggest also looking at the CZ75B (mine is amazingly accurate, very reliable and just a darned nice gun at about the same price as most Rugers), the Taurus PT92 (most owners report great experiences with them), the FM HiPower (an inexpensive FN/Browning HP clone, made under license in Argentina) or for a little less an FEG Hi-Power (a clone made in Hungary, they aren't quite as good as the other guns, but they are very inexpensive and sound like they are reliable and very good values).

 

[Flashpoint]

P89 was my first handgun

Feels good in my hand, boringly reliable, no exageration when they say "built like a tank", a bit heavy (which so are tanks ). Accurate? Yes. Took the head off a snake with one shot not to long ago with it. DA trigger a bit long and heavy, SA not bad. My opinion, you won't get hurt buying one.

 

[243_shooter]

I'm very pleased with my KP89. Although I admit to being no expert on handguns by any stretch of the imagination. It's the first centerfire pistol that I've purchased.

I picked it up to shoot, and shoot, and shoot. I don't use it for CCW or anything of that nature.

It took me a while to get used to shooting a centerfire pistol. Lot's of advice from my buddies (and practice) really helped out in that.. Once I got the basics down, I've found it to be accurate, it shoots at least as well as I do.

I'm still in the learning stages, to be honest I haven't done any type of group measurements. I would say that slow fire at ~20 yds they all wind up in roughly a 4 inch circle if I concentrate and keep the first DA shot from being a flyer. This is limited by my shooting ability, not the guns accuracy potential. (to be honest I shoot the KP89 better than I shoot my MKII).

For some reason it really doesn't seem to like CCI Blazers, and accuracy suffers. It does great with the 100 round wally world bulk packs, and the "reclassified" gold dots.

I'm quite happy with the fit/finish, and don't find the gun to be boxy, I actually like the grip (I have medium sized hands). That of course could be because I don't know any better

After roughly 500 rounds or so I've yet to have any type of trouble, nothing bad to report there.

If I could change one thing, I would have picked up the decocker only version (mine has the decocker/safety).

My only real complaint is I wish that I would have waited a few days, as I could have taken advantage of Ruger's current $40 rebate on P series guns, which would have made a great buy even better.

Leo

[edited to correct spelling]

 

[Ninj500]

I've had one for 10 years. It is the only semi-auto I own that has never, ever, even once, malfunctioned. If I had to pick up a gun and it absolutely had to go bang, my first choice is the Ruger. It's also accurate and easy to shoot. I've never understood what clunky meant. Sit a Ruger next to a Glock (I own three Glocks) and the Ruger becomes a beauty queen. As a first Semi-auto you can't go wrong. Of course the same can be said for Glocks, Sigs, CZs and just about any other major brand. The big thing going for Ruger is the modest price.

 

[honocor]

My first to

Not my first handgun, but my first semi-auto. It is truly a tank, everything I try and put through it fires without problem. I have found it to not be terribly accurate. At 25 yards I can hit all center mass, but not much better than that. I think it is a good choice, but would also look at CZ's, very nice and more accurate than MY ruger.

 

[chaim]

243_shooter,

Man, your gun is the exact one I had. Honestly, I do miss it and sometimes consider replacing it. Not due to the gun's merits, but because it was my first auto and so there is sentimental value in that model for me. I really was dumb to sell my first anything, but at the time I thought I'd only have a couple guns and I replaced it with something more to my liking. I sold my Taurus 82 at the same time which was my first gun. That one I intend to replace both on the gun's merits and for the sentimental value the model holds for me. Of course, even if I replace them they won't be the same since they won't be my actual first guns, but it might be better than nothing. Anyway, whenever I see the stainless P89 I always think back on my mistake.


Ninj500,

When I talk about cluncky I mean the looks somewhat, but more the feel. I agree that the Ruger autopistols look better than Glock (heck, I kind of like the looks). They are boxy compared to other models, they feel larger than their actual size and they tend to be a little lose (mine, and others I've handled, were all prone to rattles).

In function it was 100% in around 2K rounds, which isn't something every gun can do.

 

[The Mighty Beagle]

Forgive me, I feel very strongly on this issue of Ruger semis ...

As for it being a good “first semi-autoâ€, a better question would be, is it a good “last semi-auto"? I quickly outgrew my Rugers. Do yourself a favor and invest in something capable of doing more for you. I wish I had bought a Hi-Power instead.

While I never owned a P89, I did own a P90 and a P94 (which supposedly contains improvements of the P89 design). My advice is to search your heart ... what do you really want the gun for?

If you want an overly large, unrefined, tough-as-nails, ultra-reliable built-like-a-tank bullet hose for humanoid targets at 15 or 20 ft., the P89 is your gun. I’ve never owned a more reliable gun than my P94.

However, there are other reasons to get a good 9mm. I wanted something with reasonable accuracy and low recoil that I could fire quickly. The P94 failed on all 3 counts.

If you are interested in shooting for accuracy, you’d probably best get something else. My P94 could not seem to keep 10 shots into less than about 5.5†at 25 yds benched. I’m not an accuracy snob by semi-auto standards at all, but if the gun can’t group as well as I can, why practice with it? I traded it off for a Smith M19 that can get 1-inch groups, which to me is worthy of my time expenditure.

And even if you do get one that’s mechanically accurate, the trigger mechanism is ... well, crude and unrefined, making precision shooting harder than it has to be. My Rugers felt like the pistol-equivelent of an AK, and were about as aesthetically pleasing.

And to top it off, I couldn’t even fire the thing quickly. The alloy frame and high bore axis made for significant muzzle flip and accentuated recoil, to the point that quick follow-up shots were not possible for me. The gun was big, wide and bulky and hard to carry concealed, feeling like a brick in the waistband. I never found the gun “fun†in any way, or even pleasant to shoot, just useable. In fact, I got so frustrated with it that I made a decision to go back to using revolvers exclusively. You can get an outstanding sixgun for what I paid for this "budget†auto.

BOTTOM LINE: The Ruger would be a great gun if you could get it for $150 to $200. If you're looking for a keeper though, it’s my experience that those buying Rugers do not make this their last semi-auto handgun. To make things worse, they are all over the place and don’t hold their value well. The new guns are only getting cheaper in price with the rebates making it difficult to sell or trade it off if you don’t like it.

 

[gudel]

i'm pretty sure my KP95 has a 4" barrel, not 3" as Scott13 previously suggested. it's worth checking out. no jams here.

 

[JohnKSa]

Very FUNCTIONAL.

I bought mine because the rental range where I used to shoot said that the Ruger autos they rented never broke.

I kept it when I read in the manual that " no 9mmx19 ammunition manufactured in accordance with SAAMI, CIP, U.S. or NATO standards is known to be beyond the design limits or known not to function in this pistol."

No disclaimers about +P or +P+ reducing the life of the pistol (like in my Beretta manual). Nothing about avoiding 9mm submachine gun ammo (like in my H&K USP manual). Nothing about restrictions on bullet material. Basically if the case says 9x19--go for it!

It's not my most accurate 9mm. It's not my prettiest 9mm. It's pretty big and clunky.

But...

The only malfunction I've ever had was when I bought some oversize bargain 9mm that wouldn't chamber.

AND...

I am always surprised how well I can shoot this "brick with a grip" gun. The trigger is pretty bad, and the ergonomics leave a lot to be desired, but when I start cranking the rounds out in a hurry, the results on the target always impress me.

 

[denfoote]

My P89 was reliable to a fault. However, I got rid of it because it just did not fit my hand quite right. The P95, for me, fits the bill much better. I would get one.

 

[arinvolvo]

All of the Rugers I have shot were:

1. Heavy
2. Clunky
3. Ugly
4. ergonomically challenged

and last but not least

RELIABLE AS ALL HELL.

They are a heck of a bargain for an ultra reliable, tank of a pistol....and if you can get past the other stuff....it will never let you down.

 

[telcom911]

I had a P89

and got rid of it when the 1911 bug bit me. I agree with evrything said so far. they are monsters that always work. Not elegant, not pretty, they are big, they are akward, but they always shoot.

 

[Scott13]

Thanks to everyone for the info the Ruger sounds like a perfect range gun for a 9mm . Iam going to get one . Thanks

 

[Dorrin79]

I've owned mine for about a year. I'd guess it has about 2K rounds through it in that time.

No failures in my hands (once, a friend was shooting it at the range, using crappy reloaded ammo, and limp-wristing it terribly, and it jammed on him.)

Acceptably accurate for my purposes. I shoot 2-3" groups at 10 yds offhand, using WWB 115gr FMJ.

Comfortable in my hands. Size and weight keep the recoil extremely mild. Points well. Some say it is ugly, but I like its looks, and it has the feel of quality (to me, anyway)

My only complaint about the P89 is that it is far too large and heavy for CCW. As a range/practice/car type gun, it is perfect.

 

[Handy]

Another big, decent wondernine. Nothing really wrong with it, nothing really amazing. Toyota Tacoma type performance.


There are a fair number of options in the 'around $400' range, and I recommend you look into all of them. Taurus 92, S&W 915, CZ75BD, Witness, Baby Eagle, FM Hipower, etc. Lots of options and features.

I think if you look at the full range of weapons available to you at a decent price, you will likely find one that appeals more than the Ruger. But if you don't, you'll have a very good pistol that will last a loooooong time.

 

[BevrFevr]

Reliable yes but

If you want to enjoy your trips to the range you will want a more accurate gun. Unless you just want to go spray lead and permanently ingrain bad shooting skills. Then it is the perfect choice.

There are lots of things about a p89 that I don't like. And reliability is the only thing positive I can say. Oh yeah, it is cheap too.

And you will get alot of "my gun never jams" from cz, glock, 1911, Ruger, etc. etc. owners. I'm here to tell ya that you can buy a jammer in whatever flavor you want.

Sounds like your mind is made up though so enjoy.

-bevr

 

[Drakejake]

P89 was my first pistol. (I have bought many handguns since then.) I do not understand some of the complaints about them. This is a full-size auto, not a pocket gun, so, yes, it is as big as it should be. It is also not any heavier than other all-metal, full-size pistols. I believe that 1911s run about 38 oz while the 89 is about 32 oz, the same as the Hi-Power. A small, light DAO will fit in your pocket but is harder to shoot accurately and has stiffer recoil. With the orginal grip panels replaced with the Hogue grip with finger grooves, which fits perfectly, it is good-looking IMO and comfortable to hold. I have medium size hands and shoot two-handed. Only the Glocks feel uncomfortable in my hand. You can still get 15 (factory or Mec Gar) and 17 round (Mec Gar in blued or nickel) mags for the Ruger 9MMs. The P89 is accurate and very reliable. Buy now and I think you can get a $40 rebate from Ruger. The 95 is lighter and cheaper, so consider that as an alternative. They are both great values and fun to shoot.

Drakejake

 

[davidtdm]

I'll throw in my $.02 with some ?'s

The P95 DAO was my first hand gun also. It sounds like you have made up your mind to go ahead and purchase it. I think you will find it to be a an all around great shooter (IMHO)

Some questions for others who have posted on this.

For those who say it is big, chunky, clunky, etc. How big are your hands? Mine are not Andre the Giant huge but a bit larger than average I guess. I wish my P95 was a bit bigger.

What method do you use to carry? It sounds like the majority are IBW. I have a shoulder rig that is simmilar to a belly band. Cslinger has named it the Gunzier. The gun just disappears in it. I also use it for my Pro cary HD. I guess it distributes weight very well because neither are noticeable to me or to others (Clarification: When I carry it is for practice and around the house. The CCW is "in the mail" as they say.)

Last but not least. (Purley opinion here) I've owned a glock and I have to say the Ruger is a much nicer looking peice of equipment.

Again just my $.02

...Dave

 

[Ky Larry]

I've owned many Rugers (autos,revolvers, and rifles) and they were all fine shooters. You will not be sorry if you buy one. My local dealer has 9mm KP95DC's with case and 2-10 round mags for $327.00 not counting the $40 rebate. Very reasonable price for a very reliable pistol. However, my current favorite fun gun in 9mm is a CZ75BD. Much better trigger and fits my hand better. Try to shoot as many different 9mm's as possible and get some professional instruction. Shoot well.

 

[Drakejake]

I shot my 89 again today. Just back from the range. The double action trigger is about average in my opinion. The single action trigger has a long take-up but is light once you engage the sear. The key to shooting this pistol accurately IMO, is to first pull the trigger to get past the take-up and then fire the pistol with the last bit of trigger pull. In other words, a two stage trigger pull. This is a very comfortable pistol to shoot, but I believe the polymer frame of the 95 reduces recoil further.

Drakejake

 

[Nightcrawler]

Friend of mine bought a "special edition" P89 two-tone, new in box, for $350. Four 17-round PMI magazines, four 15-rd Pro-Mags, and he's pretty happy.

The chamber walls are ridiculously thick for a 9mm pistol. I think you'd have to fill a 9x19mm case with TNT to damage this thing. And, the safety is such that you can pull the slide back with the safety on; meaning you can load and unload the pistol without ever taking the safety off, which is a neat feature if nothing else.

The DA trigger pull is long and heavy but smooth. The SA trigger pull has some take up and some creep like most DA autos, and isn't as nice as my CZ-97, but it's MORE than servicable.

Frankly, I LIKE the way the P89 looks. I like it's lines, ESPECIALLY when compared to a Glock. Wish it had some cocking serrations, but it's not a big deal.

Pistol is simple to strip, not to heavy, and rock-solid. I'd prefer the Hogue finger-groove grips, but my friend likes the stock grip panels. I think the P89 would make an excellent military or police issue pistol, myself.

 

[JohnKSa]

The chamber walls are ridiculously thick for a 9mm pistol. I think you'd have to fill a 9x19mm case with TNT to damage this thing.

That reminded me of a range experience.

I was shooting at an indoor range with big dividers between shooting positions.

The guy next to me was shooting some sort of pistol with a tremendous report. I figured it was a .357 from the sound and muzzle flash.

After awhile, I finished shooting and backed up a little to see around the divider. He was firing a Ruger 9mm!

I asked him about the noise and flash and he said that they were his own "special" handloads.

I put the divider back between us, but when I left, he was still booming away without incident...