Ruger P89

[M203Sniper]

My buddies fell apart at the range today. It's a P89 special edition .40 S&W.



There were 3 of us shooting and I asked the Ruger owner if he wanted to try my Glock. He put 2 mags thru that and then went back to his own pistol. Then we noticed his wasn't extracting rounds so he tried a second magazine and then decided to clean it.

While it was apart I looked at the slide and saw that the right side of the de-cocker was not there - just plain gone; found it about two feet away in front of the firing line. Then we looked closer and saw the Extractor was gone. Found it 4 feet away about 2 feet in front of the firing line.

He was kind of mad.

I told him it was a mechanical thing and prone to failure, his response;

"The guy I bought it from said it only had about 300 rounds through it. I fired about 30 rounds for my CCW but I've never abused the gun and haven't even cleaned it yet!"

I think he got ripped off.

I know he's going to ask me what to do when I see him at work. I'm thinking he should get rid of it. His primary reason for buying it was to obtain his concealed pistol permit, and now that he has - time to buy a glock? or a PF-9?

What do you think.

 

[poet]

If he is a die hard 9mm shooter, then he should know about the Sigs and the Glocks. If he is an experienced shooter, then he will know which pistols he should look into.

 

[vzenmn]

He should give Ruger a call and say what the hell. I have never heard of a Ruger doing that.

 

[makarovnik]

Man. P89's are usually very reliable and tough. I love my P95 except the trigger is really mushy.

 

[M203Sniper]

He's sending it to a smith. Anyone interested in a slightly used Ruger P-89 Special Edition in .40S&W with some new parts. Most likely the De-cocker and ejector.

 

[Wolfman_556]

It might just be a defect in materials. Even the best QC in the world can miss it sometimes.

I have a Ruger P97DC which has been a solid performer for me for many, many rounds of .45 and 8+ years of use. I know many guys I shoot with who have Ruger P's of some sort and I've shot a lot of Ruger P's over the years. I have never heard of a Ruger P coming apart like that.

Hopefully the issue is figured out and remedied quickly

 

[gunman42782]

I have a P89 and a P90. I would trust my life to either. As he bought the gun used, who knows what was done to it before he got hold of it.

 

[lee n. field]

I've never, ever heard of a P89 chambered in .40. Got a link?

While it was apart I looked at the slide and saw that the right side of the de-cocker was not there - just plain gone; found it about two feet away in front of the firing line. Then we looked closer and saw the Extractor was gone. Found it 4 feet away about 2 feet in front of the firing line.

So examine the parts. Look like anything's damaged?

Yeah, call Ruger.

 

[Disaster]

When buying a used gun there is always the possibility the previous owner took it apart and didn't reassemble it right (or had an "extra" part.)

I've never heard of a P failing like that either.

 

[rantingredneck]

OK, first of all, his gun is a 9mm.

P89's are 9mm's, the .40SW version of that frame/slide style was the P91 which is no longer in production.

It seems like this is a case of the extractor shooting loose, or perhaps being misinstalled if someone detail stripped the slide.

The extractor is what holds the decock levers and other internal parts into the slide. The first step in detail stripping is to remove the extractor by sliding it forward out of the slide. If it was not reinstalled properly (not pushed all the way back til it clicked in place) then what you describe would be the result.

Tell him to examine the extractor to see if it looks normal compared to the part drawing in the schematic. If there are any broken or rough edges then call Ruger for a replacement (you might be able to talk them into mailing that part out). If the extractor looks normal, I'd try to reassemble it.

Put the right side decock lever back into the slide making sure that when you move the lever down the firing pin moves forward past the frame, (ensuring that it is decocking safely). Then reinstall the extractor by sliding it back into it's recess in the frame (from the chamber back toward the rear of the slide).

 

[Glockorama]

From World.guns.ru:

In general, alll P-series pistols are extremely sturdy, capable of continuous firing of high-pressure +P loads without any damage to construction. They often referred as "built like tanks", and, when speaking about P89s and P90s - "the bricks with the triggers", because of somewhat rough external appearance. This was slightly improved with P93 and later pistols that featured more streamlined slides.

I've owned and shot many Ruger p-series pistols and they are, IMHO, the sturdiest pistols made. What happened here is FAR from the norm, and he should send it to Ruger to have it looked at.

I have never heard of a P89 in 40sw............

 

[M203Sniper]

OK, first of all, his gun is a 9mm.

P89's are 9mm's, the .40SW version of that frame/slide style was the P91 which is no longer in production....by sliding it back into it's recess in the frame (from the chamber back toward the rear of the slide).

Thank you for your replies, I have no idea when it comes to this style gun, but I'll pass on the information.

I realize there is some confusion as to the caliber of the pistol and I understand you're confusion. I have not been able to find any information on this particular pistol either.

It's a P-89 Special Edition. (which means 2-tone)
It shoots 40 S&W, the barrel is marked as such. Maybe it's a conversion barrel? Maybe it's a P91 with an "89" slide?

I don't know the how or why of the model designation or serial number search, but I am still looking on his behalf. I told him to get a glock

 

[rantingredneck]

I'd like to see pictures of that.

 

[jim147]

If it's a P89 in 40 I think you found the problem

 

[Rugerlvr]

the P89 is a little big for concealed carry isn't it?

 

[rantingredneck]

It shoots 40 S&W, the barrel is marked as such. Maybe it's a conversion barrel? Maybe it's a P91 with an "89" slide?

I suppose that is possible. I've never owned a 91 but have owned an 89 and still own a 90. There is quite a difference in dimensions between the slides of the 90 and 89. They are not interchangeable, nor are the barrels.

I'm not exactly sure which platform the 91 was built from, but I would assume the 90. I may be wrong there though. (EDITED: I probably am due to the single/double stack issue)

If it is an 89 with a 91 barrel I imagine some fitting/smithing had to be done to make it work. And if that is the case I doubt it would work long. .40SW produces a higher recoil impulse than 9mm and would thus explain failure of the extractor and other parts if fired from a gun with a slide designed for 9mm.

 

[rantingredneck]

If it is indeed a P89 with a 40 SW barrel of some sort in it then definitely contact Ruger as your friend has a strange bird indeed.

 

[jlpskydive]

I have a P94 that is built like Brick outhouse. I can't imagine that thing breaking unless it was used a hammer. Even then I think it would take awhile.

 

[daddyo]

I read about this happening to someone on another forum somewhere. I believe it turned out that he had tried adjusting his rear sight, hadn't got it tightened correctly and it allowed the slide to sort of diassemble itself as you describe. He sent the pieces back to Ruger and after a while they sent it back good as new, no further trouble.

I just got a 2-tone special edition P89 (9mm) about 3 months ago. I've put about 200 rounds through it with no problems whatsoever.

 

[M203Sniper]

He sent it off to a local smith here. I'll post the results and I'm going to ask him for another look at it as well.

 

[Myrdhyn]

the P89 is a little big for concealed carry isn't it?

I CC a p85 all the time.

 

[Disaster]

I CC a p85 all the time.

+1. It isn't any larger than most of the full sized pistols people CC. In an IWB, with a loose shirt, a fill sized pistol is no problem.

 

[FieroCDSP]

I've fondled the P89 at the shop a few times when perusing. "Brick with a trigger" sums it up. Oh, it feels sturdy, but the decocking lever and the mag release were the real turn-offs for me. At least if the thing comes apart while in action; "If it does not work you can hit him with it." -Boris the Blade, AKA Boris the Bullet-Dodger

 

[Z-Michigan]

Call Ruger and/or send it to Ruger. Those models are made in AZ so it'll be a short trip for service.

I have a P89, P94 and P95, all are extremely solid and are my go-to choice for self defense, along with a Ruger SP101. I own several other brands, but the Rugers, while clunky, have been 100.00% reliable and durable. The only weak spot I've ever heard of is that in a hand-to-hand struggle it may be possible for the trigger to get pulled forward out of the frame. Supposedly.

 

[Storm]

I've fondled the P89 at the shop a few times when perusing. "Brick with a trigger" sums it up.

Put Hogue finger groove grips on them and it's a whole different experience. The gun should come with them standard.