Ruger P90

[TTv2]

As time goes on I find myself looking more to the past to find simple, yet good quality items be them cars or guns when previously I had always sought out the latest and greatest. Come to find out the latest and greatest is either all hype or just ploys to keep us parting with our money in a vain search for perfection.

I'm well content with my car that gets 25 MPG and has a heavy all cast iron V6 engine inside designed during the 1980s, back when stuff was built to work right for a long time.

So over the past year I've looked at cheaper .45's because I don't have a .45 pistol. Hi Point has come to mind, Glock and Springfield too, but they're all polymer framed striker pistols and when I see a P90 with its metal frame and hammer, I just see old school simplicity and it makes me feel good.

Also DA/SA is my current fad with semi auto pistols right now.

What do you all think about the P90 as someone's first semi auto .45? Better than a used Glock or Springfield for $300? How difficult are mags to come by for a P90?

 

[JTQ]

Also DA/SA is my current fad with semi auto pistols right now.

What do you all think about the P90 as someone's first semi auto .45? Better than a used Glock or Springfield for $300? How difficult are mags to come by for a P90?

I think the P90 is a solid gun and debated buying one several times over the past couple of decades. However, like the S&W 4506 that I do own, it is no longer supported by the maker and mags are tough to come by.

Here's a recent thread from a guy who had a failure with his P97 mag, which is the same mag as the P90. https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/ruger-p97-magazine-failure.858182/#post-11284100

The point isn't that the mags are bad, but they may eventually break, and replacement parts may be hard to come by. There are some sources for mags in that thread that may be helpful.

As far as DA/SA .45 Auto's go, Beretta still produces their PX4 in .45, and while it is not a common version of the PX4, it is still in production and parts are available.

http://www.beretta.com/en-us/pistols/px4-family/

SIG P220's and HK USP's are also around, but of course none of those will probably be in the $300 range, even used, like the P90's.

 

[Tallball]

I got a police trade-in (I'm pretty sure that's what it was) ridiculously cheap a year or two ago. I liked it so much I also got a P-series 9mm and 40 caliber.

I'm not worried about its out of production status. They are known as sturdy pistols. I paid squat for it. If it breaks irrevocably, I can part it out for what I paid for it.

It's a good shooter. I feel like I can shoot it from time to time without undue worry that it will break. I can't remember what I paid for it, $200 OTD or something ridiculous like that.

Here they are: the 45acp, the 40, and the 9mm. They were all bought inexpensively in the past few years.

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[sabbfan]

Another one to add to your list to look out for are the Stoeger Cougars, they were relatively cheap when new, metal, and hammer fired. Not common however, but might trip your trigger

 

[Antihero]

I've had a p85 forever. In the tens of thousands of rounds I've put in it it's had 1 jam, and it was using an odd 90gr plus p round.

Hi point.....I bought one as a truck gun( because hey.....it's primarily made of things that can't rust lol) and it's the worst type of reliable...95 percent reliable

 

[jmr40]

They are a brick. Both in terms of ergonomics and toughness. I had one back in the day. I'd make a good night stand gun, but not what I'd want to carry. There are better options today.

 

[ECVMatt]

I love everything about the P90 except the way is feels. I had one for a couple of years that I bought for the same reasons stated above. They are cheap to buy, built like a tank and uber reliable. With all those positives, what is not to like? Unfortunately it just feels horrible in my hand and the high bore axis makes the recoil very pronounced for a gun that shoots really soft if that makes sense? If it fits your hand, then it may be worth a look, otherwise I would pass.

 

[TTv2]

They are a brick. Both in terms of ergonomics and toughness. I had one back in the day. I'd make a good night stand gun, but not what I'd want to carry. There are better options today.

It's not a carry gun.

For a .45 that's $300 or less, I can't say what is out there today that's better that has a metal frame and is DA/SA.

 

[Steve C]

I bought my P90 many years ago after trying one out that a hunting buddy's friend had brought along on a quail hunt. The trigger in DA is relatively short with moderate pull weight. The SA trigger has very little take up and a good crisp release at probably 5 to 5 1/4 lb. very close to being as good as my Sig 220. One o the first things I did was to change the factory polymer grip panels with Houge grips (like the first one I shot had) and it improved the feel and hand fit.

I usually don't care much for the Houge grips with the finger grooves but they work well for me on the P90.

Like any full size service pistol its not an easy gun to conceal carry. For me its mostly a range gun and bedside self defense gun.

Factory new magazines are still available for around $30 ea.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

My first .45 was a P90. Only sold it to feed the kids during thd big R. I wouldnt hesitate to buy another, great gun.

 

[possumbelly220]

I have a P-97DAO, and I love it. It is rather large and if you have small hands then it is probably not for you. The only problem that I have with it is that it does not like swc bullets, and that may just be my reloads, it eats anything else that I put in it. I currently load a 200grn round nose flat point and never have had any problems with it. It is my nightstand/car gun, goes everywhere with me!

 

[tercel89]

This is my P90. I love it . Very rugged and simple. I got lucky and found it in a gunshop for $199. Had the original case and manual. They are built for the long haul .