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School me on the Ruger P89

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SVTOhio

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Picking up a Ruger P89 tomorrow in a trade. Trading away my Ruger LCR that has become obsolete since I got my Ruger SP101. Anything I should know about these guns? Parts to check for wear? Part/springs I should replace. I understand these guns are big and clunky but I'm hoping it should fill the role of a house gun until I can afford the gun a really want. (Stainless CZ-75) Thankyou.


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I used to have the P95 (polymer frame) and still have a P94 (metal frame). From my experience & online research, there is no particular problem area with the Ruger P series - other than looks, maybe. They have an unusual step for field stripping - flipping down the ejector into the mag well from the top with the slide locked back. And as you mentioned, they are BIG compared to today's choices.

Mostly they are referred to as tanks - both size & durability. Mine has lighter triggers as good as any of my DA/SA semiautos with a 9#DA & 4#SA but there is a little extra take up in both. Only my CZ75 is better at 8# & 4.5# and crisper. (My CZ is a well worn military surplus gun that I've had dura coated)

As long as you have man-hands, they are good shooters.
 
Yeah it's big and clunky but it's reliable and accurate. Years ago a buddy had one and was having a hard time operating it so had me come to the range with him. Turns out the problem wasn't the gun. I did not like the feel of the P89 grip or DA/SA trigger and the sights were just so-so but I could hit the bullseye again and again. That changed my perception of the P89, it's a tough old bird that I could see as a good house gun. When we field stripped it to clean, it looked tough inside as well. It would take a lot to break something.

I kept complaining about how I didn't like the gun but kept hitting the target. My buddy's wife laughed, "You don't like that gun but it likes you!"

I kinda like them now and they're sure cheap.
 
The P89's are well built guns and suited for the task at hand. Yes they are a little clunky and heavy. Parts are getting harder to find. Depending on how long you want to keep it you will want he following replacement parts:

Short term:
Recoil spring
Magazine springs

Long term:
Extractor
Barrel
More magazines
Hammer spring
Slide stop
 
Paid $225 for one in '93. Still have it. First DC pistol I owned. Kind of heavy at 2 pounds. With full 15 rd. magazine add 10 oz's or so. Trigger is super stiff out of the box. Remedied a few years ago with a new trigger and hammer spring. Have about 2-3K rounds down the pipe over the years w/o a hiccup. Eats anything. You could probably drag it through he mud and beat it with a hammer and it would still function.
 
Replacement parts would be my only concern. I've heard internet mumblings that Ruger is no longer stocking many parts for this line of pistols (and P95/94/345etc.).
 
SVTOhio

As much as I'm a big fan of most of Ruger's offerings I never could get a comfortable grip with the P89, or with most of the P series for that matter. The gun's overall design ergonomics just weren't very favorable for someone like myself with small hands. It wasn't until the SR9 came out that I finally found a Ruger semi-auto that actually felt good in my hand.

Other than that all I have heard or read about the P89 is that it's a very robust gun (as in built like a tank), being very reliable and durable.
 
Replace the mainspring, recoil and firing pin spring. I replace all three a couple of years ago on my P89DC when it started to fail me. I figure 25 years of use isn't bad for a set of original factory springs.

I would not worry about parts. Ruger made a bunch of them and many were used by LEO's.
 
Awesome guys, I just picked it up and looks to be I great shape. I will post some pics when I get home and will put some rounds down the pipe. This will be the first semi auto I have owned (besides a very short stint with a Ruger LC9 that I promptly sold after shooting one mag) my only experience has been with revolvers. From the little dry firing I have done the DA trigger pull feels very similar to my SP101, and the single action trigger is pretty similar besides the take up. Excited to see how I can shoot it.


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Got home and put a few mags through for function testing and just to get the feel. Pretty blah on the trigger but it should work ok, accuracy seemed workable for my uses and I'm sure will improve with more range time.

First 15 rds through the gun at 7 yards, blazer brass.
8f3cf53b8e8a6890385a25f0fb68a16f.jpg
Five rds if critical duty at same seven yards.
3835dafce5863364303a8849f90a26d6.jpg

Random picture
4688add2792a63b5cdd00bdf46366294.jpg

After doing a serial number search this appears to be a 1993 first model year production for the P89DC. Making the gun the same age as me.


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I have the P95 and it has been absolutely reliable. Heavy, ugly and no longer in production but I wouldn't trade mine for the world.. ;)
 
All I can say about my P89DC... it is reliable, pretty accurate and built like it'll outlast me! I don't recall ever having any issues with ammo. Other 9's will be picky with the ammo, not this thing. Flat points, hollow points or round nose... I actually can't use it as a guide cause it will pretty much feed anything through it that my other 9's balk at. It was a safe queen for a while, but recently has gone into the rotation.

Enjoy it...
 
Yep, big, heavy and built to last. I wish I had my last one back. Never had a jam with either of the two P-89s I owned.

I wouldn't care to wear it on a belt. But for a truck gun or a house gun it should be an excellent choice.
 
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My first semi-auto was a used P89. Good gun, its new owner still shoots it happily to this day.

I highly recommend picking up some Hogue wrap-around grips for it. Makes it go from a "meh" grip to a pretty good grip, IMO.
 
Ratshooter said:
Yep, big, heavy and built to last. I wish I had my last one back. Never had a jam with either of the two P-89s I owned.

I wouldn't care to wear it on a belt. But for a truck gun or a house gun it should be an excellent choice.
Click to expand...



It will be used as a house gun for the time being, as soon as I knock some of my other guns off the wish list the p89 will be designated to the jeep.

I'm the hogue finger grips should be here tomorrow and I'm planning possibly a set of Williams fire sights for it. Probably also going to order a alien gear OWB paddle holster for it as well.

I'm just excited it's not having any hiccups with the Hornady critical duty. The LC9 that I used to have had a difficult time even chambering them.


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I've had a P-95 and P-94, but I hear that most of these P series guns have the same characteristics - reliable with a wide range of ammo, and pretty accurate. My experience verifies that. Not as usable for concealed carry as more recent offerings, but it sounds like that's not an issue for you. I like the idea of a safety/decocker, but I'm not a huge fan of how that system works on this era of Ruger pistols. Best wishes.
 
Jim NE said:
I've had a P-95 and P-94, but I hear that most of these P series guns have the same characteristics - reliable with a wide range of ammo, and pretty accurate. My experience verifies that. Not as usable for concealed carry as more recent offerings, but it sounds like that's not an issue for you. I like the idea of a safety/decocker, but I'm not a huge fan of how that system works on this era of Ruger pistols. Best wishes.
Click to expand...



This one is the decocker only version, no safety. I think I locked out because I did not like the ergos of the safety/decocker version.


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I have always found these guns fascinating, but never had enough of an excuse to buy one. They are one of the few 9mms that I you could buy and assume it will always just work.
 
Make sure the safety is working,
I had one for a short time. I found that with the safety on and hammer down,
if you shook the pistol a little, and kept pulling the trigger,
something in the safety would slip,
and the gun would start cocking and dropping the hammer with the safety firmly and completely on.
:eek:
 
Other than my CZs and Sigs, my P89 is next on the list of beloved guns. Bought new in 93 or 94 and it's been with me ever since.
 
silicosys4 said:
Make sure the safety is working,

I had one for a short time. I found that with the safety on and hammer down,

if you shook the pistol a little, and kept pulling the trigger,

something in the safety would slip,

and the gun would start cocking and dropping the hammer with the safety firmly and completely on.

:eek:
Click to expand...



As stated early mine is the Decocker only model, don't have to worry about no stinking safety.

On another topic does anyone have any experience with the mecgar 20rds mags? I was looking to purchase a few extra mags and noticed these, it appears they also offer a flush fitting 17 rd mag aswell.


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Friend of mine just bought a used P95 a few weeks ago. We shot this past Sunday and he got nice groups at 25-30ft. He loves it.

I did not try it out but may during our next session this Sunday. I'm not a fan of DA pistols of any sort.
 
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