Which is the stronger and better built pistol ?

[Tallball]

My stepbrother has fired thousands and thousands of rounds through his RIA 1911 and it still functions perfectly. I have owned four Rugers and haven't managed to wear any of them out, including a Single Six that I shot ridiculous amounts of rounds through, and cruelly abused, throughout my teens and twenties.

On the one hand, a double-action might be more suitable for self defense, and 9mmo is less expensive.

On the other hand, 1911 parts should be available for the rest of his life, but the P-series parts will dry up eventually.

The good news is that they are both good choices, so it's pretty much win/win.

 

[bannockburn]

I was never a big fan of the Ruger P series; not that they weren't well made, it's just I didn't care for their ergonomics. I would probably do as others have already suggested and that's let him decide which one he wants. Win/Win situation any way you look at it.

 

[Drail]

You are not likely to wear either gun out by just shooting it. Feed it a steady diet of +P stuff - different story. Don't feed any gun a steady diet of +P stuff. Buy whichever one you like.

 

[JR24]

Both are good, at least the examples I've had (my RIA is a 10mm).

For a, presumably, first hand gun and used for plinking, I would say give him the 9mm as it will be much easier to keep up shooting. Although, IIRC, my Ruger P89 had a very "spongy" trigger that did make learning trigger control more challenging, but often a challenge is a good thing

 

[tercel89]

I ended up with the P94. I started on a P89 back in the day so this should do him just as well. He will get the black one. Thanks for the help and opinions guys .

 

[MenaceMan47]

Ruger P-series semiautos are bulletproof. Nuff said. Great guns.

 

[HKGuns]

Ruger always makes solid stuff..........I don't think there is a right answer to this question.

There do appear to be several folks in this thread who have no idea how solid the RI 1911's are regardless of their price point.

 

[dakota1911]

Go out shooting and see which one your son likes better when he shoots both.

 

[iagbarrb]

Sig Sauer and HK Usp.
See all the over the beach tests.
Thats it.

 

[tercel89]

Sig Sauer has just never been a favorite gun company of mine. I have tried two of them but never liked them much . H&K is one gun company I will never buy from.