Tamara's Ruger P89 review - Like a 9mm Mullet

[Bigghoss]

If you had bought a bunch of semiautos from the LGS/range I went to as a kid, and held on to them until now, you would have lost somewhere around 80% of your investment.

Yeah but who needs money when you have a milk crate full of cool 80's pistols?

[JAH 3rd]

So a few years back I read where Ruger was discontinuing their Ruger P-90 45acp. So I bought one from Bud's. It was stainless with a safety/decocker. Never wanted one until I read production was ceasing. Heck of a reason for buying a new firearm. It was cheap enough.

The DA trigger pull is heavy. The SA trigger pull has a bit of creep before the hammer drops. The front sight has very little light on either side. Personally I like more light than these sights afford. I really miss front and rear checkering on the grip frame. But it has been 100% with all bullet types. The barrel has a swing link just like the 1911. Having said all this, if the pistol was destroyed by a lightning strike, I wouldn't lose any sleep.

About 3 months ago I called Ruger customer service to see if they still stocked the magazine release spring. I have read that they can be a problem with breakage. The helpful lady asked for the serial number and sent me the spring at no charge. Kudos for that.

I can see maybe why Ruger discontinued the P-series with the polymer revolution in full swing. It is hard for a metal pistol to compete in price with the polymer ones. Glad I purchased one though.

[Tamara]

It was before my time, but I’ve heard a ton of stories about problems with them.

I've heard a ton of stories about problems with everything.

I certainly trust cop stories about guns, though!

[Tamara]

The other thing of interest in her article is that Tam said the price for the pistol was 11 ounces of silver. At today's spot price of $23/ounce the silver would be worth $253 while a P89 today is going for over $400 on GunBroker. There may be something to using guns as a hedge after all? Though I suspect Tam has way way better connections than I do.

There's a long lead time in articles written for print publications. The prices of pistols and silver have fluctuated wildly since that pistol was sent to me and I mailed the silver to the seller.

[TC215]

I've heard a ton of stories about problems with everything.

I certainly trust cop stories about guns, though!

Probably about as much as I trust articles from gun writers.

[Tamara]

I saw a photo of a Ruger P series barrel that looked to have a casting seam.

Can anyone confirm if they machined the barrels out of a casting?

The barrels are not cast, to the best of my knowledge.

[Bigghoss]

When things calm down I'd like to get a stainless P90DC. I got a good price on a P97DC a few years ago to go with my P95DC. I had a P345 but that gun definitely wasn't as well executed as the rest of the series.

[Tamara]

Probably about as much as I trust articles from gun writers.

Literally LOL'ed.

I wouldn't trust gunwriters. They can't shoot and they don't train.

[Joe45]

So a few years back I read where Ruger was discontinuing their Ruger P-90 45acp. So I bought one from Bud's. It was stainless with a safety/decocker. Never wanted one until I read production was ceasing. Heck of a reason for buying a new firearm. It was cheap enough.

The DA trigger pull is heavy. The SA trigger pull has a bit of creep before the hammer drops. The front sight has very little light on either side. Personally I like more light than these sights afford. I really miss front and rear checkering on the grip frame. But it has been 100% with all bullet types. The barrel has a swing link just like the 1911. Having said all this, if the pistol was destroyed by a lightning strike, I wouldn't lose any sleep.

About 3 months ago I called Ruger customer service to see if they still stocked the magazine release spring. I have read that they can be a problem with breakage. The helpful lady asked for the serial number and sent me the spring at no charge. Kudos for that.

I can see maybe why Ruger discontinued the P-series with the polymer revolution in full swing. It is hard for a metal pistol to compete in price with the polymer ones. Glad I purchased one though.

Good move on the spring. I had that problem with my P90 that I purchased back in '99 or so mainly due to writings from Mas. It's the only issue I've ever had with it.

It probably hasn't been shot in at least 10 years. Thanks to this trip down memory lane, I think it will go with on the next trip to the range.

Nothing else to say that hasn't already been said above.

[Duelist]

So a few years back I read where Ruger was discontinuing their Ruger P-90 45acp. So I bought one from Bud's. It was stainless with a safety/decocker. Never wanted one until I read production was ceasing. Heck of a reason for buying a new firearm. It was cheap enough.

The DA trigger pull is heavy. The SA trigger pull has a bit of creep before the hammer drops. The front sight has very little light on either side. Personally I like more light than these sights afford. I really miss front and rear checkering on the grip frame. But it has been 100% with all bullet types. The barrel has a swing link just like the 1911. Having said all this, if the pistol was destroyed by a lightning strike, I wouldn't lose any sleep.

About 3 months ago I called Ruger customer service to see if they still stocked the magazine release spring. I have read that they can be a problem with breakage. The helpful lady asked for the serial number and sent me the spring at no charge. Kudos for that.

I can see maybe why Ruger discontinued the P-series with the polymer revolution in full swing. It is hard for a metal pistol to compete in price with the polymer ones. Glad I purchased one though.

The only one of these I've ever actually shot was a P90. All I can really remember was that it was a super accurate gun, it seemed a little bit awkward, but that was like 25 years ago, so I couldn't say one way or another besides that.