Posted: 1/30/2004 6:56:56 PM EDT
Are these pistols any good? And how much should I pay for a pre-ban 1989 with 2 15 round mags? Thank you, Phessor 
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I have never owned a P series ruger but, have shot a number and cleaned/PM'd numerous while working at a range with a rental cabinet. IMHO, I tend to think that they are hard to beat for the money. They are reasonably accurate, reliable, and easy to maintain. However, for a modest increase in your budget, you can expect a lot more from a Sig, Glock, HK, etc. Downsides to the pistol are ergonomics, size, lack of readily available upgrades, and its general resemblance to a brick. Good luck. |
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The Ruger is right behind the Glock in reliabilty and does not get the respect it deserves. That's good for you though because it means you should be able to get the pistol for under $300! The preban factory Ruger hicaps are worth $40ea the aftermarket mags are only worth $25ea |
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Pre-ban, post ban, it makes no difference on value on a handgun. Ruger semi's take possibly THE biggest drop in value compared to any other mfgr. Why is that? Simple, they're not desired by many folks of the shooting community. They're built like a tank & will shoot almost anything you put in it. Accuracy is almost always barely average as a flip side though. I would pass & get a better used gun at a gunshow or gunshop. My .o2 |
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i have put thousands of rounds in my 2 ruger autos.. a 9mm..and a .45, they rock..its a shame they are too bulky for a CCW.. they are a fine field gun. i have had my 2 pistols over a dozen years and have had maybe 20 FTF..on reloadable ammo.. and i dont believe i have ever had an issue or malfuction with quality ammo like federal or corbon. i routinely win matches with friend and family. with both pistols. they have out shot, OHP troopers with sigs and glocks. PD members with beretta's, glocks, sigs and 1911's. i'll put my lowly ruger p series pistols and their crappy triggers up against anyone. i dont recall ever hearing of a Kaboom..issue with a pistol made from the excess of a chevy 350 block. |
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The P-85 was recalled (look for a MKII stamped on the left safety lever if it was sent back) I sent mine back just before Sept '94 and got a free 15 round mag under that recall program.  The mechanics inside differ from the current P-89, the '85 having a much poorer trigger. It's still quite usable as is. There are so many aftermarket magazines for the 9MM Ruger pistol, I hope yours are factory made, which last almost forever. As mentioned in the past, a set of Hogue grips will bring the ergonomics from a "drill motor" to that of more of a firearm. I'm glad the little woman likes it, that's always a plus. Make sure, when buying factory magazines, you get them for the earlier P-85, P-89 MKII and P-89...the package should read "P-15" and have a flat steel base plate. The later P-89 mags will not lock into place. They read "P-18" and have a plastic base pad. Sorry for being so long winded. 
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My first post here so first off, Howdy All. I bought my P-85 14 yrs ago. In that time, of the thousands of rounds I've put thru it, I have had 1 FTF and that was a bad handload during some load testing. I've shot USA white box, UMC yellow box, Winchester silver tip, Fed Hydra-Shok, PMC "ball", some really cheap unknown foreign stuff, and many different handloads. It is load sensitive tho. Reduced loads that will function and group just fine out of my dads Browning, will pattern like a shotgun and keyhole at 25 yds out of my P-85. Regular milspec-powered loads shoot like gangbusters. It's big, the trigger is clunky but it has proven to me to be absolutely reliable. It is either on my side, in my truck, on my desk (currently), or in my nightstand. In short, I don't think you will regret your purchase decision. |
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I have both a P85 & a P89. Both have been the most reliable, consistent guns in my collection. The 89 has a better trigger, but the difference ends there. My P89 has been a competition pistol and I've performed very well with it. They are homely, and bulky, but I still feel one of the best values on an auto pistol. |
...except hold its value...  ...which is only an issue if you intend to trade/sell it - I'm just playing Devil's advocate here. Personally, I think the Rugers are fine, reliable pistols (albeit uncomfortable/awkward for my freakishly small hands). |
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i hear that alot.. its too nice..or i dont want it to loose its value... paleeze.. a gun that isnt shot..or used..is basically worthless for its intended use?? you shouldnt buy firearms to hold value.. you should buy them to shoot the shit out of them...wear them out...scratch them up..scar them.. and not think twice about it.. but..they should however, go BOOOM every time you squeeze the trigger. and a ruger firearm will do that everytime. |
| exactly , ok i'll say it here i was wrong about the reliability , but not everything else. Rugers are working guns and like Muddydog said guns are meant to be fired not stared at , that exact reason is why i sold my M1 garand , couldn't shoot it because of a medical issue , so i let someone else own her someone that would crank rounds through her like she was made to do . Pretty guns are nice if that's yoru thing I like all my guns just fine , sorta feel like they are all my children |
I think you & Sig40Fan misunderstood what I was saying. Not everybody has the opportunity to shoot a particular firearm before he buys it - THAT is where immediate depreciation is an issue. I can buy a new Sig (or Glock, or any number of other manufacturers) handgun, fire 1,000 rounds through it, decide I don't like it, and trade or sell it for 90%+ of what I paid for it. Or I could buy one used, try it out, and quite possibly sell it for what I paid for it (I've done this before). For whatever reason, Ruger centerfire pistols don't do well on the used market, compared to most other quality brand names. As I stated in my original post, this ONLY matters if there is a chance you will need to sell/trade it. I don't own a lot of safe queens - I shoot my guns. Ruger is a great company & I own several of their firearms. I am very partial to their .22 pistols, their larger revolvers, & some of their rifles. I just don't find their centerfire pistols comfortable for me. The only one I really liked the feel of was the polymer-framed 9mm (P95?) - I had one for a while, but I sold it several years ago. My youngest sister-in-law's first & only handgun is a P89, & her husband's is a P90 - they really like them & have had no problems. |
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I sold my Ruger P97 to get a Sig P220. Best gun selling decision I ever made, only gun I ever sold that I don't miss. The Sig will absolutly shoot circles around it. I have owned several Rugers, a M77 and 10/22, as well as the P97. From now on I will stick to higher quality pistols. A S&W revolver or Sig pistol on the used market is a better value. Just my .02 |
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then drew you must have a lemon.. i'm not gonna say that a ruger is better than a sig..but i have never seen a ruger that has been outshot by a sig..i've shot atleast 25 of both. both are quality combat/field pistols. both consistantly digest any ammo..into what is usually very nice groups. one however is $300 + more.. for 90% of the shooters in the US..none will tell the difference. but $300 in training and/or ammo will go a long way to improving your odds as a shooter. |
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a little melodramatic arent we bob..hehe not that i run around scratching initials in the stock or anything..or taking steel wool to the bluing.. but..if you looked in my safe..you'd see most of my long guns that have been in the woods, swamps, lakes, streams, on top of rocky ridges of mountains and served me quite well, but they show the scrapes of oak tree limbs, of hitting the aluminum of a tree stand or boat gunnel. it certainly doesnt help with the substandard blue jobs and aluminum and oxide finishes..that are used today. my duckgun a winchester 1300 black shadow has so many scratches from the metal on the sleeve of a sling and from scraping my lanyard that it looks like steel wool has been taken to it. but it is a duck killin machine. guns that are used, NOT ABUSED.. will get scratched...or worn. and i laugh at people who make a big deal over it. my friend has an awesome mark V weatherby..338 win mag that he will only use field hunting, because its too pretty to take into the woods or within 100 yards of a tree. many times i have flirted with giving that gunstock one good scratch to bust its cherry where the man will actually hunt with it. pistols..well they have their own scrapes and dings.. |
| These are good pistols if you don't mid shooting a brick. Bulky and uncofortable to shoot at least for me. My brother wanted a pistol and didn't really have the cash so his first pistol was my P85. I gave it to him as I didn't like it and was going to sell it anyway. He uses it to plink and it serves him well. They make good plinkers. Not much good for anything else personally |
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Not a slam on the Ruger it's the most function you can get for the price. The guy who routinely beats his family and friends and cops is funny, that's like saying you can beat a 3-toed slot in a foot race. Shoot the ruger against a good shooter and you will find you will not win any type of competition. Anyways the Ruger should be a fun reliable plinker but it's kind of big and clunky for it's caliber. |
| My first hand experience with three P85s was this: They all functioned perfectly, were moderately accurate, and felt "chunky". None of them would match the accuracy of the Sig P226 pistols that I had at the same time. For the right price they are ok, but nothing to brag about. Watch-Six |
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When I got my P-85 back from the factory, under the firing pin recall program in '94, they must have "tweaked" it, as it was good at 25 yards, which beforehand that accuracy was unthinkable. The trigger was never as "refined" (by Ruger standards) like my P-89. As far as holding value...I buy 'em used, saving almost a couple hundred in depreciation anyway.
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| The resurrection continues.....the ruger was the first pistol I bought new....And I will never give it up...I have such a feeling of confidence in it that some days I think I could load gravel in the thing and shoot it. Two accesories that will make you happy---Hogue slip on...makes it a little grippy. And some thirty round mags..they double as a shooting rest. Now if they only made a mekteck upper for it.... |
| My friend had a P95 chambered in 9mm Para, using some sort of trigger control technique, he manages to somehow pull the trigger all the way back and NOT fire a round, even though it had a round in the chamber. He never has a misfire when he wants to intentionally fire the gun. It freaked me out, I've never seen that before, real weird. |