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Originally posted by kaschi:
No doubt about the fact that Rugers are built like tanks. In which ways does the P85 differ from the P89?

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The P89 was basically a combination of being a product-improved version of the P85 MKII and a commercial version of Ruger's XM10 submission for the second round of the DoD pistol trials of the 1980s.

The P89 standardized the improved firing pin safety system, an grub screw secured rear sight and had an improved (thicker) barrel link, and improved accuracy due to a modifications to the barrel/slide component interrelationship. During its production cycle, numerous other improvements were applied/incorporated into the P89; probably the most major (and the most physically visible) was an additional modification to the barrel and slide positioning relationship, which resulted in the breach end of the barrel rising above the slide plane when in battery; I believe that this modification was introduced around the 305- serial range. P89 magazines were modified to sit slightly higher in the receiver, apparently easing the travel of the cartridge from magazine to chambering; I believe that this modification occurred around the 307- serial range (going on the Ruger magazine portion of their website specifies the serial range concerned). Magazines also changed in mateerial and construction, from a blued tune with a flat sheet metal baseplate to stainless steel with a polymer (and thicker/slightly more protrusive) baseplate. I believe that the recoil spring guide also was modified during the P89 years, both in finish and from a "nub" end to a flat end.

Safety levers also changed in configuration during production, both in the shelf length and physical position, making the safety manipulations far easier and more instinctive. The original military-oriented lanyard loop mainspring cap was replaced with a flush-fitting (non-lanyard loop) mainspring cap as well.

Needless to say, there were numerous other incrimental modifications made during the P89's production history, most unannounced outside of Ruger.

Having owned a P85 and 2 P89s, in my empirical experience, while the P85 was (and is) certainly an acceptable gun, the P89 is likely a far better one. My current on, a very late production 315- serial gun, produced in the 3rd quarter of 2007 as a recipient of a major Ruger product and processes improvement program shortly before the P89 production was terminated is an absolute tackdriver, and a joy to shoot.

Best, Jon

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Originally posted by LincolnSixEcho:
Nice write ups and pics. Love the older guns especially the Ruger P series tanks. Is this the gun you picked up instead of the Mark 23? If so you sure saved some coin!

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Originally posted by jackimoe:
I remember some talk about two piece barrels as well on the older 85's. This was blamed for less than stellar accuracy as well.



I've never pushed mine as far as accuracy on paper.

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Originally posted by SigFan:

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Originally posted by DSgrouse:
Lets see some photos of it.

Who, me? LOL. Give me a few days; I'll try to remember to take a pic when things settle back down...