That '89 is a hoss.. or really a mule... yes big and all metal... not what folks are wanting these days... but it will run forever and do what it was built for....

I was a big fan of Ruger P 9mms for years.... Even have a P89x.... the only thing I don't like about the Ruger Ps is having to push that eject thing down and keeping it down during disassembly and putting it back together.... but still a lot easier than any striker fired plastic gizmo....

Yup, big and a little clunky, but they will shoot forever.

The P series is a lot of value for the fun.
I owned a P345 and it was a fine 45. I shot a friends P90 and I like it better.
Congrats.

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:
Love them old centerfire P Rugers. I've had the P89, 90, 91, 93, 94, 95, 97. My favorite is the P90. Still have one. It's the .45 that I'd pick over all other .45s out there.

I have owned the P89, P90, P93, P94, & P95 Rugers. All are overbuilt and will feed just about any ammunition. Did not purchase a P91 (.40 cal.) or the original P85 (9MM). I had always heard that the P85 was not accurate and just never located a P91.

The ones that I still own are alive and well. Excellent home or vehicle guns. I would trust any of them for self defense. Not so much for concealed carry.

The first gun I bought myself was a P-85 In ‘87 or ‘88 timeframe while stationed in OK. Later sent it to Ruger for the recall, then ended up trading it in for a stainless P-89DC when those came out (early ‘90’s). Still have it!

I used to use it in local speed steel and IPSC-style matches in the Eglin AFB area (NWFL). It shoots anything, accurately, and is ultra-reliable. The only two occasions I remember it failing were both MY fault — in one case I limp-wristed the shot resulting in a stovepipe malfunction, and in the other case I failed to fully seat the mag in a speed reload resulting in a failure to feed. That P-89 was also my first EDC in a GALCO F.L.E.T.C.H. holster.

Ruger P-89: big and clunky and reliable — like me!

Enjoy that wonderful old Ruger!

The P89 was my first DA/SA semi auto.
I had a Glock 17 at the time and traded it to my buddy for his P89 around 1998.
He thought the G17 was the coolest thing ever and I liked the P89 better.
It may have been heavier but it felt more like a gun to me and I shot it better.

I had it for a few years and shot thousands of rounds through it, mainly my reloads and never had an issue with it.
It was stolen when my house was broken into almost 20 years ago or I would most likely still have it.

quote:

Originally posted by jhe888:
Yup, big and a little clunky, but they will shoot forever.

Excellent summary jhe888.

P97DC owner here.

The metal-framed Ruger semi-autos [except 22s] were just a tad too thick for my hands.

The P97 is not an award winner, but it is reliable and accurate enough to both fun and life saving.

I don't shoot my P97 often, but it cycles any ammo and hits where I want it to when I do my part.

It doesn't feel slippery in my hands- but I have skateboard tape around it.

Here's a shot of my new to me 300-prefix 1989 Ruger P85. Note the two distinct varieties of early P85 factory magazines. What's that old chestnut? "The only three things to survive a nuclear will be cockroaches, Twinkies and Ruger P-Series pistols."

quote:

Originally posted by hjs157:
Here's a shot of my new to me 300-prefix 1989 Ruger P85. Note the two distinct varieties of early P85 factory magazines. What's that old chestnut? "The only three things to survive a nuclear will be cockroaches, Twinkies and Ruger P-Series pistols."

I had not heard/seen that quote about Ruger and nukes in a while. My remaining Rugers and I thank you!

I had an 89 years ago and it was quite a pistol. It fired and shot perfectly. It was a police trade in and had it refinished. I changed out all of the springs on it with new ones, although I never want to do that again. Mostly due to the 2 part mag. release being a pain in the neck getting back together again. But overall a great gun.

I had a P95DC years ago. Yes I traded it off, and yes, I now regret it.
Same story with a P90.

We will colonize Mars someday, and I would wager that no matter what level of tech we are at, you will be able to find an example of a 1911 pattern pistol, and some iteration of the Ruger P series bouncing (and rattling) around under the seat of some deep wasteland explorer rig

Very nice find. You’ll enjoy it.