I have seen a few fail mechanically. This was a commercial grade pistol. Not military nor really even LE. I’m sure your commercial pistol were worked fine on the range
Oh, & the US Bureau of Prisons issued P-series for over a decade. It's a cheap gun, but calling it unreliable is just not accurate. Some of the dates mentioned are also incorrect.
Bill Ruger gave his team carte blanche when designing the P85 in their quest to obtain the Ruger unobtainable: a military contract. It performed superbly and passed without issue. They simply didn’t like the idea of an investment cast manufactured process. It is a great pistol. Still.
Never seen a more disconcerting motto than from the Fall River PD patch (47 seconds in), "we'll try.." Just a drunken stutter-step ahead of "better than nothing!" Terrific series. Thank you Mr. Bartocci!
Love the series. Another gun that was high on the hit parade at crime scenes in the 80s and 90s was the Taurus PT 92. It would be a good addition to this series.
I"ve owned several p89"s over the years and have fired countless rounds of both factory and handloads.....not ONE single malfunction EVER. It"s a fabulous pistol.
@@christopherhamilton5557we’ve got a family friend who unfortunately developed dementia so my dad had to keep ahold of his guns. Ever since I kid I would check out his P90DC and finally once I turned 18 my dad let me take it home, clean I and keep I
I've owned and carried several Ruger P series pistols over the years. They have always been very underrated. In their day, it was hard to trade one in for any $ at all. I did use a P90-45 caliber to defend my life back in 96. In my experience, all the P series were very reliable, hollow point and FMJ. I did buy one of the 1st P95's when they came out. And I've never heard of their durability being questioned. The P95 was issued to an US Army tank unit. I've never seen a P series malfunction. Especially like this one was doing. I'll never forget- several years back, my buddies and I got together to shoot handguns one day. Glocks, Sigs and S&Ws. All but one guy who had a P95. By the end of the day, only his P95 had made it though the shooting without a malfunction.
There was a 3 year span of manufacturing from 87-90 where the gun could discharge with the safety/decocker engaged due to a broken firing pin, which issued a massive recall. Thats quite a few pistols manufactured with literally a fatal flaw. That took me two minutes to find. This pistol had issues. Glad yours worked well, but let's keep it real. I like ruger, but let's not imply that this gun is better than glock, s&w or sig. Btw, what ammo were you shooting that caused those guns to malfunction but yours not to?
@@bryy2053 I think the issue is are we over selling it's unreliability and fragility. I know in certain terms the thing was a tank. Ruger released a film in which they blocked a barrel then fired a proof round in the gun. The result was the blast stripped the magazine from the pistol but it was otherwise in hurt. It also was shown being run over by a Police cruiser. The Pistol did in fact see police use with some sources noting Wisconsin, Wyoming and West Virginia Departments of Public Service adopting them. I truly believe the guns biggest draw back is it's handling characteristics. It's simply to large
Used to own the P94 .40SW I found in my local pawn shop. Ended up selling it unfortunately, although it was a great gun and well built. Surprisingly I've seen and talked to the more older guys who still carry these pistols quite a bit. They always speak highly of these guns and show that old school guns can still kickass.
The biggest difference between modern and older handguns is that today’s pistols have the advantages of being able to mount a light or red dot without needing to get a mill to mount them. Most people who are more new ish to guns (for the sake of holsters) might not carry a attachment on their weapon.
The ruger P-85 was used by the Wisconsin state patrol for a number of years it was replaced in the early 2000’s by the Glock 22 in 40S&W and now the Glock 22 has been replaced by the Glock 17 in 9MM
Like others I have owned several P89's and P90's, and place the pretty high on my favorite list. Had failures with the aluminum guide rod wearing fast and causing problems, so always replaced them with stainless. Make sure the spring is on the right direction or it will bind and cause extra wear and failures. No other problems - ever. Keep them clean and wet. Still have a new P89 in the box left over.
I have p89 310 serial , l have bought stainless Steel guide road l have heard stock Rod cause some problems other than that you can easly put recoil spring in correct direction , in my opinion this pistol is more durable than Beretta 92 FS , Browning hi power , alloy sig sauer p226 , if they produce them Steel lower frame in durability they are as durable as Cz platform.pistols , in reliability this pistol is poor mans sig sauer or HK only l dont like barrel link , also take a look at parts number this pistol nearly as simple as Glock , 40 parts totaly that is also a pro
I have a Ruger P95DC as well as two Ruger P89DCs and the trigger reset on all three after the first double-action pull is far better than what you demonstrate in this video. Something is seriously wrong with the particular P95 that you've shown here. I only own the decocker-only variants because the safety is unnecessary for a DA/SA handgun, maybe the ones with a safety had more issues.
I remember the results of the military test that were done on the P85 when it was submitted to the military for testing and they were not what this gentleman here says they were. As far as I remember with the info that we had back at that time regarding the trials, the Ruger P85 passed the reliability test and did not fail prior to the 20000 round mark as stated by the gentleman. There were other factors as to why it wasn't chosen such as the type of finish that it had. The P85 that I bought has never had a single issue and still runs perfectly with any type of ammo that I've ever put through it. And while it never did have the superb finish of a Sig for example or a Beretta M92 the P85 and later models were known for their extreme reliability
I bought a used P89 on consignment for 250.00 when I turned 21. I'm 46 and in my life that gun has never jammed with FMJ, HP's, reloads,, or even mixed up ammunition in the magazine. The guy in the video shocked me as I've had much different results compared to his review.
@@PaidInBoredom A lot of wrong information information on some of these reviews. People forget that This particular gun was created for 1 purpose 1 purpose only and that was for combat. It's doesn't have the 3lb competition trigger or the sleek ergonomics we see in modern handguns or cut outs for red dot sights. It's built like a tank cause its sole purpose is to go to war and function in any environment. I own the P85 and P89 and they are the only guns I have in my collection that included walthers, berretas , taurus, colt, springiefs, glocks, and others that have never had an issue with any kind of ammo I feed them. People look at the price they can get a used one for and think it's junk but in my opinion,, it's one of the most reliable guns on the market today.
Bought my used p89 when I turned 21 years old. Today I'm 46 and that Ruger has never jammed. Full metal jacket, hollow points, reloads, mixed ammo. It just works plain and simple.
Still have my dad's (RIP) P85 Mark II. It's clunky, but it's so old now it's got a retro aesthetic. I admit it doesn't get much of a workout any more since it's mostly sentimental. It gets shit on in this video and elsewhere, but the thing eats cheap crappy ammo and it's still going, though I have invested in a spare slide and internals for just in case. I definitely do not have the experience shown in the video, but I have the understanding the regular P85 (i.e. non Mark II) had problems. I will say it's not like a Glock, which will keep going and going, in that it has to be cleaned semi-religiously to maintain reliability. It does have an atrocious trigger for sure. An old joke about the lanyard ring on the P85 was you could attach a lanyard to it and use it as a flail to beat the guy to death because it was so heavy. And if nothing else, it's Spike's Spiegel's other pistol! But I would agree the modern economy pistols are much, much better.
I have owned a couple of those Ruger pistols and always had good results with them they seem to shoot straight and go bang every time never had an issue
I've probably had around a dozen P series pistols pass through my hands over the years in varying conditions from new to very very used and don't remember ever seeing one have any type of failure.
I have a P90., I found mine deadly accurate in single action. Heavy double. But a great pistol. A little tricky disassembly.. That extractor would pop up and stick, then you need to remove a hand grip to get in there to flip it back down, But nonetheless, a solid gun. I also have a P89dc., Great pistol. Total tank. Like the P90. Zero issues. I did have one issue with the P90 with a guide rod jamming in the slide. Simple polishing of the guide rod solved that. These will be cult classics.
Actually the P89 was issued to quite a few major law enforcement agencies, Chicago PD issued them in the 90’s, San Diego PD in the 90’s, Wisconsin state police 90’s, many more. All were very pleased with the reliability.. The p85 mkII actually passed the army’s XM 10 pistol trials at Ft Benning in 1987.. army actually purchased 10k P95s for their tanker units in the early 2000’s. However the contract wasn’t renewed due to holster and accessory compatibility.. a little research would go a long way if you’re going to give the history of a pistol.. The P series rugers are extremely reliable pistols anyone in the know will tell you they feed almost anything and keep going.. I own some of the finest pistols ever made from every make and have carried a firearm daily for my profession for over 30 years.. I’m a Glock and Beretta guy but I own 2 p89’s they are just as reliable as my others, just not as sleek or sexy..
XM10 was a dead program. Everyone but Sig and Beretta failed XM9. The P95 was never officially adopted. They were cots pistols. the Ruger is not even in the same league as beretta and sig.
I had the P90. It was a rough, chunky brute, but it was absolutely reliable with any and all ammo I fed it. Very accurate with a more than acceptable trigger as well. To this day, I regret selling it off to fund for another gun purchase (of which that other gun turned out to be a lemon).
For a fleeting moment I thought "Maybe it's time to get rid of my 2 P series Rugers". I took them out and cleaned them and realized it ain't gonna happen. I fell in love all over again.
Hey! Go easy now. The Ruger P85 was the first semi-auto I bought back in the day. And I have owned a P89....But I did sell them because they were too big for my hand. I think so many wound up in criminal hands because they were stolen in home burglaries.
Fun fact. I started working with the Federal Bureau of Prisons in 1995 and we had .38 special revolvers. In 1996 we transitioned to the 9mm and the BOP selected the Ruger P85 in DAO(double action only). In around 2008 we then switched to the Beretta 92 in DAO. I think we had to be the only law enforcement agency to use the Rugers because the BOP is cheap. Lol smh.
I owned a P95 back in the day. Once I got used to the trigger I rather enjoyed it. Never had a problem with it. Carried in either a shoulder harness or at the small of my back in leather holster.
My second semi-auto pistol was a P95DC with a stainless slide. Still have it and love it. My first pistol was a S&W SW40F. I put it on a credit card and my wife saw the purchase before I could tell her about it and all hell broke loose. Well, the P95 was $350 when I bought it, not long after it came out. I just put $50 away from my usual weekly cash and within two months (had to include tax, of course) I was able to buy it without the wife (now ex-wife) finding out. I like the trigger. The double action is smoother and lighter than my Beretta M9, even with the lighter hammer spring on the Beretta. It is also smoother. I am comparing them as I write this. The reset on the single action is much shorter than you are demonstrating. Don't know what is going on there. I had a P89DC, and sold it. I really regret that, since I would then have had two guns that shared mags. I have a good number of factory 15-round mags. Mec-Gar has 17-round mags for a very reasonable price. I have also purchased Talon grips for this gun. That is my only issue with it. The slickness of the frame.
That was the very first gun I ever purchased. Mine has the blued slide though. Built like a tank. I never once had any failure of any kind with it. Got it in '99 and still have it.
@@Cheka__ I got mine in 1995. Came with 10-round mags. Got some third-party mags, but they were no good. Finally, after the ban expired, I got the factory mags. Good to hear from another fan. I have had the same experience, and wish they would bring it back.
@@Cheka__ Yeah! Got six 15-round Ruger factory mags. I like to have six factory mags for all my guns. Two or three load outs. The only exception I have now is my Auto-Ordnance M1911A1. It came with one and I have ordered two factory mags to go with it. I had three Chip McCormick 8-round mags but gave them to a friend who had just inherited a Colt LW Commander, the original version. Also gave him all my .45 ACP ammo so that he could shoot it. This was a few months ago. I have some new ammo coming tomorrow. They said tomorrow, then said today, then changed it to tomorrow. We'll see.
The first semi-auto I bought for myself was a stainless P95DC for $400.00 It was everything I needed to be, including inexpensive, small enough to carry, DA/SA, and reliable AF! And when Ruger discontinued the design, I moved on from Ruger...
@@Brennan_the_smith I still think they're great guns because they were built to last. That said, just like any used gun, they CAN have problems. If I were in your shoes, I'd probably buy it-- Just make sure the pawn shop has a decent return policy. If not, I'd walk away. Good luck
I love the p95 and p series of pistols, the p95 was my first "hi cap" handgun, 16 rounds , very fun reliable guns ,well mine was anyways haha thanks for sharing ! Much love and respect love the channel, series and content!
Back in the early 90s I was in HS . I was convinced the Ruger p85 was going to be my first pistol once I could buy a hand gun. I always liked the look of them. By the wsy....My first hand gun turned out to be a Beretta 92 "police".
I was just about to click away when the failures started....nothing less interesting to me than watching someone else shoot (IV8888 is the worst for that), however that was an interesting problem to have. My sister had one of these and she kept bringing it to me complaining of jams. When I went out to observe her shooting it...since I couldn't replicate the issue, I determined that an old wrist injury was causing her to limp wrist it just enough to cause a stove pipe jam(it was short stroking because of the movement in her wrist absorbing the recoil energy). Nothing wrong with that pistol and a friend with better grip is the happy owner now. Thanks Chris and heather
I remember seeing a few CPD officers carrying these. I would also check out the movie Harsh Times with Christian Bale. Part of the movie involves Bale and his friend in the movie trying to sell a stolen Ruger.
I remember the big selling point of these pistols was the investment casting which kept the price around the $300 which at the time was a big deal. Most autos had a much higher price tag. I had a stainless steel P89 for many years. It was certainly not my favorite pistol, it was kinda bulky but seemed reliable.
I used to have a P85, one of the early stainless guns. I liked the pistol, except for the shape of the trigger guard; I didn't like the way it forced my trigger and second fingers apart. The P85 was also late for the XM9 competition. Though marked '85' it didn't actually come out until '86. This is the first I've heard about it actually taking part in the trials.
I think it was produced with the intention of completing in the XM9 trials but Ruger was too late submitting it. It did, however, make it into the XM10 trials in 1988.
The notion that this was a cheap pistol at $300 back in the 80’s and 90’s seems odd. I started a full time job at the company I work for now in 1990 and my salary was $370/week. My car payment on an almost new car was $212/ month. I would have considered a $300 purchase a major one. Much like spending 5-600 dollars on a pistol today. What’s a Glock 19x run? $560 on sale?
@@reallyaintbuynit2018 At a local gun shop they got 2, a nice version and a really hammered version both for 299.99, the nice one's flaw is that its the 9mm version but whomever sold it to them, left a 40 SW mag with it. so If I was to buy it, i'd have to buy magazines online
@@Tadicuslegion78 Mec-Gar makes quality replacement magazines for the 9MM P series. They do have the thin metal floorplate, not the thick plastic type, & are available in 15, 17, & 20 round capacity.
You no I was thinking this guy was not kidding until I saw the range test. He some how made that ruler malfunction more times than all the others Rutgers that have ever been maid lol. This guy should do movie special effects lol.
This was how this pistol functioned. I dont modify weapons to make a point. Ruger is not top tier. They are inexpensive and do not have the reliability and durability of top manufacturers. It is just what Bill Ruger had in mind. It is a commercial grade pistol. Not LE and most certainly not military.
I had a P- 85, an unfortunately sold it many yrs ago, stupid me. It was the most accurate 9mm I ever shot or had. The only problem was it had a spongy trigger that bugged the hell out of me, hence the reason I sold, like I said ,stupid me. If I ever find another one in really good shape will buy it. The 9mm an .45acp had no issues, the.40 S&W had a higher pressure spike which led to problems, don't remember exactly, but think that's where the frame cracking came in, if I remember right. Thx
I have had my P-85 since they first became available to purchase. It has always been reliable, but never my go to gun. They have no resale value, so I have always kept mine.
State troopers in my state in the 80s and 90s used to carry these and they were looked upon as some sort of high class substitute to the 6-shot Colt revolver. They soon switched over to Glocks.
My 1st pistol was the P94 .40 never jammed with any kind of ammo and all the parts still look good. It's heavily than other guns that's why it stays in my nightstand
Carried 2 P95s as a security guard from '96 to '03 (among others). Horrible DA trigger, one gun went down due to the trigger freezing in SA. Saw numerous examples used by other guards, including qualifications. Definitely lower tier but it always FED, FIRED, & EJECTED, zero hangups. That was with a large variety of HPs.
I put 10,000 through a P95, never had a failure. Got out of 9 mm, sold it, still looked like new. Missed it, bought another. Not stellar precision, but mine have been reliable. Clunky feel.
Owned many P Series and presently bought back a P 90. I never had a problem one with any of the Rugers. Berettas, CZ, Glocks, etc... I have had problems with. The words Cheap and unreliable you uttered are wrong. Maybe in your case they have been but, not in my and many I know who own them. The state prison in my state used them in the past with no problems and can't say that for the Glocks they now issue. You can look at the many sites here on You Tube about the Ruger P series and see overwhelming support of the P Series, very few if any complaints. Yours must be an isolated incident.
I saw several in the crime labs. This performed poorly in the XM9 trials as well. This is my experience. Never said it was a bad gun. It was not military grade by any long shot. Commercial for sure decent. The guns I came across in the lab were not well cared for.
@@SmallArmsSolutions The was the next question :What condition were these weapons in but, you answered that. This could be a main factor why they did not perform for you ? P Series Rugers in my experience have been great. We had the P 85's at the prison that had many rounds thru them and just kept ticking along with the guys down the road at the Federal Prison who had DAO P 95's. My P 90 got me my best qualification score of any 45, including 1911's made by Colt and other big name brands.
Crime gun , or guns confiscated after being used in self defense? There is a difference. I have P series DAO’s in 9 and 40 calibers . And a P90 in 45. All three dead reliable , very accurate . My P94 in.40 has the most rounds through it and is my favorite.
Rugers are crime guns. That is why old man Ruger was so outspoken about disarming you. He knew he was arming criminals and wanted some space between them and his company.
@Elliot Torres Never said that. Old Man Ruger knew his guns were used by criminals thus he wanted space between his company and the criminals but did not want to make better guns that would eat into his margins. That space was the law-abiding gun owner thus the no honest man nonsense from Billy Ruger.
I was never a fan of the traditional da trigger on the Rugers, which is why I bought the P89 with the double action only trigger. It is a brick of a pistol, but with a good holster and some bulky clothing it was easy to conceal. I recall Masad Ayoob saying good things about the .45 Rugers and the police department he worked for issuing them.
Thanks Chris (and Heather!) for another great Crime Series edition. Although much of your career has been focused on rifles, I really appreciate you taking time with hand guns. I don’t have the money (or decent range) to move into rifles yet but I’m going down the rabbit hole of military/LEO hand guns and trust your deep dives - maybe a future series?
I'm with you there. I'm buying the metal framed modern military guns. CZ 75, Beretta 92, Sig P series, etc. Lots of fun to collect. I'm not a fan of plastic guns. Thankfully I have access to a 200 yard range within a half hour drive and about 2 hours from a range that can go to a mile.
No experience with the p-series but, I have a American compact and it's light years better. Metal trigger, stainless barrel, poly frame striker fired. Not a terrible trigger pull for a striker fired pistol and I've fed it a mixed diet of 9mm with no failures....yet.
I was not familiar with the P series until I was gifted one by a family member. I was given a first year P95DC with less than 20 rounds fired through it. It didn't take long to really like this firearm, to the point where it replaced the Gen4 Glock 19 as my BUG. It did come with 2 10 round magazines, I have since stocked up on 15 round Ruger magazines.
I still own the P95 de cocker version. First polymer gun I ever fired. Some good design ideas like the disassemble. On the other hand it's hard to shoot (for me)
I used a 9mm P-85 for some time as my primary self defense pistol in the early '90s. It had no decocker and was unaltered by the "P-89" upgrade/recall. That gun taught me to dislike double/single action pistols in general and sent me down the road of revolvers (favoring Ruger, of course) and 1911s. It was incredibly reliable, however. Never a malfunction of any sort. Am I sorry I sold it? Nah. I would like to try my hand on one again, but I am not losing any sleep over it.
The wife inherited a P89 9x19mm. We had tons of feeding problems with it. I replaced each magazine spring ($7 or $8 a piece) and the problems disappeared. I blamed the 25ish year old springs, not the gun. Due to it's (ahem) weight issue, it is more pleasant to shoot than many of my other 9mm guns.
the quality of the Ruger p85 was excellent (intended to be an entry level handgun) - the grade of the p85 was middling quality = fitness for purpose / use grade = relative ranking
I still own my P94 in 40 S&W, it has always been reliable, but the newer pistols put it to shame, with better ergonomics, capacity, functionality and looks. Still it was my first pistol, can't seem to part with it.
Never had a problem with P85 or 89. Granted, I didn't shoot much but the P90, in .45 would have been a gold mine if it took 1911 mags like Mini 14 would have been with AR mags. Mag release was angled to eject mag if carried in waistband.
I've never had one of these P-Series pistols fail unlike yours in the video😂
I have seen a few fail mechanically. This was a commercial grade pistol. Not military nor really even LE. I’m sure your commercial pistol were worked fine on the range
Oh, & the US Bureau of Prisons issued P-series for over a decade. It's a cheap gun, but calling it unreliable is just not accurate. Some of the dates mentioned are also incorrect.
Bill Ruger gave his team carte blanche when designing the P85 in their quest to obtain the Ruger unobtainable: a military contract. It performed superbly and passed without issue. They simply didn’t like the idea of an investment cast manufactured process. It is a great pistol. Still.
Never seen a more disconcerting motto than from the Fall River PD patch (47 seconds in), "we'll try.."
Just a drunken stutter-step ahead of "better than nothing!"
Terrific series. Thank you Mr. Bartocci!
Love the series. Another gun that was high on the hit parade at crime scenes in the 80s and 90s was the Taurus PT 92. It would be a good addition to this series.
You are right. I have been trying to find one to review
@@SmallArmsSolutions I'm so glad you haven't given up on this series. I find these episodes very interesting. Thank you
Especially a stainless steel version with a pearl grip
I love the p series pistol. P89 is a solid work horse.
I agree
The P-85/P-89 is actually a very attractive pistol, despite being chunky. The lines and curves are good looking.
So was the P94. That was also a great looking gun I think.
@@rushfanjames2112 P94 is the best of the P series, which are excellent pistols overall.
I"ve owned several p89"s over the years and have fired countless rounds of both factory and handloads.....not ONE single malfunction EVER. It"s a fabulous pistol.
I currently own one of these (p89), and it’s a real tank. It shoots anything and has never failed. Favorite at the range, the weight limits recoil.
@@christopherhamilton5557we’ve got a family friend who unfortunately developed dementia so my dad had to keep ahold of his guns. Ever since I kid I would check out his P90DC and finally once I turned 18 my dad let me take it home, clean I and keep I
Same with my P94D 40cal. ball or HP doesn't matter@@christopherhamilton5557
💯They were popular back my hood days lol. What was the fuss about these... why did the stop being #1?
I've owned and carried several Ruger P series pistols over the years. They have always been very underrated. In their day, it was hard to trade one in for any $ at all. I did use a P90-45 caliber to defend my life back in 96. In my experience, all the P series were very reliable, hollow point and FMJ. I did buy one of the 1st P95's when they came out. And I've never heard of their durability being questioned. The P95 was issued to an US Army tank unit. I've never seen a P series malfunction. Especially like this one was doing. I'll never forget- several years back, my buddies and I got together to shoot handguns one day. Glocks, Sigs and S&Ws. All but one guy who had a P95. By the end of the day, only his P95 had made it though the shooting without a malfunction.
In my experience mine was very reliable.
@Brooke B I remember reading in an old gun magazine that a certain tank unit were issued the P95.
There was a 3 year span of manufacturing from 87-90 where the gun could discharge with the safety/decocker engaged due to a broken firing pin, which issued a massive recall. Thats quite a few pistols manufactured with literally a fatal flaw. That took me two minutes to find. This pistol had issues. Glad yours worked well, but let's keep it real. I like ruger, but let's not imply that this gun is better than glock, s&w or sig. Btw, what ammo were you shooting that caused those guns to malfunction but yours not to?
@@bryy2053 I think the issue is are we over selling it's unreliability and fragility. I know in certain terms the thing was a tank. Ruger released a film in which they blocked a barrel then fired a proof round in the gun. The result was the blast stripped the magazine from the pistol but it was otherwise in hurt. It also was shown being run over by a Police cruiser. The Pistol did in fact see police use with some sources noting Wisconsin, Wyoming and West Virginia Departments of Public Service adopting them.
I truly believe the guns biggest draw back is it's handling characteristics. It's simply to large
@@ftdefiance1 Very good comment. The P series pistols were pretty hefty, but I did conceal carry several models of them- the 1st being a 45 ACP P90.
Used to own the P94 .40SW I found in my local pawn shop. Ended up selling it unfortunately, although it was a great gun and well built. Surprisingly I've seen and talked to the more older guys who still carry these pistols quite a bit. They always speak highly of these guns and show that old school guns can still kickass.
The biggest difference between modern and older handguns is that today’s pistols have the advantages of being able to mount a light or red dot without needing to get a mill to mount them. Most people who are more new ish to guns (for the sake of holsters) might not carry a attachment on their weapon.
The ruger P-85 was used by the Wisconsin state patrol for a number of years it was replaced in the early 2000’s by the Glock 22 in 40S&W and now the Glock 22 has been replaced by the Glock 17 in 9MM
Like others I have owned several P89's and P90's, and place the pretty high on my favorite list. Had failures with the aluminum guide rod wearing fast and causing problems, so always replaced them with stainless. Make sure the spring is on the right direction or it will bind and cause extra wear and failures. No other problems - ever. Keep them clean and wet. Still have a new P89 in the box left over.
I have p89 310 serial , l have bought stainless Steel guide road l have heard stock Rod cause some problems other than that you can easly put recoil spring in correct direction , in my opinion this pistol is more durable than Beretta 92 FS , Browning hi power , alloy sig sauer p226 , if they produce them Steel lower frame in durability they are as durable as Cz platform.pistols , in reliability this pistol is poor mans sig sauer or HK only l dont like barrel link , also take a look at parts number this pistol nearly as simple as Glock , 40 parts totaly that is also a pro
I have a Ruger P95DC as well as two Ruger P89DCs and the trigger reset on all three after the first double-action pull is far better than what you demonstrate in this video. Something is seriously wrong with the particular P95 that you've shown here. I only own the decocker-only variants because the safety is unnecessary for a DA/SA handgun, maybe the ones with a safety had more issues.
Fired one of these for the first time at the range a few weeks ago, really liked it. I wish Ruger still made these.
Why would they? No one wants a single stack brick. If I'm taking a full sized da/sa gun it's a CZ or Beretta. Higher capacity and higher quality.
@@bmstylee Because i like shooting weird guns at the range.
@@bmstylee don’t believe it’s single stack.
@@AK74Man87 15 round mags would agree with your assertion.
They are cheap enough and plentiful in many shops that getting one of the series is doable, I loved my p85
Dude. The p90 was totally accurate and reliable. I like you stickers tho bro. Lol.
For commercial use it was good. Not as a military pistol
I remember the results of the military test that were done on the P85 when it was submitted to the military for testing and they were not what this gentleman here says they were. As far as I remember with the info that we had back at that time regarding the trials, the Ruger P85 passed the reliability test and did not fail prior to the 20000 round mark as stated by the gentleman. There were other factors as to why it wasn't chosen such as the type of finish that it had. The P85 that I bought has never had a single issue and still runs perfectly with any type of ammo that I've ever put through it. And while it never did have the superb finish of a Sig for example or a Beretta M92 the P85 and later models were known for their extreme reliability
Mine was 100% reliable as well
I just was looking at a Shooting Illustrated article on the 20,000 rd test of the P85, which also said it passed that test.
I bought a used P89 on consignment for 250.00 when I turned 21. I'm 46 and in my life that gun has never jammed with FMJ, HP's, reloads,, or even mixed up ammunition in the magazine.
The guy in the video shocked me as I've had much different results compared to his review.
Well I mean he said the p89 was introduced in 2009 as well when it was an 80s-90s gun so...
@@PaidInBoredom A lot of wrong information information on some of these reviews. People forget that This particular gun was created for 1 purpose 1 purpose only and that was for combat. It's doesn't have the 3lb competition trigger or the sleek ergonomics we see in modern handguns or cut outs for red dot sights. It's built like a tank cause its sole purpose is to go to war and function in any environment. I own the P85 and P89 and they are the only guns I have in my collection that included walthers, berretas , taurus, colt, springiefs, glocks, and others that have never had an issue with any kind of ammo I feed them. People look at the price they can get a used one for and think it's junk but in my opinion,, it's one of the most reliable guns on the market today.
I had the p85 it was a nail driver never had a malfunction. currently own a p95 its also a nail driver and never had a malfunction.
The P series Rugers are all very reliable and durable.
Bought my used p89 when I turned 21 years old. Today I'm 46 and that Ruger has never jammed. Full metal jacket, hollow points, reloads, mixed ammo. It just works plain and simple.
Still have my dad's (RIP) P85 Mark II. It's clunky, but it's so old now it's got a retro aesthetic. I admit it doesn't get much of a workout any more since it's mostly sentimental.
It gets shit on in this video and elsewhere, but the thing eats cheap crappy ammo and it's still going, though I have invested in a spare slide and internals for just in case. I definitely do not have the experience shown in the video, but I have the understanding the regular P85 (i.e. non Mark II) had problems.
I will say it's not like a Glock, which will keep going and going, in that it has to be cleaned semi-religiously to maintain reliability.
It does have an atrocious trigger for sure.
An old joke about the lanyard ring on the P85 was you could attach a lanyard to it and use it as a flail to beat the guy to death because it was so heavy.
And if nothing else, it's Spike's Spiegel's other pistol! But I would agree the modern economy pistols are much, much better.
I have owned a couple of those Ruger pistols and always had good results with them they seem to shoot straight and go bang every time never had an issue
I've had two p89's with no issues. I currently have a p90 with no issues. Very reliable and accurate pistols. Not a fan of the p90 capacity tho
I've probably had around a dozen P series pistols pass through my hands over the years in varying conditions from new to very very used and don't remember ever seeing one have any type of failure.
That has been my experience with several models of the P series Rugers too.
Ruger P series are stupid durable….
I have a P90., I found mine deadly accurate in single action. Heavy double. But a great pistol. A little tricky disassembly.. That extractor would pop up and stick, then you need to remove a hand grip to get in there to flip it back down, But nonetheless, a solid gun. I also have a P89dc., Great pistol. Total tank. Like the P90. Zero issues. I did have one issue with the P90 with a guide rod jamming in the slide. Simple polishing of the guide rod solved that. These will be cult classics.
Actually the P89 was issued to quite a few major law enforcement agencies, Chicago PD issued them in the 90’s, San Diego PD in the 90’s, Wisconsin state police 90’s, many more. All were very pleased with the reliability.. The p85 mkII actually passed the army’s XM 10 pistol trials at Ft Benning in 1987.. army actually purchased 10k P95s for their tanker units in the early 2000’s. However the contract wasn’t renewed due to holster and accessory compatibility.. a little research would go a long way if you’re going to give the history of a pistol.. The P series rugers are extremely reliable pistols anyone in the know will tell you they feed almost anything and keep going.. I own some of the finest pistols ever made from every make and have carried a firearm daily for my profession for over 30 years.. I’m a Glock and Beretta guy but I own 2 p89’s they are just as reliable as my others, just not as sleek or sexy..
XM10 was a dead program. Everyone but Sig and Beretta failed XM9. The P95 was never officially adopted. They were cots pistols. the Ruger is not even in the same league as beretta and sig.
@@SmallArmsSolutions Spoken by a true Block fanboy.
The comments here are rather positive. When concerning Rugers on other sites I find a ton of gun snobs.
I had the P90. It was a rough, chunky brute, but it was absolutely reliable with any and all ammo I fed it. Very accurate with a more than acceptable trigger as well. To this day, I regret selling it off to fund for another gun purchase (of which that other gun turned out to be a lemon).
For a fleeting moment I thought "Maybe it's time to get rid of my 2 P series Rugers". I took them out and cleaned them and realized it ain't gonna happen. I fell in love all over again.
Hey! Go easy now. The Ruger P85 was the first semi-auto I bought back in the day. And I have owned a P89....But I did sell them because they were too big for my hand.
I think so many wound up in criminal hands because they were stolen in home burglaries.
Thanks!... Still have a P89DC I bought new. A bit bulky but always reliable.
Fun fact. I started working with the Federal Bureau of Prisons in 1995 and we had .38 special revolvers. In 1996 we transitioned to the 9mm and the BOP selected the Ruger P85 in DAO(double action only). In around 2008 we then switched to the Beretta 92 in DAO. I think we had to be the only law enforcement agency to use the Rugers because the BOP is cheap. Lol smh.
I owned a P95 back in the day. Once I got used to the trigger I rather enjoyed it. Never had a problem with it. Carried in either a shoulder harness or at the small of my back in leather holster.
My second semi-auto pistol was a P95DC with a stainless slide. Still have it and love it. My first pistol was a S&W SW40F. I put it on a credit card and my wife saw the purchase before I could tell her about it and all hell broke loose. Well, the P95 was $350 when I bought it, not long after it came out. I just put $50 away from my usual weekly cash and within two months (had to include tax, of course) I was able to buy it without the wife (now ex-wife) finding out.
I like the trigger. The double action is smoother and lighter than my Beretta M9, even with the lighter hammer spring on the Beretta. It is also smoother. I am comparing them as I write this. The reset on the single action is much shorter than you are demonstrating. Don't know what is going on there.
I had a P89DC, and sold it. I really regret that, since I would then have had two guns that shared mags. I have a good number of factory 15-round mags. Mec-Gar has 17-round mags for a very reasonable price.
I have also purchased Talon grips for this gun. That is my only issue with it. The slickness of the frame.
That was the very first gun I ever purchased. Mine has the blued slide though. Built like a tank. I never once had any failure of any kind with it. Got it in '99 and still have it.
@@Cheka__ I got mine in 1995. Came with 10-round mags. Got some third-party mags, but they were no good. Finally, after the ban expired, I got the factory mags.
Good to hear from another fan. I have had the same experience, and wish they would bring it back.
@@louisgiokas2206 Yeah mine also came with 10 round mags. Two of them. Then I bought some 15 round mags after the stupid ban. Cool, dude.
@@Cheka__ Yeah! Got six 15-round Ruger factory mags. I like to have six factory mags for all my guns. Two or three load outs. The only exception I have now is my Auto-Ordnance M1911A1. It came with one and I have ordered two factory mags to go with it. I had three Chip McCormick 8-round mags but gave them to a friend who had just inherited a Colt LW Commander, the original version. Also gave him all my .45 ACP ammo so that he could shoot it. This was a few months ago. I have some new ammo coming tomorrow. They said tomorrow, then said today, then changed it to tomorrow. We'll see.
I bought one in 1991.
It was stolen from my beach house by a crackhead (literally), then recovered some years later and destroyed.
My grandfather has a p85, I’ve always loved how dated it looked. Nothing days 90s pistols like a p85.
The first semi-auto I bought for myself was a stainless P95DC for $400.00
It was everything I needed to be, including inexpensive, small enough to carry, DA/SA, and reliable AF!
And when Ruger discontinued the design, I moved on from Ruger...
I keep looking at one in my local gun shop tbh I hear nothing but glowing reviews from the older guys at the gun club
@@Brennan_the_smith I still think they're great guns because they were built to last. That said, just like any used gun, they CAN have problems. If I were in your shoes, I'd probably buy it-- Just make sure the pawn shop has a decent return policy. If not, I'd walk away.
Good luck
The P89 wasn’t “introduced in 2009”, it was introduced in 1991 or 1992 iirc. It was discontinued between 2007 & 2009 depending on who you ask
love this series, i have had a few of the p85 series, big guns. thanks
Is this the pistol with the polymer slide rails?
I have the P-89 one of the first made.
This was my fathers Ruger .
I have shot a untold amount of 9 mm ammo through it
I love the p95 and p series of pistols, the p95 was my first "hi cap" handgun, 16 rounds , very fun reliable guns ,well mine was anyways haha thanks for sharing ! Much love and respect love the channel, series and content!
I'd say ruger is still the working class manufacturer. The security-9 series is a good modern example.
Back in the early 90s I was in HS . I was convinced the Ruger p85 was going to be my first pistol once I could buy a hand gun. I always liked the look of them. By the wsy....My first hand gun turned out to be a Beretta 92 "police".
You said the P89 was chambered for "7.62x21" at minite 6:21. To my knowledge, the Ruger P89 was chambered for 9x19mm.
They offered both
I was just about to click away when the failures started....nothing less interesting to me than watching someone else shoot (IV8888 is the worst for that), however that was an interesting problem to have. My sister had one of these and she kept bringing it to me complaining of jams. When I went out to observe her shooting it...since I couldn't replicate the issue, I determined that an old wrist injury was causing her to limp wrist it just enough to cause a stove pipe jam(it was short stroking because of the movement in her wrist absorbing the recoil energy). Nothing wrong with that pistol and a friend with better grip is the happy owner now. Thanks Chris and heather
I second that. Tried loose grip (as you are sometimes taught to shoot) and it was the only time a round wasn’t extracted completely.
I remember seeing a few CPD officers carrying these. I would also check out the movie Harsh Times with Christian Bale. Part of the movie involves Bale and his friend in the movie trying to sell a stolen Ruger.
How many times was the registration of firearms instrumental in solving a crime, during you time in service? Geoff Who is curious.
I remember the big selling point of these pistols was the investment casting which kept the price around the $300 which at the time was a big deal. Most autos had a much higher price tag. I had a stainless steel P89 for many years. It was certainly not my favorite pistol, it was kinda bulky but seemed reliable.
Love this crime series...best vids on the net! Keep'em coming. Ty.
All those rappers rap about those Yuhh hit yah with a ruger I’m in your dreams like Freddy Kruger.
I used to have a P85, one of the early stainless guns. I liked the pistol, except for the shape of the trigger guard; I didn't like the way it forced my trigger and second fingers apart.
The P85 was also late for the XM9 competition. Though marked '85' it didn't actually come out until '86. This is the first I've heard about it actually taking part in the trials.
I think it was produced with the intention of completing in the XM9 trials but Ruger was too late submitting it. It did, however, make it into the XM10 trials in 1988.
@@williamflowers9435 Ah. Thanks
The notion that this was a cheap pistol at $300 back in the 80’s and 90’s seems odd. I started a full time job at the company I work for now in 1990 and my salary was $370/week. My car payment on an almost new car was $212/ month. I would have considered a $300 purchase a major one. Much like spending 5-600 dollars on a pistol today. What’s a Glock 19x run? $560 on sale?
Hope to find one of the metal frame models when i get my Christmas bonus
My Ruger P89 was stolen! Loved that pistol!
Well here's one I never thought would be considered a crime gun.
They were inexpensive back in the day. They were inexpensive in recent times on the used market. Now I am seeing them going $400+
@@reallyaintbuynit2018 At a local gun shop they got 2, a nice version and a really hammered version both for 299.99, the nice one's flaw is that its the 9mm version but whomever sold it to them, left a 40 SW mag with it. so If I was to buy it, i'd have to buy magazines online
That model has worn mag springs.
@@Tadicuslegion78 Mec-Gar makes quality replacement magazines for the 9MM P series. They do have the thin metal floorplate, not the thick plastic type, & are available in 15, 17, & 20 round capacity.
@The Manager I used to pick them up used for $200-$250.
You no I was thinking this guy was not kidding until I saw the range test. He some how made that ruler malfunction more times than all the others Rutgers that have ever been maid lol. This guy should do movie special effects lol.
This was how this pistol functioned. I dont modify weapons to make a point. Ruger is not top tier. They are inexpensive and do not have the reliability and durability of top manufacturers. It is just what Bill Ruger had in mind. It is a commercial grade pistol. Not LE and most certainly not military.
Love watching the series and finding out more about some of these pistols I've barely heard of / know nothing about
I have a P89DC, P90DC, P91DC and a P97DC. All have run flawlessly for decades. I'll put the accuracy of my P90DC up against any Sig 45acp.
Great video sir. Love this series!
I love this series
I had a P- 85, an unfortunately sold it many yrs ago, stupid me. It was the most accurate 9mm I ever shot or had. The only problem was it had a spongy trigger that bugged the hell out of me, hence the reason I sold, like I said ,stupid me. If I ever find another one in really good shape will buy it. The 9mm an .45acp had no issues, the.40 S&W had a higher pressure spike which led to problems, don't remember exactly, but think that's where the frame cracking came in, if I remember right. Thx
I have had my P-85 since they first became available to purchase. It has always been reliable, but never my go to gun. They have no resale value, so I have always kept mine.
Hey, what happened with the Glock video in the crime series?
Who cares.
Hopefully you respond to this question can you put a P 95 upper with the P 95 barrel and springs in a P 89 lower?
Im sorry, i am not sure. I don’t have any to try to interchange. Given Rutgers part numbers, i doubt it but cant say for sure.
Where can I find one
Tom Sizemore's character carries one of these in the armored car heist in Heat.
State troopers in my state in the 80s and 90s used to carry these and they were looked upon as some sort of high class substitute to the 6-shot Colt revolver. They soon switched over to Glocks.
Houston Metro police department also carried these guns.
Will the Cobra and Davis handgun series come soon?
Chuckled when you mentioned the P90. I always referred to that pistol as my 'cadillac' since the recoil was negligible. Definitely a range toy.
My 1st pistol was the P94 .40 never jammed with any kind of ammo and all the parts still look good. It's heavily than other guns that's why it stays in my nightstand
I've used several of the P series as carry guns.
Carried 2 P95s as a security guard from '96 to '03 (among others). Horrible DA trigger, one gun went down due to the trigger freezing in SA. Saw numerous examples used by other guards, including qualifications. Definitely lower tier but it always FED, FIRED, & EJECTED, zero hangups. That was with a large variety of HPs.
Anyone know where to get good aftermarket stuff for this? Accessory rail mods?
I put 10,000 through a P95, never had a failure. Got out of 9 mm, sold it, still looked like new. Missed it, bought another. Not stellar precision, but mine have been reliable. Clunky feel.
Owned many P Series and presently bought back a P 90. I never had a problem one with any of the Rugers. Berettas, CZ, Glocks, etc... I have had problems with. The words Cheap and unreliable you uttered are wrong. Maybe in your case they have been but, not in my and many I know who own them. The state prison in my state used them in the past with no problems and can't say that for the Glocks they now issue. You can look at the many sites here on You Tube about the Ruger P series and see overwhelming support of the P Series, very few if any complaints. Yours must be an isolated incident.
I saw several in the crime labs. This performed poorly in the XM9 trials as well. This is my experience. Never said it was a bad gun. It was not military grade by any long shot. Commercial for sure decent. The guns I came across in the lab were not well cared for.
@@SmallArmsSolutions The was the next question :What condition were these weapons in but, you answered that. This could be a main factor why they did not perform for you ? P Series Rugers in my experience have been great. We had the P 85's at the prison that had many rounds thru them and just kept ticking along with the guys down the road at the Federal Prison who had DAO P 95's. My P 90 got me my best qualification score of any 45, including 1911's made by Colt and other big name brands.
How does atf recover a serial number that’s been scratched off ?
Crime gun , or guns confiscated after being used in self defense? There is a difference. I have P series DAO’s in 9 and 40 calibers . And a P90 in 45. All three dead reliable , very accurate . My P94 in.40 has the most rounds through it and is my favorite.
Rugers are crime guns. That is why old man Ruger was so outspoken about disarming you. He knew he was arming criminals and wanted some space between them and his company.
@Elliot Torres Never said that.
Old Man Ruger knew his guns were used by criminals thus he wanted space between his company and the criminals but did not want to make better guns that would eat into his margins.
That space was the law-abiding gun owner thus the no honest man nonsense from Billy Ruger.
@Elliot Torres Bill Ruger pre-dated Boomers.
I had a P85...Sold it. You're right though,fairly cheap but it worked.
I was never a fan of the traditional da trigger on the Rugers, which is why I bought the P89 with the double action only trigger. It is a brick of a pistol, but with a good holster and some bulky clothing it was easy to conceal.
I recall Masad Ayoob saying good things about the .45 Rugers and the police department he worked for issuing them.
Thanks Chris (and Heather!) for another great Crime Series edition. Although much of your career has been focused on rifles, I really appreciate you taking time with hand guns. I don’t have the money (or decent range) to move into rifles yet but I’m going down the rabbit hole of military/LEO hand guns and trust your deep dives - maybe a future series?
I'm with you there. I'm buying the metal framed modern military guns. CZ 75, Beretta 92, Sig P series, etc. Lots of fun to collect. I'm not a fan of plastic guns. Thankfully I have access to a 200 yard range within a half hour drive and about 2 hours from a range that can go to a mile.
Thanks Chris. Loves these videos.
No experience with the p-series but, I have a American compact and it's light years better. Metal trigger, stainless barrel, poly frame striker fired. Not a terrible trigger pull for a striker fired pistol and I've fed it a mixed diet of 9mm with no failures....yet.
I love this series. But why do gun makers prefer right hand twists on rifling?
I was not familiar with the P series until I was gifted one by a family member. I was given a first year P95DC with less than 20 rounds fired through it. It didn't take long to really like this firearm, to the point where it replaced the Gen4 Glock 19 as my BUG. It did come with 2 10 round magazines, I have since stocked up on 15 round Ruger magazines.
The .40 caliber variants (P-91 and P-944) only came with a 10 round “post ban” magazine capacity or an LE/Govt. only 11 round magazine.
7:36 you skipped the P85 MK2 .Also, for all p series if it has a “K” prefix , it’s stainless.
....owed a P345 and was a good pistol very accurate decent trigger loved that model.
These are fantastic videos
I still own the P95 de cocker version. First polymer gun I ever fired. Some good design ideas like the disassemble. On the other hand it's hard to shoot (for me)
My cousin had the 45acp model and it was a good reliable pistol. His had the metal frame though.
I used a 9mm P-85 for some time as my primary self defense pistol in the early '90s. It had no decocker and was unaltered by the "P-89" upgrade/recall. That gun taught me to dislike double/single action pistols in general and sent me down the road of revolvers (favoring Ruger, of course) and 1911s. It was incredibly reliable, however. Never a malfunction of any sort. Am I sorry I sold it? Nah. I would like to try my hand on one again, but I am not losing any sleep over it.
The wife inherited a P89 9x19mm. We had tons of feeding problems with it. I replaced each magazine spring ($7 or $8 a piece) and the problems disappeared. I blamed the 25ish year old springs, not the gun. Due to it's (ahem) weight issue, it is more pleasant to shoot than many of my other 9mm guns.
Price attractive to criminals...really! Maybe more stolen because more people owned them.
the quality of the Ruger p85 was excellent (intended to be an entry level handgun) - the grade of the p85 was middling
quality = fitness for purpose / use
grade = relative ranking
I still own my P94 in 40 S&W, it has always been reliable, but the newer pistols put it to shame, with better ergonomics, capacity, functionality and looks. Still it was my first pistol, can't seem to part with it.
0:47 Fall River PD motto " We'll Try". That doesn't invigorate any type of confidence whatsoever. It may do the opposite
I will probably get one of these one day...
11:28 Did one of those cases eject to the left?
I wish I still had my ruger american pistol 45 I loved that gun
Thank you!
Love this series
Never had a problem with P85 or 89. Granted, I didn't shoot much but the P90, in .45 would have been a gold mine if it took 1911 mags like Mini 14 would have been with AR mags. Mag release was angled to eject mag if carried in waistband.
I have a P90 I like quite a bit. I wish I'd picked up its companion P89 at the same time