Why yes dear reader; that is a Ruger P-85. The few Ruger auto aficionados among you may recognize that as a pre-Mk II P-85, meaning it is a super early gun. Like first production guns in 1985 old.
So, the P-85 is a Browning style action modified to be DA/SA. Pretty straight forward.
Well designed, over built, blocky to the point of what some would call ugly, the gun just works. Ruger originally designed the gun, or at least began the process for the 1984 Joint Service Pistol Trial. Just think, we could have been carry that lovely piece of American made hardware.
So, Jackie buys my Old Man a subscription to
Over the last six, eight months I've been looking at an ad for P-85 pistols, and have seen the price steadly decrease. When it hit $165; I said screw it and called in his my credit card and file copy of the store's FFL handy.
The gun didn't come with a magazine nor did it come with a case. And it was sticky. Yeah, ewwwww.
As a funny aside; the weapon has an import mark stamped on the under side of the frame. So, Ruger sold this particular gun somewhere aboard and then some Yankee surplus warehouse brought it back home. But being headquartered out of New Jersey, they couldn't bring in the 15 round standard magazines.
So, when it showed up at work, I field stripped it, put it back together and then did a 4473. And shot a box of Remington overrun 115 grn FMJ through it. No issues. Other than it being legit sticky to the touch. Ewww.
And I took it down to Florida last week. Where Pudge provided some ammo for further testing.
Yeah, it ate a whole box of Tul Ammo and didn't seem to care. Other than still being sticky to the touch.
All the Ruger 9mm P- series guns feed from the same mag. So I use my stash of AWB compliant ten rounders for general range use and run Mec-Gar 15 and 17 rounders for self defense or competition.
So, in summation, a cheap, well built American pistol function just like it ought to. And gives me a fun knock around gun to wave about proving I'm not a raving Glock fan boi all the time.
Yeah, so.... I have one too. Yes, it's ugly and clunky. Still, it's about as reliable as anyone could realistically wish a pistol to be.
ReplyDeleteIt's my bedroom pistol. The one I REALLY want to work 100% should I ever require it. It took about 1000 rounds to make me comfy with it though.
I've got two P-95 pistols. One is my end table gun. The other is a backup. Great shooters, hard to carry though. Utterly reliable.
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ReplyDeleteGreat article. Thank you for sharing this information. This is beneficial for me
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DeleteThis was a fun gun to shoot! A giant chunk of steel that you could feel every movement of the slide cycling. And it’s always a plus when something runs cheap steel ammo. Usually is a sign of good reliability.
ReplyDeleteI keep intending to take it all the way apart and give it a bath. Aside from getting rid of the stickiness it might smooth up just a tinger
DeleteYep, definitely a chunk o' steel. At least it's a RELIABLE chunk o' steel! :-D
ReplyDeleteIt also makes an effective tertiary framing hammer
DeleteHey Mack;
ReplyDeleteI owned a Ruger P89, Similar pistol and really liked it. I remembered reading that Ruger had thought enter the competition for the replacement for the 1911 that the government had in the armory since WWII, but for some reason Beretta "won" the contract but I thought the Ruger was a better pistol. $165 ain't a bad price at all for that pistol.
Ruger didn't finalize the gun in time to enter. The P-226 preformed better but Beretta brought in a good enough gun at a lower price point
DeleteFor some reason I could never hit a Damn thing with a P series.
ReplyDeleteBlame the trigger. Mushy is the only word that comes to mind.
DeleteI liked you showcasing the bargain basement, yet functional blasters. What's up next? Kel-Tec?
ReplyDeleteProbably not a Kel Tec. But look for an SR9 and a LEO S&W M&P trade in write up in the near future.
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