A Ruger P90 surprised me.

[python]

I posted this on another forum, but since some of you enablers nudged me to buy this pistol, I thought it would be appropriate to post it here. Thanks.

I'm a huge fan of the 45acp cartridge. I shoot a lot of it, mostly in revolvers with moonclips, but I've accumulated a few semi-auto pistols that I really like in that caliber. No plastic, striker fired or 1911 pistols. I like all metal, DA/SA guns with external hammers. I was reading an article a few weeks ago about 45 acp pistols that happened to mention the Ruger P90, which has been out of production for about 12 years. I had heard all of the stories of it being fat and ugly, but also the ones about it being very robust and reliable. On a whim, I went on that famous auction site that we all love to hate and found what appeared to be a high condition gun from a reliable seller and put in the minimum bid. I wasn't going to bid any higher than I did, but surprisingly the bid held. Anyway, for $346.00, including the fees, shipping and taxes, I owned it. Came with the box and mags, and showed almost no use. Took it to the range today for the first time, and put 125 rounds through (230 gr. ball). Turns out all of the stories are true. It was a lot of fun to shoot, and pretty accurate for my first time shooting it. The trigger is better than I was led to believe, and the reset is pretty short. The sights are acceptable. One downside is that there are no slide serrations. Am I in love? No, but it's a pretty cool gun.

 

[John from MD]

My brother and I both had one back in the day. We found them extremely accurate using 200gn wadcutters (we used them for bullseye shooting so that is what we shot). I also shot several other P series guns and none came close to the accuracy of the P90.

 

[Objee]

A huge fan of 45acp cartridge, but not of 1911s? Curious.

 

[AlBeight]

I posted this on another forum, but since some of you enablers nudged me to buy this pistol, I thought it would be appropriate to post it here. Thanks.

I'm a huge fan of the 45acp cartridge. I shoot a lot of it, mostly in revolvers with moonclips, but I've accumulated a few semi-auto pistols that I really like in that caliber. No plastic, striker fired or 1911 pistols. I like all metal, DA/SA guns with external hammers. I was reading an article a few weeks ago about 45 acp pistols that happened to mention the Ruger P90, which has been out of production for about 12 years. I had heard all of the stories of it being fat and ugly, but also the ones about it being very robust and reliable. On a whim, I went on that famous auction site that we all love to hate and found what appeared to be a high condition gun from a reliable seller and put in the minimum bid. I wasn't going to bid any higher than I did, but surprisingly the bid held. Anyway for $346.00, including the fees, shipping and taxes, I owned it. Came with the box and mags, and showed almost no use. Took it to the range today for the first time, and put 125 rounds through (230 gr. ball). Turns out all of the stories are true. It was a lot of fun to shoot, and pretty accurate for my first time shooting it. The trigger is better than I was led to believe and the sights are acceptable. Very tight frame to slide fit. One downside is that there are no slide serrations. Am I in love? No, but it's a pretty cool gun.

Get yourself a pair of Hogue rubber grips with the finger grooves for that, you’ll thank me later.

 

[delaware_export]

my pistol that i shoot the best.

built like a tank. It is a bit hefty vs plastic pistols

very reliable

 

[wilcam47]

You figure out how to take slide off yet? Pretty easy once you figure it out.

 

[Applehd]

My best friend of 60 years wants mine... NO... the Hogues make all the difference in the world.

 

[python]

A huge fan of 45acp cartridge, but not of 1911s? Curious.

Revolvers are a great (and fun) platform for the 45acp cartridge especially when used with moonclips. I'm just not a 1911 fan (for which I've been accused of being un-American), or for that matter any other SAO semi-auto pistol.

My revolvers include:

Colt 1917
S&W 1917
S&W model 1950 (pre-26)
S&W model 1955 (pre-25)
S&W 625-2

I also have a couple variations of the Sig P220 and a CZ 97BD with a full conversion from CGW.

 

[python]

You figure out how to take slide off yet? Pretty easy once you figure it out.

Just followed the manual and a video. No sweat.

 

[python]

Get yourself a pair of Hogue rubber grips with the finger grooves for that, you’ll thank me later.

View attachment 444078

Others have suggested that too, but I'm not a fan of rubber or finger groove grips. The gun came with the Hogue wraparound also.

 

[Biggfoot44]

Revolvers are a great (and fun) platform for the 45acp cartridge

My revolvers include:

Colt 1917
S&W 1917
S&W model 1950 (pre-26)
S&W model 1955 (pre-25)
S&W 625-2

What ? No love for Blackhawk Convertibles or SAA Clones ?

 

[Biggfoot44]

Others have suggested that too, but I'm not a fan of rubber or finger groove grips. The gun came with the Hogue wraparound also.

I hear you , in general .

But in this specific instance , it really does make a major difference with the P-90 .

 

[python]

What ? No love for Blackhawk Convertibles or SAA Clones ?

Nope. Please don't hate me.

 

[tdt91]

A long past member here Roger "Lambo" owned one of those and he liked it as well.
RIP brother!

 

[chilipeppermaniac]

My little baby:

 

[Blaster229]

Slide mounted controls make this a loser, other than that, very industrial and built to last forever.

 

[python]

Slide mounted controls make this a loser, other than that, very industrial and built to last forever.

I also prefer the decocker on the frame.

 

[Blaster229]

I also prefer the decocker on the frame.

Careful now. People with 4 inch thumbs are doing to chime in saying that it's no problem. LOL

 

[Magnumite]

I had one sold it, regretted it. Have the decocker model now. I don’t care for finger groove grips but the Hogues mention early really wake the pistol up.

I don’t care for slide mounted safeties so I don’t use them. No different than using a DA revolver first shot. Of course, the 90 DC doesn’t have a safety finction…it is decock only.

 

[Biggfoot44]

Careful now. People with 4 inch thumbs are doing to chime in saying that it's no problem. LOL

It's no problem ( with my 4 inch thumbs ) .

I get it . Everything else equal , I prefer frame mounted controls . But there are techniques for even regular sized people to deal with slide mounted .

And for P-90 specifically , most of them were the Decocker only version , and the conventional safety ones are non typical . DC is right on the slide if you're looking at one , and it's part of the official model number .

For all the comments of " It's big & heavy " , some perspective - P-90 is aproximate the same size and weight, and bbl length as Colt Combat Commander .

Ruger insider folklore is that Bill Ruger preliminary designed the P-90 platform to be 10mm compatible , but for whatever reason , didn't put 10mm version into production . Maybe soft market demand for Delta Elites ?

But either way , the P-90 is overkill strength for mere .45acp .