The Original CZ Forum

GENERAL => General Firearms Discussion => Topic started by: DenStinett on October 04, 2020, 09:55:13 PM

Title: An old "Beater" finds a new home
Post by: DenStinett on October 04, 2020, 09:55:13 PM
I've been looking for a good ol' "Tackle / Tool Box" Gun for a while
And I settle on this:
A well used, 1990 M-03002, P85 (non MkII):
(https://i.imgur.com/KbHQTBs.jpg)

I believe it was a "Range Gun" at the Scottsdale Gun Club in AZ
It came "AS IS" with the one 15 Rd Mag (pictured on the right) and the Hogue Grips
I bought the two additional, 17 Rd Mec-Gar Mags from MidwayUSA
These are what Midway called "Blemished" .... $22.90 as opposed to them "new" at $25.99
The only thing I could find wrong with them; was the Plastic Packaging was crumpled ! BIG WOOP ! ! !
Haven't had it out yet, but I did Fieldstrip it, and it was (mostly) clean, with an "OK" Bore

This thing's a TANK !
Weighs in at 2.5 lbs, loaded with 15+1 147gr HSHPs :o
The Grip feels as natural as my CZs
And the Natural Point; is as close to dead-on as anyone could ask for

The Trigger ? WELL, as anyone that has experience with these knows; IT ATROCIOUS ! ! !
But it does have its good points ....
The Double Action Trigger is a very consistent 10 pounds
The Trigger Reach is: 2.975", with a lite 0.130" Take-up before you start the "pull"
It breaks clean, after a 0.585" pull, at 2.260"
And 0.045" of Overtravel ..... not too bad, RIGHT ?
In Single Action, its Trigger Pull averages a very clean 4.75 pounds .... that seems OK to me; for a "Service" Pistol
A Reach of 2.660" and a lite Take-up of 0.370" before you hit the (very obvious) "Wall" at 2.290" .... seems quite a ways !
But when you're there, another 0.030" and 4.75 pounds, it breaks super clean at 2.260", with the same 0.045" of Over Travel, as in DA
The Reset seems "forever"; 0.325" at 2.540", and you start all over
Other than accuracy (which we'll test later); so far it checks-out, and should fill its intended Roll

Be safe, Den S
Title: Re: An old "Beater" finds a new home
Post by: Ron M. on October 05, 2020, 06:30:45 PM
Nice old Ruger.  They're solid if unspectacular pistols. I prefer a 4 inch S&W model 64 for a boat/tackle box gun. Stainless 38 Special revolver is easy to take care of and hard to break.
Title: Re: An old "Beater" finds a new home
Post by: eagle-eye on October 06, 2020, 07:44:25 PM
Those old Rugers are well made guns. They aren't refined or classy, but they work.
Title: Re: An old "Beater" finds a new home
Post by: DenStinett on October 06, 2020, 10:24:18 PM
Thanks Guys,
Looking forward to getting it to the Range
Title: Re: An old "Beater" finds a new home
Post by: mrcabinet on October 06, 2020, 10:24:59 PM
That was the first semi-auto I ever bought. Built like a tank and 100% reliable. Only thing was I couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with it! I pulled it out for a kill/neck shot on an elk once and missed from 3 feet away, lol, It wasn't the gun - it was all me. Others could shoot it just fine. I kept it for a couple decades just for sentimental reasons but ended up selling it to a young man that was tickled pink to get it. That pistol should serve you well for a long, long time.
Title: Re: An old "Beater" finds a new home
Post by: DenStinett on October 06, 2020, 10:31:01 PM
Thanks Mr. C
So far, I like what I see !
Title: Re: An old "Beater" finds a new home
Post by: skin on October 06, 2020, 10:38:37 PM
 I love older guns like yours. I think they even made a few in 30 luger. Rugers pistol brought the wonder 9 to the masses at an affordable price. Have a good time shooting your ruger!
Title: Re: An old "Beater" finds a new home
Post by: Gunnerdad80 on October 06, 2020, 11:39:51 PM
That was the first semi-auto I ever bought. Built like a tank and 100% reliable. Only thing was I couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with it! I pulled it out for a kill/neck shot on an elk once and missed from 3 feet away, lol, It wasn't the gun - it was all me. Others could shoot it just fine. I kept it for a couple decades just for sentimental reasons but ended up selling it to a young man that was tickled pink to get it. That pistol should serve you well for a long, long time.

A Ruger P95 safety/decocker model was the very first gun I ever purchased. A freakin tank indeed. I miss it too. It seems like they almost have a cult-like status now.  ;D
Title: Re: An old "Beater" finds a new home
Post by: DenStinett on October 07, 2020, 12:28:39 PM

A Ruger P95 safety/decocker model was the very first gun I ever purchased. A freakin tank indeed. I miss it too. It seems like they almost have a cult-like status now.  ;D

The Safety / Decocker on this P85 functions great
Just wish it had more of the physical design of the 89
Flatter and easier to reach and operate
Although; the Ambi Safeties on the 85, do function as a convenient "Slide Racker"   8)
Title: Re: An old "Beater" finds a new home
Post by: eastman on October 07, 2020, 08:11:51 PM
I love older guns like yours. I think they even made a few in 30 luger. Rugers pistol brought the wonder 9 to the masses at an affordable price. Have a good time shooting your ruger!

The KP89x - stainless steel slide, safety/de-cocker levers and interchangeable barrels (separate guide rod and spring for .30 vs 9). A few thousand of them were made.
Title: Re: An old "Beater" finds a new home
Post by: DenStinett on October 08, 2020, 01:03:59 AM

The KP89x - stainless steel slide, safety/de-cocker levers and interchangeable barrels (separate guide rod and spring for .30 vs 9). A few thousand of them were made.

One has to wonder .... If the P85/89 was offered today, would there be a 40 cal to 9mm Combo offering ?
Title: Re: An old "Beater" finds a new home
Post by: eastman on October 08, 2020, 08:06:09 PM

The KP89x - stainless steel slide, safety/de-cocker levers and interchangeable barrels (separate guide rod and spring for .30 vs 9). A few thousand of them were made.

One has to wonder .... If the P85/89 was offered today, would there be a 40 cal to 9mm Combo offering ?

they could have done that when the P91 was designed, but I don't know if P91s are all cam or if they transitioned to cam from the original P85/P89 swinging link

same for P94/P944
Title: Re: An old "Beater" finds a new home
Post by: 10-96 on October 16, 2020, 07:56:20 PM
I haven't read enough to determine if your pistol has been corrected, but do note there was a recall for these-  https://ruger.com/P85Recall/index.html (https://ruger.com/P85Recall/index.html)

Have fun, shoot well, and be safe.
Title: Re: An old "Beater" finds a new home
Post by: DenStinett on October 16, 2020, 08:42:56 PM
I haven't read enough to determine if your pistol has been corrected, but do note there was a recall for these-  https://ruger.com/P85Recall/index.html (https://ruger.com/P85Recall/index.html)
Have fun, shoot well, and be safe.

Yeah, 1096, this one is NOT a MkII
I contacted Ruger, and they're saying there's a 6-8 week lead-time on the Upgrade
Was wondering how BAD was the original incident(s) that caused the MkII Recall in the first-place
Kinda like the Old Model / 3 Screw Transfer Bar Mod
I had THAT done on my three OMs, and part of me wishes I didn't send THEM in   :-\
Weird deal with them, the Mod lowers the Value of an "Original" Old Model
I did reinstall the OEM Parts as soon as they came-back, but the Frames were still modified to accept the New Parts
There's something about that sound, those Old Models make, when you cock them .... I love it
The sound the New Models and the "Transfer Bar" Modded OMs make, just don't quite do it for me    ;)

Anyway, I've asked (over on the Ruger Forum) for pros and cons of the P85 MkII Mod
Any input on that, here, is very welcome too

 
Title: Re: An old "Beater" finds a new home
Post by: 10-96 on October 16, 2020, 09:12:22 PM
From what little I know about it, something in there broke or dislodged causing the pistol to fire when the safety was switched on (or off?).  Either way, it can't be good, huh?  With a P85 being such a different critter from a revolver, I don't think a trip back to the home planet could anyhow end up as bad as what happed with the 3 Screws.  Plus, getting them to put in a spring service pack, deep clean, and maybe throw in a trigger job would be a sweet deal if they would come close to throwing that in on the deal.
Title: Re: An old "Beater" finds a new home
Post by: DenStinett on October 16, 2020, 10:55:34 PM
From what I have read, they install an altogether different Safety / Decocker System and I believe it also includes a new Firing Pin .... not sure what else
So I'm guessing that entire end of the Slide gets a good working-over
And supposedly, they also throw in a 10 Round Magazine, a P15/10
Can't seem to find a bit of info on this Magazine, so I'm not sure what it's even for ! ? !  turns-out, the  P15 is an old style P85 Mag .... /10 or /15 Rounds
Who needs a 10 Round Mag for their P85 MkII ?
Title: Re: An old "Beater" finds a new home
Post by: DenStinett on October 18, 2020, 02:16:58 PM
Have found two (very) conflicting "Recall Notice"(s) on this:
https://www.rugerforum.net/threads/has-everyone-sent-there-p85-in-for-the-mkii-recall.392134/#post-4554078