An old "Beater" finds a new home

[DenStinett]

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):


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
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

[Ron M.]

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.

[eagle-eye]

Those old Rugers are well made guns. They aren't refined or classy, but they work.

[DenStinett]

Thanks Guys,
Looking forward to getting it to the Range

[mrcabinet]

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.

[DenStinett]

Thanks Mr. C
So far, I like what I see !

[skin]

 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!

[Gunnerdad80]

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. 

[DenStinett]

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. 

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"   

[eastman]

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.

[DenStinett]

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 ?

[eastman]

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

[10-96]

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

Have fun, shoot well, and be safe.

[DenStinett]

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
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

 

[10-96]

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.