Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder - Ruger P85

[Moo Moo]

Just wanted to show my latest acquisition, a second hand Ruger P85 that I picked up for $200 AUD ($155 USD in Jan 2021). I "bought it out of left field" due to the price and the fact it was Rugers first attempt at a Wondernine.

Does anyone know if these Rugers were ever used by any Police/LEO agencies or any military's? Thanks in advance.

 

[canoeguy]

I've had a couple of Ruger P-85's and P-89's over the years, great guns, very reliable. I remember when they first came out, first becoming available around 1987 or so, prices were through the roof, selling for way above MSRP. First ones I saw at gun shows (San Jose California Fair Grounds) priced at $500, a brand new Colt SP1 AR-15 was $440, I bought the AR-15.

I had to wait till 1990 or so to buy a P-89 when supply caught up with demand, paid $289 as I remember. Great pistol, cairried it frequently while canoeing the marshes of Northeastern North Carolina.

I saw Sherriff Deputies of the San Diego County (California) Sherriff's Department carrying P-89's in the early 1990's, like 1992....

 

[AlHunt]

My P-89 competes for my favorite with my 6906. The 6906 is more steamlined and a more refined looking gun. But I love the industrial, no nonsense looks of the Ruger. As usual for Ruger, the gun is a tank.

 

[OLDSTER]

The "P" series pistols are cherished by lots of shooters. A LGS owner here has an extensive collection of them ( and most variations of each one ). They are on display in his shop. I've owned one over the years; the P-95. As per usual with me, I traded it off, now wish I had it back.

 

[cowboy4evr]

I bought a P-89 yrs ago for $300 " out the door " . It's very reliable , takes anything I feed it and just as accurate as any other 9mm I've had . I had an HK VP9 . Very picky about OAL of the cartridge . If under 1.150" long , it was a " jam-o-matic " . It's gone . Regards Paul

 

[max503]

That's actually not bad looking for a "black" gun. I like it. Hope it shoots good for you.

 

[mexicanjoe]

I have one in my office to use as back up... It has never and I mean NEVER jammed or anything....I took it to a firearms instructor course along with my victory model .38 revolver; you should have heard the hooting and hollering when I showed up with the P-85.....Lead instructor noted that the P85 never had a issue......Glocks,Sigs and others did, though.......

 

[Fishinfool]

Nice find. When I taught at the FLETC, the Ruger P series pistols in DAO were standard issue for the Federal Bureau of Prisons. They were a solid pistol, if a little bulky. Reliable as well, more so then some high dollar makes.

Larry

 

[wood714]

I've had a couple of the stainless versions. First one I had to send back to Ruger for the MKII recall. Second one was already stamped MKII.

If you swapped out the grips, they were less ugly.

 

[Valmet]

While those aren’t my thing- you stole that thing OP. Very nice

 

[hittman77]

Does anyone know if these Rugers were ever used by any Police/LEO agencies or any military's?

Yes they were but I don't have a list. I "think" city of Chicago was one but am sure there were others.

Here's a couple of pics of Ruger's Law Enforcements Products catalog dated 11/88.

 

[rjm6120]

I am a big fan of the Ruger P series pistols. Bought a stainless P95 when they first came out and foolishly sold it after 5 years or so. Had a chance to buy a used P93 at a very fair price last year and bought it. This one will remain with me.

 

[Borderboss]

I believe the P-85s share the usual two qualities of most Ruger handguns:

1. They work great.
2. They're really ugly (single actions excluded).

You really stole it for that price.

 

[noro]

AIRC. the P85 was originally designed for the
U S Army pistol trials to replace the M1911A1.
While it did well, the Beretta was chosen. It was then marketed commecially.

I got one in 1987, and still have it. Almost 50,000 rounds - no jams, no stoppages and
no parts breakage. Still going strong today.

 

[kraynky]

My P89 was a new purchase around 1990 or so. It is a bit bulky, but accurate enough and has never ever failed to work as it should. My step Dad wanted a handgun about 20 years or so ago, so I sold him the P89 and gave him about 500 reloads.

He passed on about 5 years ago, and Mom gave it back to me. The box & factory grips are MIA, but the Hogues feel pretty good, the ammo & brass is also gone. But the gun still looks new and shoots as good as ever.

I'm hanging onto it this time. It's a great truck gun.

Finding a P series for $155 bucks is a heck of a deal!

 

[ancient-one]

My brother had one and it never failed in anyway. The only thing that I noticed was that it felt like the tolerances were a little loose. Maybe that was why it never jammed or failed.

 

[357larry]

I had one many years ago. One of the most reliable pistols I ever had. But they are ugly. I could have lived with the ugly but the ergonomics were terrible as well. Never could find a set of grips that would make it any better.

I had 2 hi-cap mags with it, and this was when hi-caps were a no-no. I only had about $175 into it. I found a gentleman with an early S&W Model 639 with fixed sights who offered to trade straight across. Made the trade and didn't look back. Still have the 639. If only Ruger had paid attention to ergonomics........

 

[31FordA]

I have a book around here somewhere written by a EA-6B Pilot about his service in Desert Storm flying off of the USS Midway. Apparently most of the pilots in his squadron desired something with more firepower than the .38 revolver and pooled their money to buy P-85’s for themselves. So at least some Ruger P Series pistols went to war.

 

[Boudiepitbull]

I have an old friend who is a retired LEO from a long family of LEOs. When I bought his Uncle's old S&W service revolvers from the late '40s and early 50's for my collection from him, he threw in his P-85 from the mid 80's to sweeten the pot a bit (or clean house...not exactly sure which.). He claims Ruger was offering them to police departments and he was forced to buy one, he took it to the range once and hated it and never touched it again until he gave it to me 35 years later. I grew to love it despite being clunky and ugly. It has become my go to sidearm for dog walking in the woods or otherwise banging around. Like someone said...it's built like a tank. Nothing elegant about it. It's the anthethisis of a safe queen. If I scratch it someday I probably won't shed a tear. It eats a steady diet of my 124 gr Acme and Bayou reloads and never skips a beat. It's sitting next to me now as I write this as my nightstand gun. Of all the pretty little CZ and Beretta 9mm semi autos in my safe I always seem to gravitate towards this old boat anchor. Go figure...

 

[Buford57]

When Casper, WY PD authorized semiautos for uniformed officers in 1988 the P85 was one of those authorized, along with the Beretta 92 and 3rd Generation S&Ws.