Ruger P90 .45

[Blackthorn73]

I bought one of these in the mid nineties and it has never jammed, ever, and is very accurate. Does anyone have any ideas about why it was discontinued?

[elSquid]

[plumbum]

Because it was chonky, heavy and was hammer fired - the polymer craze took over with the P95 and then the P97 in .45 and the P345 eventually. Personally I think the P90 is a tank of a gun, wish I had bought two of them back in the day. Rumor has it that it was designed around the 10mm due to the FBI trials back then.

[Rob454]

Because it didn’t sell well enough for Ruger to continue to manufacture it?



— Michael

Actually it sold well enough. I had a few P series Ruger’s. P85/89 and a few different P90s. Currently own a p90 and. P90 DC. I had a p345 and I hated that gun. The polymer frame and steel slide made it very top/front heavy feel. The thin grip that had no removable grip pads was horrendous. I sold that gun fast

Imo the P series are well built guns. I see them as having AK reliability with better ergonomics. Lots of people say they’re too heavy too bulky, the trigger is bad or the ergonomics aren’t good. I have absolutely no issue because that’s my run/go to gun. I’m so used to shooting it that the stuff people, find as quirks are not a hindrance. I trust this gun so much and like OP had absolutely not one jam or issue in the 30 years I’ve been buying P series. It’s my go to gun. I have largish hands so a large gun actually feels more comfortable. My 1911 has bigger grips because the thinner wood grips made the gun feel funny in my hand.
I have S&W, Colt, Taurus, RIA, XD, pistols so I’m fairly well versed in different guns.
The only issue I ever had was a recall on a P89 for some safety issue. I can’t remember what it was maybe the safety? It’s been a. While since I had the repair. Called Ruger gave them the SN and they said send it in. Got it back a few weeks later. They refinished the slide fixed the issue and I got back a brand new gun. They didn’t charge me for the slide refinish which they were supposed to.


My one dislike is that you can’t use 1911 mags. I believe that Ruger p series were a great entry level low cost reliable gun for the time it was made. There are better guns out there today but for what it was in its day I think it it was a good choice for a lot of people.
The polymer craze is what killed it along with Bill Ruger’s stubbornness.

[TrailerparkTrash]

My brother bought one back in the day when his department authorized semi autos but on the officer’s own dime. My brother only bought that gun because as someone else said, it was the “cheapest” semi auto on the market, yet “acceptable” for duty use at the time. My brother was a cheap@ZZ and never spend money on anything if he could help it.

[newbutold]

P91 DC is my quick grab of choice.

[kelvin232]

They just moved to striker fired guns .
My p345 was the last (transitional) and I Love it

[elSquid]

Actually it sold well enough.

Until it didn't. :0

The P-series family...gone.
The SR family...gone.
The All American family...around for 5 more years?

Ruger doesn't seem to be able to make a service pistol series with any longevity. ( Unlike their revolvers and rimfire pistols. )

My guess is that the Ruger 1911 will be around for a while though.

-- Michael

[Oldmandan]

I bought one of these in the mid nineties and it has never jammed, ever, and is very accurate. Does anyone have any ideas about why it was discontinued?

[deadcoyote]

My brother owned one, still does I believe. It runs non stop but is super heavy and rattles like a paint can. Can’t say Ruger still makes them but we (US taxpayers) went with a Ruger P90 series pistol when we bought new guns for Iraqi police and military and translators.

[crufflers]

Was Ruger slower to adopt the Glock knock-off strategy that everyone else went to, or were they just not as good at it? I can't recall how well the SR sold.

A buddy loved his P90, but has since gone to Glocks. I had the P95DC (have the P95DC). I haven't taken it out in years. It does feel super clunky, heavy, loose now... weird ambi euro-like mag release on the trigger guard, but SOLID and you couldn't break them, ambi decocker ON THE SLIDE (which people hate apparently - especially Jericho 941 fans). Ruger FRN was like the adamantium of polymers... probably stronger than a laboratory counter top or tool steel. The slide actually RODE directly ON THE POLYMER and was NO PROBLEMO. A tank with all the good and bad qualities of A TANK. A totally reliable $230 tank. If it is cocked and you shake it... it does sound like a paint can, hahahah.

Always seemed to work and I loved it, but didn't know any better

[bwiese]

Ruger P90s are sleepers of the 45 world.

Absolute reliability and REALLY accurate by default.

Heavy? Yeah. But so are 1911s and Smith 4506s. No biggie.

Like it much better than the successor 45acps of Ruger (P345, etc.)

In fact, that reminds me I should get one just for giggles.

[TC7050]

I bought a P91 DC (40 Caliber) in about 1991. Accuracy is just okay, but it never miss fires no matter what ammo I use. The double action/single action trigger was perfect for me at the time.

[damon1272]

P90s are great in that they run everything. I had one it was awesome until I shot a 1911. Dumped the P90 as fast as I could.

[pd5190]

My P97DC is the best shooting semi auto I have with the best factory trigger of any semi I have tried. Would not give it up for any other semi out there.