Thoughts on P95

[Gutz]

Get him a nice 1911 at least!!!!

Nothing wrong with a Ruger P95... I actually like the way they look. Definitely overbuilt, but I like that aspect. My dad's has about 7,000 rounds and still runs like a champ.

I don't think this would be a fair trade though.

[GunHo]

I don't know what a 686 is but it appear to hold a greater value than $400. We all know the inevitable so I would get something you like and value as much as dad. If my dad only liked guns, I'd get him a 1911 9mm or a sig. Can't go wrong with a sig.

[Dizturbed One]

I'm against the grain here... I think a P95 looks good. Reminds me of something out of Robocop. Much better than a glock at least... Mine shoots great, I use it for HD (backup to an 870) and range visits. 2000 rds without a problem so far. Easier to shoot than most because of the slightly heavy slide setup, keeps it calm. I would say most Glocks, SR's, and M&P guns I've shot were only slightly more accurate (easier to shoot mostly), and only after an impractical distance for defending with a sidearm.

I got it to shoot cheap 9mm and ended up loving it.

Many say get something "nicer" but... Is this a fashion show? My P95 and any other I've seen, is the most reliable (not the most accurate, or easiest to shoot) but literally the most reliable semiautomatic pistol that I've personally seen at least 1000 rds come out of with my own eyes,and I've seen a few. I believe it is one of the most reliable around. That equals "nice" to me. Many will argue for their safe queens and claim "break in" (looks the same as "breaking" to me) to justify a purchase... But I haven't seen an M&P or Glock that didn't FTF or FTE at least a few times, and I've seen a lot. But the 3 P95s I've seen were flawless. Sigs and good 1911s (good, not expensive) seem to be the only other SA I've seen that shoot wet, dry, dirty, and right out of the box just as well.

Just saying... Irks me to see people say "nicer" about guns like say... KIMBER or WALTHER. The #1 jammerive ever seen, but people love them because their wallet said so... LOL

[wolfy]

to the original poster the p series guns shoot great and can also be used a club.
My dad is in the same situation and I talked him into a cz75. Just get him into something that you would want to keep/use when he passes it down.

[GunHo]

Props to Diz. The before I sold it, the P89 never had a jam. As ugliness, the glock took the oscar in that category. As i recall the P89 was in a few Arnold movies. The P series is not the prettiest, but certainly could use some makeup.

[Capybara]

I have had a two tone P95 for about 18 years, great little underrated gun. Super reliable, built like a tank, I can break it down for cleaning in about :10. Sure, it's not a beauty queen but we all have Mosins and Turkish Mausers that aren't good looking either but it doesn't stop me from digging them.

Guns are really not about fashion or when they are, I always look at a shooter a little differently if that is what they really care about. Functionality, accuracy and reliability are what is important, especially in an HD gun, who gives a rip about looks in that situation?

[rm1911]

The P series Rugers are great firearms that always work, but are just ugly as hell. People just don't like the way they work.

In all fairness if you buy a $400 P95 and trade it to your dad for a solid 686 someone should call adult protective services and turn you in for elder abuse (jk). Unless you add 400-500 rounds of ammo and a few magazines extra.

I have a P85,89 and 95. All three are great, and ugly!

They always work. That's helpful. He doesn't shoot the revolver at all. He lives far enough that I can't just go pick it up anytime and borrow it.

I really wasn't asking whether a P95 was a fair trade for the 686. I think that is very obvious. And I thought it was fairly obvious from the original post that he needs a good HD gun and since he doesn't shoot alot or much at all. It wasnt a post of how I could screw over my old.

I was really asking if a P95 is a good reliable easy to shoot 9 and would work for him. He's going to be 76. I've never shot a P95. Not that familiar with them. He shoots the gun at most once a year. I even reload for the 357 and he just doesn't go to the range. And it worries me that a DA revolver might not be the best if he doesn't practice with it. I think a 357 is probably the best defensive sidearm but they do require practice. Which was alot of the reason cops went away from them. It is far easier to become competent on an auto. I get that.

He's not going to think I'm trying to pull a fast one on him. We traded in the first place 20 something years ago. In that time he's probably shot the 686 5 times. I've shot the 45 1000's. he wanted me to have it because I'd shoot it and he just needed a decent gun. He's very pro 2A but not into shooting. I bought him an enfield several years ago because he'd said a few times how much he'd always loved them. And a few boxes of ammo. Times shot? Zero. He gave it back to me recently. He fishes all the time that's his thing.

I just wondered if a DA/SA auto, and that one, is a good option for a guy who's not into shooting and needs one good gun for the house. One that won't get shot very often if at all.

Should have left out he 686 part.

[Wykyd]

I love my P95. Many thousand down the pipe and never a hiccup. Eats anything you can throw at it and laughs. I have a 1911 and I would grab the P95 over the 1911 in a HD situation because it is so reliable. It is an ugly duckling but built like a tank!

[Fishslayer]

I was wondering if the P95 is a decent gun or not. If its a decent shooter or not.

It goes bang every time and put the bullets about where they belong.

Wife & I rented one when we were shopping. Neither of us really warmed up to it. We wound up buying her a SIG 2022. IIRC it wasn't a whole lot more than the Ruger (on sale at Turner's) and IMO a way superior pistol. Liked it so much I bought one for myself.

[SteveSatch]

The P95 is a great handgun. I would not take the advice people are giving to have a 75 year old man use a striker fired gun. A traditional DA/SA (like the Ruger P95) is a much better choice for an older person to help avoid negligent discharges. Ugly is subjective. The Ruger is as reliable as any handgun and as accurate as any self defense gun needs to be.

[Cmpaycheck]

I have 2 p95's. Great guns that go bang all the time. I have one with over 2000 rounds through it with only a few minor problems. Got the other for sale on here if your interested.
P SERIES RUGERS ARE BUILT LIKE TANKS, AND UGLY TOO!!!

[paintballdad]

I'm sure the P95 will go bang every time you pull the trigger, just doesn't have the same following that other handguns seem to have.
I understand that he probably won't shoot it much but if my father was still alive to this day I would hand him my Beretta 92FS which has been modified with a "D" spring.
The DA trigger pull was pretty close to the 586 i used to own. Easy to shoot pistol and has that open top slide which helps prevent stove pipe malfunctions.

if you are in the SoCal area, you and your father are more than welcome to try mine out.

[elSquid]

I think a 357 is probably the best defensive sidearm but they do require practice. Which was alot of the reason cops went away from them. It is far easier to become competent on an auto. I get that.

How so?

Nothing wrong with a revolver for HD. If you think that the blast and recoil of a 357 might be too much for your elderly father, just go buy him a couple of boxes of a good 38 special defensive load.

-- Michael