New Ruger vs ???

B

beastman

New member
I have been seeing good and bad things about Ruger auto pistols here on the site.

I am looking for a good auto pistol (I already have a Gp-100 revolver and love it).

1) is the Ruger line of autos good?

good means:

*rarely, if ever, fails to feed
* can take a beating and still fire (if ever needed in a survival situation, etc.)
* combat accurate (obviously I would love match grade accuracy, but this is a defensive pistol, not a competition piece)

2) Is there really over $200 worth of superiority with other autos that are in a similar category?

3) How the gun looks is not an issue. I saw a Ruger today and it looks like a brick with a handle. I figure that function is MUCH more important than beauty. (besides, Glock doesn't win any beauty contests either).

4) If I got a Ruger auto instead of a Glock or other similar auto (I really am tempted by Glock), will I most likely be dissapointed later, or will I likely be happy with my purchase in a year or so?

Also, I like the idea that the magazines are interchangable with the Ruger .40 cal carbine. It seems like an "added bonus"


Last, but not least, is Ruger a real sell-out to the Klinton government? I realize there may have been a problem in '94, but didn't they just tell Klinton and his cronies to take the new "Smith and Wesson like" gun deal and shove it where the sun doesn't shine?

Thanks.
 
Ruger autos are fine guns. They ain't pretty, but they work. As for selling out
gun owners, don't worry about all of the
nonsense floating around on the web. If
Bill Ruger really wanted to sell out the
shooting public, he would have jumped on
the bandwagon with S&W. If you find any
Ruger you like, go ahead and buy it.

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Never do an enemy a minor injury. Machiavelli
"Stay alive with a 45"
 
I have a KP97DC. Its simple, rugged, appears well made, and easy to take down. I've only got 155 rounds through it. It had one failure to feed in the 2nd or 3rd mag. It has been fine since. The ftf was 185 gr swc. I've shot mostly hardball through it with some 185 gr Speer GDHP and 230gr Hydroshoks through it.

I want to like it more than I do. I recently bought a Colt 1991A1. So far I've got about 110 rounds through it, same combination as the P97, only a few more HP's through it. I've had no malfunctions with it. I am not a great handgun shooter, but I shoot the Colt much better than the P97. In fact, right out of the box I was more accurate with the Colt than I am with the Ruger after 155 rounds. I have hands on the small side so that may be it. The Ruger feels good when I hold it, but the Colt is much easier to shoot. My Sleaze & Willie 686 is also much easier to shoot accurately. So is my Ruger Single Six. I'm even as accurate or more so with my Kahr MK9 out to 25 feet or so.

I think with practice I will get better with the P97, I just find all the others to be far more intuitive.

FWIW.
 
As to your question, are other guns worth the extra money, no sometimes they are not.

I own and carry a P97. It has over 2000 rds of every 45ACP round you can think of and never a failure to feed or kaboom. I've shot reloads as well.
Keep one thing in mind. This is a service/duty pistol not a match pistol. However, I have heard of many using it for IDPA with very good reults. This gun is strong, light weight (27 ounce empty), and accurate.
It's meant to take a licking and keep on ticking. The polymer is unigue to Ruger and stronger then any other on the market. So much so that it doesn't need the steel plates or rails that other polymer guns use.

I will be carrying a Glock 21 for LEO work but my P97 is still my favorite.

Glocks are worth the money if you can pay what LE or military pay but as a civilian you are getting ripped off. Most people think $500 is reasonable for a handgun but don't consider what you are actually getting. If I paid $500+ for a handgun I would consider a Sig P245.

If you buy the Ruger you will be happy with your purchase for many years to come. You will be happy with the others, just for not as long and for a lot more.

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"It is easier to get out of jail then it is a morgue"
Live long and defend yourself!
John 3:16
 
Ruger autos are utility weapons. They are FUNCTIONAL. Reliablity and decent accuracy. Definitely a best buy. Not the first choice for CCW though. Big and robust are characteristics of all Ruger weapons, as well as durability. If you keep it clean after shooting it, it will last a lifetime.



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.45 Super... Fat and FAST...

"No provision in our Constitution ought to be dearer to man than that which protects the rights of conscience against the enterprises of the civil authority" - Thomas Jefferson
 
If you like them then get one. I've never been able to hit the side of a barn with a Ruger auto. Maybe it's just me, but I'm much more accurate with SIG Sauers and Berettas.

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So many pistols, so little money.
 
Great info. Thanks. (wow I love this site)

Anyhow: Assuming I am going to get a Ruger auto, what caliber is the "best" for self defense, etc. (I know I just opened up a HUGE can of worms with that one). Again, restrict the caliber to those offered by Ruger. I am leaning to the .40, but I am not sure. I currently have a .357 mag for a house gun and I would like to be as confident in my new auto. I am a big guy, so recoil is not a big issue. My wife is eyeing the .357, so I need something new for myself.
 
The Ruger fits your description perfectly! Try the P944 .40S&W and the P97 .45ACP and see if one fits your hand. The P97 will be a little slimmer and has a polymer frame. If you like .357Mag you'll probably transition to the .40S&W easier since its faster and has a flatter trajectory then the .45ACP.

The only way you'll be disappointed is if the Ruger or the Glock doesn't fit your hand. Both are combat accurate and reliable.

Shok
 
I have owned the P90, 94, 95.

I have never had a problem of ANY type. I have never had a jam, misfire, hiccup or anything. My P90 was match accurate out of the box. My P94/95 feel much better than the old P89s did. I hope you are looking at those 2nd generation guns.

Rugers are worth the money, some more expensive brands are not - in my opinion.
 
In general Ruger autos are tought and ultra reliable with reasonalbly good accuracy. Earlier models were a little bulky and *looked* even more so. The P-94,95,and 97 are much more streamlined. In fact the P-97 is a great carry gun. It`s light (27oz.) and less than 1 1/8" thick (marginally *thinner* than a "slimline" Glock 36!). The trigger pulls have some initial takeup I could do without but after that the pulls on my personal P-97 are very good. The P-97 also uses a new lockup system that makes it one of the most accurate Ruger autos ever. I have friends that are Glock and H&K fans,their guns are great and I shoot them well however we ALL shoot my P-97 marginally better than their Glock 17 and H&K USP Compact .45! Both prefer the feel of their chosen guns but the targets don`t lie and both are thinking of getting a P-97 for their collections now. The Rugers are not without flaws,many think they`re ugly,ergonomics could be somewhat better on some models,finish could be nicer,trigger pull could be minus the takeup, bore axis could be lower,trigger reset could be a bit faster and the grips on the polymer frame guns could have molded in checkering or something else better than the Buck Rogers big useless grooves. Still,they`re not only great guns for the money,they`re just plain great guns. Marcus
 
For the same money you can buy a CZ75 and you will not be sorry. The ruger is a good cheap gun but he CZ is a sweet machine at any price. It comes with a match barrel and is more accurate than most guns that are twice the price. Read the posts on this forum about CZ-75 you won't find a really unkind word from anyone that really knows anything.

Some of the things I don't like about Ruger auto's:
*Can't be carried cocked and locked!(unacceptable!)
*No good gripping surface on the slide on many models(especially decocker's)
*Not a natural pointer(takes too long to aquire sight picture for me. CZ75 is the best natural pointer ever)
*I cannot cock the pistols with one hand without seriously changing my grip on the gun

About Ruger and Klinton, Bill Ruger helped push the 10 round magazine and assault weapons ban through. It makes me sick just thinking about it. All of you ruger fans are supporting that crap so just go on saying how much you like em till we don't have any guns at all. -ddt
 
Of the "sour" experiences I've heard with Ruger autos, it seems to be confined to the P85 or P89. If it starts with a P9..., then it's a fine gun at a great price. :)
 
I have both the PC4 .40 carbine and a P944 and have not been disappointed. The only thing I don't like about the P944 is that it's so big. I've had no failures of any kind with the 300 rds I've put through it, I wouldn't expect any ever. Accuracy is on par with any pistol on the market, even the expensive sigs. All it takes is a little getting used to the trigger. The carbine is my new favorite gun too, taking over from my Rossi lever action .357.
 
) is the Ruger line of autos good?

Yes

good means:

*rarely, if ever, fails to feed
* can take a beating and still fire (if ever needed in a survival situation, etc.)

* combat accurate (obviously I would love match grade accuracy, but this is a defensive pistol, not a competition piece)

2) Is there really over $200 worth of superiority with other autos that are in a similar category?

Yes there is as other brands give better accuracy and ergonomics.

3) How the gun looks is not an issue. I saw a Ruger today and it looks like a brick with a handle. I figure that function is MUCH more important than beauty. (besides, Glock doesn't win any beauty contests either).

I don't care about looks in a weapon.

4) If I got a Ruger auto instead of a Glock or other similar auto (I really am tempted by Glock), will I most likely be dissapointed later, or will I likely be happy with my purchase in a year or so?

Maybe maybe not
Also, I like the idea that the magazines are interchangable with the Ruger .40 cal carbine. It seems like an "added bonus"

Pistol caliber carbines are useless in my opinion and I would not have one. I would much rather have a good shotgun or better yet a good 223 carbine that has the real stopping power.

PAT
 
Anything that is a Ruger Is always reliable.
My Ruger P95 didn't have one failure to feed or eject in 1500 Rounds. Now That is Reliability.
I was thinking of getting a new 9mm Possibly a CZ. After going to the gun show and handling all the differant 9MM.
I still think I did the right choice with the Ruger P95 and the P97 is a better gun.
I think I will get A CZ75 OR 85 As they felt good in my hands and seem to be well built.
But I would not give up my Ruger for One.
tworugers.jpg

My Ruger P95 Is In for Upgrades

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www.vote.com
also for gun accessorys. http://gungoodies.com



[This message has been edited by tonyz (edited May 07, 2000).]
 
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