Any P-90 .45 fans/users out there?

[DJ Niner]

Just picked-up a used one. Price was VERY right, gun seems tight, but trigger is smoother in DA than in SA mode. :) This one is blued with the safety (not decocker-only).

Any tips? Preferred ammo for accuracy? Known problems and/or fixes?


Any/all first-hand P-90 info is appreciated! Thanks in advance!

[Rob96]

I had a P-90, a few years ago, and now have a P-97. They are both great pistols. I haven't really tried to find out the true accuracy potential with my P-97, but did with the P-90. The best performing ammo was the 230gr Triton HiVel +p. At 25yds, firing at a moderate rate, in the weaver stance, I got a 3/4" group dead center.

[DJ Niner]

Thanks for the info!

"Add to shopping list:230gr Triton HiVel +p." :)

Triton ammo is out of production now, isn't it? Figures.
I probably can't hold 3/4" offhand anyway; but it would be nice to do off the bench once or twice, while my buddy with his $$$ 1911 is struggling to get 3" groups on the next table. ;f



What was your second and third most accurate loads (if you remember)?

just took my P90DC to the range today for the first time. love it!!!
great gun, very nice SA pull, pull in DA a little long but not bad, recoil easily managed, no FTF or FTE, very accurte,
a deffinate keeper!;H ;a

[DJ Niner]

Well, got my first range trip with the P-90 done today.

Tried Winchester 230 FMJ/ball, Winchester 230 JHP Personal Protection, Federal 230 Hydra-Shok, and Blazer 200 grain JHP (Gold Dot bullet?).

All shot well once I got used to the SA trigger pull. It was, in a word, terrible. At LEAST two different stop points as you drag it through about one-eighth on an inch of creep. When dry-firing the gun, you can actually HEAR the trigger stop and restart its movement as you gently squeeze. On the other hand, the DA is smooth and hitch-free. I almost wish this was a DA-Only gun, the DA is so nice.

Anyway, I fired a couple of mags standing to check functioning and get familiar with the gun, and then sat down at the bench to shoot some groups off a (frozen) sandbag. Best group was from the 200 grain Blazer JHPs, at 2" for 5 shots at 25 yards. This baby will SHOOT!!! The other loads hovered around 4"-5" for 5 shots, with occasional larger and smaller groups, but the Blazer never went over 4" unless I really botched a squeeze. The sights were close to center despite the gun being a used weapon.

All 3 mags (two originals, and one new one I bought) worked perfectly; in fact, there were no stoppages/malfunctions of any type. As a high-cap 9mm fan, I decided to give this single-stack a challenge by loading 8+1 (loading chamber and topping-off the mag before shooting) to see if it would choke. It never missed a beat.

Recoil is kind of whippy; the gun sits so high in the hand that muzzle rise is a problem. Recoil impulse is soft, with no sharp slap, just a rolling bounce upward and back down. Mags ejected with force, and rounds loaded smoothly.


Anyway, I really like it, and would like to get a little trigger work done on it to clean-up that nasty single-action creep. Anyone know a good Ruger autoloader gunsmith?

[Rob96]

Originally posted by DJ Niner
Thanks for the info!

"Add to shopping list:230gr Triton HiVel +p." :)

Triton ammo is out of production now, isn't it? Figures.
I probably can't hold 3/4" offhand anyway; but it would be nice to do off the bench once or twice, while my buddy with his $$$ 1911 is struggling to get 3" groups on the next table. ;f



What was your second and third most accurate loads (if you remember)?

I was bummed when Triton closed down. I don't really remember what the accuracy was of other loads. Right now in my P97, the Federal Hydrashok and Gold Dot loaded by Black Hills is very impressive.

[DJ Niner]

Originally posted by Rob96
I was bummed when Triton closed down. I don't really remember what the accuracy was of other loads. Right now in my P97, the Federal Hydrashok and Gold Dot loaded by Black Hills is very impressive. Thanks for the info.
The Hydrashok showed promise, but I didn't have very much of it; I will probably try it again when the weather warms up. I didn't know BH even MADE a Gold Dot load, I'll have to get some and try them out.

Thanks again!

[Rob96]

Originally posted by DJ Niner
Thanks for the info.
The Hydrashok showed promise, but I didn't have very much of it; I will probably try it again when the weather warms up. I didn't know BH even MADE a Gold Dot load, I'll have to get some and try them out.

Thanks again!

Quite welcome. The Black Hills loaded Gold Dot is excellent ammo. It is what I use in my P97 and G19.