Whether you’re building a dependable truck gun or adding a durable range pistol to the rotation, an older Ruger design like this one deserves a close look. It blends rugged construction with serviceable ergonomics and a capacity that still makes sense for defensive and utility roles.

RUGER P85 is a 9mm platform with a 4.5″ barrel and 15+1 capacity that ships with four 15-round metal magazines. This 1990 MkIIR example (serial number 301-67122) features a safety/decocker, ambidextrous controls, and the sort of service-proven durability Ruger built its reputation on. Shop this product

Overview

The P85 was Ruger’s entry into military trials and earned praise for surviving demanding endurance testing, including a 20,000-round life expectancy benchmark. The pistol pairs an aluminum frame with a steel slide, standard 3-dot sights, and polymer black grips. It operates in both single-action and double-action modes, giving a crisp single-action break with a functional double-action trigger for carry readiness.

Features and field use

Controls and handling

Notable tactical features include an ambi magazine release, an oversized slide release, an oversized trigger, and an ambidextrous safety/decocker located at the rear of the slide. These controls make transitions and manipulations straightforward for a wide range of shooters. The 4.5″ barrel maintains sight radius for practical accuracy at typical engagement distances.

Performance considerations

The bore is described as bright with strong rifling but could benefit from a cleaning prior to extended shooting. With four included 15-round magazines and a 15+1 capacity, the pistol is useful as a truck gun, a bug-out bag option, or a hunting backup. For those who value longevity in a used firearm, this model still has a lot of life before approaching its tested endurance limits. View product details and pricing

Condition, price, and purchase notes

This consignment piece is priced at $349.99 and includes the pistol plus four 15-round magazines. Cosmetic notes: grips in Very Good condition, frame Good, slide Fair–Good with finish loss at the slide release, scuffing at the beavertail, a scratch on the left side, and an area of scratching under the ejection port on the right. Function checks were performed; the seller has not test-fired the firearm. Review photos carefully before purchase.

If you want a rugged, service-proven 9mm with practical capacity and ambidextrous controls at an affordable price, check current availability on our shop page. Check current availability

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