Bravo Whiskey

I have a old but new P89. Bought it new in '94. Used very little 200 rds. just started training w/it total less than 1k rds thru it. I am using factory mags & have tried diff brands ammo. The gun has been cleaned as regularly as my other guns. Sometimes after 50 rds. or after 200. . It is a post flat steel mag version. Last night I was running IDPA practice mag dumps/reloads and I had the slide run home when I slapped a new mag into the well. This situation happened more as the short night progressed. I tried using only one rd in each mag & other variations but mags and ammo did not seam to be the cause. 2 out of 5 mag loads resulted in the slide running home and chambering a fresh round when I slammed a mag home. I did not have a finger anywhere near the slide release. I will not shot this gun until I find out why this is happening..
Any help would be Great
PS
I like this gun and I intend to use it for my first "shot" @ IDPA.

Fenderman

Very common for this to happen when slamming a Mag into gun.And not just Ruger P89s.I personally have had it happen with a Glock 17-Bersa Thunder 380-Makarovs and a P89 i owned years ago.Some people look at it as a plus.Its something you just have to live with if you are slamming mags home IMO.Check this thread out. Slide Release Question

Bravo Whiskey

Thanks FenderM

Dana the Dane

My Beretta 96D Centurion does this as well. It was disconcerting to me at first, but now I look at it as a plus...one less thing to do.

JonRugerInWA

Think of it as an unplanned bonus-but don't count on it inevitably occurring.

Best, Jon

Jkwas

I have an idea. My wife experienced the same thing you did this past weekend when shooting ours. Mark your magazines. My thoughts are that the follower in the mag may be wearing down or not pushing the slide stop all the way in the up position after the last round is fired. If this is happening the catch might just be hanging by a thread and the next mag you slam home might be jarring the slide loose.
So to sum up: The mag you remove from the magwell might be the one that's causing the problem as opposed to the one you are inserting.
Just a thought.
I didn't have the problem when shooting mine and I think my wife had her thumb on the release when she experienced this, but after reading this thread I'm going to look more carefully at my mags.

barthel

My P345 does the same thing, nearly every time. I thought something was wrong with it.

BuckeyeBlast

OK, so lots of guns do it, but are they supposed to? I mean, pretty much all politicians lie, but that doesn't make it right.

Bravo Whiskey

First, thanks for all the input.
Here is what I have found from three range trips and snap cap practice in the rec room. The slide catch ,as posted , is spring loaded so I now understand how it happens and I should have picked that up from reading the directions.
Slide back and insert, push, or kinda slap a new mag home and the slide remains back.
Slide back and really slap a fresh mag home(like the nubbie over zealous IDPA practicing guy I am) gets the slide running home.
Slide back Insert fresh mad and then whack/slap it hard. 19 out of 2o times would not get the slide to close.
Now that I know how it functions I feel safe and as mentioned it is a plus when running a course/stage. I could get the slide to react how I wanted it to the last two trips @ the range. I am planning on running it @ an IDPA match next week so I will post what happens.

Bravo Whiskey

Great post as after I read this it made perfect sense. I was so busy focused on the mag I was inserting I over looked the prevoius mag. As posted I went thru the paces but I will keep this info locked in the back of my mind.
Thanks
BW

usmcgunny0369

How hard are You slamming the magazine home? I used to shoot Competition in the Marines and would do this on purpose with the M-9 Beretta. It would happen if I gave the magazine a good slap home while inserting. I found this beneficial in my case as a quick reload allowed for more time to sight & shoot during quick and rapid fire.

Bravo Whiskey

I have been a carpenter for a long time so what some think is a smack I think of as a tap but I am not "Beotch" slapping it but more than just firmly inserting. I was able to mostly control when it slide home, and that took more than a firm mag swap but less then slamming it. Hard to post force. Not like when someone slams your car door and you yell take it easy, more like when its raining and it gets closed very firmly.
I do like the fact that I do not have to sling shot or go for the slide release.

usmcgunny0369

I'd take it to a Gun Smith. Could be something as simple as replacing a spring. I at least get a expert opinion. That shouldn't cost anything.

Bravo Whiskey

Guns,
Thanks for your input. I have spoken w/ a local GS that I use for tranfers and odds & ends and I have run the sit. by other gun folks & I have been told that this is the norm for (this design) spring loaded slide of this type. I think I recall that the Walthers are designed to do this and my SIG bud tells me that sigs are not ,although he wishes they were as his IDPA pc. is a P226.
I have been still practicing and it takes a good slap to run the slide into battery and it never goes there unless I really slap it so I think it may be a good thing w/ respect to comp shooting. The manual does state that similiar movements can cause this action to happen.
This Ruger is a tank and I have learned to shot better each outting.

Cthulhu

I know people with Glocks and M&Ps that do this, and they view it as a bonus in competition like IDPA or IPSC. However, I've seen someone depend on the slide returning to battery when a magazine is slammed in and then fumble when it didn't happen. Nice if it does happen, but no excuse for abandoning basic administrative handling skills.

-JT

Bravo Whiskey

I hear you and that is why I have been trying all the angles. I have been practicing both the sling shot & the slam mag, and a follow thru. Your point is well taken and I will try not to rely on it , but to have good fluid movement thru all the recharging options.