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Ruger P85, P89, P91, P93, P94, P95 Magazine Buying Guide
Ruger is one of the premiere firearms manufacturers in the United States, and for owners of its classic P-Series Pistols, the P85, P89. P91, P93, P94, and P95, choosing the right mags is a key aspect of keeping the pistols running smoothly, especially as the pistols and their original magazines age.
The P-Series pistols are known for their durability, but a firearm is only as good as its magazine. This guide breaks down your magazine options and provides recommendations to get the best performance from your P-Series pistol.
It may not be a looker, but it shoots well. Source
Ruger Factory Magazines
Your best bet is to stick with Ruger OEM magazines for self-defense and home defense. These mags are made specifically for your pistol and ensure you have proper fit and feeding. In situations where life and death may be at play, you want maximum reliability over everything.
Ruger P89, P95 9mm 15-Round Magazine
This genuine Ruger magazine is made from stainless steel for fantastic durability and has a heat-treated spring for thousands of rounds of functionality. Add in the anti-tilt polymer follower, and Ruger’s OEM magazine is the best you can buy.
Plus, the magazine has side-facing witness holes to help you track how many rounds you have left in it.
Buy this magazine if you want the best reliability possible for your pistol. It should be your go-to magazine for concealed carry and self-defense situations.
Why OEM for defense?
Reliability. Factory Ruger magazines feed smoothly and lock back properly. Eliminating failure to feed issues is paramount in defense situations. You also don’t need to worry about Ruger using substandard materials in magazine construction. High-quality springs and followers ensure optimal operation.
However, there are downsides to OEM mags. They can be harder to find and cost more, but are you willing to risk your life to save a few extra dollars? Ruger magazines perform when it counts.
The classic Ruger P89 – American steel. Source
Aftermarket Magazine Options
Several aftermarket magazine options are available for your P-Series pistols, with high capacities and lower costs. We recommend these for range or competition use.
Mec-Gar
Mec-Gar makes superb magazines. Many gun manufacturers even use Mec-Gar to make their OEM magazines. Mec-Gar’s P-Series mags are known for being both high-quality and delivering excellent functionality.
They have steel bodies with blued and nickel finishes and include impact-resistant polymer followers. Many users feel Mec-Gar’s magazines deliver reliability almost as good as OEM Ruger Magazines. The availability of Mec-Gar magazines and the positive experiences of P-Series pistol owners make them a good alternative to factory Ruger magazines.
Mec-Gar Ruger P85, P89 9mm 15-Round Magazine
This is Mec-Gar’s direct replacement option for the factory 15-round magazine. It is an extremely safe bet if you are looking for a top-notch magazine for competition or the range.
They are available in a blued(black) or nickel finish, have side-facing witness holes, and a polymer high-impact follower. Not much else you can ask for.
Mec-Gar Ruger P85, P89 9mm 17-Round Magazine
If 15+1 isn’t enough capacity for you, Mec-Gar’s 17-round magazines are precisely what the doctor ordered. Mec-Gar did well with its 17-round magazine, which managed to squeeze an extra two rounds into it while remaining flush-fit.
Built with the same high-quality materials as mentioned above, you really can’t go wrong with these.
Mec-Gar Ruger P85, P89, P95 9mm 20-Round Magazine
Mec-Gar’s largest magazine for the P-Series has a 20-round capacity. Although it does not fit flush with the grip, this magazine is perfect for the range, competition, or a weekend of plinking in the backyard.
It has all the other attributes that make Mec-Gar’s 15 and 17-round magazines great, including the steel body, high-tensile spring, and polymer follower. The finish on the 20-round magazine is blued(black).
ProMag
ProMag offers P-Series pistol magazines focused on capacity and affordability. If you want increased capacity, ProMag has you covered. The increased round count is great for plinking and range sessions. The magazines are also cheaper than OEM and Mec-Gar models, making them easier to stock up on.
The trade-off with ProMag magazines is reliability. Some shooters report zero issues with their ProMag magazines, but others report jams and feeding issues. The less consistent performance of ProMag magazines doesn’t mean they don’t have a place in your collection. It simply means they should be used as range mags and extras.
ProMag Ruger P93, P95 9mm 15 Round Extended Magazine
This 15-round capacity matches the magazines you get from Ruger with your P-Series pistol. ProMag utilizes high-quality steel and anti-tilt polymer followers, and they are an excellent option for limiting wear and tear on your carry magazines or for loading up mags at home so you don’t have to reload magazines once you get to the range.
These are not recommended as primary defense magazines but are plenty functional for use in more casual shooting outings.
ProMag Ruger P85, P89 9mm 20-Round Extended Magazine
ProMag’s 20-round magazine is literally the 15-round magazine but with more capacity. It is perfect for extended shooting at the range, as it has plenty of capacity to allow you to come up with unique shooting scenarios.
ProMag Ruger P85, P89 9mm 32-Round Extended Magazine
This is the big boy of P-Series magazines. 32-rounds is a lot of freedom from one gun. Combine ProMags 32 & 20-round magazines and you can load up an entire box of ammo and have a truly epic firing session.
If you have never shot an entire box of ammo as fast as you can, you are missing out. No, it might not be the most economical use of your ammo, but sometimes it isn’t about practicality, it is about having fun and 32-round magazines are fun.
Round-Up
- Ruger OEM Magazines: Excellent reliability and durability, but more expensive and harder to find.
- Mec-Gar Magazines: They are similar to OEM mags in reliability and are available in both standard and extended capacities. The main drawback is that they are not OEM Ruger mags.
- ProMag (and others): Budget-friendly and high-capacity options are available. Less reliable, basically range toys.
Last Words
OEM magazines are the gold standard for owners of Ruger’s classic P-Series pistols. If you must pick only one, pick these.
For plinking and range time, buy what you want and can afford. Mec-Gar’s 17 & 20-round options are great, and ProMag’s 32-round option is a blast as well. Just be sure to test your mags to ensure function in your pistol.
The P89 is an older design but still very capable. Source
While the Ruger P-Series pistols may be classics at this point, the right magazines go a long way toward keeping them running like champs. Match your magazines to your uses, and the pistol and the magazines will serve you well at the range or when protecting your health and home.
