Ruger P-89, why no major police and military use?

[His lordship.]

I have wondered for years why P-89's never saw much police use, and military application as well?  I know that Bill Ruger could not offer his pistol in time during the testing that resulted in the Beretta 92 getting the nod for the US military.  I have read of some police officers being allowed to carry the P-89, but no major department sales.

My P-89 has never jammed, but the accuracy is not so great, not bad, but no target gun.  My small Glock 26 compact, and my Bulgarian Makarov beat it from a bench at 50 feet, and  they were never intended to be target guns.  There is noticeable slop between the slide and the frame in the front of the P-89, none on the Glock or Makarov, and this may account for the sloppy groups with the Ruger.  The newer Ruger, the P-95, has gotten some Federal sales recently.

It seems like the P-89 was "not a real gun" over the years.  Anyone know why the P-89 never really took off for law enforcement or even foreign military contracts?     

[Flash]

Many police departments used the P series pistols in the late 80's and early 90's. I was in the Bahama's in 1993 and what do you think the cop had hanging on his hip? The Ruger's didn't last but when you think of it, neither did any other gun last in law enforcement. The Pa. state police used to carry Security Six's and I believe Baltimore City had Ruger P series guns but like i said, that changes over time.
It's been 31 years since the P series guns were introduced and now they're discontinued so their time came and passed already.

[Bigeasy]

When the Federal Bureau of Prisons transitioned from the S&W revolver, it was to the Ruger P89.  That organization still issues the Ruger P series auto as its standard issue, and is one of the largest law enforcement agencies in the country.

Larry

[His lordship.]

Yeh, it is kinda like when the Beretta 92 and it's clones were common cop guns in the mid-90's, now you don't see them much anymore, Glocks and SIGs more the norm these days.

[alacharger]

When the P series first came out, it was a substantial time before the duty leather makers caught up and had a holster for them.  The first two or three I saw being carried were in generic nylon holsters.  By that time the GLOCK craze was in full swing, and Ruger was playing the catch up game.