tj3006
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,979
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Post by tj3006 on Sept 7, 2022 5:58:51 GMT -5
I was looking on a local web sight, And on the Cabela's sight, at GP-100s. They are so nice ! Mine is a Davidson's 5 inch. The Balance is just about perfect. I got it right the 1st time. When I see a great deal on a 6 or 4 inch, I remember how little difference 1 inch would make. Mine is a .357. The only one that really tempts me is a 10mm. But in .357 using Slower powders like 296 ,2400 AA#9 and such, you would just about have to work at it to blow one of these Cylinders. (my opinion only) Gary Reeder used to make a 5 shot .41 magnum , out of one, That would be very cool. A .41 Special would be cool too ! I should look into the cost on one of those from JRH. ....tj
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Post by contender on Sept 7, 2022 9:08:51 GMT -5
I have a GP in 10mm in the Match Champion version. A sweet shooter, and I did use mine in USPSA competition. Some folks dislike the moons,, but I actually found myself enjoying their use.
I used to think I didn't need or want a GP-100. I even had one briefly, (bought as a gift,) but never bothered with them as I have a Security-Six. Well, the MC changed my mind.
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Post by foxtrapper on Sept 7, 2022 10:12:08 GMT -5
Yes I agree a 41 special would be cool!! That’s why I had Dave Clements build one on a nib Davidson unfluted cylinder 6”! One of my favorites!
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Post by RoninPA on Sept 7, 2022 12:32:14 GMT -5
If someone said I could only have 1 revolver, it would be a hard decision on which one but it would probably be the 5" GP100 .357 Magnum, full underlug. As said the balance is, for me, just about perfection. And with a .357 Mag you can load it mild to WILD and everything in between. I have both a blue and stainless and for a SHTF situation I would grab the stainless due to not having to worry about it as much. Actually, since they are stored together, I'd just grab both.
I really do need to get a Match Champion to add to my GP collection.
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tj3006
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,979
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Post by tj3006 on Sept 7, 2022 19:04:00 GMT -5
A match Champion, would certainly be very cool.
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Post by rjm52 on Sept 8, 2022 4:56:57 GMT -5
Picked up a 4" stainless GP-100 about 20 years ago...it has one of the best DA trigger pulls I have ever used. If I only had one .357 left that would be it...
Also love the sights that can be easily changed out.
When the 10mm MC was announced on a Friday, Monday I ordered one and picked it up 10 days later... To me it would have been the perfect LE revolver. Mild to wild loadings in .40 S&W and 10mm, carry 4 clips of ammo in just two speedloader pouches and a tough as nails action.
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Post by jfs on Sept 8, 2022 22:08:37 GMT -5
My five inch GP-100 under its big brother... She`s in 327 and I could not have asked for a better out of the box revolver........................
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Post by rexster on Sept 8, 2022 22:26:46 GMT -5
My only regret, regarding the GP100, is that I was not an early adopter. Until about 1990, I thought that big bores were necessary, and used N-Frames as duty revolvers. I switched to a Colt Stainless Commander, for police duty carry, in 1990, and some time in the early Nineties, wanted a stainless steel “utility” revolver, at which time I discovered how well the factory GP100 grip fit my hands, and how well that trigger was positioned “just right” for my index finger. I bought that GP100, and my accuracy potential increased, to a new high. When my duty Colt started having issues, and my subsequent duty SIG P220 also proved incompatible*, I reverted to using a revolver on duty, my GP100. Within two weeks, I had to use the GP100 “In The Gravest Extreme,” in an event with “No Second Place Winner,” to borrow words from Massad Ayoob and the late, great Bill Jordan. I decided to keep using duty revolvers on duty, until 1997, at which time I resumed using autos.
After 1997, I had to keep using autos, on duty, in my duty rig, until my retirement, in 2018. 20/20 hindsight tells me that I could have survived, had I “grandfathered” my revolvers, as duty handguns, in 1997, but, realistically, the increased amount of things we had to carry, on the duty belt, meant that an auto made more sense.
For quite some time, well into this century, however, a GP100, or a 4” K-Frame, continued to ride in the patrol car, inside a Wilderness Safepacker, for extended-range situations.
Had I adopted the GP100 early, about 1986, I might have less big-bore-Magnum-induced damage, in my right thumb and wrist joints. In the Eighties, I did not understand how much I was hurting myself, cumulatively, long-term, by shooting N-Frames in DA mode, with my K/L/GP100-sized hands. To reach the trigger, in DA mode, I had to use an offset grip, which channeled that recoil more into the base joint of my thumb, and then torqued my wrist, in a non-ergonomically-optimal way.
I accumulated more GP100 revolvers, over the years, now having them with 3”, 4”, and 6” barrels. If I were to return to a law enforcement type of job, as a second career, and did not have to wear a ton of gear on my duty belt, I would gladly wear a GP100 as a duty handgun, again, especially in a role that allowed wearing “soft clothes.” As I indicated earlier, my accuracy potential with a GP100 is second to no other handgun, and, importantly, long-stroke DA is more stress-proof, for me, than any auto’s trigger.
*The P220 shot perfectly reliably, but the heel-clip mag release tended to snag on the seat back fabric, in a patrol car, causing a partial drop of the magazine.
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tj3006
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,979
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Post by tj3006 on Sept 9, 2022 7:12:59 GMT -5
Rexter Thank you for your service ! I hope you don't need to return to law enforcement duties, sounds like you have done your share and more ! I have similar thoughts on my own career. After hunting season, I plan to look into a part time job at Cabela's. Cause when i step out of that cab in about 3 years, (hopefully without a major accident) I can heave a huge sigh of relief. And let my guard down. And i am not sure I could get back in a truck again, believe me in my 28 years there have been some close calls, and a few miracles ! I carry a revolver quite often, M 19 4 inch or a MDL 69. But more often A Commander sized .45 or .38 Super. When it is really hot, I have a little Ruger single stack 9mm I can carry. But today with crazies using cars as weapons I like the thought of a magnum big bore. Thinking a commander sized 10mm Would go through a wind shield or drain a radiator, better than a 9mm .38 super or a .45. ...tj
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Post by bushog on Sept 9, 2022 7:52:06 GMT -5
I was looking on a local web sight, And on the Cabela's sight, at GP-100s. They are so nice ! Mine is a Davidson's 5 inch. The Balance is just about perfect. I got it right the 1st time. When I see a great deal on a 6 or 4 inch, I remember how little difference 1 inch would make. Mine is a .357. The only one that really tempts me is a 10mm. But in .357 using Slower powders like 296 ,2400 AA#9 and such, you would just about have to work at it to blow one of these Cylinders. (my opinion only) Gary Reeder used to make a 5 shot .41 magnum , out of one, That would be very cool. A .41 Special would be cool too ! I should look into the cost on one of those from JRH. ....tj Bowen is building me a blue GP100 in .41 special with a 4” re-bored Colt Python barrel as I write. I foolishly sold a similar build by Clements that was amazing with a 210gr bullet at nearly 1200fps. Would do most a .41 magnum will. Waiting on a Stainless rebore in the same… Just a note but I swear Jack gets those barrels back from Segrist super fast….or at least faster…
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Post by bradshaw on Sept 9, 2022 9:16:08 GMT -5
My only regret, regarding the GP100, is that I was not an early adopter. Until about 1990, I thought that big bores were necessary, and used N-Frames as duty revolvers. I switched to a Colt Stainless Commander, for police duty carry, in 1990, and some time in the early Nineties, wanted a stainless steel “utility” revolver, at which time I discovered how well the factory GP100 grip fit my hands, and how well that trigger was positioned “just right” for my index finger. I bought that GP100, and my accuracy potential increased, to a new high. When my duty Colt started having issues, and my subsequent duty SIG P220 also proved incompatible*, I reverted to using a revolver on duty, my GP100. Within two weeks, I had to use the GP100 “In The Gravest Extreme,” in an event with “No Second Place Winner,” to borrow words from Massad Ayoob and the late, great Bill Jordan. I decided to keep using duty revolvers on duty, until 1997, at which time I resumed using autos. After 1997, I had to keep using autos, on duty, in my duty rig, until my retirement, in 2018. 20/20 hindsight tells me that I could have survived, had I “grandfathered” my revolvers, as duty handguns, in 1997, but, realistically, the increased amount of things we had to carry, on the duty belt, meant that an auto made more sense. For quite some time, well into this century, however, a GP100, or a 4” K-Frame, continued to ride in the patrol car, inside a Wilderness Safepacker, for extended-range situations. Had I adopted the GP100 early, about 1986, I might have less big-bore-Magnum-induced damage, in my right thumb and wrist joints. In the Eighties, I did not understand how much I was hurting myself, cumulatively, long-term, by shooting N-Frames in DA mode, with my K/L/GP100-sized hands. To reach the trigger, in DA mode, I had to use an offset grip, which channeled that recoil more into the base joint of my thumb, and then torqued my wrist, in a non-ergonomically-optimal way. I accumulated more GP100 revolvers, over the years, now having them with 3”, 4”, and 6” barrels. If I were to return to a law enforcement type of job, as a second career, and did not have to wear a ton of gear on my duty belt, I would gladly wear a GP100 as a duty handgun, again, especially in a role that allowed wearing “soft clothes.” As I indicated earlier, my accuracy potential with a GP100 is second to no other handgun, and, importantly, long-stroke DA is more stress-proof, for me, than any auto’s trigger. *The P220 shot perfectly reliably, but the heel-clip mag release tended to snag on the seat back fabric, in a patrol car, causing a partial drop of the magazine. ***** rexster.... appreciate your well written compression of experience. My friend Jerry Moran (Colt Python maestro, IHMSA All-American, etc), worked over a GP-100 and has huge respect for the revolver... to the point of not letting anyone pry it from his hands. A marvel of scale & design, thinks Moran. There are lessons in your shooting experience to be shared. David Bradshaw
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Post by marcruger on Sept 11, 2022 12:07:06 GMT -5
Just as a note, I recall around 10 years ago Ruger made a change to the GP100 trigger. Before that, I stayed away from the GP100 series as they had pretty heavy triggers compared to Smiths and Colts. There was a bit of fanfare when the LCR was created, where Ruger used computer aided engineering to design the light & smooth trigger action. Soon after I noticed the GP100 trigger got much, much, much better, especially in DA. Mr. Bradshaw, do you recall that switchover? A buddy of mine was looking for a mid-sized .357, and we ran across a new GP100 in the local store. I tried the trigger, it was great, and told him to buy that particular gun on the spot. He did. The gun dealer said they are all coming in like that, and that Ruger redesigned the internals with computers to make it better. This was right around the time of the changeover.
I lament that the front sight quick-change feature was eliminated. I think that was a super idea. My dad's .44 with a 3" barrel does not have that feature.
God Bless, and best wishes, Marc
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Post by bradshaw on Sept 12, 2022 11:27:47 GMT -5
Just as a note, I recall around 10 years ago Ruger made a change to the GP100 trigger. Before that, I stayed away from the GP100 series as they had pretty heavy triggers compared to Smiths and Colts. There was a bit of fanfare when the LCR was created, where Ruger used computer aided engineering to design the light & smooth trigger action. Soon after I noticed the GP100 trigger got much, much, much better, especially in DA. Mr. Bradshaw, do you recall that switchover? A buddy of mine was looking for a mid-sized .357, and we ran across a new GP100 in the local store. I tried the trigger, it was great, and told him to buy that particular gun on the spot. He did. The gun dealer said they are all coming in like that, and that Ruger redesigned the internals with computers to make it better. This was right around the time of the changeover. I lament that the front sight quick-change feature was eliminated. I think that was a super idea. My dad's .44 with a 3" barrel does not have that feature. God Bless, and best wishes, Marc ***** Marc.... this is news to me. I’ll ask Jerry Moran if he has knowledge. Although a Python maestro, he’s done great work on the GP-100, but no longer works on guns for others. Ron Power built Tom Ruger (Bill, Jr.’s younger brother a PPC rerolver with very clean double action on the Security-Six; that was around 1980. It’s a tremendous advance if, as you say, Ruger reconfigured lockwork to smooth out the mechanical transitions necessary for trigger cocking. Both Colt and S&W has this worked out more than a century ago with parts meant to be hand-fitted. Hand fitting requires EXPERIENCE and TALENT. Some folk could work all their life and not tune a revolver. Colt’s MK series were attempts to eliminate hand fitting required of earlier double actions. Bill Ruger’s original Redhawk front sight should have been continued, not curtailed. When Bill Ruger, Jr., built my Blackhawk 03 .45 Colt/.45 ACP in 2002, he incorporated, at my request, the original Super Redhawk front sight with base silver soldered to barrel. Provides needed versatility. Service manager Dick Beaulieu oversaw the 03 and wanted to see it put into production. Curious whether both trigger and hammer for GP-100 were changed, and whether the new parts drop in with original pawl and transfer bar, etc. And whether the double action fly (aka sear) was changed. In developing his Security-Six, Bill Ruger was going against the S&W M-10 and M-19 family. The Security-Six forced S&W to introduce the L frame for increased durability with .357 Mag. In developing the Redhawk, Ruger was going against the S&W M-29. Strength-wise, Ruger hit out of the park. The GP-100 may have intended to bury the L frame, but the only way to consider that is through equality in single & double action. Jerry Moran is not a Smith & Wesson man, invested in the classic Colt double action lockwork long before I met him in on the silhouette firing line in the late 1970’s. A good friend of Bill Ruger, Jr., Jerry’s work with the Python on the firing line could not be argued, and his work with machine tools and as a foreman at a GM plant put him conversation with Bill, Jr., at a level where my contribution came in the form of questions, not declarations. Had I known Ronnie Wells back then, I would have dragged him over to meet the Rugers. The impulse to refine revolver performance is driven from the Firing Line. The only way for Quality Control to confront the Bean Counter is to maintain or improve quality through efficiency. Sounds like Ruger may have taken a good step with a better pull on the GP-100. Jerry Moran has spoken of Ruger double action POTENTIAL for some time. When strength is not at issue, only refinement on the trigger and at the target can get you past Smith & Wesson. David Bradshaw
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Post by crazycarl on Sept 13, 2022 15:20:43 GMT -5
Hate I didn’t send a GP-100 off to Mr. Clements for a .41 Special conversion before he stopped taking in new work. I did wind up with a lovely Clements .41 Special, though of the single action persuasion.
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