Every now and then a particular gun strikes my eye and I can't get it out of my head. The GP100 Match Champion is one such gun. When I saw this one for the right price, and the seller was willing to take my old GP100 in on trade, I grabbed the cash and headed out the door.

The original GP100 was built with the standard Ruger philosophy; simple and indestructible. It was intended to be a no frills revolver. The one I had was exactly that:


While I liked it, and shot it well, it just didn't excite me. So, I traded it for this:



These two guns are very similar, but there are some subtle differences that make the Match Champion just that much better.

First, and most notably, are the sights. The new Match Champion has Novak sights. The rear is a typical Novak combat sight:

This is a tremendous improvement over the original which had the rear sight milled into the top strap.

The front is a Novak fiber optic:


At first I was concerned about having a fiber optic because some I've seen in the past have not stood up to hard use. That is no concern for this one. The fiber optic rod is fully enclosed with the metal blade. It still lets in plenty of light though and it stands out nicely.

I found the combination extremely easy to acquire and use. The rear notch is small enough for precision shooting, yet wide enough for easy sight acquisition.

The individual chambers have been beveled slightly:


This makes using speed loaders much easier. On the old model, the rim of the casing tended to catch on the opening of the chamber. That meat the loader had to be wiggled a little to get it to drop in. By easing the sharp edge of the chamber, the case isn't hindered and the loader just drops right in.

Also, the front edge of the cylinder is rounded off:


Notice how it tapers off ever so slightly at the front. Ruger claims this is to aid in reholstering. I can attest to this. The old GP100 cylinder would tend to catch on the edge of the holster now and then. This model just slides right in.

Probably the most obvious change is the grip:


At first blush it might seem to be too straight up and down. That is an illusion. The sights are perfectly aligned when the gun is brought up using a normal two handed grip.

To me it looks like they used Goncalo Alves, but I can't swear to it. Regardless, the wood is very nice.

The sides have a stippled treatment. This makes for a very nice grip surface without being harsh.

It is a single piece and is attached with one screw through the bottom. This is a nice design as it keeps the screw away from the grip surface. With the old grip the screw could back out and rub on the shooting hand. No such issue with this grip.

The shape is very comfortable to hold. It is a little smaller than I'd like, but my hands are larger than average. I believe most shooters will find this very comfortable.

It appears that the tang has not been changes. What this means is the old grips will still fit. So, if you don't like this new grip, it won't be hard to replace it.

Ruger added an 11° target crown to the muzzle:


This is supposed to improve accuracy. I'm not a good enough shot to validate this claim. All I can say about it is that I don't shoot this gun any worse than my old one.

I guess Ruger wanted everyone to know that this is not the standard GP100:


The sides of the barrel have been "slabbed" which helps with weight. They also added very large "marquis" style Match Champion on the left and Ruger GP100 on the right. I'm not a fan of this type of lettering on guns. Even so, this is very nicely done.

"Enough of this aesthetics garbage Rastoff, how does it shoot?" I'm glad you asked; very well. Here are my first 20 shots with the gun:


This was shot at 3, 5, 7 and 10 yards in accordance with the rules here: Rastoff's Challenge- Dropping the Gauntlet Not my best target ever, but not bad considering it's a new gun and these were all taken double action.

The trigger is much improved in the Match Champion. The pull weight averaged 10lbs 13.5oz over 10 double action pulls. It varied about +/-2oz. The single action pull weighed 4lbs 8.8oz over a 10 pull average. This varied about +/-1oz.

This gun was not designed as a target gun. The design intent was to be used in IDPA style shooting. With that in mind, Ruger nailed it. The trigger weights are perfect for defensive shooting and reliability. Shooting controlled pairs was very smooth. I was able to get split times very close to what I shoot with my M&P 45 full size with an Apex FSS trigger.

The part you can't see is what's been upgraded inside. Ruger added bushings to the hammer and trigger. These help keep both parts centered in their respective slots. They also polished all the contact points. This makes for a very smooth double action pull. The single action pull is very crisp. There is a tiny bit of creep. It's so small that you'd really have to be looking for it to notice it. Most will feel that it's creep free. There is also a tiny bit of over-travel. This too is so small as to be insignificant.


Where the rubber meets the road:
I really like this gun. It is inexpensive, well made and easy to shoot. There may be better revolvers, but not at this price. To have a trigger this nice out-of-the-box, at this price point, is a rarity. If you're looking for a nice revolver for competition or even carry, take a close look at this one, it's a great buy.

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Freedom isn't free.

Thank you for this review. I've been looking at these since they came out. I haven't seen many and the prices are a little more than I want to spend right now. And, I am not certain if this revolver can readily replace my GP 100 stainless w/adjustable sights. I lucked into my GP at my local gun store a few years ago and it shoots very well and the trigger pull is just fabulous. Your review is welcomed for me not so much to decide about replacing my GP but possibly to add this revolver to my other stuff. I like the idea of the fixed sight. Your description of the internal polishing is something I learned from your review. Still considering a purchase. This review will help inform my decision. Thanks again!

Excellent review. You nailed it!

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Hue 68 noli me tangere

I bought one lightly used a year ago, shot it for a while and then sold it. Your review is right on target, but as a die hard S&W fan I was not happy enough with it to keep it. As nice as it is, especially for the money, it does not equal a well set up K, L or N frame. The action is smooth, but not as smooth as a Smith. Nice gun and if I only had one gun this might be it, but I still prefer my Smiths. They feel so much more refined. Not very definitive but there it is.

Keith

If you're using your GP100 for real bullseye work, this one cannot replace it. An adjustable sight is necessary for that. However, there is an adjustable sight version of this for the same price.

Even so, I wouldn't get that one. The beauty of this particular model is the Novak sight. Because the rear is installed with a standard Novak cut, it can easily be replaced with any sight out there that fits that cut. The options are endless. So, it could be made into a bullseye gun very easily.

I agree with this assessment. S&W does rule the world of fine revolvers right out of the box. The only gun that I would say is better is the Dan Wesson 15T and they don't make those anymore.

Of course you have to consider price.

The gun that compares most closely with the GP100 is the S&W Performance Center 627:

I've not had the opportunity to fire one of these, but I have handled several. The trigger is a shade better. The DA pull is heavier, but the SA is more crisp. Still, the differences are really small and most would not be able to tell the difference.

The biggest difference (ignoring the 8 vs 6 round capacity) is the price. In real world costs, the 627 sells for about $300 more than the GP100 Match Champion. The question is, can you really tell the difference? Some can and some can't.

In the end it boils down to what you like. Some can really tell the difference in the trigger, some just like the look, some are brand loyalists, you never know what drives each of us.

By no means am I trying to say the Match Champion is better than a Smith. What I am saying is that you get a lot for the price with this gun.

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Freedom isn't free.

I have looked at the Match Champion myself. So, why can't Smith and Wesson keep up with production through the Performance Center with there Revolvers?? That's my Question

I'm not sure what you're asking Fire Dog. I see plenty of Performance Center revolvers in my local gun stores. Don't you?

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Freedom isn't free.

Nice shooting, Rastoff.

Survey says LVSteve's meager marksmanship means he cannot tell the difference.

Truthfully, it depends on what fits my hand. I have tried to shoot guns that just don't work for my hands and it shows on the paper. Comes down to the grip, balance, trigger reach and pull. Guess what I'm trying to say here is that one size does not fit all, even in quality handguns.

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Release the Kraken

Congrats on your newest! Those are a whole lot of gun for the money.

I'd really like to get an SP101 with Novak style sights like that, granted I'm not sure about a FO for a carry gun, range gun or for IDPA though, they are great!

If durability is your concern, I had the same concerns. Those concerns were set aside once I got this gun in my hand. As you can see from the pic, the fiber optic rod is fully contained.

I would have no qualms about carrying this gun.

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Freedom isn't free.

The MC is a great revolver, I pulled the trigger/latch spring and replaced it with a 9# spring. The hammer spring was pulled and a 10# replaced the stock 12#. Because of the factory polishing of the action the lighter springs are good to go; even with CCI primers.

The trigger latch spring weight that I put in was a 9#. The Ruger is smoother than my 686SSR. I prefer my MC.

When I look at the Match Champion, my eye is drawn to the dovetail cut for the rear sight. It seems like it really weakens the top strap of the frame.

I'm sure it is plenty strong, just saying it doesn't look right to me.

Honestly, I would take the OP's fixed sight half lug GP with the compact grips, over the Match Champion, and keep the extra cash.

I wish mine were a half lug, here it is next to my 627 for comparison. The fixed sight long barrel GP's are treasures IMHO.

Yes, the concern was to the FO rod possibly braking. Going back and looking at the photos does show it's very well "encased".

The wood grips on the Match are made of CheChen wood.
The grip frame was not changed so other GP100 grips should also fit.

Nice revolver. "Nice" price, I bet.

I like the features of the match champion, especially the trigger and some of the efforts to dehorn the gun and bevel the chambers for speed loads.....but I'll still hold onto my 3" fixed sight GP100. A little elbow grease can bring an SP or GP right up to par with a good S&W, esp given the simplicity of field stripping these guns.

I finally fondled one on Saturday, really liked it & will probably be my next purchase. I bought a LCR in 9mm on Saturday, so the Match Champion will have to be after September 7th ( CA's Crazy 1 Handgun every 30 Days Rule ) ...... (

The plan is to replace my EDC Model 38-0 with the LCR after it is vetted well, my Airweight has been carried daily & shot monthly for over 11 years. She will have a nice Retirement spot in the safe, will probably shoot a few cyliders of Lite Wadcutters once a year for nostalgia.

I don't know. I'll bet it's a wash when you look at the actual difference.

The old fixed sight was just milled into the top strap:


That took a bunch of metal out of the middle of the top strap. The Novak fitment does look like a potential weak spot, but there's actually a lot more metal in the top strap. They both have the same exterior dimensions, but the Match Champion isn't milled down the middle.

Ruger has always claimed that their guns are tougher than the other guys. This has been a staple of their marketing and business practices. A lot has changed since Bill passed away though. Still, I'd wager that this Match Champion is every bit as robust as any GP100 of the past.

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Freedom isn't free.

I'm sure it is plenty strong.

Not to beat a dead horse, but the milled in groove, turns the top strap into more of an I beam, hardly weakening it. The dovetail cuts the top strap across, greatly weakening it.

Again, I am sure it is plenty strong. All the GP's are great guns.

Great thread and review. I've been on the prowl for a used GP100 for a while. A couple days ago an opportunity to trade into a MC presented itself so I jumped on it due in part to this thread. Can't wait to shoot it this weekend. It's the fixed sight model. I'm not a "revolver guy" but this one may start to turn me a bit. Wolf spring pack is on the way too!