I am saveing me piggy bank money for a .357 mag . I Like the 4 inch. But just started looking. At options in the smith line. It's. Going to be a while before. I make a buy. But willingly to go with the smith as well. I would like to have an opinion on which one. I like. The blued look better. Also. This will be a house. Gun not for carry and in new

Won't try to talk you out of it. The GP might be a bit less refined, but it's cheaper, has no internal lock, and is capable of handling pretty much anything you throw at it.

If I was looking to buy a NEW revolver today, I wouldn't even consider a Smith and Wesson. Two piece barrels. MIM parts. Internal lock. Just things I don't want in a revolver.

And Ruger has the best CS in the business. ANYTHING goes wrong with that gun, they'll fix it for free and FAST. A good friend of mine inherited his father's Ruger Security Six .357. His dad bought that new in the late 70's and fired probably 30,000 rounds through it. Nearly ALL .357. He was a reloader and never fired .38. As a matter of fact, that was the first .357 I ever shot. I was about 13.

When his dad died, my friend called Ruger to see about a makeover. The gun was a bit loose. Ruger paid for the shipping, completely refurbished the gun to new specs, and even reblued it, for free. They asked my buddy first, of course. Sent it back in a factory hard case. Whole thing took less than a month. Came back looking like it just came off the line.

Just buy the GP. You won't be sorry.

You'll be better off of you buy the GP100. Ruger stands by it's products.

I'll buy more of them as time goes on. (I want a custom 8" barreled GP100 in .327 Federal Magnum and another identical revolver rechambered for the 10mm auto cartridge).

These will make marvelous "field and farm" revolvers.

The Ruger GP100 seems like a fine gun. Not my style though. I prefer a .44 Magnum to a .357, but my go to .357 is a 627 PC. Trigger pull is smooth and quick; superior to the GP.

So let me tell you my story. First off I have a S&W 6.5" 500 Magnum.
I love this gun. Shoot 350gr's all day without issue or stiff recoil.

I also have 3 GP100's. A 4.2" Stainless Steel .357 Magnum, a 6" Blued (which really looks more black) .357 Magnum and a 4.2" Stainless Steel
.327 Magnum.

These are all tanks. built strong and will last a lifetime. Ruger's, as you heard stand by their products. They are very easy to work on yourself. I've changed the trigger and hammer springs myself in no time to lighten them up. Also you can get a lot of grips for them. I've purchased Altamont Rubber grips and then installed chiggrips(.com) panels in them. He makes mighty fine panels.

So the 4.2 inch 357 is a fine gun and you would really like it I'm sure. The .327 magnum is really fine piece. Stats right up there with the .357 and holds 7 rounds compared to 6 in the .357 magnum.

The .327 is bit harder to find these days and they come at a premium price.

Good luck, get the .357you wont be disappointed and don't forget to check out the GP100 Match Champion Edition it is also a fine one that I will get soon. Besides even if you didn't like selling one goes real fast.

I'm a bit of a GP100 nut and know them intimately. It's a great platform - sturdy, robust and backed by outstanding customer service. Last year a friend of mine found a 20 year old 4" stainless steel GP100 for $350 that developed some function issues - the trigger wouldn't reset every once in a while. He sent it up to Ruger and they completely rebuilt it and shipped it back. For free. No questions asked. Really amazing CS stories like this are pretty common.

In my opinion the GP100 is overbuilt in many respects and lacks the refinement of the 686. It can be said the GP100 is somewhat clunky or chunky in the aesthetics department. The GP100 trigger group does respond well to action work and most actually need it to some extent. I've read comments from owners who rave about how wonderful the trigger is on their new GP100 but I've had close to 30 new GP100s pass through my hands and I have yet to find one that I liked right out of the box. I prefer the feel of a S&W trigger. It's crisper. Hard to put into words but try 'em both for yourself and see what you think.

FWIW - new GP100s now have MIM triggers. Just sayin.....

Thought I should perhaps back up my claim to know the GP100 "intimately". Below are several GP100s that I have modified to try to improve on the otherwise rather mundane styling that comes out of Newport, NH. The reference to S&W styling should be obvious to the folks here...

Here is my GP-100 in blue. Great gun. Accurate with good trigger.

IMHO, you should buy one.

Looks like my 642 wanted it picture taken also.

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The first revolver I ever bought was a 4" stainless GP100. I bought it over 20 years ago. I was very happy with it until I started collecting (accumulating really) Smith & Wessons. After my first 4" Highway Patrolman (pre-28) and NYSP marked 681, the Ruger didn't get shot any more.

I eventually traded it for a 10mm S&W 1076.

I still have my 4" 1st gen SP101 in 22 lr and a 9mm Speed Six, but no more GPs.

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My sgntr is mor thn 30 chrctrs

Before there was a GP-100 there was a Security Six. I owned this one years before I owned most of my S&Ws:

Smith & Wesson Forum - ISCS Yoda's Album: Other Brands - Revolvers - Picture

Yes, it, too, was mundane, so I jazzed it up with Hogue target grips. People laugh when they see it. They stop laughing after I use it and they see what I can do with it. It is not a hideout gun or of much use for concealed carry although it's not all that hard to conceal in cold weather. My point, however, is that it is a work horse, will never fail, and is of high quality. I am a S&W aficionado - I only have two Rugers revolvers compared to I am not sure how many S&Ws. But I can't see a good reason to dissuade you from the GP-100 if you want a workhorse of a revolver.

If you want a sexier gun that might get derogated because of its lock but, if you don't care, then get one of these:

Smith & Wesson Forum - ISCS Yoda's Album: S&W Revolvers - Picture

It's a wonderful gun. Period.

I love my GP, mine is a 4inch fixed sight gun, and it has been great. Here it is with my SP101 full lug .22lr. (they compliment each other)



Waveform, I have been admiring your work on your GP's for a long time. I am not a member of the forum you usually post at, so I haven't posted any comments. You have a nice eye, and a lot of talent, and some very nice GP's.

I wonder what Ruger CS, would say if you ever had to send your's in for repair.

Really, you've had excellent advice here. For a house gun, either one would serve perfectly well. Were it me, frankly, I'd probably buy the Ruger.

Thanks for the compliment. I know better than to send any of my customs back in to Ruger. They're mine in the fullest sense of the word! But that's OK - folks with customs by Gemini, Bowen, Turnbull, etc. are all in the same boat in that regard. Once you decide to go down this path there's no turning back. But parts are available and good smiths are abundant who can work on the GP100 if I ever encountered anything I couldn't handle. I think it would be fun to send one in to Ruger CS just to find out what they would say....

the gp100 was my first revolver. def a good choice. i like the 4 inch the best.

As a funny aside, I forget to mention that last summer I went to a range with about a half dozen friends. I brought my 4" Ruger Service Six because I was fixing to head to Colorado and bear country and I didn't want to put a fancy S&W in my luggage. The gun was to accompany me solely at my friend's house as we hung out on the veranda in case of incoming critters.

Anyway, I fired a lot of rounds through it to refamiliarize myself with the gun because it had been awhile since I used it. Meanwhile, my friends were shooting a variety of modern semi-auto pistols. At one point I turned to one of them, who seemingly couldn't get a solitary good group with his pistol (a Glock, I think) and I said, "Do you want to shoot a real gun?" One round fired, one bullseye later, he sheepishly admitted he totally sucked with his pistol. I didn't blurt out "NO KIDDING??!!" but I mildly agreed with him and recommended a switch to revolvers.

That 4" Ruger Service Six is a heavy duty, non-recoiling beast - if the GP-100 is as good, with or without adjustable sights, "it'll do!".

I can't attach a picture. I left the gun in Colorado so I don't need to drag it along next time. Oh, well........

Thanks it will be the ruger for sure just got to put piggy bank back toghter.robbed it for a new xds. 45 c and M p 40 c so i am so broke lol. Thanks for advice Awsom replys . Sends pros and cons please

I bought a GP100 4 years ago. Some security outfit was selling them. They traded them in for SIGs or something. Anyway, these sold for $299 and the came in a factory plastic case. They had the old style Lett grips which are MUCH better than the Hogue's the GP ships with now. As a matter of fact, I would either buy a used GP with the old Lett grips or factor in the price of replacing the awful Hogue's into the price of the new gun.

I have a stainless Service Six now. K frame size with full .357 mag capability. Best of both worlds. I miss that GP I sold, but it is pretty beefy.

I am going to buy a Ruger 100 Match Champion. Just trying to decide whether to go with the Novac "fixed" or adjustable sights. Will not abandon my Smiths, but gun does get lots of good reviews and it will be something new for me. Appreciate input on sight choice (PM if thread drift makes you crazy) Thanks, Sam

Alrighty then, here's why i won't buy a GP 100; It's a Ruger.


In his letter to members of the House and Senate on 30 March 1989, Bill Ruger stated in that which has come to be known as "The Ruger Letter":

"The best way to address the firepower concern is therefore not to try to outlaw or license many millions of older and perfectly legitimate firearms (which would be a licensing effort of staggering proportions) but to prohibit the possession of high capacity magazines. By a simple, complete, and unequivocal ban on large capacity magazines, all the difficulty of defining "assault rifles" and "semi-automatic rifles" is eliminated. The large capacity magazine itself, separate or attached to the firearm, becomes the prohibited item. A single amendment to Federal firearms laws could prohibit their possession or sale and would effectively implement these objectives."

In addition to the furor amongst hunters, sportsmen and shooters caused by "The Ruger Letter", Mr. Ruger made additional comments during an interview with NBCs Tom Brokaw that angered 2nd Amendment proponents even further, by saying that "no honest man needs more than 10 rounds in any gun…" and, "I never meant for simple civilians to have my 20 and 30 round magazines…"

Go for it no worries 😀

Hello Waveform: I know no one who is more of an authority on the GP-100 platform than you! Good to see your post here. As to the original Poster, they are great revolvers. I have the 3 inch and 4 inch models. I love both S&W and Ruger Revolvers. Good luck and best wishes with your decision! Jay

I'm not a fan of the Novak sights on the GP100. The dovetail cut into the top strap must weaken it somewhat. Also it is a shorter sight radius than the regular adjustable sights. I'm sure it is still plenty strong, but I don't see the benefit.

Just my opinion FWIW,

Many of us have our own petty grievances. I have never renewed my NRA membership since President Bush resigned his membership because of Wayne L's repeated reference to Federal Agents as "jackbooted thugs".

The Rugers IMO are solid revolvers, I own a few including the Sp101, GP100, LCR along with their single actions and MKII. The advantages to the GP include strength ( though no question the L frames are strong enough) especially in the lockwork, ease of disassembly and slightly lower price vs the S&W. They also have very high quality bores and chambers...they seem to come clean very easy at least as well most of my smith and Wessons and better than many.
They come with a more mechanical DA trigger with a stiffer pull generally, though being easy to disassemble allows one to deburr and clean up the triggers without much difficulty.
They will also have more casting marks with less attention to the nooks and crannies compared to S&W or especially Colts.
Rougher and blockier guns vs S&W, but every bit the shooters and arguably tougher guns if you like the hot stuff.
Last time out with my 3" fixed sight GP, fixed sights are a little off with wadcutters, but much closer with 145gr .357 Silvertips it's normally loaded with.

Good point on the Novak sight. I will probably follow your suggestion. I was just thinking that the adjustable looked a bit fragile in comparison and there really is an element of adjustability in the Novak.

I can't talk you out of it because it's the only current mfg double action .357 revolver I'd own. I've had 3 of them, one 4" from the 80's, a 6" that I sold because I just never could warm up to the way it felt, and a recent 4" I bought for myself last December. The newest one has a few changes from the older in that it has an easier to remove firing pin (held in by a bushing vs cross pin) and the trigger is is different. Out of the box, a Ruger isn't nowhere near as smooth as the old Smiths but they aint bad either in my experience and after about 500 rounds down the pipe, they're just fine by me. I've got a passel of older 686's which is my favorite gun but as far as function and accuracy, the GP will hang toe to toe with them.

My 2 cents about the Match Champion - in both versions you sacrifice the replaceable front sight insert. That may or may not matter but there are a lot of front sight options out there for the standard insert - fiber optic, tritium, red insert, solid colors, etc. If IPDA is your game then the full Novak set up is probably all you need. That's what Ruger was trying to target (pun intended) with the MC. Easy holstering, quick sight acquisition and run-and-gun shooting. If you are a bullseye target shooter get the adjustable rear sight. It's plenty robust for most folks (Ruger's been selling them on the GP100 for almost 30 years now) but if not you can always swap out the rear for a Bowen Rough Country rear. The Novak rear has adjustment for windage only, no elevation.

Don't make the mistake of equating Ruger's Match Champion with something from the Performance Center. The MC has a little more attention paid to it in assembly of the trigger group with shims used for both trigger and hammer. But don't expect a super tuned action like you would get from a good gunsmith.

It is the only GP100 with a recessed 11 degree target crown.

If you like the styling of the Match Champion then pick your sights and go for it.

Wow in reading these posts my emotions have been all over the map! The importance of belonging an NRA member and Bill Ruger's laps in judgement will just have to wait.

Here is a brief telling of my revolver evolution. Hey I grew up a Coly man. My Dad's dad left me a colt lightening and my Mom's dad left me a Colt SSA in 32-20. My first 22 pistol was a Colt New Frontier. It always shot 6 inches left at 25 yards and even a new barrel did not cure this.

When I got the bug for a 44 Magnum I bought a Ruger Super Black Hawk. I never really cared for that gun and waited for Colt to come out with a 44. I bought a 29 and the quest for an accurate good handling revolver was over. I have had a blue 29 or a stainless 629 every since.

When my son turned 18 the 686 was brand new. I bought him a 6 inch. I now have a 4 inch 686 and a 442 and only have a 45 1911 by Colt.

Ruger's in this area sell slightly lower priced than a S&W but their trade in value or used price is also less. I just like the lines of a Smith better. I like their triggers better as well.

For a house gun I would buy a 686 in 4 or 6 inches. I do love the 22 autos that Ruger makes. Later! Geo. T.

Also, a HELL of a lot more expensive.

I can't try to talk you out of a GP100. I own one. 4" stainless.
I love it. It's a lot more pleasant to shoot than a K frame .357.
Less money than a 686.
It's a damned fine revolver and is stout as hell.
Mine has a nice action and an action job would make it fantastic.
You can't go wrong with one.
I'd ditch the Hogue grip that the new ones come with. They feel like a dead snake to me.
Mine is one of the last to come with the original GP100 grip.
You can get them from Altamont grips.
In fact, I'm probably going to buy the checkered or fish-scale textured version that Altamont offers.
No functional reason for me to get them. I just like the way they look.

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What would Jim Cirillo do?

By that token, we could dwell on S&W's agreement with the Clinton administration and boycott them.
To do otherwise, would be hypocritical.

Personally, I think Bill Ruger and Ed Schulz were both just pandering to the Feds to try and get government contracts.
That's what happens when you sell your soul for riches.

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What would Jim Cirillo do?

You're right. That is petty. Wayne L was right, and Daddy Bush is anti-gun.
His joining and quitting the NRA was a political stunt.
Lets not forget that Daddy Bush started the whole "assault weapon" and "no sporting purpose" BS. Clinton just took the Bush ban and ran with it.

My personal reason for not renewing NRA membership is the fact that they have compromised way too much.
There is NO room for compromise, regarding rights.
Every time they compromise, we lose. We NEVER get anything in exchange. The leftists win and we lose.

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What would Jim Cirillo do?

I won't talk you out of one, either. This is a 3" version in .38 spl and I absolutely LOVE it. It was an internet purchase that unfortunately had to go back to Ruger to get the cylinder replaced (sort-of-long-story), but I can vouch for their impeccable customer service---turnaround time from sending it there to getting it back in my hands at work was 1.5 weeks. They even smoothed the action for me!

Waveform: PLEASE tell me where you got the all-wood grips for your GP's!

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Bill Ruger has been dead for over a decade.
If you want to boycott them for something a dead man said a long time ago, well ok.
Seems petty to me, though.

It is a reasonable alternative. It is not like I suggested a Registered Magnum or a Korth.

I've owned a GP100 stainless 4" for over 27 years. It is built like a tank and can handle any load in .357mag from mild to wild.
For your intended purpose of home defense it is a very good choice, if you run out of ammo you can beat the home invader to death with it.

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"Life is short, hunt hard"

I love the photos and information. I never had anything but a S&W revolver. I had lots of them through the years. Two of my favorites were a model 65, and model 60.

+1 on all the comments.

I'd probably buy the Match Champion if I didn't already have a 4" 686-4+.

I really like the 3" wiley clapp editions. BUT, the novak sights are not elevation adjustable, and with different weight bullets I'd be high or low all the time. So I'd go with the MC - the one with the adj rear sight vs. the one with the novak sights.

Once you get into 'range gun' category, the weight probably doesn't matter, at least not as much. That said, the Ruger's are heavier than the L frame S&Ws.

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But then, what do I know?

What the world needs now is a 4 inch GP100 with a barrel profile like the Security Six (standard ejector housing instead of the so-called "full lug").

Discourage you! No way, I just bought a 3" version myself this week. They're good revolvers, and has been stated beaucoup times, they're very strong revolvers. What's not to like about a GP-100.

As far as grips go, yeah, mine came with the Hogue monstrosity grips, but I immediately ordered a set of the Lett style original type round butt grips for it at ShopRuger.com. Both the round and square butt styles are available again at that site, plus I got a 20% discount as a new gun purchaser.

I intend the revolver to be my new woods walker, and I anticipate no problems, other than having enough ammo to feed it.

Ruger is making some good stuff right now, and I was less than satisfied with my last new Smith & Wesson purchase three years ago. Ruger is getting my business for a while.

I have shot many GPs and love them. I bought my Security Six here on the forum after looking at a ton of beaters that were ugly as sin but still shot well. Love it. It's become a house gun. The wife is learning to shoot with it using .38s and she loves it too. My one and only beef with it is it is a very early model, made before a second generation change in the grip frame design and I cannot, for the life of me, find any grips for it other than the originals. If I could find a pair of rubbers for it I'd shoot it more.

Nice Model 1751! One of my favorites and the basis for a couple of the guns pictured. Unlike S&W Ruger makes all the GP100s with the same size cylinder and frame window and just reams the chamber for either 38 Special or 357 Magnum. That makes re-chambering a 38 to 357 a breeze with a cylinder finishing reamer.

To answer your question the dark wood grip on the extreme snubbie (2.6") is from a Thai grip maker named Jaruwan P. He sells on eBay. The black laminate grip is a Badger boot grip by Jim Badger in SC. I love the feel of that grip - even have it on a Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan 44 Mag.

Nice old SS chaparrito! I had an early 150 prefix frame like yours with 2 3/4" barrel and I was always on the hunt for grips that fit it. Like finding hens teeth. I was able to locate a new set of original Ruger panels, a NOS set of Jay Scott oversize target stocks and a NOS set of Herrett's but never saw or even heard of any rubber grips by Pachmayr or Sile or Trausch that fit that frame. The 151 prefix frames sure - all day long. I ended selling my 150 prefix SS not long ago and quickly sold the extra grips as well. Lots of guys are desperate to find ANYTHING to fit that frame. To be honest unless I was a collector looking at a collector grade gun I would avoid the 150 prefix guns unless you know you're gonna be happy with the grip that's already on it. Good luck in your search and I hope you can find something that fits that you like (Pachmayr Gripper would be perfect if they ever made one.)

Won't go wrong with a GP100, the're built like a tank, good shooter too.

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John

Thanks very much waveform! I will look up those guys.

Thanks. I did find one guy in Colorado who does customs who said he'd do it in wood. Some finger grooved combats, but the price was north of 300 dollars. Too rich for me. I'll just enjoy it with hot .38s before spending that kind of dough on grips.

Only thing holding me back for a. G P is re stocking the piggy bank

I just picked up a new 5" Gp100 about a week ago and shot it for the first time today. Very accurate and a pleasure to shoot. The trigger was pretty good out of the box but I did some polishing because they can always be better, also installed a spring kit.

Sold an unfired model 60 that's been sitting in the safe for a couple years to fund the Ruger.

Rugers certainly fall into the "best buy" category. When it came to a full framed 357 I settled for "best ever."
20140912_082322 by Slick_Rick77, on Flickr

It's all preference. They all shoot lead out the front.

I think the best ever 357Magnum revolver to me was my python. Just as strong as my ruger security six in 357. The s&w is ok but it's not going to eat the hotter rounds my ruger and colt do.

I won't. It's a great revolver.
Stock trigger pull is heavier than a Smith, but an action job and/or a lighter spring will sort that right out.

My newest acquisition, just received it back today from Ruger.

GP 100 TALO in 6 inch barrel. Looking forward to bench shooting it tomorrow afternoon.

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Isaiah 41:10