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  #1  
Old 12-05-2020, 05:42 PM
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Default Ruger GP100 Wiley Clapp

While I've appreciated Ruger's single action revolvers I never warmed to the da line of guns. That changed when the Wiley Clapp GP100 .357 was introduced a few years ago. After shooting one a friend bought I was impressed enough to lust after one.

I've missed a couple due to bad timing in the recent past but last week I was offered the chance to pick up a blue version from the original owner at a very good price.

I like the features of the Novak sights, matte finish, smooth rounded trigger. The one my friend has is the stainless version which has a fiber front sight vs the brass bead on the matte finished gun. I have ordered the compact grip with checkered panels from Altamont that should arrive before the end of the month as well as a proper holster.

The action is just amazing while at this time it's limited to just dry firing. I've never had a Smith with as nice a factory trigger as this gun.

I know many of us feel a 3" K is the ideal self defense revolver but I think this Ruger will do just fine.




Last edited by S&W Fan; 12-05-2020 at 05:43 PM.
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  #2  
Old 12-05-2020, 05:48 PM
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That is a really nice looking gun.

The WC GP100 is on my wishlist, as is the WC SP101 and the Colt WC 1911s. If Santa asks, I've been a good boy this year.
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Old 12-05-2020, 06:05 PM
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I've got the WC sp101. It is the 2.25" version, they later came out with a 3". If I had known I would have waited. Some nice touches with the WC models.

Last edited by Sgt911; 12-05-2020 at 06:20 PM.
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Old 12-05-2020, 06:19 PM
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That's a very nice GP100. I have the 4" in blue - good shooter. Feels more like a 38-44 frame than any K-L Smith.

I handled, and was allowed to dry fire, a WC GP100 at a local gun show last spring. Didn't have the money and wasn't going to put it on the credit card. Wish I had.

Disclaimer - my 70-year-old M&P 38 has the best trigger of any revolver I've ever owned - single and double.
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Old 12-05-2020, 10:48 PM
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I really like that gun....it would instantly be one of my favorites if I found one to buy.

Thanks for sharing the pic.


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Old 12-05-2020, 10:52 PM
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Good purchase. Congratulations.

For me, the 3-inch GPs are the bomb!
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Old 12-05-2020, 11:40 PM
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I’ve got the regular 3” GP-100’s in blue and stainless. Carried them for years on the job. The GP-100 is a great revolver, and the Wiley Clapp versions are really nice. If I didn’t already have my 3” guns I’d have bought the WC version.
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Old 12-05-2020, 11:55 PM
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What is with that gouged out cylinder ring while the rest of the finish looks fine? Never saw one that gouged. Either that gun is seriously out of time or it has been improperly closed many times. Looks in great shape otherwise. Maybe not comparable, but my only Ruger DA is a heavily used stainless Police Service Six with very light ringing. Could that be a Cerakote job gone bad or Ruger's doing?
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Old 12-06-2020, 12:51 AM
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I have Ruger WC and it’s finish is something comparable to something from the stone age.
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  #10  
Old 12-06-2020, 01:01 AM
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Speaking of 3-inch GPs.




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  #11  
Old 12-06-2020, 04:07 PM
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Great-looking gun. Very purposeful.

I always did think Wiley Clapp sounded like something to avoid, as it was likely antibiotic-resistant...
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Old 12-06-2020, 04:20 PM
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Congratulations on your GP 100 Wiley Clapp look like a awesome revolver.
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  #13  
Old 12-06-2020, 04:42 PM
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I love my 3” blued GP100, and I imagine that one day a WC will join the group. I have various grips that are more “photogenic”, but as with all my wheel guns, as shooters I’ve come to appreciate the utility of rubber.
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Old 12-06-2020, 04:47 PM
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Ive got a WC GP100 in 10mm. I bought it to shoot 40 S&W out of..which is does OK,with steel moons. The action is super slick for stock. I put some ugly Hogues on it and it's easier on the hands shooting. Can't find anything to fault it for,especially for the price. Damn fine modern revolver.
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Last edited by Breakaway500; 12-06-2020 at 04:50 PM.
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  #15  
Old 12-06-2020, 04:53 PM
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Congrats. The action on mine is smooth, I have about 2k thru it so far. I love the gold dot and Novak sights.
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Old 12-06-2020, 05:47 PM
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The DA on my WC GP100 is so smooth, I bought the Match Champion, thinking its action would be comparable or even better. Wrong. I sold the MC a week later. Its action was inferior to that of my WC, although Ruger's advertising campaign had trumpeted the many improvements.

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  #17  
Old 12-06-2020, 06:31 PM
Loyaljeeper Loyaljeeper is offline
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The Wiley Clapp or Match Champion on the side should be no indicator of quality. I too have seen a 15lbs trigger on a MC. In fact, Ruger revolvers are truly hit or miss as far as quality. I had a mid 90’s Blackhawk that was a T U R D. I couldn’t keep the cylinder pin in it. I had a Ruger Kodiak that was amazing but just a little on the heavy side so I traded it away. My ugly WC 10mm is actually a great shooter with an ok trigger. My only complaint, with performance, is having to buy expensive moon clips to shoot 40.
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Old 12-07-2020, 09:49 AM
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True on the hit and miss. I bought an early SP191 in 22 with the 4" barrel and 8 shots. The trigger was horrible with a noticeable hitch in the double action. I raised hell told Ruger that I didn't feel that I had to immediately do a $100 trigger job on a brand new $500 revolver. Ruger took it back on their dime and slicked up the trigger as nice as one can expect from a Ruger/ O am a fan of the RUger double action GP/SP series
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Old 12-08-2020, 08:08 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Loyaljeeper View Post
The Wiley Clapp or Match Champion on the side should be no indicator of quality. I too have seen a 15lbs trigger on a MC. In fact, Ruger revolvers are truly hit or miss as far as quality. I had a mid 90’s Blackhawk that was a T U R D. I couldn’t keep the cylinder pin in it. I had a Ruger Kodiak that was amazing but just a little on the heavy side so I traded it away. My ugly WC 10mm is actually a great shooter with an ok trigger. My only complaint, with performance, is having to buy expensive moon clips to shoot 40.
You might want to take a look at these. They are the best I’ve come across, and require no tools........
RIMZ 646..40 cal
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Old 12-08-2020, 10:26 AM
Loyaljeeper Loyaljeeper is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sabashimon View Post
You might want to take a look at these. They are the best I’ve come across, and require no tools........
RIMZ 646..40 cal
That is about half the price of the TK Customs. Someone named Jim responded that he was 66 for 66 with 40 in his gp100. I believe that is recent. I don’t recall seeing that review before now. If I ever need anymore I will probably try the Rimz for the 646. The 646 doesn’t require extra thick moonclips, and if Ruger built their guns correctly theirs wouldn’t either.
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Old 12-08-2020, 10:43 AM
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It IS hit or miss with the Rugers' quality, etc. My stainless steel GP100 had a terrible trigger, and my wife gets a little nervous if I sit and dry fire it 2000 times to smooth it out so I bought the Wolff spring kit. I replaced the factory hammer and trigger springs. The kits come with 3 different weights so I just used the middle-sized ones and it made a world of difference. I didn't go all Kung Fu on it by polishing anything; it works great now. Very similar to that 629-6 I just got. I also had a Lipsey GP100, 5", that was a very nice-looking gun (blued with wood) but it was terrible. I had to send it back twice for different problems. I changed out the hammer spring on it and it made it much better. That's the one the gun shop gave me $550 for and put it toward the $750 629-6. I felt like I made the right decision and it seemed fair for me and the gun shop. But, paying a little more for the Lipsey version I would think the action should've been much better than it was.
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Old 12-08-2020, 10:48 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Loyaljeeper View Post
The Wiley Clapp or Match Champion on the side should be no indicator of quality.
I have a Wiley Clapp Colt Combat Commander that is just superb...a work of art that shoots as good as it looks.

I wanted to buy a WC Ruger SP-101, but passed on it when I examined it. Very poor machining, especially along the edge of the top strap...definitely not commensurate with the MSRP.

Wiley Clapp doesn't build the darned things...he just designs them.
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Old 12-08-2020, 10:52 AM
Loyaljeeper Loyaljeeper is offline
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True, I should say: With a Ruger, being a Wiley Clapp or saying Match Champion on the side should be no indicator of quality.
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