GP-100 Show and Tell

[Shrek Of The Arctic]

I just wanted to do a show and tell for my most humble revolver. GP-100 half lug, DAO, and with "Century Arms" import markings. There is a rumor they were from RCMP, but a little investigation unfortunately disproves that. I've heard they were issued to Montreal PD, which seems more plausible.

As much as I love my S&W revolvers, I've always had a strong sense of respect for the GP-100. As far as strength, reliability, and staying in time, I think the GP-100 is a bit better.

This one just really strikes me as the perfect no frills, no nonsense revolver. Oddly enough, this one was very inexpensive. The few others I've seen were similarly cheap. My son gave it to me for Christmas. I'd never sell it, which is just as well. Even in this day and age, I doubt I could get a plugged nickel out of it.

The grips...It would be nice to have something fancy, but...I like the originals. They fit my hand and handle recoil well. I'd like something purtier, but for the gun this is, I just can't bring myself to mess with success.

The GP 100 takes a beating for a rougher action than a S&W, but this one is right up there with my nicer Smiths. I once tried a spring kit in it and quickly realized I could bind the gun up in a hurry with it using 12 and 14 lb. Trigger return Springs, so I went back to factory. It's the only revolver I've ever done that with.

My handful of Smiths get to see the most use. Especially my eight shooters. But in some bizarrely awful post apocalyptic scenario, I think a fella would be very well off to have this one on his belt.

What do y'all think? Anyone else got much love for the homely ole GP-100?

 

[oddshooter]

I have a pretty model with polished pins, trigger, and hammer.

They are incredible strong. Built like a tank. It feels like the toughest 357mag ever, if you don't count the Dan Wesson.
I don't think I could wear it out even with hot loads in my lifetime.

Still, it's a little heavy and blocky for me. I just haven't bonded with it.
I love the predecessor, the Security Six series.

S&W makes a gentleman's gun.
Ruger makes a working man's gun.


Prescut
Of course, any gift from your son is a keeper.

 

[LVSteve]

There is a dusty part of my memory that says those DAO GP-100s came from France, but don't take it as gospel.

 

[Valmet]

Don’t own any Ruger revolvers but I’ve owned/shot enough to know that they’re built like bank vaults.

 

[Heinz]

That is a nice revolver. My 3 Ruger revolvers are all Single Action 22s. A DAO Ruger seems backward to me. That does not detract from yours being a nice revolver.

 

[Shrek Of The Arctic]

There is a dusty part of my memory that says those DAO GP-100s came from France, but don't take it as gospel.

I'll sniff around that a bit. I know they loved the Six series, and Manurhin made a licensed copy of it as the MR-88. That seems to me a HUGE compliment to the six series right there. I also saw a SP 101 with them funky but nice Manurhin grips on it. I'd be mighty curious about that too. There's so much to learn with this stuff! And so many folks here that have forgotten more than I could ever hope to pick up!

I sometimes forget the Security Six in my safe. As bone stock as they ever came out of any hardware store. Blued, 4" bbl. The action was awful, but I've improved it a good bit. My wife grew up with it here in Alaska. Her family wasn't particularly wealthy, so...this is kinda just what they made due with. They used it to keep black bear, coyotes and such away from the chickens and horses, her mom ran off some fellas with ill intentions with it.
Heck, that Ruger has done more to earn a living than all my other revolvers put together, come to think of it. It's really a shame Ruger the Six series and the GP-100 never had a chance to co-exist. They were both amazing in their own right.

 

[K Harris]

I read one time, I think on Grant Cunningham's old site back when he was still gunsmithing that there were GP-100's in that configuration that came back from New Zealand. I saw a few around at that time, but never picked one up. I wish I would have.

 

[Bigdog357]

I picked this GP up a few months ago. I really like it, slapped a set of combat grips on her. Very similar to my 686-1.

 

[Shoebox1.1]

I’ve got a rare 5 inch half lug lipseys 357 and a match champion 357. The Mc would be the last gun part with. Shoots like a laser beam. Literally.

 

[CarNDrvr]

I’m lucky enough to own a few variations of both GP100s and S&Ws. You honestly can’t go wrong either way.

 

[dsf]

Bit of a story on this one -



Bought it used for $199.00 at a LGS that had taken it back due to a cracked forcing cone. Had to cross my heart and promise to not shoot it. I called Ruger and they fixed it for free.

I replaced the factory rear sight with one from Freedom Arms. It's meant for their BFR but drops right in to the GP100. And it costs all of $27.00

 

[canoeguy]

I like the GP-100, I've had this 3" fixed sight version for the last six years or so. The sights are dead on, trigger is great right out of the box. I do feel well armed when carrying it.

 

[jeffrefrig]

I took the rubber off mine and put their Match Champion stocks on. Best I can do with a stainless steel gun. I remember buying a Wolf spring kit and I think I used the middle tension spring for the hammer ( not sure what it is offhand). It works very nice in DA. It averages just under 6# in DA and about 1 1/2# in SA.
The way those triggers assemblies drop out maybe your gun could be changed back to DA SA without much trouble?

 

[Empe]

I don't think the GP 100 is homely at all . I have an early low back Security Six . The GP 100's replaced them I believe. Now I don't think they're as nicely or as finely finished as the S&W revolvers but they're very well made and are also priced a little lower.
Any test reports that I've seen pretty much put the Ruger revolvers in the same category accuracy wise as the S&W's .

 

[stansdds]

I am in the camp of the GP-100 actually being a little stronger than the S&W L-frame or the Dan Wesson 15/715. Frame strength is likely equal, but the frame is not usually the failure point in steel-framed 357 revolvers. S&W and Dan Wesson cylinders are made with the stop notch milled directly over the chamber. This marks the weakest spot in their cylinders. GP-100 cylinder stop notches are located to the side the chambers, leaving more metal around each chamber, so the Ruger cylinder is stronger. That's my opinion, I've not tried to destroy any of my revolvers with over-pressure handloads.

 

[mk70ss]

You have one fine revolver there. Always loved the GP series. A four inch version with adjustable sights was my first center fire handgun purchase back in 1987.