Ruger GP100 Match Champion .357

VaTom · Mar 22, 2022

Yesterday afternoon my older retired neighbor friend came over to show me his latest purchase. Knowing I am a revolver guy he was excited to show me the used, excellent condition Ruger GP100 "Match Champion" model. It had the original case and all the paperwork and was made in 2014. He picked it up at a local gun shop. He didn't have a .357/.38 revolver and this one caught his eye. I do not own a Ruger revolver. I was totally impressed with the smoothness, fit and finish, etc. The "Match Champion" model is an upgraded GP100 and factory tuned for competition. I found a Hickok45 review of the "Match Champion". He paid $769 for it which I think was a great price.

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwshbrsUrB8[/ame]

bigwheelzip · Mar 22, 2022

A shooter in the next lane saw me shooting my 4" 686, said he had a new Match Champion, and would I swap for a cylinder. Sure.
Afterward, I thought it was okay, but preferred the 686. When we traded back, he asked my opinion. I was polite and only said that it was a nice gun. He had an unhappy look on his face and said he liked my 686 more.

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Erocksmash · Mar 22, 2022

I cannot speak to the 357 variant but I'm absolutely in love with the 10mm variant, I have the 3 inch model and I just picked up the 4inch match camp 10mm I'm really excited about it...

ladder13 · Mar 22, 2022

I shot one when they first came out. Smooth, accurate, fit my hand nicely. Nice gun. And no lock.

Rock185 · Mar 22, 2022

I'm a longtime fan of the 686s in general, and within the last couple years have become a fan of the GP100s too. I handled a Match Champion when the first came out and liked it. My GP100 MC is in 10MM. Certainly different than the 686s, but a fine revolver in it's own right IMHO.
I like my GP100 enough that it is not going anywhere.

6string · Mar 22, 2022

I don't get the appeal of the GP100 (so-called) "Match Champion". It's all just lipstick and gimmicks.
2.5"-3" groups? For that price? For what kind of match is this considered acceptable?
You're better off with a police surplus S&W model 10.

kaaskop49 · Mar 23, 2022

bigwheelzip said:
A shooter in the next lane saw me shooting my 4" 686, said he had a new Match Champion, and would I swap for a cylinder. Sure.
Afterward, I thought it was okay, but preferred the 686. When we traded back, he asked my opinion. I was polite and only said that it was a nice gun. He had an unhappy look on his face and said he liked my 686 more.

6string said:
I don't get the appeal of the GP100 (so-called) "Match Champion". It's all just lipstick and gimmicks.
2.5"-3" groups? For that price? For what kind of match is this considered acceptable?

These 2 posts pretty much sum up my experience with the MC. As I already had a fine Wiley Clapp GP100 with a smooth DA pull, I bought the MC hoping it would be better. I was wrong. Couldn't shoot it at all, no explanation why. It certainly was not as sweet as the WC, which is just a fixed sight 3" gun. And it did not feel as though it had upgrades. Sold it a week later. If Ruger intended to compete against the 686 SSR Pro Series, which I also own, they missed the boat. Sad.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

Rock185 · Mar 25, 2022

For me, the name Match Champion just identified the model. The appeal to me were features, i.e., stainless, 4.2" barrel, adjustable sights, etc. If Ruger had just called it a stainless 10mm GP100, that would have been fine by me. I also had a non-MC GP100 and 686 SSR. No difference in build quality that I could detect, just different features....

Ruger GP100 Match Champion .357

VaTom

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bigwheelzip

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Erocksmash

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ladder13

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Rock185

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6string

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kaaskop49

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Rock185

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