Ruger GP100 .357

[CAJUNLAWYER]

They are fine revolvers. I have two of their little brothers, the SP101.And the old Speed and Security Six

The 101 as other bigger Rugers can probably take hotter loads than a lot of Smiths.

The are built like tanks and the easiest to take apart.

As cmort stated, any 357 can shoot 38 specials. If you shoot a lot of 38's a carbon ring may build up in the cylinders and the longer 357 rounds will stick a little or be hard to extract, Just use a 40 or 45 caliber brush to clean out the cylinders.

These are the guns that are truly truck/boat guns. The ones I have owned have had good triggers-are hell bent for stout and easily broken down for cleaning if they get dunked, etc. I have an SP101 that will be one of the last guns I get rid of. If I didn't already have a 681 and a 686 I would own a GP100 in a heartbeat.

 

[HCD]

It would take some doin to get my GP, or Security Six away from me. It would have to be one heck of a trade for a Top Notch Smith. A + 10 to all the others that have praised the piece.

 

[The Highlander]

The .357 magnum is probably my favorite caliber, partly because I can shoot .38 specials to plink or teach, then load all the way up the power scale to very hot-loaded .357's for hunting, defense, etc.

I love Rugers revolvers in general. The GP's may not be quite as pretty as Smith's classic lines, but my 4" in blue with Hogue walnut stocks is very, very close!

They are built very solidly. Also easy to take apart, with an ingenious system. No screws to bugger up like taking off the sideplate on a Smith. This also means that an amateur like me can drop the trigger group and install lighter or heavier weight springs to change the trigger pull characteristics. Although the easiest "trigger job" is to just shoot it, the trigger will naturally smooth out on its own.

Mine is very accurate, probably the most accurate revolver I own.

If I could only have one handgun, it would probably be a 4" barreled, stainless steel GP-100 with adjustable sights.

 

[corpulent]

Well, sounds like it gets a ringing endorsement (for the most part). I, also, couldn't find anything horribly negative about them on the interwebs, save the guy who shot his barrel off. . .

Not a good way to start the year... - Topic Powered by Social Strata

 

[The Highlander]

I looked at the link to the broken barrel on SIG forum. No one has posted an update either from the gun shop, or Ruger. Something just doesn't look right to me on that one. Obviously, the barrel broke, but the fact that it was the very first round ever fired in the gun. The bottom of the cylinder, cylinder latch, and other parts of the gun just do not look "new" to me. I'm not saying there wasn't a problem at Ruger, overtightening the barrel, inclusions in the casting, etc. I'm just saying I'd like to hear the rest of the story.

One broken barrel sure wouldn't keep me from shooting the fool out of mine, or from buying another one.

 

[sasu]

A GP100 4" and a 686P 3".

And just the GP100.

I like the Ruger, it is solid, easy to shoot, double action trigger is smooth, single action trigger is fine, too. Currently I use it in IDPA practice sessions, a wonderful thing for that purpose.

But I also like my S&W 686P, M&P R8, 19, Ruger Security Six. Hard to choose between them, they are all splendid 6-7-8 shooters.

 

[Rule3]

Well, sounds like it gets a ringing endorsement (for the most part). I, also, couldn't find anything horribly negative about them on the interwebs, save the guy who shot his barrel off. . .

Not a good way to start the year... - Topic Powered by Social Strata

I like the one comment:

"I would never own or shoot a Ruger again"

There ya have it, Saw it here on the Inter Net, a deal breaker. Ruger is out of business.

 

[Bat Guano]

I am pretty well married to the old Security Sixes, but I do have a 4" stainless GP that someone knowledgeable worked on before I got it. It is the smoothest, best shooting gun I own, bar none. Big for daily wear but it sure packs the mail.

 

[Damn Yankee]

I own two and and second all the good comments which have been posted.

I think you could blow the cylinder but never break the top strap.

 

[deralte]

I have to agree that the GP-100 is a fine revolver. I've owned my SS 4" for several years and love to shoot it. Smooth, accurate and reliable.

 

[Texas Star]

I have a blue 4" fixed sight model. It won't shoot to POI (about 10" low at 25 yards). The trigger is lousy (long, heavy, gritty, with hitches throughout). It is very roughly finished - edges on the trigger and hammer spur were sharp enough to cut my fingers. I had to do a bunch of polishing to take the edges off.

Took it to a smith for a trigger job to smooth it out. That helped a little, but it's still no 686. I put in a lighter mainspring, now it won't fire CCI primers.

The GP 100 is praised for being built like a tank, but how relevant is that? So is a 686.

I don't plan on selling it, but had I known better I never would have bought it.

What bullet weight are you using? That may be part of the problem. They're sighted in for 158 grainers. Lighter weights shoot low.

Not saying that's the entire problem, but it might be a factor.

 

[kmyers]

We have a 4" GP100 and both of us like it a lot. Nice revolver.

 

[johngalt]

What bullet weight are you using? That may be part of the problem. They're sighted in for 158 grainers. Lighter weights shoot low.

Not saying that's the entire problem, but it might be a factor.

I forget the bullet weights I've tried, but 158 gr bullets shoot quite a bit low. Lighter weight bullets shoot even lower.

I'm also not impressed with the cylinder chambers. I used to shoot a lot of .38 special, then had to scrub the rings out, which I could never get completely clean. I suspect the chambers are not properly finished and I'm actually seeing tool marks.

 

[Babalooie]

If the price is right, go for it. They're good guns. I particularly like the stainless steel models with adjustable sights. Ruger made/ makes the GP100 in a .38 special only version. I had one with fixed sights and it must have been a forerunner of the SP101 as regular GP100 grips wouldn't fit. Had to go with SP101 grips. If yours has the wood inserts, you can get creative. There used to be a guy on the Ruger Forum who sold exotic wood inserts of very high quality.

Regardless, go for it.