Jeff Thomas
New member
Just helped some good friends buy their first gun. We picked out a Ruger GP100, and it looks to have a 3 inch barrel. At the time I was surprised by the high gloss on the stainless steel, but didn't really pay it much attention - appearance wasn't their main criterion.
When we got it home and I looked through my Blue Book more carefully, I noted that this may be a specific model made only in 1996. The statement in the book that surprises me is '.357 Mag only ...'. Likewise, I note on the barrel that it only says '.357 Magnum'.
I've always believed that any revolver that will chamber .357 Mag will also handle .38 Special cartridges. Now I'm beginning to wonder, but this doesn't make sense to me. I've always heard (and noted) that a .357 Mag is the same diameter, but a longer cartridge than the .38 Special, and has an obviously heavier charge of powder.
Is it possible that this revolver will not handle .38 Special ammunition, and if not, why not? What am I missing here?
Thanks for your help. Regards from AZ
When we got it home and I looked through my Blue Book more carefully, I noted that this may be a specific model made only in 1996. The statement in the book that surprises me is '.357 Mag only ...'. Likewise, I note on the barrel that it only says '.357 Magnum'.
I've always believed that any revolver that will chamber .357 Mag will also handle .38 Special cartridges. Now I'm beginning to wonder, but this doesn't make sense to me. I've always heard (and noted) that a .357 Mag is the same diameter, but a longer cartridge than the .38 Special, and has an obviously heavier charge of powder.
Is it possible that this revolver will not handle .38 Special ammunition, and if not, why not? What am I missing here?
Thanks for your help. Regards from AZ