Ruger GP-100

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LaSouthpaw

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What are your thoughts on these revolers? I am thinking of either the 4" or 6" in the blue finish in 357. Any pros or cons I need to know about?
 
Just to muddy the waters, I really like the three-inch version.

For my money, it's the best .357 currently manufactured (and if it wasn't for S-prefixed N-frames, it would be the best ever).
 
If you have a GP100 and a good .22 DA you dont need any other revolvers. The GP is one versatile little wheel gun. Even the four inch barrel gets alot more velocity goin than a 2" or 3". If you plan on carrying it around, 4" will be much more comfortable. 6" for hunting and range use.
 
I'm mostly a semi-auto shooter....

but I have two 4" GP100's, both .357, one blue and one SS. Love 'em both. Very smooth actions and they hit what they're pointed at. Wouldn't part with either of them.

You can't go wrong, LaSouthpaw. ;)
 
Just recently got a 6" stainless for handgun hunting and I'm going to try to use it in the IPSC revolver class just for grins. I like the stainless look better but to each his own. I think the SS finish is easier to keep looking nice. Either way you'll love the gun.
 
I had a Smith 686 and a Ruger GP, both stainless, 4" and adjustable sights. Didn't need both (wanted to buy something else). They were so close in quality, handling and in every other aspect (except finish, advantage Smith) that I put them both up for sale. The Smith sold first. Still delighted with the Ruger.

The difference in finishing is that the Ruger has CNC marks where one would not ordinarily look (underside of back strap, fore and aft of the frame cut out, inside the shroud, bottom of frame cut out. Smith polished all surfaces of the weapon.
 
I've got a 6" stainless, have put a few thousand rounds through it. Needed cash for another gun and sold my S&W if that means anything.
 
The 6" makes a great target revolver and the 4" isn't far behind
target01.jpg
 
The GP100 is basically the same size class as the S&W 686 or Python, and eats out of 6-shot speedloaders made for either.

It's stronger than either. It's the smallest DA .357 that can take a steady diet of the nastiest full-house-and-then-some hunting loads.

The S&W 6-shot N-Frame .357s are it's match, but they're bigger.
The Redhawk .357 is an absolutely unbreakable tank but it's really overkill for most uses :). Terry uses one for ammo testing :D.

There's a smaller grip available for GP100s that's only a bit bigger than the SP101 grip, and is standard on GP100s with fixed sights. Lett Custom Grips sells everything you need to switch for $30.

Since the GP100 is a relative heavyweight compared to the K-Frames and J-Frames, most people do better without the full-length barrel shroud (which increases muzzle weight). If you're going to shoot a lot of VERY hot stuff, the heavier barrel is nice but most people don't do that and the lighter tube guns are just as strong.
 
I have had a GP-100 stainless, 6 inch heavy barrel since 1991. After a few thousand rounds it shows only external finish wear. It is still as tight and as accurate as it was the day I bought it. You can't go wrong with a GP-100.

My two cents.
 
I took my first deer with a GP. They are the best packing, hunting or plinking gun out there. I use a 120 grain bullet I cast myself and 3 grains of bullseye for plinking and small game. It is super accurate. I also cast a 160 grain bullet with a big meplat for large animals. I push it with 15 grains of 2400. I drop in wolff springs and cut the front sight ramp into a post and I have the perfect pistol for whatever I want to do.
 
Buy a four-inch GP-100. I own two stainless KGP-141s and they are simply wonderful revolvers. The blue/ordnance steel, four-inch barrel GP-100s are also excellent. Please note that the three-inch barrel GP-100s do not have adjustable sights, which is why I did not purchase one.

In summary, GP-100s are probably the best value in an all around revolver currently manufactured. They are outstanding in many roles and will last -- quality, reliability and durability -- for lifetimes. If, heaven forbid, I could one only one handgun, it would be either a Ruger GP-100 or a Smith 27/627.
 
Well today I actually got to handle a 4" stainless GP-100 and if felt really good. A friend has one, so I am hoping to try it you next weekend. Thanks for all the help.
 
I, too, handled a stainless GP100 today. It is a great revolver. Fit my hand better than the Taurus Tracker, and had a better DA trigger to boot.
 
I shot one yesterday and it is very nice. It gobbled up evrything I fed it with no problem and seemed to be accurate. It was shooting a bit high but I think the sights may have needed adjusting.

I have a very favorable impression of the gun and I am going to get one as soon as I can liquidate my *&* 19.
 
Darn this thread!

In the past the GP 100 didn't really impress me much. It seemed to be much bulkier than it needed to be (it looks bulkier than an L-frame S&W) and it just seemed to be less sophisticated than competing models. I liked Ruger autos but not their revolvers (with the exception of the Vaqueros). Well lately I've had a change of heart and the revolvers, well the GP 100 series anyway, have been starting to call my name. With this thread they are becoming even harder to resist.

That said, I'm not really in the market for a .357 right now and it may be a while (a year or two) before I plan to buy another (for revolvers I need a .22, a SAA type probably in .45lc, a .44mag, maybe a .32H&R mag snub, and a Taurus 450 snub in .45lc before another .357). However, I am currently on the lookout for a dedicated .38. What do you guys think of the KGPF-840 (4" barrel, stainless, .38spl version of the GP 100)?
 
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