Which one - GP-100 or 1911?

For that price point I would go GP100 or used. I have an SP101 3" and love it. I can only imagine the GP100 is a robust and solid gun. I have 2 1911's and love them. I shoot them much more than my SP101 or S&W M19. One 1911 is a Springfield GI model. Despite being inexpensive, the Springfield has been spot on. Over the years I have added Yost Retro 1911 sights and Gunner's grips. Other than that it is stock. I paid $399 several years ago, they have gone-up I am sure.

I don't know what you are looking for. My revolvers are for hunting and woods carry. The SP does get some CCW work. The SP also is my wife's nightstand gun when I travel.

The reason I went 3" SP101 instead of 4" GP100 is size. I don't need 6 shots in the woods with the extra weight and bulk. Working in the hot GA sun, planting food plots and clearing trails, I wanted something powerful yet compact.
 
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I would say either, I have a 6" gp100 .357 (in referance to what wvshooter said, I've carried mine several times, and it wasn't too bad) and a kimber stainless II. The gp is a an animal of a revolver and its a smooth gun IMO, you really can't go wrong with a gp. Also you can try shopping around for used 1911's, I got my kimber at a steal and its a strait up tack driver and as reliable as a 1911 gets (at least in my experiance). Also shopping for that new toy is one of my favorite parts of getting a new gun!
 
+1 on GP-100s they are addictive! I agree on the trigger of a GP not being great... but it is the nature of the beast. Most guns from the factory need trigger jobs nowadays anyway... But a little custom trigger work in a GP can turn it into a .357 fire-breathing monster... with a nice DA pull. :D:D:D I'm hunting for a nice 5 incher
 
Well, I got the green light from the wife to get a revolver for my birthday.
Click to expand...

Is she gun savvy? if she is, she might notice the 1911's not a revolver. ;)

Get the GP-100 or a 686 if you can. If you want a larger bore look at a Redhawk.
 
I "carry" a six inch GP100. No problem at all. Even though I usually hunt with a 7 1/2 inch Redhawk, I'll sometimes grab the 6 inch GP100 instead. Oh, I "carry" the Redhawk too.:D If you plan on doing any handgun hunting in the future, go with the 6 inch GP. A darn nice gun.
 
I love shooting .45's but in this case I vote
for the GP100. Its built like a tank and you
can shoot .38's at the range to save some
extra change.
 
In budget, GP (plus a lot of unsolicited advice)

I own GP (4" and 6"), Ruger SP, 1911 (Colt, Randall, AMT) as well as Colt Trooper, and Ruger Security Six (in various barrel lengths)

It's prudent to stay within budget. Tell your wife-partner (obviously you have an admirable marriage where you both communicate-congratulations) that you want both, but will go for the affordable GP and want to budget for the 1911 to come later.

Not a carry gun? Go for the 6". The .357 Magnum was designed for a longer barrel. Sure, with modern powders, you can optimize loadings for shorter barrels, but you are always giving something up. Sight radius, of course. Velocity (refer to the web site "Ballistics by the inch", Google it.) and then you get more flash and blast, too.

Trigger not smooth? Get a copy of the IBOK (Iowegan's Book of Knowledge) and study it. Decide if you want to pay a gunsmith or attempt the job yourself. It's not that hard. (Though I have not done one myself, I have smoothed my triggers the old-fashioned way-shooting.)

If you don't reload, consider it. Budget $200-$250 for a decent (economy) press and (minimal, but premium) accessory gear (2 or 3 manuals, powder scale, dies etc.) It is the only way I have been able to shoot enough to get those triggers smooth. I don't dry fire my guns as a habit.

For target work, get the gold dot/v-notch sights on that GP. I love mine.

Lost Sheep

Caveats:

Remember, only believe half of what you see and one quarter of what you hear. That goes double for what you get from the internet. Even this post.

Do your own independent, confirming research when ANYONE gives you new facts on the web.

Also remember, even the idiotic stuff might have a kernel of truth buried in there somewhere.

disclaimer: I do not know you, so if my advice seems over-obvious, take into account my ignorance of your experience level. Also, other readers of all experience levels are reading.
 
Not to threadcrap, but it's kind of an apples-and-oranges question. I'd say it depends on the intended use. FWIW, I've owned and sold both, but the GP-100 is the one I regret parting with. I just wasn't a 1911 kind of guy.
 
I love my 1911's, but I do enjoy shooting my 6" GP100. There is something about fireing a revolver that just can't be captured in a semi-auto.
 
In my neck of the woods you can get a Para USA GI Expert for $530-$540 through Davidson's. It has a few more features than the Springfield GI, costs less, and isn't made in Brazil.

However, I'm a wheelgunner primarily, and I think the GP100 would be a great buy. Since it isn't going to be your carry gun I'd suggest the 5 or 6" barrel. The ability to shoot .38s and .357s makes it ideal.

Warning. DO NOT get a single action Blackhawk or Vaquero. Once bitten by the SA bug, and find out how much fun those old western guns are to shoot, you'll get another, and another, and another, and . . . . just don't even pick up a Bisley model.
 
RIA...

I have the RIA "compact" version, and I have had no problems with the handgun. Seems to feed all ammo, and I have had no malfunctions of any sort...

While not a $2000 handgun, the RIA simply works. Mine is a standard military spec item with "small" sights--of course, that helps with not snagging on anything either :)

So, go try them both...side by side, so to speak. Then make your choice. Remember, we can tell you all we like, but it isn't us that will be carrying the gun.

Let us know what you do!
 
I love my gp100 and my 1911:
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I sold my 1911; platform never floated my boat. Still have a couple of GPs that I carry and shoot regularly. I can't tell you what you'll prefer, but I would definitely go with the GP. I'll not buy another 1911 unless I get a great deal on a high-end specimen, and even then it will be more as a novelty than as a working gun.
 
Of the several .357 revolvers I own my favorites are the GP100 and S&W 686.
Both are 6" and both shoot equally well and both have very smooth triggers. You will enjoy the Ruger.

At pistol ranges, up to 25 yards, a 1911 and a .357 are fun to shoot. But, at 100 yards the .357 GP100 outshines the 1911 by a wide margin. I wish our local range would not be limited to 100 yards in order to try the GP100's potential at greater distances.
 
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Well, unless I missed something, you did not mention what this weapon would be used for. This does matter.

Given the two choices, I would go with a 1911. But, this is only if I simply wanted to add another gun to my collection.

But, if you want a daily use type weapon, I would probably go with the GP-100. Of course, given that we are inherently speaking of a revolver vs a semi-auto, that could also be an issue.
 
I myself would be thinking along the lines of the Ruger myself given the two choices. I came across a bargain on a Sp101 that I just love. Can't wait to bring it to the range!

Having said that, I would like to take a RIA to the range too and see what I think about one of them. They are certainly priced attractively for an entry level 1911. I would be looking at the non GI model myself.

Let us know what you end up with and include some pictures! :D
 
I like a 3" GP100..........

Mind you, I have a couple 1911's, a Kimber & a Colt. I like them but do not carry them. I mostly carry my Ruger 2" SP101. If it's not that I'm carrying the 3" GP100. So that's what I'd vote for.
SP101 is easier to carry day in & day out. So I carry it. But...Repeat shots are a little quicker with the heavy loads, with the 3" GP100.
 
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