Are there any other GP100 fans out here?? I am working my way through my second one. The first one I bought was back in 85, 4" blued with combat grips. My new one is a 4" stainless. They both offer flawless performance. I have put about every type of round made through them including some really hot +p, never had a issue. Mark
I don't own one yet, but I am considering the new SP101 in .327 Fed. Magnum. It has incredible ballistics similar to, and surpassing the .357 in certain bullet weights.
First of all, who is "us"? Sheriff Jim Wilson - the Handgun Editor for Shooting Times - a very good "source of information" BTW. The .327Mag is available in 3 weights currently - 85gr. Hydrashok, 100gr. SP, & 115 gr. Gold Dot. In the 85gr. Low Recoil loading it penetrated more than 12" into ballistics gel and retained vitually all of it's weight without coming apart. This loading also generates only 3.08 ft.lbs of recoil energy - about as much as a .38SPL +P, and much less than the .357Mag. The 100 gr. loading leaves the muzzle at 1400fps. and produces 435ft.lbs of energy. Guns chambered in this offering can also shoot the .32 S&W Short, Long, and .32 H&R. Rumor has it that a carbine for the .327Mag is also in the works. Hope this helps! PS - If you'd like to see more Ballistics Data, such as penetration data and one-stop shot percentages of various defensive loadings for the most popular handgun calibers, compiled from over 500 documented shootings, check out my posting in Knowledge Base".
It is my camp gun. I carry it on my hip when I'm big game hunting. I have taken 2 Javalinas with it during hand gun season. I shoot 357 158gr jhp. My favorite revolver. It is ss 6".
i have a Ruger KGP-141 "a stainless steel GP-100 with a 4" barrel in .357MAG" it was given to me from my father when i graduated middle school... it is perhaps my favorite weapon. It is reliable, rugged, heafty, accurate, and feels great in the hand.... every thing that makes a revolver great, the GP100 has. i have looked around some, and the GP100 the the heaviest 4" .357MAG that is widely available... it come in at a nice 41 ounces unloaded, but it is still light enough to carry with comfort. and even when shooting the most powerfull reloads i could muster, it was still comfortable to shoot. also, the accuracy is exelent, i would not think twice about egaging a target at long ranges, at 150 yards, i have approx a 2 foot group when firing approx once every 3 seconds with cheap blazer ammo. so, IMO... the Ruger GP-100 is a EXELENT revolver, and if i had the option to, when i get deployed, i would like to have my GP100 on my hip when i go into combat. -ANDREW MASON :EDIT... there are only 2 things that i would change about my GP100, if it were possible.... get a reenforced GP100 frame, and then chamber it in .357maximum and add on a 6" barrel.... but i dont think that will be happening any time soon.
RE: GP100 for deer hunting The GP100 is a great gun, period. When Bill Ruger was interviewed by Shooting Times and was asked about the GP100, he said "It’s a strong gun. I’m delighted with it. It is, in my personal belief, the best. It’s that simple." I have owned a Ruger GP100 with a 4" heavy barrel in stainless for a number of years and found it to be an excellent shooter and an extremely reliable handgun and I carry it on every outdoor trip I take. Some people may tell you that hunting with a 4" barreled .357 Magnum is not sporting, but that is just not true, it just all depends upon the limitations placed on how it is used and the definition of “hunting”. Trying to use it as a substitute for a rifle is certainly not sporting because almost any center fire rifle would be a better choice and offer more range. However, if you actually "hunt” rather than just “shoot” deer, it is comparable to bow hunting when determining the acceptable range at which to use it. I bow hunt and would have absolutely no reservations in taking a bull elk at 40 yards (my self imposed limit) with my GP100 because I have done it numerous times with an arrow and I know the .357 Magnum would be much better suited to the task. The .357 Magnum is an extraordinary cartridge, inherently accurate, extremely powerful, and offers tremendous stopping power on both man and beast alike. You do not need to spend money on a benchrest rifle to be a hunter. You just have to learn to hunt. If you use your head, hunt, get close, only take your shot when absolutely certain of a kill, then you will become a true hunter with your GP100 and you can take pride in every hunt you go on, kill or no kill, because as a hunter, you will have succeeded. Stick with your GP100. 2OGG
Seems like the 6" SS is a very popular model. I have a 6" SS with the full shroud barrel. A very strong revolver.
Another vote for 6" Stainless. Just love that weapon. Anybody ever think about putting a scope on one?
I came here and registered (my first post) because I was looking for accesories for this particular gun and found this thread on google. So I'll post my experience. I have the 4" SS version of the GP100 and it's been a great gun. Heavy well built construction, Easy to handle, very well balanced, big stopping power, has never failed and not a bad recoil either. Plus you can put all kinds of cheap 38 rounds through it just plinking for fun. I love mine.
I have the 3" and 4", both in stainless and both are great guns. Bought them both used. Even the 3" is heavy enough to shoot comfortably.
My GP100 is the 4" stainless one. As it came, it needed a little internal smoothing, but when that was done, it is a terrific revo. I believe it is one of the preferred guns used by ammo companies in ammo development because its durability is so good.
I carried a 4" blued version on post for about 4 years loaded with 110gr SJHP .38's. An absolute pleasure to shoot. Arguably the best combat revolver on the market. Just my opinion.
