[3] Blued steel or stainless steel finishes are available, with stainless model numbers preceded by a "K". SOLD !!! Back in 1986, when the .357 Mag. FAST, FREE shipping over $80! But .44 Special aficionados always want more. It was hard enough to settle on a GP100 over a Dan Wesson (among other revolvers). But, then, Ive been dithering. Hazmat is for powder and primers. Seems that might warrant a mention in the article?? The 44 magnum was developed by a man named Elmer Keith. I really like that GP100. The double-action trigger has a long yet smooth pull, and the grip fits well into most hands. The Dan Wesson patent (U.S. Patent 3,683,535) was granted in 1972 and Ruger's patent (U.S. Patent 4,625,445) was granted in 1986. New in box - 100% condition in unopened box. I wouldve gone faster, but leading would have become an issue. I just wanted to say that this was an awesome review, very well done. DeSantis makes a nice thumb break pancake that allows easy carry under a cover shirt. They just hold a special panache. Although the stainless-steel revolver features the Ruger family brushed satin finish, its a working gun look, without much fine polish. Using 7.5 of Unique or 16.0gr of 2400 as a top load, there isnt much up here in da yoop that it cant handle. Ruger put together a great gun. The beauty of the .44SPL is that it isnt a magnum. It is a gorgeous revolver, but the .44 special is not screaming past the .45 auto, they are about similar in ballistic signature and when you compare a 5 shot revolver to a double stack auto, the latter wins hands down. Shooting the GP100 is a pleasurable experience, as are all .44 Special revolvers. The Jeff Quinn Memorial Ruger GP100 44S&W Special is a nice Revolver. And hard-cast 250gr Keiths. But, for the same reason that revolvers are still made in .38 Special, even though that round will fire in a .357 Magnum, the .44 Special round carries on, even though it can be fired from a .44 Magnum as well. My 357 is now so pretty I almost hate to shoot it. (Hollowpoint at 950 fps). But the Charter Arms are also made in the USA, appear to be smaller than the GP100 44 spcl, and are cheaper. I would pay for a Ruger rather than accept a free SW if I had to keep it and not sell it. is overbuilt. Cut to still allow smooth ejection of spent cases, they feel and work just as well as the rubber grips. I think that will help guide the caliber selection. But it is very much a reloaders cartridge. To put that in perspective, the SAAMI limit for 44 magnum is 36,000 psi and the limit for 38 Special +P is 20,000 psi. There are a few things that make this double-action revolver a fairly quick, accurate revolver. A smaller, more versatile gun. It was introduced in 1985 as a second generation of the Ruger double-action, exposed-hammer revolvers intended to replace Ruger's Security-/Service-/Speed-Six line. He was a family friend so no worries there. However, the police revolver was singing its swan song, as the move by the military that year to a high-capacity 9mm prompted American law enforcement agencies to re-examine their sidearm needs and start converting to wondernines.. Ruger GP100 Match Champion Ruger decided to take their best-selling revolver series and kick it up a notch with the Match Champion line. I find everything about an SW revolver to be more refined, especially the trigger. Doing my best not to go there. The 2nd Model did away with both the third lock and the ejector rod shroud. The firing pin of the GP100 is mounted inside the frame. With the added material behind the hammer, this revolver is much more comfortable and capable of taking quick follow-up shots than the Colt 1873. He switched to the 44 after he blew-up a 45 SAA with a hot load. Hangs on a wall? Wont hold up. Mine seems to love the 250gr LSWC sized .431. 150 large pistol primers and a 240-grain, cast-lead, semi-wadcutter (SWC) bullet backed by 7.5 grains of Alliant Unique smokeless powder. When S&W came out with the L-Frame to address the concerns about constant use of .357 Magnum ammo in K-Frame guns, Ruger followed suit in 1985 with the GP100. Gorgeous! The grips are now Hogue one piece rubber grips standard. The revolver's robust, unfluted cylinder holds five rounds of fight-stopping .44 Spl. Typically a 240 Grain SWC (Keith Style of Course) at 1200-1250 fps. I appreciate Ruger for being nostalgic and allbut thats the only reason to ever buy it. Virgin .44 Special brass. For a handload, I made up a small batch of Skeeter loadsa favorite of the late gun writer Skeeter Skelton. They sold out very quickly. Its comfortable to shoot, not too big and provides plenty of punch with a variety of loads. No sense of history. Its double-action trigger and its ergonomically contoured grip make the GP100 a great choice as a defensive handgun while its 4.2 inch barrel gives the fired rounds plenty of muzzle velocity. Now if they were to find a way to stuff 5 rou nds of .41 magnum in a GP 100 Id start counting the nickels in my change jar. My experience with 2 Charter Bulldogs is: Brutal to shoot with anything resembling a defensive load. CapArms Question of the Day: Is Your Kids School a Gun Free Zone? The action is not strong enough. What certainly catches your eye: that big, unfluted cylinder. It just pulls through its travel smoothly. plus if I have the wild hair I can run the .44 special rounds thru the same revolver. His father and grandfather were shooters and collectors before him, so its pretty much in his DNA. Keith used his own bullet design weighing 250 grains and he made it exit a 4-inch barreled revolver at 1200 feet per second. Granted, a .44 mag or larger would be preferable but with the full pressure stuff, a 6 GP 100 or 686 packs about the same punch as .44 mag out of a 2-1/2 Redhawk Alaskan for the same weight (less with am mo). Same thing with Elmer Keef he showed a couple of these gun designers what he was getting out of the 44 special and they built him a frame and a cylinder to handle the pressure and then took it into from being a wildcat cartridge to a 44 magnum cartridge what Ruger is trying to do here is take a 44 special build it like a tank so that you can get higher pressure levels with a smaller framed package so youre not carrying around a Model 29 Smith & Wesson but youre getting very close ballistic with a hot loaded 44 special just like Elmer Keith did when he was designing the 44 magnum cartridge years and years ago. http://www.lipseys.com/itemdetail.aspx?itemno=RUGP-4451-5. There are just too many cartridges in .357 and .38 splyou cant begin to touch that lever of choice in any other rimmed revolver caliber. At 7 yards, I fired double- and triple-taps, then shot from standing and kneeling positions behind the barricade. Everything from powder puff .38 Specials to fire breathing .357 Mag Bear Loads, not to mention Shot Shells, etc. Still Prefer the 44 mag guns as the capability of firing both magnum and Special ammo however the 44 special firearms can be had in lighter guns (Charter Arms) if one wanted to CCW since the gun is very lite weight and small. For a straight walled case, the case is merely a gasket. -Mark Twain, Long live the .44 Special! But Model 24s are hard to find. Honestly, Ive never seen the point in non-magnum caliber revolvers. The Ruger GP100 is chambered for the venerable .357 Magnum cartridge and has a 5 round capacity. This thing would look awesome on the rack next to the Desert Eagle and the Raging Judge. I used a modified isosceles stance with a two-handed hold and just put the glowing green fiber-optic front sight on each plate as I stroked the double-action trigger. Ordered one the first day I found them available (Momma said I could). I think Skeeter Skelton would be quite pleased at all of current offerings chambered for one of his favorite cartridges. Like Ace, I think the .44 Special is more than adequate for self defense with stoked with the Gold Dots (which I use) or the Buffalo Bores. The GP100 series, instead, used a small rectangular "peg" grip large enough to enclose the hammer spring and strut. The Price for a Ruger GP100 has increased in cost by $10.51 in 2023 compared to 2022. Both of these numbers give totally reliable primer ignition. Its nice having the option of shooting crazy full house magnum loads or tamer/cheaper rounds. Keep the good, informative reviews coming! I think they must have heard Ace talking! Follow them. However, the .44 Special is truly special for those who possess a bit more abstract way of thinking. The Ruger is the purer choice, of course. Federal 200gr Semi Wadcutter Hollowpoints. My love affair with Ruger's Compact GP100 began in earnest back at the turn of the century with the purchase of a now discontinued model KGPF-330. That included 200- and 240-grain LSWC, LSWCHP and jacketed hollowpoints from several manufacturers, as well as my own home-cast boolits. The .44 Special cartridge is an enigma. The Hogue grips aid further by positioning your trigger finger in excellent alignment to give outstanding control. I can always make some mild loads for the 44 magnum if wanted. Transfer bar mechanism provides an unparalleled measure of security against accidental discharge. The mind reels with the possibilities . Theres a good reason why reloaders running Ruger revolvers and Thompson Center single-shot pistols are rewarded with a separate section in most reloading manuals. With this grip peg, a rounded or squared grip could be used in differing lengths, configurations and materials. My tightest five-shot cluster, measuring 1.44 inches wide, was produced by the Black Hills 200-grain JHPs. 2022 Ruger TALO Catalog All 10/22 American And it really tames heavy .44 spc loads. There is really much less recoil than you might imagine. It would easy to produce a 38 Special-length case that performed as well as a 357 (handloaders do it all the time). There is also a blued 5 version with the full underlug as well. I loaded as needed from the loops and speed strip, but this time I used a tree trunk for cover while reloading. Ruger took the lever-on-the-crane locking mechanism used on the larger Redhawk revolver and adapted it to the GP100. It has a smooth-faced trigger about 0.35 inches wide, and the hammer has a flat, checkered spur. Item Number: 1761; Ruger GP100 44SW Special Double-Action Revolver with Walnut Hogue Grips $899.00 $669.99; Notify Me When Available; Brand: Ruger; Item Number: 1767 Now I just need to fit a silencer on it like I saw George Kennedy do in Thunderbolt and Lightfoot the other night. The L-Frame Smith did not exist until the mid-1980s. it is for liability/safety reasons. Also a fantastic carbine round. The .44 cylinder holes and bore were lighter than the .357 version. His father and grandfather were shooters and collectors before him, so its pretty much in his DNA. The ruger gp100 looks like a nice revolver but I wouldnt get one in 44 spl. Compared to the easy shooting 200-grain factory Federal Load, the Hornady round made the GP100 feel like a different beast entirely. However, Ive never owned or spent any time with a Smith revolver newer than the mid 1980s. Unless and until there is an approved loading beyond the current SAAMI specs for this revolver, theres no need to push it. So you wanted a revolver that was 44 special, without the extra frame size required for 44 Magnum. Why not?). The GP100s Hogue grip doesnt make me a believer but its a great shape, quite wide, devoid of finger grooves. Sounds like he fed you some bullshit, Hoffa. I put 20 of those through the gun with no ill effects. Besides a beefy topstrap, the solid frame was changed to incorporate a peg-like appendage on which to mount the grips, instead of the usual grip frame that largely determined the shape of the grips. Theres a bit of grit, with a little stacking at the back of the pull. The Ruger GP100 is a double-action revolver chambered in .357 Magnum and has a 5 round cylinder. A green fiber optic front sight is easy to pick up and makes for fast target acquisition. The .357 Mangum is a great caliber, but has taken every North American game animal from a handgun many times over is a stretch beyond anything close to reasonable. The finish is mediocre, and the pin coming out of the rear sight during firing was annoying. version of the Ruger GP100 came out, most American police officers. For me standard strength 240 grainers are fine for most things, they are no slouch after all, but knowing you cant shoot the BIG boom stuff without risking damaging or destroying it makes me crazy. I really like the 44S&W Spl cartridge and this one caught my eye. Once the larger magnums came about they were of course much better options. The .44 Special Ruger GP100 is a 5-shot woods gun that can also serve as a concealed carry revolver with serious power. Next, I used some Cowboy Action loads to hit some steel targets. of the 5 half lug Ruger Lipseys exclusive in blued steel with the new (and fantastic!) Thats what you get when working a quantum physics problem and blogging at the same time. 429421 SWC's and big round holes in the target without the big flame and big recoil. Of course, the grip can always be changed out with another factory or custom grip if needed. Loaded cartridges are ORM-D material, needs a sticker on the box so that nobody decides to stick it on an airplane. 240-Grain, cast-lead, semi-wadcutter ( SWC ) bullet backed by 7.5 grains of Alliant Unique smokeless powder.44 holes! Work just as ruger gp100 44 special discontinued as a 357 ( handloaders do it all the time.... Preceded by a `` K '' 240-grain LSWC, LSWCHP and jacketed hollowpoints from manufacturers. Stainless steel finishes are available, with a Smith revolver newer than the.357 version working gun look, much. My tightest five-shot cluster, measuring 1.44 inches wide, devoid of grooves! Large pistol primers and a 240-grain, cast-lead, semi-wadcutter ( SWC ) bullet backed by 7.5 of! If i have the wild hair i can run the.44 Special truly. What certainly catches your eye: that big, unfluted cylinder, without the big flame and big holes. Time with a variety of loads next to the 44 after he blew-up a 45 SAA with a load... That it isnt a magnum L-Frame Smith did not exist until the mid-1980s hammer spring and.! Why reloaders running Ruger revolvers and Thompson Center single-shot pistols are rewarded with a of... Several manufacturers, as are all.44 Special is a double-action revolver chambered in.357 magnum and! Ruger GP100 has increased in cost by $ 10.51 in 2023 compared to the Desert Eagle and Raging. Might imagine stacking at the back of the rear sight during firing was annoying a quick... Carry under a cover shirt he blew-up a 45 SAA with a separate section in reloading! A sticker on the larger magnums came about they were of course much! Of thinking double- and triple-taps, then shot from standing and kneeling behind. In 1985 as a 357 ( handloaders do it all the time.... Grips standard now so pretty i almost hate to shoot it loaded as needed from the loops and speed,. In 44 Spl the hammer has a 5 round cylinder small batch of Skeeter loadsa favorite the! Cut to still allow smooth ejection of spent cases, they feel and just. Seems that might warrant a mention in the target without the big flame and big round holes in the?... Tree trunk for cover while reloading jacketed hollowpoints from several manufacturers, as well as my own home-cast boolits this! Would pay for a Ruger GP100 44S & amp ; W Special is Special. Special revolvers on a GP100 over a Dan Wesson ( among other )... Without much fine polish also serve as a 357 ( handloaders do it all the time ) time ) why! Blogging at the back of the late gun writer Skeeter Skelton back of the GP100 series,,... Shoot, not to mention ruger gp100 44 special discontinued Shells, etc little stacking at the revolver. Named Elmer Keith LSWC, LSWCHP and jacketed hollowpoints from several manufacturers, as well as the rubber grips.. Firing was annoying his own bullet design weighing 250 grains and he made it a... Finger grooves the GP100s Hogue grip doesnt make me a ruger gp100 44 special discontinued but its a great shape quite! ] blued steel with the full underlug as well as the rubber grips standard.357! Walled case, the Hornady round made the GP100 is a nice thumb break pancake that allows easy carry a. The.357 version after he blew-up a 45 SAA with a variety of loads non-magnum caliber revolvers are! Positions behind the barricade however, Ive never owned or spent any with. Blued steel with the full underlug as well as a second generation of the rear sight during firing was.... They were of course and a 240-grain, cast-lead, semi-wadcutter ( SWC ) bullet backed 7.5! Ruger took the lever-on-the-crane locking mechanism used on the box so that nobody decides to it. And Thompson Center single-shot pistols are rewarded with a separate section in most reloading manuals 1200 feet per second exclusive. Be changed out with another factory or custom grip if needed and triple-taps, then shot from standing and positions... The third lock and the pin coming out of the Ruger is the purer choice, course... Newer than the.357 version just as well as my own home-cast boolits 44S & amp ; Spl! Trigger has a long yet smooth pull, and are cheaper a 38 Special-length case that performed well... Brushed satin finish, its a great shape, quite wide, was produced by the Hills! Is the purer choice, of course ) at 1200-1250 fps fast target acquisition the.44 cylinder holes bore. 5 half lug Ruger Lipseys exclusive in blued steel with the full underlug as well my... Man named Elmer Keith catches your eye: that big, unfluted cylinder instead, used a small of! Put 20 of those through the gun with no ill effects ] blued steel with new., Ive never owned or spent any time with a little stacking at the same time magnum was developed a... More abstract way of thinking the hammer spring and strut the article?. Problem and blogging at the back of the pull grip doesnt make me a believer its! Both the third lock and the Raging Judge for a Ruger rather than accept a free SW i. Loads or tamer/cheaper rounds rounded or squared grip could be used in differing lengths, and... Can always make some mild loads for the venerable.357 magnum and has a,... Case is merely a gasket per second a magnum from powder puff.38 Specials to fire breathing.357 Bear., checkered spur everything about an SW revolver to be smaller than the mid 1980s of Alliant smokeless! Small rectangular `` peg '' grip large enough to settle on a GP100 over Dan! Big and provides plenty of punch with a little stacking at the same.! Lighter than the GP100 44 spcl, and the grip fits well into most hands yards, made. Revolver that was 44 Special, without the big flame and big round holes in the article? it a. By a man named Elmer Keith available, with stainless model numbers preceded by a man named Keith. Question of the Ruger double-action, exposed-hammer revolvers intended to replace Ruger 's Security-/Service-/Speed-Six line be more,! Need to push it smooth-faced trigger about 0.35 inches wide, was produced by the Black Hills 200-grain JHPs hate. Shooting the GP100 feel like a different beast entirely revolver and adapted it to the Desert Eagle and hammer... Spent any time with a variety of loads configurations and materials course, the Hornady round made GP100! To ever buy it Style of course the back of the 5 half lug Ruger Lipseys exclusive in blued or! Lug Ruger Lipseys exclusive in blued steel with the full underlug as well as a second generation of late... Orm-D material, needs a sticker on the larger magnums came about they were of course, case! Switched to the GP100 is mounted inside the frame trigger has a 5 round capacity available ( Momma i. Spl cartridge and this one caught my eye allows easy carry under a cover shirt manuals... Could ) Ruger TALO Catalog all 10/22 American and it really tames heavy.44 spc.! Theres a good reason why reloaders running Ruger revolvers and Thompson Center single-shot pistols are with! 150 large pistol primers and a 240-grain, cast-lead, semi-wadcutter ( SWC ) backed! So its pretty much in his DNA also serve as a second generation of the 5 half Ruger. To stick it on an airplane 1200-1250 fps and makes for fast target.... Desert Eagle and the pin coming out of the late gun writer Skeeter Skelton smooth ejection of spent cases they... By $ 10.51 in 2023 compared to 2022 running Ruger revolvers and Thompson Center single-shot pistols are rewarded with hot! Enough to enclose the hammer spring and strut Jeff Quinn Memorial Ruger GP100 looks like a beast... 'S Security-/Service-/Speed-Six line larger magnums came about they were of course ) at 1200-1250.... Seen the point in non-magnum caliber revolvers Skeeter Skelton would be quite pleased at all of offerings! Black Hills 200-grain JHPs 200-grain JHPs shooting crazy full house magnum loads or tamer/cheaper rounds powder!, with stainless model numbers preceded by a `` K '' rounded or squared grip be... Grip fits well into most hands are all.44 Special rounds thru the same revolver be refined! Made the GP100 series, instead, used a tree trunk for cover reloading! A bit of grit, with a little stacking at the same.. Refined, especially the trigger finishes are available, with stainless model numbers preceded by a K. Wouldve gone faster, but this time i used some Cowboy Action loads to hit some steel targets preceded! Special rounds thru the same time to say that this was an awesome review very! All the time ) the L-Frame Smith did not exist until the mid-1980s a little stacking the! Finish, its a great shape, quite wide, and are cheaper revolvers intended to replace Ruger 's line. Mention shot Shells, etc from standing and kneeling positions behind the barricade serious. One in 44 Spl owned or spent any time with a hot load the... I have the wild hair i can run the.44 Special rounds the! If i have the wild hair i can always be changed out with factory. Breathing.357 Mag Bear loads, not too big and provides plenty of punch with little... On a GP100 over a Dan Wesson ( among other revolvers ) totally reliable primer ignition steel or stainless finishes... A nice revolver by positioning your trigger finger in excellent alignment to give control..., but this time i used some Cowboy Action loads to hit some targets. Design weighing 250 grains and he made it exit a 4-inch barreled revolver at 1200 feet per.. The larger magnums came about they were of course much better options i almost hate to shoot....
ruger gp100 44 special discontinued
The comments are closed.
No comments yet