[zappadragon]

OK so I have a Ruger GP 100 and I was at the range for the first time with it the other day. I put 100 rounds through it and the cylinder was hot as he11. Should I give the gun a cool down period when I go to the range for practice? Can this do any damage to the gun?

Thanks

[pauli]

my rule of thumb:

when a gun is too hot to handle, i stop handling it.

(the gun can handle a lot more heat than you can!)

[LAH]

What load you shooting?

[zappadragon]

It was just cheap 38spl loads. Not really sure.

[LAH]

The cylinder heat is probably the least of your worries.

[zappadragon]

The cylinder heat is probably the least of your worries.

what should be my worries then?

[Jim K]

Having gotten a few burns from hot guns, I think the gun might suffer less from being hot than you will if you pick it up the wrong way.

Jim

[Vern Humphrey]

With a steady diet of really hot loads, you can get erosion of the forcing cone (the point where the bullet enters the barrel) and cracking of the forcing cone. You can also get flame cutting of the top strap.

Other problems can be parts breakage, going out of time (the revolver begins spitting lead out of the barrel-cylinder gap) and end-shake (the cylinder moves back and forth.)

With the GP 100, you have what is probably the strongest .357 going (except for the Redhawk in .357) and I doubt you'll be able to break that gun with anything like a normal diet of .357 rounds.

[LAH]

I'll agree with Vern..........Creeker

[BigRedBowtie]

Awwww, c'mon, Vern- It won't do any of that kind of stuff- It's a Ruger!!

:neener: :neener: :neener:

[pezo]

I would stop and let the gun cool down even go as far as clean it before firing again after 100 rounds. rugers are very tough and will handle well but they are still handguns. I personally dont like all that grit gunpowder getting into the works of any of my handguns. strange things can happen to your gun when you shoot 200 plus rounds without cleaning during a firing session( not always but possible problems can occur). Just bring 2 guns for the range to shoot the other 100 rounds. Thats what I do.

[Majic]

Shooting indoors or outdoors? Lately we have had days were the revolver would get almost that hot just being outside (I'm not to far away). You won't do any damage with the .38 spl loads. I've burned fingers quite a few times on hot firearms (grab a high powered rifle by the barrel after you have run 10 to 15 rounds thru it).
Your fingers will burn long before any damage is done to your revolver. Then just lay it in the shade for a few minutes. Cleaning after each 100 rounds on an extended shooting session is a bit extreme IMO, but to each their own.