[TargetTerror]

Ie, if I bought a used gun made in, say, the late '80s, would it be different in any way from a brand new gun?

[harmonic]

I've been reading that some Rugers have an internal lock installed underneath the right grip panel. Someone on another forum said they found the information on Ruger's website. I've not been able to find any such information ont their website.

I've seen pictures of the internal lock, however, on Ruger single actions and the Mark III.

If there are any changes in the GP 100, that would be it.

My GP100 is probably one of the most reliable handguns in my stable. If I had a choice between an older GP 100 (without the lock, if in fact it exists) or a new one, I'd go older every time.

[MortalWombat]

The only thing that I'm aware of is that they no longer offer the half-lug on their GP100s, only full lug.

[bigmike45]

Lordy......I hope not. Ruger has a great gun in the GP-100 and I hope they follow the addage:
"If it aint' broke, don't try to fix it"

As far as the lug, mine is the 3" barrel/short lug and my buddy has the 3" barrel full lug. I can tell no difference in the two as far as weight difference or function. I personally like the shorter lug and thats why I bought it.

bigmike45

[Spyvie]

I have a 1989 (171-7XXXX) 6" blued full lug GP100, purchased LNIB a little over a year ago. The only difference I can see from handling a brand new GP100 is that mine came in a yellow cardboard box with no padlock. It shoots, feels, and looks like a brand new gun.

IMHO, a Ruger revolver without obvious signs of abuse is one of the least risky used firearms purchases anyone can make.

[Gato Montés]

I don't know of any changes, but one thing I'd wish they change is the front sight. Why don't they just make the orange insert sight standard? It's such a cheap piece anyway.

[Dienekes]

Took the Ruger armorer's course on them in the early 90s, and own one from the mid 90s. Reportedly there were some very minor changes in the shape of the DA primary surfaces for a better DA along in there somewhere, but nothing major that I know of. Never heard of anything else as they obviously got it right the first time around. I would say that any GP-100 that had not been Bubbaed upon is a good gun.

I think that the original grips (which I like a lot) are now being supplanted by Hogues, though. If true that would be a shame.

[RNB65]

I've been reading that some Rugers have an internal lock installed underneath the right grip panel.

Ain't no lock on the GP100. I recently bought a new one and the first thing I did was to replace the skinny stock grips with a fat Hogue rubber grip. Nothing under there I wasn't expecting. Sweet gun.

[Rexster]

My older GP100, purchased in the early 1990's, has what I would call "grunge grooves" under the extractor, to make it less likely that fouling would prevent full return of the extractor during reloading. My newer GP100s do not have this very nice feature.

[mgregg85]

No locks on a ruger. I love my GP-100 and wouldn't have bought it if it had an internal lock.

A used ruger gp-100 is by far the best used gun to buy, it can handle most any abuse as long as it's previous owner didn't screw up the internals too bad. I'd just take a look inside, have them disassemble it(only takes a minute to do) and check out the insides. If that looks alright, you've got a winner.