A fine decision, IMHO. I own two KGP-141s and believe they are outstanding sidearms – and great values. I can confirm what you have doubtless read many times: GP100s definitely “smooth out†(especially in DA) with use, and a Wolfe spring kit is an easy and reasonable shortcut. One further modification I’ve made is the use of a Blackhawk “gold dot†front sight; this is a perfect, slip-in fit and I find it provides improved accuracy in comparison to the “black ramp†front sight that comes installed.
Went with the Ruger GP-100 over the S&W
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fallingblock
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My experience is similar to 444's.....
"The GP100 would be my first choice in a .357 revolver if I didn't already own one.
I have at least a half dozen Smiths in .357 and would choose the GP100 over any of them; if I had to make a choice."
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None of the four S&W .357's I've owned were the equal of my GP-100 in pure functional toughness.
This GP-100 was perfect from the factory, nice crisp single action and smooth double action. The DA is different than the S&W's, but not less useable, I think.
I put 250 Magtech 158 grain softpoints through the GP-100 on Friday and at one stage of the pin shooting it was too hot to hold, but cases extracted smothly and the action was silky. The 158 grainers do take the pins straight back off the platform nicely!
My old wrists may need some attention after that, but the GP-100 is tough.
"The GP100 would be my first choice in a .357 revolver if I didn't already own one.
I have at least a half dozen Smiths in .357 and would choose the GP100 over any of them; if I had to make a choice."
************************************************************
None of the four S&W .357's I've owned were the equal of my GP-100 in pure functional toughness.
This GP-100 was perfect from the factory, nice crisp single action and smooth double action. The DA is different than the S&W's, but not less useable, I think.
I put 250 Magtech 158 grain softpoints through the GP-100 on Friday and at one stage of the pin shooting it was too hot to hold, but cases extracted smothly and the action was silky. The 158 grainers do take the pins straight back off the platform nicely!
My old wrists may need some attention after that, but the GP-100 is tough.
I might agree on the Rugers being almost equal to the Smith, if they were a bit more attractive. The Smith is just more graceful and ergonomic.
I have no prblems with any Ruger wheelguns, but they do not suit me, personally. I think they rank third in the DA race, behind Smith and Colt, but only slightly behind Colt.
The only Ruger I truly pine for is a 3" Speed-Six...one of these days.
I have no prblems with any Ruger wheelguns, but they do not suit me, personally. I think they rank third in the DA race, behind Smith and Colt, but only slightly behind Colt.
The only Ruger I truly pine for is a 3" Speed-Six...one of these days.
liliysdad - I agree with you that the Smiths are more elegant and graceful. A Ruger is more like a Jeep than a Porsche, no doubt, but some folks just love the look of a Jeep and I'm one of them so I like the look of the Rugers. They're just different than the Smiths.
Flipper
Member
Yep, I'm on my second Jeep Wrangler and have four Rugers ....there might be some validity to your analogies.
Agreed, different strokes and all that.
I personally think my GP100 is a very handsome gun. In fact, every time I open the safe it is the first thing that catches my eye.
I love my Smiths and buy more whenever I get the chance, but if I could only own one .357 for shooting and carry, it would be the Ruger. It is something that you will never wear out and the stainless finish on mine doesn't show wear like a gorgeous Smith would. Since I don't have to limit myself to only one, I buy both. I baby my Smiths. I take them out now and then and shoot some light loads out of them. They never see the inside of a holster. They are never carried.
I personally think my GP100 is a very handsome gun. In fact, every time I open the safe it is the first thing that catches my eye.
I love my Smiths and buy more whenever I get the chance, but if I could only own one .357 for shooting and carry, it would be the Ruger. It is something that you will never wear out and the stainless finish on mine doesn't show wear like a gorgeous Smith would. Since I don't have to limit myself to only one, I buy both. I baby my Smiths. I take them out now and then and shoot some light loads out of them. They never see the inside of a holster. They are never carried.
Really? I carry my 586 4" every time I venture into the piney woods, and no ill effects as of yet, nor have I had any massive top strap failures form full house 125gr HP loads, no, the Smith does me just fine. I honestly feel that the fact that Smiths LOOK more graceful and refined clouds the fat that they are jsut as tough as anything out there, at least in the L frame.
The problem isn't that I don't think they can take hot loads.
The problem isn't that I don't think they could stand up to regular carry.
I just don't want to subject them to that.
I suppose you might compare it to a classic car that sits in the garage under a cover, highly waxed and spotlessly clean. You COULD drive it to work or to WalMart, but you really don't want to take the chance when you got that Ford Pickup sitting there. You take it out for a spin when the weather is nice. You don't drive down gravel roads. You don't park it in parking lots. You don't muscle a bloody deer into the trunk. You don't let the dog ride in it................................................ Even though you certainly could.
When you start talking about being as tough as anything out there, keep in mind that I own two Ruger REDHAWKS in .357.
The problem isn't that I don't think they could stand up to regular carry.
I just don't want to subject them to that.
I suppose you might compare it to a classic car that sits in the garage under a cover, highly waxed and spotlessly clean. You COULD drive it to work or to WalMart, but you really don't want to take the chance when you got that Ford Pickup sitting there. You take it out for a spin when the weather is nice. You don't drive down gravel roads. You don't park it in parking lots. You don't muscle a bloody deer into the trunk. You don't let the dog ride in it................................................ Even though you certainly could.
When you start talking about being as tough as anything out there, keep in mind that I own two Ruger REDHAWKS in .357.
OK, you got me on the Redhawk aspect...Lemm rephrase, tough as anything comparable......We can discuss the Mod 27 and 28s for the .357 large frame beef....
Different strokes for different folks...I have no guns that do not get used, none.
Different strokes for different folks...I have no guns that do not get used, none.
I also have a Model 27, and a Model 28.
You gotta keep your options open.
Note again that I never said I didn't use them. I do use them. I just shoot moderate loads out of them at a range.
I do have a number of guns that I have never fired. Some of them I will never fire. And, I am happy to have them. My S&W revolvers don't fall into that catagory however although I have one that I have never fired and one or two others that I almost never fire. No good reason, I just don't. The one I have never fired is just because I never got around to it. One of the ones that I almost never fire is a Model 29 4" that had to be rebuilt by Jack Weigand; I believe due to shooting too many full power loads through it. It came back a masterpiece. Unbelievably accurate. Breathtaking. But, after having it go down on me once, I can't hardly bring myself to shoot it. I take it out maybe once a year with some powder puff loads, but other than that, it is a safe queen.
You gotta keep your options open.
Note again that I never said I didn't use them. I do use them. I just shoot moderate loads out of them at a range.
I do have a number of guns that I have never fired. Some of them I will never fire. And, I am happy to have them. My S&W revolvers don't fall into that catagory however although I have one that I have never fired and one or two others that I almost never fire. No good reason, I just don't. The one I have never fired is just because I never got around to it. One of the ones that I almost never fire is a Model 29 4" that had to be rebuilt by Jack Weigand; I believe due to shooting too many full power loads through it. It came back a masterpiece. Unbelievably accurate. Breathtaking. But, after having it go down on me once, I can't hardly bring myself to shoot it. I take it out maybe once a year with some powder puff loads, but other than that, it is a safe queen.
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