.44 Special GP

I think most would rather have a 3" gun, me included. This would bridge the gap between the rather weak Charter Arms Bulldog and a full-blow full size .44 magnum revolver.

LOVE me some 'o dat .44 special goodness!!

Right - if I'm carrying a full LENGTH revolver, I might as well be getting full 44mag performance. So no 6" GP .44spcl for me.

Without beating too long and hard on what should be a dead horse - concealment is all about your dress. Nobody is hiding an S&W X-Frame in their thong at the beach, but hiding a 3" GP in street clothes isn't so difficult. I've lived from the heat of TX and Cali to the cold of Minnesota, concealed full size 1911's and Ruger Alaskan's in any weather I wish. There's always a style choice which allows these to be carried but still look relatively natural.

Growing up a Keith fan, I've tested his old performance metrics for the .44spcl case in the past, long seated, near 44mag pressure loads DO work in special brass to get very near 44mag levels, as long as you have the wall thickness and cylinder depth to make it work.

I'm all over a 3-inch. My palm is already sweaty ...

Varminterror said:

Right - if I'm carrying a full LENGTH revolver, I might as well be getting full 44mag performance. So no 6" GP .44spcl for me.

Without beating too long and hard on what should be a dead horse - concealment is all about your dress. Nobody is hiding an S&W X-Frame in their thong at the beach, but hiding a 3" GP in street clothes isn't so difficult. I've lived from the heat of TX and Cali to the cold of Minnesota, concealed full size 1911's and Ruger Alaskan's in any weather I wish. There's always a style choice which allows these to be carried but still look relatively natural.

Growing up a Keith fan, I've tested his old performance metrics for the .44spcl case in the past, long seated, near 44mag pressure loads DO work in special brass to get very near 44mag levels, as long as you have the wall thickness and cylinder depth to make it work.

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Yes, but there are some equally effective if not superior (read: autopistol) choices were you aren't forced to dress around a big gun. But, GP100s aren't really that bad. N-frames are were it gets interesting!

Heh. I just bought a 3" Bulldog and am waiting for a Bell Charter Oak Summer Heat.... A Ruger GP would be really sweet!

I'm going to order a Simply Rugged Sourdough Pancake for the new GP!! I already have one of there stripper clip pouches!!

This got me to thinking, I wasn't very satisfied with the quality or durability of the CA Bulldog 44 I had but I loved having a packable .44 special. I sold it and later wanted to replace it with a Rossi 720, which I hear are great guns but they are somewhat hard to find. Now Ruger comes along and really does it! It won't be as light as a Bulldog, but it will still be easier to pack around over a Redhawk.

I'm looking forward to it for sure. Hope it comes with a 3" bbl and fixed sights! I'll add the compact rubber wood insert grips off the Ruger website as well.

Cooldill said:

Yes, but there are some equally effective if not superior (read: autopistol) choices were you aren't forced to dress around a big gun. But, GP100s aren't really that bad. N-frames are were it gets interesting!

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My 3" GP has compact rubber grips with wooden inserts and would not be very concealable without those grips. For a six shooter, my SP101s in 32 H&R or 327 Federal Magnum are much more concealable and certainly more comfortable. In terms of 44 Special, I don't think one can be too particular about how concealable the gun is or reluctant to dress for concealment rather than fashion.

Fixed sight, green fiber optic front sight, 2 and 7/8 barrel with compact rubber, wood insert grips.

P5 Guy said:

Fixed sight, green fiber optic front sight, 2 and 7/8 barrel with compact rubber, wood insert grips.

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I would prefer a 2 8/9" barrel myself.

I guess my dream .44 Spl would be a 3", half-lug with adjustable sights.....I would throw on the compact GP grips and be nearer to heaven than I have been in a while...

Cooldill said:

I think most would rather have a 3" gun, me included.

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Different strokes for different folks. A barrel shorter than 4" would kill the deal for me. Guess I'm not "most people".

I've got plenty of choices for concealed carry other than a larger revolver regardless of barrel length.

Besides, I have a 3" S&W 624. I dislike the level of recoil but I shoot it very well. It is the first, and last, big bore 3" barreled revolver I will own.

C'est la vie! I'll get over it.

It will be interesting to see what is made. Ruger already makes several single & double action 44Magnums. A Ruger 5 shot 44Special should fill a void, and handle most needs just fine with Skeeter loads.

Patience is not always my strong suit...

I think most would rather have a 3" gun, me included.

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Fixed sight, green fiber optic front sight, 2 and 7/8 barrel with compact rubber, wood insert grips.

Click to expand...

I guess my dream .44 Spl would be a 3", half-lug with adjustable sights.....I would throw on the compact GP grips and be nearer to heaven than I have been in a while...

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Put me on the list as well for a 3" barrel and something like an XS or fiber optic front sight.

I think the carry crowd is going for the fixed sights. The huntsmans and the reloadersmans are "gunning" (pun intended) for adjustable sights.

I do not know if Ruger plans to intoduce many different version of the .44 special GP100. My answer to this is that it has never been tried... and we shall see.

Fearless prediction: 3-inch fixed sight and 4.2-inch (minimum length for Canada) adjustable sight models will be the first to appear.

I really need to start reloading. Can't really justify a .44 Special until I do.

I told myself I didn't need any more carry guns........... damn it.

Hi...

I would think about a 3" GP in .44Spl...
Offered in 4" with adjustable sights, I would buy one immediately.
I don't really need another .44Spl, but a DA Ruger GP revolver to go with my Taurus 3" DA stainless with adjustable sights sounds like an interesting platform to experiment with somewhat heavier loads than I think prudent to shoot regularly in the Taurus.
I do have a Lipsey's flat top BlackHawk for field carry but a stronger GP in .44Spl might be ideal for self-defense/concealed carry. I tend to shoot better with revolvers with a 4" or longer barrel due to aging eyes, but if a GP in .44Spl was only offered with a 3" barrel it wouldn't necessarily be a deal breaker. I would prefer an adjustable sight model, though...simply because of my desire to experiment with various loads with different bullet weights and styles plus various powder and power levels.

I have an Old Model SAA clone from Cimarron with another on order to fulfill my needs/wants for fixed sight .44Spl revolvers. Once the second one shows up I will work up a load that shoots to point of aim for both of them and then they will be shot exclusively with that load.
My BlackHawk has been shot with a load of 7.5gr of Unique with a 240gs LSWC from day one and has demonstrated excellent accuracy with that load. I haven't really had time to experiment with other loads in that revolver, but if an adjustable sighted GP in .44Spl were to show up I think I could find time in my upcoming retirement to develop a number of loads for such a revolver plus my Blackhawk.

A GP in .44Spl would be most welcome...a GP or a BlackHawk offered in .41Spl would be just as welcome. I think I could find room in my budget for one of each. I would certainly welcome to opportunity to try.

Cooldill said:

I would prefer a 2 8/9" barrel myself.

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That is a three and one eighth inch barrel.

I think this is an interesting idea. Sounds like it'd be pretty handy, but I think my money might go towards a 2.75" M69 from S&W for something very similar but slightly more versatile.

Sergei Mosin said: ↑

Fearless prediction: 3-inch fixed sight and 4.2-inch (minimum length for Canada) adjustable sight models will be the first to appear.​

I'm good with that.

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Count me in as well! A 3" fixed sight model will do quite nicely, reminding me a lot of the Speed Six I use to have. A 4" barrel model with an adjustable sight would compliment my Flattop Blackhawk and be great for future load development.

Cooldill said:

I would prefer a 2 8/9" barrel myself.

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P5 Guy said:

That is a three and one eighth inch barrel.

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Um............ What brand of calculator do you own, so I can avoid buying one.... 2 8/9", not 2 9/8"....

If they go adjustable rear, they need to make it a plunger front - which both front and rear will get replaced by meprolight tritiums. If they make them fixed - which I'd prefer - I'd rather have a red insert ramp than a FOS, but I'll replace either one of them with a tritium sight.

DPris said:

I've said all I can, wait & see.
Denis

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Care to offer up "speculation" on sights, barrel length or anything else?