Ruger GP100 .44 Sp for HOT Loads

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RugRev

RugRev

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One reason cited that the Ruger GP100 in .44Special cannot handle hot loads is due to the thin forcing cone. I often wondered why no one thought of using a barrel with a thicker shank and forcing cone to get around this problem. It appears Marc Morganti at Gemini Custom has done just that.

Here is a link to an offering on his website:

https://www.geminicustoms.com/ultim...ing_wp_cron=1600896610.9770340919494628906250

Scroll down to the section "Ultimate Trail and Field Package for Ruger GP100® ".
Here is a picture from his website of the forcing cone on the new barrel:

DSC_0384-1.jpg
 
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Well I see he had to make the cut under the forcing cone just like S&W did on their .357s to make room for the crane. Personally I see no reason whatsoever to push a .44 Spl. cartridge or gun to a point where the thin forcing cone becomes a problem. Yes the cone is a limit but I have been loading for and shooting an original S&W 696 and a Charter Bulldog with a thin cone and 200 gr. loads@ 900 fps. have not proved to be any problem for that L frame or the Charter and pack plenty of cowbell for me. They will take a bowling pin off a table with authority just like a .45 ACP (maybe a little better). I think an awful lot of guys buy a .44 Spl. and then believe they just have to push it up to .44 Mag. levels - and that WILL trash the cone.
 
Drail said:
Well I see he had to make the cut under the forcing cone just like S&W did on their .357s to make room for the crane. Personally I see no reason whatsoever to push a .44 Spl. cartridge or gun to a point where the thin forcing cone becomes a problem. Yes the cone is a limit but I have been loading for and shooting an original S&W 696 and a Charter Bulldog with a thin cone and 200 gr. loads@ 900 fps. have not proved to be any problem for that L frame or the Charter and pack plenty of cowbell for me. They will take a bowling pin off a table with authority just like a .45 ACP (maybe a little better). I think an awful lot of guys buy a .44 Spl. and then believe they just have to push it up to .44 Mag. levels - and that WILL trash the cone.
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Agreed. The 44spl is a fantastic cartridge in it's own right.
 
Shooting a medium frame revolver with a 200 gr. .44 slug @ 900 fps is just a pure joy. It's like the old time western guns - just a push instead of wrist snapping torque and balls of fire. My wife loves to shoot them too. If it makes Major power for USPSA (it does) I'll carry it on the street and not worry. The Ruger GP and the S&W L frame are fantastic carry guns IF you use a good belt and holster. You only get 5 tries for your quarter but if you can hit what you aim at - it's enough.
 
I will agree that the price is a bit stratospheric but wanted to throw the information out. One could have several tuned and enhanced guns for the price. Depends upon what one wants. When the gun first appeared many were griping that the GP100 .44 would not handle Keith loads, at least on a sustained basis. How many would actually shoot them? Some must want something that would take 255 gr bullets at the velocity (or more) or there would not be a market for a 2.75" S&W 69. Guess it would depend upon what one wants to defend against, 2 legged or 4 legged. In the latter case, there is a market for medium frames capable of employing such rounds where the gun is not a primary hunting weapon but something a bit lighter to carry for a just in case situation.
 
I am a GP100 fan and when Ruger introduced the Gp100 44 Special, I had to get one. It is a joy to shoot, easy on both the wrist an ears. I reload a 200 gr coated flat nose lead at 900 fps. I would like the 10mm version, but have a Blackhawk 10/40 Convertibe to get me by for now.
 
Another tidbit: When Dave Clements was doing his .44 SP GP100 conversions he claimed he used the factory barrel rebored to .44 SP. He also claimed the conversion would shoot 250 grain bullets at 1200 fps. He did not mention the barrel length. I wonder what it was? When American Rifleman test a 3" GP100 with the hot Buffalo Bore 255 gr load they got 934 fps as I recall (Buffalo Bore states fps as 1000). I wonder if Clements was using the Keith loading?
 
I shoot 240s at around 1000fps, and have seen no issues in the relatively few rounds I've shot. I haven't tried any Keith loads yet, and probably won't.
The 240s at 1k are all I really wanna shoot out of that gun.

I've got an SBH that can drive the same bullets to 1500fps or so and be comfortable doing it, so no major need.
 
Since I'm one that cracked the forcing cone on a S&W Model 19, I'd avoid the potential of damaging any revolver under similar circumstances.

Hence, I would not hod rod ammunition destined for a GP100.

S&W Model 69 is built to accept 44 Magnum ammunition and over the years that it has been available, cracking the forcing cone has not been an issue from what I've seen. If you want a 44 Magnum in a smaller frame platform, buy one rated for 44 Magnum. If you are a Ruger fan, buy the GP100 but stay with 44 Special level loads.

I'm at the point of life that I do not have to shoot full power magnum loads any more. I shoot 44 Special loads in my GP100 and 44 Special Blackhawk. I load heavy 44 Special loads in 44 Magnum cases for my S&W Model 69.

If I want wrist snapping recoil, I'll drag out my 460 S&W Magnum XVR.
 
The Gemini option is overpriced and it's absurd the way it's accomplished by swapping parts between two guns. It also illustrates their gunsmithing limitations. Since they seem to be incapable of building a cylinder or even re-threading a frame. You can spend less and get a better result with another `smith.

That said, I cringe every time heavy loads in the .44Spl are mentioned and I hear the 1200fps Keith load referred to as ".44Mag levels". It is not. There is a world of difference. In fact, the difference amounts to 10,000psi and 250fps. What the .44Spl does with a 250gr, the .44Mag does with a 355gr.

The .44Mag not render heavy loads in the .44Spl obsolete. There is still much to recommend a 1000-1200fps load in a sixgun that may weigh a pound less. My favorite .44Spl's are around 37oz, half a pound less than a comparable .44Mag.

All that said, the forcing cone thickness is the limitation and it's probably why we haven't seen a Brian Pearce article featuring heavy loads in the GP. David Clements was building them long before Ruger and endorsing the Keith load but he also did a custom long cylinder and a very short barrel stub. Having the whole barrel shank supported by the frame seems to make all the difference. S&W worked around the obvious limitations of the 696 by enlarging the whole front of the frame to use a larger barrel shank. Gemini is doing this by using a 10mm frame with the larger bore. Essentially using two guns to build one.
 
Craig - thanks for the insight on Dave Clements long cylinder and short barrel stub. I do know about the greater width of the 69 frame compared to the GP100. I agree about the usefulness of a .44 SP 1000-1200 fps load. Where I live do not need a .44 Mag load and do like the idea of a lighter gun to carry for a just in case situation.
 
shoebox1.1 said:
Y’all got to stop all these 44 special conversations. Your making my fantasies of having one even worse! Cmon fella. Your killin me lol
Click to expand...

You wouldn't need one of these. I know I didn't. I would never buy one of these and you shouldn't either. This guy followed me home, not my fault, damn renegade revolvers.
 

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