7 shot GP 100

Don't know you'll be guaranteed
a 7-shooter where all the brass
fits, especially if you find an older
model.

However, you did mention the 2.5-inch
tube and I believe these are all within
recent production dates. I think the problem
was limited to 3- and 4-inch models.

If you should get "stung," Ruger will
fix it promptly.

Supposedly, per a gunsmith on another website stated the rimlock was fixed. Evidently, Ruger moved the chambers slightly outward at the rear of the cylinder but not the front i.e. they slanted slightly down towards the front to meet the forcing cone. I had once thought this was a possible solution (not optimal) but naw no one would do that! I was surprised.

If I remember right, the issue was mainly with max-spec or over max ammunition rim diameters that would cause the seated rounds to touch each other. Since every ammo lot slightly different in size (different machines, various states of die wear, etc.) it would be hit and miss.

The 686+ S&W 7-shot is also a tight fit between case rims, but mine hasn’t ever bound up.



I will say that I do have more issues with some Winchester headstamped .357 and .38 cases being too thick to easily fit in the shell holders on my presses. None of the others seem to have this problem.

I think you’ll be just fine with a 7-shot GP. If you want to be extra sure all works well run several cylinders of your chosen self defense loads through it first.

Stay safe.

As RioMouse911 notes the problem had to do with certain brands of ammo. If you do a Google search you should be able to find the brands and specific ammo that caused a problem. If I recall correctly one gun writer (now deceased) noted it was only 2 or 3 loads out of 13 or 14 he had at the time. Anyhow, the problem is supposed to now be fixed.

Question for RioMouse: what speedloaders, if any, do you use with the 686+, HKS or 5 Star? I know at one time Jet Loader had a model for the 7 shooters but never saw one.

Riomouse911 said:

The 686+ S&W 7-shot is also a tight fit between case rims

Click to expand...

That is a tight fit.

Think I'll stick with six-round centerfire revolvers.

RugRev said:

As RioMouse911 notes the problem had to do with certain brands of ammo. If you do a Google search you should be able to find the brands and specific ammo that caused a problem. If I recall correctly one gun writer (now deceased) noted it was only 2 or 3 loads out of 13 or 14 he had at the time. Anyhow, the problem is supposed to now be fixed.

Question for RioMouse: what speedloaders, if any, do you use with the 686+, HKS or 5 Star? I know at one time Jet Loader had a model for the 7 shooters but never saw one.

Click to expand...

I used HKS # 587 speed loaders. I have a coffee can full of them for every swing out cylinder revolver I own so I was used to them and the Safariland quad-speed loader belt pouch when I bought the 686+. (The one with green paint is a 48-K for the .22 WMR model 48’s. I painted those because they look just like the 22-K for the Model 17 and 18.):



HKS 10 K-frame 6-shot and 587 L-frame 7-shot:



Man, I just realized that I bought that gun about 18 years ago! Time certainly picks up speed after we hit 45 or so .

Stay safe.

Thanks, RioMouse. As to time and speed wait until you get around 80 and it really goes fast.

I had a GP100 7 shot probably 3-4 years ago and it would stick 357 Mag brass so bad I had to hit the extractor with a mallet. Ive never had an issue with the 6 shot GP100's

Glad this thread popped up.

I was revisiting the idea of buying that revolver, too.

RugRev said:

Supposedly, per a gunsmith on another website stated the rimlock was fixed. Evidently, Ruger moved the chambers slightly outward at the rear of the cylinder but not the front i.e. they slanted slightly down towards the front to meet the forcing cone. I had once thought this was a possible solution (not optimal) but naw no one would do that! I was surprised.

Click to expand...

I hope they adjusted the angle of the crane to compensate, or something similar...

"I hope they adjusted the angle of the crane to compensate, or something similar..."

Per the gunsmith post he stated the bullet would exit the cylinder mouth at a very slight angle and the forcing cone of the barrel "adjusted" it to go down the barrel with no apparent problems. The chamber taper at the rear would only need to be a couple of thousandths of an inch larger.

"I know at first there were issues with rim lock. Can owners chime in on this and what 38 special + p ammunition is less likely to cause this issue?"

Went through a couple of threads on the 7 shot GP's. Seems the big problem was with Winchester White Box ammo. On the early 7 shot models some would lock up when rim diameter exceeded 0.435" (SAAMI max is supposed to be 0.44"). Gun writer Denis Prisbey got an early Model 1774 2.5" GP and he said he only had a problem with 3 loads out of 71 he had; he did not state what they were.

As to the cylinder chamber taper required when (if?) Ruger did implement the fix to avoid rim lock the gunsmith stated this would require only moving the rear of the chambers outward to the cylinder edge 0.002".

Speaking of only a thousandth of an inch or so, why not sit down with each new box of ammo and quickly clamp each round down in a vise and polish the diameter of the rim down with a Dremel tool. Probably just one quick trip around with a Dremel tool would suffice.

No, I'm not kidding. It's just one more type of case prep for a handloader.

RugRev said:

"I know at first there were issues with rim lock. Can owners chime in on this and what 38 special + p ammunition is less likely to cause this issue?"

Went through a couple of threads on the 7 shot GP's. Seems the big problem was with Winchester White Box ammo. On the early 7 shot models some would lock up when rim diameter exceeded 0.435" (SAAMI max is supposed to be 0.44"). Gun writer Denis Prisbey got an early Model 1774 2.5" GP and he said he only had a problem with 3 loads out of 71 he had; he did not state what they were.

As to the cylinder chamber taper required when (if?) Ruger did implement the fix to avoid rim lock the gunsmith stated this would require only moving the rear of the chambers outward to the cylinder edge 0.002".

Click to expand...

Because each lot varies just a touch in diameter it may not be possible to say X brand will be perfect and Y brand will jam. I will say that for self defense, the premium loads from most major makers will be of a higher quality than “bulk” or blasting ammo, but you still will run into rim size variables even with the best stuff.

All I can honestly suggest is to buy some of the higher end self defense ammo (Critical Defense, Gold Dot, HST, PDX, etc.) and give them a run through your gun to see how they work. (It is always a good idea to make sure any self defense ammo works in your gun anyway .)

Stay safe.

RugRev said:

Per the gunsmith post he stated the bullet would exit the cylinder mouth at a very slight angle and the forcing cone of the barrel "adjusted" it to go down the barrel with no apparent problems. The chamber taper at the rear would only need to be a couple of thousandths of an inch larger.

Click to expand...

This image went through my head when you mentioned the fix Ruger implemented - thus the thought of the angled crane.

I don’t really like the idea from a design standpoint, but if it works...

"I don’t really like the idea from a design standpoint, but if it works..." That is why I was surprised Ruger adopted the idea. Wonder what happened to the engineer that came up with idea of 7 shots without seeing if it would actually work out?

RioMouse has a good idea with checking the ammo one plans on using. I know a lot of semiauto owners do this to ensure that the ammo will feed and all. Other than that make up some dummy rounds with 0.44" dia rims to check the cylinder out for rimlock (but this assumes no cartridge will be over 0.44").

Wonder what diameter the rims are on snap caps? If they be 0.44" one could take along 7 of them to a store to check the cylinder before buyng
and not get anyone excited by using live ammo...OR...maybe some fired cases with a 0.44"dia.