Ruger Match Champion fondled today

I don't understand why a "match" gun would have fixed sights.

I really wanted one of these when I first saw the announcement. Then I read S&W was reintroducing the M66 and coming out with the M69 and it was pushed to the end of the line. Too bad about the trigger. I own both a GP100 and a S&W 686 and while the GP100 is a tank of a gun it's trigger leaves a lot to be desired compared to my 686.

A $10 spring replacement will do wonders for that GP-100

A match champion shouldn't need $10 worth of springs.
I've got an Sp 101 that I bought a while back used and I don't think the original owner did anything to the trigger but it is very nice double and single action.

Sounds like the one the OP checked out was a lemon in the trigger dept which is a bit surprising. How hard is it to check the pull at the factory.

As far as the fixed sights on a match gun, I guess it depends on the type of match shooting you are doing. Fast combat type shooting from a holster on reactive targets or deliberate slow fire on paper.

Fairly decent looking; sort of reminds me of an upgraded Security Six. Would withhold judgment until I could check one out in person but definitely catches my interest.

Is it just me, or does the depth of the cut in that topstrap for the rear sight make anyone else uncomfortable? I think designing a new rear sight to avoid that certainly would have been feasible for a company like Ruger that has perfected fly-away sights already.


Larry

Did it have the plastic shield in the cylinder protecting the chambers? That would explain the horrible trigger pull. I looked at a GP-100 Wiley Clapp and was horrified by the trigger pull. Once the guy removed the plastic disk, the trigger pull was very, very nice.

Gun stores often just take them out of the box and put them in the display case without removing the disc. I see that all the time.

slickracer said:

I don't understand why a "match" gun would have fixed sights.

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Yeah that's real deal breaker for me.

Part of the attraction of a 4" bbl 357 is the versatility of shooting anything from light target loads to really hot 357 magnum loads. But if point of impact cannot be adjusted for each, it's a lot less attractive.

Love at first sight for me, will have to see /handle one to make up my mind,

It's a good looking pistol for sure.

slickracer said:

I don't understand why a "match" gun would have fixed sights.

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Are you assuming a bullseye match? If the gun is intended as an ICORE/USPSA/IDPA revolver-division gun, then a competitor may well prefer fixed sights for faster draws, greater durability, etc.

How is a fixed sight going to give you a faster draw???

Not faster every time. Faster versus the time the adjustable one gets snagged on your IDPA cover garment!

Some are having a hard time understanding what this gun is for.
Ruger intends it as an IDPA & carry gun, it's not built for bull's-eye paper.

Ruger also says the dovetail isn't a problem.
Analyzed (with a fancy term used) and tested. Not an issue.
Denis

ATLDave said:

Faster versus the time the adjustable one gets snagged on your IDPA cover garment!

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Of all the times I've bobbled my draw, it's never been because the adjustable sight got snagged on my vest. YMMV.

To me, the main benefit to adjustable sights on a match gun is that they typically offer a cleaner sight picture. I have rarely messed around adjusting them.

I don't do IDPA, only USPSA so far. I have adjustable sights on my Limited class gun, fixed on production. I've never had a draw snagged with either, but it definitely seems more likely with the taller and sharper adjustable ones. I've also had it disassemble itself under recoil once! Anyway, I'm not arguing that fixed sights are superior or that adjustables are inappropriate for match use... just pointing out that there are reasons someone might want fixed on a gamer gun, depending on the game.

The guy who does the reviews on "Gunblast" said it was his favorite revolver. He said that the trigger was the finest he's ever felt on a Ruger and said that it rivalled a good S&W. And, the Match Champion he was shooting did not have fixed sights, but adjustable rear and fiber optic front.

To clarify:
The gun has drift-adjustable front & rear sights for windage only.

This type of rear sight is frequently referred to as fixed because it's not screw-adjustable on both planes. To change windage you CAN pound the front left or right in its dovetail base, or loosen the set-screw in the rear & move it to either side (preferred method) and then lock that screw down tight.

By strict definition the sights COULD be called semi-adjustable.

Re that trigger.
I think Jeff may have misspoken on how light his DA pull was.
Mine is off my 8-pound trigger scale.
Ruger adds extra steps to the action on the MC, but it's still not quite the equivalent of a full action job by a master smith.
I do have two GPs done by master smiths, with lighter DA pulls than this MC, and I frankly can't imagine how one could be taken down to 6.6 pounds. Don't expect that if you buy one. There's at least one other report of a new MC with a DA pull that also exceeds 8 pounds.

If I'm wrong, I'll be happy to apologize to Jeff.
Denis

Emailing with Jeff, confirms the best of two samples he had ran 6.6 pounds DA, which I'm very surprised at.
Denis

DPris said:

Emailing with Jeff, confirms the best of two samples he had ran 6.6 pounds DA, which I'm very surprised at.

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+1. I seriously doubt any factory example any of us are likely to pick up will be under 10 lbs, let alone 6.6.

But keep in mind, folks, that 1) "smooth" is more important than "light", and 2) triggers aren't immutable. I fully expect to tune the action of any revolver that'll see use. GP100s tune nicely, so to me, the factory trigger would be a non-issue.

DPris said:

To clarify:
The gun has drift-adjustable front & rear sights for windage only.

This type of rear sight is frequently referred to as fixed because it's not screw-adjustable on both planes. To change windage you CAN pound the front left or right in its dovetail base, or loosen the set-screw in the rear & move it to either side (preferred method) and then lock that screw down tight.

By strict definition the sights COULD be called semi-adjustable. Denis

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and I just noticed in the video that it comes with two different height front sights to help with the 357/38 impact points. Model is becoming more attractive to me now

Mine came from the same source his did- Ruger.
He may have gotten a truly anomalous anomaly.

The trigger IS smooth.
Denis

This new gun appeals to me. I've been resisting the Wiley Clapp version OK mainly because I haven't been able find one. This one looks even more tempting - assuming the trigger is better than the regular GP's.