Is the Ruger GP100 the Greatest Double Action Revolver Ever Made?

JMHO, but the greatest double action revolver ever made is the one that you enjoy shooting the most, the one you shoot best, and the one that gets you out to the range most often.

The best DA revolver ever made is the S&W model 67.

Hmm...

I think that it's design features are the best out of any revolver on the market, but since the fit and finish is spotty and the triggers can be a bit iffy, I would say that it would be hard to justify that they are the best. I would choose a GP100 over anything else, but a lot of other folks wouldn't.

Now, if you are talking about their new match model, I will agree with you 100%. Superior strength, great fit and finish, and a great trigger out of the box. I would take this handgun over anything else, including autoloaders. I sold off my revolvers a few years ago, but plan on getting back into them because of this model. Heck, even Jeff Quinn said that the new Ruger match model is his new favorite double action revolver.

The person that said that there are not enough grip choices for a GP100 is wrong. With the grip peg, you can customize the grips, on GP100, more than any other "medium-sized" revolver. You can use full-sized grip from almost all grip manufacturers. You can even use the grips designed for the "large" Super Redhawks, which are essentially hogues with extra padding to tame recoil. You can also use compact-sized grips, if you can still find them. I used to have the old compact grips (with the wood inserts), rubber hogues, and the old-style grips with the wood inserts.

IMHO-the GP100 works, works well, would be an excellent base for a 5 shot 44 Special or a 5 shot 41 Magnum. I would buy one then. Until then I'll stick with my Colts and Ruger Sixes.

Willie Sutton said:

It's comparing excellence in a pleasing combination of aesthetic and technical excellence v/s technically good and functional manufacture, but without a soul....

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This kind of elitist, self-serving, "my opinion is better than yours" thinking really turns me off.
I can afford a Smith (and own one, and intend to acquire more for collection purposes), but I choose a GP100 as a working gun. I can afford a BMW, but I choose a Yamaha (measurably better in every way, not just cost). I can afford a Rolex, but why on earth do I need to wear a watch? I could afford a Gibson, but I choose PRS guitars (better at every price point).
If you choose a Rolex, BMW, Gibson, or Smith & wesson, more power to ya - enjoy. Don't be too critical of stuff other people choose just because you think you know better.

edited for brevity and emphasis

The GP 100 is certainly a great revolver, but "Greatest Ever" is a tough row to hoe given the quantity and quality of the competition. It doesn't have the fit and finish of a Python or an S&W 27, nor the accuracy of an S&W 14, just to name the first three that spring to mind. Bring in the S&W Triple Lock, the Colt Detective Special, the Korth, well, you get the idea.

The theres a sound coming from my safe. Oh wait! its my smith and wesson model 29 lauging at this notion.

The GP100 is a fine gun and if to you, the OP, it is the greatest thing in the world since sliced bread.......good for you.

Since there are a plenitude of other D.A. revolvers still flying off the shelves even tho the GP100 is still readily available, it is apparent not everyone shares your sentiments.

But yet.... the world continues to revolve around the Sun.

The person that said that there are not enough grip choices for a GP100 is wrong. With the grip peg, you can customize the grips, on GP100, more than any other "medium-sized" revolver. You can use full-sized grip from almost all grip manufacturers. You can even use the grips designed for the "large" Super Redhawks, which are essentially hogues with extra padding to tame recoil. You can also use compact-sized grips, if you can still find them. I used to have the old compact grips (with the wood inserts), rubber hogues, and the old-style grips with the wood inserts.

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The concept of the grip stud is solid in theory, but in practice only a few grip makers offer grips for the GP-100 and Super Redhawk.

Compare what's available for a S&W K/L frame to what's available for the GP/SRH. It's not even close.

Grips options for the GP/SRH are fairly limited.

Best ever? Dunno, haven't shot every revolver made.

Best bang for the buck? Yes.

Its much too heavy and bulky to be the #1. My preference would be for the Security Six or any classic Smith and Wesson.

"This kind of elitist, self-serving, "my opinion is better than yours" thinking really turns me off"


Tough noogies...

The relative value of the consumer goods I recited side by side are set every day by what people are willing to pay for them. That means that an absolutely democratic vote is taken every day when people trade the value of their own work to purchase the listed products. The free market has dictated that those in Column A are of a lower quality then those in Column B. That's just a fact of science, not an opinion. Rugers are "good value arms". They are not top-quality "bespoke" handguns. They are very good quality, high volume, mass produced handguns. That's not an opinion, it's just the way it is.


Willie

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No it is not.. Not even close, but it is a good strong functional revolver.

I sure like my Smith 638. I gave my Security Six to my mom. It's forcing cone is too worn out to handle much more .357, but for 38s it's still got plenty of life left.

I'd consider a GP-100, if like was mentioned before they made a 7 shot with a 4" barrel, and trimmed a bit of weight from the barrel like that new one that just came out. I'd even consider a 6 shot if they put a 3.5" slab side barrel on one.

The new 9mm Smiths are really tempting as well. I'm not really up for 357 recoil and blast anymore.

All said and done probably not I am interested in the Match Ruger Would be intrestimg to see if it is in the same league as a Python.. I would think not but then I have never seen one of those Match Rugers let alone shot one.

What WEG said.
There's a reason I have a model 10.

With my experience the Smith quality has gone downhill. First example

Buddy got a 627 from the Performance Center. The thing got owned by my GP. That is with BOTH of us shooting it. The thing put a 4" group at 25yrds benched. My GP was around an inch. He sent it back and they tested it and said it shot within their standards and sent it back with the test target. The target was 5 shot group that was 3.75". This was not acceptable for him and he sold it.


Second example.

He bought another Performance center gun, this time a 627 with the 2" barrel. He shot 65rds through this gun, all of which were factory ammo. When he got home he was cleaning it he noticed that there was a chunk missing from the firing pin housing. He sent it to Smith and the said that gun was not fixable. Granted they took care of the problem but that was 2 guns that were $1200 ea and they both had issues. Now my GP, not one problem. Until the next time I go to shoot it and it breaks because I made this post. LOL

Which is best is what you like.

One thing you're wrong on is the Ruger 6 revolvers ate 357 ammo quite nicely. Much better than a K frame Smith and maybe just as good as a L frame. The GP100 was brought out in response to the L frame which came out a few years earlier.

The "Ruger GP100 (is) the Greatest Double Action Revolver Ever Made" that YOU own.

How would you know its the best if you haven't tried them all?

Willie Sutton said:

...econo-revolvers, built as cheaply as possible,

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No, that would probably be Rohm RGs. Zinc frame and barrel with a steel barrel sleeve and cylinder. Now if you said "as cost efficient as possible", you would be closer to accurate.

Now, best revolver ever made? I hope to see the day because it hasn't been made yet. Every revolver ever made has a short-coming of some kind, somewhere. And what that short-coming is will be different for different shooters. Some people roll price into the mix, some don't. some need a history or tradition, others couldn't care less. I've owned Colt's S&W, H&R, Taurus, Dan Wesson, Iver Johnson, Ruger and even an RG.

I had a GP100. Had.

I now have a Security-Six.

The relative value of the consumer goods I recited side by side are set every day by what people are willing to pay for them. That means that an absolutely democratic vote is taken every day when people trade the value of their own work to purchase the listed products. The free market has dictated that those in Column A are of a lower quality then those in Column B. That's just a fact of science, not an opinion. Rugers are "good value arms". They are not top-quality "bespoke" handguns. They are very good quality, high volume, mass produced handguns. That's not an opinion, it's just the way it is

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No. According to that reasoning, Holland & Holland shotgun would be better than M870 for the sole reason that the price is marked higher.

However, that completely disregards the intended role or purpose. What kind of idiot would carry a H&H double barrel over an M870 into combat?

According to your reasoning, Rolex is a better watch than an atomic radio digital clock becuse Rolex is much more expensive.

But, for time keeping an atomic radio digital clock is factually better than a mechanical Rolex. This is an indisputable fact.

There is nothing wrong with luxury. I like luxury as much as others. What you don't seem to understand is that it is not your enjoyment of luxury that is being criticized. It is your insistence that luxury is THE universal standard mearure of quality that is being criticized.

Posted by JRH6856:
I had a GP100. Had.

I now have a Security-Six.

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What do you like about Security Six over GP100?

The concept of the grip stud is solid in theory, but in practice only a few grip makers offer grips for the GP-100 and Super Redhawk.

Compare what's available for a S&W K/L frame to what's available for the GP/SRH. It's not even close.

Grips options for the GP/SRH are fairly limited.

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I found the grip selection quite adequate. More notable is that the Hogue Tamer, which I use and can now use to shoot without gloves, is available for the GP100 and not any S&W. Now I like the gun. I have beautiful custom grips but have yet to use them. My gun is a 5", so no, concealed carry is not really a concern.