.44 Special GP

[DPris]

Ruger does not have a custom shop.

My aversion to the Smith two-piece barrels derives from photos I've seen of breakage at both ends of the barrel, and the fact that traditional things can't be done to them in traditional ways.

Unless your gunsmith has acquired the tool (from somebody other'n S&W) he can't remove the barrel.

With that outer shroud, he can't turn the rear of the barrel tube to correct B/C gap or repair & re-set a worn forcing cone.
Can't set the barrel back.

He can't snub a shrouded barrel, or certainly not easily, anyway.
He can't do a target crown.
He may or may not be able to add custom front sight options on the shroud.

For most users, none of the above may be a concern.
For me, they are & I just won't own a two-piecer.

And again- I'm talking about the way SMITH & WESSON does it.
This does not apply to the Dan Wessons.
Denis

 

[CraigC]

The cost-cutting measures taken by S&W in recent years, such as the two piece barrels, turns me off too. I didn't know they were doing anything different for cutting the rifling. S&W used to be worth the premium over Ruger but those days are long gone.

One either "gets" the .44 Special cartridge or one doesn't.

Ain't that the truth!

 

[DPris]

They've been doing that electro-chemical rifling process for some years now.
Denis

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Ruger does not have a custom shop.

My aversion to the Smith two-piece barrels derives from photos I've seen of breakage at both ends of the barrel, and the fact that traditional things can't be done to them in traditional ways.

Unless your gunsmith has acquired the tool (from somebody other'n S&W) he can't remove the barrel.

With that outer shroud, he can't turn the rear of the barrel tube to correct B/C gap or repair & re-set a worn forcing cone.
Can't set the barrel back.

He can't snub a shrouded barrel, or certainly not easily, anyway.
He can't do a target crown.
He may or may not be able to add custom front sight options on the shroud.

For most users, none of the above may be a concern.
For me, they are & I just won't own a two-piecer.

And again- I'm talking about the way SMITH & WESSON does it.
This does not apply to the Dan Wessons.
Denis

AH..... yeah those are all good points, and since my wallet hasn't taken me down the customization path yet, they are points that I overlooked. Thanks for clarifying.

 

[DPris]

I don't customize every Smith I get my hands on, but I have had barrel & front sight work of various types done on more than one.
The two-piecers don't lend themselves well to that, and essentially the company has set it up so that if you do need corrective surgery on something like a forcing cone, you need to return the gun to them for the work.

Before somebody jumps in to say they've never had a breakage problem with a Smith two-piecer, I'm not saying it's a common or widespread occurrence.

The photos I've seen showed the tube breaking at the rear threads, and the front flange breaking off.
I'm just not interested.

The DWs use a different method of barrel retention & those are typically pretty solid.
Denis

 

[ST1959]

I suppose this makes it official.........

http://www.ruger.com/products/gp100/specSheets/1761.html

 

[Kookla]

What do folks think the street price on this would be?

 

[joneb]

What do folks think the street price on this would be?

My LGS thought it should be about the same as a GP-100 chambered in .357 mag. around $650

 

[Zaydok Allen]

My LGS thought it should be about the same as a GP-100 chambered in .357 mag. around $650

Sounds about right. Considering I have $450 in Cabela's points, it looks like I may end up with one sooner than later. Though Cabela's prices guns pretty stupid.

Boy though, now that I'm thinking about it more, I may have to hold out for the 4.3 inch barrel version. Ballistics will just be a bit better.

 

[200Apples]

Ballistics will just be a bit better.

Why not step up to a .44 Magnum, then? (see what I did, there?)

KIDDING!

 

[CraigC]

Street price is usually 75-80% of MSRP.

 

[Fiv3r]

Man, I was just thinking about getting a 3" SP101, but I couldn't justify it. I have a 2.25" in .357 and a 4.2" in .327. I had a blued GP100 4", but it was a bit clunky for hiking carry, so the little SP .357 always got the nod for being more compact or the .327 for being handier.

A 3" .44 special might just be what I need. I've looked at .44 mags before, but I don't need a wrist-breaker or a bear load. Looks like the 3" would split the difference between my .357 snubbie and my 4". Well, this'll be my first gun purchase of 2017.

 

[RealGun]

<snip>

Boy though, now that I'm thinking about it more, I may have to hold out for the 4.3 inch barrel version. Ballistics will just be a bit better.

But suddenly it might not be so great as a carry gun.

 

[Walkalong]

What's wrong with options? A lot of folks would prefer a "range" gun in .44 Spl., some people who prefer one for "carry", and some would like both.

 

[eldon519]

At 3" or 4.2", it is still quite heavy for a carry gun.

 

[DPris]

I carried a 3-inch .357 GP every time I left the house after I retired from the PD, with two speedloaders.
Not too heavy at all, and had not 9-11 come along, with the deteriorating world that followed, I'd most likely still be carrying it.
Denis

 

[Blacksmoke]

Ruger has a custom shop now???

Of course they do not. Nor would they likely change the legal department's warning label as suggested if they had.

Sorry, my attempts at humor fall short.

 

[Legionnaire]

Looks like it will be a while before supply catches up with demand, but I just placed a standing order with my LGS. He'll call me when he gets his hands on one.

 

[Blacksmoke]

Here's mine (excuse the poor photo - more to follow):

nice piece.

I long to own one.

 

[Legionnaire]

Midway just got in an order of the compact rubber grips. Just sayin' ...

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/88...without-inserts-ruger-gp100-fixed-sight-model

Edit: Looks like they already sold out! That was fast!

 

[The_Shootist]

I wonder how this is selling. Ruger has a reputation for toughness so https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_list&c=17 may be the appropriate carry load (Pricey though)

I was thinking of adding a Blackhawk to my stable -- now I'm not sure. The 3" bbl for carry has caught my eye and I alreay have an sp101 I'm fond of.

I'll have to give this a further look.

 

[cfullgraf]

There have been some dicussion during the teo GP100 44 Special threads concerning the foring cones on the S&W M69 and M696.

Check out the attached forum thread at about post 22. S&W did beef up the M69's forcing cone.

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=540754

 

[DPris]

As noted in your post on the other forum, Ruger has been selling the Compacts for over a year & currently has them on their website at $44.
Denis

 

[Shane in MT]

Underwood has a nice lineup of modern 44 Spl ammo as well.

 

[tallpaul]

It is a darn shame that they still put the bill board on the side of the barrel. The marking on the underside of the dust cover on the 1911 is not near as distracting.