Any thoughts/comments/experience on the 3" vs. the 4" GP100 (.357 Mag)?

[Tallinar]

I'm unable to find the forum thread I took that off of, but it was an older post on defensivecarry.com's forums. I was able to find a closer up picture of this particular gentleman's carry gun's though. The GP100 is on the bottom (obviously).

I do believe they are manufactured by Hogue IIRC. He talked about the gun in more detail in another thread.

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e61/DawgFvr/GP100/Duo.jpg

 

[RugRev]

They might be Badger but he only shows boot grips for the SP. Here is a link to a pic of the SP ones:

http://www.badgercustomgrips.com/ruger_pistol_grips.php?pid=90

or Eagle:

http://www.eaglegrips.com/guns/Secret-Service-Low-Profile-Grips.html

 

[MCMXI]

Tallinar, that is a stunning revolver ... WOW!! RugRev, thanks for the links ... very helpful.

 

[MCMXI]

Just an update on this thread. Thanks for all of the useful feedback. I finally got around to taking some photos of the GPs. The 4" model with it's extra weight and muzzle-heavy weight distribution helps tame some of the recoil with hot .357 Mag loads but the 3" version just feels GREAT. The balance is perfect. The Hogue grips are definitely functional but not particularly appealing from an aesthetic point of view. I've handled a couple of SRHs with the standard Ruger grip and they felt very comfortable. I ordered and received a Ruger 4" grip (without inserts) so will order some inserts and try them with hot .357 Mag loads to determine if the Hogues offer a significant improvement in comfort. Anyway, here are some photos. I really, really like the 3" model. The chamfer on the sides, front and back of the top strap is very appealing. I have four double action Ruger revolvers and the factory triggers are more than exceptable both in DA and SA mode.

 

[stevegc]

I would love to have a 3in. Ruger.

 

[chieftain]

For CCw purposes, 3" revolver is the only way to fly.

Good choice.

Fred

 

[Big Mike]

I have shot and carried both.

I found my GP100, 3" to be too bulky for comfortable carry. It was a soft shooter but with the 3" barrel also comes the fixed sights which for me made it difficult to shoot accurately as well as the shorter grip that came with this model. The grip, which was great for carry in not protruding or printing, continually made the revolver roll in my hand when shooting any .357 ammo, .38 wasn't a problem. I think had I purchased the full size grip and practiced more, I would have kept the GP.

That said, I now have the SP101 2.25" which is much more reasonable to carry and shoot too, though I have been considering the Hogue grip for this. That said, for me, if the two choices are SP101 (any barrel length) or a 3" GP100, the SP will win out every time; I have no regrets selling this revolver as I sold it to help fund the SP101.

Conversely, I think the 4" GP100 with better sights and the full size grip was very nice. I have shot one several times, never owned one, and if I were to purchase a GP again, it would be the 4" (though the Hogue grips in 1858's pics on the 3" look like it would make handling the .357 well). The purpose of this revolver would be for the range and HD.

BM

 

[chieftain]

That said, for me, if the two choices are SP101 (any barrel length) or a 3" GP100, the SP will win out every time;

I am glad that works for you. You are the first person I have ever met in 56 years that has said that, amazing.

For combat & CCW purposes, the single most important reason to go to the 3" barrel vs the 2.25 is that the revolvers extractor will fully eject the 357 shell casing. The shorter barrel will not. For casual, sport, and play shooters, that is not critical. For competitors that must reload under the clock and folks who may have to fight their revolvers that can or could become very important.

Length of barrel dictates length of the extractor star stroke on both S&W and Ruger. Give me 3" over the short barrel (with consequences of a short stroked extraction) or 4+ inch for CCW carry every time. For deep cover, the short barrel's may be necessary, no doubt but you swap even slower revolver reloading at the very least. For sport, competition and play I like the 5 inch and 6" much better when ever a choice is offered.

Different strokes for different folks.

Go figure.

Fred

 

[MCMXI]

I found my GP100, 3" to be too bulky for comfortable carry. It was a soft shooter but with the 3" barrel also comes the fixed sights which for me made it difficult to shoot accurately as well as the shorter grip that came with this model. The grip, which was great for carry in not protruding or printing, continually made the revolver roll in my hand when shooting any .357 ammo, .38 wasn't a problem. I think had I purchased the full size grip and practiced more, I would have kept the GP.

That said, I now have the SP101 2.25" which is much more reasonable to carry and shoot too, though I have been considering the Hogue grip for this. That said, for me, if the two choices are SP101 (any barrel length) or a 3" GP100, the SP will win out every time; I have no regrets selling this revolver as I sold it to help fund the SP101.

So if I have this right, your complaints with the 3" GP100 were the fixed sights and the shorter grip. But now you like the SP101 much better which also has fixed sights and the shorter grip and is lighter i.e. more felt recoil, but you say it's more "reasonable" to shoot. It seems to me that the only real complaint you have against the 3" GP100 is that it's too bulky for concealed carry ... for you ... which needs no further explanation. Would this be a reasonable assessment?

 

[md7]

1858,

congrats man! huge fan of the GP series. i own the 4" stainless, and will definitely be adding the 3" GP as well. i think it would make a nice carry piece with the proper belt and holster. maybe a size larger jean if you IWB it. nice!

also, check out GP100 grips on gunbroker if you ever need/want another pair for the other GP. they had several of the old style, with inserts, last i checked.

 

[Gary in Pennsylvania]

Me.........?????



I simply couldn't decide which one to get.

 

[Lucky 7]

I just noticed that the 4" and 3" (on 1858's post) appear to have different front sights, w/ the 3" looking like it's retained in the SP101 fashion. Now, I plan on replacing my front sight on my 3" model. Do I need to take anything into consideration?

Regards,
Lucky

 

[Big Mike]

1858,

Yes, that's reasonable. As your original post asked for "less obvious differences" I was relating my experience as it related to bulkiness and balance between the two. The 3" was too bulky for me to carry comfortably, partially because I never had a proper holster for it. It is subjective, but the less bulky SP101 has a more balanced feel in my hand than the 3" GP did and consequently I have shot it more, accurately. The factory sights for either are minimal, but with practice on the SP I can keep them in a small group pretty consistently now, at the shorter distances. As indicated, if I would have invested in different grips (Hogue or full size factory) and maybe more time and a good holster, the feeling of carrying and shooting the 3"GP might have been different.

I am glad that works for you. You are the first person I have ever met in 56 years that has said that, amazing.

For combat & CCW purposes, the single most important reason to go to the 3" barrel vs the 2.25 is that the revolvers extractor will fully eject the 357 shell casing. The shorter barrel will not. For casual, sport, and play shooters, that is not critical. For competitors that must reload under the clock and folks who may have to fight their revolvers that can or could become very important.

I imagine there are infinite reasons one firearm appeals to one and not another. I do not have 56 years of shooting experience. In the range sessions when I took my 3" GP, I never went when other people didn't shoot this revolver. I requested their input as I wasn't able to shoot near as well as I do with my autos or other revolvers. Feedback varied greatly between those who shot it, and "chunky" was said more than once; I don't recall anyone loving or hating it.

You are correct regarding the ability to fully eject shells, another less obvious difference, particularly if someone will have the SP as a dedicated concealed carry piece. I am familiar with the fact the SP doesn't fully eject, but that's OK because I'm what you would call a casual, sport, and play shooter, with revolvers.

BM

 

[MCMXI]

Big Mike, thanks for taking the trouble to clarify your feelings on the GP100. I think your responses will surely help others who are trying to make an informed choice. The only choice I had to make was whether or not I wanted a 3" GP since the 4" was a gift. For me, the differences between the 4" and 3" versions are of sufficient magnitude that one does not make the other redundant. As for the SP101, a couple of those are definitely in my future.

md7, thanks ... I'm a huge fan of many Ruger revolvers. I have six now and two SPs will most likely round out my collection.

Gary in PA, both those models are discontinued now ... right? Those beauties remind me of scaled down versions of my Redhawk (.45 Colt).

Do I need to take anything into consideration?

At the risk out sounding trite, all I can say is make sure you buy the correct front sight since there are two models for the GP series. You may have to drill a hole in the sight for the cross pin.

 

[Lucky 7]

1858,
No need to feel trite, I was somewhat vague when asking the question.

I meant, specifically, do I need to take certain sight makers into consideration when I go to replace the front sight? That is, what manufacturers make a sight for the 3" guns?

Hopefully that cleared it up...

Regards,
Lucky