GP-100 accuracy

[caleb]

I just picked up a GP-100, 141, 4" last week and went to the range yesterday. At 17 yards it was barely on the paper. It shot out of the box 12 inches high and about 8 inches left. I as able to zero it in (sort of), but really could not keep it in an eight inch group. In know it was the first time out, but I took a new P228 with me I had never shot before and an entire box went mostly within 4 inches. With all the owners of the GP has anyone else experienced this? Thanks

 

[HSMITH]

My GP100 was sub 8" at one HUNDRED yards from the sandbags just as it came out of the box.

It did have a nasty gritty heavy single action trigger that I cleaned up to be able to shoot it decently offhand though.

I have shot at least a dozen GP100's of all lengths and find that the 4" full lug guns are probably the most accurate 357 revolvers on the planet. I have shot one with a 10X scope on it and at 100 yards it was easy to hit clay birds on the berm, a decent shot never missed. There is something wrong for your GP to shoot that poorly. The question is whether it is you or the gun or the ammo or some combination of those things. Try some different ammo and try to get someone else that is typically a pretty decent shooter on the handle to see what it does for them.

 

[Jim March]

Ya, something is wrong. MIGHT have been bad ammo. Most shoot at Python-with-a-slightly-funky-trigger levels. You might also want to try running "the checkout" (first thread in this forum).

 

[Arub]

I shoot my KGP141 in steel plate matches. Both DA and SA modes keep me on target out to 25 yards under time pressure.

 

[jzimm9mm]

I had a similar experience with my GP-100. I bought a used 6", hoping for an accurage all-round revolver. I took it out for the first time and really had to crank the windage over to get it on target at 40 feet, even from a supported rest. Something didn't seem right. A few days later I re-centered the sight and went out with some .38 Special rounds instead of .357 Magnums. It was dead on and the groups were pretty good. After that I practiced dry firing for about a week and my accuracy with .357 rounds was almost as good as with .38 special. If you were using .357 magnums, you might try going to some .38 special rounds and see if things improve, then go back to the full power loads.

Jer..

 

[Rob96]

You didn't mention what ammo you were using. Like others have said, I have found the full lug 4" GP-100 to be extremely accurate. Mine beats out the 6" S&W 686 I used to have. Is this your first revolver? Do dry fire practice with it, to learn the trigger.

 

[Arub]

To add to Jzimm's reply, everytime I get a new pistol/revolver I proceed to 'adjust' the sights, first thing. I normally adjust the sights to the point where I can't hit anything (must be the excitement of a new toy and forgetting the basics - trigger squeeze, sight picture, grip, stance... Next trip to the range I 'unadjust' the sights after getting back to the basics of shooting and pretty near put the sights back to where they were out of the box.

 

[caleb]

I was using Winchester white box .38 special. I switched to .357 and the groups got a little tighter after I adjusted the sights. I have a SW 686 .357 that shoots 2 - 3 inches at 17 yards with ease. The GP may get tighter as I get used to it, but I've never seen a handgun require so much adjustment out of the box, it had be a bit concerned. Sort of new to handguns, but getting more confidence and I becoming aware of when it's me and when it's the gun after shooting it a while. The GP has a home regardless and I'm sure the groups will get tighter.

 

[TonyB]

I had a 6" GP that was the most accurate gun I've ever shot.....like a dope I got rid of it.....I used everything from hot 357's to light 38's........I did have to adjust the rear sight,but once it was zeroed..it was awesome...

 

[Z_Infidel]

My 4" GP-100 is every bit as accurate as my Smiths. Enough to know that when I shoot the occasional poor group it is my fault, not the gun's.

 

[45R]

My GP100 6" Stainless is pretty much a tack driver!

 

[Eric Bryant]

My 6" GP100 is what I'd consider accurate - much more so than I am. A friend who's a rather capable shooter managed to cloverleaf 5 of 6 rounds from it at 25 yards, with the 6th round about 3/4" from the other 5.

 

[HSMITH]

White Box ammo is Pure-D garbage!!!! The 45 acp is OK but only because it is probably the most forgiving cartridge on the planet. In anything else skip the WWB ammo unless just blasting at 10 yards and under.

Normally Winchester ammo is as good as anything else, but not in the case of the white box crap.

Reloading will save a ton of money over even the WWB, AND you get decent to fantastic ammo. Less than $5 per hundred is easy.......

 

[Al Thompson]

My best groups came from premium bullets. Gold Dots seem to be one of the best and, depending on the gun, XTPs are very good.

 

[mtnbkr]

Try better ammo. If that doesn't work, send it back to Ruger.

Chris

 

[coop57]

I've taken two Bucks with my GP100 4" using Corbon 158gn lead. Both shots were 70 yards or less. Both shots were taken SA. They fell like they were hit with a 300 WinMag. I guess hunting accuaracy is different than precision shooting. If hunting accuaracy is good enough to put meat on the table then it is good enough for me.

 

[mtnbkr]

Barely on the paper at 17yds is not hunting accuracy.

Chris

 

[YodaVader]

The 686s and the one GP100 I owned have all been extremely accurate. In my "Gun Digest Book of Handgun Reloading" those two revolvers shot most of the best groups of all the handguns tested. The best overall group for any gun was a 12 shot group of .477" if memory serves - from a 4" GP100! These were Ransom Rest tests @ 25 yds.

 

[COK]

Definitely try different ammunition, I can see variations in the different types in my GP-100’s . But if your fairly comfortable with a revolver and getting the kind of accuracy stated then it may not be ammunition related - any ammunition should do better than that out of a GP-100.

 

[RWK]

Own two GP-100s – both are A LOT more accurate than my eyes/physical skills will ever allow. In fact, both are essentially "tack drivers".

 

[4v50 Gary]

Checked the muzzle for nicks & dings? If it was shooting consistently off, I would suggest that the barrel is offset to the frame.

 

[surfinUSA]

Personally, Ilike Smiths. However, your ruger should do alot better than what you're describing or it should have a trip back to the factory. Any American made revolver (Smith, Colt or Ruger) should have no problem doing better than that).

 

[go8dalejr]

Have a new 6"gp100 right on out of the box. Also have a 10.5"superblackhawk had to move the sight all the way coming
out one side to get it on. But it shoots there every time.

 

[7.62FullMetalJacket]

My first revolver was a Redhawk. I talked to the instructor at CCW class and told him it was shooting off of the paper. He said to bring it to qualifications. I did. Found out it was me and not the Ruger. He stated that Rugers come zeroed from the factory (any comments?).

After learning the proper technique I was shooting tight, touching groups. I would follow instructions as posted above. Lighten the load, work on stance/hold, and relax the strong arm.