Legionnaire
Contributing Member
Got to the range with the GP today.
Background. I took possession of one of the new 3-inch GP100s in 44 Special on January 25. It had the "issues" that have been discussed elsewhere: significant and "unsightly" gap under the front sight, as if the dovetail had not been milled deep enough; inconsistent and over-sized chamber throats. After one range trip it went back to Ruger.
Got the gun back a couple of days ago. New barrel and cylinder; front sight where it should be and throats a consistent .430. I installed a compact grip with Chig's Grip inserts and she's a beauty ...
Got to the range today with a variety of loads. The gun shot very well, but I had a hard time getting a clear sight picture. My eyes aren't what they used to be and my progressive lenses are no help at all; they'd be better if the lens was the other side up. Seriously considering having an optometrist build me a custom set of shooting glasses! My chronograph was set up at 5 yards, and the target stand at 12 yards. I shot off a table with my hands resting on a beanbag. Weather was overcast, temps around 50 Fahrenheit, light rain a couple of times. All loads used Starline brass and Winchester LP primers.
First up was 10 rounds of Missouri Bullet's 200 grain Cowboy #5 RNFP (coated) over 5.0 grains of TightGroup. This was a very pleasant load, and I was impressed by its consistency. I need to play some more with the bullet and powder; pretty sure I can tighten the group.
Average: 742.7 FPS
SD: 9.3 FPS
Min: 722 FPS
Max: 754 FPS
Spread: 32 FPS
Then I shot some of Matt's 215 grain button-nosed wadcutters over Unique, from 6.1 to 7.5 grains. Shooting only five rounds of each load was not enough to get good statistics, but it helped me get a feel for the gun. Overall, I wasn't real happy with the Unique; a lot of variability in velocity. Here are some samples.
6.1 grains Unique
Average: 882.6 FPS
SD: 17.1 FPS
Min: 863 FPS
Max: 901 FPS
Spread: 38 FPS
6.5 grains Unique
Average: 938.0 FPS
SD: 12.2 FPS
Min: 929 FPS
Max: 959 FPS
Spread: 30 FPS
7.1 grains Unique
Average: 964.6 FPS
SD: 27.9 FPS
Min: 935 FPS
Max: 997 FPS
Spread: 62 FPS
7.5 grains Unique (I threw one)
Average: 1020.6 FPS
SD: 32.3 FPS
Min: 971 FPS
Max: 1058 FPS
Spread: 87 FPS
After that, I shot a couple of cylinders of the same bullet (215 gr BNWC) over Trail Boss. Wish I had loaded up a few more, but not much more than 5.3 grains will fit under the long BNWC.
5.2 grains Trailboss
Average: 763.8 FPS
SD: 15.9 FPS
Min: 742 FPS
Max: 784 FPS
Spread: 42 FPS
5.3 grains Trail Boss
Average: 781.4 FPS
SD: 9.8 FPS
Min: 774 FPS
Max: 796 FPS
Spread: 22 FPS
Interestingly, I found that when I was shooting the Trail Boss loads, I was getting a clearer sight picture. Well, the heavier Unique loads broke the fiber optic bead off the facing edge of the front sight, which gave me a sharper outline. Now I have to decide whether I am going to repair the fiber optic rod, or fill the void with black JB Weld and have done with it ... or maybe figure out how to attach a brass bead.
Bottom line. I probably won't reorder the BNWCs for a while. I'll tinker some more with the 200 grain RNFPs. I've also ordered some of Rim Rock's 200 grain DEWCs, the same bullet Buffalo Bore loads in its "Anti-Personnel" round. And I have a boatload Missouri 240 grain "Elmer K" SWCs to play with, too. Unique shoots dirty, but TiteGroup and Trail Boss seemed very clean. Lot's of options to explore!
Background. I took possession of one of the new 3-inch GP100s in 44 Special on January 25. It had the "issues" that have been discussed elsewhere: significant and "unsightly" gap under the front sight, as if the dovetail had not been milled deep enough; inconsistent and over-sized chamber throats. After one range trip it went back to Ruger.
Got the gun back a couple of days ago. New barrel and cylinder; front sight where it should be and throats a consistent .430. I installed a compact grip with Chig's Grip inserts and she's a beauty ...
Got to the range today with a variety of loads. The gun shot very well, but I had a hard time getting a clear sight picture. My eyes aren't what they used to be and my progressive lenses are no help at all; they'd be better if the lens was the other side up. Seriously considering having an optometrist build me a custom set of shooting glasses! My chronograph was set up at 5 yards, and the target stand at 12 yards. I shot off a table with my hands resting on a beanbag. Weather was overcast, temps around 50 Fahrenheit, light rain a couple of times. All loads used Starline brass and Winchester LP primers.
First up was 10 rounds of Missouri Bullet's 200 grain Cowboy #5 RNFP (coated) over 5.0 grains of TightGroup. This was a very pleasant load, and I was impressed by its consistency. I need to play some more with the bullet and powder; pretty sure I can tighten the group.
Average: 742.7 FPS
SD: 9.3 FPS
Min: 722 FPS
Max: 754 FPS
Spread: 32 FPS
Then I shot some of Matt's 215 grain button-nosed wadcutters over Unique, from 6.1 to 7.5 grains. Shooting only five rounds of each load was not enough to get good statistics, but it helped me get a feel for the gun. Overall, I wasn't real happy with the Unique; a lot of variability in velocity. Here are some samples.
6.1 grains Unique
Average: 882.6 FPS
SD: 17.1 FPS
Min: 863 FPS
Max: 901 FPS
Spread: 38 FPS
6.5 grains Unique
Average: 938.0 FPS
SD: 12.2 FPS
Min: 929 FPS
Max: 959 FPS
Spread: 30 FPS
7.1 grains Unique
Average: 964.6 FPS
SD: 27.9 FPS
Min: 935 FPS
Max: 997 FPS
Spread: 62 FPS
7.5 grains Unique (I threw one)
Average: 1020.6 FPS
SD: 32.3 FPS
Min: 971 FPS
Max: 1058 FPS
Spread: 87 FPS
After that, I shot a couple of cylinders of the same bullet (215 gr BNWC) over Trail Boss. Wish I had loaded up a few more, but not much more than 5.3 grains will fit under the long BNWC.
5.2 grains Trailboss
Average: 763.8 FPS
SD: 15.9 FPS
Min: 742 FPS
Max: 784 FPS
Spread: 42 FPS
5.3 grains Trail Boss
Average: 781.4 FPS
SD: 9.8 FPS
Min: 774 FPS
Max: 796 FPS
Spread: 22 FPS
Interestingly, I found that when I was shooting the Trail Boss loads, I was getting a clearer sight picture. Well, the heavier Unique loads broke the fiber optic bead off the facing edge of the front sight, which gave me a sharper outline. Now I have to decide whether I am going to repair the fiber optic rod, or fill the void with black JB Weld and have done with it ... or maybe figure out how to attach a brass bead.
Bottom line. I probably won't reorder the BNWCs for a while. I'll tinker some more with the 200 grain RNFPs. I've also ordered some of Rim Rock's 200 grain DEWCs, the same bullet Buffalo Bore loads in its "Anti-Personnel" round. And I have a boatload Missouri 240 grain "Elmer K" SWCs to play with, too. Unique shoots dirty, but TiteGroup and Trail Boss seemed very clean. Lot's of options to explore!
Last edited:
