I have a SP101 3" & 1894c lever. What's my next revolver? Thinking GP100 4"

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wacki

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What revolver should I get and in what bbl length?

I have the following 357s

  • SP101 w/ 3" bbl
  • Marlin Model 1894C 357 lever action


I want to get a bigger 'practical' revolver. It'll be used for home defense, shooting metal plates at the range, etc. If it's too big to carry in a natural disaster / emergency scenario I'm not sure I want it.

I have been eying the GP100 in 4" for about a year now and I might pick it up this weekend. Just wondering if anyone here thought I should consider a different barrel size and why.






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.357 lever. I found an old marlin 1894c on gunbroker last week hopefully I'll get it by Tuesday.


---
- "They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety"- Benjamin Franklin
 
If you like the GP100, you might also consider it's predecessor, the Security Six (adj sights, square butt), Police Service Six (fixed sights, square butt) or Speed Six (fixed sights, round butt). All are available in .357 Magnum, in blue or stainless. They are nearly as durable as the GP, but are noticeably less chunky. In fact, they feel quite a bit like a S&W K Frame. They are all great choices, but my preference is for the older, out of production Six Series .357s like my 4" Police Service Six.


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i would also reccomend the security six. but with high power loads the square wooden butt, it digs into your hand. i would reccomend a pair of hogue grips as theyre much more comfortable to shoot. but keep the wood grips just in case you want to sell it...
 
Yes indeed, a Police Service Six. I have 2 in 4 inch and 3inch plus an Sp101 and a 1894c

The 3 in carries better than the 101.
 
The GP is an excellent choice, be it 4" or 6"
(you said 'carry-in-the-event' not 'CCW carry'... even the 3" SP is a stretch weight/size for CCW, a GP100 is a OWB holster or shoulder rig carry gun)

I believe you will find a 6" a bit more shooter friendly at the range, and 2" difference matters not for at-home

look real hard at the old model S&W 6" k-frames (model 19 or model 66), very ergonomic, great DA triggers
(or older model pre-lock 686, next best thing to true k-frame)

same goes for the classic Colts, if you can find/afford 'em - a Diamondback if burning only 38s
or, as mentioned, Ruger DA "six" series
or an old model Dan Wesson

the Ruger single action Blackhawks are real nice also, but it sure sounds to me like DA is more in line with your interests

any/all of them 'travel' just fine, right along with that Marlin lever action
if/when disaster day arrives, load up that lever action 1st, and then load up those revolvers for backup

PS
I also own the 3" SP101 and marlin 1894c, my companion for 'em is a 6" model 66
(pair of 'em actually, but milady needs one to go with her '92 lever action 357 you know)
 
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wacki

I think you would do fine with your first choice: a GP-100 with a 4" barrel. An older Security Six with a 4" barrel would also be a fine choice given your requirements, however it would also be subject to availability. Slighty less versatile but no less practical would be a Ruger Blackhawk. It would make for a fine companion with your Marlin Model 1894C levergun.
 
The 6" GP100 Is very pleasant to shoot, especially with 158gr Magnums. I've had mine since '92, just picked up a 3" SP101 a few months ago and I too have a Marlin 1894, but could find one in 357 so I picked up one in 44 Mag.

With the 6" you pick up a lot more power over your 3" or the 4" under consideration.
http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/357mag.html
 
While a GP100 is a great revolver and I own one if you are considering carrying the revolver then I would go with a Ruger Six series revolver in either 3 or 4 inch barrel. Also there is the S&W model 19 too. Both are a lot easier to carry than the bigger GP100 or a S&W 686.
Good luck,
Howard
 
I think the 4" GP-100 is a great choice! Be sure to order a holster. Easy to put off until you need it one day and you don't have one that will fit the gun.

Another good choice might be the Ruger SP-101 in 22LR that has been announced since you have the personal defense scenario covered with the 357 mag SP. I am looking forward to handling one once they hit the stores, but it needs to be an improvement over the old one or I will stick with my Colts and Smiths. But then, I'll do that anyway pretty much as I can't imagine Ruger coming out with the rimfire that is as good as a S&W M17 or M18.
 
I think a 4" to 6" GP100 to be a good choice! The maximum most will want to wear in a hip holster is 4". Though I own a 3" GP100, I think the better choice for a 3" Ruger DA sixgun is the SP101, or one of the discontinued Speed Sixes, which are just a tiny bit under 3".

My single most-favored firearm is one of my 4" GP100 revolvers.
 
Ruger single sixs aren't made anymore and I've never seen one at the indy 1500 gun show. :-(
Click to expand...

Nobody is talking about the single six. We're recommending the Security Six, Police/Service Six, and Speed Six.

All of those guns are readily available on the used market. Just check GunBroker. The Security Six is the most common of the three guns.
 
I think a 4" GP would be too similar to your 3" SP. The 6" GP would give you more versatility and it would be a better hunting pistol if you ever wanted to use it that way.
 
I agree with what he said; the 4" won't give you much over the 3". I have 2", 3", 4" and 6" revolvers. The 3" and 4" are very comparable. The 6" gives (me) a lot more range - but is much bigger & heavier. The 2" fits in my pocket.

If you don't have any .22s, I would give it some thought. Shooting .22 gives you a ton of cheap practice. I shoot 100 to 200 rounds of .22 in a similar gun, then start shooting my high dollar ammo - with much, much better results than when I just start with the big stuff.

Realistically, you cannot go wrong with any of the suggestions on this thread. I have both S&W and Rugers and you can't go wrong with any of them (assuming you don't get a lemon or torn up gun).
 
wacki said:
Ruger single sixs aren't made anymore and I've never seen one at the indy 1500 gun show. :-(
Click to expand...

yeah, I know :(
problem is people keep asking this question on gun forums, we keep tellin' 'em old Ruger "sixes", and they up and listen
and now we can't find 'em either, cause those that have 'em don't sell 'em
oh well, ain't nothing wrong with the newer Rugers either


(yes, we did understand you meant the DA sixes, not the famous 22 rimfire single six)
 
I would go with a 6" GP100. I like the Six series and 4" GP100s, but you already have a 3" SP101 (my favorite revolver BTW), so why buy another .357 for an extra inch and one more shot?
 
wow6599 said:
I would go with a 6" GP100. I like the Six series and 4" GP100s, but you already have a 3" SP101 (my favorite revolver BTW), so why buy another .357 for an extra inch and one more shot?
Click to expand...
Handling dynamics. A 4" GP100 fills my hand like no other weapon, (except for another length GP100) yet I can still wear it in an IWB holster if I wish. Of course, I say this as a guy who has 3", 4", 5", and 6" GP100 sixguns. Were I to own only one GP100, as a companion to my 3.06" SP101, I might opt for more barrel than 4".
 
See if you like the balance and pointing qualities of the 6" GP-100. Some do, some don't.

If it's too big to carry in a natural disaster / emergency scenario I'm not sure I want it.
Click to expand...

A lot depends on how you holster it. Time was, some cops carried 6" revolvers all day, every day. The swivel holster was popular because it let the gun swing out of the way when sitting in the car, in the donut shop, etc... ;)
 
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