just got new gp100

[standingbear]

picked up a stainless version,6 inch barrel((5 or 6)i like to have a redhawk in 357 but since i cannot,i just bought a new gp100 (@419.00)instead.got it home and shot it already.good gun.whats the best loads?i like the rubber over wood grips,they are large enough to fit my hand just perfectly.lol,now my stainless redhawk 44 mag has a little brother.

 

[JohnKSa]

My GP100 likes the Fiocchi 142 grain FMJTC ammo.

The stuff looks strange, but shoots well.

 

[P95Carry]

Best loads?? HOMELOADS!

My son has the 6" GP100 and when we shoot together, he often uses the stuff i load for my M27 .... and also put thru my Win94. His factory stuff (3D I think) .. is puny ... and IMO most ineffectual. Seems these days, most .357 mag factory ammo is loaded down .. compared with old days .. no use to me at all, except to get some brass for reloads!!

I load with 14 grains of Vit N-110 behind Lyman 158 swc gas check bullet ..... not a max load but, very ''useful''.

 

[Jim March]

OK. My nominees for the various "best factory loads" for various tasks in THIS gun (6" barrel GP100):

Best load for defense against *dangerous* animals (black bear, boar, Griz only in a DIRE situation when there's nothing else left): Cor-Bon 200grain hardcast @ 1,250fps or so. Reason: major penetration, big power.

Best deer hunting load: Georgia Arms "Deerstopper", 158grain JHP hunting load at close to 1,500fps. Based on the XTP projectile, it's a "deep punch" expanding hunting load.

Best personal defense load: this is the big controversy. My pick: the Proload 158grain Gold Dot personal defense load, rated 1,200fps from a 4", figure another 100fps in a 6" tube. Why? Because I'm concerned about some of the various hot defensive JHPs going "too fast" in a long tube, and breaking up too much. The Gold Dot projectile resists breaking up because the jacket is bonded to the lead "chemically", and the 158grain version is going slower than the 125grain Gold Dots so out of a 6" tube, it's less likely to fly apart at 6" velocities. The 155grain 10mm load at similar energy levels has produced some spectacular expansion effects so I would hope the somewhat similar 158grain 357 would do likewise.

The other advantage: the momentum of the 158s let you make the "pelvis cracker" shot, to drop somebody armed with a knife/club/etc in their tracks.

Why Proload? Others may be loading the 158grain Gold Dot as a personal defense solution, but their rep for quality control is excellent.

 

[caz223]

I like 158 grain magtech.
The best? Prolly not.
Pretty darn good for the money, though...

 

[JohnK]

i like to have a redhawk in 357 but since i cannot,i just bought a new gp100

Sure you can! You just have to be really really really patient until you find one. I only waited 10 years between seeing one and buying one.

Best loads will vary from gun to gun, you'll have to experiment to find what's best for your gun. My GP100 likes 158-173 gr hard cast bullets best, but does fine with hot 125 gr JHP's.

 

[standingbear]

thanks

ill try some of the various loads recommended and see which one i like.got this gun for handy gun to take with me groundhog hunting.been a bunch of coyotes tearing things up back there-also for a general fun plinker.i have hunted groundhogs with the ruger old model 357 i used to own.is fun and challenging.357 mag big nuff for wild pigs?p. s. i have seen some nice 357 redhawks in stainless recently but way way too expensive.this gp100 has the resemblance.thanks