Ruger GP-100 questions.

[albanian]

I just bought a Ruger GP-100 with the non-underlug bbl. It has the spurless hammer and I was wondering if I can put on a new hammer with a spur.

Do the new GP-100 hammers fit these older GPs? Mine in one of those police trade ins that are on the market right now. Will a spur hammer be able to be shot in SA and DA mode like a normal revolver or were there some modifications that made the spurless hammer DA only? The way it is now, the hammer will not cock on SA mode even if you thumb it back. I assume they filed off the SA notch but I don't know whether the SA notch is on the hammer or some other part.

BTW, it is a very handy size and weight (4" bbl SS).

 

[jdmb03]

From what I've heard Ruger won't sell you the hammer. You will have to send in the gun to them and they will convert it back to sa/da.

The GP100 is a great gun. I have the SS 3" full lug model.

Good luck!

 

[Oracle]

Does anyone know where these GP-100's are for sale (CDNN, AIM, etc.)? I've been looking for something like that and would love to find one.

 

[jdmb03]

I have seen them for sale at the local Gander Mountain. You might also try the online gun auctions.

 

[Jim March]

Safest bet is to send it back to Ruger. You can buy hammers from Brownell's and they'll PROBABLY drop in, but the sear/trigger engagement is often "custom" to each set.

 

[Mastrogiacomo]

OK, maybe I should have asked the question here -- didn't see this post. I was hoping to get a couple of GP100s in a 3" -- one in each finish after I get the New Single Six and Bisley Vaquero. Someone told me according to the folks on the Ruger forum, they've had some issues with this gun. I've never heard of that before recently and from all other souces, it seems it's just a great gun. What have I missed?

 

[fallingblock]

That's news to me, too....

Mastrogiacomo.

My new GP-100 is a beauty. It's a 4" stainless with fixed sights, so should be very similar to the 3" you are seeking.

Timing, lock-up, fit and finish are all top notch, far better than the last new S&W I bought.

What is the nature of the "issues" you've heard about?

 

[444]

The GP100 is very easy to take down to the frame, so you could/should take it apart and see what parts have been modified. If you don't know what the parts are supposed to look like or don't know how to disassemble the revolver, you can get a free manual from Ruger. Replacing the parts would be very simple, assuming they don't need to be fitted.
Personally, I would tear it apart and check it out just for my own knowlege and enjoyment. I would then send it back to Ruger and have them fix it right.


There are self proclaimed experts all over the internet that can find some issue with anything. Personally, I can't find a single thing to complain about with the Ruger GP100. It is a fantastic handgun. To me, it was so close to perfect that even after several years, I shoot it just as it came from the box. I even love the factory stocks.

 

[Mastrogiacomo]

@Fallingblock

The person didn't say beyond that the gun had some issues that they'd hope it would be worked out -- according to what he read on the Ruger forum. I myself have always heard about this being a great gun so I was rather surprised. I still intend to buy it because I just think it's the best 3" magnum out there, especially for the price. S&Ws are wondeful too but considerably more expensive and unlike Ruger, they've discontined the blue models.

 

[Gary A]

Mastrogiacomo - I have not heard of issues with the 3 inch GP but I had purchased a 3 inch short underlug version that I was not entirely happy with. It was very pretty and shot just fine but it seemed a bit "mushy" to me in the way it locked up and the trigger was just "different" than my other GPs. I never got used to it. It was lighter than most but I guess I am just too used to the GP trigger. I thought the cylinder had too much play from the get go and thought I would have to have something done to it. Then I found one of the CAI imported versions that was a bit of an ugly duckling but put together like a Swiss bank vault so the CAI version ended up replacing the other one which was a nice gun but just never quite suited me. I would like to have a full lug 3 inch just 'cause I like the way they look (especially in blue) and the ones I have seen have seemed just fine to me. Still, to me the 4 inch half lug GP100 is the Cat's Meow of the fixed sight GP100s so I am in no big hurry to find another 3 incher.

 

[albanian]

I did take it apart but I was not able to tell what part had been modified. I compared the hammer to the one from my Ruger Speed Six and they looked so similar, I decided to try and swap them. They won't quite work but they do drop in and almost work.

BTW, I just saw an add for these same guns in S.O.G.'s flyer. They have them for $199! I got mine at Gander Mountain and paid $100 more than that! :banghead: