Ruger GP-100 vs SP-101 .357 for hiking

[AlfonsDeWolf]

I like very much how the SP frip flares laterally on the sides.

 

[AlfonsDeWolf]

Has anyone fired the heavy 180 gr B.B., Grizzly or 200 gr Corbon in the SP? What's it like?

 

[bhk]

When hiking out west, I carry the BB 180 hardcast in a full-lugged 3" barrel steel J-frame with handfilling closed-back grips. Certainly not for plinking or target practice, but quite doable for a few rounds. Should be even more shootable in a 101 with suitable grips

 

[MCMXI]

I have the following revolvers from Ruger and live/hike in bear country

KLCR - .357 Mag
KLCR - .357 Mag
SP101 3" - .357 Mag
GP100 3" - .357 Mag
GP100 4" - .357 Mag
Redhawk - .45 Colt
Blackhawk .45 Colt/.45 ACP
Blackhawk .45 Colt/.45 ACP
Super Redhawk .454 Casull

When hiking/hunting I carry one of my KLCRs with .357 Magnum loads, but I also carry a Remington 870 shotgun. I should be carrying bear spray but knowing my luck the wind would blow that crap back in my face!

 

[roscoe]

Has anyone fired the heavy 180 gr B.B., Grizzly or 200 gr Corbon in the SP? What's it like?

I have fired plenty of both (BB and DoubleTap 180 and 200 grain hardcasts) in my 3" SP101. I use Hogue grips and it is obviously hot, but the steel Ruger tames it reasonable well. Without the Hogues, my middle finger would get banged by the trigger guard. This is my black bear load, BTW.

 

[redbullitt]

My SP101 with the hogue grip is excellent! Definitely one of the favorites around here. Sold the GP100 as it was just too big to really get carried here. I liked it, but the size was just a bit of a turn off for what I do.

 

[AlfonsDeWolf]

Any crimp jump in the big hot n heavy hardcasts in the SP?

 

[amd6547]

I used to backpack a lot, and always carried something.
In general, I might have said the SP101...However, the 3" SP101 I owned did not shoot to POA, and I sold it.
My 3" GP shoots to POA. In fact, it's a revolver I can't seem to miss with. It also easily handles the heaviest loads I've found. So, I pick the GP100.

 

[Tallball]

The Hogues weren't big enough for me to get comfortable (luckily I was only out $10), but these hardwood ones from Thailand are pretty decent.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Depends on what you mean by "hiking." I've done most of the Appalachian Trail, mostly in 100-mile sections, the Horseshoe Trail in PA, the Flint River in GA and t he Ozark Highlands Trail in AR and MO.

After a few hundred miles, you will start paring down your load -- ounces count! I'd go with the lightest gun I could shoot well, and never expect to actually fire it on the trail.

 

[amd6547]

Yeah, I tried many different backpacking guns. For me, the best was a used Charter Arms off duty snub 38spl, which only weighed about one pound.
I got it pretty cheap, and it shot very well. I didn't mind it taking trail abuse.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I usually carry either a Colt Detective Special as a self-defense gun, or a Colt Woodsman to take the occasional squirrel or rabbit.

 

[MIL-DOT]

With Hogue rubber grips, shooting 357's with the SP101 isn't any serious handful whatsoever. But, it's much less of an anvil than the GP100 is, and is vastly more practical to tote when hiking.

 

[WYO]

Has anyone fired the heavy 180 gr B.B., Grizzly or 200 gr Corbon in the SP? What's it like?

I fired a few of the .357 magnum 180 grain Buffalo Bore hard cast out of a stock 3 inch SP101 and it was not a pleasant experience. It made me realize that I had better hit what I needed to on the first shot. I wound up carrying the +P 38 Special 158 grain LSWCHP that started at 1064 fps MV and was much more pleasant to shoot with reasonable speed.

 

[13Bravo]

I've had my sp 101 4 inch for about a month now. >357 with the stock grips had me flinching a bit. I'd have to really clamp down on it. Once I put the hogues on for a try recoil was no longer an issue and .357 is now a hoot to shoot.
I also was a little concerned with the out of the box trigger but decided to just shoot the heck out of it and dry fire the snot out it. One month later I'd say I'm certainly more intimate with the trigger but it has also smoothed itself out nicely and I'm not sure I'm gonna fool with it at all. Function has been 100%. And I think it's kinda pretty.

Good luck

 

[22-rimfire]

It really depends on what you mean by hiking as Vern H mentioned. Of the two and assuming I had to purchase new, I would go with the SP-101. But I own a 3" GP-100, and although heavier is a nice defensive woods gun. For day hikes, I carry whatever I feel like carrying... sometimes a 22LR, sometimes 357 mag, sometimes 38spl, sometimes 41 mag, and more often than not, nothing at all, just a camera. I seldom do long hikes anymore, but I would probably choose something like the LCRx in 38spl with 3" barrel today if buying new.

Like Vern, I sometimes carry a Colt Detective Special in a belt holster hiking. I like 22's and have a big selection of them. Of late, I like the Ruger LCR in 22LR.

 

[Desertrat357]

I own both a 2.25" SP, and a 3" GP. I enjoy both of them very much. The GP is my favorite of the two, however.

Like others have said, it depends on what type of hiking you are doing. If I am hunting big game, or just exploring new country, I will opt for the GP. When doing day hikes only, I don't get fatigued by carrying a 36-42 oz. revolver. Plus, with the hot stuff, the GP handles recoil so much better than its little brother.

On the other hand, if I am doing a backpacking trip, say a multiple day several mile trip, I will undoubtedly grab my SP. Because, it still has more than sufficient firepower for critter protection, but the weight savings is key.

I suppose the only proper answer here is: GET BOTH!

-DesertRat

 

[Manny]

I have both a 4.2" SP101 & a 4.2" GP100 Match Champion. Going off Ruger specs that list the GP as weighing 38oz & the SP at 29.5oz the difference is about half a pound, a bit more if you get a regular GP. Though I like the slightly trimmer size & weight of the SP for carrying I find I far prefer the GP for shooting. With my stout bullhide belt and a decent synthetic holster I don't find the GP to be much of a burden to carry for the amount of walking I do, which these days is not a tremendous distance. My pick would be the GP but YMMV.

 

[Macchina]

I have a 4.2" SP101 and carry it with the Hogue Monogrips. It's a fantastic carry gun if you think you'll be shooting it (such as hiking during deer season) but even the SP101 is a bit heavy to carry hiking. I wouldn't even dream of carrying the GP101 when the SP101 shoots the same round so well. I Carry it with 158gr XTP loaded to safe max (Lyman's 17th edition H110 load) and get almost 1300 FPS. Recoil is definer there but not at all unmanageable. Blast is significant.

Having said all that: I now hike with my Ruger LCR in 357. It is PERFECT for hiking. It weighs less than 1.5 pounds loaded with a leather holster and I can shoot it very accurately, especially with laser grips. There is something special about the LCR that makes follow-up shots surprisingly fast and accuracy at less than 15 yards comes quite naturally after some practice. It is a very refined revolver that disappears on your belt and can easily be worn all day in the woods.

 

[Macchina]

Last Spring Turkey season (I also had my 870). Running in the woods I would be quite weighed down with something heavy on my belt. The LCR fit right in!

 

[stoky]

back country safety tip:

KLCR - .357 Mag
KLCR - .357 Mag
SP101 3" - .357 Mag
GP100 3" - .357 Mag
GP100 4" - .357 Mag
Redhawk - .45 Colt
Blackhawk .45 Colt/.45 ACP
Blackhawk .45 Colt/.45 ACP
Super Redhawk .454 Casull
When hiking/hunting I carry one of my KLCRs with .357 Magnum loads, but I also carry a Remington 870 shotgun.

If you decide to carry that many guns, avoid deep water.

 

[ThomasT]

I know you asked about the Sp 101 and GP 100 and are worried about the weight. Have you thought about a used Security Six. The 4" model I have weighs 34oz. Right between the 101 and the GP 100. There still seems to be a decent selection on GB and new ones pop up all the time.

I have all three of them and really like the security six.