Ruger SP101 or GP100

[Pat Cannon]

The SP101 will take whatever you care to dish out. The GP100 will take more, but I think that will only matter if you want to handload dinosaur-killer ammo.

My everyday carry gun is an SP101. As far as grips & recoil goes: shooting .357 Magnum is a little rough -- I went out and bought the Hogue Monogrip the day after I first took it to the range. I've read online where other people say .357 from the SP101 with stock grips is no problem -- they are tougher than me. Certainly, .357 from the SP101 is WAY less painful, I can tell you from experience, than from a 14-ounce alloy snubby.

I just got a GP100. I only got it because I need a 6-shooter if I want to shoot revolver in IDPA. I like it, but it's quite a chunk of steel to carry. There's no way it'll relace my SP101 for that. And my GP100 is a 3" barrel bobbed hammer model, which must be the lightest one there is.

 

[kmrcstintn]

I currently own one of each; the GP-100 has a 6" barrel, but I have owned several 4" variants before; while I consider the GP-100 to hefty for CCW I have used hem for woods carry and scouting

the SP-101 has a 3" barrel and fits the gap between hunting sidearm (GP100) and CCW (S&W 642); it will handle magnums well and offers a size and weight that is conducive to CCW (unless you're wearing a Speedo)

for CCW dedicated, go with the SP101; if CCW is a smaller protion of a larger multifacted fate, then a 3" used GP-100 might fit the bill well for you

 

[Confederate]

I see the GP-100 and the SP-101 as extremes. A perfect in-between gun is a Ruger Speed- or Security-Six w/2.75-inch barrel. It gives users the benefit of six full rounds without weighing them down. They can still be found for reasonable prices and, like I've said ad nausium, they're also great camp guns, trail guns, kit guns, etc.

All the Rugers are very popular.

 

[SAWBONES]

The SP101 with the 2.25" barrel is the ideal compact CCW revolver IMNSHO, as long as it's carried in a holster. (It's not a pocket or ankle gun.) I carry one daily, and have two of them. AFAIC, there's no better choice for a revolver which you intend to carry and to shoot when loaded with full power .357 Magnum loads.
OTOH, if you really only intend to shoot and carry .38 Special+P loads, you can go lots lighter with one of the J-frame Smiths.

The GP100, even with the 3" barrel, is bigger than it needs to be for CCW, but is certainly a nice-shooting revolver. Mine has the 6" barrel.

 

[Thor Bloodax]

GP100 accuracy

My GP100 3" shoots great. The grip fits my hand perfectly and with full house loads recoil is very manageable. See pic below. The Ruger GP100 target is 30 rounds rapid fire double action, 158 grain jhp with 15 grains of Unique powder.

 

[Geister]

Why not reach a compromise and go with an old Security Six or Speed Six?