Standard Ruger GP100 or Match Champion

[RealGun]

I doubt the Match Champion will be around for long but that doesn't worry me much. My understanding is that the Match Champion is just a regular GP100 with a different barrel profile and a little more attention to detail. All of the internals should mix and match between the Match Champion and standard model.

The most serious parts issues I have had with Ruger are barrels and cylinders. It appears to me that the MC barrel is unique. I get the impression that Ruger doesn't make its own cylinders. They certainly hit a wall when a post production cylinder supply runs out. I don't know who does the contouring of the MC cylinder. One thing I know for sure is that I could not locate a new or used barrel for a 4" Service Six with "38 Special" stamping. It is out of production for 25 years or more.

 

[JSH1]

The most serious parts issues I have had with Ruger are barrels and cylinders. It appears to me that the MC barrel is unique. I get the impression that Ruger doesn't make its own cylinders. They certainly hit a wall when a post production cylinder supply runs out. I don't know who does the contouring of the MC cylinder. One thing I know for sure is that I could not locate a new or used barrel for a 4" Service Six with "38 Special" stamping. It is out of production for 25 years or more.

While the Match Champion has a unique barrel profile I assume it mounts to the frame in the same way as the standard barrel. I would have no issue putting a standard profile barrel on the Match Champion.

 

[pblanc]

I have a plain Jane blued GP100 4". I bought used years ago and I have had no issues with it. Mine has the original Lett Santoprene grip with wood insert side panels.

I have handled a few new GP100s with the Hogue rubber monogrip and I agree with those who dislike it. I think it sucks, personally. But the grip is easy to change out and Ruger is now selling the Lett style grips again. Altamont also makes them with a variety of wood insert designs.

I have shot a Match Champion once. I was not terribly impressed with it. I shot it less accurately than I do my GP100 but that may just have been due to my inexperience with a new pistol. The trigger action did not seem to be any better than on my old GP100.

The GP100 is pretty easy to take down and work on. I am no gunsmith but I have completely disassembled mine except for the cylinder. I polished up the action parts, cleaned up the trigger plunger spring channel, swapped out the hammer spring and trigger return spring, carefully stoned the sear surfaces of the hammer and trigger, and shimmed the trigger, hammer and the hammer dog. There is a good tutorial on how to do this on an SP101 and the action of the GP100 is basically identical.

I feel that the trigger on my revolver is not only better than the Match Champion I shot, but my friend's Colt Python as well.

 

[RealGun]

While the Match Champion has a unique barrel profile I assume it mounts to the frame in the same way as the standard barrel. I would have no issue putting a standard profile barrel on the Match Champion.

Well, personally I would rather not have a junkyard gun that was unmarketable. That sensibility is why I rejected used Service Six barrels stamped "357 Magnum" to go on a 38-only gun.