After nearly seven years of wedded bliss, I caught her red-handed! Red-handed at the range, that is. At my insistence, my lukewarm-to-guns wife had just fired six rounds from my tiny, palm-punishing Kel-Tec .380. Her hand hurt and her face grimaced, and it seemed as though tears weren’t far behind. Our day at the range – and any budding interest she had in firearms – was in serious jeopardy. I had to act fast . . .
To the rental counter I ran, with the voice of Dirty Harry himself resonating in my ears: “You’ve got to ask yourself one question, punk: What’s the biggest, heaviest handgun your wife can run a decent self-defense round through and still have an enjoyable shooting experience?” I didn’t feel lucky, but luck shined upon me anyway. The magnum force answer that saved the day? The Ruger GP-100.
Second-rate status, blue-collar provenance and XL dimensions aside, the GP-100 absolutely hits a grand slam in the appearance department, delivering perfect hand cannon aesthetics. Although it’s available in classic blued steel, you’d be nuts not to come off the extra cheese ($75) for the satin stainless finish, which contrasts beautifully with the Hogue ® Monogrip’s ® black rubbery goodness.
In four-inch guise, the GP-100, with its full under-lug barrel and shrouded ejector rod, has just the right looks to make gun owners giddy and bad guys incontinent. According to my wife, “I feel safe just looking at it . . . it’s big, powerful, and easy to use in a stressful situation.”
The one place where you will want to dance with the Ruger GP-100 is on the firing line. When I returned from the rental counter with this shooting-day-savior, my wife agreed to fire it “just once” before she washed her hands of the whole scene. I dropped in six re-loaded .38 Special wadcutters and handed it over. Instead of experiencing wrist-walloping recoil, my dearest was delighted to find that it a) kicked like a pellet gun, and b) gave her a sub-five-inch group at 21 feet. Not bad for a first-timer.
Though my wife generally stuck to shooting .38s, I longed for a Magnum fix. I proceeded to run through a bevy of different .357 FMJs. After getting used to the (considerable) difference in noise, I quickly realized that the combination of an excellent ergonomic design, good weight distribution, and a huge chunk of rubber in my paws made for recoil that wasn’t off-putting in the least.
Two hundred rounds later, I honestly believe that it kicks less than my S&W Third Generation .40-caliber semi-auto. (It kicks a lot less than my Kel-Tec .380.) Even with the hotter stuff, muzzle flip was miniscule, and neither my wrists nor my hands ever declared discomfort. With these types of firing dynamics, tight groups should be just around the corner, no?
No. First of all, the sights were off (the groups were consistently down and to the right). After I fixed that, things were good as long as I stayed in the seven-to-ten yard range. When I moved the target out to 15 yards, the black-ramp front sight kept getting lost against the B-27 target’s black background in the indoor range’s dim light. Incidentally, Smith & Wesson makes a red-ramp front sight standard on all Smith & Wesson 686s. Why Ruger doesn’t – and instead sells one as $15 accessory – is a real mystery. Would an extra fifteen bucks really keep anyone from buying this gun?
Would Obama go hunting with Dick Cheney? Lots of folks choose the Ruger GP-100 as a cheaper alternative to Smith’s 686. Both .357 Magnums are medium-to-large frame double-action revolvers with full-sized grips and a choice of several barrel lengths (three, four, and six inches in the Ruger’s case). Both the 686 and the GP-100 have adjustable front and rear sights (except for the three-inch GP-100). Both weigh about the same.
The big difference: quality. The several hundred dollars more you’ll spend on the Smith provides a smoother trigger and parts that generally fit together more precisely. If a few rough edges and a merely average trigger aren’t a big deal, the Ruger makes a compelling case for you to save some green and pocket a very good revolver—that will never fit in your pocket.
Easy to use? Yes. Easy to carry? Well, that depends on whether or not Detective Callahan’s shoulder rig is an option for you. Not to say that the GP-100 can’t be concealed, but unless you’re an anorexic supermodel with a tape worm, inside-the-pants carry is simply not gonna happen. Neither is inside-the-pocket carry. Inside-the-purse carry doesn’t seem feasible, either, though this piece may fit in your car’s glove box.
Probably, your best bet for carrying this big .357: a belt holster. But not a cheap one. Smaller, lighter guns are more tolerant of a wide variety of belt holsters; larger, heavier guns like this are famously fickle. Buy a cheap nylon job from Walmart and the big Ruger will flail around your hip like the world’s deadliest lap dancer. Not to say it’s that much better in the accuracy department when you unholster the beast.
I blame the trigger. It’s not that it’s bad; it’s just . . . average. Revolvers like this tend to have heavy double-action triggers that offer a lot of initial resistance, stack a great deal as the hammer comes up, and then smooth out just before the hammer drops. The best revolvers (Performance Center S&Ws, old Colts, and, to a slightly lesser extent, the S&W 686) defy that stereotype by exhibiting lower initial effort and less stacking.
Unfortunately, the Ruger GP-100 is not one of these. Like many Ruger revolvers, this one has a little “hitch” immediately prior to the sear release. It’s not terrible. But it’s not helpful, either. Even though I could shoot relatively tight groups with .357s and make ragged holes with .38s at distances under 15 yards, everything I did past that point was just this side of pathetic. On a brighter note, the GP-100′s single-action trigger, though not what you would call crisp, was light and predictable. It yielded results that made me and my look like pros.
The GP-100 isn’t a class leader. But many of its shortcomings can be addressed by good ol’ capitalism. Don’t like the rough edges around the inside of the frame? Harbor Freight sells a five-dollar needle file set. Think that nasty double-action trigger can’t get any smoother? Your local gunsmith and Ben Franklin say otherwise.
Several sighting options – conventional, light-gathering, and laser – can make the low-light target acquisition problem go away (how far away depends on your wallet). Also, the constraints of using a revolver for self defense become at least a little less daunting when you invest in a good speed loader (though the big rubber grips get in the way a bit).
Speaking of grips, I’m sure someone molds them in pink if that’s your thing. And now that we’re back to aesthetics, is there any better-looking canvas on which to create all manner of awesomeness? Have a look at RF’s new Gemini Custom Ruger SP101. Grant Cunningham also takes the GP-100 to a whole new level, both style- and action wise. Yes, for the price of a Smith & Wesson Model 686, you can bring your Ruger GP-100 to the Smith’s level of quality (or completely bling it out with accessories and customizations galore).
But, for just the price of a Ruger GP-100, you can have a good (if not great) revolver right out of the box. And a happy wife who likes shooting it. In my case, that seemed to be the best value. Was a post-tax total of $572 worth having a better half who actually wants to go to the range with me? You bet it was.
Specifications
Model: Ruger GP-100
Action type: Double action/single action revolver
Caliber: .357 Magnum and .38 Special
Capacity: 6-round cylinder
Barrel length: 4.0″
Overall length: 9.5″
Weight: 40.0 oz.
Grips: Black Hogue ® Monogrip ®
Sights: Black ramp front (adjustable for windage) and black blade (with white outline) rear (adjustable for windage and elevation)
Finish: Satin Stainless Steel
Current Value: $729 Suggested Retail, $572 out-the-door at my local retailer
RATINGS
(Out of five stars)
Style * * * * *
Do handguns look better than this?
Ergonomics (carry) * *
If you regularly carry this, you probably drive an armored truck or spend a lot of time in the woods.
Ergonomics (firing) * * * *
Handles recoil like Bill Clinton handles a young lady’s objections. One star deducted for a slightly-harsh trigger and Ruger’s front-sight cheap-out.
Reliability * * * * *
Not only is it an unbelievably robust revolver, but it doesn’t have Smith & Wesson’s annoying, failure-prone internal lock, utilizing instead a long-ass conventional pad lock that you run through one of the cylinder bores. K.I.S.S. engineering at its finest.
Customize This * * *
Given what it is, holster and laser/light options are a bit limited. Still, there’s enough to keep you interested and help tailor the weapon to your particular needs.
OVERALL RATING * * * *
The best dog you’ll ever own ain’t an American Kennel Club champion; it’s the decidedly average mutt you adopted from the pound. Why? Because of core competencies, baby. Despite some significant shortcomings, he’s really, really good at just being a dog. The Ruger GP100 is really good at just being a big-ass, crap-your-pants-intimidating, rock-solid revolver.
It’s a shame Ruger won’t reintroduce the Police Service Six and Speed Six line. The GP was such a jump to the clunky from such a handy and user friendly “Six” line. They sat lower naturally in the hand and with use had a fairly smooth trigger. I just picked up my 2nd Service Six, from the 80′s, as my mom confiscated my first one-also a 4” model, for her own use. If you look at the video, you’ll see how the Misses has room to spare to bring that web of the hand up further-just as she is snatching the trigger. Surprise her one day and mix some empty casings in the cylinder-she’ll catch herself doing it. If S&W can’t get their revolvers to be dependable-I say no buy. I won’t risk my life on a failure by design. This is the same reason I wouldn’t buy an AR variant until piston variations were out.
Recently purchased a 3″ stainless version for my mom. I go 6′ 3″, 265 lbs. I shot the beast before I gave it to her – my first time with a .357. The recoil and noise surprised me. Fun, but I didn’t know how she would handle it. Mother is a tiny filipina. She wanted a home protection gun, and liked the Judge because of the large grip. I vetoed that because of the lackluster performance of the rounds it would chamber. We tried my autos. Typical problems arose – couldn’t safely or reliably rack the slide, too much to remember… She was pumped when I showed up with the GP100, and it showed. She was on paper immediately with .38 specials. We switched to .357′s, and she continued hitting exactly where she had been. She didn’t really even notice a difference.
Moral of the story? A rock solid, point-and-pull revolver is always the best choice for a beginning handgunner. The GP100 is most certainly that.
Is my favorite shooter amongst my handguns.
Is what I will be using as I test the waters of USPSA competition at local club I recently joined.
Stainless GP100 with 4″ inch barrel.
It shoots fine.
I like it.
Excellent review, exactly right. For a gentle range or home defense handgun, you cannot beat a big, heavy .357 revolver loaded with .38s, possibly +Ps. And nobody does big and heavy quite like Ruger.
Nice report, Don! Great pics, too.
The Ruger GP100 is a great revolver. The Smith and Wesson 686 is a greater revolver, and the stupid internal lock is easily removed. I wouldn’t feel naked carrying either the Ruger or the S&W, even though I freely admit to being a Smith weenie.
It’s not often that I read the phrase black rubbery goodness and it’s referring to something positive.
Oh, I almost forgot; Excellent review. Thanks!
That Dog Can Hunt. Carry for me is not a problem, it just has to travel well in the car, not to be left alone too long in the sun.
While I’ve got a 686 myself, there’s nothing ‘second-rate’ about the GP-100. The Ruger double-action revolver pattern is a true modern classic, and over the last four decades it has proven itself incredibly versatile and virtually indestructible.
Gunsmiths may frequently tune up GP-100s, but they rarely have to fix them.
I’ve never gotten the chance to shoot this beauty but have always been interested. I imagine it’s very comfortable to shoot. At least relatively.
BTW, I noticed that this article is in the gear review section and not the gun review.
I own a GP100 also. Yes, in DA mode, you can feel the little tick-tick when the cylinder locks into place just before the hammer drops.
I actually find that point useful in staging the DA trigger pull. Haul that trigger back, tick-tick, recheck the front sight, another couple ounces of pressure and off she goes.
I occasionally think of putting in a spring kit, then I decide that the money’s better spent on more practice ammo.
Speaking of .357, does anyone have a source for Speer .357 ammo with the 125gr Gold Dot HP bullet? I believe their part number is 53920 for the box of 50. Can’t find it anywhere. Thanks.
“useful in staging the DA trigger pull”… ahhhhhhHHHHH!! My ears, by bloody ears… no staging! Learn DA and learn it forever. It doesn’t take (too) much practice to learn how to shoot accurately (even out to 75-yards) with a DA pull. Snap caps and/or dry firing is your friend, staging will set you up for terrible inconsistencies.
I have to agree. Even though I wasn’t fond of the GP100′s trigger, and even though it was rather easy/predictable to stage, I always got better results without staging it.
Ammobank.com shows it in stock, as does CheaperThanDirt.com
A 4″ gp100 is my first handgun and I couldn’t have made a better choice. I got mine used but unfired for about half the cost of a smith 686. It is made like a tank and I cannot imagine what I would have to do to break it. My only concern is that after about 100 rounds the pin for the rear sight works its way out to the right… a few drops of loctite should fix it but I have not tried yet. I have about a thousand rounds of .357 and 4-500 of .38s through it and it has yet to complain, malfunction, or even have a light primer strike.
My biggest issue with the gun was the plain black front post. I have since switched it out for a fiber optic and it is so much easier to shoot. It draws your eyes right to the front sight.
The trigger has only got better with use… after ~1500 rounds and twice as many dry fires it has smoothed out a bit. I think it is significantly better both single and double action than my best friends sig sauer 226. The double action is smoother and the cylinder clicking into place gives a perfect warning for staging the trigger. In single action is has less take-up and over travel vs the sig and generally feels very crisp.
Now I just need to figure out what to get to carry. The gp100 is almost impossible to conceal without a winter jacket.
Have any of you guys/gals ever tried out the most excellent Ruger Police Service Six/Security Six (with adjustable sights)/Speed Six (round butt/snub nose version)? This I believe, is the finest revolver ever made by Bill Ruger. It naturally sits low for better alignment and control. They stopped manufacture in the 80′s to make the GP100. Today, mint Service Six’s are sought after like old Colt Detective Specials. They fit all K frame holsters and speedloaders are still avaailable for them.
I have the GP100 in the 3in version , had a trigger job done on it. It is better than my S&W 28-357.
I’d have to say, a Ruger with a Cunningham action job is going to kick the pants off of a stock S&W. Of course, you can work on the Smith, too.
Just bought my wife a GP-100 4″ for the same reasons as the writer, and so far, I have come to the same conclusions. My wife had a Walther PK-380, which is a fine little self-defense gun, but admittedly show lackluster performance. After a few jams at the range, she lost confidence in her Walther, and wanted a revolver. So we replaced the Walther with the GP-100, and she feels much better. She has never even shot .38s out of it… Just magnum rounds, and the felt recoil is minimal for a .357.
I own several Rugers, both rifles and pistols, and do not understnad where they get their “second rate” classification. In my opinion, they are one of the finest American guns on the market, regardless of caliber or model. My Mini-14 easily holds a 3″ group at 300 yards (on a windless day) in the sled, and we all know the capabilities of the Mark II and Mark III. The GP-100 fits right in, performing above all of my expectations! Keep it up, Ruger, and I will never own another gun (except maybe Colt!).
After carrying my GP 100 4″ for a number of years in a belt holster for bear protection in the fall of the year on our Ranch, I decided to look for something better. Tried a Galco VHS Shoulder System and it works great—a little pricy from the factory in Phoenix—but can be found cheeper from dealers with a web search. Can concealed carry with just a lite over shirt on when I go to town but I am a big person.
My GP 100 shoots good and is just the proper size for my use. Ruger made a very good pistol. Would not trade it for a S&W.
I’ve read Don’s review of the Ruger GP-100 .357 Magnum, and Chris’s review of the Smith & Wesson Performance Center Model 686, but how would you guys compare the Ruger GP-100 to a standard (non-Performance Center) S&W 686 Plus in the .357 Magnum? I am leaning towards the S&W for trigger action and resale value, but have some concerns about the internal lock failures. I’d love to hear your experienced judgment on which gun you would buy.
the sights were off (the groups were consistently down and to the right)
My recently acquired 357 is a classic Dan Wesson model 15. Firing 357 magnum loads the DW15 shoots true to its sights. Firing 38 wadcutters it shoots 3-4 inches high of its point of aim. This is at 25 feet.
Apparently this difference is due to how quickly the bullet exits the barrel i.e. the quicker it exits the less the muzzle has flipped up.
I was in the market for a GP100, and was trying to decide on a 4″ or 6″. Boy what a decision. I have had numerous revolvers in both length’s over the years. After reading all the different reviews I was more confused than ever. So to somone else with the same problem, here is the answer: Get what YOU like. I decided to go with the 6″ because 1. I thought it looked better 2. I like the longer sight plane of the extended barrel 3. I thought it balanced out better 4. I thought it looked better 5. I thought it looked better (sorry). This will not be used for CCW, just plain ole shooting and as all the other of my weapons (home defense). I have always been a Smith guy when it came to revolvers. But in my opinion Smith is going to price themselves out of business. The GP100 is great and you can’t beat the price for quality. Also I got the stainless. If the hammer spur had been just a smige wider would have been great. Thanks Don for a great review, and to all the others for their reviews as this helped in the decision.