Ruger GP-100 question

PPQ226guy · March 13, 2013, 11:23 AM

Hi All,

Just a quick, revolver newbie question about the GP-100...

I know they are very robust, but is there any difference in strength between the blued and stainless models?

Thanks in advance!

Venom1956 · March 13, 2013, 11:25 AM

Just the metal its made of. Any other specifics?

PPQ226guy · March 13, 2013, 11:29 AM

^^^^^ Thanks!

Its a 4" full lug. The fired round package has a Feb. 11, 2013 date on it and I bought it today.

warningshot · March 13, 2013, 03:59 PM

Any GP 100s test fired in February needs to sent to my house for further evaluation. Make sure to include a couple hundered rounds and package of beef jerky. I'll supply the soda.

Ferretboy · March 13, 2013, 04:26 PM

I have the 6", trust me your gonna love the gun, Just wish I could carry it everywhere i went, like some people do their dogs.

PPQ226guy · March 13, 2013, 04:48 PM

Thanks to all. I rarely see a blued one so I picked it up. Seems it will take hot loads as wella as a stainless model... I hope!

Kreyzhorse · March 13, 2013, 07:00 PM

Fear not. With a little care that gun should last a lifetime or more.

Enjoy it.

PPQ226guy · March 13, 2013, 08:13 PM

^^^^ Thanks! Look slike I'll be placing an order with Buffalo Bore this evening

CDR_Glock · March 13, 2013, 08:21 PM

I love my 6" barrel in stainless. Handles well. Very accurate.

WNY_Whitetailer · March 13, 2013, 08:32 PM

Love my 6" full lug stainless as well...I would have done the same as you. They are heavy but built like tanks.

fallingrock71 · March 13, 2013, 08:40 PM

I think you'd hurt yourself long before you hurt your gp100. Congrats on your purchase. I'm still kicking myself for not buying the exact gp100 I've been on the lookout for. My second favorite local gun shop had one. It was thirty bucks more than what my favorite local gun shop asked for them when they had them. Keywords: WHEN THEY HAD THEM. That night I said to myself I said "Self, it's only thirty bucks. Your bar tab often exceeds that. Get back there tomorrow after work and buy it ya big dummy!" Of course a wiser man had beaten me to it

Enjoy it!

**JohnKSa** · March 13, 2013, 10:19 PM

I have no way to verify the veracity of this comment, nor do I have any idea if it applies to the GP100 line.

That said, many years ago, I was talking with a fellow shooter and he mentioned that he had managed to destroy a Ruger Redhawk revolver with a badly constructed handload. Ruger offered to replace the gun at factory cost in spite of the fact that it was clearly (and admittedly) the shooter's fault. The customer service rep suggested that the shooter choose a blued Redhawk because he stated that the blued steel alloy that they used was somewhat stronger than the stainless steel alloy used in that gun.

Interestingly enough, around the same time, I came across some technical data for Beretta pistols, and they claimed that their stainless steel was about 30% stronger than the blued steel they used in their pistols. Just mentioned that to point out that there are a lot of variables. It's a mistake to assume that a statement like the one made by the Ruger customer service rep can be taken as a general truth applying to all items made from blued steel or stainless steel.

Prof · March 13, 2013, 10:47 PM

I've owned several Ruger revolvers and loved them. Just got my first GP-100 and am having trouble with the trigger not returning after pull. Have to nudge it forward again with my finger. Doesn't happen every time, only once in a while. I e-mailed Ruger and they said to send it back in.

First problem I've had with one of their guns but I'm sure they'll make it right.

Cheapshooter · March 13, 2013, 10:58 PM

I have a 6" full lug blued GP100. I really prefer a 4", but couldn't pass on this one. Great gun. Strong, and accurate.

Jim March · March 13, 2013, 11:05 PM

There are two practical differences.

The stainless gun won't rust as easily. Duh.

The blue gun however has an advantage if you ever want to swap the barrel over for a caliber conversion. A blue setup is easier to unscrew without ruining the threads on either the frame or barrel. Unscrewing a stainless setup is iffy because they can "gall"...basically the threads can become useless.

Note the words "can". But this is why you see more caliber conversions on blued Ruger single actions than stainless, and why I bought my 2005-era New Vaquero in blue as a 357Magnum knowing that as a tinkerer I was likely to one day swap barrels. I did it, too...it's now a true 9mm (.355" spec, Douglas Premium blank).

iraiam · March 14, 2013, 06:18 PM

I have a blued GP-100 w/6" heavy underbarrel, even max 158 grain loads are a pleasure to shoot from it.

PPQ226guy · March 14, 2013, 08:09 PM

Thanks to everyone for the feedback. Feeling better about my blued GP by the minute.

peacefulgary · March 14, 2013, 09:31 PM

I love mine!

rrruger · March 15, 2013, 06:08 AM

Quote:

I've owned several Ruger revolvers and loved them. Just got my first GP-100 and am having trouble with the trigger not returning after pull. Have to nudge it forward again with my finger. Doesn't happen every time, only once in a while. I e-mailed Ruger and they said to send it back in. First problem I've had with one of their guns but I'm sure they'll make it right.

The trigger return spring fits in a drilled channel. I bet the channel has a metal shaving or a burr that is causing the spring to bind up. Removing the trigger group and checking the spring is about a ten minute job and takes only one screw driver to remove the grip panels.

sandbag · March 15, 2013, 09:23 AM

I can tell you I have fired a lot of 125 gr JHP out of my GP100 with zero issues-I wouldn't do that with my Model 19 S&W or my Python.The old S&W N frames are no sweat with hot rounds either(27&28).The Rugers aren't small,but they are rugged to a fault-FWIW they also have the most naturally intuitive cylinder release-the Smiths aren't as good with the need to push forward and forget Colt-pulling the release back is unnatural under stress.

kimbers rule · March 15, 2013, 08:09 PM

I have a 4" gp100 and I love it. I dont think you'll be able to wear yours out. Unless you can afford alot of buffalo bore ammo i guess. Still doubt it though. You'll be happy with it im sure.

magnum777 · March 15, 2013, 10:43 PM

I have a blued GP 100, it works great and have never given me any problems in 3 years.

PPQ226guy · March 15, 2013, 11:34 PM

Thanks for all the great replies! Just ordered a replacement front sight with the red insert.

Rogervzv · March 16, 2013, 12:08 PM

I happened to go with the stainless GP100 simply because that was what was available. But that Blued GP100 sure looks cool. You are going to love the revolver, believe me.

After several thousand rounds my GP100 is better than new.

March 13, 2013, 11:23 AM	#1
PPQ226guy Senior Member Join Date: February 4, 2012 Location: Alabama Posts: 101	Ruger GP-100 question Hi All, Just a quick, revolver newbie question about the GP-100... I know they are very robust, but is there any difference in strength between the blued and stainless models? Thanks in advance!

March 13, 2013, 11:25 AM	#2
Venom1956 Senior Member Join Date: October 4, 2008 Location: WI Posts: 3,656	Just the metal its made of. Any other specifics? __________________ E-Shock rounds are engineered to expend maximum energy into soft targets, turning the density mass into an expanding rotational cone of NyTrilium matrix particles, causing neurological collapse to the central nervous system.- Yeah I can do that. I guarantee you will know it if a bicyclist hits your house going 1000 mph. -Smaug

March 13, 2013, 03:59 PM	#4
warningshot Senior Member Join Date: October 7, 2009 Posts: 995	Bad news. Any GP 100s test fired in February needs to sent to my house for further evaluation. Make sure to include a couple hundered rounds and package of beef jerky. I'll supply the soda.

March 13, 2013, 04:26 PM	#5
Ferretboy Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 2012 Location: Longview, WA Posts: 214	I have the 6", trust me your gonna love the gun, Just wish I could carry it everywhere i went, like some people do their dogs. __________________ There is no such thing as Overkill, Dead is Dead!

March 13, 2013, 07:00 PM	#7
Kreyzhorse Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2006 Location: NKY Posts: 12,463	Fear not. With a little care that gun should last a lifetime or more. Enjoy it. __________________ "He who laughs last, laughs dead." Homer Simpson

March 13, 2013, 11:29 AM	#3
PPQ226guy Senior Member Join Date: February 4, 2012 Location: Alabama Posts: 101	^^^^^ Thanks! Its a 4" full lug. The fired round package has a Feb. 11, 2013 date on it and I bought it today.

March 13, 2013, 04:48 PM	#6
PPQ226guy Senior Member Join Date: February 4, 2012 Location: Alabama Posts: 101	Thanks to all. I rarely see a blued one so I picked it up. Seems it will take hot loads as wella as a stainless model... I hope!

March 13, 2013, 08:13 PM	#8
PPQ226guy Senior Member Join Date: February 4, 2012 Location: Alabama Posts: 101	^^^^ Thanks! Look slike I'll be placing an order with Buffalo Bore this evening

March 13, 2013, 08:21 PM	#9
CDR_Glock Senior Member Join Date: September 30, 2010 Posts: 704	Ruger GP-100 question I love my 6" barrel in stainless. Handles well. Very accurate.

March 13, 2013, 08:32 PM	#10
WNY_Whitetailer Junior Member Join Date: March 11, 2013 Posts: 10	Re: Ruger GP-100 question Love my 6" full lug stainless as well...I would have done the same as you. They are heavy but built like tanks. Last edited by WNY_Whitetailer; March 14, 2013 at 02:00 AM.

March 13, 2013, 08:40 PM	#11
fallingrock71 Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2008 Location: OK Posts: 109	I think you'd hurt yourself long before you hurt your gp100. Congrats on your purchase. I'm still kicking myself for not buying the exact gp100 I've been on the lookout for. My second favorite local gun shop had one. It was thirty bucks more than what my favorite local gun shop asked for them when they had them. Keywords: WHEN THEY HAD THEM. That night I said to myself I said "Self, it's only thirty bucks. Your bar tab often exceeds that. Get back there tomorrow after work and buy it ya big dummy!" Of course a wiser man had beaten me to it Enjoy it! __________________ "I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man." ~Thomas Jefferson

March 13, 2013, 10:19 PM	#12
JohnKSa Staff Join Date: February 12, 2001 Location: DFW Area Posts: 24,986	I have no way to verify the veracity of this comment, nor do I have any idea if it applies to the GP100 line. That said, many years ago, I was talking with a fellow shooter and he mentioned that he had managed to destroy a Ruger Redhawk revolver with a badly constructed handload. Ruger offered to replace the gun at factory cost in spite of the fact that it was clearly (and admittedly) the shooter's fault. The customer service rep suggested that the shooter choose a blued Redhawk because he stated that the blued steel alloy that they used was somewhat stronger than the stainless steel alloy used in that gun. Interestingly enough, around the same time, I came across some technical data for Beretta pistols, and they claimed that their stainless steel was about 30% stronger than the blued steel they used in their pistols. Just mentioned that to point out that there are a lot of variables. It's a mistake to assume that a statement like the one made by the Ruger customer service rep can be taken as a general truth applying to all items made from blued steel or stainless steel. __________________ Do you know about the TEXAS State Rifle Association?

March 13, 2013, 10:47 PM	#13
Prof Senior Member Join Date: March 3, 2000 Location: California (for now) Posts: 459	I've owned several Ruger revolvers and loved them. Just got my first GP-100 and am having trouble with the trigger not returning after pull. Have to nudge it forward again with my finger. Doesn't happen every time, only once in a while. I e-mailed Ruger and they said to send it back in. First problem I've had with one of their guns but I'm sure they'll make it right.

March 13, 2013, 10:58 PM	#14
Cheapshooter Senior Member Join Date: December 2, 2007 Location: Missouri Posts: 8,306	I have a 6" full lug blued GP100. I really prefer a 4", but couldn't pass on this one. Great gun. Strong, and accurate. __________________ Cheapshooter's rules of gun ownership #1: NEVER SELL OR TRADE ANYTHING!

March 13, 2013, 11:05 PM	#15
Jim March Senior Member Join Date: February 14, 1999 Location: Pittsburg, CA, USA Posts: 7,417	There are two practical differences. The stainless gun won't rust as easily. Duh. The blue gun however has an advantage if you ever want to swap the barrel over for a caliber conversion. A blue setup is easier to unscrew without ruining the threads on either the frame or barrel. Unscrewing a stainless setup is iffy because they can "gall"...basically the threads can become useless. Note the words "can". But this is why you see more caliber conversions on blued Ruger single actions than stainless, and why I bought my 2005-era New Vaquero in blue as a 357Magnum knowing that as a tinkerer I was likely to one day swap barrels. I did it, too...it's now a true 9mm (.355" spec, Douglas Premium blank). __________________ Jim March

March 14, 2013, 06:18 PM	#16
iraiam Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2012 Location: Lakewood, CO Posts: 1,057	I love mine I have a blued GP-100 w/6" heavy underbarrel, even max 158 grain loads are a pleasure to shoot from it. __________________ NRA Lifetime Member Since 1999 "I ask, sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people except for a few public officials." George Mason

March 14, 2013, 08:09 PM	#17
PPQ226guy Senior Member Join Date: February 4, 2012 Location: Alabama Posts: 101	Thanks to everyone for the feedback. Feeling better about my blued GP by the minute.

March 14, 2013, 09:31 PM	#18
peacefulgary Senior Member Join Date: January 26, 2011 Location: USA Posts: 714	I love mine!

March 15, 2013, 09:23 AM	#20
sandbag Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2008 Posts: 642	Hot Loads in GP 100 I can tell you I have fired a lot of 125 gr JHP out of my GP100 with zero issues-I wouldn't do that with my Model 19 S&W or my Python.The old S&W N frames are no sweat with hot rounds either(27&28).The Rugers aren't small,but they are rugged to a fault-FWIW they also have the most naturally intuitive cylinder release-the Smiths aren't as good with the need to push forward and forget Colt-pulling the release back is unnatural under stress.

March 15, 2013, 08:09 PM	#21
kimbers rule Member Join Date: November 3, 2012 Location: State of Jefferson Posts: 95	I have a 4" gp100 and I love it. I dont think you'll be able to wear yours out. Unless you can afford alot of buffalo bore ammo i guess. Still doubt it though. You'll be happy with it im sure.

March 15, 2013, 10:43 PM	#22
magnum777 Member Join Date: May 2, 2012 Location: upstate New York Posts: 90	I have a blued GP 100, it works great and have never given me any problems in 3 years.

March 15, 2013, 11:34 PM	#23
PPQ226guy Senior Member Join Date: February 4, 2012 Location: Alabama Posts: 101	Thanks for all the great replies! Just ordered a replacement front sight with the red insert.

March 16, 2013, 12:08 PM	#24
Rogervzv Senior Member Join Date: February 5, 2011 Location: Huntington Beach, CA Posts: 1,075	I happened to go with the stainless GP100 simply because that was what was available. But that Blued GP100 sure looks cool. You are going to love the revolver, believe me. After several thousand rounds my GP100 is better than new. __________________ The difference between a citizen and a civilian is that the citizen makes the safety of the body politic his personal responsibility, protecting it with his life. The civilian does not.