Is the Ruger GP100 the Greatest Double Action Revolver Ever Made?

weblance · March 2, 2014, 02:14 PM

I have a 4" stainless GP100. Its a great revolver. Accurate, extremely well built. Fit and Finish is beautiful. The GP100 has a reputation for being as tough as nails. Bill Ruger, while proud of his first double action revolver, the Security Six, and its siblings, decided that it couldn't stand the constant pounding from the 357 cartridge, so the GP100 was designed to handle that. One of the selling features of the Ruger revolvers was that the frame wasn't cut in half, to install the lockwork, like the S&W revolvers, making it extremely strong. The GP100 has been in production for more than 25 years now, and there have been very few complaints. So... can anyone argue that the GP100 isn't the greatest Double Action revolver ever made?

SHR970 · March 2, 2014, 02:29 PM

I own one and really like it but have you ever fired a Python? They came out of the box with a much sweeter trigger and are also very accurate as a whole. Many will argue that the Python is the DA standard. Others will argue Dan Wesson and the DW's have their merits too.

Proud owner of a GP100 but no they are NOT the gold standard for DA revolvers in my opinion.

Colt46 · March 2, 2014, 02:31 PM

It's not a bad gun. It's well designed and built like a tank.
You could make an argument that the SW Model 10 would have the moniker of greatest double action ever.

DavidAGO · March 2, 2014, 02:33 PM

OK, it is not the greatest double action revolver ever made. Any of the N frame S&W's are better. They have been around for well over double the 25 years of the Ruger. .357? mere child's play; N frames have been handling .41 and .44 loads for a lot longer, not to mention .357 loads.

the GP100 is a great gun, I have one. What other criteria do you use to say greatest?

I shall now sit back and pop some Orville Reddenbacher's

David

JohnMoses · March 2, 2014, 03:00 PM

No.

44flattop · March 2, 2014, 03:04 PM

No.

Quote:

Bill Ruger, while proud of his first double action revolver, the Security Six, and its siblings, decided that it couldn't stand the constant pounding from the 357 cartridge, so the GP100 was designed to handle that.

Actually, Bill Ruger developed the GP100 as a replacement because it was easier/cheaper to manufacture.

KMAX · March 2, 2014, 03:10 PM

I don't know about "greatest", but I really do like mine a lot.

Ruger45LC · March 2, 2014, 03:14 PM

Greatest is debatable, but they're fantastic revolvers for the money. If I owned one DA .357, it would be a GP100, no doubt.

Kreyzhorse · March 2, 2014, 03:33 PM

They are nice, but, I'd take my S&W 686 every time over a GP. The 686 has a better trigger and is every bit as strong.

mk70ss · March 2, 2014, 03:47 PM

What is great to one, may be trash to another. I have had two GP 100's and they were great revolvers to me, but greatest ever? There will never be one revolver that is best to everyone.

Sevens · March 2, 2014, 03:58 PM

I can easily argue that it isn't the greatest double action revolver ever made. No problem at all, and I win.

It's the Smith & Wesson K-frame .38 Special.
Over six million of them built and sold is pretty much the tale of the tape.

As for the solid frame versus the half-frame pieced together with a side plate, you are also comparing investment casting to forged steel, let's not forget that.

Guns & Ammo once pitted a 686 up against the (relatively new at the time) GP-100 in something like a 15,000 round "accelerated use" test and they measured things such as accuracy, functioning, tolerances and other items all at points along the test. They came to the same conclusion that most shooters would come to in a life time of shooting and owning these handguns: one of them is unlikely to be better than the other.

Me? I own one GP-100 and one Redhawk and I truly enjoy both of them. But niether is a match for any/all of my K-frames and my one single L-frame and my two N-frames. Sorry. Smith & Wesson's double action is what my shooting hands want from a revolver. I have a Colt, a Taurus, a pair of DW's and the double action on all of them simply are not a Smith & Wesson.

GP-100? Fantastic revolver.
"Greatest Double Action Revolver Ever Made?" it is not.

Maybe in another 80 years we can see if they've sold another 5 million of them.

Salmoneye · March 2, 2014, 04:09 PM

Hey OP!

Where'd you get the compact grips for that GP100?

By far 'one of' the most rugged .357 designs ever...

'Better' than a Smith?

IMNSHO I like my GP100 much better than my 686-3...

But that is just me...

weblance · March 2, 2014, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Actually, Bill Ruger developed the GP100 as a replacement because it was easier/cheaper to manufacture.

It may be cheaper, and easier to manufacture, but it has always been well know that the GP100 replaced the Six series because Ruger felt it suffered abuse from constant 357 firing. It may take 100,000 rounds of 357, or more, to show damage, but that was the "official" reason. Im sure someone will be along soon to say "I have fired 600,000 rounds of 357 through my Security Six and its never missed a beat", but the GP100 IS a stronger revolver than the Six

weblance · March 2, 2014, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Salmoneye

Hey OP!

Where'd you get the compact grips for that GP100?

I picked them up off Ebay a couple years ago. I ended up with 2 pair. The inserts are from ChigsGrips. Thanks for noticing. Its the perfect grip for my hands.

Mastrogiacomo · March 2, 2014, 04:24 PM

They made solid guns but the 686+ and 586 from S&W rule....

Laura

Hammerhead · March 2, 2014, 04:25 PM

I like mine a lot, it's the 'best ever' for me because I shoot it better than anything else. Probably just an ergonomics issue. The original panel grips get your hand up high and tight on the frame, reducing muzzle rise. Trigger reach is also reduced compared to the current Hogue rubber finger groove grips. My double action shooting has never been better.

Salmoneye · March 2, 2014, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Its the perfect grip for my hands.

My hands also...

My GP came with the compact Lett's grip as it is a 4" fixed sight, half-lug (KGPF-340)...I made my own panels from spalted maple...Do NOT let the compact grips get away from you, as the prices just keep climbing...

As an aside...Because I like my Rugers so much, I am actually thinking of trading/selling my 686-3 towards an older Marlin 1894C (.357/.38)...

327 FM · March 2, 2014, 04:54 PM

I have heard of too many stories about the locks failing on the new Smiths renduring them useless. I'm a little leery of spending $800 on a potential headache. I'm not going to buy a gun because of it's name.

Rugers always go BANG.

44flattop · March 2, 2014, 05:02 PM

Quote:

It may be cheaper, and easier to manufacture, but it has always been well know that the GP100 replaced the Six series because Ruger felt it suffered abuse from constant 357 firing.

Internet myth, Bill's own words bear this out.

Dragline45 · March 2, 2014, 05:13 PM

Quote:

So... can anyone argue that the GP100 isn't the greatest Double Action revolver ever made?

Yikes, I can. Nothing beats an old S&W K frame and their buttery smooth triggers.

Bultaco · March 2, 2014, 05:30 PM

Well, we could always look at who uses what in the revolver divisions of IDPA & USPSA. Not many Rugers there. Must be a reason.

Cousin Pat · March 2, 2014, 05:33 PM

Smith 27... Colt Python... hard for me to put other DA revolvers in that iconic category. That said, Ruger to me as always met "like a rock" -- a really great quality name.

orionengnr · March 2, 2014, 05:34 PM

Maybe the best DA revolver ever built by Ruger.

Pahoo · March 2, 2014, 05:39 PM

Quote:

So... can anyone argue that the GP100 isn't the greatest Double Action revolver ever made?

Not worth any argument but NO, by my measure it is not the "greatest". It's an excellent revolver and one of my favorites and see no reason to turn this into a contest. ....

Be Safe !!!

Waspinator · March 2, 2014, 06:42 PM

Hmm... I don't know if it is "the Best", but I would definitely say it is "One of the Best currently made".

Me? I like Ruger's and Although I do not have GP100, it is on my list for the next gun to buy (when ever I get around to it.. bought two guns in as many months, so.. wife says I'm on a spending freeze, lol). I like the way Ruger's lock up and I like the "push button" cylinder release over other brands push or pull release. And, I think it is one of the beefiest, meanest looking revolvers out there... The way the under-lug blends seamlessly into the barrel and the slight slant from the front looks mean as all get out.

March 2, 2014, 02:14 PM	#1
weblance Senior Member Join Date: October 3, 2012 Posts: 1,229	Is the Ruger GP100 the Greatest Double Action Revolver Ever Made? I have a 4" stainless GP100. Its a great revolver. Accurate, extremely well built. Fit and Finish is beautiful. The GP100 has a reputation for being as tough as nails. Bill Ruger, while proud of his first double action revolver, the Security Six, and its siblings, decided that it couldn't stand the constant pounding from the 357 cartridge, so the GP100 was designed to handle that. One of the selling features of the Ruger revolvers was that the frame wasn't cut in half, to install the lockwork, like the S&W revolvers, making it extremely strong. The GP100 has been in production for more than 25 years now, and there have been very few complaints. So... can anyone argue that the GP100 isn't the greatest Double Action revolver ever made?

March 2, 2014, 02:31 PM	#3
Colt46 Senior Member Join Date: November 25, 2002 Location: Campbell Ca Posts: 1,090	Not so certain it's better than one it replaced It's not a bad gun. It's well designed and built like a tank. You could make an argument that the SW Model 10 would have the moniker of greatest double action ever.

March 2, 2014, 03:10 PM	#7
KMAX Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2011 Location: Texas Posts: 1,185	I don't know about "greatest", but I really do like mine a lot. __________________ This is my gun. There are many like her, but this one is mine. I'm not old. I'm CLASSIC!

March 2, 2014, 03:33 PM	#9
Kreyzhorse Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2006 Location: NKY Posts: 12,463	They are nice, but, I'd take my S&W 686 every time over a GP. The 686 has a better trigger and is every bit as strong. __________________ "He who laughs last, laughs dead." Homer Simpson

March 2, 2014, 03:58 PM	#11
Sevens Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 11,756	I can easily argue that it isn't the greatest double action revolver ever made. No problem at all, and I win. It's the Smith & Wesson K-frame .38 Special. Over six million of them built and sold is pretty much the tale of the tape. As for the solid frame versus the half-frame pieced together with a side plate, you are also comparing investment casting to forged steel, let's not forget that. Guns & Ammo once pitted a 686 up against the (relatively new at the time) GP-100 in something like a 15,000 round "accelerated use" test and they measured things such as accuracy, functioning, tolerances and other items all at points along the test. They came to the same conclusion that most shooters would come to in a life time of shooting and owning these handguns: one of them is unlikely to be better than the other. Me? I own one GP-100 and one Redhawk and I truly enjoy both of them. But niether is a match for any/all of my K-frames and my one single L-frame and my two N-frames. Sorry. Smith & Wesson's double action is what my shooting hands want from a revolver. I have a Colt, a Taurus, a pair of DW's and the double action on all of them simply are not a Smith & Wesson. GP-100? Fantastic revolver. "Greatest Double Action Revolver Ever Made?" it is not. Maybe in another 80 years we can see if they've sold another 5 million of them. __________________ *Attention Brass rats and other reloaders:* I really need .327 Federal Magnum brass, no lot size too small. Tell me what caliber you need and I'll see what I have to swap. PM me and we'll discuss.

March 2, 2014, 02:29 PM	#2
SHR970 Senior Member Join Date: January 24, 2011 Posts: 1,427	I own one and really like it but have you ever fired a Python? They came out of the box with a much sweeter trigger and are also very accurate as a whole. Many will argue that the Python is the DA standard. Others will argue Dan Wesson and the DW's have their merits too. Proud owner of a GP100 but no they are NOT the gold standard for DA revolvers in my opinion.

March 2, 2014, 02:33 PM	#4
DavidAGO Senior Member Join Date: October 7, 2008 Location: Magnolia, AR Posts: 340	OK, it is not the greatest double action revolver ever made. Any of the N frame S&W's are better. They have been around for well over double the 25 years of the Ruger. .357? mere child's play; N frames have been handling .41 and .44 loads for a lot longer, not to mention .357 loads. the GP100 is a great gun, I have one. What other criteria do you use to say greatest? I shall now sit back and pop some Orville Reddenbacher's David

March 2, 2014, 03:00 PM	#5
JohnMoses Senior Member Join Date: April 11, 2008 Posts: 197	No.

March 2, 2014, 03:14 PM	#8
Ruger45LC Senior Member Join Date: July 24, 2005 Location: Kentucky Posts: 768	Greatest is debatable, but they're fantastic revolvers for the money. If I owned one DA .357, it would be a GP100, no doubt.

March 2, 2014, 03:47 PM	#10
mk70ss Senior Member Join Date: January 12, 2008 Location: Tennessee Posts: 1,598	What is great to one, may be trash to another. I have had two GP 100's and they were great revolvers to me, but greatest ever? There will never be one revolver that is best to everyone.

March 2, 2014, 04:09 PM	#12
Salmoneye Senior Member Join Date: December 31, 2011 Location: Vermont Posts: 2,076	Hey OP! Where'd you get the compact grips for that GP100? By far 'one of' the most rugged .357 designs ever... 'Better' than a Smith? IMNSHO I like my GP100 much better than my 686-3... But that is just me...

March 2, 2014, 04:24 PM	#15
Mastrogiacomo Senior Member Join Date: October 10, 2002 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 1,297	They made solid guns but the 686+ and 586 from S&W rule.... Laura __________________ "Luctor et Emergo" - Struggle and Emerge

March 2, 2014, 04:25 PM	#16
Hammerhead Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,432	I like mine a lot, it's the 'best ever' for me because I shoot it better than anything else. Probably just an ergonomics issue. The original panel grips get your hand up high and tight on the frame, reducing muzzle rise. Trigger reach is also reduced compared to the current Hogue rubber finger groove grips. My double action shooting has never been better.

March 2, 2014, 04:54 PM	#18
327 FM Member Join Date: July 3, 2012 Posts: 89	I have heard of too many stories about the locks failing on the new Smiths renduring them useless. I'm a little leery of spending $800 on a potential headache. I'm not going to buy a gun because of it's name. Rugers always go BANG.

March 2, 2014, 05:30 PM	#21
Bultaco Senior Member Join Date: September 25, 2013 Location: Western Co. Posts: 156	Well, we could always look at who uses what in the revolver divisions of IDPA & USPSA. Not many Rugers there. Must be a reason.

March 2, 2014, 05:33 PM	#22
Cousin Pat Senior Member Join Date: March 5, 2009 Posts: 140	icons Smith 27... Colt Python... hard for me to put other DA revolvers in that iconic category. That said, Ruger to me as always met "like a rock" -- a really great quality name.

March 2, 2014, 05:34 PM	#23
orionengnr Senior Member Join Date: July 9, 2004 Posts: 5,173	Maybe the best DA revolver ever built by Ruger.

March 2, 2014, 06:42 PM	#25
Waspinator Senior Member Join Date: February 10, 2013 Location: Connecticut Posts: 517	Hmm... I don't know if it is "the Best", but I would definitely say it is "One of the Best currently made". Me? I like Ruger's and Although I do not have GP100, it is on my list for the next gun to buy (when ever I get around to it.. bought two guns in as many months, so.. wife says I'm on a spending freeze, lol). I like the way Ruger's lock up and I like the "push button" cylinder release over other brands push or pull release. And, I think it is one of the beefiest, meanest looking revolvers out there... The way the under-lug blends seamlessly into the barrel and the slight slant from the front looks mean as all get out.

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