M14 Forum

08 Cayenne

Ruger GP-161, I bought it when they were first released, deadly accurate with wadcutters. I occasionally still use it to shoot plates at the club.

leonardc

I have a 6" SS GP100. I bought it because I thought it was the most rugged DA 357 I could get. I have not been disappointed. It goes bang every time and has no problems with my heavy hand loads. I thought the trigger was pretty good for a factory gun.

It's not my favorite handgun, but it's not one I'd ever get rid of. .38/.357 cases/ammo are easy to get and the gun is easy to load for. It's powerful enough for most needs and is easy to hit with.

Coltfan

Great looking 161 Cayenne.

nSquid

Trigger on the GP series is easy to polish. The main spring rod is often overlooked. It is a stamped part, so it has rough edges. Stone (or Dremel polish) it on all 4 edges, then lightly stone the round end to a smooth, flat surface. I like to use Neolube, a fast drying graphite lube on all stainless surfaces. This will lap in the uneven surfaces. After maybe 200 cycles on the hammer, clean out the Neolube and replace with a good teflon bead lube. The change will be worth the work!

bmcgilvray

I'm going to be different here and say that there are too many different variations of nice, smooth, good lookin', pre-lock Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum revolver models out there, along with a few Colt revolvers, for me to ever get around to spending money on a clunky Ruger double-action revolver. I particularly don't want an example of the guns that are "built like tanks." I've been hard on some of my Smith & Wesson revolvers for over 30 years now and they have proven rugged indeed so I question the conventional wisdom that claims the Rugers are materially stronger. Even if they are, why do I need all this additional "strength?"

I've had a few Ruger products over the years and have had close association with Ruger products owned by shooting acquaintances. They are just unsatisfying with their heavy cast steel frames and receivers. I'm down to a single Ruger rifle. Ruger products are overrated and they would go out of business waiting on me to purchase one. Since this is only one personal opinion they probably aren't in any danger of that. At least they bring more shooters into the fold.

Albud3

I own a Ruger Security-Six, a GP-100 and a SP-101. All have over 3K .357 mag. loads through them and have never had any problems of any type. Very accurate, ergonomic and well built. I doubt I'll ever get rid of any of them for any reason. Well worth the money spent and even considering getting another one day.

I've also owned a couple of S&Ws and a Colt Python. The Python was extremely accurate and smooth as silk. I sold it and have regretted it since, probably the best revolver ever made in my opinion.

The Smiths were sold within a year of each purchase. Both had problems from day one and factory service was a joke. The 28 shot very well after purchase, but soon started throwing shots all over the place. Sent it to the factory and after 4 months I got it back. Work order stated the barrel was loose, re-tightened. Within 3 months the same problem occurred. Found out this was a Bangor Punta gun...one of the cost savings BP came up with was to delete the barrel locking pin. Turned out the barrel was unscrewing itself each time it was fired!!! Couldn't really tighten the barrel enough to keep this from happening again as this would over-rotate the barrel. Sold! Second one was a post BP 27, but did not shoot groups only patterns! Even after S&W replaced the barrel it would not shoot a decent group. Got tired of it and sold it as well. Now I realize that I may have had very unusual experiences with these two guns, but they soured me against S&W for life.

leadbug

I believe your S&W experience was an incredibly rare fluke.

Wow, that sucks, and is hard to imagine the odds of that happening. I am simply amazed at the performance of my S&W's- Models 29, 686's, and snub-nosed J-frames (all non-pinned barrels).

Albud3

I know that S&W is making some very good firearms nowadays, but my personal experiences soured me on owning ANY S&W product. I've shot many S&Ws and have mainly favorable expressions of them, just not for me. Bangor Punta's ownership of Smith & Wesson almost put them out of business. S&Ws QC and customer service was almost nil during that period and it took them quite a while to recover their reputation after BP sold S&W. Almost exactly what happened to Harley Davidson after AMF bought them. Even today an AMF H-D is not considered as collectible as those made before and after.

It would even extend towards the M&P-15 and I know how difficult it is to screw an AR up.

Beavis1971

I have owned a stainless GP100 for almost 20 years and I love it. It is not the prettiest or lightest revolver ever made, but it is built like a tank and I couldn't ask anything more from it. It is accurate and always has performed well as long as I do my part.

@Albud, I would have to agree with leadbug, your experience with Smith revolvers is a fluke. I have owned pinned and non Smiths over the years and I have to say that they are great. That being said, I have no experience with the new revolvers that Smith has turned out. I can't get my head around that lock on the sideplate and the MIM parts.

DaveH

Hi-quality, hell-for-strong 357. One of the best, imho.

berndog

I Own both their GP 100, 3" stainless, and their SP101, stub nose .357 in stainless.

Both pistols have never failed to function and shoot very well. Only issues as stated prior is the weight and the trigger pull.

Own a S&W 686 3" stainless also and is again a very nice pistol. Trigger on 686 is smoother and is not a mile long like the Ruger.

A new set of Wolfe springs and a little stone work on the trigger of the Ruger goes a long way but will not get rid of the very long, lawyer friendly, trigger pull.

GP100 is the tank of the .357 wheel guns. There are good and bad points to that! Very heavy to carry in a CCW role but a pleasure to shoot. I had a colt python in 6" SS and that was a stunner of a wheel gun! But it loved to break springs!

For cost, reliability, and design I would highly recommend the GP100!
Think I got my SS 3", used, private party sale for like $475.00. I don't think I would buy one brand new but would keep my eyes open for a good "granny owned," used one. If I were going to buy new, Which none of my wheel guns are, I would buy the S&W 686.

As stated prior speed loaders are not real friendly to this design. I have the smaller Hogue grips and is still an issue. Not like xiong a Mag change in the best hand gun in the world, 1911! But if you can't take care of the problem in 6 rounds another 6 probably isn't going to help!

For conceal carry I would recommend their SP101. For a hunting, camp gun or home protection I would bet my life on my GP100! I would buy another one if the chance was there and price was right.

The Ruger is built so tough I think you could use it as a hammer on the job, use it to hold up your truck while you change a tire, put it back in the holster and be assured that it would function as advertised! I wouldn't recommend this but that is how robust I believe the design is!

DaveH

Wolff spring sets do a lot for the Rugers.