View Full Version : Many choices of Gp-100 these days
Which might be best for lower 48 woods defense primarily?
I wouldn't carry a 6 inch barrel, but they are also available in 3, 4.2, and 5 inches depending.
I'd also rule out the .327 mag models. Those Bullets are pretty light for use on animals.
That leaves:
-6 and 7 shot .357 magnum (180-200 gr @1200 fps)
-5 shot .44 special (240-255 gr @950 fps)
-6 shot 10mm (180-200 gr @1200 fps)
I wonder which would penetrate more animal?
Which might be best for lower 48 woods defense primarily?
I wouldn't carry a 6 inch barrel, but they are also available in 3, 4.2, and 5 inches depending.
I'd also rule out the .327 mag models. Those Bullets are pretty light for use on animals.
That leaves:
-6 and 7 shot .357 magnum (180-200 gr @1200 fps)
-5 shot .44 special (240-255 gr @950 fps)
-6 shot 10mm (180-200 gr @1200 fps)
I wonder which would penetrate more animal?
Looks like a toss up between 10 and .357. .44 spl is a distant third. If a big old bear mistook my intentions toward her cubbies, I'd feel much better with 10 or .357.
All I have to worry about is gangstas. Ain't no bears in the big city. .44 spl is fine for that.
.44 special is so enjoyable to shoot from a full size gun.
In my experience it's even softer and less blasty than a full-size all steel 1911 .45 acp.
Very fun. Expensive of course, unless you reload.
As for the 10mm...moon clips are good and bad. They don't have to used to shoot 10mm, but must be used to shoot .40.
Which might be best for lower 48 woods defense primarily?
I wouldn't carry a 6 inch barrel, but they are also available in 3, 4.2, and 5 inches depending.
I'd also rule out the .327 mag models. Those Bullets are pretty light for use on animals.
That leaves:
-6 and 7 shot .357 magnum (180-200 gr @1200 fps)
-5 shot .44 special (240-255 gr @950 fps)
-6 shot 10mm (180-200 gr @1200 fps)
I wonder which would penetrate more animal?
try a .357 180gr Hardcast @ 1,400... you're way waay underselling the .357 Mag
https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=100
try a .357 180gr Hardcast @ 1,400... you're way waay underselling the .357 Mag
https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=100
Yea I think your right.
I ruled out the 10mm because there are issues firing .40 out of it.
I also decided a 3 inch barrel will work for me, maybe a 4. So I'm deciding between a GP100 in .357 or .44 (36 oz for a 3 inch unloaded) or an SP101 .357. (28 oz for a 3 inch, 30 oz for a 4 inch unloaded)
I think I'd go with the 3" barrel in .357. So many round choices and can even shoot 38 spl just for the fun of it. I've looked at the Smith in 3" and even the GP 100 as such and overall they just look well balanced.
I would go 4 inches minimum for .357 mag. They are very velocity sensitive, when you start to chop down a barrel, just like a .300 Win Mag and such. Trust me, when you say you need a Woods Defense gun, go at least 4 inches. 5-6 inches preferably. A 3 inch .357 gives up waay too much velocity, kinda neuters it.
Oh and in answer to your question... the penetration trophy would goto the more sectionally dense 180gr .357 Hardcast load, from the list you provided... not that 10mm and .44 special also can't handle Black Bear and such, or even a big kitty.
These are fun. We've only taken them to 100y so far. But hopefully that changes here soon.
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I had a .44 special (actually an M44) Taurus about 20 yrs ago and really enjoyed shooting it. Then it broke.
Pleasant recoil, big thumps on target, low muzzle blast. That's what I like about .44. And it can be loaded quite hot, too.
I'm going to get a three inch GP100 .44.
Also Wolf springs (2 lbs less hammer and trigger return springs), compact Ruger grip, and I'll polish the insides a little.
I hope it works well for you and that you highly enjoy it. You gonna handload for her then?
I hope it works well for you and that you highly enjoy it. You gonna handload for her then?
Thanks. Hopefully I get a good one. Ruger has been skipping some quality control and letting a few lemons out. Saw it over at ruger forums.
I don't reload yet. Maybe this gun will be the catalyst. I've already ordered ammo. Got some .44 Russian and some Keith loads, too. (255 gr @950 fps from a 3 inch barrel)
I plan to save all casings.
Thanks. Hopefully I get a good one. Ruger has been skipping some quality control and letting a few lemons out. Saw it over at ruger forums.
I don't reload yet. Maybe this gun will be the catalyst. I've already ordered ammo. Got some .44 Russian and some Keith loads, too. (255 gr @950 fps from a 3 inch barrel)
I plan to save all casings.
I do know one thing... Ruger will make it right for sure, if you happen to get a lemon.
a 255gr at 950 is Honkin' and sure to git'r done. Especially a HC or something robust.
I do know one thing... Ruger will make it right for sure, if you happen to get a lemon.
a 255gr at 950 is Honkin' and sure to git'r done. Especially a HC or something robust.
Yes they do tend to make it right.
Underwood makes the Keith load (other Co's do, too), a hard SWC 255 gr @1000 fps (4-5 inch). They also make a hard cast Wadcutter 200 gr 1000 fps (4-5 inch) at a more affordable price. I got some of each to try.
Yes they do tend to make it right.
Underwood makes the Keith load (other Co's do, too), a hard SWC 255 gr @1000 fps (4-5 inch). They also make a hard cast Wadcutter 200 gr 1000 fps (4-5 inch) at a more affordable price. I got some of each to try.
Awesome!
Thanks. Hopefully I get a good one. Ruger has been skipping some quality control and letting a few lemons out. Saw it over at ruger forums.
I don't reload yet. Maybe this gun will be the catalyst. I've already ordered ammo. Got some .44 Russian and some Keith loads, too. (255 gr @950 fps from a 3 inch barrel)
I plan to save all casings.
.44 Russian? .44 SPL brass is plentiful.
I have an old S&W Hand Ejector in .44 Spl. Once in a blue moon, I load up some 240 grain swaged SWCs and shoot it. Use a fast burning powder, e.g. Bullseye, AA2 or AA5, etc. Don't try to magnumize it. .44 SPL is a fun cartridge to load and shoot.
.44 Russian? .44 SPL brass is plentiful.
I have an old S&W Hand Ejector in .44 Spl. Once in a blue moon, I load up some 240 grain swaged SWCs and shoot it. Use a fast burning powder, e.g. Bullseye, AA2 or AA5, etc. Don't try to magnumize it. .44 SPL is a fun cartridge to load and shoot.
While shopping ammo I saw the .44 Russian for about $2 more so I got a box to try.
I only got some strong loads to see what they're like, see where they shoot, and for trail defense.
Otherwise I want accuracy.
Finally got to shoot the GP100 .44. I'm pleased with it.
90 rnds, mostly lead, and everything worked fine. Gap didn't gum up, no issues with my gently polish work or the Wolf hammer (12 lb) and trigger return (10 lb) springs, and everything ejected easily. The Underwood 200 gr and 255 gr ("Keith Load") also ejected fine and showed no sign of overpressure.
The sights only required a small elevation adjustment. The 200 gr easy loads shoot point of aim, the heavier, hotter loads shoot are a six o clock hold at 25 yds. All of the loads had good accuracy. (they all did less than 3 inches for 5 shots at 15 yds single-action free-hand with sweat rolling down my face in the afternoon heat) I'll get better with more practice with the gun.
As for recoil the cowboy loads are downright pleasant. Probably like a steel 1911 with 200 gr bullets at 700 fps. Nothin' to it and they can fired DA as fast as I want because it's the DA pull that limits speed, not the recoil.
The hot "Keith" style loads are like a good shove, plenty of muzzle rise, and were the only loads I actually noticed hitting my palm kinda hard. But even they weren't actually painfull. Reminded me of a hot 200 gr load from a Glock 10mm I guess, only more of a push.
I think it's going to be great as a trail-defense gun.
I really like the Ruger in 10mm. The 10 has made a solid comeback. I have had a Glock 20 in 10mm for quite sometime, and have wanted to find a prelock Smith 610, but the Ruger in 10mm just might take away that need.
I just wanted to inform that a guy on another forum found TK Custom now has moon clips that are .40" thick and worked perfectly in his GP100 10mm while firing 10mm and .40 ammo.
People report warm-hot 10mm feels like .357 magnum and .40 feels like .38 special. I suppose that's what one would expect.
Two loads ( one .357 & one for 10mm) I would feel well equipped with for tramping about in the woods with a 3" Wiley Clapp GP100 in either .357 or 10mm:
https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=100 (.357 Magnum)
https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=394 (10mm)
I would suggest the Hogue mono grip w/o the finger grooves, they are excellent for all purposes. I have them on the Wiley Clapp & the Match Champion.
https://www.hogueinc.com/ruger-gp100-super-redhawk-no-finger-groove-rubber-grip
I've got about 500 rnds through the GP100 .44 Special now. It's a good gun!
I had one issue. The pin that goes through the top strap and secures the rear sight assembly began to drift out a little. I took it out, cleaned it dry, applied some loc-tite and put it back in. It hasn't moved since.
The two brands of .44 Russian (New Starline brass loads from HSM and Ultramax) I've tried were both more accurate than the .44 Special cowboys loads and FMJ loads I've tried. (About 3 kinds) So that's what I've been shooting mostly. The common .44 Special 200 gr loads (practice loads) and .44 Russian 200 gr loads have the same, light, recoil. All of it works from the same ammo strips and HKS speed loaders.
All empty brass pops out of the chambers easily even after a 100 rd session. The shorter Russian cases even more easily because the ejector rod pushes them all the way out.
Highly recommend the gun.
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