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Author Topic: ruger gp or sp??  (Read 1498 times)

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Offline oldfart

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ruger gp or sp??
« on: November 28, 2009, 11:56:30 AM »
i have a small problem deciding so i hope yall can help me out, i have a chance to buy a new gun but only one and would like to know which yall think is best for the uses i'll need it for? i have a choice of a 4inch gp100, or a 3inch sp101, it will be open carried around my home area,(i live in a rural area and open carrying is not a problem) out walking, and hiking in the woods. it will serve also as a home defense gun. now i know some will say get one and later get the other, but unless things get better with money this will be my only handgun for at least a year. so i need the best choice for what i'm using it for, i've checked both out and love both but can only get one. they are the same price and new, so for what i'm using it for which gun will be my best choice? thanks for any help.
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Offline BlkHawk73

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Re: ruger gp or sp??
« Reply #1 on: November 28, 2009, 03:43:25 PM »
  Whichever fits YOU best and feels best in YOUR hand.  Maybe try a used one in a holster and se which feel and sits better for YOU.   I have had a 2 3/4" SP in .357 for yrs as a carry gun and like it.  I want a blued 6" GP for plinking/woods carry. One for one use, one for another but I got the SP first 'cause it fit my needs at the time better.  Figure pros/cons of each and go with the winner.
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Offline mjh

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Re: ruger gp or sp??
« Reply #2 on: November 29, 2009, 05:23:36 AM »
If fit and feel and shooting performance are about the same I'd go with the GP.  Sometime down the road if you want smaller or need a more ccw then you could look at the SP.
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Offline Skunk

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Re: ruger gp or sp??
« Reply #3 on: November 29, 2009, 06:15:58 AM »
Quote from: BlkHawk73 on November 28, 2009, 03:43:25 PM
I have had a 2 3/4" SP in .357 for yrs as a carry gun and like it.

I have a 6" Stainless, GP100, and it's like carrying a big old hog leg around compared to my SP101 with a 2 3/4" barrel. I have to go with BlkHawk on the SP101. It's lighter, easier to handle, and fits my hand perfectly. The GP100 is very nice too, but it's just too big (for me) to carry around unless I were using it for something specific like hunting or target practice. The 4" GP100 might be a good compromise, but it is still a big hunk-o-metal. For carrying around the house, I'd get the 3" SP101. If you do get an SP101, make sure you look very carefully down the length of the barrel to where it meshes with the frame to see if the barrel has been screwed on properly. I seem to have a very hard time finding SP101s that have the barrel sitting square with the frame. I find that they are usually screwed on too far or not far enough, which of course makes the front sight tilted a few degrees one way or the other.
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Offline corbanzo

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Re: ruger gp or sp??
« Reply #4 on: November 29, 2009, 08:54:14 AM »
IMO the sp is made to carry and the gp is made to shoot.  For an open carry gun, that I'm planning on whacking a lot of cans with too, gp would be the way to go.  If there were any concealed conditions around... sp would be in the run.
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Offline mjh

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Re: ruger gp or sp??
« Reply #5 on: December 03, 2009, 07:44:21 AM »
Hey Skunk I would check the barrel on both then.  My GP has a canted barrel not enought to send it back but enough to notice. My GP shoots fine with sights adjusted properly.  My SP barrel is about a perfect as it can get, with .38+P ammo its great, with full load .357 it jumps more than a bit.  I'd go with the GP for stability with hotter loads.
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Offline Skunk

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Re: ruger gp or sp??
« Reply #6 on: December 03, 2009, 08:09:23 AM »
Quote from: mjh on December 03, 2009, 07:44:21 AM
Hey Skunk I would check the barrel on both then.  My GP has a canted barrel not enought to send it back but enough to notice.

MJH,

Good idea. So far, I've been really lucky with the GP100s, but after the experience with the SP101s, I'd probably check anything Ruger sells with a barrel attached to it.
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Mike

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Offline SHOOTALL

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Re: ruger gp or sp??
« Reply #7 on: December 03, 2009, 08:17:07 AM »
 it boils down to 5 vs. 6 .
both are good guns , I think one should inspect any gun they buy as i have had several with sight and bbl alingment problems from several brands .
 Least this go into the what if bear ....
how many shots do you want in a defense situation ?
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Offline Skunk

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Re: ruger gp or sp??
« Reply #8 on: December 03, 2009, 08:31:09 AM »
Quote from: SHOOTALL on December 03, 2009, 08:17:07 AM
I think one should inspect any gun they buy as i have had several with sight and bbl alingment problems from several brands.

Just curious Shootall or anyone else here, have you ever seen a S&W revolver come from the factory with a canted barrel? I'm wanting another new revolver, and I'm thinking of going with a S&W this time around because of the reported quality control of S&W that should eliminate the canted barrel factor of the Rugers. I realize that any company is capable of turning out a gun with canted barrel sights, but Ruger has to lead the list of culprits. Honestly, I've seen way too many Ruger revolvers, especially SP101s, that never should have left the factory until the barrel was installed properly.
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Mike

"Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition" - Frank Loesser

Offline SHOOTALL

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Re: ruger gp or sp??
« Reply #9 on: December 03, 2009, 08:45:57 AM »
Winchester mod 94 front sight dovetail canted to left .factory replaced gun
Ruger mark 2 front sight canted to left ,factory replaced gun
Colt new frontier front sight canted to left . sold gun it was a tack driver and buyer was willing to live with it .
S&W early 80's gun rear sight channel off side to side making one side of sight look like it was setting back more also the sighting notch appeared more narrow .
Browning citori bead closer to right side than left ,factory replaced
 Taurus lighting had a canted front sight . sold gun .
Remington 870 reat rifle sight canted to left . traded bbl.
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Offline Bubber

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Re: ruger gp or sp??
« Reply #10 on: December 08, 2009, 05:50:38 PM »
I have a 3" sp and my dad has a 6" gp. The Sp is fun to shoot but a couple cylenders of full house .357s and I have had enough. It is not the gun to use if you want to shoot 50 rounds. It is easy to carry though, even concealed.

The GP is heavy and not much fun to carry alot. It is much nicer to shoot though.

Can't guide you one way or the other though.
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Offline pastorp

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Re: ruger gp or sp??
« Reply #11 on: December 08, 2009, 07:10:12 PM »
Old Fart,  If you want to be pulling your pants up all the time buy the GP but if you want comfortable carry gun get the SP. You didn't say what caliber you want but my SP is in 32 H&Rmag. and another in 22lr.
If you get 357 mag you don't need to plink with the full house loads you can use 38 spl for that.

Regards,
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Offline drdougrx

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Re: ruger gp or sp??
« Reply #12 on: December 10, 2009, 04:57:38 AM »
I think if you're not all too worried about concealment, I'd go with the GP. 

Funny about canted barrels....in 1985 (I think..)  I bought a 4" Security Six new.  I took it to my smith to slick up the action and he said sure, no problem, but first he said he'd need to screw the barrel on straight so that the front sight squared with the rear site....canted barrels seem to be a rather long standing problem!
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Offline usbone1

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Re: ruger gp or sp??
« Reply #13 on: December 11, 2009, 04:52:29 AM »
I suggest a six inch GP with a shoulder holster.  Good for plinking or serious social work.  I consequently chose a S&W Model 60 when I went to buy my SP-101...and I also agree that 2 or 3 rounds of .357 through that sized machine is enough for me at any one time.  Personal choices and common sense count in guns and well as elections.  Enjoy your choices.
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Offline Noreaster

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Re: ruger gp or sp??
« Reply #14 on: December 14, 2009, 04:53:19 PM »
Sold my SP101, still have my GP100. Wish I still had the SP. I love Ruger grips and the guns are strong enough where I never worried about shooting them loose. One thing about woods carry, in my state your limited to 5 rounds when carrying in the woods/back country. The Sp101 was great to carry, can't stand to down load a 6 shot cylinder.
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Offline 45-70.gov

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Re: ruger gp or sp??
« Reply #15 on: December 14, 2009, 05:22:50 PM »
Quote from: Noreaster on December 14, 2009, 04:53:19 PM
Sold my SP101, still have my GP100. Wish I still had the SP. I love Ruger grips and the guns are strong enough where I never worried about shooting them loose. One thing about woods carry, in my state your limited to 5 rounds when carrying in the woods/back country. The Sp101 was great to carry, can't stand to down load a 6 shot cylinder.

never  head  of  that  limitation

where are  you??
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Offline Noreaster

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Re: ruger gp or sp??
« Reply #16 on: December 15, 2009, 07:16:47 AM »
New Hampshire. You can carry more than five for self defense purposes, but don't try it hiking or in the woods in general because you'll be cited by Fish & Game. One of the reasons I sold my Glock 20. Works out nice for a model 60 or SP101 3inch.
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Offline SHOOTALL

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Re: ruger gp or sp??
« Reply #17 on: December 15, 2009, 07:20:32 AM »
What is their reason ? Someone do a study ?
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Offline Noreaster

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Re: ruger gp or sp??
« Reply #18 on: December 15, 2009, 12:06:22 PM »
Goes back to only having five rounds or under for hunting, exception is 22lr. Example is hunting with a S&W 29, you can only have five chambers loaded. I've heard of people who carry and ran into trouble with F&G for being in the woods with more than five rounds loaded, espcially in the State Parks. Really took the fun out of having a 10mm. I went to the SP101 for that reason. I took a nice snowshoe hare walking in from bow hunting one morning. I love revolvers for that reason, couple of cylinders down loaded with 38spl wadcutters and you have a small game gun on your belt.  I live on the border with Massachusetts and you can't hunt with a handgun at all for big game, and small game is limited. I haven't bought a MA license in years, I stick with NH & ME.
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Offline drdougrx

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Re: ruger gp or sp??
« Reply #19 on: December 15, 2009, 12:09:58 PM »
Hey Nor...I didn't know that...really....5 rounds....geez...i live in MA.  Though we were ridiculous....
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Offline 45-70.gov

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Re: ruger gp or sp??
« Reply #20 on: December 15, 2009, 01:53:19 PM »
well  if  i lived  there  i would  get  a  smith n wesson
j frame  357  with  the  5 inch  barrel

heck   i  still  might get  one

j frame  just fits  my  fat short  fingers  perfectly

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when drugs are outlawed only out laws will have drugs
DO WHAT EVER IT TAKES TO STOP A DEMOCRAT
OBAMACARE....the biggest tax hike in the  history of mankind
free choice and equality  can't co-exist
AFTER THE LIBYAN COVER-UP... remind any  democrat voters ''they sat and  watched them die''...they  told help to ''stand down''

many statements made here are fiction and are for entertainment purposes only and are in no way to be construed as a description of actual events.
no one is encouraged to do anything dangerous or break any laws.

Offline t-reg

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Re: ruger gp or sp??
« Reply #21 on: December 15, 2009, 03:02:01 PM »
The adjustable sights of the GP will be a huge bonus if you like to aim directly at your targets when plinking, hunting, or shooting vermin.  Also if you want to shoot various types of ammo.  I wouldn't consider a gun for general use without them.
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Offline zoner

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Re: ruger gp or sp??
« Reply #22 on: December 24, 2009, 03:24:24 AM »
i wish ruger would put adjustable sights on the 3" SP101 357 mag.....i bought the 3 incher when they first came out...couldn't see the sights well and full power 357 loads were a handful with that gun. I sold it and have been sorry ever since. With 38 +p loads and adjustable sights it would be excellent for woods carry or concealed......
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Offline Ak.Hiker

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Re: ruger gp or sp??
« Reply #23 on: December 25, 2009, 07:36:34 PM »
I put some Krylon Glow Orange paint on my front sight and replaced the grips with a set of Hogue Monogrips. A good lower recoil 357 Magnum load is the Remington Golden Saber 125 grain.
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