Author Topic: 6" GP-100 or 6" NM Blackhawk (Read 560 times)

srcjahc · « **on:** February 24, 2004, 01:51:26 AM »

I have a 6" NM Blackhawk and I am considering going with my brother deer hunting next season just to see what it's about. I don't plan to actively hunt but just walk along with him mainly to soak up the great outdoors and the atmosphere in the hunt club that he belongs to. I am a reloader so I was going to try one of the forum's contributers advise here and load up 200 gn hard casts for the occasion and carry my Blackhawk with my favorite hiking pole. Lately though I eyeballed a 6" GP-100 and liked the feel of it. Should I keep the Blackhawk since I will shoot heavy .357 loads or should I go to the GP100 whose feel I like? Thanks

DzrtRat · « **Reply #1 on:** February 24, 2004, 04:28:56 AM »

They're both great guns that will handle the heavy loads.

Just use whatever suits you best.

~Rat

srcjahc · « **Reply #2 on:** February 24, 2004, 05:41:40 AM »

I was conerned that the Blackhawk would hold up better to heavy .357 loads than the GP-100. Plus I was wondering if you could put longer OAL .357 rounds in the Blackhawk.

DzrtRat · « **Reply #3 on:** February 24, 2004, 06:34:56 AM »

If you're going to push things by exceeding maximum recommended loads, then the blackhawk might be a little better able to handle those kinds of pressures. This is NOT something that I recommend, and you would not gain enough performance to make it worth the risks involved. In fact, you'd likely not be able to tell the difference in the field.

When staying within the recommended pressure limits for a .357 magnum, either of these guns should last you a lifetime. Truly, I see these firearms as two of the strongest .357 revolvers in production today.

I'm not sure about the cylinder length of these two firearrms. Perhaps someone who owns both can help you out there.

Larry Gibson · « **Reply #4 on:** February 24, 2004, 08:32:16 AM »

srcjahc

The GP 100 is as strong as the older Security Six and will take the same safe loas as the NMBH. I have a 6" Security Six and find it somewhat easier to pack around in a high ride holster than the bulkier NMBH. The heavy hard cast 200 gr bullets will kill deer but I prefer the 125 FP/XTP over the max listed load of Bluedot in the older Speer manual. That load runs 1690 fps in the 6" Security Six. They give excellent expansion and complete penetration (excepting Texas heart shots which I don't do) inside my self imposed max range (50 yards generally but a 75 yard standing broadside is quite feaseable). I set that range due to the front sight covering 7.5" at 50 yards.

Since you already have the NMBH it will do nicely, but what the hey...never need a reason to buy another gun...right?

Larry Gibson

Robert357 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 04, 2004, 06:01:48 PM »

I have two similar 357 Blackhawks one with a red dot scope and one just like it came from the factory. The Blackhawk will barely take a 200 grain bullet, as the bullet with a solid load of Alliant 2400 powder is longer than 357 Mag standards. If you are considering a GP101, check out to see how long the cylinder is! I would suspect that as a double action, it might be shorter.

I really like the Blackhawk, and a 180 or 200 grain bullet in 357 Mag with a true magnum powder full load (not excessive load), should do you fine on a reasonable distance shot Practice shooting at reasonable distances like 50 yards and under with your Blackhawk.