Author Topic: Ruger GP100 (Read 5047 times)

ttank0789 · « **on:** October 15, 2008, 12:42:37 AM »

I am looking at buying a handgun for deer hunting and the GP100 seems like it may be a good choice. Does anyone have one and what compliments/complaints do you have with it?

warrior1 · « **Reply #1 on:** October 15, 2008, 08:49:34 AM »

i really like my gps, but i rather carry a 41,44,or 45colt for deer hunting.dan

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #2 on:** October 15, 2008, 08:53:11 AM »

whats not to like ?

Chip99 · « **Reply #3 on:** October 16, 2008, 09:35:53 AM »

I really like my GP100 in blue,6 inch, except it is too big and heavy to carry hunting. I usually carry a S&W M19 with 2 1/2 inch barrel while hunting.

Swampman · « **Reply #4 on:** October 16, 2008, 09:40:18 AM »

Too big & heavy.

sachel.45 · « **Reply #5 on:** October 16, 2008, 05:57:35 PM »

compared to what?

surveyor47 · « **Reply #6 on:** October 16, 2008, 06:52:52 PM »

Why don't you buy a revolver designed for hunting rather than self defense? The Ruger Super Blackhawk is DESIGNED for hunting. The 44 Special, which is the midrange load for the 44 Magnum has approximately the same stopping power as the 357 Magnum- (same end result, but different way of getting there). The 44 Magnum gives you roughly double the energy on target as the 357. Package size a problem? The Blackhawk can be had in 4 5/8", 5.5" & 7.5" barrel length. Don't like a single action grip? The Bisley Blackhawk had a double action grip- which happens to very comfortable with heavy recoiling loads.

I own both GP100 & Blackhawks. Rest assured that it will be the 5.5" Blackhawk that rides my holster during hunting season, NOT the GP100. Don't think that the Blackhawk cant do double duty for home defense? Think again. Downloaded with 44 Specials, it is very accurate and controlable. Would you really want to face a determined homeowner with 6 x 44 Specials?

ttank0789 · « **Reply #7 on:** October 17, 2008, 02:46:11 AM »

sachel.45,

I have a few guns that I've been looking at that I've been trying to weigh out the pros and cons. My cousin got a GP100 about two weeks ago and I liked the way it felt. I haven't had a chance to shoot it yet though. All the guns I'm considering are the GP100, Redhawk, Super Redhawk, Blackhawk, Super Blackhawk, and The TC Contender. ( I posted a thread on the TC handgun forum for the Contender). The reason I didn't ask about the Redhawks, and Blackhawks is because through asking people I know they seem like great pistols, but I still just wanted to look through my options. Prolly should have mentioned that earlier lol.

Swampman · « **Reply #8 on:** October 17, 2008, 02:53:01 AM »

If you want a double action, get a S&W.

If you're willing to carry the weight of a Ruger double action, just buy a Remington Model 7.

You can't hardly beat the Blackhawk.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #9 on:** October 17, 2008, 02:54:27 AM »

to big and hev............
I call it robust ! never had to have one re-timed or any other problem fixed . Can't say the same with S&W which is lighter ( less robust)
I carry a S&W every day because it is lighter it is at the factory now being repaired . It is so loose it seemed unsafe . It is rated for +P with less than 150 rounds thru. it !
So i shoot my ruger for most pratice and carry the S&W .
point maybe others are not big enough ?

surveyor47 · « **Reply #10 on:** October 17, 2008, 05:02:31 AM »

Quote from: Swampman on October 17, 2008, 02:53:01 AM

If you want a double action, get a S&W.

If you're willing to carry the weight of a Ruger double action, just buy a Remington Model 7.

You can't hardly beat the Blackhawk.

I agree that a Remington Model 7 is more practical than a Redhawk. I much prefer pre-lock S&Ws to anything else; however, if buying new, make mine a GP100 or SP101. And I agree that you simply cannot beat a Blackhawk for a simple, reliable, accurate reasonable weight field gun.

fatoldfool · « **Reply #11 on:** October 17, 2008, 10:53:54 AM »

I had one of the first REDHAWKS (not to be confused with super redhawk, which I don't like) in my part of the country, loved it and hunted with it for several years. It had a steady diet of the Elmer Keith load, 250gr Keith pattern cast ww bullets over 24 gr of 2400....Recoil was a bit nasty, hits were nasty, and it never loosened up a bit. I used an Omega rear peep on it with fine results. Wish they made the Omega peeps yet!

Ken ONeill · « **Reply #12 on:** October 18, 2008, 01:03:21 AM »

ttank0789,
The Gp100 is an excellent revolver. Very robust and normally quite accurate.
fatoldfool,
The Omega is indeed gone, but there is a larger, but similar "peep" from One Ragged Hole. Do a search.

sachel.45 · « **Reply #13 on:** October 20, 2008, 05:16:52 PM »

ttank0789 i was refering to swampman. the gp100 is a fantastic revolver i have the 4" model with a ruger fiberoptic front sight i never really found the gp100 to be that heavy just buy a good belt and you wont notice it i took my gp100 backpacking for three days and never found it to be a problem and i wore it sun up to sun down by the way the blackhawk (according to rugers website) weights 46oz(with a 4 5/8" barrel) compared to the gp100 (with a 4" barrel) at 40oz

surveyor47 · « **Reply #14 on:** October 22, 2008, 04:18:41 AM »

I love the GP100, but the 357 Magnum really isnt a deer cartridge, it is a self defense cartridge. That is the guns nitch. There are better combinations for hunting. If you want a DA hunting revolver, look at the Redhawk or Super Redhawk, but be aware that they are heavy, and you may as well purchase some sort of backpack to haul it in. The Blackhawk is a better belt gun and easier on the shoulder if you purchase a shoulder holster of whatever sort. The 41 Magnum, 44 Magnum & 45 Colt are all viable deer cartriges. The simple easy choice would be a 44 Magnum Blackhawk with at least a 5.5" barrel. Why use an arguably underpowered cartridge in a self defense revolver for hunting, when you can just as easily use a round and gun designed for hunting? I own both a GP100 and a Blackhawk and there is zero chance you will ever catch me carrying the GP100 in pursuit of game.

Racer X · « **Reply #15 on:** January 03, 2009, 04:22:57 AM »

GP-100s are great guns. I carried and still own a 6" stainless version. However, since I started shooting 45 Colt, I have not carried my .357. With 125 grain HP, it is painful to shoot, even with ear plugs. When I travel, I leave the GP-100 with my wife loaded with .38 Special +P loads.

For a woods gun, I have a 4-5/8 stainless Blackhawk in 45 Colt loaded to 1000 FPS with a 250 WFN bullet, a load which is arguably a better large game round than any .357 load ever made.

Tom C. · « **Reply #16 on:** January 28, 2009, 08:50:21 AM »

The Ruger GP-100 is a great gun, but due to high costs of hand labor, it tends to come from the dealer a bit like a diamond in the rough. It responds well to a little tender loving care in the form of smoothing internals just enough that functioning is smoothed up. When that has been done, it is a great gun.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #17 on:** January 28, 2009, 09:28:09 AM »

tom c , redhawks too !

dpe.ahoy · « **Reply #18 on:** March 05, 2009, 03:13:49 PM »

I have a 4" that is very accurate and hell for stout. I live up north and the deer are big bodied and would only try a shot with the 4" from a stand with a perfect heart-lung shot. Use the right bullet and it would get the job done, but if I'm hunting I take a 44 or 45 with me. DP

Malicious Intent · « **Reply #19 on:** March 06, 2009, 02:18:09 AM »

ttank,
I currently own a ruger GP100 and always take it with me for whitetail hunting. Where I hunt there are quite a large number of coyotes (which up here in NY are more towards the size of a timber wolf) and shells for my 35 Whelen and 12 GA slug guns are not cheap these days. I have taken numerous coyotes with it and in one instance it saved my life. I was heading down into my pre-determined hunting spot early on a Saturday morning. I was going to be sitting on a frequently used deer trail which my uncle was going to be pushing up later in the day. Anyways, It was about 5:30 A.M. and I was walking down an old logging trail to my spot, when I heard crashing up above me and to the left. The road I was walking on was pretty much on a lip of a hillside with the hill continuing up for another 8-10 feet on my left and the hill dropping into a slight valley on my right. I immediately start thinking that this is probably a deer that I had spooked up off of it's bed as they have been known to bed above this road so as to be able to smell and hear us coming. I get on the buck grunt and let out two quick grunts. I hear the animal coming closer and still crashing. I'm thinking this doesn't sound like a deer though. I bring up my Remington 1100 slughunter pointing in the general direction where the sound was coming from. The low pines to my left on the hill side are low enough that you can not see the animal you are shooting at until it is on you. I back off to the other side of the road to give me enough room to shoot being that I am now more than a tad bit concerned with what this animal as it is, by my definition, not a whitetail. It emerges from the pines as a large black mass barreling straight at me. It was no more than 10yds from me when I first saw it. With the adrenaline now surging through my veins I squeeze the trigger but hear nothing fire. Without even thinking I drop the 1100 (luckily in the snow. so no broken parts) and reach down and unholster the only remaining firearm I have available; my ruger GP100 and in a matter of 2-3 seconds pump (6) .357 Mag HP rounds into the bear's head and chest dropping it only 4 feet from my own body. With the animal down but still alive I pick up the 1100 eject the faulty shell and put the animal down. There is no way I will ever go hunting without it on ever again. I even take it with me when I go on camping trips down there during the summer. This is not to bash on the Remington 1100 line. I have taken many animals with the 1100 and it has never before let me down. What it seems happened was I was using a shell with a faulty primer and hence forth when I ejected the shell the gun operated fine and has operated fine since. The moral of this story is that the GP100 is a great firearm to have with you while whitetail deer hunting.

KyBeast · « **Reply #20 on:** May 29, 2009, 06:17:44 PM »

<--- GP100 owner, however, regardless of barrel length, the .357 is more of a defense round. YES, it CAN drop a deer just as dead as a human attacker... but I would feel better throwing more lead at it. Consider buying the Super Redhawk in .44mag. GREAT gun and can be fitted with a scope, if desired. Get a nice shoulder holster to carry it, and you'll be all aces.

However, if you're like any normal taxpayer... money CAN be a little thin at times;D With your second statement, it seems as though you're contemplating on buying this handgun with the "multi-use" mindset (defense & hunting). IMO, get the GP100 with a 6" bbl. Expect a challenge while hunting, but rest assured that you'll have a very good quality handgun

kiddekop · « **Reply #21 on:** May 30, 2009, 10:41:13 AM »

Quote from: ttank0789 on October 15, 2008, 12:42:37 AM

I am looking at buying a handgun for deer hunting and the GP100 seems like it may be a good choice. Does anyone have one and what compliments/complaints do you have with it?

A dealer I worked for sold several GP100's at the various gun shows he attended,I picked one up and it fit my large hands perfectly.I have a S&W Mod 19 357mag that I've carried when hunting but I've never had to shoot a deer with it ,my handloaded rifle ammo has worked very well.There are several good ammo makers to check out for hunting ammo: www.buffalobore.com ; www.grizzlycartridges.com ; www.corbon.com plus if you reload check out www.castperformance.com & www.beartoothbullets.com