Ruger GP100 "Match Champion"

BillD

BillD

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Just brought this home (this along with a new-to-me SR1911 and it's been a good week lol); intend to try REV class in IDPA so went with a 4.2" GP100 "Match Champion". First impressions are, like my Redhawk, it's built like a tank - with a nod more towards function that beauty.. Finish is utilitarian too, with noticeable tool marks in some areas, and some rough spots, but then it's not a 9K Korth LOL. It feels very much like a scaled down Redhawk actually, right down to the trigger feel - heavy in DA with a slight gritty feel, but nice in SA with a very short takeup and clean break, if still a bit heavy. The wooden grips are a good fit for my paws and very comfortable to hold, and balance is nice and light on the front end (unlike the Redhawk there...of course). All the pieces move snickety-click and overall feel is very solid with no rattles. Really like the sights too with the green F.O. front post and adjustable rear, very easy to pick up for old(er) eyes!

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I was wondering how the Match would compare to my regular GP100 4.2" with the full lug. I know what you mean about the 'utilitarian' finish. I spend a lot of time with a diamond file, cleaning up the trigger guard and trigger so it didn't cut me when shooting. Polished it all up a bit, and after 500 rounds or so, the grittiness is gone from the trigger completely. Still not a Smith or Colt, but really not bad at all. Still one of my favorite shooters. I look forward to your range report Bill. TC
 
plinker 777 said:
Nice...where have I seen those stippled wood grips before? Nills'? Where's the pics of the other Ruger!?
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Very similar to Nils, but stippling instead of cross-hatching and are a Ruger item AFAIK. And the other Ruger I landed earlier this week :)

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Twisted Canuck said:
I was wondering how the Match would compare to my regular GP100 4.2" with the full lug. I know what you mean about the 'utilitarian' finish. I spend a lot of time with a diamond file, cleaning up the trigger guard and trigger so it didn't cut me when shooting. Polished it all up a bit, and after 500 rounds or so, the grittiness is gone from the trigger completely. Still not a Smith or Colt, but really not bad at all. Still one of my favorite shooters. I look forward to your range report Bill. TC
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Thanks T.C., hoping to put a fair number of rounds through it before taking it out to an IDPA event; nice to hear that grittiness went away in yours. I'm not sure how many rounds in total have been through my Redhawk (bought it used), but that one still has a gritty feel in DA.

Silveragent said:
Got one of these too. Beautiful. I had mine cut for moon clips but haven't been able to try it out much.
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I don't get to shoot near as much as I want either, but I think that's a common issue for us all LOL.
 
If you have the inclination, there's lots of info on the net to slick up the trigger on these, I think the document I found was Iowegan's IBOK. He shows where to gently polish, and where to leave alone. Also Wolff sells spring kits for these to tune your trigger pull. With the lightest mainspring in my 4.2" GP, it will only reliably fire federal primers, but the other two increments seem to fire anything, and each step felt better than factory both in DA and SA. They sell direct to Canada. Lastly there are inexpensive shims to take the lateral slop out of the pivot points. I haven't bothered with those. With an hour of work, and $20 worth of springs, I'd take the pepsi challenge against anything but an old production 686 with a pro trigger job (and I've fired some nice ones). Congrats on the beautiful new pistols!
 
Nice looking revolver . I have a Redhawk and GP100 ( 6 inch barrel ) as well.....and like most Ruger firearms ; they are over engineered , and built like a tank . Congrats on the new purchase....
 
Rugers are truly kit guns. I love my GP-100.

To the OP check out your cylinder mouths. Mine were all to tight. I had three that measured .355 and three that were .357. After I had them reamed out to .358 the gun shot far more accurately. Knowing Ruger you likely will find the cylinder throats to tight as well. My GP -100 weighs less than my 686 No Dash S&W with a 105.14MM barrel even though the Ruger is slightly larger. Too, I much prefer the trigger pull on my GP-100 and use the Smith as a back up.

Good Luck shooting Revolver Division. Shoulder issues have sent me back to my CZ;s for this year but IDPA is great fun shooting revolver. The six shooters certainly change how the game is played.
 
stromrider said:
If you have the inclination, there's lots of info on the net to slick up the trigger on these, I think the document I found was Iowegan's IBOK. He shows where to gently polish, and where to leave alone. Also Wolff sells spring kits for these to tune your trigger pull. With the lightest mainspring in my 4.2" GP, it will only reliably fire federal primers, but the other two increments seem to fire anything, and each step felt better than factory both in DA and SA. They sell direct to Canada. Lastly there are inexpensive shims to take the lateral slop out of the pivot points. I haven't bothered with those. With an hour of work, and $20 worth of springs, I'd take the pepsi challenge against anything but an old production 686 with a pro trigger job (and I've fired some nice ones). Congrats on the beautiful new pistols!
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Thanks for the heads up on Iowegan's IBOK - quick Google and there it is, much appreciated!

Balance said:
Very nice gp100 MC. Ruger's 4 inch gp100s are amazing.
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Thanks!

Beav said:
Very happy with the spring kit I installed. Trigger much better now.
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Wolff spring kit too?

Templar Knight said:
Nice looking revolver . I have a Redhawk and GP100 ( 6 inch barrel ) as well.....and like most Ruger firearms ; they are over engineered , and built like a tank . Congrats on the new purchase....
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Thanks, Rugers and Sigs seem to becoming a common theme in my still very modest collection :) .

plinker 777 said:
Thk Excellent pics. I love my SR1911 and one of these days when i justify it to myself, I'll pick up the Commander.
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Thanks, certainly no photographer but another small hobby of mine.

gdawg said:
Nice addition to the collection BillD. Congrats
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Thanks as well gdawg - have a few more on the list yet ;)

Canuck44 said:
Rugers are truly kit guns. I love my GP-100.

To the OP check out your cylinder mouths. Mine were all to tight. I had three that measured .355 and three that were .357. After I had them reamed out to .358 the gun shot far more accurately. Knowing Ruger you likely will find the cylinder throats to tight as well. My GP -100 weighs less than my 686 No Dash S&W with a 105.14MM barrel even though the Ruger is slightly larger. Too, I much prefer the trigger pull on my GP-100 and use the Smith as a back up.

Good Luck shooting Revolver Division. Shoulder issues have sent me back to my CZ;s for this year but IDPA is great fun shooting revolver. The six shooters certainly change how the game is played.
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Thanks for the heads up on the cylinder throats, will def check mine out. IDPA was the main purpose for this purchase; revolvers are popular in our own little corner of the IDPA world, and GP100's lead the way there too. Watching those guys shoot 'em just looked like wayyy too much fun so here we are LOL.
 
BillD said:
Thanks for the heads up on the cylinder throats, will def check mine out...
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P.S. just checked and got the following measurements:

Cylinder 1: 0.3575"
Cylinder 2: 0.3570"
Cylinder 3: 0.3560"
Cylinder 4: 0.3575"
Cylinder 5: 0.3575"
Cylinder 6: 0.3570"
 
BillD said:
P.S. just checked and got the following measurements:

Cylinder 1: 0.3575"
Cylinder 2: 0.3570"
Cylinder 3: 0.3560"
Cylinder 4: 0.3575"
Cylinder 5: 0.3575"
Cylinder 6: 0.3570"[/QUOTE

Cylindees 2, 3, & 6 are really to tight for best accuracy using cast bullets. 1, 4 & 5 are marginal if you are shooting .358 sized lead bullets. I have mine all sized .358 now. I noticed a significant increase in benched accuracy after I had mine reamed out. I did not notice and loss in accuracy when I went to plated or jacketed bullets. You might want to have yours reamed out as well. Brownells sells hand reamers that work well.

Whiile I am retired from the AC role in IDPA, if your club does decide to run a Sanctioned match I intend to make the trip. Great to hear you folks run the stages with revolvers in hand. Lots of fun. We often have four revolvers out at our matches.

Take Care

Bob
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Canuck44 said:
BillD said:
P.S. just checked and got the following measurements:

Cylinder 1: 0.3575"
Cylinder 2: 0.3570"
Cylinder 3: 0.3560"
Cylinder 4: 0.3575"
Cylinder 5: 0.3575"
Cylinder 6: 0.3570"[/QUOTE

Cylindees 2, 3, & 6 are really to tight for best accuracy using cast bullets. 1, 4 & 5 are marginal if you are shooting .358 sized lead bullets. I have mine all sized .358 now. I noticed a significant increase in benched accuracy after I had mine reamed out. I did not notice and loss in accuracy when I went to plated or jacketed bullets. You might want to have yours reamed out as well. Brownells sells hand reamers that work well.

Whiile I am retired from the AC role in IDPA, if your club does decide to run a Sanctioned match I intend to make the trip. Great to hear you folks run the stages with revolvers in hand. Lots of fun. We often have four revolvers out at our matches.

Take Care

Bob
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Thanks again Bob, I use Campro 158gn plated (one of the few reload items consistently available locally); will get it to the range this week and see how it goes, as well as looking into the reamers and spring kits from Brownells.

Beav said:
Not a Wolff. Brownells own pro spring kit. 080-665-103WB Kit #RGP-103.
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They have a Wilson Combat spring kit too for even less, with the same rated springs. :)
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I should add a simple test is to drop bullets into each cylinder. They should pass through or require a slight nudge. If they don;t you will have degraded accuracy as a result of your bullets being swagged down to pass through the cylinder.

Take Care

Bob
 
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