@madliquid84 A good friend of mine owns a S&W 686 and I agree that it is a good gun. I have fired both the 686 and the GP100 side by side from a sand bag and the accuracy is identical. I own a couple of S&W revolvers and they are great but S&W revolvers are getting to be way too expensive. Ruger revolvers are much stronger and the GP100 can be broken down very easily for cleaning, something you can't do with a 686. At almost $200 less the GP100 is a whole lot better value than the 686.
Not to get into the whole defense-cartridge debate, but I think a .357 is just way to much for a carry gun. Hit someone/thing with full .357 loads, and you'll also be killing the next 3 people behind that person/thing (unless of course the person you are firing at is morbidly obese). A .38 is also more controllable. Just something to ponder.
@speedhed4 That is most likely because the weight balance on the 4" model is better than the 6" making it easier to handle. I can't tell you how many times I wished I had bought the 4" model instead of the 6".
Its a nice wheel gun BUT a long reech to the hammer makes in hard to produce a single action firearm its super heavy even unloaded not fun to carry and im not small im 295 lbs and i carry my old ladys rossi snub when I hunt coyotes. The 686 plus p is a lot better.
Its a nice wheel gun BUT a long reech to the hammer makes in hard to produce a single action firearm its super heavy even unloaded not fun to carry and im not small im 295 lbs and i carry my old ladys rossi snub when I hunt coyotes.
Nice review. Bought a Glock 19 for my wife and my range shooting, and demo'd a 357 w/ 38 special, affordable bullets. No recoil whatsoever, but wondered with 357 loads what it will kick like.
Bought mine in 2004. same 4 inch barrel. I havent shot it a whole lot, probably 500-600 rounds since then. But its a pleasure to shoot when i do. In fact i think i will go through a box of 50 this weekend, after i dump a few hundred through the AR15
I have a box of Buffalo Bore 180 gr +P. Sure its going to kick like a mule over what ive shot in the past
I own the GP100 with the 6" barrel and I do like the increased accuracy from the long barrel but I also like the GP100 with the 4 " barrel. It looks very slick. Sometimes I wish I had bought the 4" model.
@BeachRooster You can dry fire ALL Ruger firearms that I am aware of. I own 5 different Ruger models and ALL the Factory Manuals say it is Fine to Dry fire them.
The only "catch" is that if your Ruger has a magazine you should only Dry Fire it with the mag. in the gun .
Excellent video, man. It was very informative and you touched on a lot of topics that are important to handgun ownership such as revolver vs semi auto, cartridge type, shootability, etc. This is a much higher quality gun video than a lot of the videos out there on youtube these days.
Question: Which barrel length do you prefer? I have fired the GP100 at a rental range before with a 6" barrel. Though I don't know which to get for personal use. It'll be used for range work.
Can you shoot .38 rounds through this gun without doing any modifications? do you have to change the cylinder ? I am thinking of buying one of these and any info would be helpful . Thanks.
@marcus28r I am from Canada and just ordered the 4.2 inch ss model (4.2 inches = 106.68 millimeters ) over the 104 mm permitted here in Canada,its 40- 0z and fits my hands just fine with the houge grips...hey a Ruger GP100 any length bbl doesnt matter....Ruger rules :-)
the only negetive thing about a revolver is, if you were in a close quarter confrontation with me, I could stop you from firing it into my head in one second by grabbing the cylinder and dropping a finger into the hammer slot, that stops single action pull and the cylinder cant turn for a second double action shot. I learned that from a night watchaman trainer. Other wise love revolvers, just keep your distance from the purp !! great gun btw.
@mxm190 Revolvers still remain the superior handgun in close quarters. All it take is grabbing or pushing the slide and a semi won't fire; if something brushes the slide you get a failure, if you limp wrist they get a failure, if you hold it at a bad angle, you get a failure, if you pop the mag out it becomes a single shot. It's too bad most revolvers that are carried now-a-days are internal hammer models. Even if you could jam it, a quick pull back and its clear.
I agree with you on the revolvers, my very first gun was a 357 smith&wesson 686 4" barrel, I love that gun and miss it. I went from revolver to semi and I like semi as well but the only thing about semi I don't like is the polymor Frame they don't make them like they use too. I can also tell u this, that u can't go wrong with a revolver it just works all the time, unlike semi failure to feed from not oiling it consistantly will get someone hurt or kill, easy manitance with the revolvers.
Beautiful gun, I fired one the other day and it had NO recoil. I was like WTF? They must have been weak 357 loads. I thought they may have been 38, but sure enough the casing said 357. They were Tennessee cartridge co reloads.
The old .357 magnum revolver is still an attractive choice for home defense, owing to it's unbeatable versatility and the proven effectiveness of the .357 Magnum cartridge. I won't part with my GP100.
I love revolvers. Autos might be faster, but when you consider the ability to see at a glance when a revolver is in extremely dangerous mode (hammer back), and you can't with many autos, the choice is clear to me that most revolvers are far safer. The primary objective when using a gun is to come away alive... and over a period of a lifetime, I feel that a revolver reduces the chances of an accident so much that it factors into the odds equation in a huge way.
@ScottsUtubeWorld I strongly disagree with you regarding the safety of autos vs revolvers. Take for example the 1911 auto pistol, which has 3 safeties: thumb safety (must be pushed down with the thumb), grip safety (grip must be firmly squeezed inwards) and half-cock notch (prevents hammer from falling unless trigger is fully pulled). This means, to fire a 1911, three actions must take place (turn off thumb safety, squeeze grip safety, pull trigger). In a revolver, only one action: pull trigger.
i love my gp100 6 inch barrel so well balanced very well constructed gun id love to have a 8 round revolver plus you gotta go with the stainless steel bullets instead of brass to match xD
I keep telling all the carry-a-1911-cocked-and-locked-it-it-safe crowd that a revolver doesn't jam and doesn't need safeties and I would NEVER carry acocked weapon period. Reload? Speedloaders. I can slam a speedloader in as fast as a semi magazine.
stupid comment,badflamenco.you arent telling anybody anything.nobody cares about youre ignorant ideas.just because you cant/wont carry a certain way,doesnt make the rest of us wrong.i bet you cant prove youre reloading claim! prove me wrong.
Not saying yer wrong, Bud; just that I personally wouldn't caarry a 1911 in Condition One. Just because I don't doesn't mean you shouldn't so dont be so defensive. I usually carry a Walther and I ike DA/SA semis with decocking safeties for the reasons I spoke of, but a wheelgun is a great choice. You wanna shove a cocked .45 ACP in your pants go ahead, they're your nuts, not mine.
I feel a little bit wanting in firepower, but it's still 5 shots of .357Mag. I just tell myself to pick my shots carefully and try to avoid trouble as much as possible. Other than that, I feel pretty good in knowing that I did my best to get one of the smallest and lightest and highest quality .357Mag revolvers out there that doesn't come with some stoopid internal lock or other idiotic neutering device.
I just got this gun today lol i got it for free I found it when I was cleaning out this old mans garage this afternoon so I saw it and I was like no way lol it was burried under some clothes. I put it in my pocket and now I have it haha. I do own a glock I paid for though. I just need to get some .357 rounds because Ive never shot a 357 before in my life im only used to 9mm glocks.
Don't know for sure but don't let the cops find you with a stolen gun could be big trouble.Also if that gun is already registered to him you may get busted if you try to register it. Not sure about that though so be careful.
For home defense, what's the opinion on 4" vs 6"? I understand 4" is convenient for storage, but really what difference does 2 inches actually make? I seem to be more accurate with the 6" as well. Think it makes a difference for home defense?
More barrel should increase accuracy, increase bullet energy, decrease muzzle flip, and decrease muzzle blast. But there will be an increase in weight, decrease in mobility, and increase in probability that an attacker can grab your gun in a CQB situation. Just some factors to consider as you move up to a bigger sized gun. But, in general, size shouldn't be much of a restriction for home defense. Personally, I wouldn't mind a 6" over a 4" for the home.
I would say for home defense the 4" barrel is all you need. Heck a revolver with a 2 1/2" barrel is fine. The longer barrel will give you better accurracy, but we're talking at longer distances like 25+ ft. And even then you're talking only a matter of inches in terms of you're grouping. For home defense, you'll prob fire at no more than 10-15 ft away.
Ditto man, I am a revolver guy myself and I'm not even the older generation. I'm 27 and I prefer revolvers over semi autos. I own all types of guns from 1911s to Glocks to reolvers. If I had to choose 1 gun, it would be a good revolver in .357 magnum.
i think my first handgun is going to be some kind of .357 revolver, i haven't decided which one i am going to get, and i probably wont until i shoot a few side by side so i can get a better idea of which one is better for me
A good wheel gun is a great choice. You just need to figure out if it's going to be a carry gun. You can get a featherweight, a tank of a gun and everything in between. A lot of great choices out there.
@schnips074 That is exactly what you have to do. You sound like you are on the right track. When I bought my 1st gun I screwed up and bought a piece of crap. The Ruger GP100 and the Smith and Wesson 686 are both good 357 magnum revolvers. I would say they are both dead even when it comes to qualty. I recomend a 4 inch barrel.
Comparing the G22 and Smith's M&P40 is more of an oranges and oranges comparison. I find the M&P 40 recoil to be less than the glock because of the lighter and thinner slide and the fact that it sits so much lower in the web of the hand. Ruger gp100s and S&W L frames have comparable features, similar recoil, and good accuracy and power. Their cylinder release is slightly different, as are the shape of the sights and hammer. Pure preference, there's no bad choice between the two!
I have to agree with most of the points on this gun except with the ease of use part. I own a Glock 22 and it's just as easy to use when loaded as any revolver, aim, point and shoot. Glock is also known for having one of the most reliable track records of all semi-autos out there. I myself am looking to get this same revolver just to own one of each, but I want the one that has the full rubber grips. My G22 has a pretty stout recoil from it's light weight. How does this gun compare?
Hands down the best medium frame revolver..Well made,reliable,good action,tough as nails,and will last a looong time.I own one as well as a SP101.Oh yeah,it wont break the bank,either.
very well actually, 686 and gp100 are nearly identicle, the only real difference that I can think of (aside from different cylinder releases) is that the gp100 is a little more robust in its construction and the 686 has a smoother trigger, both are good you can't go wrong with either
@RaidingWindmills Nice review. I have this gun with a 6 inch barrel. I wish I had bought the 4 inch model. The 4 inch barrel feels more balanced and 6 inch can be a little too clumsy.
Nice vid, i got the 6 inch version a couple months after watching this vid. Will polish the inside action to get the trigger pull even smoother, although I decided I would not change any of the springs... Will get a green sight and a V notch rear sight for it too. The hogue grips i have on there from the factory are just a blessing. Day/night upgrade from the rossi 972 in 357 mag..
sure.. i prefer revolvers, i was just showing some cons... and the rounds hes using are rather low powered is what i was stating.. he could get a hell of a lot more powerful in 357.. and should
haha.. anything that doesnt overpenetrate is going to dump all available energy into a target, that being said, the more energy available, the more that gets transfered
a few things worth noting... yes revolvers will feed any ammo of its caliber, its not ammo picky, they wont jam either.. but if your cylinder is misaligned, its quite expensive to fix... most gunfights do end in 5 rounds or less, hell most gunfights dont happen just showing the gun... but 546ft/lbs is not impressive, you can get hot loaded 9x19mm loads that have 500ft/lbs and some .40S&W loads close to 550ft/lbs
also keep in mind double action revolvers have more moving parts than an automatic.. whereas a single action revolver (cowboy style revolvers) have only 3-4 moving parts... the DA revolver does have many flaws... but given the options ill probably get a GP100 next, and use that to carry... but you can get ammo with over 800ft/lbs of energy for it
kinetic energy is not what gets the job done, it's the energy TRANSFER and a 357 just does it better....
i mean a 45 is accepted to be a more "powerful" round than a 9mm right? while the 9mm can still have just as much, or more kinetic energy than the 45.
Ok you can also have hot loaded 357 at around 850ft/lbs or more and this gun is just engineered to take the heat, while most 9 mills are not (lets talk about jams and guns blowing up)
sure... you can have hot 357s loaded that hot... and the ruger is designed for it.. so why would you hang around these lower end loads that arent much better than a hot 9mm? if youre getting a ruger... take advantage of that, use the hottest loads you can find
yes well I use pretty hot loads at work on duty carry Idont have any numbers but i use 110gr bullets they will go around 1300fps. the only problem with getting even hotter loads is: you have to make them!! lol, cant just buy them. Then you are looking at an investment over 200 bucksto start reloading, including the powder, primersand projectiles. Again you couldonly use those bulletsfor hunting and therange. theyr a no-no for defense, also over-kill...factory loads have everything u need defense
well, reloading is something good to get into anyway, it really will pay for itself... you can get a lee reloading kit for about $150 completely set up for 357 reloading... and buffalo bore makes a factory load pushing 802ft/lbs of energy... so reload hot ones for target shooting to get used to the recoil, use buffalo bores for defense
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
i been shot at in the street and the person that shot at me had a 9mm pistol and i had a ruger GP 100 he shot at me 3 times at did not hit me i shot 1 time and stop him
Great video, saves me the time to make a video on my gp100. I'm just going to make a video of the accessories i got for mine i.e. holster,fiber optic front sight, grip etc...
when i went to buy my first handgun there was no doubt in my mind that it was going to be a .357 revolver. my budget led me to the gp 100 and i am one satisfied customer. i carry it on my hikes thru the woods and i even use it in coat season as my concealed carry.
Hey im going to be trading in my Springfield armory xd for a 6 inch gp100 wondering if its a good choice? im looking for fun at the shooting range not
Just got this Ruger and I LOVE it! It's so much fun to shoot. It has such a solid, serious feel to it - built like a tank! I also got the 6" which really helps mellow the recoil. This vid shows the grip with wood/rubber, but mine is solid rubber and a bit large for this woman's hand, but I make it work. I can't wait to take it back to the range and put some more rounds through it!
I love my wheel guns. they show that i am more for quality over quantity in my shots, I still like semi-autos, but they are too space aged for my liking
My 6" jammed on me while using Blazer 158gr in the hot sumemr sun. The stainless had to cool down before I could swing the cylinder out. I believe this was a break-in issue.
Happened too on my 6" rossi 357 mag, with 357 mag bullets of low quality right after i bought the gun new. It NEVER happened again after i started buying decent bullets. When they jammed the wheel the box for 50 rounds was 17 dollars. the brand was monarch, really bad bullets that make your gun dirty and hard to clean. Then i started using the magtech brand, the box is at 22 dollars, not bad and never got another cylinder jam.9for duty i use expensive hollow points, those will never jam either)
I owned a few GP 100 mdoels back in the 90s and they were damn fine guns. You can gut these guns for a thorough clean in seconds. Sadly, ammunition costs (BEFORE THE DROUGHT) for evolvers are slowly killing the market. Revolvers should be known as "reloader specials" anymore.
I agree with him revolvers are underestimated because they only have 6 bullets but they can actually kill only using 1 or 2 and I like your choice of revolvers the 357 is a pretty good revolver.
Ya when you start going t the shooting range you understand that shooting straight is more important than the type of gun you use. Then you decide if you want 357 raw stopping power or semis calibers that are also deadly but weak compared to 357..I use 357 for duty but am considering switching to a 44 mag revolver and use 44 special for the first 6 bullets then 44 magnum as backup in my speedloaders.
My father has a GP100 with a 5 inch half lug barrel. We used a dremel tool with a rubber bit and fine lapping compound to polish all the touching parrts of the trigger assembely. and oh man, that makes all the diffrence. i mean the gp100 has a good smooth pull, but if you polish the triggerparts it is just a joy to shoot.
BTW, you mentioned the heavy trigger. That is because Ruger, like many gun makers, have to please lawyers. I changed out mine with a set of lighter Wolf springs and it made a big difference. I have a special edition GP100 with a 5" barrel, SS, and I installed special sights and checkered Hogue rosewood grips with finger grooves. It feels great in the hand. As you point out, .357 are fight stoppers. According to statistics, the .357 has has the highest one-shot stop rate. JOIN THE NRA!
The Ruger GP100 is an excellent gun and outstanding value. Like all Rugers, they are almost indestructible. I have one and I have never had a problem with it ever. Nice video and very informative for anyone who may be thinking about getting one of these fine guns.
They are very nice. I have had mine for over 7 years. It is what I keep loaded on the nightstand, and is my favorite for carrying when out camping, fishing, hunting. Carries very well in a Bianchi hip holster.
It is a great revolver, I think you will love it. For outdoor carry it is a toss up between the GP100 and my Smith & Wesson model 13 with a 3" barrel. The weight makes the Ruger easier to shoot with magnum loads, but the Smith is easier on the hip. Both are nice firearms.
They are very well built. The newest guns come with a more effective rubber stock. The actions of recent samples I have tried are good. This review was well done with one exception. I think calling Cor Bon ammo a "recipe for disaster" was the wrong choice of words. I would say they are a "recipe for excellent defense." If you want to learn more about these guns come on over to the Ruger forum.
blow a hole thru a elephants ass
THEBLACKADAM1 1 month ago
Loved the review! Good job! You sold me! :0)
Roberthurz 4 months ago
Do,u think thos gun would be good for cc weights not an issue
aseel3110 4 months ago
One thing about a revolver you don't lose your brass.
ruger338magnum 5 months ago
A revolver is also better to give a bad guy an old-fashioned, pistol whippin' . You can do some real damage with that Ruger's heavy 4" barrel.
eveready666 7 months ago
great gun but i recommend putting a trigger kit in it.. for a smoother lighter pull.
RAIZEDBYWOLVEZ 8 months ago
6:12
duradero9 9 months ago
I agree the s&w 686 plus is a whole lot better than this revolver
madliquid84 11 months ago
@madliquid84 A good friend of mine owns a S&W 686 and I agree that it is a good gun. I have fired both the 686 and the GP100 side by side from a sand bag and the accuracy is identical. I own a couple of S&W revolvers and they are great but S&W revolvers are getting to be way too expensive. Ruger revolvers are much stronger and the GP100 can be broken down very easily for cleaning, something you can't do with a 686. At almost $200 less the GP100 is a whole lot better value than the 686.
crazyredlion4500 9 months ago
Not to get into the whole defense-cartridge debate, but I think a .357 is just way to much for a carry gun. Hit someone/thing with full .357 loads, and you'll also be killing the next 3 people behind that person/thing (unless of course the person you are firing at is morbidly obese). A .38 is also more controllable. Just something to ponder.
LamboidSuture 11 months ago
@LamboidSuture Doesn't seem like that would be too much of a concern with a nice hollowpoint.
forrest225 5 months ago
Perfect nightstand gun. Point and shoot.
TheLizardKing1967 1 year ago
Are the 110 grain Corbon in that caliber good for knock down power?
jmkpns 1 year ago
glocks have a similar single action pull....
86turkishman 1 year ago
i actully have a six inch barrel on my gp100 but is the 4 inch barrel more accurate
speedhed4 1 year ago
@speedhed4 That is most likely because the weight balance on the 4" model is better than the 6" making it easier to handle. I can't tell you how many times I wished I had bought the 4" model instead of the 6".
crazyredlion4500 9 months ago
Its a nice wheel gun BUT a long reech to the hammer makes in hard to produce a single action firearm its super heavy even unloaded not fun to carry and im not small im 295 lbs and i carry my old ladys rossi snub when I hunt coyotes. The 686 plus p is a lot better.
spudman1223 1 year ago
Its a nice wheel gun BUT a long reech to the hammer makes in hard to produce a single action firearm its super heavy even unloaded not fun to carry and im not small im 295 lbs and i carry my old ladys rossi snub when I hunt coyotes.
spudman1223 1 year ago
Load this with Winchester 357 Silver tips and you have a match that even a werewolf could appreciate.
Anchanthai 1 year ago
Next time, add some more light to your videos. Thank yo!
ss19800 1 year ago
@LookingDownThe45 Thanks for watching! :)
RaidingWindmills 1 year ago
Nice review. Bought a Glock 19 for my wife and my range shooting, and demo'd a 357 w/ 38 special, affordable bullets. No recoil whatsoever, but wondered with 357 loads what it will kick like.
luvblues100 1 year ago
@luvblues100 .357Mag out of this gun was like a jolt. Not too bad, but way more noticable than any 9mm semi.
RaidingWindmills 1 year ago
@RaidingWindmills sTried the 357 loads with a 4" barrel yesterday. Wasn't too bad will probably get one. Thanks
luvblues100 1 year ago
@luvblues100 My very short/light concealed carry kel tec 9mm hurts my hand while my GP100 6" with 357 mag feels just fine...
valflyinf 9 months ago
Nice review. Great gun. Last thing, you sound just like Kenny Powers from the HBO show Eastbound and Down. :)
Exoterik24 1 year ago 6
@Exoterik24 Thanks for watching! :)
RaidingWindmills 1 year ago
@Exoterik24 I would have said that bearded guy from the hangover.
TheBuckpole 3 weeks ago
Bought mine in 2004. same 4 inch barrel. I havent shot it a whole lot, probably 500-600 rounds since then. But its a pleasure to shoot when i do. In fact i think i will go through a box of 50 this weekend, after i dump a few hundred through the AR15
I have a box of Buffalo Bore 180 gr +P. Sure its going to kick like a mule over what ive shot in the past
bottle2lip 1 year ago
I switched from 9mm M9 pistol to .357 mag revolvers simply for power,accuracy , and range.
johnywinslow 1 year ago
Great review! I love the GP100!
thesawgrassraven 1 year ago
I own the GP100 with the 6" barrel and I do like the increased accuracy from the long barrel but I also like the GP100 with the 4 " barrel. It looks very slick. Sometimes I wish I had bought the 4" model.
crazyredlion4500 1 year ago
Can you review the Ruger LCR .357
It'll be pretty sweet
SnkyCyanTurtle 1 year ago
@SnkyCyanTurtle Wish I had one to review. But, I do have the SP101 in .357Mag. Maybe I'll do that.
RaidingWindmills 1 year ago
@RaidingWindmills Yes please do!
DarkegoMB 1 year ago
@RaidingWindmills ...please do a review on the sp101..i have one too..and i want to know what your take is on that one.
therealsosa0081 1 year ago
Buy some snap caps.
BeachRooster 1 year ago
@BeachRooster You can dry fire ALL Ruger firearms that I am aware of. I own 5 different Ruger models and ALL the Factory Manuals say it is Fine to Dry fire them.
The only "catch" is that if your Ruger has a magazine you should only Dry Fire it with the mag. in the gun .
marcus28r 1 year ago
Excellent video, man. It was very informative and you touched on a lot of topics that are important to handgun ownership such as revolver vs semi auto, cartridge type, shootability, etc. This is a much higher quality gun video than a lot of the videos out there on youtube these days.
Question: Which barrel length do you prefer? I have fired the GP100 at a rental range before with a 6" barrel. Though I don't know which to get for personal use. It'll be used for range work.
FA45ACP 1 year ago
Can you shoot .38 rounds through this gun without doing any modifications? do you have to change the cylinder ? I am thinking of buying one of these and any info would be helpful . Thanks.
marcus28r 1 year ago
@marcus28r You can shoot .38 Special out of any .357 revolver. Just pop the rounds in.
You cannot shoot .357 out of a .38 though.
mechanicaltruck 1 year ago
@mechanicaltruck Thank you. I went out and bought one , with the 6 inch barrel
( 4inch is prohibited here in Canada). I love it . It was accurate right from the factory and I would recommend it to anyone.
marcus28r 1 year ago
@marcus28r I am from Canada and just ordered the 4.2 inch ss model (4.2 inches = 106.68 millimeters ) over the 104 mm permitted here in Canada,its 40- 0z and fits my hands just fine with the houge grips...hey a Ruger GP100 any length bbl doesnt matter....Ruger rules :-)
tnc07232008 1 year ago 2
i perfer the 200 grain
TheKentuckykid9513 1 year ago
the only negetive thing about a revolver is, if you were in a close quarter confrontation with me, I could stop you from firing it into my head in one second by grabbing the cylinder and dropping a finger into the hammer slot, that stops single action pull and the cylinder cant turn for a second double action shot. I learned that from a night watchaman trainer. Other wise love revolvers, just keep your distance from the purp !! great gun btw.
mxm190 1 year ago
@mxm190 Revolvers still remain the superior handgun in close quarters. All it take is grabbing or pushing the slide and a semi won't fire; if something brushes the slide you get a failure, if you limp wrist they get a failure, if you hold it at a bad angle, you get a failure, if you pop the mag out it becomes a single shot. It's too bad most revolvers that are carried now-a-days are internal hammer models. Even if you could jam it, a quick pull back and its clear.
Monophony1 1 year ago
@Johnm251 What ammo were u using when this problem started, because I don't want to use that ammo at all?
Mr291229 1 year ago
I agree with you on the revolvers, my very first gun was a 357 smith&wesson 686 4" barrel, I love that gun and miss it. I went from revolver to semi and I like semi as well but the only thing about semi I don't like is the polymor Frame they don't make them like they use too. I can also tell u this, that u can't go wrong with a revolver it just works all the time, unlike semi failure to feed from not oiling it consistantly will get someone hurt or kill, easy manitance with the revolvers.
Mr291229 1 year ago
@Mr291229 Don't like polymer huh?
Sig's P220, 226,228, and 229 series are all metal and are great guns. The CZ 75, I hear are awesome as well.
mechanicaltruck 1 year ago
Beautiful gun, I fired one the other day and it had NO recoil. I was like WTF? They must have been weak 357 loads. I thought they may have been 38, but sure enough the casing said 357. They were Tennessee cartridge co reloads.
NIKON777 1 year ago
@NIKON777 I don't know for sure, but could be cowboy action shooting rounds you had there. I hear they have light loadings.
RaidingWindmills 1 year ago
EXCELLENT video review!!!!
maxq34 1 year ago
The old .357 magnum revolver is still an attractive choice for home defense, owing to it's unbeatable versatility and the proven effectiveness of the .357 Magnum cartridge. I won't part with my GP100.
LarryRickenbacker 1 year ago 2
i have one of these with a pistol scope on it. the recoil on this is really nothing. if i could afford it, i could shoot it all day.
JgGooden 1 year ago
is ruger revolver better or s&w?
tillaylomo 1 year ago 2
@tillaylomo i think that 's personal.
I have both. like 'm both
robin6512 1 year ago
Just bought the 6" version...can't wait!
Adam986 1 year ago
I'd trust my life to Ruger's rock-solid GP100.
LarryRickenbacker 1 year ago
Ever consider the GP100 with the 3 inch barrel?
Might be better for CC.
BlackNoir 1 year ago
smaller revolvers are better for concealment
brainstormer9 2 years ago
I love revolvers. Autos might be faster, but when you consider the ability to see at a glance when a revolver is in extremely dangerous mode (hammer back), and you can't with many autos, the choice is clear to me that most revolvers are far safer. The primary objective when using a gun is to come away alive... and over a period of a lifetime, I feel that a revolver reduces the chances of an accident so much that it factors into the odds equation in a huge way.
ScottsUtubeWorld 2 years ago
@ScottsUtubeWorld I strongly disagree with you regarding the safety of autos vs revolvers. Take for example the 1911 auto pistol, which has 3 safeties: thumb safety (must be pushed down with the thumb), grip safety (grip must be firmly squeezed inwards) and half-cock notch (prevents hammer from falling unless trigger is fully pulled). This means, to fire a 1911, three actions must take place (turn off thumb safety, squeeze grip safety, pull trigger). In a revolver, only one action: pull trigger.
PeteZaria1 2 years ago
"Weight is good, weight is reliablity; if it doesn't work you can always hit him with it."
-snatch
I love this revolver BTW
GadgetsNGear 2 years ago
i love my gp100 6 inch barrel so well balanced very well constructed gun id love to have a 8 round revolver plus you gotta go with the stainless steel bullets instead of brass to match xD
xxdirtbikeryderxx 2 years ago
"revolvers are underestimated in our society" should be on a bumper sticker.
northman1 2 years ago
I love my GP100 too.
odddreams 2 years ago
Just carry a gun on each hip and get good with both hands - like the cowboys did - lol
gfitzz28 2 years ago
@gfitzz28 "like cowboys did"...in the movies..
metaZen 2 years ago
In reality if a gunman carried 2 handguns they would usually both be on his primary hip for "new york reloads"
GadgetsNGear 2 years ago
Nice video. I love my GP 100. my favorite revolver.
1967mustang100 2 years ago
I keep telling all the carry-a-1911-cocked-and-locked-it-it-safe crowd that a revolver doesn't jam and doesn't need safeties and I would NEVER carry acocked weapon period. Reload? Speedloaders. I can slam a speedloader in as fast as a semi magazine.
badflamenco 2 years ago
stupid comment,badflamenco.you arent telling anybody anything.nobody cares about youre ignorant ideas.just because you cant/wont carry a certain way,doesnt make the rest of us wrong.i bet you cant prove youre reloading claim! prove me wrong.
308scoutrfl 2 years ago
Not saying yer wrong, Bud; just that I personally wouldn't caarry a 1911 in Condition One. Just because I don't doesn't mean you shouldn't so dont be so defensive. I usually carry a Walther and I ike DA/SA semis with decocking safeties for the reasons I spoke of, but a wheelgun is a great choice. You wanna shove a cocked .45 ACP in your pants go ahead, they're your nuts, not mine.
badflamenco 2 years ago
Does anyone know how hard it is to find a blue steel one of these?
MarciareOMarcire 2 years ago
really nice gun. Do you have any experience with the sp101? Because I'm thinking about getting one of those, or the gp100.
blitzkrieg459 2 years ago
Just got an SP101 with laser grips a few months ago. GREAT gun! It's now a favorite to grab-n-go. I even carry it around the house in my bathrobe.
RaidingWindmills 2 years ago 2
sweet man. Just one more question, do you have any problems knowing that you only have 5 shots instead of the normal 6?
blitzkrieg459 2 years ago
I feel a little bit wanting in firepower, but it's still 5 shots of .357Mag. I just tell myself to pick my shots carefully and try to avoid trouble as much as possible. Other than that, I feel pretty good in knowing that I did my best to get one of the smallest and lightest and highest quality .357Mag revolvers out there that doesn't come with some stoopid internal lock or other idiotic neutering device.
RaidingWindmills 2 years ago
@RaidingWindmills
Yea man I feel ya, but I kinda can't make up my mind lol. So I'm thinking about getting both, but you can't go wrong with either IMO.
blitzkrieg459 2 years ago
Lots of trouble at your house?
odddreams 2 years ago
the SP101 is a very nice gun I love it Recoil is not an issue for me I recommend one. You will love it to.
Rtc36 2 years ago
I forget exactly, but it was about $425.
RaidingWindmills 2 years ago
I just got this gun today lol i got it for free I found it when I was cleaning out this old mans garage this afternoon so I saw it and I was like no way lol it was burried under some clothes. I put it in my pocket and now I have it haha. I do own a glock I paid for though. I just need to get some .357 rounds because Ive never shot a 357 before in my life im only used to 9mm glocks.
Any tips?
ArBiTeR0000Tactical 2 years ago
@ArBiTeR0000Tactical
dude, so your saying you stole it?
blitzkrieg459 2 years ago
so you stole some old mans gun? not cool man...
LavaMountainKat 2 years ago
Don't know for sure but don't let the cops find you with a stolen gun could be big trouble.Also if that gun is already registered to him you may get busted if you try to register it. Not sure about that though so be careful.
Rtc36 2 years ago
I got a tip for you. Give the gun back to the old man you stole it from. People who steal guns are scum.
swimmer706 1 year ago
nice scar, man. that looks nasty.
gl0gg 2 years ago
Thanks! It feels nasty too.
RaidingWindmills 2 years ago
@RaidingWindmills lol that didnt come out right.
Ronald3570 1 year ago
For home defense, what's the opinion on 4" vs 6"? I understand 4" is convenient for storage, but really what difference does 2 inches actually make? I seem to be more accurate with the 6" as well. Think it makes a difference for home defense?
mctizzle912 2 years ago
More barrel should increase accuracy, increase bullet energy, decrease muzzle flip, and decrease muzzle blast. But there will be an increase in weight, decrease in mobility, and increase in probability that an attacker can grab your gun in a CQB situation. Just some factors to consider as you move up to a bigger sized gun. But, in general, size shouldn't be much of a restriction for home defense. Personally, I wouldn't mind a 6" over a 4" for the home.
RaidingWindmills 2 years ago
Thanks! Appreciate the feedback. Great vids too.
mctizzle912 2 years ago
I would say for home defense the 4" barrel is all you need. Heck a revolver with a 2 1/2" barrel is fine. The longer barrel will give you better accurracy, but we're talking at longer distances like 25+ ft. And even then you're talking only a matter of inches in terms of you're grouping. For home defense, you'll prob fire at no more than 10-15 ft away.
mikebfit 2 years ago
Ditto man, I am a revolver guy myself and I'm not even the older generation. I'm 27 and I prefer revolvers over semi autos. I own all types of guns from 1911s to Glocks to reolvers. If I had to choose 1 gun, it would be a good revolver in .357 magnum.
Shinerbop 2 years ago
i think my first handgun is going to be some kind of .357 revolver, i haven't decided which one i am going to get, and i probably wont until i shoot a few side by side so i can get a better idea of which one is better for me
schnips074 2 years ago
A good wheel gun is a great choice. You just need to figure out if it's going to be a carry gun. You can get a featherweight, a tank of a gun and everything in between. A lot of great choices out there.
ctfam 2 years ago
@schnips074 That is exactly what you have to do. You sound like you are on the right track. When I bought my 1st gun I screwed up and bought a piece of crap. The Ruger GP100 and the Smith and Wesson 686 are both good 357 magnum revolvers. I would say they are both dead even when it comes to qualty. I recomend a 4 inch barrel.
crazyredlion4500 2 years ago
look up the smith and wesson 686 great gun more expensive but great
afterjizz101 2 years ago
@afterjizz101 ya thanks i've heard good things about that one
schnips074 2 years ago
@schnips074 that would be a great idea since they also use .38+ which is cheaper but may I suggest testing the S&W model 686?
ChromeGhost0219 2 years ago
Comparing the G22 and Smith's M&P40 is more of an oranges and oranges comparison. I find the M&P 40 recoil to be less than the glock because of the lighter and thinner slide and the fact that it sits so much lower in the web of the hand. Ruger gp100s and S&W L frames have comparable features, similar recoil, and good accuracy and power. Their cylinder release is slightly different, as are the shape of the sights and hammer. Pure preference, there's no bad choice between the two!
NoiseMostBeautiful 2 years ago
I have to agree with most of the points on this gun except with the ease of use part. I own a Glock 22 and it's just as easy to use when loaded as any revolver, aim, point and shoot. Glock is also known for having one of the most reliable track records of all semi-autos out there. I myself am looking to get this same revolver just to own one of each, but I want the one that has the full rubber grips. My G22 has a pretty stout recoil from it's light weight. How does this gun compare?
oldschoolmobile 2 years ago
I've shot my friend's G22 and I find it a bit more pleasant to shoot than the GP100 which has more of a jolt to it.
RaidingWindmills 2 years ago
So is it stouter than the G22? Because I know the .357 is a stout load, but so is a .40 cartridge. How does the .357 SIG compare to the .357 mag?
oldschoolmobile 2 years ago
I haven't shot the .357Sig yet, but a lot of gun gurus say that there is some significant power overlap with that cartridge and the .357Mag.
RaidingWindmills 2 years ago
ruger's are made in the u.s.a. and (correct me if i'm wrong people), smith and wesson's are not. GO RUGER
jondoethegreat 2 years ago
i love this gun.
gwargwar1981 2 years ago
Well Done. If you think of all the mechanics of a semi-auto from a clip all the way to how it ejects a round, the revolver makes more since.
MajorDoody 2 years ago
"Point-and-click interface"- priceless.
Very nicely done review.
Indeed, these things are built like tanks- a very well-made wheelgun.
NipkowDisk 2 years ago 2
Hands down the best medium frame revolver..Well made,reliable,good action,tough as nails,and will last a looong time.I own one as well as a SP101.Oh yeah,it wont break the bank,either.
murphfromtimmonspark 2 years ago
Hey how would you compare this gun with a S&W 686
debowh 2 years ago
The GP100 seems to be better built because I've compared it with the 686.
jmkpns 2 years ago
very well actually, 686 and gp100 are nearly identicle, the only real difference that I can think of (aside from different cylinder releases) is that the gp100 is a little more robust in its construction and the 686 has a smoother trigger, both are good you can't go wrong with either
justhereoutofboredom 2 years ago 2
They are both great revolvers; however I went with the GP100, because it didn't have an internal lock to mess with.
JSM10069 2 years ago
@JSM10069 Yes, internal locks suck. I used to like Smith & Wesson revolvers until they added them crazy locks.
RaidingWindmills 2 years ago
@RaidingWindmills Nice review. I have this gun with a 6 inch barrel. I wish I had bought the 4 inch model. The 4 inch barrel feels more balanced and 6 inch can be a little too clumsy.
crazyredlion4500 2 years ago
I have those same grips, but bought and installed Hogue Monogrips.
jmkpns 2 years ago
Nice vid, i got the 6 inch version a couple months after watching this vid. Will polish the inside action to get the trigger pull even smoother, although I decided I would not change any of the springs... Will get a green sight and a V notch rear sight for it too. The hogue grips i have on there from the factory are just a blessing. Day/night upgrade from the rossi 972 in 357 mag..
valflyinf 2 years ago
megadeth is an idiot.......revolvers are awesome....
Blk05titan26 2 years ago
sure.. i prefer revolvers, i was just showing some cons... and the rounds hes using are rather low powered is what i was stating.. he could get a hell of a lot more powerful in 357.. and should
megadeth22885 2 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
well 'ive made my decision.
drivepro 2 years ago
haha.. anything that doesnt overpenetrate is going to dump all available energy into a target, that being said, the more energy available, the more that gets transfered
megadeth22885 2 years ago
a few things worth noting... yes revolvers will feed any ammo of its caliber, its not ammo picky, they wont jam either.. but if your cylinder is misaligned, its quite expensive to fix... most gunfights do end in 5 rounds or less, hell most gunfights dont happen just showing the gun... but 546ft/lbs is not impressive, you can get hot loaded 9x19mm loads that have 500ft/lbs and some .40S&W loads close to 550ft/lbs
megadeth22885 2 years ago
also keep in mind double action revolvers have more moving parts than an automatic.. whereas a single action revolver (cowboy style revolvers) have only 3-4 moving parts... the DA revolver does have many flaws... but given the options ill probably get a GP100 next, and use that to carry... but you can get ammo with over 800ft/lbs of energy for it
megadeth22885 2 years ago
kinetic energy is not what gets the job done, it's the energy TRANSFER and a 357 just does it better....
i mean a 45 is accepted to be a more "powerful" round than a 9mm right? while the 9mm can still have just as much, or more kinetic energy than the 45.
lobzdik 2 years ago
Ok you can also have hot loaded 357 at around 850ft/lbs or more and this gun is just engineered to take the heat, while most 9 mills are not (lets talk about jams and guns blowing up)
valflyinf 2 years ago
sure... you can have hot 357s loaded that hot... and the ruger is designed for it.. so why would you hang around these lower end loads that arent much better than a hot 9mm? if youre getting a ruger... take advantage of that, use the hottest loads you can find
megadeth22885 2 years ago
yes well I use pretty hot loads at work on duty carry Idont have any numbers but i use 110gr bullets they will go around 1300fps. the only problem with getting even hotter loads is: you have to make them!! lol, cant just buy them. Then you are looking at an investment over 200 bucksto start reloading, including the powder, primersand projectiles. Again you couldonly use those bulletsfor hunting and therange. theyr a no-no for defense, also over-kill...factory loads have everything u need defense
valflyinf 2 years ago
well, reloading is something good to get into anyway, it really will pay for itself... you can get a lee reloading kit for about $150 completely set up for 357 reloading... and buffalo bore makes a factory load pushing 802ft/lbs of energy... so reload hot ones for target shooting to get used to the recoil, use buffalo bores for defense
megadeth22885 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
i been shot at in the street and the person that shot at me had a 9mm pistol and i had a ruger GP 100 he shot at me 3 times at did not hit me i shot 1 time and stop him
nyc23bklyn 2 years ago
Very well done. Thanks!
jp622100 2 years ago
i got gp with a 6 inch barrel full underlug and a very comfortable hand grip that fits the way your fingers hold it its freakin deadly!!!
antant360 2 years ago
I have the exact same gun. Its great i can fire all six rounds with accurate percision in under 2 seconds. Good time. Cool vid!
meka11113 2 years ago
Great video, saves me the time to make a video on my gp100. I'm just going to make a video of the accessories i got for mine i.e. holster,fiber optic front sight, grip etc...
dakine425 2 years ago
when i went to buy my first handgun there was no doubt in my mind that it was going to be a .357 revolver. my budget led me to the gp 100 and i am one satisfied customer. i carry it on my hikes thru the woods and i even use it in coat season as my concealed carry.
MeesterChum 2 years ago
Nice review.
madmio 2 years ago
What are some recommended factory replacement parts to buy for this model? Just to have some on hand.
jmkpns 2 years ago
You might wanna try the ruger website for factory parts. Then there's gunbroker(dot)com for auctions on guns and gun parts.
RaidingWindmills 2 years ago
I have an exact same gun. Best trigger pull of any revolver I have seen.
shawnlalanne 2 years ago
Fantastic! you have described -Her- very well.
Very good explanation.
*****from Italy
guerrierodelgiaguaro 2 years ago
Hey im going to be trading in my Springfield armory xd for a 6 inch gp100 wondering if its a good choice? im looking for fun at the shooting range not
DuckySawce82 2 years ago
nice hand cannon.
edudrepus 2 years ago
Great Gun, Im getting the 6 inch.
49thCSC 2 years ago
Just got this Ruger and I LOVE it! It's so much fun to shoot. It has such a solid, serious feel to it - built like a tank! I also got the 6" which really helps mellow the recoil. This vid shows the grip with wood/rubber, but mine is solid rubber and a bit large for this woman's hand, but I make it work. I can't wait to take it back to the range and put some more rounds through it!
Peace through strength...
DonyaLane 2 years ago
Hogue Grips on the Six inch, Is perfect. The blued version isnt that bad either. But the SS model is hard to pass up.
49thCSC 2 years ago
i have the blued 4 inch . . . what is the SS model?
MeesterChum 2 years ago
Stainless Steel
frankgon4 2 years ago
what did you pay...thanks
RusselBertrand 2 years ago
it's about average
$450+
alecshinyuanwu 2 years ago
looks really sharp..
RusselBertrand 2 years ago
I totally agree with your comments regarding revolvers...they are most certainly underated these days! There are also speed strips that can be used.
Very good review and informative!
NICE JOB! 5-Stars!
rugersix 2 years ago
I love my wheel guns. they show that i am more for quality over quantity in my shots, I still like semi-autos, but they are too space aged for my liking
boiledhooker 2 years ago
My 6" jammed on me while using Blazer 158gr in the hot sumemr sun. The stainless had to cool down before I could swing the cylinder out. I believe this was a break-in issue.
TargetGuy2245 2 years ago
Happened too on my 6" rossi 357 mag, with 357 mag bullets of low quality right after i bought the gun new. It NEVER happened again after i started buying decent bullets. When they jammed the wheel the box for 50 rounds was 17 dollars. the brand was monarch, really bad bullets that make your gun dirty and hard to clean. Then i started using the magtech brand, the box is at 22 dollars, not bad and never got another cylinder jam.9for duty i use expensive hollow points, those will never jam either)
valflyinf 2 years ago
I owned a few GP 100 mdoels back in the 90s and they were damn fine guns. You can gut these guns for a thorough clean in seconds. Sadly, ammunition costs (BEFORE THE DROUGHT) for evolvers are slowly killing the market. Revolvers should be known as "reloader specials" anymore.
TargetGuy2245 2 years ago
Sorry about the spelling. The models I had shot a lot were the 6" stainless (full lug) and the 4" stainless service model (fixed sights/full lug).
TargetGuy2245 2 years ago
jw do you carry that gun
rmspino3 2 years ago
that is def a nice piece im gettin one soon praise the revolver its still good in todays era
rmspino3 2 years ago
I agree with him revolvers are underestimated because they only have 6 bullets but they can actually kill only using 1 or 2 and I like your choice of revolvers the 357 is a pretty good revolver.
cag589 2 years ago
Ya when you start going t the shooting range you understand that shooting straight is more important than the type of gun you use. Then you decide if you want 357 raw stopping power or semis calibers that are also deadly but weak compared to 357..I use 357 for duty but am considering switching to a 44 mag revolver and use 44 special for the first 6 bullets then 44 magnum as backup in my speedloaders.
valflyinf 2 years ago
hey very nice review you should make more on some other guns up me one if u agree
rmspino3 2 years ago 2
My father has a GP100 with a 5 inch half lug barrel. We used a dremel tool with a rubber bit and fine lapping compound to polish all the touching parrts of the trigger assembely. and oh man, that makes all the diffrence. i mean the gp100 has a good smooth pull, but if you polish the triggerparts it is just a joy to shoot.
Andreask93 2 years ago
546 ft lbs!!!
I would NOT wanna get hit with that.
By the way, I would be more intimidated by a guy with a revolver than a semi-auto
Dont ask me why, I just would!!!
Great video - 5 stars
ToonandBBfan 2 years ago
BTW, you mentioned the heavy trigger. That is because Ruger, like many gun makers, have to please lawyers. I changed out mine with a set of lighter Wolf springs and it made a big difference. I have a special edition GP100 with a 5" barrel, SS, and I installed special sights and checkered Hogue rosewood grips with finger grooves. It feels great in the hand. As you point out, .357 are fight stoppers. According to statistics, the .357 has has the highest one-shot stop rate. JOIN THE NRA!
ZoneIII 2 years ago
The Ruger GP100 is an excellent gun and outstanding value. Like all Rugers, they are almost indestructible. I have one and I have never had a problem with it ever. Nice video and very informative for anyone who may be thinking about getting one of these fine guns.
ZoneIII 2 years ago
I am thinking about getting one these guns. They seem very well built for the price.
OutdoorsBlackMan 2 years ago
They are very nice. I have had mine for over 7 years. It is what I keep loaded on the nightstand, and is my favorite for carrying when out camping, fishing, hunting. Carries very well in a Bianchi hip holster.
wendykdm 2 years ago
Thank you for the reply, Wendy. can't wait for mine!
OutdoorsBlackMan 2 years ago
It is a great revolver, I think you will love it. For outdoor carry it is a toss up between the GP100 and my Smith & Wesson model 13 with a 3" barrel. The weight makes the Ruger easier to shoot with magnum loads, but the Smith is easier on the hip. Both are nice firearms.
wendykdm 2 years ago 2
They are very well built. The newest guns come with a more effective rubber stock. The actions of recent samples I have tried are good. This review was well done with one exception. I think calling Cor Bon ammo a "recipe for disaster" was the wrong choice of words. I would say they are a "recipe for excellent defense." If you want to learn more about these guns come on over to the Ruger forum.
Shooter429
shooter429 2 years ago