GP100 Material

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Quick question: What's the Ruger GP100 made out of? Can't find a clear answer. A buddy of mine just purchased one. Very similar to rugers 80s revolvers but made out of lighter metal. Are these cast from zinc pot metal like a bryco? It's black not stainless. He ordered online sight unseen. Sounds like it's probably going on consignment soon. Might buy it for a tackle box gun.
 
Frames are cast steel--good quality and very solid. The cylinders are machined from steel bar stock. Ruger used to say that their blued steel alloy was stronger than their stainless alloy, but their revolvers made from both materials are known for durability and strength.
 
Quick question: What's the Ruger GP100 made out of? Can't find a clear answer. A buddy of mine just purchased one. Very similar to rugers 80s revolvers but made out of lighter metal. Are these cast from zinc pot metal like a bryco? It's black not stainless. He ordered online sight unseen. Sounds like it's probably going on consignment soon. Might buy it for a tackle box gun.
Absolutely not pot metal or light weight. What makes you say it's lighter metal? Maybe you meant the color of stainless is lighter than blued older model and questioning whether it was pot metal? A 4.2" blued GP100 weighs 40 ounces, a 5" SS weighs 43.5oz. and have a reputation of being built like tanks that will last a lifetime(or two).
 
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Thanks, good to know. Just wanted to make sure if I decided to buy it. Maybe this one's a lemon, but definitely not built "like a tank." Lots of endplay, sharp edges everywhere, part of the crane is as thin as aluminum foil. Cylinder rattles when unlatched. Is this normal?

I thought it was cheaper steel since the brushed "bluing" was common on some of those zinc guns you find in pawn shops. Easy to hide imperfections. No offense meant from use of term pot metal.

Would buy it for $350, so if it'll hold up I'll deal with the relative poor quality. Let me know if it sounds like a lemon though.
 
"The nominal chemical composition of Carpenter Custom 465 stainless is: carbon 0.02% max., manganese 0.25% max., phosphorus 0.015% max., sulfur 0.010% max., silicon 0.25% max., chromium 11.0-12.5%, nickle 10.75-11.25%, titanium 1.50-1.80% and molybdenum 0.75-1.25%." Hope this answers your question. ;)

465 Carpenter isn’t used on the GP100s, only the cylinders of the .454s and .480s in double- and single-action applications. In this application that steel isn’t even necessary.
 
Thanks, good to know. Just wanted to make sure if I decided to buy it. Maybe this one's a lemon, but definitely not built "like a tank." Lots of endplay, sharp edges everywhere, part of the crane is as thin as aluminum foil. Cylinder rattles when unlatched. Is this normal?

I thought it was cheaper steel since the brushed "bluing" was common on some of those zinc guns you find in pawn shops. Easy to hide imperfections. No offense meant from use of term pot metal.

Would buy it for $350, so if it'll hold up I'll deal with the relative poor quality. Let me know if it sounds like a lemon though.

Seriously? I am having trouble taking this post seriously. Zinc? If the crane is as thin as aluminum foil, have you handled the equivalent Smith & Wesson?
 
Seriously? I am having trouble taking this post seriously. Zinc? If the crane is as thin as aluminum foil, have you handled the equivalent Smith & Wesson?

I'm having trouble taking you seriously when you're getting so worked up you can't read. I said part of the crane.
 

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As far as sharp edges and crane being thin, I guess you'd have to compare it to a new model and see if it's just the design you don't like. The way to check the cylinder would be with it closed not open. Excessive end play and cylinder not locking up tight may indicate wear from hot loads, maybe reloads. Have you measured the end shake with a gauge?(difference between B-C gap cylinder pushed forward and pushed backward)What you're saying about this gun doesn't sound typical of a GP. I'd find a new one to compare it with. $350 for a good used GP is a good price. I'm not sure which part of the crane looks thin to you but I've never heard of any issues with one. (and I spend way to much time reading about these things and own 2 GP 100s and 1 SP101.)
 
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I'd like pictures of the actual gun. It honestly doesn't SOUND like anything rugers ever built.
My 5" .44 special out weights my buddies 6" 686. Nothing feels cheap or thin, or anything else on that beast. I don't have any noticeable sharp spots on mine either. Not exactly sure how to check endshake but if ya wanna tell me I'll so that when I get home.
 
I'd like pictures of the actual gun. It honestly doesn't SOUND like anything rugers ever built.
My 5" .44 special out weights my buddies 6" 686. Nothing feels cheap or thin, or anything else on that beast. I don't have any noticeable sharp spots on mine either. Not exactly sure how to check endshake but if ya wanna tell me I'll so that when I get home.

I haven't bought it yet, it was new. He just thought he was getting something "different." Not sure if this is still the correct way, but to check endplay properly I use a feeler gauge between barrel and cylinder with the hammer back. One measurement holding cylinder forward, one pushing it back.
 
The stainless frames are cast from 415 stainless, the blued guns from 4130 chromoly steel.

They are not cheap, nor is anything in the crane area thin as aluminum foil. The OP either doesn't know what he's looking at or is a troll.

I know what I'm looking at. The crane forks off and becomes very thin near the side of the gun. I put a picture of a GP100 crane for reference. I'm just asking if this is common, calm down.
 
OP, is this the first GP-100 you've ever looked at or handled?

No I've looked at others for myself, to be honest, never been impressed for the price they charge and not a fan of the push button cylinder release. For $350 unfired though, it's more reasonable.
 
No I've looked at others for myself, to be honest, never been impressed for the price they charge and not a fan of the push button cylinder release. For $350 unfired though, it's more reasonable.
For 350 bucks buy it. If it don't shoot right. Send it to Ruger. The will fix any issues and have it back to you inside of two weeks with no charge to you. Cant really loose out on that one. There customer service is great.
 
I might agree some on the sharp edges comment but other than that I have no issues with mine and I don't see the other "problems" that the OP states.
 
For $350 you could buy it and sell it for at least $450 if you didn't like it. Any issues send it to Ruger. That's a steal for an unfired GP. It sounds like you don't like the design or generally unimpressed with Rugers which is totally fine but I wouldn't buy a gun I didn't like even if it were a good deal. That is unless I was going to resell it. Good luck, signing out...
 
No I've looked at others for myself, to be honest, never been impressed for the price they charge

OK then, does this one seem similar to others you've looked at? I'm trying to figure out whether your concern is whether: 1) are GP100's are a sound design?; or 2) is this particular gun typical of GP100's?

Which question are you asking?
 
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