Ruger revolver lifespan

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*Theoretically* if one was to purchase a GP100 or SP101, and run only full house .357 Magnums through said gun, how many rounds would it take before the gun was just... worn out ?

Well...

You would need to be a Zombie to wear it out in a lifetime... and then Ruger would replace it anyway.




GR
 
My FiL bought his GP100 brand-new something like five years ago. He shoots it quite a bit. I have no idea how many thousands of rounds he's shot through it. He shoots a mixture of plain lead 38 specials and plain lead 357's. Other than a bit of a turn line, it is like brand-new. It is completely tight, the inside of the barrel looks perfect, it has virtually no scratches or dings (he's very careful with his firearms)... checking out the action for any looseness or timing issues, you'd swear it just had a few hundred rounds through it.

He's in his 70's now. If he's still shooting regularly when he's 100, I would predict that the GP100 will still be functioning just fine.

Don't ask me about SP101's. I've owned two and disliked them so much that there is no chance at all of me wearing one out. ;)
 
About the only gun I have that I feel will wear out from my use is a Cobray derringer that after about 50 rds of a mix of .410 and .45 Colt has started to rattle loose. It's getting retired from any future range trips and is going to go in a hiking/fishing/outdoors pack with a handful of .410 ammo from now on.

For a revolver that's of a name brand, I wouldn't worry about it. Shoot the gun to your heart's content and if it wears out while you still own it, send it back to the factory. If we're talking an off brand revolver like H&R, Iver Johnson, don't even want to say it but, Rohm... these were not guns meant to last. I mean, Rohm's were generally garbage, but H&R and Iver's when they left the factory were good, low cost revolvers, but they weren't built to last many decades of regular use.

The intended owner was a working man who lived in the Northeast or big cities like Chicago, Detroit, Pittsburgh... places where handgun ownership was discouraged, but not necessarily illegal, and he bought the gun and a 50 rd box of ammo, shot two cylinders worth to get a feel for the gun, then put the gun and ammo away in the back of the dresser drawer until they "needed it."
 
Interesting statement. Could you elaborate?

I bought a brand-new 4.2" 327 version and was disappointed at how poor the trigger was. I can shoot it okay SA, but the DA trigger is terrible.

I also bought a used 2.5" 357 version. Its trigger in both DA and SA were not very good. I also could not hit the broad side of a barn with it.

I probably just happened to get bad examples, but I'm not eager to try another.
 
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All else being equal, the GP100 will have a much better DA trigger than an SP101. The bigger gun will allow for more leverage and that will mean a lighter trigger pull. Also, the GP100 cylinder turns on ball bearings while the SP101 uses a friction bearing. So the cylinder tends to turn more easily on the GP.

The SP101 trigger can be smoothed and lightened without messing with the springs, and it will smooth and lighten with use. My .22LR SP101 started out over 15lbs but is now down around 13lbs after I smoothed things out a bit and shot it some. Still not light, but better. And it's actually not the heaviest DA trigger pull on a handgun I own. That "honor" still goes to my Walther PPK--another small handgun.
 
To be fair, my friend bought a brand-new SP-101 (3", fixed sights, 357) a few years back that has a reasonably decent trigger.

They are not a very good fit for my hands, and both of the ones I happened to get had very poor triggers.

It's not right for me to disparage all of them just because of my my anecdotal experiences. On the other hand, I'm not personally willing to give them another chance either.
 
To be fair, my friend bought a brand-new SP-101 (3", fixed sights, 357) a few years back that has a reasonably decent trigger.

They are not a very good fit for my hands, and both of the ones I happened to get had very poor triggers.

It's not right for me to disparage all of them just because of my my anecdotal experiences. On the other hand, I'm not personally willing to give them another chance either.
Nor I. For what the SP101's are supposed to be, which is a small revolver, they're not light like the LCR is. That's ideal when shooting .357, but when the 7 shot GP100's are about 10oz heavier, hold 2 more rounds, have better grips, triggers, and sights and the price about $100 more, it's a better deal.

The non .357 SP101s... there's not much reason to buy them over the LCR or comparable Charter revolvers. Even with the longer barrels for the .327 and 9mm SP's, the poor triggers and ergonomics likely make their shootability WORSE than the standard LCR.
 
2fa5c5073a0cf5de6c6f10c3021b8c48.jpg
This isn't my Ruger but this is what my forcing cone looks like, minus the cracks, on my GP100 after about 4000 rounds of target loads.
The inside of the forcing cone looks fine, the face is just burning off of it.

Mostly 158 gr plated, BE-86 and Power Pistol medium loads which is what I practice with. Maybe few hundred XTP 158gr at 13.5 gr of 2400.

I don't share the others opinion that Rugers are all that great, I have a Model 28 that I shot hard for 30 years and the forcing cone looks unmarked on it.

What upsets me is I paid good money for a trigger and spring job and I know they will put it back to factory, and I'll have to pay to have that done again.
I don't think Rugers barrels are any good. My SP101 doesnt' have 1000 rounds through it and it starting to burn on the inside edge already.
It's only had 150 factory loads ran through it. The rest are my 90 gr lead bullet loads with 5 gr of 231. That sure didn't hurt it.
Someone will have to do some fast talking before I spend any more of my money on Rugers.
 
The non .357 SP101s... there's not much reason to buy them over the LCR or comparable Charter revolvers. Even with the longer barrels for the .327 and 9mm SP's, the poor triggers and ergonomics likely make their shootability WORSE than the standard LCR.

I like my 38 special LCR a lot. It's my preferred CC piece. I happen to have Smiths instead, but would be just fine with a GP100 for a range/HD/hunting revolver. The SP101 is in the middle between the two (LCR and GP100) and for me would not be good for either job.
 
If you build a V8 engine to do a 500 mile race, it is built to the max for just that & a little more, & it is built to win.
But if you have a V8 built to be a HOT ROD street legal it will last a few years.
But if you have a V8 market built for performance & reliability, that will last over 100,000 miles maybe 200,000, then
you take that same -Magnum- engine & keep it off the top end speed & maintain it properly you can pass it on to
your kids.
 
*Theoretically*, if you wore out either of those guns in your lifetime I bet Ruger would be willing to help you out. They just replaced a 10 year old LCP that I wore out.

If this is more than just a thought exercise for you, I highly suggest you go with the GP100 though. I've run some "full house loads" through a SP101 snubby, and it wasn't exactly fun.
 
I bought a brand-new 4.2" 327 version and was disappointed at how poor the trigger was. I can shoot it okay SA, but the DA trigger is terrible.
I also bought a used 2.5" 357 version. Its trigger in both DA and SA were not very good. I also could not hit the broad side of a barn with it.
I probably just happened to get bad examples, but I'm not eager to try another.

Sorry to hear you had such a problem, but I may have had a similar problem with a snubby (2.5"?) SP-101 in .38 Special. The gun is owned by an elderly relative and they were having trouble cocking the hammer for SA and even more in DA. I took it to a gunsmith near here and he suggested removing part of the coil spring in the gun's butt. He also explained that, due to altering the manufacturer's specs that way, he couldn't take the liability risk. He did talk me through the procedure while in his shop so we could test the poundage when I got done. I nipped off 2 pieces before I was satisfied that it was neither too low (aka "hair trigger") but low enough for them to use in DA.
When (and "if") I inherit this gun, I may have to replace that spring for my own safety.
 
JTHunter,

Wolff Springs offers reduced power spring sets for many different revolvers. There are usually three different main springs in the set. Remember that a spring has to also work against friction, polishing and lubrication help, too.
 
FWIW:
Don't know about rugers but I did burn thru some rounds in a s&w 586 that I bought NIB back in 1987. That 586 got a diet of anything from target loads in 38spl cases to hot 170gr 357 loads. 99% of the bullets shot in it were lead/cast bullets. Used to buy cases of the ww820 pull down powder to burn in that 586 & a couple 44mags. A case of ww820 ='s 4 8# jugs/32# of powder. Burned a lot of ww452/trap 100 in the 38spl cases.

At the 100,000 round mark I had to send that 586 in to s&w. They re-did the timing cut the bbl back and re-cut the forcing cone.
At the 200,000 round mark I had to send that 586 in to s&w. They re-did the timing cut the bbl back and re-cut the forcing cone.
At the 275,000 round mark accuracy went south along with I was loosing 40+fps with loads that I shot for years. What the bbl looked like
Sg4LjIe.jpg

It's hard to see in that picture the drive side of the lands are rounded out. The non-drive side of the lands is still fairly crisp. The holes in the cylinders were bad. they had a noticeable step starting to form in them.
gH0mQJ9.jpg

I re-barreled that 586 & put another cylinder on it. Shot it for awhile and ended up selling it. Just never liked the feel/balance of a 4" bbl'd 586.
 
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4D4EEBC1-AA1C-41D8-AA14-9F098348C887.jpeg Bought my Single Six new 60 years ago. Too many thousands of rounds through the pipe to count, and I’ve only managed to wear most of the anodized finish off the grip frame. The gun still locks up tight as a tick and is solid as a shot put.
 
I have a Service Six from 1976. Still runs as new.
image.jpeg

Im not sure what my Security Six bornday is .. But as you can tell I carried it alot ( when I was younger)
and shot it bunches ...I feel the "Six "
Series was Rugers best DA revolvers

I not a fan of Rugers newer production sreel framed revolvers.
But I do like the LCR.
 
@MaxP
Yep I owned a few early SP101's great experience.. 3 out of the last three newer ones ( manufacturered last 4ish years) none acceptable... GP100's
Several over the years last two ,, I wouldn't accept at the transfer ...
Most problems were horrible crane/frame fit ..cylinder drag ..& last Blackhawk was a 357 mag that had out of spec cylinder diameters .. each with there own special measurement

The last 3 LCRs. , couldn't ask for better revolvers...

Im not trashing Ruger ... Just QC across the board with ALL gun manufactures ..
In fact Im considering a 3 inch barrel GP100 7 shot 357mag or a S&W 686 +1 same configuration

Ordering straight thru my dealer and letting his smith ( revolver guy) go over it , before I purchase it ...
 
FWIW:
Don't know about rugers but I did burn thru some rounds in a s&w 586 that I bought NIB back in 1987. That 586 got a diet of anything from target loads in 38spl cases to hot 170gr 357 loads. 99% of the bullets shot in it were lead/cast bullets. Used to buy cases of the ww820 pull down powder to burn in that 586 & a couple 44mags. A case of ww820 ='s 4 8# jugs/32# of powder. Burned a lot of ww452/trap 100 in the 38spl cases.

At the 100,000 round mark I had to send that 586 in to s&w. They re-did the timing cut the bbl back and re-cut the forcing cone.
At the 200,000 round mark I had to send that 586 in to s&w. They re-did the timing cut the bbl back and re-cut the forcing cone.
At the 275,000 round mark accuracy went south along with I was loosing 40+fps with loads that I shot for years. What the bbl looked like
View attachment 851805

It's hard to see in that picture the drive side of the lands are rounded out. The non-drive side of the lands is still fairly crisp. The holes in the cylinders were bad. they had a noticeable step starting to form in them.
View attachment 851806

I re-barreled that 586 & put another cylinder on it. Shot it for awhile and ended up selling it. Just never liked the feel/balance of a 4" bbl'd 586.
Wow, 275,000 rounds through a gun you never liked the feel or balance of. I wonder how many rounds you would've shot if you really liked it.:D
 
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