The search for the right .357 has been a bit over the board, as it really has been a desire for a while. The 686 looked like a sure thing, but prices have been a bit steep locally and the right one hasn't presented. Had an SP101 with the 4" and adjustable sights pop up lightly used and well priced, but I was really hoping for at least a 6th round in the case I get into some of the local pin shoots which all run 6 rounds in revolvers. The standard GP100 was a bit coarse compared to the S&W which I figure would bring prices close to each other after a little trigger/action work on the Ruger. Then it was looking at the 686+ and the N framed 8 shot S&W's. The right one simply hadn't shown up at a price I could justify.
The GP100 Match Champion was very interesting when I first saw ads for it. The big drawback was that the cost I had seen online made it priced near the 686 and I wasn't sure it was really any better than a stock 686. There was one locally in the store today and after a little talk of the price, I was at $607 before tax ($650 out the door). Issue one down. The benefits I saw in the MC was the half underlug, FO front sight, and mostly, the trigger/action work done out of the box. The action is very nice, on par with my 625 that's had the insides smoothed over with a light polish. Certainly smoother than the stock J frame I grabbed. The DA trigger is a little heavier than the 625 which has reduced weight springs (putting it on the edge of reliability) but quite a bit less than that stock J frame. No pull gauge here but it was better than I expected for a mass produced sub $700 firearm.
The sights are perfect. Many people have stated they don't like the Novak rear and the none-adjustable front. I disagree for what this revolver is designed. Its a perfect IDPA option. Its smooth and has fewer things to go wrong. I'm all for that, you can still drift the rear sight to adjust for any windage and call Ruger for a replacement front height if that needs adjusted. That said, I haven't found a firearm made in the last 10 or so years (that wasn't defective) that didnt shoot to POA with centered sights using proper form.
Overall, this really hits the desires I had and did so at a price I'm happy with. Had a decent 686 popped up locally at the $600 price point lightly used first, I would have jumped on it. After getting to handle the MC, I'm very happy that it showed up first. Time will tell how things wear in. I'm sure it will last multiple lifetimes worth of full house loads but I plan to mostly shoot light hand loads. Steel plates and bowling pins don't know the difference. The build quality is very good, the fit and finish is as good as you would expect for the sub $1000 price point today, and the action work puts this ahead of the standard GP100. If I only had access at the gunbroker prices of $799 plus shipping and transfer fee, I'd pass, but for $650 out the door, I haven't run into a more fitting option for me, especially not having to gamble I'm getting someone else's lemon of a used firearm.
The GP100 Match Champion was very interesting when I first saw ads for it. The big drawback was that the cost I had seen online made it priced near the 686 and I wasn't sure it was really any better than a stock 686. There was one locally in the store today and after a little talk of the price, I was at $607 before tax ($650 out the door). Issue one down. The benefits I saw in the MC was the half underlug, FO front sight, and mostly, the trigger/action work done out of the box. The action is very nice, on par with my 625 that's had the insides smoothed over with a light polish. Certainly smoother than the stock J frame I grabbed. The DA trigger is a little heavier than the 625 which has reduced weight springs (putting it on the edge of reliability) but quite a bit less than that stock J frame. No pull gauge here but it was better than I expected for a mass produced sub $700 firearm.
The sights are perfect. Many people have stated they don't like the Novak rear and the none-adjustable front. I disagree for what this revolver is designed. Its a perfect IDPA option. Its smooth and has fewer things to go wrong. I'm all for that, you can still drift the rear sight to adjust for any windage and call Ruger for a replacement front height if that needs adjusted. That said, I haven't found a firearm made in the last 10 or so years (that wasn't defective) that didnt shoot to POA with centered sights using proper form.
Overall, this really hits the desires I had and did so at a price I'm happy with. Had a decent 686 popped up locally at the $600 price point lightly used first, I would have jumped on it. After getting to handle the MC, I'm very happy that it showed up first. Time will tell how things wear in. I'm sure it will last multiple lifetimes worth of full house loads but I plan to mostly shoot light hand loads. Steel plates and bowling pins don't know the difference. The build quality is very good, the fit and finish is as good as you would expect for the sub $1000 price point today, and the action work puts this ahead of the standard GP100. If I only had access at the gunbroker prices of $799 plus shipping and transfer fee, I'd pass, but for $650 out the door, I haven't run into a more fitting option for me, especially not having to gamble I'm getting someone else's lemon of a used firearm.
