Great day with an Old/New GP100 3" 1/2 Lug

[ECVMatt]

For some reason I am drawn to the 1/2 lug GP100. I have a beautiful 6" 1/2 lug that is rugged and extremely accurate. One that I have always wanted to add to the stable is a 3" 1/2 lug (or maybe a 1/4 lug on this short tube.) I have found lots of 3" full lugs, but the 1/2 eluded me until recently.

Being in CA I had to do a face to face transfer to get this gun which meant driving 2 hours to meet the seller. When I met the seller I learned that he was the second owner. The first shot the gun a few times and then kept it by the bed for years. The second owner did the same. It has a very low round count and looks like a NOS 1995 GP100. I was extremely happy to say the least.

I was finally able to pick it up yesterday and stopped by my range on the way home. Fixed sights on a revolver can be tricky, but it looks like these are pretty spot on. I will have some fun working up a load to match the sights, but the gun likes full power 158-180 loads. This is exactly what I wanted to load up for this gun. I shot about 100 rounds at 10 to 15 yards and got some great initial groupings. The heft of this little guy soaks up the recoil and I had no discomfort over the course of a 100 rounds.

Here are some pictures, but more to follow as I work up a good outdoors load.

 

[Pat Riot]

Very cool! Congratulations! I like your GP100.

I just bought my first Ruger DA revolver, a GP100 recently and I really like it. Mine seems to like 158 grain full power loads as well. I also bought mine for shooting full power loads. I have not been disappointed.

 

[Tallball]

Awesome revolver!

I'm glad you found it.

 

[ECVMatt]

Pat - I read your post about drive a bit to do the PPT on your GP and that is what motivated me to make the drive for this one. Glad yours is working out for you!

 

[Pat Riot]

Pat - I read your post about drive a bit to do the PPT on your GP and that is what motivated me to make the drive for this one. Glad yours is working out for you!

Cool! I am glad it was worth it. I was a little apprehensive traveling 90 miles to buy a gun that I only saw photos of and the guy’s word on it’s condition.
It’s nice to know that there are still honest people in this world and not everyone is out to scam you.

 

[chicharrones]

Damn, that's a sweet little Ruger.

 

[357 Terms]

Well worth the 2hr drive!! Nice!
I love those snubby Ruger's.
Excellent revolver you have there!
I have/had similar, can't beat e'm.

 

[stonebuster]

Nice find! I didn't know they made a 3" with that barrel configuration. I recently bought a 1989 3" blued with full lug fixed sight that also shoots right on the money. I noticed the B/C gap on the '89 GP100 was .004 the same as my two speed sixes and one Service Six. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do mine.

 

[Choctaw]

That's very nice.

 

[B_Li_Ber_Tar_Ian]

There's one of these fixed sight, 1/2 lug GPs at a pawn shop next town over. Been there over a year, I bet they'd be willing to make a deal. IIRC it's only $650ish anyway.

 

[.455_Hunter]

Very nice!

An excellent candidate for "owing only one handgun".

 

[Riomouse911]

Great pickup!

I’ve come close to buying a few guns over the years from a store that used to be in yucca valley, but the 2x 200 mile round trip for the buy, then the ten day wait for pickup, put a damper on those plans.

BUT if it was for that gun, whats 400 miles?

I really wish Ruger would offer more without the full lug. I have three of their full lug GP/SP guns and I wish all were half lugged.

Great shooting, too.

Stay safe.

 

[ECVMatt]

There's one of these fixed sight, 1/2 lug GPs at a pawn shop next town over. Been there over a year, I bet they'd be willing to make a deal. IIRC it's only $650ish anyway.

Everyone needs a pair and a spare....if there was another one near me I would probably have to pick it up! 650 is a good deal right now.

 

[ECVMatt]

Great pickup!

I’ve come close to buying a few guns over the years from a store that used to be in yucca valley, but the 2x 200 mile round trip for the buy, then the ten day wait for pickup, put a damper on those plans.

BUT if it was for that gun, whats 400 miles?

I really wish Ruger would offer more without the full lug. I have three of their full lug GP/SP guns and I wish all were half lugged.

Great shooting, too.

Stay safe.

I will admit this is the farthest I have gone for a gun. It is so hard to find off-roster stuff it made the drive more than worth it. My desert camp is only about 45 minutes away from the FFL, so I was able to stop on the way home and shoot. I guess that only makes it 45 minute drive? The shooting was so/so but I will get better with some additional time on the trigger.

The gun does have a very nice trigger. When I detail stripped it I noticed the hammer was shimmed and the hammer strut polished. It look like the original owner gave this some love. The hammer spring is a bit light for my liking, so I did order a heavier one from Numrich. I did not get any light strikes but the primer strikes were a bit shallow. I am willing to sacrifice some of the nice trigger pull for a heavier primer strike.

Now I have some loading to do. My son and I when through a good part of my .357 stash a few weeks ago.

 

[Riomouse911]

I’m slowly filling the same boat, I need to set aside two good days for loading .38 & .357 myself.

Stay safe.

 

[RealGun]

For some reason I am drawn to the 1/2 lug GP100. I have a beautiful 6" 1/2 lug that is rugged and extremely accurate. One that I have always wanted to add to the stable is a 3" 1/2 lug (or maybe a 1/4 lug on this short tube.) I have found lots of 3" full lugs, but the 1/2 eluded me until recently.

Being in CA I had to do a face to face transfer to get this gun which meant driving 2 hours to meet the seller. When I met the seller I learned that he was the second owner. The first shot the gun a few times and then kept it by the bed for years. The second owner did the same. It has a very low round count and looks like a NOS 1995 GP100. I was extremely happy to say the least.

I was finally able to pick it up yesterday and stopped by my range on the way home. Fixed sights on a revolver can be tricky, but it looks like these are pretty spot on. I will have some fun working up a load to match the sights, but the gun likes full power 158-180 loads. This is exactly what I wanted to load up for this gun. I shot about 100 rounds at 10 to 15 yards and got some great initial groupings. The heft of this little guy soaks up the recoil and I had no discomfort over the course of a 100 rounds.

Here are some pictures, but more to follow as I work up a good outdoors load.

View attachment 1065747

View attachment 1065748

View attachment 1065749

The arc shape at the front of the ejector housing really makes the appeal of that gun. Mine does not have that.

 

[ECVMatt]

The arc shape at the front of the ejector housing really makes the appeal of that gun. Mine does not have that.

That is why I drove so far to get it. Ruger used to offer this barrel contour more often. I like the 1/2 lug look although on this gun it is arguably a 1/8 lug. I found quite a few full lugs but thankfully held out for the 1/2 lug.