I realized today… I just can’t shoot GP’s very well.

Riomouse911

Riomouse911

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I had an hour free after getting a bunch of errands done so I took my two GP-100’s to the range and fired a few cylinders through each. Both guns have rubber grips and the Fiber Optic front/white outline rear sights.

IMG_4049.jpeg

In the .4” .357 I fired some full power loads made with heavier than standard bullets (165 RN, 175 SWC and 200 gr. FP) and AA#9. Recoil wasn’t awful, blast was much less than H-110 loads have, but my 10 yard grouping wasn’t worth much. It was all pushed left, I had to move the rear sight over quite a bit to hit the X on the B-27.

IMG_4053.jpeg

In the 3” .44 Spl., shots with 190 gr WC and 210 gr RNFP (Each powered by 6.8 gr Unique) went 2”+ high (with the rear sight bottomed out) and were also so-so on this shrunken silhouette. :confused:

IMG_4051.jpeg

I have re-sprung and polished these actions and the pull weight is very good with zero grittiness, but the DA trigger stacking right before the hammer fall, and the large green FO front sights, are just a group killer for me. I just cant seem to get used to the feel.

I think I have been ruined by my S&W triggers and sight picture. None of them have a stack, just a smooth pull through the cycle.

Anyone else have guns that they just can’t seem to get to work for them?

Stay safe.
 
Riomouse911 said:
I had an hour free after getting a bunch of errands done so I took my two GP-100’s to the range and fired a few cylinders through each. Both guns have rubber grips and the Fiber Optic front/white outline rear sights.

View attachment 1190023

In the .4” .357 I fired some full power loads made with heavier than standard bullets (165 RN, 175 SWC and 200 gr. FP) and AA#9. Recoil wasn’t awful, blast was much less than H-110 loads have, but my 10 yard grouping wasn’t worth much. It was all pushed left, I had to move the rear sight over quite a bit to hit the X on the B-27.

View attachment 1190022

In the 3” .44 Spl., shots with 190 gr WC and 210 gr RNFP (Each powered by 6.8 gr Unique) went 2”+ high (with the rear sight bottomed out) and were also so-so on this shrunken silhouette. :confused:

View attachment 1190024

I have re-sprung and polished these actions and the pull weight is very good with zero grittiness, but the DA trigger stacking right before the hammer fall, and the large green FO front sights, are just a group killer for me. I just cant seem to get used to the feel.

I think I have been ruined by my S&W triggers and sight picture. None of them have a stack, just a smooth pull through the cycle.

Anyone else have guns that they just can’t seem to get to work for them?

Stay safe.
Click to expand...

SAME with my Service Six 6” and GP100MC. Very similar looking group at 10 yards.

But, my 3” (I think) GP100 Canadian reimport does about 1 inch with .38 target, .38 Hot, .357 Mids.

Strange?!?!

I’m going to change grips 1st… then if that doesn’t work, get down + dirty with a load test
 
I also had
NIGHTLORD40K said:
Yup, also Rugers, although I've never shot a GP.
My Redhawk and last 2 SPs were all accuracy-challenged. Did OK the last Security 6.

Can't say Ive ever had an accuracy complaint with any Colt or S&W revolver, and though I've struggled with my DW22, I shoot the DW15 best of the whole bunch.
Click to expand...
Even with the struggle… We are still have FUN! Just like a day of fishing!

I do need a new chrono tho
 
I am a huge fan of the GP series. I shoot them very well. However, I can not shoot handgun with a fiber optic front sight. It is too hard for me to get a clear sight picture. All of my GP's have a black front sight or a gold bead.

The guns that I just can't shoot are all Smith & Wessons. One is the Gen 3 Smiths as well as the older version of the Smith & Wesson Sigma. That hinged trigger just does my head in. I also have a hard time with the 442 J Frame type revolvers. For some reason if it has an exposed hammer like the 49 or the 60, I am ok. If it is enclosed, I just don't shoot it well. Other than those, I can generally shoot most other handguns well.

I would change the front sights on the Rugers and see if that helps.
 
ECVMatt said:
I am a huge fan of the GP series. I shoot them very well. However, I can not shoot handgun with a fiber optic front sight. It is too hard for me to get a clear sight picture. All of my GP's have a black front sight or a gold bead.

The guns that I just can't shoot are all Smith & Wessons. One is the Gen 3 Smiths as well as the older version of the Smith & Wesson Sigma. That hinged trigger just does my head in. I also have a hard time with the 442 J Frame type revolvers. For some reason if it has an exposed hammer like the 49 or the 60, I am ok. If it is enclosed, I just don't shoot it well. Other than those, I can generally shoot most other handguns well.

I would change the front sights on the Rugers and see if that helps.
Click to expand...
I was having a hard time focusing the green fiber also. I might just get a completely new set of signs. Something more accurate, especially with the click adjustments
 
Mark_Mark said:
SAME with my Service Six 6” and GP100MC. Very similar looking group at 10 yards.

But, my 3” (I think) GP100 Canadian reimport does about 1 inch with .38 target, .38 Hot, .357 Mids.

Strange?!?!

I’m going to change grips 1st… then if that doesn’t work, get down + dirty with a load test
Click to expand...
I had a Red Hawk 5 inch barrel in 45 Colt it had the factory grips on it and a Millet rear sight on it I hated that rear sight and the factory grips shot that gun like garbage . I changed the grips over to Hogue Mono Grips replaced the rear sight with factory rear sights what a great improvement my groups shrank considerably with not spending a lot of money.
 
Riomouse, I notice that you are one of those "thumbs flopping
in the air" kind of shooters and your left hand is way forward, more
under the trigger guard rather than solidly down on the shooting hand.

By the by, is the angle of your trigger finger from grip to front of
trigger feel comfortable, especially during the steady DA pull through.

Do your stocks allow for a straight line of wrist toward gun, no canting
around of gun hand to more comfortably reach trigger.
 
Good question, Rio.... very interesting subject.


I've never, really, been able to shoot SA revolvers well, even something with the Bisley grip. After some soul-searching, I've decided SA's are not for me, and even sold off my trusty .45 Colt Vaquero. Part of it, certainly, was the lock time, but part of it is just the geometry.

I also had a S&W 3" J-frame... I bought it for my mom, but I got it back when she couldn't shoot anymore. That gun never fit me very well, although a grip change helped. If I really sat down and concentrated on the trigger, I could turn in decent groups, but shooting offhand... naaa.

My revolver stash is down to just 3 pistols... all .41MAG's. The 2 S&W's are real DA shooters... they just fit my hand. The Dan Wesson, on the other hand, fits my hand very well... maybe better than the Smiths, believe it or not... but the 'short action' of the DW always throws me for a loop a little until I get used to it.
 
Years back when I bought a Security Six and then a Speed Six (I think that's what it was called) I found out that I couldn't shoot Ruger revolvers worth a dam. I moved over to Smith's and never looked back. Others do just fine with them so it must be my style of shooting but I could never get them to group well.

WB
 
Shooting revolvers well is a bit different skill set compared with auto pistols. When I was working on improving my revolver trigger control the one thing that helped me was putting a laser bore sight in the barrel & concentrate on keeping the dot perfectly still while dry firing, a lot easier than the old balance a coin on the barrel or front sight & not upset the coin drill. I still do it before I take to the range & it helped me tighten up my groups.
 
I find that when I shoot my Ruger GP100 that I actually shoot it more accurately than my S&W revolvers in .357.
When I first bought the GP100 I thought to myself “What did you just waste $700 on? The trigger is a funky 2 stage weird design. I will never shoot this well.”
Thankfully I was wrong.
I suspect that swapping the front sight to a red FO sight and having the big goofy Hogue Monogrip really helps me.

I would like to buy another Ruger DA revolver but quite honestly I am afraid my GP100 is just a fluke for me. I would love a Redhawk in .45 Colt.

Also, I agree with @UncleEd regarding grip.

Something else that just dawned on me. After shooting semiautos my revolver accuracy goes out the window for a while. The same goes for my Glocks after shooting revolvers for a while. Weird.
 
There comes a point of diminishing returns regarding trigger time. If a one brand naturally shoots better than another I think it's a waste of time and money struggling to shoot something that doesn't suit you.

Way back I came to the realization that I shot S&W's better than Ruger revolvers and only bought S&W's from then on.
 
UncleEd said:
Riomouse, I notice that you are one of those "thumbs flopping
in the air" kind of shooters and your left hand is way forward, more
under the trigger guard rather than solidly down on the shooting hand
Click to expand...

Looks like a good "thumbs-forward" competition grip. It's how I shoot (non-magnum) revolvers as well. Rotating the weak hand forward gets the weak hand fitting nicely into the pocket between your string hand fingertips and thumb pad - as such, there may be less weak hand on the shooting hand, but really, more on the grip itself. The canted weak hand also helps recoil control.

Riomouse911 said:
Anyone else have guns that they just can’t seem to get to work for them?
Click to expand...

Glocks. Low and to the left. My solution was to sell it and get something else I wouldn't have to adapt myself to.
 
100 %, gnappi. I have found the same. I don’t like shooting semiautos as much as revolvers, so I have to put in more time to get for me, decent accuracy. As a consequence, I don’t shoot most semiautos as well as revolvers. I started with glocks but ended with smith and Wesson and Ruger wheelguns. I should amend my first post and say I routinely have a crappy day shooting and have to work to not get discouraged. I’m not a natural good shot, have to work at it
 
Riomouse911 said:
I had an hour free after getting a bunch of errands done so I took my two GP-100’s to the range and fired a few cylinders through each. Both guns have rubber grips and the Fiber Optic front/white outline rear sights.

View attachment 1190023

In the .4” .357 I fired some full power loads made with heavier than standard bullets (165 RN, 175 SWC and 200 gr. FP) and AA#9. Recoil wasn’t awful, blast was much less than H-110 loads have, but my 10 yard grouping wasn’t worth much. It was all pushed left, I had to move the rear sight over quite a bit to hit the X on the B-27.

View attachment 1190022

In the 3” .44 Spl., shots with 190 gr WC and 210 gr RNFP (Each powered by 6.8 gr Unique) went 2”+ high (with the rear sight bottomed out) and were also so-so on this shrunken silhouette. :confused:

View attachment 1190024

I have re-sprung and polished these actions and the pull weight is very good with zero grittiness, but the DA trigger stacking right before the hammer fall, and the large green FO front sights, are just a group killer for me. I just cant seem to get used to the feel.

I think I have been ruined by my S&W triggers and sight picture. None of them have a stack, just a smooth pull through the cycle.

Anyone else have guns that they just can’t seem to get to work for them?

Stay safe.
Click to expand...
You're in good company. I watched a Jerry Miculek video when he was speed shooting a Colt, S&W, and Ruger Speed Six for comparison. After he shot the Ruger he said, he'd forgotten how hard that thing was to shoot. He said he kept it because he'd won it in competition early in his career.
 
Last edited:
I had serious problems shooting my first ccw. A Ruger sp101. Low and left every shot.
I am usually a pretty decent shot with my other handguns....Blackhawks, 1911s, single sixes. MKII..... all single action.
I had to work at it with the sp101. It a whole different cat for some reason....not sure what...?
I'm very pleased with my accuracy with my kframe s&w's.
 
I have the same issue with rugers overall.

I can plink at 25 yards with a j frame, double with a k or l.

Only ever shot a sp101 worth a dern. Also shot single sixes and wranglers well.

I've tried several GPS from 4 to six inch, service sizes etc.

Good groups...for a shotgun running buck...lol
 
Only GP i have is a 5" .44 i run hot loads thru. I had to Play with grip sizes to figure out what i shoot well.
My guns sprung and polished, but still heavier and stackier than my buddies 686 (his gun has ignition issues tho, so probably an abnormality) or my taurus 692. I do shoot it pretty well.....tho it like every handgun shoots about 6" left for me at 25yds.
 
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