Is the Ruger GP100 the Greatest Double Action Revolver Ever Made?

[Monster Zero]

No

No, not at all.

I owned one, a 4" model with the real Ruger grips on it. I liked it at the range. All that steel made it a joy to shoot. It didn't have the greatest trigger I've ever met but hey, you can't have everything, right? You learn to live with it and manage the limitation. I wish I hadn't let it go...

That said, if I ever again decide to go hauling something that big and heavy around with me to shoot .357 with, I think I'll try to find a used Marlin lever gun.

 

[CopperFouling]

The best? Not quite. It's a fine revolver in its own right. Personally, I want something more along these lines. It's not the best, but it's the best I can afford.

 

[back40]

not the only reason why it does not meet my requirements.

sooooo, what are the other requirements? what does the gp100 have over the python?

 

[BigG]

No way. Bill Ruger is the guy who turned against the rest of the gun makers when he cooperated with the gov't to limit magazine capacity. I have never and will never own a Ruger.

 

[TestPilot]

Posted by Willie Sutton:
Goods that are widely accepted as the best available in their particular categories are just that: Goods that are widely accepted as the best available in their particular category. That's not opinion, it's just the way it is. These things are, with very little argument, universally held opinions if you gather a group of knowlagable enthusiasts.

The problem with your statement is that you equate monetary market value with "widely accpeted as best" according to your own arbitrary standard then present it as a consensus for some abstract experts.

A custom 1911 can even be more expensive than a Korth self-loader. That does not mean there is a consensus among combat pistolcraft experts that such custom 1911 is "widely accepted as best." The reality is far from it.

 

[AZ Desertrat]

Ok...I'll bite.....yup....it is the greatest....Rugers are certainly strong beasts...I have 3 Blackhawks and a couple of Super Blackhawks...Never a worry about what they
can handle.

 

[back40]

again, test pilot, the price or value isn't what makes those things better. it's the fact that they are better due to materials, labor, and design used, that sets the price or value. it isn't that hard to comprehend.

ask anyone who makes the "best" 1911, and it'll be one of the high end, high dollar makers. ask someone who makes the "best" anything, and it'll likely be one of the most expensive examples of that item. this isn't rocket-surgery.

of course, "best" is subjective as usual, and to each his own. but as stated, among enthusiasts, there generally is a consensus within any given community of any given hobby or interest.

 

[Willie Sutton]

^^ This.


"The problem with your is that you equate monetary market value with "widely accpeted as best" according to your own arbitrary standard then present it as a consensus for some abstract experts".


I respectfully suggest that in any gathering of knowlagable enthusiasts, there would be darned few who prefer a Mazda Miata to a 911, a Seiko to a Rolex, a Bronica to a Hassleblad, or a Winchester to a Holland & Holland. Gathering concensus on those points is a no brainer. You do often get what you pay for.

More pointedly, I don't think there are too many revolver enthusiasts who would really value a Ruger over a Smith & Wesson, never mind a Colt Python. There's a pecking order and Ruger is someplace in the middle between Taurus and the big two of Colt/S&W, which have been historically valued about equally in desirability by the masses over a period of over some 100 years.




Willie

.

 

[LeontheProfessional]

According to guns and ammo tv the smiths, and colts are more desirable due to their precision, aesthetics, and fine triggers. Neither of them will go head to head as far as round count goes with a Ruger. Rugers are tanks

 

[TestPilot]

again, test pilot, the price or value isn't what makes those things better. it's the fact that they are better due to materials, labor, and design used, that sets the price or value. it isn't that hard to comprehend.

ask anyone who makes the "best" 1911, and it'll be one of the high end, high dollar makers. ask someone who makes the "best" anything, and it'll likely be one of the most expensive examples of that item. this isn't rocket-surgery.

What is so difficult for you to understand that a high price pistol with materials and workmanship, etc., is not necessarily better?

There are many combat pistol craft experts who chose pistols like Glock over those pistols you claim to be better due labor, design, etc.

Then how are those pistols better?

 

[ColtPythonElite]

According to guns and ammo tv the smiths, and colts are more desirable due to their precision, aesthetics, and fine triggers. Neither of them will go head to head as far as round count goes with a Ruger. Rugers are tanks

Hogwash on the second sentence....My pet Colt King Cobra has seen 25k+ rounds and shows no wear. It's forged frame is superior to Ruger's cast....I will bet money a tank is not made from cast metal.

A famous gunsmith has been quoted as saying the King Cobra is the strongest mid-framed .357 made.

I feel certain a 686 will hold up as well as a GP.

 

[back40]

here you go with the combat stuff again.

first off, i'm not claiming either pistol is better. what i said was, if you ask enthusiasts who makes the best 1911, you're going to get a high dollar answer,even for a combat gun. brown, wilson, yost etc. why are they high dollar? because of the materials, labor etc, involved. greater overall quality.

you want to compare a glock to something? compare it to other striker fired autos. just like we don't compare DA revolvers to SA revolvers. because they are different animals.

again...what does the gp100 have over the colt for you specific list of requirements?

 

[LeontheProfessional]

Considering your username I'm not going to argue. Just quoting what the experts said

 

[benzy2]

Willie, I will say, I'd take the "other" option you present against your most expensive option in each case as I can afford to use them. I can replace parts on a Miata, and a lot of 911's aren't 600k mile cars without tens of thousands worth of parts and work. I'd feel guilty scratching a nice H&H. I'd be afraid of being jumped wearing a Rolex and would wear the Seiko every day instead. I can honestly say the functionality of all of your "best of" examples is less than the "subpar" example. Give me a user, and you enjoy the art. My best is not the most expensive, regardless of what your circles tell you are the best.

They're tools. Some for entertainment, some for hunting, some for defense, some for looking at in a case/safe. My best is the most effective tool for the price. If yours is the most expensive, regardless of function (like say that Rolex that's inferior at keeping time than a simple Timex) go for what is your best but its far from everyone's best.

 

[back40]

how is a rolex inferior at keeping time, and speaking of function, how many timex watches are still going after 40 years?

 

[rswartsell]

Again I find myself in agreement with ColtPythonElite,

In '69ish when the Colt Mk III was introduced, quite a brouhaha was made over the strength of the pattern (achieved through design and the impeccable metallurgy of the forged frames Colt was at the time known for, above even Smith and Wesson). More than a few who should know declared it the strongest .357 ever made. That is in comparison with Smith N frames, not L (and all others including the Ruger "Sixes"). The opinion of the informed was that Colt traded refinement for brute strength (and lowered production cost). Similar noises were made for the Dan Wesson, it's modular design, front mounted cylinder latch and interchangeable barrel system (barrel under tension), but most agreed the Colt was still the strength champ.

Comes Bill Ruger, and he proves what an industrial genius he really was with preserving enough quality and strength while realizing major cost reduction. Their casting methods are an industrial marvel of the times as well as the innovative design. However cast is still cast and quality forgings are still forgings. I don't believe Ruger EVER took the brute strength crown, but damn sure came close enough at the price point to start the crowing. They also benefited from the (not directly related) immense strength reputation of the Blackhawks in the SA world. Time has also proven them (GP100s) durable as a bad habit and more enjoyable. The Moisin Nagant of DA revolvers?

The BEST of anything will depend on your value set. To some the GP100 will be preferable to a Korth, to others not so much. A huge fan base over a significant period of time has valued them to the point that the price differential has shrunk over the old market dominating brands. That alone says something. My bet is most GP100 owners never feel a lack of anything with their selection.

You can decide what that means for good or ill.

 

[Willie Sutton]

^^ Tools are tools. You can select tools that work for you under your own conditions, but don't kid yourself: There are others who would use higher quality tools, and extract the quality that they offer in either an objective or subjective way.




"Considering your username I'm not going to argue."

"Testpilot" isn't one. Has no bearing on this, other than that it's... well.... <sigh>... gauche.

In any event, "robustly debate" without fear.


Each of us buys what we feel gives us the best value for our dollar. Some of us have higher expectations than others. Rugers fall below my expectations, and are not even on my radar for purchase. When it comes to understanding top-quality versus lesser, you either get it or you don't.



Willie
Member: The Society of Experimental Test Pilots . www.setp.org/
Pilot/Instructor: USN, USAF, and National Test Pilot Schools

 

[benzy2]

Rolex's motion is inferior to a quartz crystal. Search Self winding vs Quartz movements for watches. That cheapo Timex quartz movement has better precision at time keeping than the complex, expensive to produce Rolex self-winding movement. Far more effort and skill goes into the Rolex but it doesn't mean it keeps better time. It just means it costs more.

Edit: If you justify a higher priced item, enjoy it. It harms me none if you enjoy something different than I. Just want to say not all of us find the best for us as the most expensive. Its so subjective that anyone telling someone else their opinion is wrong is silly, either way. It goes back to the old saying "if you spend less than I do you're cheap and if you spend more you're a fool with your money". Only I'm right.

 

[back40]

what about the second part of my question? how many timex watches are still going after 40 years that you know of? better function doesn't always mean more precise whether it's watches or revolvers.

i agree with your edited text.

 

[savit260]

To me the GP 100 is kind of like a Corvette.

A tremendous value for the money, but not the greatest sports car of all time.
( I think Testpilot might also appreciate their rust resistance )

There are many others that have a more legit claim to that title.

 

[TestPilot]

here you go with the combat stuff again.

Why? Is the existence of evaluation standard where pistols that require expensive material and more manual work manship does not equate being better an inconvenience to you?

first off, i'm not claiming either pistol is better.

Really?

"…it's the fact that they are better due to materials, labor, and design used, that sets the price or value."

What happened to that?

what i said was, if you ask enthusiasts who makes the best 1911, you're going to get a high dollar answer,even for a combat gun. brown, wilson, yost etc. why are they high dollar? because of the materials, labor etc, involved. greater overall quality.

you want to compare a glock to something? compare it to other striker fired autos. just like we don't compare DA revolvers to SA revolvers. because they are different animals.

Hmm...so according to you, people should judge Wilson and Ed Brown as better pisol in an environment where pistols that are just as effective , if not better, and achieves that will less expensive material and labor is removed from competition because it has a different trigger.

Meaning : Wilson and Brown is best in an evaluation where conditions of that evaluation render the evaluation meaningless for practical purpose. Since in real world, people are not limited to only one trigger type when selecting a pistol.

That way you can conveniently avoid the criticism of your logic on the grounds that there are situations where special labor and matrial involved pistols not being necessarily better.

Nope. I don't buy it. There is no reason why self-loading pistols with different trigger types cannot be compared for a specific purpose, such as combat utility.

When a person selects a pistol, the person evaluates and selects from a pool of various types of pistols. It is not as if the person buys the best for each category of trigger mechanism.

 

[Willie Sutton]

"how many timex watches are still going after 40 years?"


In Antarctica, none of the battery powered watches lasted six months. My Rolex has run continuously except when being cleaned for well over 40 years. The last time it ran for 35 years continuously between cleanings. Read that again: It never stopped running for 35 years. How many machines run for decades and decades and decades with precision with absolutely minimal maintenance? Timex? Don't make me laugh. Ruger the best revolver? Again, don't make me laugh.

The point being that just because YOU can't exploit higher quality items and use them to their functional limit when lesser items do not cut it, the fact is that there are others who can and will exploit the best that the best can offer. You CAN do a better lap on the track with a 911 than a Miata. You CAN rely on a Rolex in Antarctica to keep working when others fail. You CAN take better photos with a Hassleblad than a Bronica. Or at least *I* can. If you can't, it's, well.... it's you not being able to exploit the better machine. Maybe you don't care. I can't do anything about that....

So, what do you do when you can't get a battery for your quartz watch? In Antarctica you throw it out and ask me the time... for the next six months... (or you do what most of the guys did and grab the exchange catalog, send a check when the next Herk flies in to get the mail, and hope that a new Rolex arrives with the groceries and mail by the next C-130 in about, oh... six weeks in the sunmmer and six months in the winter.)


Quality does count to some.



Willie

.

 

[back40]

Really?

"…it's the fact that they are better due to materials, labor, and design used, that sets the price or value."

What happened to that?

nothing. i was referring to not claiming a better pistol between the glock and 1911 you mentioned.

Hmm...so according to you, people should judge Wilson and Ed Brown as better pisol in an environment where pistols that are just as effective , if not better, and achieves that will less expensive material and labor is removed from competition because it has a different trigger.

i consider myself pretty well versed in the english language, but i'm having a hard time following with sentences like this. and no, it's not according to me. i said, ask anyone who makes the best 1911s, and you'll likely get answers with some of the names i mentioned.

 

[back40]

So, what do you do when you can't get a battery for your quartz watch? In Antarctica you throw it out and ask me the time... for the next six months...

haha

 

[Willie Sutton]

^ True story that. You can't even use the sun there to tell the time.

Life is different when you are at the long end of the logistics trail. Case in point: I'm cruising the Keys and Bahamas right now on my Trawler. I need 9 volt batteries to power the computer in a scuba diving rebreather. Think it's easy? Last time I was ashore was a week ago. Tomorrow it'll be a 5 mile Zodiac Boat ride to a dock where there's a small store that "might" have them. Maybe not.... cei la vie. Find watch batteries? You kidding?

Robust things are appreciated when there's no way to fix what breaks. Always buy the very best that you can afford and you'll never go wrong. The guys that bought Seiko's from the exchange had a great watch that worked in Antarctica and then for about five to ten years. They saved $100 compared to the guys who bought Rolex's from the exchange. Those guys have heirlooms that are still running. When we have reunions I still see the old Rolexes. I don't see the Seikos.

"Testpilot" (who ain't one): Tell us truly: Would you rather inherit a Python, or a Ruger?


Willie (who is one)

.