Lipsey's GP100 44 Special

[Damon555]

I've always enjoyed shooting the 44 special. Whether it be from one of my 44 mags or my Charter Arms Bulldog it is just plain fun to shoot. When the 44 special GP100 came out a while ago I was pretty excited. But the options were very limited and I was looking for a range toy to match my 6" 357 GP.

Enter the Lipsey's version of the 44 Special GP100. Buds listed them on their site but they were never in stock.....until today. I got an email saying that they had just received a shipment of them......Needless to say I promptly put one on layaway to ease the pain of the purchase price since I just dropped $1500 on my Coonan Classic......Hopefully it won't stay locked up in layaway jail for the full 90 days.

It's a 5 shot, 5" barreled, blued version of the modern classic GP100......Am I the only one to find this specimen interesting?

 

[sabbfan]

I think that’s what a lot of people have been hoping for, nice looking revolver!

 

[The Evangelist Cowboy]

Its neat on the surface, but why didnt they go for the full .44 mag to compete with a smith 69?

 

[pauli]

Because Ruger has some pretty firm ideas about which calibers belong in which frames, and feels no urge to cannibalize Redhawk sales.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Its neat on the surface, but why didnt they go for the full .44 mag to compete with a smith 69?

This question always comes up. The longevity of the 69 with continued use of heavy full power 44 mag loads has not yet been established. Some folks have no interest in shooting a GP100 size 44 mag as the recoil may be punishing. Also, some folks like a gun to be caliber specific rather than a magnum gun shooting shorter cartridges that have a longer cylinder jump.

Am I the only one to find this specimen interesting?

Forum member CraigC ownes one.

 

[If1HitU]

I've always enjoyed shooting the 44 special. Whether it be from one of my 44 mags or my Charter Arms Bulldog it is just plain fun to shoot. When the 44 special GP100 came out a while ago I was pretty excited. But the options were very limited and I was looking for a range toy to match my 6" 357 GP.

Enter the Lipsey's version of the 44 Special GP100. Buds listed them on their site but they were never in stock.....until today. I got an email saying that they had just received a shipment of them......Needless to say I promptly put one on layaway to ease the pain of the purchase price since I just dropped $1500 on my Coonan Classic......Hopefully it won't stay locked up in layaway jail for the full 90 days.

It's a 5 shot, 5" barreled, blued version of the modern classic GP100......Am I the only one to find this specimen interesting?


View attachment 767802

Beautiful .44 Spl.Revolver.

 

[bannockburn]

Damon55

It's a 5 shot, 5" barreled, blued version of the modern classic GP100......Am I the only one to find this specimen interesting?

In a word: Nope!

I like it too, especially with the blued finish and with the 5" barrel.

 

[444]

Interesting to me.
I won't be buying one, but it would be a great addition to the collection.
Lipsys has had a few things over the years that I thought were really nice. I have only purchased one of them: a Ruger Single Six in stainless with a 4" barrel.

 

[cfullgraf]

This question always comes up. The longevity of the 69 with continued use of heavy full power 44 mag loads has not yet been established. Some folks have no interest in shooting a GP100 size 44 mag as the recoil may be punishing. Also, some folks like a gun to be caliber specific rather than a magnum gun shooting shorter cartridges that have a longer cylinder jump.

For me, right on all three counts.

One of the nice things about reloading is the ammunition can be tailored to the shooters wants and desires. For my S&W Model 69, I load hot 44 Special loads in 44 Magnum cases and avoid the short cartridge thing and high powered loads all together. If I want wrist snapping recoil, I'll drag out the 460 Magnum.

Also, there is something special about shooting 44 Special in a revolver chambered for 44 Special.

I pick up my Lipsey 44 Special GP100 this afternoon.

 

[CraigC]

 

[Damon555]

Reloading is the only way I could afford to shoot 44 specials......i checked my LGS and their cheapest box was $42!.......oh and by the way I love the grip inserts Craig

 

[RugRev]

This question always comes up. The longevity of the 69 with continued use of heavy full power 44 mag loads has not yet been established. Some folks have no interest in shooting a GP100 size 44 mag as the recoil may be punishing. Also, some folks like a gun to be caliber specific rather than a magnum gun shooting shorter cartridges that have a longer cylinder jump.

On the S&W Forum Paul claims he has over 5000 rounds down one:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/485733-model-69-a.html

Also, a post in the string notes that due to lower bore axis compared to an N frame the recoil impulse feels less. The 69's weight is very close to a 629 Mtn. Gun.

I would see a market in that I don't view it as necessarily a gun for hunting but more as a field companion where something a bit lighter than a Redhawk or SRH is desired in a larger caliber. In looking at the forcing cone on my .44 SP GP I don't think I would want to try a regular diet of Keith loads in it so would run Skeeter loads or less.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

On the S&W Forum Paul claims he has over 5000 rounds down one:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/485733-model-69-a.html

Also, a post in the string notes that due to lower bore axis compared to an N frame the recoil impulse feels less. The 69's weight is very close to a 629 Mtn. Gun.

I would see a market in that I don't view it as necessarily a gun for hunting but more as a field companion where something a bit lighter than a Redhawk or SRH is desired in a larger caliber. In looking at the forcing cone on my .44 SP GP I don't think I would want to try a regular diet of Keith loads in it so would run Skeeter loads or less.

I have no reason to doubt his claims and the lower bore axis may be a real thing. However an example of one is not indicative of a design strength or weakness. Time will tell of course.

The other part of it is that a two piece barrel like the 69 has is a lot harder to modify. Ruger would know this and may be trying to leave the gun open to modification.

I think Ruger is trying to cater to a different crowd than S&W is with the 69.

 

[PabloJ]

They should have chambered this for 10mm/.40S&W instead of .44 special.

 

[RugRev]

I have no reason to doubt his claims and the lower bore axis may be a real thing. However an example of one is not indicative of a design strength or weakness. Time will tell of course.

The other part of it is that a two piece barrel like the 69 has is a lot harder to modify. Ruger would know this and may be trying to leave the gun open to modification.

I think Ruger is trying to cater to a different crowd than S&W is with the 69.

I don't know why S&W went to a 2 piece barrel but suspect it was to reduce cost somehow perhaps due to use of MIM. I suspect why Ruger went .44 Sp vs. Magnum was cost.
.44 Sp would allow the use of a barrel with a shank about the same diameter as the .357 models so not much change on the line to manufacture. A magnum would require a
larger diameter shank to allow a thicker forcing cone. It is doable, however, as the frame width is wider than that of a Taurus Tracker medium frame .44 mag. Perhaps, in the
future a magnum version will appear. I do agree it would be nice to have a larger sample size of Model 69's to gauge durability

 

[Damon555]

In looking at the forcing cone on my .44 SP GP I don't think I would want to try a regular diet of Keith loads in it so would run Skeeter loads or less.

95% of the ammo that goes down the barrel of the GP100 will be of the target grade variety. Most of my gun purchases as of late have been strictly for fun and informal target shooting. I'm at the point in my life where it's time to place more emphasis on what I want vs. what I need (which in reality would be very little I guess ;o)

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I don't know why S&W went to a 2 piece barrel but suspect it was to reduce cost somehow perhaps due to use of MIM.

I believe it was the only way to get a forcing cone thick enough on an L frame that would tolerate magnum loads. The cone on a 696 and the GP are pretty thin, but that's ok for specials. The two piece barrel allows for an adequate cone.

Same reason for it on the new model S&W 66 I believe. They don't want lite bullets wearing out the cones like on the original 66's.

 

[CraigC]

Personally, I think S&W is more comfortable with a narrower safety margin than Ruger. Evidenced by the fact that the N-frame, which was merely a .44Spl adapted to the .44Mag, remains unchanged while Ruger designed and overbuilt a gun around the .44Mag cartridge.

They should have chambered this for 10mm/.40S&W instead of .44 special.

Why downgrade???

 

[Damon555]

As relatively obscure as the 44 special is I couldn't imagine Ruger (or Lipsey's?) introducing a product that is almost completely unheard of such as the 44 S&W. Besides, just like loading 44 special loads in 44 mag brass I would assume 44 S&W power loads could be loaded in 44 special brass.

 

[farm23]

I like both the S&W 69 and Ruger 44 spl GP but right now I have enough 44's so it will be awhile before I buy one. On the other hand I would like a 36oz DA 45lc to go with my 36oz SA New Model Blackhawk. I do not expect that to happen but who knows ?

 

[Mosin Bubba]

Is Ruger just now bringing back the rubber grips with the wood inserts, or have they always had those?

Those are my favorite factory revolver grips, and I haven't seen any in store for a while now.

 

[Damon555]

Is Ruger just now bringing back the rubber grips with the wood inserts, or have they always had those?

Those are my favorite factory revolver grips, and I haven't seen any in store for a while now.

This is a Lipsey's exclusive.....the old school grips are part of the package. Ruger still offers those grips for sale on their web site.

 

[cfullgraf]

I got my Lipsey GP100 last Friday and like the grips. I promptly ordered a set for my 3" GP100 44 Special.

 

[joneb]

I checked out a Ruger model 1761 at the LGS and I was not impressed. I have tthree 44 cal. bullets in the truck they measure .429", .429", and .430". The .430" passed through all chambers with no resistance Whats up with that Ruger?

 

[Damon555]

I checked out a Ruger model 1761 at the LGS and I was not impressed. I have tthree 44 cal. bullets in the truck they measure .429", .429", and .430". The .430" passed through all chambers with no resistance Whats up with that Ruger?

I have never tried to do anything like that in any of my revolvers....and I've owned a boat load over the years.....never even heard about most of the little nit-picky things people have come up with to complain about firearms until the internet rolled around.....I'll keep being oblivious.