GP= General Purpose
The “general purpose” double-action revolver from Ruger, more commonly known as the GP100, is a highly recognizable handgun and one of the major firearms in the extensive Ruger lineup. Following the common theme of Bill Ruger’s designs, the GP100 is built to be tough.
Originally introduced in 1985 as the ultimate revolver for personal use and police work, the GP100 brought a lot to the table when it came to upgrades in a double-action revolver.
The GP100 was intended as a step-up from the Security-Six and its variations, although it maintained the concept of tool-free takedown. A new trigger mechanism was designed, and Ruger incorporated the “peg” frame design found on the GP guns that allows for attaching the cushion grips found on the first models.
The idea behind the soft grip was inspired by the material used on the dashboard of Mr. Ruger’s BMW. For the most part, the GP100 was a newly designed model that took in proven functions such as the interchangeable front sight found on the Redhawk.
Chamberings A’ Plenty
The rise of the autoloader in the latter 80’s eclipsed this fine wheelgun, but savvy shooters knew a good gun when they saw it and 40 years later, the GP100 is still in production. It can be found with barrel lengths ranging from 2.5 inches to 6 inches, with a few in between.
Several cartridges are chambered in the GP100, such as the .22 LR, .327 Federal Magnum, .38 Special/357 Magnum, 10mm Auto, and .44 Special. There are several variations on Ruger’s website, and distributor exclusives are available from TALO and Lipsey’s.
Lipsey’s Exclusive
The featured revolver of today’s discussion is Lipsey’s Exclusive Ruger GP100 in .44 Special. This gun is brushed stainless, but there is a blued version if that’s more to your liking. The five-inch half-lug barrel offers a classic profile. The rear sight is adjustable, and the front sight wears a gold bead. The no-nonsense unfluted cylinder holds five rounds of .44 Specials.
Smooth walnut stocks come on the gun. They are reminiscent of classic Roper-style stocks of yesteryear. They are hand-filling and look good. It’s a hefty revolver, weighing 38 ounces.
If you want a different front sight like a red ramp or fiber optic, just go to Ruger’s website. A couple of clicks and they’re yours. The same goes for speed loaders, moon clips, and grips.
I can’t help but think of legendary gun writer Skeeter Skelton when I hold this gun. Skeeter liked Ruger’s firearms, tough revolvers, and the. 44 Special cartridge. I’m sure this is one he would have approved of. I certainly like it. It looks good and shoots good. It’s a no-nonsense wheel gun that is up to most any task.
The double action pull on this gun isn’t light, but it is smooth. The single action trigger weight is crisp at about five pounds. I would prefer it to be half that, but it is quite manageable in its current state. A Wolff Spring Kit can easily lighten these trigger weights, and an action job by a good gunsmith is another viable option.
The smooth-faced trigger nestles nicely into the pad of my trigger finger. This gun just feels right. It’s hefty with a good balance, and the slick stocks fit my hand well.
One thing I would change on this gun is the hammer. Now this is purely a personal preference of aesthetics. The factory GP100 hammer is not graceful to my eye. My friend Ronnie Wells at RW Grip Frames has designed a replacement hammer for the GP that adds an air of class to this robust revolver with a gentle curving spur reminiscent of the classic Bisley.
.44 Special Versatility
The. 44 Special is a versatile cartridge. We can shoot mild loads in the 800-fps range for practice and high-volume shooting. Good bullets running 1000-1150 fps move the .44 Special up into a game-killing round.
Garrett Cartridges of Texas offers two hard cast loads that are worth a look. Their 250-gr. Hammerhead load produces 950-fps from a 4.5-inch barrel and 1000-fps from a 7.5-incher.
If you’re looking for a little less recoil from a load that will still penetrate, the .44 “Special Vintage” load pushes a 250-gr. Hammerhead at somewhere between 735 to 780-fps, depending on the barrel length. This load is pleasant to shoot, even in my lightweight S&W Night Guard. Both loads are very accurate. A friend of mine shot a whitetail doe with the vintage load. The bullet traveled 18 inches before exiting.
These big bore rounds don’t have to be pushed to high velocities to get the job done, and most modern ammunition in the .44 Special gets it done without excessive recoil and muzzle blast.
I generally like to run my medium-frame .44 Specials with heavier bullets in the 240 to 250-grain range at moderate velocities. These weights and velocities, from 750 to 900 fps, are personal likes.
There are a variety of good loads available on the market. In truth, the 900-fps range and faster are ones I shoot sparingly in double action guns. If I want more power, I use the .44 Magnum in heavier guns, and I always prefer stout-kicking loads from a single action revolver versus a double action. Again, just my personal preference.
There are more good defense loads out there at moderate velocities that are worth a look, like Hornady’s 165-grain Critical Defense load at 900 fps and High Desert Cartridge Company’s 200 grain XTP at 860 fps.
Lost River Ammunition Company has a couple of loads worth looking at as well. Their 200-grain Hard Cast Full Wadcutter at 1055 fps should be a good one, as well as the 240-grain Poly Coat Semi Wadcutter at 900 fps.
Lost River also loads an oldie, the .44 Russian, with a 185 grain wadcutter at about 785 fps from a five-inch barrel. This is a mild-mannered load that I intend to work with more from my 44 Specials. It’s pleasant on the hand, and I expect it will penetrate well.
I’ve been traveling a lot in the last few weeks and have been shooting this GP100 as time permits. In the chaos of loading and unloading my range gear, I have various targets scattered from hell to breakfast!
Suffice it to say that the revolver will group everything within an area the size of a hen’s egg at 15 yards. Twenty-five-yard groups off the bench can be covered with my fist.
I’ve shot a variety of good ammunition through this gun, including stuff from Garrett, High Desert Cartridge Company, Hornady, Lost River Ammunition Company, and Magtech. They all performed well and indicate that the Ruger is sufficiently accurate to fill the roles of field and personal defense use.
A Multi-Use Revolver
This GP100 is a perfect candidate for a woods gun. Ammunition can be tailored to fit any need from whitetails to feral hogs and other tough critters.
The five-inch barrel offers good sight radius for accurate shooting, yet it is compact enough to wear easily on a belt holster. The same can be said of chest and shoulder rigs.
The five-inch barrel is a good option for multi-use handguns. Appropriate ammunition in the .44 Special is certainly up to hunting wild game if shots are kept within reason, and the old cartridge with good bullets makes a fine personal defense round as well.
Tough. Accurate. Dependable. Lipsey’s Exclusive Ruger GP100 in .44 Special checks a lot of boxes as a good, all-around wheel gun. Some might say it’s a “general purpose” revolver.
