cast in ruger gp100???

[sisiphunter]

Hello, I want to buy my first revolver above a 22 and would like a 357, so I can use 38 spl as well.

S&W's are way to expensive up here in Canada, so I was looking at the Ruger GP100 stainless 357. They come in 6" and 4.2" up here, I know the 6" will likely shoot better at distance anyways, but I want something to plink with as thats all we can do up here with handguns. Maybe a little competition for fun more than anything. Nothing too serious.

I have a few molds already, Lee 100gr SWC, Lee 150gr RN and an Ideal 175gr SWC, Keith type design.

Any experience out there with this revolver and these bullets or any casts by chance??? I will also likely use a little jacketed from time to time but 90% will be cast from a WW mix. I know I can taylor my alloy as the pistol allows, but as a starting point I think this should do. Mainly looking for opinions/experience on this pistol with cast bullets

Matt

[btroj]

My GP100 shoots very well with cast. I size to .359 and get little, if any leading with moderate loads.
Get the Ruger, you will not be disappointed.

[sisiphunter]

thanks btroj, appriciate the recommendation. I dont see why it wouldnt shoot cast, but wanted to make sure first.

[Bass Ackward]

Yea I had a GP100 that bordered on the crude side but shot like a champ.

Sold it and now wish that I had it back. It would be better shoving Teflon into the action than trying to fool with what I am now.

[theperfessor]

I love my 4" GP100. Can't shoot the 359429 in .357 - it's just a hair too long. Mine likes the 358477 and a 158 RN of unknown make and the Lee 359-125RF. Really, just about anything around 125 to 160 grs if the diameter is right shoots pretty good. It's a solid, fun gun that will take a lot of use and hold up well to magnum loads.

[thegreatdane]

Lead works great in my GP100 6inch. lately I'm thinking it prefers a little softer alloy at .3585. No leading.

[sisiphunter]

thanks again guys I appriciate the opinions. I do believe I will get it now.

[dragonrider]

My 6" Stainless GP-100 shoots cast just fine.

[randyrat]

I like the GP100 a lot. Nice looking, shooting gun. Tough to boot and comfortable to shoot..
I had some minor problems with mine to start. - tight spot in the barrel and 4 out of 6 cylinder throats were too tight. 4 were .356 and 2 were .358...I use a dowel, 400 grit and 600 grit sand paper to fix the problem.
Read up on Fire Lapping and opening up cylinder throats. Check the barrel for machine marks or chatter, Check to make sure the hammer falls nicely and doesn't rub on the frame. All these things can be fixed by you at home.

Learn to take it apart, it's easy.

I enjoy 11.5 grains of 2400 and 180 gr GC boolit.

Ware good ear protection the .357 has a loud, sharp, crack.

[Groo]

Groo here
The model I like is the 3in fixed sight tuff, nothing to go wrong, short enough to carry
and will take any factory load you want and some you might not...

[Mk42gunner]

I love my 4" GP100. Can't shoot the 359429 in .357 - it's just a hair too long. Mine likes the 358477 and a 158 RN of unknown make and the Lee 359-125RF. Really, just about anything around 125 to 160 grs if the diameter is right shoots pretty good. It's a solid, fun gun that will take a lot of use and hold up well to magnum loads.

That's odd perfessor, my version of the 358429 works in my GP-100. I will admit that it is very close to not fitting, and if I ever have a boolit jump the crimp I will have problems.

It could be a case of tolerance stacking.

Robert

[fecmech]

I have a 6" Gp and my main .357 mag load is a stiff charge of 296,H110, wc820 or 2400 behind the Lyman "Keith" 358429. All shoot very accurate at about 1300 fps. I lightly taper crimp on the front drive band of the bullet and just load to an OAL about .010" shy of my cylinder length, for me that works out to 1.638"

[shooting on a shoestring]

I've got the 4 inch version in SS. The group-buy clone of 358429 works well in mine. Using enough 2400, I've chronographed that boolit north of 1500 fps. It also see a good bit of 358477 and 358091. I cast most of mine in 50% WW / 50% soft scrap lead, usually water dropped and lubed with Felix lube.

Mine was well deminsioned and I haven't done a thing but shoot it and use it. Get one, or two.

[Muddy Creek Sam]

You mean to tell me something else can be shot out of them?

Sam :D

[theperfessor]

My BIL used to cast and load the 358429 for a friend's GP 100 and it worked fine crimped in the crimp groove. My mold and my GP 100 is a no-go and I don't like to crimp over the front band. The 358429 works fine in .357s in my BlackHawk so I use it for that and in .38s for my M10.

Probably a combination of tolerance stack up in both the gun and the mold. Don't think I'm the only one that's run into this. It's a fine bullet and a fine gun in any case.

[NHlever]

I have a few 357 magnum handguns, and a couple of lever action rifles, but for some strange reason I have never owned a GP-100. I came close again yesterday, but the store was busy, and wait times for the paperwork, transfer to another state, etc. were long so I passed again. I like that place to buy guns, but they are just across the state line in Maine, and transfer sales to a "store" in NH. Nice that you can get the gun in the same day, but the process takes a while sometimes.

[hornsurgeon]

i have one and love it. it really seams to like the heavier boolits, especially up around 200gr. mine loves the old lyman 35875 200gr, but i have to trim the brass back a little to fit. i'm starting to work with the noe copy of the RD 35-200 made for the marlin rifles. that will seat a little deeper and fit with standard brass. with heavy doses of h110 and the 35875 i can get 1" groups at 50 yards and over 1200 fps. great hunting load.

[ColColt]

Next to my M29-3, I guess the GP100 is my favorite. I have a blued version in 4" and it could be a tack driver except the guy behind it doesn't have that ability...close, but not quite.:)

One of my favorite load is 7.5 gr of HS-6 with the 158 gr bullet(Lee 358-158-RF). It gives good groups and is mild in recoil.

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x220/ColColt/Misc%20Stuff/_DEF3873.jpg

Using the 38 cases a similar load of 6.5 gr of HS-6 also gives great groups.
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x220/ColColt/Misc%20Stuff/_DEF3867s.jpg

[keeper89]

Bought a four incher in 1989 that is still with me today and has thousands of rounds down the bore. Mostly cast, mostly 38 plus p level. But EVERY magnum case that has been put into that cylinder had a magnum load inside. Took a couple of thousand rounds for the trigger group to settle in and smooth up but there has not been a problem since. I do not think you will get hurt with the ruger.......8-)