Gp100 44 about ready for ride along

[onelight]

Well about to get the gp100 44 special carry package together if I decide it's what I choose to carry.
I have about 400 rounds through it 240 swc at 700 to 800 FPS red dot and BE-86 loads.
And it is an easy gun to shoot I am really enjoying it , da at 7 yards not staging the trigger pulling straight through I average 2 to 3" groups , sa 1 hole most of the time , at 25 yards I average 3 to 5" sa . With a 3" gun I may get that better just have to work up some Keith bullets and see but I am no expert shot .
I still need to sight it for the 200 grain gold dots if they shoot I will carry the underwood version in town . And will work up some 250 grain Keith's hopefully 850 to 950 FPS for the trail.
Got me a holster finished and compact grips and taller front sight on it , sweet little .44
256905

[Cheeto303]

I really want one of these. I have a friend that lent me his and I fell in love with it. 44 Special is an underrated cartridge, after all it's been doing it longer and better than the 45 ACP. A 41 special would be nice also. I think in the morning I'll Email Ruger and pester them about introducing a GP-100 41 Special.

[ddixie884]

Good luck on that............
The .41spl is a 6 shot, too...........

Click on attachments for larger view.........

[megasupermagnum]

If you choose a jacketed hollow point, do the research. 44 special is especially picky on such bullets.

As for the shooting, don't stage the double action trigger. The GP100 has a great trigger that doesn't stack. Just dry fire the heck out of it with a single smooth pull through. I like to just pick an object, and keep my sights on it as I dry fire. It will instantly tell you if your moving the sights.

That's easier said than done.

[onelight]

If you choose a jacketed hollow point, do the research. 44 special is especially picky on such bullets.

As for the shooting, don't stage the double action trigger. The GP100 has a great trigger that doesn't stack. Just dry fire the heck out of it with a single smooth pull through. I like to just pick an object, and keep my sights on it as I dry fire. It will instantly tell you if your moving the sights.

That's easier said than done.
The underwood with the Speer gold dot is rated at 975 FPS I have no idea what barrel length , Speer rates the 200 gr bullet for 800 to 1000 if I remember right I need to crono the underwoods in the 3" barrel and see what it does in my gun , but most of the gold dots expand reliably in the velocity range they are designed for.
The places I cary at times I do worry about over penetration I would really hate to hurt a innocent person.
You are so right about the da trigger on the gp100 I shot my buddy's 357 several times and it worked so good for me I had to get me a gp100 .:Fire:

[megasupermagnum]

44 special is a fine caliber. I was just double checking, as it is one of the most notorious for non-expanding hollowpoints. I'm sure the gold dot's work well, they are about the best JHP (technically plated) bullet you can buy in most calibers.

Enjoy the GP100. I love mine. I hope to have it until I die.

[onelight]

44 special is a fine caliber. I was just double checking, as it is one of the most notorious for non-expanding hollowpoints. I'm sure the gold dot's work well, they are about the best JHP (technically plated) bullet you can buy in most calibers.

Enjoy the GP100. I love mine. I hope to have it until I die.
There is not a lot of tests on line for short barreled 44 specials it they don't work out I may look at 180 to 200 grain wadcutter most places I wood not worry to much about over penetration but I am on the security team at church lots of people separated by Sheetrock hopefully nothing will ever happen you just try to prepare the best you can.

[Ickisrulz]

I really want one of these. I have a friend that lent me his and I fell in love with it. 44 Special is an underrated cartridge, after all it's been doing it longer and better than the 45 ACP. A 41 special would be nice also. I think in the morning I'll Email Ruger and pester them about introducing a GP-100 41 Special.

Send an e-mail to Lipsey's and Talo concerning the GP-100 in 41.

[bigted]

I found a 5 inch 44 special GP-100 that is blued steel that made my heart go pitter patter until I found out it had 4 magnaport holes in the perfectly blued 5 inch tube. Seems a waste in a 44 special and seems like it would be very loud to boot. Wonder whay the porting on a fine revolver like that?

41 GP 100 would be snazzy ... but ... the one I would like to see is a 38-40 GP-100. Now THAT would make a package that I personally would find simply irresistible.

[onelight]

ddixie884 that is in a slick 41 you posted a pic of, very nice.

[onelight]

If any one is interested here is a bare gel test on the the 200gr gold dot at 850 FPS .
Also some pics of his cast hp from 21/2 " barrel CA https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=44+special+200gr+gold+dot+expansion&view=detail&mid=CC0E9C14E3C55D015E34CC0E9C14E3C55D015E34&FORM=VIRE

[rking22]

That picture of the stainless gp100 in 41special is the primary cause of m ownership of a blued gp100 in 41! It makes n awesome combination. The 5 inch blued 44 did not come with extra holes in the barrel, at least mine and my buddy’s didn’t. They make a very nice woods gun as well.

[ddixie884]

Mine is a 686 but sugar river has a stainless GP100 n .41spl by Clements........

[Petrol & Powder]

onelight - You're on a good path !

I would be curious to see what the traditional "Skeeter" 44 Special load would do in that gun.
A Keith style 240-250 gr SWC cast from 30:1 and pushed with 7.5 grains of Unique (or some other powder that gets you to the same velocity) would probably get the job done in any situation.

I agree with megasupermagnum, 44's can be a little picky with some jacketed bullets. If you go the route of a JHP, make sure your gun likes them. I would also stay above 200 grain bullet weight in a 44 Special.

I think Ruger really got that concept right. 5 Chambers (no need for a larger diameter cylinder), super strong action, stainless construction and a proven platform. I wish they had made that gun 20 years ago but I'm glad it's here now. The S&W 624 is built on the N-frame and is just little too big for 44 Special and they require a second mortgage to acquire one. (assuming you can even find one)

As a carry gun, I might round the outer edges of the hammer spur just a little. Same for the outer edges of the rear sight blade, particularly the corners.

And BTW, I really like the factory grips on that GP-100 for a carry gun. That's a good grip for a "working gun" that is carried concealed.

[JoeJames]

My pet loads are: 240 grain Speer .430" SWC on top of 6.8 grains Unique, or 240 grain Oregon Trail laser cast .431" on top of 6.5 grains of Unique. Both around 890 fps. Very accurate in the Ruger GP100 5". I also changed out the trigger spring for a Wilson spring - trigger pull is now 2 1/2 pounds.

VELOCITY TESTING
44 Special
Unique and Win 231 .430 Speer vs. .431 Oregon Trail
Ruger Single Action Blackhawk

1. a. Speer .430 grain swaged SWC -
6.8 grains Unique: Ruger SA 4 1/2"
907, 875, 881, 899, 906 - average 890 fps
1.b. Speer .430 grain swaged SWC -
6.2 grains W231: Ruger SA 4 1/2"
796, 837, 786 - average 806 fps

2. a. Oregon Trail .431 laser cast 240 grain SWC -
6.8 grains Unique: Ruger SA 4 ½"
900, 1011, 1005, 933 - average 962 fps
-----------------------------------
6.5 grains Unique: Ruger SA 4 ½"
886, 912, 918 - average 905 fps

2. b. Oregon Trail .431 laser cast 240 grain SWC -
6.2 grains W231: Ruger SA 4 ½"
845, 903, 911, average 886 fps.

I was expecting the W231 to jump about 80 fps with the .431 laser cast Oregon Trail, and it did. I was hoping that the slight reduction from 6.8 grains of Unique to 6.5 grains would drop it back into my supposed sweet spot for the Ruger SA of around 890 - 900 fps, and it did. I was prepared to drop it to 6.4 grains but do not see any need to considering the velocity and the accuracy.

[onelight]

I am getting some good advice thanks Petrol & Powder.

And thanks for the the load data joejames I think I should be within 50 to 75 FPS of you 5" with my 3"
I am going to have to make my cheap self break down and buy a labradar I can't use my crony at the range I go to and it leaves me feeling kinda crippled when working up loads or even checking factory with a gun cartridge combo on the velocity edge of making a hp expand. It be simpler if the gun didn't shoot so good then I wouldn't consider CCing it cast 240 and 250 would be a great all round outdoor choice for it.
At this point the only JHP that looks like it would suit me for CC is the 200gr Speer I am going now and run 50 through it and see how they shoot.

[JoeJames]

I am getting some good advice thanks Petrol & Powder.

And thanks for the the load data joejames I think I should be within 50 to 75 FPS of you 5" with my 3"
I am going to have to make my cheap self break down and buy a labradar I can't use my crony at the range I go to and it leaves me feeling kinda crippled when working up loads or even checking factory with a gun cartridge combo on the velocity edge of making a hp expand. It be simpler if the gun didn't shoot so good then I wouldn't consider CCing it cast 240 and 250 would be a great all round outdoor choice for it.
At this point the only JHP that looks like it would suit me for CC is the 200gr Speer I am going now and run 50 through it and see how they shoot.I figure for my needs here in Arkansas a 240 grain cast boolit running at 800-900 fps is good enough. I tried a few J boolits, but after one ended up flush with the end of my barrel, I have stuck with cast. A 44 Semi wadcutter does not really need to expand anyway; it's already the size the smaller (38-357) expandable JHP's aspire to be.

[bigted]

Just adopted a GP100 44 spcl. So all this info is great. Mine will be the 3 inch also.

Have had and depended on a few 44 mag's but this will be my first foray into the special. Really like my 45 Colts in various guns so believe my foray into the special will be smooth.

I also believe the 240 to 250 SWC to be very effective on anything to be encountered just shy of a 1000 lbs HUNGRY and ANGRY grizzly. Best medicine for them is NOT found in a handgun anyway ... only to be a hail Mary effort.

The 45 Colt round firing a 255 grain rfn is plenty for shooting buff and horses for the military at 8 to 9 hundred FPS so I can not believe the 44 spcl. Would not be just as effective.

Looking forward to playing with it myself. Sure thankful to onelite for beginning this post.

[onelight]

Well I ran 50 200gr. Gold dot blazers through it they are advertised at 875fps , 100fps slower than the underwoods with the same bullet I did not get to shoot it at 25yards so not much of an accuracy test. But at 7 yards it would put 10 in an inch + standing with 2 hands several 5 shot groups under an inch CC , so it looks like the Speer bullet will be plenty accurate for busy places if I choose to use it. Still need to do more testing but this was encouraging.
I tend to shoot revolvers better than autos the gp100 is easier for me to shoot than my compact and sub compact 45 acp guns but the 45s sure do have a better selection of defensive ammo.

[Petrol & Powder]

Unfortunately, factory 44 Special ammunition is fairly limited. In order to meet SAAMI specs a lot of ammo manufactures resort to lighter bullets in the 44 Special to achieve higher velocities. I've repeatedly spoken about the pathetically low SAAMI limits for 44 Special. Most modern revolvers chambered in 44 Special are more than strong enough to safely handle 44 Special loads that are over the pitifully low 15,500 psi SAAMI limit.

I would consider a 200 grain bullet to be the lower end of the acceptable weight range for 44 Special bullets and I would prefer to be a little closer to 240 grains. Unfortunately in factory loaded 44 Special, 240 grain bullets are going to yield some fairly low velocities. So 200 grain bullets may be the compromise in factory ammo.

A 240ish grain LSWCHP traveling at around 900 fps would be about where I would want to end up. That may not be possible with factory ammo and SAAMI specs.

And to be clear - I think the Underwood 200 gr Speer JHP is a very good factory cartridge in 44 Special.

[onelight]

My Speer no.12 manual shows loads the 240gr lead SWC at 841 FPS from a 3" barrel and they say these are below 15,500 psi , the Brian Pearce 44 special article his category 2 loads 22,000 psi he exceeds 1100 FPS with a Lyman 250gr Keith (I have a 4 cavity of that mold) in a 41/4 " barrel.
So I think I should be able to work up a 900 to 950 FPS load for the 3" with a 250gr keith at lower pressure than the Pearce's category 2 loads . I don't want to beat up the Gp100 for a few FPS with non expanding boolits , just not needed for my use.
I need to cast me some Boolits.:grin:

[Petrol & Powder]

I have that same manual and see the load you are referring to, 9.5 grs of HS-7 with a magnum primer and a 240 gr LSWC.
That same chart shows 820 fps with 6.3 grains of Unique. I think the GP-100 is more than strong enough to handle the traditional "Skeeter" load of a 7.5 grains of Unique and a 240-250 gr LSWC.
In an older manual (yeah, I know), Speer shows 921 fps with a 250 gr LSWC, 6.9 grains of Unique, out of a 5.5" barrel. Now that data is a bit suspect these days but I think 900 fps with a 240-250 grain bullet isn't a huge stretch in a modern gun.
Getting to the 900 fps range with a 240 gr lead bullet shouldn't be too difficult. You may end up a little outside of the 15,500 psi limit but I doubt you will be far outside of it.

If your carry load is going to be that 200 grain Underwood JHP, then your practice load should probably be a 200 grain bullet as well. With that lower bullet weight 900 fps is easy to obtain while staying well within SAAMI specs.
Another option would be to get a mold for a 250 gr SWC and have pins added for a hollow point. That will deliver a bullet that comes in under 250 grains. A HP coupled with a soft alloy would help achieve rapid expansion. That would give you a bullet a little heavier than the 200 gr Gold Dot bullet and still limit penetration. Just tossing out ideas here.

[onelight]

I have that same manual and see the load you are referring to, 9.5 grs of HS-7 with a magnum primer and a 240 gr LSWC.
That same chart shows 820 fps with 6.3 grains of Unique. I think the GP-100 is more than strong enough to handle the traditional "Skeeter" load of a 7.5 grains of Unique and a 240-250 gr LSWC.
In an older manual (yeah, I know), Speer shows 921 fps with a 250 gr LSWC, 6.9 grains of Unique, out of a 5.5" barrel. Now that data is a bit suspect these days but I think 900 fps with a 240-250 grain bullet isn't a huge stretch in a modern gun.
Getting to the 900 fps range with a 240 gr lead bullet shouldn't be too difficult. You may end up a little outside of the 15,500 psi limit but I doubt you will be far outside of it.

If your carry load is going to be that 200 grain Underwood JHP, then your practice load should probably be a 200 grain bullet as well. With that lower bullet weight 900 fps is easy to obtain while staying well within SAAMI specs.
Another option would be to get a mold for a 250 gr SWC and have pins added for a hollow point. That will deliver a bullet that comes in under 250 grains. A HP coupled with a soft alloy would help achieve rapid expansion. That would give you a bullet a little heavier than the 200 gr Gold Dot bullet and still limit penetration. Just tossing out ideas here.
All good ideas I know Hornady used to offer the 240 swc with or with out a hp. But my past experience with the Speer and Hornady lead bullets in 44 and 45 if I go much over starting loads I get bad leading .
But that 240swc hp Hornady would be like a big boy FBI load.:grin: Even if it did lead once I had my load worked out it would not be a big deal . I could Practice with my Hi-tek 240 bullet .
Something to think about.
The Speer 200gr gold dot and the Barnes copper X designed for the special are two of the only factory bullets I am finding that have much chance of working at 44 special velocity with a chance of expansion . I don't mind the expense of factory loads in the revolver . I don't think I want to take the time , trouble and expense to test and set up to cast a working HP for this one gun , for most use I prefer a keith or large fp cast solid. But interesting to look at the options.

[onelight]

As a carry gun, I might round the outer edges of the hammer spur just a little. Same for the outer edges of the rear sight blade, particularly the corners.

And BTW, I really like the factory grips on that GP-100 for a carry gun. That's a good grip for a "working gun" that is carried concealed.
You got that right , I have carried it the last two days to get a feel for it , it tucks into my side pretty tight and I think the hammer will wear holes in my clothes if I don't clean it up a bit , the corners on the the rear sight are rounded just enough to be okay I think.
I love that about stainless guns so easy to fix things like the sharp spots on the hammer.

[osteodoc08]

Send an e-mail to Lipsey's and Talo concerning the GP-100 in 41.

Sign me up!

[megasupermagnum]

Sign me up!

I've sent an email to those two, plus Ruger for the past four years, about once a year. Both Talo, and especially Lipsey seems quite excited for the idea, and have been wanting Ruger to introduce one as well. I feel we will see one sooner or later. In particular, I was asking for a 5 shot 41 magnum, not the 41 special. With the introduction of the 10mm auto model, it just seems pointless to introduce a 41 special at this point. I've also thought about having a 10mm auto rechambered to 10mm magnum. I've seen where guys have resized 41 magnum down to 10mm for a 10mm magnum rimmed cartridge. :Fire:

[Petrol & Powder]

............. I don't mind the expense of factory loads in the revolver . I don't think I want to take the time , trouble and expense to test and set up to cast a working HP for this one gun , for most use I prefer a keith or large fp cast solid. But interesting to look at the options.

If you're going to go with a factory HP [and I think that's an excellent idea] and that HP is going to be a 200 grain bullet, the Underwood 200 grain JHP looks like good choice. If it's going to be a 200 grain bullet you want to drive it as fast as possible and the Underwood load looks like it will fulfill that requirement. Speer makes an excellent JHP bullet and the Underwood load uses a Speer bullet. In fact, you can also get s similar load directly from Speer with their excellent Gold Dot bullet. Albeit a bit slower than the Underwood load. https://www.targetsportsusa.com/speer-gold-dot-44-special-ammo-200-grain-jhp-23980-p-1167.aspx

It's very difficult to find a factory 44 Special load that utilizes a HP over 200 grains. This is unfortunate because the 44 Special does its best work around the 240 grain weight. A 200 grain HP might penetrate a bit less than a 240 grain, so that lighter weight may be a plus.

[JoeJames]

I had ordered a Lipsey Ruger BH in 44 Special, but checked on factory ammo which kind of staggered me: $44 for a box of 50. Therefore I got back into reloading with a vengeance. Worked out very well as I could not find factory ammo that was very accurate anyway. Example - HSM cowboy action 44 Special almost key holed at 15 yards.

[derek45]

I need a 44 GP100

Brian Pearce has a good article on 44 special loads, the PDF is online.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwj9tJucmePnAhWMsJ4KHQLdCtwQFjAAegQIBhAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.goodrichfamilyassoc.org%2F44_ Special_Articles%2FBrian%2520Pearce%2520on%2520the %252044%2520Special.pdf&usg=AOvVaw1wCQygpoNWcznkyUKnljYP

get a Wilson combat or Wolff spring kit, and a shim kit off ebay, follow this tutorial and you'll have a wonderful trigger job.
http://www.sp101trigger.com/

[onelight]

I ordered 500 starline cases and got them before the gun came in. Only way to go .