the GP100/44 is just about a perfect combination of power versus carryability
Yup
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the GP100/44 is just about a perfect combination of power versus carryability
Yup
Ruger should hope there are very few threads like this, about this gun...never seen so much divergent posting, about 1 gun.
Here is my XTP load. No doubt about it this gun shoots much better than the previous one.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...50787706f0.jpg
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Dang, is that at 25 yards? I'd really like to see what it will do with a properly sized Lyman 429352 full wadcutter....that would be a thumper at any velocity.
Yep. 25 yards using a balled up jacket as a shooting rest.
I have a handful of Cast Performance 255gr hard cast that I loaded with "Skeeter" data. I only shot five of these and the group was less than spectacular. I didn't grab a photo of the target so no reference data but I got probably an 8" group with this bullet and this powder charge.
While there's no doubt in my mind that the replacement GP shoots remarkably well and is substantially better than the original I'm wondering if these guns are going to be fairly picky about ammo. In my very limited experimentation it looks like these guns may prefer lighter bullets and/or lower velocities. The few 240gr jacketed and 250gr cast bullets I've tried in the new gun haven't shot that good.
I have some more GT Bullets ordered. I am buying some more of the 220gr LHP as well as some of his 250gr Keith Design LSWHP and his 255gr LHP. The 220gr shot well in the old gun so I'm hoping it'll work well in the replacement. I did order all these sized to .432 this time around in the hope I can wring as much accuracy out of the gun as possible.
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Here is another 25 yard group with the Blazer Gold Dot. This new gun certainly wants to SHOOT!
Good stuff!
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...538c61eb16.jpg
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Got me interested again.
Just out of curiosity, did you ever try chambering a 44 mag in the old one?
http://rugerforum.net/ruger-double-a...magnums-6.html
I certainly wouldn't want to fire a 44 Mag, but one does wonder about Keith 44 Special loads in the GP.
That could cause them some problems I believe. Especially since 44 magnum is much more plentiful on ammo shelves.
For me it would work out good though. I'd finally have a use for a bunch of hornady 44 magnum brass I mistakenly bought at a gun show.
Just trim it to fit the chamber and use 44 special load data.
Here is my daily update. I shot Underwood's Bulldog load, a handload of Unique with a Hornady 180-grain XTP and another handload with surplus bulk powder and a Rimrock 185gr LHP bullet into the Clear Ballistics gel from 10ft.
The Underwood Gold Dot was fired into bare gel and heavy clothing. Last was through a soft leather jacket purchased for $10 at Goodwill.
Chronograph data shows that the Underwood Bulldog load is cruising along at 975fps which corresponds to their advertised velocity.
Here is a photo looking through the block. Sorry for the cloudiness. The block's getting pretty nasty from repeated used.
12" penetration was bare gel.
12.5" penetration was leather jacket.
13" penetration was heavy clothing.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...aa119927b1.jpg
Here are the three recovered Dots. Laid out in order as above. Bare on top.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...445075c113.jpg
Up next is my handload of Unique with a Hornady 180 XTP. Chrono puts these at 975fps right along with what I'm getting with the Underwood.
One bullet was fired through clothing and the other was fired into bare gel. Both bullets penetrated in excess of 16in and were found a few feet downrange.
I don't know which bullet is which but bare gel and clothing look about the same. The XTP'S are in the middle here.
Lastly, pictured far left is my Rimrock LHP load. I backed the powder off a little and now am getting about 965fps with this bullet. I'm hoping the slightly lower velocities will shoot a bit better. Accuracy isn't bad at 1000+ fps but I'm hoping to tighten it up a bit. Also penetration was only about 10in at the higher velocity.
Anyway I fired two of these through clothing. Both penetrated more than 16in with only one of the bullets being recovered.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...8520b3df15.jpg
Then just for reference is the Rimrock after the higher velocity. Expansion is better but penetration is a bit shallow.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...096e9185ce.jpg
So far I'm really liking what I'm seeing with the Underwood Bulldog. I haven't seen the keyhole issues like with their hotter load. This stuff might be a good choice for self-defense ammo in the GP.
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Thanks for your time and effort, as well as ammo expenditures, for undertaking your well documented experiments. I have been searching for a SD load for my Bulldog, and you are pointing me in the right direction. Also, it is interesting to document that lower velocities result in better performance of expansion and penetration. The 44 special doesn't have to be "magnumized" to become a performer.
1 gun? I wish. My son bought a Lipsey's 44 spl before they became a catalogued item and it had to go back to the factory for a front sight replacement. It shot so low that you couldn't get it on a 9" paper plate @ 25yds. Then I bought a 22-250 American and it was supposed to have a 10" twist but it was a 14" It went back for a new barrel. Then I bought a new Ruger 22 auto Hunter and it would not feed ANY 22LR ammo for more than 2 rounds. IT had to go back as well. Then I bought a Mini 14 that would FTE every 3rd or 4th round with new Federal ammo and my handloads. Cases weren't sticking because you could pop them out with a fingernail. It too went back for a new bolt. I want a 45 Blackhawk convertible but I hate to buy another Ruger and have to send it back too. I have been a Ruger fan for years but when Bill Sr passed away the warranty shop has been pretty busy.
In fairness to Ruger they have fixed every gun I sent back to them and never whimpered 1 time about shipping cost or parts. You cant beat their customer service, I just wish we didn't have to use it so much.
In Ruger’s defense these last few years have been crazy across the entire industry. Hopefully things will calm down over 4-8 years and some sanity will return to the market.
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Mine won't.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...74b85f54b7.jpg
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https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...00d7c1a56c.jpg
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