The buying public is voting for revolvers and buying them in great numbers. Fueling the new trend, Ruger introduced a seven-shot version of its popular GP100. While there has been a previous seven shooter in .327 Magnum, the new Ruger GP100 fires the .357 Magnum cartridge.
Ruger offers longer barrel versions, but the 2.5-inch version is, in my opinion, among the finest combat revolvers ever manufactured. There are many who appreciate tradition, and others, who simply trust revolvers. There are many good points considering revolvers.
While modern self-loading handguns are as reliable as a machine can be, the revolver is more likely to fire after long term storage while loaded. You may leave the revolver at home, ready, and it will come up shooting. The revolver may also be placed against an adversary’s body and fired. On the other hand, a self-loader may jam after the first shot in this scenario.
This type of shooting has saved many lives, including those confronted by animal attack. The revolver is accurate and powerful in its best versions making it well suited to outdoors use. Ruger’s latest revolver is a seven-shot version of the GP100 in .357 Magnum caliber. This is an exciting handgun. It is accurate, well-balanced and fast handling.
Ruger’s GP100 was introduced in 1986. Police service handguns in .357 Magnum had not always held up well to constant firing and frequent qualifications with the Magnum cartridge. The larger, and more robust, GP100 solved a lot of problems. For many years, the majority of qualifications were done with the .38 Special 148-grain target wadcutter. Problems with this oversight led to court decisions forcing agencies to qualify with the issue load. A hot 125-grain JHP was hard on small parts and sometimes the shooter as well. The 125-grain .357 Magnum hollow point at 1,380 to 1,480 fps was the most powerful cartridge fielded by police agencies—and the most effective. However, it was also difficult to master.
Today, the police carry self-loaders. However, the .357 Magnum cartridge remains unequaled for wound potential. Those who train hard and master the cartridge have a powerful loading that is effective against both two- and four-legged threats, and against light cover.
The GP 100 is capable of absorbing the pounding of a steady diet of .357 Magnum ammunition, without going out of time. The shooter will be tired long before the revolver shows any signs of trouble. The GP100 is not only among the most rugged revolvers ever designed, it is among the most accurate as well.
The GP100 will accept heavy handloads that will literally lock up other handguns. As an example, I have worked up a heavy load using H110 powder and Hornady’s 125-grain XTP that develops 1,628 fps from my four-inch barrel GP100. This load never sticks in the cylinder or exhibits excess pressure signs. When the .357 Magnum was first developed an adventurer wrote, after killing an attacking Jaguar—the .357 Magnum was like ‘having a rifle on your hip.’ I agree.
The GP100 has been manufactured in four- and six-inch barrel versions, three-inch barrel fixed-sight revolvers, and a .44 Special version. The new seven-shot revolver is certain to be popular. My example sports a 2.5-inch barrel. It is surprisingly compact and well balanced. The sights are the Ruger fully adjustable rear, and a green, fiber-insert front sight. The sights offered a good sight picture. The fiber optic draws light to make for easier front sight acquisition.
The compact, concealed carry grips are an aid in concealment, and they offer good control when firing Magnum loads. When working the action, the seven-shot action feels different from the five- and six-shot revolver’s trigger press. Some of the cocking force is used to move the hand and cylinder while the rest cocks and drops the hammer.
The GP100 action has always been smooth, but the action feels a bit shorter than the six-shot version. This results in faster shooting. The heft is excellent—neither handle heavy nor barrel heavy. I fired full power .357 Magnum loads in comfort.
The muzzle blast of unburnt powder is sometimes startling, but with most loads, the GP100 isn’t difficult to control. The balance is similar to the Smith and Wesson Model 27 with a 3.5-inch barrel, but the GP100 is lighter. There have been other short-barrel revolvers that are difficult to use well. They twist in the hand, and muzzle flip is uncomfortable. The GP100 is the fastest handling, and most controllable, short-barrel Magnum I have fired.
I began my test program with .38 Special ammunition. I suspect many shooters will engage most of their practice targets with .38 Special loads. That is the proven path to proficiency and marksmanship. Twenty .38s for every Magnum is a good standard.
I used three choices from Double Tap ammunition in the first evaluation. These included the 850 fps 148-grain wadcutter, a 110-grain JHP at over 1,000 fps and the 125-grain JHP at 959 fps. The revolver was actually docile. Speed from leather was fast as I drew from a Wright Leatherworks belt scabbard. Likewise, speed was not an issue to an accurate first shot. Recovery was rapid.
It wasn’t difficult to make fast hits using double-action pairs. Moving to .357 Magnum loads, I fired a representative number of self-defense loads. First came the Hornady 125-grain Critical Defense. At 1,215 fps, this load hits hard and expands well. Velocity fell from the 1,383 fps exhibited in the four-inch revolver—par for the course with short barrel Magnums.
The Federal 125-grain JHP broke at 1,221 fps. I also fired a handload I consider my favorite in .357 Magnum. At 1,250 fps from the four-inch barrel, this load—using Titegroup powder—retained 1,180 fps in the Ruger. A handloader may tailor his loads to the handgun and using faster burning powder clearly paid off in this application.
This load isn’t difficult to control and makes a good all around choice. The balance of expansion and penetration is on the long side. All threats are not two legged, so penetration is desirable.
I continue to be impressed as I master the GP100, firing double taps at close range, and concentrating on making hits at small targets at long range. With a smooth double-action trigger press and good sights, the revolver is well suited to use by a trained shooter. With proper load selection, the GP100 makes an excellent all around defense revolver.
For protection against the big cats and feral dogs, I cannot imagine a better choice. Against bears, I would load the Buffalo Bore 180-grain loading, or one of my own handloads using a hard cast 175-grain SWC. Ounce for ounce, the GP100 offers plenty of power for the street or trail.
Slow fire accuracy fired from a solid benchrest firing position at 15 yards, five-shot group measured in inches
| .38 Special | |
|---|---|
| Federal 129-grain Hydra Shok +P | 1.25 inches |
| Double Tap 110-grain JHP | 1.5 inches |
| Buffalo Bore 158-grain Outdoorsman | 1.4 inches |
| .357 Magnum | |
| Buffalo Bore 158-grain Low Flash Low Recoil | 1.2 inches |
| Hornady 125-grain Critical Defense | 1.5 inches |
| Hornady 125-grain XTP | 1.0 inches |
Are you a revolver or Ruger fan? How does the Ruger GP100 7-shot compare to your favorite revolver? Share your answers in the comment section.
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I’ll have to learn more about these. I have had a stainless 6 rd 4″ in .357 for many years. So long, in fact that I had to make new wood inserts because the old ones were looking, well… OLD! The thing still runs like a champ, eating everything I’ve ever run through it. (Though my handloads tend to run toward accuracy, not power.) I consider it a little heavy for CCW. You should update this with some weight comparisons.
Just curious if others have had problems with non American made ammunition not properly loading into the 7 shot Ruger 357?
A friend just purchased one and Magtech ammo does not properly fit, both the 38 special and 357 loads.
The ammo is within the specs put out by Ruger.
When Ruger was called and questioned, customer service gave him the same answer over and over. They said he could send the gun to them and they would test it with American made ammo. If that fits, they would send it back and say it falls within the specs.
When my friend called the store where he purchased the gun, they tested it with all sorts of brands and found the same issue with Magtech. They were stunned as well, so they called Ruger and went as far up the food chain as possible. Ruger will do nothing.
It’s a shame. Nobody expects to be limited to purchasing certain brands. This was a really poor customer service move on the part of Ruger.
I personally own Ruger guns and have not had any similar issues, but I am disappointed how they handled this one.
It would appear they know about the issue and have decided this is the best stance.
It has been a will since you posted, But the easy fix for me is load 1-7 2-6 5-3 chamber and so on i found that the 38 that sit to high in the chamber tend to relax and snug in without jamming on closure. my 357 rounds never jammed.
I wouldn’t call this a Ruger problem, I’d call it a Magtech problem.
Yep, same problem here. Dealer talked me into this 7 shot crap when I just wanted the tried and trued, GP-100, 6 shot. American shells also so tight they touch. Never shot it, just want to dump the problem child off.
While I’ve had no issues as far as ammo digestion, the accuracy of my damndable brand new GP100 leaves some to be desired! It is the 4″ SS 7 shooter. With the OEM front sight @ 25yds, it shot a man size TQ19 target in the face with Speer 158gr GDHP: agency duty ammo.
i started cranking down the rear sight & ended up bottoming out. Still shoots too high @ 25yds. I have to aim for the stomach area to hit the chest (third button area)! Now the damn rear sight windage screw is starting to back out!?!? Oh yea the blade is the low blade too, installed @ Ruger.
Not impressed at all. I ordered a Bowen Rough Country rear sight in its lower configuration. I hope this helps because I’m PISSED!!!! I should have bought a Match Target!!
My favorite is the tried & true—–Ruger Security Six, with a 6″ barrel in stainless steel. Ran thousands of rounds thru it with absolutely no problems. Had it for 25 years so why change for 1 more round, especially for the high price they want for it.
I just purchased a brand new rugerGP100 7 shot. the problem I am have is when you close cylinder sometimes you have to push the cylinder pin in by hand. then after closing the cylinder and it sits for a minute the shell extractor sticks. any soloutions. thank you johnny joyner
All things being equal having seven shots is better than six. But If that extra chamber weakens the gun or makes it less reliable. I would pass and go for the six shooter. I remember seeing a video on ghost loading an extra round in a Remington 870. The guy explained how it was done but pointed out that having one more round wasn’t worth the increased possibility of the gun jamming.
I’ve had several 6 shot models and I have a Redhawk 8 round but haven’t shot it. I also have a S&W 686 Plus 7 shot and it runs like a top and is super accurate with a great trigger. I’ve thought about the GP100 7 shot but am now rethinking it.
I was not able to load some wod cutter ammo in my 7 shot GP100. I put in in two .38s and a different .357. I am using this gun as my main carry gun now that I have a shoulder rig made for it.
I find it shoots to left and still playing with what load to carry. I do have after market night sight on it.
I believe u get used to weight, I was waiting on shoulder holster to be made I found a cross draw I believe is better than than the older Black widow I had. I cant get over how much I like shoulder holster and cross draw over hip carry as I am sitting a lot.
Gun is heavy enough to handle even 180 OUTDOORSMAN well. I do have a Taurus 65 4″ I believe may be a better shooter BUTT that gun is better than than most. ( have had a bunch and own 15 handguns now).
Bottom line; I like Rugers I feel better carrying it than a Taurus. I don’t expect to reload a rev. in a hurry so like 7 rds, vrs,5 i was carrying in LCRx 3″
I’ve had my 7-round 2.5” GP100 for a few weeks now with no issues at all.
Approximately 400 357magnum rounds thru & no problems with loading, extraction or accuracy.
Prefer it over the SP101 with magnum rounds.
Just bought 2.5″, model 1774. Nothing but probs with Sig brand .38 spec’l ammo. Real issue to get thru 28 rounds. Had older reloads at home, they loaded/unloaded without issue. Sig rounds measured .003″ more in diameter than reloads. The .003 each over 7 rounds resulted in two rounds not seating properly, thus cylinder not closing and when forcing won’t lock properly and difficulty unloading. Will try additional brands of ammo. Really dislike ammo sensitive firearms of any nature.
How does the Ruger GP100 2.5″ compare to my EDC gun? It IS my EDC gun! Love it! Wouldn’t trade it for the world! I upgraded from a K frame I’d carried for decades, and couldn’t be happier! No issues like others above have complained about, so apparently Ruger got the message and corrected what ever it was. I use Remington 125 grain SJHP ammo, or Remington 158 grain SJHP ammo, both green and white box. The 125’s expand great, and the 158’s act like a partition hunting bullet, from the short barrel.