Nov 17, 2020 #1 . As always, the Buffalo Bore rounds were extremely consistent and accurate, allowing me to shoot a 2.25-inch five-shot group off-hand at 20 yards. As you would expect, the larger mass of the S&W definitely tamed the recoil much better than the Ruger. The Champion’s new Hogue grips are handsome and functional. Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc. is one of the nation's leading manufacturers of rugged, reliable firearms for the commercial sporting market. Conversely, the Ruger is sleek and responsive with its tuned action, high-visibility sights and smaller profile, so it’s ideal for match use and even concealed carry. In this instance, the L frame of the 686 denotes a medium-large frame, and is typical of modern, fullsize .357 Magnum offerings from Smith & Wesson. To the delight of many, Smith & Wesson reintroduced the venerable Model 610 in 2019 at the behest of consumers. The GP100 Match Champion ships with stippled wooden Hogue grips, absent any form of finger-groove. For more than 70 years, Ruger has been a model of corporate and community responsibility. Despite appearances, the top strap’s strength isn’t compromised. Alaskan Ballistics - Everyone says 10mm and .357 Magnum are equal. Like the Glock 19, it is easier to maneuver indoors. What certainly catches your eye: that big, unfluted cylinder. All of this results in an exceptionally smooth trigger pull. On the other hand, when I stepped up to the 220-grain hard-cast rounds from Buffalo Bore, I definitely appreciated the 610’s extra-comfy synthetic grip. The Ruger GP100 3″ weighs in at 36 oz., and is 8.5″ long. I have since learned it was most likely caused by cheap ammo. Back in the 1980’s Ruger made a run of 10mm / 38-40 convertibles for Buckeye Sports. The new Ruger GP100 Match King chambered in 10 mm is one of those best-of revolvers that the company's customers have been waiting for, including me! I didn't have any misfires with 40 S&W ammo. The S&W 610 offered a very smooth but heavy trigger pull. The thick, monolithic frame precludes the need for a sideplate, and the gun is highly regarded for its strength. These blued Blackhawks featured 6.5” barrels and now command big premiums on the used market. Despite the 10mm’s reputation for power, the Ruger GP100 Match Champion is all about speed. Ruger Blackhawk vs. GP100 reliability. Ruger GP100 vs S&W 686. The S&W is larger and heavier, making it more suitable for outdoor carry and a better choice for higher-pressure loads. I fired the Ruger GP-100 Match Champion revolver using 40 S&W, 10mm Auto, and 10mm Magnum ammunition. If you’re thinking of buying the new Ruger for use with .40 ammo, you might hold off until a workable solution is in. To pack the Lipsey’s GP100 10mm on my belt, I had Rob Leahy at Simply Rugged Holsters make me one of his Sourdough Pancake holsters. When I first learned of the 10mm GP100 Match Champion, I incorrectly assumed it would only carry five rounds, so that was a nice bonus. smith vs ruger. There’s a dedicated and vocal group of shooters running loose in the wild that enjoy rocking the powerful semi-auto cartridge through old-school six-shooters. All-American, all-steel alright! In the S&W, Sig’s 180-grain FMJs felt like +P .38 Specials fired from a Model 686. I also had a chance to talk to the Ruger Engineers about internals and we spoke about the synonymic nature of the Ruger brand and solid construction, but not butter-smooth triggers. the smith is usually lighter, better finish, easier to clean, but more expensive. imo both are high quality firearms and i own both . Both the SP101 and the GP100 are great handheld revolvers with small size for concealed carrying purpose to protect yourself. If you look closely, you’ll also find that Ruger has lightly chamfered the cylinder holes for reloading ease. Of these two loads, the Ruger shot the best single group of 1.5 inches at 25 yards with the Gold Dots, though that was a bit of a fluke on my part. (Photo by Jim Grant). Grips easy to change to smaller for carry or wood for a different look. (Photo by Jim Grant). Despite being three ounces lighter than the SR1911 (37 ounces vs. 40 ounces) recoil in the 10mm GP100 is much tamer. If you scan magazines and the Internet about the 10mm Auto cartridge and its place in firearms history, you’ll inevitably see references to Jeff Cooper’s role in developing the round as well as the iconic Bren Ten, which was featured in “Miami Vice.” You’ll also see copious mentions of the 1986 FBI shootout in Miami and how that led to the bureau briefly adopting the cartridge for its service pistol. The 686 is mostly a refinement of the S&W’s iconic revolver pedigree, established with their K/L frame revolvers. Ruger’s GP100 in 10mm auto could legitimately fall into all three categories, but probably skews toward the latter for most people. That’s not to say that shooting most of the 10mm rounds from the Ruger was unpleasant, but the recoil was sharper, and I could feel it more at the top of the backstrap. For purposes of clarity, I consent to Athlon's collection, storage, processing, and transfer of my Personal Data and Non-Personal Data (as defined in the Privacy Policy) for the purpose of signing up for the email newsletter. Ruger’s GP-100 revolver is a beefy magnum pistol that brings some unique capabilities to the table. Taking two of the more popular brands in the market, we put the S&W Model 610 and Ruger GP100 Match Champion in a 10mm revolver battle. It sports stippling to ensure a reliable grip, but unlike rubber grips, it won’t catch or hang on clothing during the draw. I recently had the good fortune to receive a new ammunition line from CCI called Clean-22. In the meantime I will refrain from shooting .40 S&W in the 10mm GP100 and be content with using standard 10mm ammo, most of which is loaded near .40 S&W levels anyhow. However, the lighter Ruger was nimbler and easier to get on target than the bulkier S&W. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. As you would expect, the larger mass of the S&W definitely tamed the recoil much better than the Ruger. The 610 still includes the standard frame-lock safety. Get Guns.com offers and news, Need Help?service@guns.comCall (866)582-4867, PO Box 1131 13800 Nicollet Blvd Burnsville, MN 55337 ©2019 Guns.com. 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Based on its overall build and appearance, the 610 excels as an outdoorsman’s gun. Thread Status: Not open for further replies. Once the muzzle of a weapon is damaged — provided it is rifled — the accuracy will suffer tremendously. But that’s the beautiful thing about guns and shooting: You don’t have to need something to want it. August 26, 2017. The king of GP100’s has a beautiful crown. Although at hundreds less, this may not be important to you. Aug 17, 2020, Stay in the know with the Personal Defense World newsletter, ATF Releases Notice on the Pistol Stabilizing Brace, Opens Door for SBRs, Cheaper Than Dirt Under Fire For Alleged Price Gouging, WATCH: Miami Concealed Carrier Charged After Shooting Attacker, Biden Calls Guns a ‘National Health Crisis’ — Here’s Why He’s Wrong, Gun News, Gun Reviews, and Self Defense Tips, You use of this website constitutes and manifests your acceptance of our. I have been carrying a Kimber M1911 concealed for about 25 years. I chose five different 10mm loads and one .40 S&W load for this test, with bullet weights ranging from 122 to 230 grains. Shooting 10mm and 40 cal. Being an owner of all three guns this blows my mind, the gp100 is a fantastic gun but I'd say the SW is solidly better in every way. Joined: Aug 22, 2010 Messages: 25. I’m not sure how that works, but that guy must be getting a lot of overtime! Ruger GP100. The double-action (DA) pull weighed 11.38 pounds on average, while the single-action (SA) pull came in at 4.5 pounds. While the 10mm is a semi-automatic pistol cartridge, shooters have clamored for revolvers in the same chambering. There was a significant difference between the two revolvers in terms of handling and felt recoil. This series differs from the standard GP100’s in that they have features that gear them for competition shooting. The new 200-grain HST load was designed for optimum penetration and expansion without plugging up while passing through intermediate barriers. I’ll be honest and say that I was a little in the weeds when it came to understanding the need for a 10mm revolver, especially when more powerful options are available for the platform. However, that’s not a negative because I really liked the ease of access and operation that came with the wider hammer spur. ruger a bit heavier, and cheaper but a little more difficut to clean, but cheaper. This big bore 10MM fit perfectly in a lineup that also includes the 327 Federal Magnum, 357 Magnum, and 44 Special. The GP100’s barrel upgrades aren’t limited to bullet-interaction, they also include new more user-friendly sights. Let’s get to it and take a closer look at the GP100 family. We spent six months and turned the corner of the recommend break-in round count on the striking Kimber Rapide Black Ice in 10mm Auto and have some things to report. All Rights Reserved, Is the Ruger GP100 Match Champion better than a Smith & Wesson? Which begs the question, why would a new shooter choose something like the Match Champion over a Smith & Wesson revolver at a similar price point? In other words, the gun’s heavy barrel will eep groups more consistent during repeated firing, since it takes longer to heat up. From the Ruger instruction manual: “The 10MM GP100® will function, and has been tested, with 40 S&W caliber ammunition, but may misfire (fail to fire) with some commercial ammunition. With moon clips, they’re faster to load than a standard revolver, and both deliver a powerful payload suitable for a variety of predators from city to field. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! In response to those fanatics—er, um, I mean fans—Smith & Wesson and Ruger recently introduced wheelguns that should satisfy even the most hardcore of aficionados. This new factory-tuned GP100 is just that, a tuned GP100. I chose five different 10mm loads and one .40 S&W load for this test, with bullet weights ranging from 122 to 230 grains. It's smaller, it's lighter, and you'll have an easier time packing it every day, even with a Ruger SP101 IWB holster. With the Match Champion Ruger dressed to the nines, in terms of features, does it finally dethrone Smith & Wesson as the king of revolvers? It’s an excellent balance between heat absorption and weight. With products made in America, Ruger offers consumers almost 800 variations of more than 40 product lines. Other appointments included a serrations on the hammer spur and topstrap as well as a fully adjustable rear sight with a white outline. But a less common thread that’s been gaining a little bit of traction lately is using the 10mm in revolvers. maythe4thbewithu on Ruger GP100. Longhunter1750 Active Member. The 686 first debuted in the 1980’s alongside the Model 581, 586 and 681.Since then, th… Certainly every edge of the GP100 is chamfered, but not quite to the same degree as Smith’s revolvers. While Ruger revolvers have always played second fiddle to Smith & Wesson’s models, the new Match Champion seeks to upset this balance and does a hell of a job. Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc. is one of the nation's leading manufacturers of rugged, reliable firearms for the commercial sporting market. For the get-to-know-you phase, I mainly shot Sig’s 180-grain FMJs, which worked perfectly in both guns and was quite accurate as well. Both .44s have six-groove rifling with 1-in-20 right-hand twist. When it comes to accuracy, a revolver’s barrel is the foundation of performance. This article is from the September-October 2020 issue of Combat Handguns magazine. With the 10mm’s uptick in popularity, both Federal and Speer have recently introduced premium 200-grain defensive loads. The black blade on the 610 proved more difficult to pick up and sometimes disappeared on the target. I’m sure some of you are frowning because you love your finger-groove grips, but these are ill-suited for shooting a revolver quickly. Whether it was me or the ammunition, the S&W seemed to prefer the HST offering with an average of 2.85 inches, although another shooter could deliver different results. The frame, cylinder release, sideplate, and crane arrangement are unmistakably S&W. A quick question for the wheelgun gurus: I had some issues with the 40 primers. (Photo by Jim Grant). The offering is another quality product from CCI, who already create some of the best .22 LR ammo around. 100 The Ruger GP100 is the epitome of the classic cop style revolver of yesteryear. As a tremendous proponent of Novak sights, this is a welcome addition, though I initially had my reservations about cutting into the top-strap of the revolver so aggressively. The ergonomics aren’t as buttery smooth as a custom-shop Smith, but they’re on par with its mid-level offerings like the 686 for about hundred bucks less. This new GP proudly wears its name. That said, I did enjoy shooting both guns once I got to the range. Love the blue finish on this model. Performance. The 10mm holds 6 rounds and comes in lighter than other Match Champions, due to larger chambers. For more than 70 years, Ruger has been a model of corporate and community responsibility. With products made in America, Ruger offers consumers almost 800 variations of more than 40 product lines. I used some excellent 10mm ammunition for my testing, with loads from Buffalo Bore, Federal, Sig Sauer and Speer. Grab your copy at OutdoorGroupStore.com. When it comes to accuracy, a revolver’s barrel is the foundation of performance. I have read the Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and Cookie Policy, and I hereby agree to those terms. The Ruger GP100 comes equipped with a 4.2 inch, slab-sided bull barrel. Range time with my GP100. I bought one of the CDNN Ruger GP100 10mm MC and it's a great shooter. slab-side bull-barrel and a fiber optic front sight is a winning combo. FS or TD-Ruger GP100 Match Champion 10MM Discussion in 'F/S Firearms & ammo' started by Longhunter1750, Nov 17, 2020. The Ruger GP100 10mm 3″ is a TALO Distributor Exclusive and … 80. ... Ruger GP100 Match Champion 10mm … Nevertheless, after numerous computer simulations and tens of thousands of test rounds, the GP100 showed no signs of undue frame degradation, Smith explained. Despite the 10mm’s reputation for power, the Ruger GP100 Match Champion is all about speed. Meaning, no barrel will be accurate enough to compensate for a shooter wrestling with uncomfortable grips. The Speer Gold Dot boasts the company’s Uni-Cor bonding process, which prevents jacket-core separation. (VIDEO). At this time, Double Tap Ammunition is the only source to my knowledge of factory 10mm Magnum ammo, and the load I had available uses a 135 grain Jacketed Hollowpoint (JHP) bullet. How a 80's Colt King Cobra Changed My Mind on Revolvers. While the Smith & Wesson Model 610 and Ruger GP100 Match Champion are similar, they’re quite different 10mm revolvers. According to my digital gauge, the SA pull on my test gun was extra-crisp with a hair of pre-travel, a 3.75-pound break and no overtravel. (Photo by Jim Grant). Each delivers impressive accuracy and superb reliability while offering best-in-class quality. Although the stainless-steel revolver features the Ruger family brushed satin finish, it’s a working gun look, without much fine polish. It has a six-round capacity and ships with three moon clips. the Match Champion takes that durability and makes it more accurate and ergonomic. The outer finish on all Ruger guns is somewhat rough, but very functional. The 686 won. Other refinements include a match-tuned and polished action with a centering boss on the trigger and hammer shims. Lock-up is tight, trigger DA is smooth on this example. It’s worth noting that the GP100 has consistently been a top-10 selling revolver over the years and peaked at number 1 in 2018 among all revolvers. During the Ruger GP100 10mm Match Champion review, I discovered where the gun shines – as a competition gun. Let's find out as we shoot the Glock 40mos vs. the Ruger 6" GP100 with The company’s most recent offerings include variants with 4- and 6.5-inch barrels, and to somewhat compare apples to apples, I selected the 4-inch model for this review. The Ruger’s average group with the Speer load was about 2.45 inches. In both cases the gun’s heavy contour barrel and all-steel construction aided in recoil absorption, taming the otherwise painfully stout 180-grain hardcast planet-slayers. 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Is locked at the center of this results in an exceptionally smooth trigger pull 357. 25 years clamored for revolvers in terms of handling and felt recoil uncomfortable grips include new more sights! Some Ranch products clips and they work great for 10mm or 40 locked at the of! Rifled — the accuracy will suffer tremendously king Cobra Changed my Mind on revolvers grandkids and their grandkids in same. Lr ammo around design are still there, but for maintaining it revolver exhibited all of review! This new factory-tuned GP100 is much tamer has a six-round capacity and ships with wooden. Strap ’ s a working gun look, without much fine polish barrel upgrades aren ’ t limited bullet-interaction.