funkymonkey1111

if you can't hit anything with the 4", you aren't going to hit it with the 6".

Get the 4"--I've had one for going on 17 years now--first handgun I ever bought and I still love it (back when the walmart price was $319)

Mark IL NM

Trigger on my SP is harder, travel a bit less than on my GP. Both are smooth, not stagey. Both are 3"; SP for carry and travel, GP for HD and IDPA, but generally interchangeable (GP has the compact grip, both have Gemini Customs gold dot front sights, fixed rear, so transition is easier for me at least).

easyrider604

There are many reasons to buy the 4 inch or to buy the 6 inch.

Up here in Canada, we can only buy 4.2 inchers (which came on the market in the last year or so) and 6 inchers if we were not grandfathered for the 4 inch barrels which were prohibited years ago.

I would love to have a 4.2 incher just because it swings way quicker for me.
But that means I have to sell one of my 6 inchers, which I don't like to do.

Anyways, whichever one you decide will probably not be your last revolver, so you cannot go wrong either way.

Elkanah

I still have the six inch .357 GP100 for sale. If interested check it out in the classifieds here.

ricklee4570

To those that say that there is not much velocity difference between a 4 and 6 inch GP-100 are crazy....unless they dont think that a couple hundred feet per second mean much

Beerman

I agree with jholder. Waiting a year. Criminals do not have to wait. Thats insane.

bwfelton

Please note, the California Assembly just passed a bill that prohibits open carry in the state. Next it goes to the Senate.

Woodsy

IMO the 4" is better for HD. The 6" is easier for a would be attacker to grab hold of if you are coming around a corner looking for what went bump in the night. And, if you can't hit something with the 4" at defense distances, the extra barrel length probably isn't going to help you.

StevenJ61

I originally bought a six sold it and bought a four. I carry it in a smart carry holster, the four inch, on my days off from work just fine in a slightly over sized pair of pants and slightly over sized shirt. Also the four inch holds much better resale value than the six, especially in stainless. An old well kept four inch stainless can go for prices approaching a new one, no joke. Either way, it's a good gun but for me four inch is definitely the way to go unless you want a dedicated hunting handgun in 357 then the six would be better.

Tommyhof

I was going to say the same thing, compromise and get the 5", ( I did) I have a 3", really wanted a 6" but not with that big heavy barrel, I wish Ruger would do a run of half shroud on some guns, 6" for one......

cache de poudre

Except for hunting, a 3" SP covers a lot of uses.
If you're interested, I've got a half-shroud 6" GP like new posted for sale here under "GP-100 stainless 6" unfired".

Redleg

+1 ... for the purpose the OP articulated, the 6" is probably the way to go, although the 4" would also be a fine choice. I went with the 6" and my criteria was identical to that of the OP: home defense and range gun; occasional plinking in the boonies.

The GP100 is one of my very favorite guns and its absolutely my favorite revolver of choice. Beautifully made and a pleasure to shoot and own. I do recommend stainless steel. Hogue or Badger wood grips are a great accessory too, although the stock rubber Hogues are OK.

Daniel4541

I have read several posting in the discussion about a 4inch versus a 6inch in the Ruger GP 100 and several people here have mentioned owning a 5inch barrel instead. How difficult is it to get a 5inch barrel? Any suggestions will be helpful!

bbqbob51

I think the 4" barrel is a better choice for a SD house gun. It is a bit faster to maneuver and has a long enough sight radius for accuracy, most encounters in a house are within 20 feet. Also imagine you have to hold the gun on a burglar for 15-20 minutes (if your lucky) while the police respond to your call. Even the 4" barrel will get heavy so imagine how front heavy that 6" barrel will get.
Personally, I have a S&W 4" barrel 686+ and my brother chose the 4" barreled GP100 as a home defense gun. I chose the 686+ because I wanted a 7 shot revolver.
All this being said, I am planning on getting a 6" barrel revolver at some point because I want both a 4" and 6". I am now leaning towards the GP100 but who knows I might just get another 686+.

James6591

The four inch model is on my wish list.