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GP100 "Match Champion" - Be The First

22K views 68 replies 30 participants last post by  robertbank 
#1 · (Edited)
#36 ·
Yawn, don't like it.

What is Ruger thinking? Fixed sights on a competition revolver?

Ugly @ssed revolver. Hate the sights, the half shroud barrel, and the too big Hogue grips.

Ruger needs to get a different grip supplier that can provide a thinner set of grips.
 
#68 ·
Yawn, don't like it.

What is Ruger thinking? Fixed sights on a competition revolver?

Ugly @ssed revolver. Hate the sights, the half shroud barrel, and the too big Hogue grips.

Ruger needs to get a different grip supplier that can provide a thinner set of grips.
Just found this whilst looking for decent front sights for the MC. But THINNER grips???? They're child size - so thin I couldn't get my left hand on the grip because my right hand completely covered it. Fingers touched the palm. Had to go buy $100 bigger grip.
 
#38 ·
Touchy aren't we?



I don't like it and I WILL NOT waste my hard earned money one it, thank you very much buttercup.

Steve
 
#39 ·
You have my permission to pass on it. Spend not thy hard-earned money thereon.

Not touchy, just bemused by some of the expectations & misunderstandings of the model that seems to draw such emphatic negativity.

Every time Ruger puts out a new model, there are those who either like it or don't.
If you don't, move on with life.

Ignoring the reasons posted about what Ruger was thinking & what they see the gun's role being, and then asking what Ruger's thinking, gets nobody nowhere.
Projecting roles onto the gun that go beyond its intended uses, ditto.

This one is drawing more positive commentary on three other gunforums I monitor than negative, gotta be a few people who like fixed sights & lighter barrels.
If you're not one, I doubt Ruger will notice. Plenty more who are.
Denis
 
#40 ·
Roles beyond intended uses

Projecting roles onto a gun beyond its intended uses has been central to a great many improvements in weapons technology and shooters' skills. The development of both the 50 caliber and .308 sniping rifles came from that. Most of handgun silhouette also involves shooting at distances much past what the rounds are "intended" to reach. I believe the Marines still qualify with the M16 (or whatever it is now called) at 500 yards - much beyond the intended range of both the round and the rifle. Distance is just another form of requiring accuracy - with the additional issues of wind, trajectory etc. I think that any firearm should be "intended" to shoot as accurately as its mechanical fundamentals and the physics of its round will allow. Further, I recommend that anyone who carries a firearm should practice out to the limits of his ability to approach the theoretical possibilities of its accuracy. To each his own, of course, and anyone who decides his firearm and his practice should be limited to easy shots at close range can please himself.
 
#42 ·
I carried a fixed-sight .38 Special S&W Model 64 for some years in uniform, did not stay awake nights over the lack of adjustable sights.
I used to carry a Colt DS with fixed sights off duty.
I've carried my old fixed-sight GP a fair bit in the wilds.
Have never had adjustables on any 1911, Glock, or S&W M&P pistol I've carried.

They are simply not a requirement for carry, or for IDPA.
For 50+ yards & silhouettes, different game & different tools.
Denis
 
#44 ·
Regarding adjustable sights, a friend and I used to shoot steel matches, and the only time I ever beat him with my GP100 was when the adjustable sights on his 1911 got knocked out of whack.

I remember reading about rally car design: "Parts left out at the design stage never break".
 
#45 ·
Way too many people get hung up on adjustable sights. How many owners of adjustable sight revolvers actually change the elevation when they go from 130 to 158 grain ammo? Probably almost none. I can shoot just as well with my fixed sight Rugers as I can the ones with target sights.

Anyone who has extensively holster carried a handgun knows that guns take a beating when they are carried on your hip for 8-12 hours a day. I work in corrections and we still carry S&W 64's and 65's. Adjustable sights would be constantly getting broken with the abuse these guns take, which is why we don't use 66's or 67's. I had no trouble shooting a perfect score the last time I qualified with a 64-8 and I am FAR from the best shot in the world.

I vastly prefer fixed sight revolvers, I am not a master pistol shooter and I shoot for practice at ranges of 0 to 25 yards exclusively in DA.

If you like to thumb the hammer back and shoot in SA from a bench rest and make little groups at 25 yards then yes you may want target sights.

Otherwise I have no use for them. The new GP has excellent sights for practical shooting.
 
#46 ·
I guess I'll chime back in here. I sure didn't mean to start a thread bashing the 1754 Match Champion. There are things I really do like about the gun from a design standpoint and really that's all I'm going on here - design/aesthetics. I don't know much about IDPA (but from what I have heard it sounds like a lot of fun) but if I did I'm sure I would appreciate the particulars of this model better.

I had the same set of Novak sights on the 1752 Wiley Clapp and they are good sights, especially in bright light where the fiber optic light tube really pops. I have a fixed sight 1722 and I was surprised at how accurate the sights were at the range. Really changed my mind about the fixed sight GP100 but my older eyes do struggle with the black blade in the blued sight groove on the top strap so I might have to swap out the front blade. Had the same problem with my LCR and now the Colt DS I recently bought. Dang old eyes.

Back to the 1754 MC. Like I said in the OP, I applaud Ruger for creating another interesting version of the venerable GP100 and for paying attention to those of us who still appreciate revolvers in a shooting world dominated by polymer semi-autos. I'm sure Ruger will do well with this new model and will sell as many as they can produce. In all honesty the extra $140 premium (MSRP) over a standard model 1705 is probably a good value for the more expensive sights, the Hogue grip, the "action job", etc. As long as you really like those items and maybe that's where the indifference creeps in...it's hard not to apply your individual custom preferences to what is still a production gun.

I may not be ready to go buy the 1754 MC but that doesn't mean I don't like it. Rather it gives me the motivation to take my old 1705 and create my own version. Tinkerer that I am I get lots of enjoyment out of the process of putting something like that together myself. And then I get to choose the the grips I want, the barrel profile I like, the finish I like, the trigger feel I like, etc. But if I didn't already own an old 1705, a bunch of grips, aftermarket sights, spring kits, shims, trigger group parts, facing and crowning tools and have a local tool and die maker with a CNC machine ready to help I would probably be hunting down the best deal I could find on the new 1754.

Fixed sights versus adjustable sights probably deserves a thread all it's own.

One thing for sure - the new 1754 MC has me more interested in learning what IDPA is all about. Might be something to get involved with if there's some going on around here.
 
#49 ·
One thing for sure - the new 1754 MC has me more interested in learning what IDPA is all about. Might be something to get involved with if there's some going on around here.
Contact Lance Biddel the Area Coordinator for Florida IDPA. His contact information is here: idpa.com. I am sure he will lead you to a club close to your home. IDPA is a fun sport and clubs can always use another wheel gunner. If you do decide to shoot the sport get jetloader speed loaders (4). I have tried them all and the Jetloaders seem to work the best.

IDPA is a great sport to play at and your GP 100 is a perfect revolver for the sport (Note Max barrel length is 4.2")

Take Care

Bob
 
#47 ·
Dpris - thank you for keeping some 'accuracy' in this thread. (pun intended)

Also - Let me know when someone breaks the top strap using standard factory loads. Then I'll be concerned. The WC has the same cut and I've shot mine plenty with no ill effects.
 
#51 ·
Have you seen the prices for all the new S&W guns ? $1000.00 plus !!
The PC guns from S&W are $1600.00 !!!
When i saw the new Ruger GP100 match for $699. and $8 to ship,i bought it !
I think Ruger did the right thing with building this gun and pricing it right !!
I will have the gun in my hands Tuesday and i'm going right to the range with it.
 
#55 ·
Nice review.

And it turns out the rear sight is adjustable for windage and it comes with two different height front sights.

Jeff claims the D/A trigger pull (6.5lb) on the new GP "feels as good as we used to get on some custom Smith & Wessons many years ago when you could send the gun off and get it worked on." @5:00 min

He then takes a couple more shots at Smiths:

"Of course there's no side plate on a Ruger, so it's got a good strong frame. It's not gonna shoot out of time like some guns do. You can run all the .357 magnum ammo out of this thing you want to with any problems." @3:50

And after comparing the trigger to S&W's, he goes on: "But, it's got the durability, the reliability and the long life of a Ruger." @5:33

He ends by saying this his favorite GP, even more that the Wiley Clapp.

Looks like the GP Match Champion is going on my short list. (along w/ a dremel to buff out that hideous billboard on the driver's side).
 
#58 ·
Alpo,
Thought it was obvious here & mentioned elsewhere that the rear's adjustable for windage. :)

Hex-head lockdown screw, loosen to move, tighten to lock it down.
Screw it down TIGHT to avoid it coming loose.

Dunno about any 6.5 DA pull. Mine runs beyond my 8-pound trigger scale.
Jeff might have mis-spoken on that.

Denis
 
#60 ·
I suspected as much. Minbe is off the RCBS trigger pull scale. Doesn`t matter to me. When the buzzer goes off I never feel the trigger in any of my guns. The only time I can feel a gritty trigger is when I am watching TV in the living room. In a competition....never.

Bob
 
#61 ·
The pull on this one doesn't bother me in the slightest, just mentioning it so people won't be expecting anything at 6.5 pounds DA. :)

Now- if them blasted Canuckians just hadn't screwed up the barrel length....
I've been doing just fine with all my 4-inch GP leather for 25 years. :)

Denis
 
#62 ·
Easy Denis our stupid GD Liberals back in the early 90`s copied California`s stupid gun laws almost to the letter. I am surprised the California Legislature did`t sue for copy write infringement.

Actually the GD Liberals knew if they set the minimum barrel length to be just over 5 inches they would have had an armed rebellion up here. Dumbest law ever pasted by man.

Ruger to their credit produced the latest iterations at 4.2 inches and noted in their catalog it was for their Canadian Customers. Sold a ton of firearms up here because of this decision. Too, it forced S&W to produce their 686 with a 4.2 inch Canadian Edition barrel. That gun is over priced up here IMHO..I`ll stick to my Rugers - have bought two now and have my eyes on a third.

Take Care

Bob
 
#64 ·
Bob,
Where's that wry sense of tumor I found running rampant when my wife & I had a thoroughly delightful visit to Ontario for a computer conference years ago? :)

There was more than one good-humored jab at us Americans on that trip, all of which I took as it was given.
We were treated extremely well while we were there & that remains one of our fondest travel memories.

Your gun laws are deplorable, but I like your people. :)

I'm genuinely glad Ruger's expanded your horizons with their DA revolvers.
Just a nuisance having to stretch my leather to fit new models.....

Lighten up, Francis!!!!! :)
(Stripes, 1981)

Denis
 
#69 ·
😁Hey Dennis a bit late in replying. All in good fun. No worries. Our law actually is the gun must have a barrel length >105MM. I have a S&W 686 with a barrel length of 105.14MM and is classified as Restricted vs Prohibitive. It is an old US Customs gun.

About to buy a 10MM Ruger GP100 Match Champion. I guess Ruger has been reading this site because the front sight is the removable type like the regular GP-100's.

Take Care

Bob
 
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