3" or 4" GP100 for carry?

[CigarGuy]

Ok. You guys have convinced me to go with the GP100. As stated often, hard to justify, for my first revolver, an extra $200-$250 for a S&W 686.
So, I'm thinking since I want to shoot at the range and carry, I should be going with the 4"? I mean, you guys carry a 4" Commander 1911, right?
I'm sure the 3" IS easier to carry, but for shooting, it's the 4"?

 

[Marine24]

The size of the grip frame is the bigger factor when trying to conceal a handgun more so than the barrel length. Comfort and/or packability of a handgun is, however, affected by barrel length but boils down to whatever works best for you.

My standard carry weapon is a Commander length 1911 in a strong side OWB holster that is easily concealed.

My "woods" gun is a 4" SRH in a Simply Rugged Pancake holster worn in the cross draw position. It carries very comfortably but I'm not concerned about concealing it.

No reason why a 4" GP100 wouldn't work for you. I've known folks that used them as their primary carry gun and you couldn't convince them to change if you wanted to. One thing they did do is swap out the Hogue Monogrips with something smaller to help reduce the printing of the grip frame.

 

[CigarGuy]

Thank you and good point. I have small hands so no problem with
switching our the grips.

 

[Tommy Kelly]

I went with the 4" for the adjustable sights. The 3" was fixed sights I have several fixed sight guns that do fine but I like the option of adjustables. I love the feel of the gp100 4". I have plenty of big guns and enjoy plinking with a 38. The gp should work out perfectly for me.

 

[RugerRay]

I like shooting the 3". It would do better for CC for me. The 4" is a do everything....

 

[Skalkaho Slim]

If you can find a 3", I'd say go for it!

I have a 4" fixed sight model and love it. I would highly recommend finding a set of the compact GP100 grips as they are extremely comfortable and a little more conducive to CCW.

I used to carry a 4" GP for a while and with the right holster, no problem.

 

[Tony_The_Liger]

4" is concealable. I put mine in a simply rugged sourdough pancake holster and stick it in jeans with a light over-shirt (like a flannel or plaid jacket, a Hawaiian shirt, or an untucked unbuttoned dress shirt) with no one the wiser and no printing. It is a little big for constant CCW however it can be done. These days I find myself carrying something smaller, but I would never trade my 4" kgp141 and like to carry it when I can get away with an overshirt in Florida.

The 3" is nice but in my opinion the 4" has a better sight picture. If you really want a small Ruger you can go for the Sp101.

The 6" is great for barrel length and velocity but big and heavy. But if you really want a big Ruger theres the blackhawks and redhawk models.

The 4" is a great in between and is THE quintessential gp100.

In my mind the 4" is the one to start with and defines the gp100.

Of course, i'm absolutely biased. Ultimately do what feels right to YOU

 

[TheDude]

I've got a 3" Sp101 that is a very nice CC piece and is one of my favorite revolvers. I've had a GP100 4" in the past that was nice for woods or open carry but was a little to big to conceal comfortbly for me, but was an excellent shooter.

In my opinion, if your gonna CC it, the sp101 is definately the way to go. If you are only going to open / woods carry and go to the range, go with the GP100. Never fired a 3" so I cant comment there. I have a NIB 5" GP100 for sale in the classifieds right now BTW.

Regards,

Josh

 

[CigarGuy]

C'mon Josh! Don't confuse me further. I FINALLY narrow it down to a 3 or 4 inch 100, and you go 5 in/100-SP101 on me!
No, thanks all for the comments! Keep 'em coming.

 

[mailman]

I have the 4" GP100 and carry it in the"Ruger" Imprinted holster made for it. I'm comfortable with it I think becaue I have a great gun belt to keep it where I want it. I carried it all day, today, under a winter coat and actually forgot it was there.

 

[TheDude]

C'mon Josh! Don't confuse me further. I FINALLY narrow it down to a 3 or 4 inch 100, and you go 5 in/100-SP101 on me!
No, thanks all for the comments! Keep 'em coming.

Sorry my friend, didnt mean to make yer eyballs bulge :lol: ....just passin' on my experiences. You really cant go wrong either way. If you can handle them first it will be easy enough to figure out. If not, what do you value more, better ballistics and sight radius with the 4", or slightly more portable with the 3". Not much differnece between the two either way really.

One thing to consider that might sway your decision is to figure out what holster you like best. I think the 4" is much more common so it stands to reason that holsters may be more readily availble for it.

Regards,

Josh

 

[Wit]

I have 3" GP-100 and always carry it IWB at around 2 O'clock (only with jeans and good gun belt.)

I love the size and feel of 3" GP over 3" SP101. The way I carry, I suspect that any longer barrell would bother me when sitting down.

I installed Millet orange front site on mine and it seems to help me pick up the sight better. Again, you can't go wrong with either GP or SP in the similar barrel length. I just don't mind the weight of GP.

I just got an IWB holster for my SP today, and will see if I like it better than my GP. Good luck.

 

[Spike12]

This time of year I carry a 4in GP in a Bianchi leather holster. Since I have a winter coat on it's easy to hide, lays very flat and close too.

Those nylon holsters with that simple metal clip are not nearly as comfortable, functional or as easy to hide. Plus they wobble around too much. I've tried some from Blackhawk, Uncle Mike's, no-name-brand, etc - all the same problem: not enough bearing surface against the body.

 

[GhosT]

HUGE FAN of the GP100.

If they came out with an adjustable site 3"...I'd prolly buy 2!

But the factory 4" version...has proven itself as a great gun.

 

[BikerRN]

The 3" Gun carries like a 2" gun but shoots like a 4" gun. Hence, it would be my choice. I have both the 3" and 4" versions and while the adjustable sights are nice, on the 4" version, if I switched loads and such. I haven't adjusted my sights since I bought the gun three years ago since it came dead on for my load out of the box.

My 3" gun has a custom front sight that took some meticulous work to get dialed in. Now that is done, and I'm not changing my load. If I switch loads I'll have to test some to see what comes closest to what I'm shooting now.

I shoot one load, and have both guns "dialed in" for that load.

Biker

 

[WESHOOT2]

I have two of the 4" KGP-141 versions; one is wife's (now).

They carry just fine (and there is always the fanny pack).

 

[Doug.38PR]

GPs aren't my cup of tea (too ugly and no character to me), but I carry a 4 inch Colt Official Police or a Smith & Wesson Model 15 all the time.

Shoulder holster, belt holster, pancake holster, paddle holster or just stick it in the small of your back under a windbreaker

 

[bronco45]

+1 on what Slim said. I have carried my GP 4" concealed and it is much better with the smaller factory grip.

It's a GREAT 357 either way you look at it. The key is a well designed high ride holster and a stiff gun belt.

 

[Knuckles]

They're both FAT!... I had the 3" and sold it to buy my SP101.

Now that I have first hand knowledge of the 3" I'd go with the 4"

 

[CigarGuy]

They're both FAT!... I had the 3" and sold it to buy my SP101.

Now that I have first hand knowledge of the 3" I'd go with the 4"

"FAT" meaning the extra round in the wheel, correct?

 

[Knuckles]

They're both FAT!... I had the 3" and sold it to buy my SP101.

Now that I have first hand knowledge of the 3" I'd go with the 4"

"FAT" meaning the extra round in the wheel, correct?

MmmHmm!.............................. PHAT cylinders... might as well go with the 4" GP100.

 

[jwc]

They're both FAT!... I had the 3" and sold it to buy my SP101.

Now that I have first hand knowledge of the 3" I'd go with the 4"

I liked my 4" and 6" GP100's so much I bought an LCR in 38 Special. I expected the felt recoil to be more noticeable than shooting 38's through my GP100's, but it is worse that I thought it would be.

What length barrel does your SP101 have and how does it compare in terms of felt recoil to 3" and 4" GP100's?

 

[Knuckles]

They're both FAT!... I had the 3" and sold it to buy my SP101.

Now that I have first hand knowledge of the 3" I'd go with the 4"

I liked my 4" and 6" GP100's so much I bought an LCR in 38 Special. I expected the felt recoil to be more noticeable than shooting 38's through my GP100's, but it is worse that I thought it would be.

What length barrel does your SP101 have and how does it compare in terms of felt recoil to 3" and 4" GP100's?

I have blasted the Cor-Bon 200gr Hard-cast (1200fps at over 600ftp) not too bad... only with my Uncle Mike's Grips will I ever do that... there's something about there curved design that when held down low the revolver just rolls back... sort of the same way a plow handle SA does.

I remember my first outing with my 3" GP100 shooting light grain .357mags' ... my finger got ripped to shreds from the sharp edges behind the trigger... I like the 4"GP100 MUCH! better for control.

 

[ClayinVA]

I have carried my GP 4" concealed and it is much better with the smaller factory grip.

What is the smaller factory grip? Is it on the Ruger website?

 

[jwc]

I have carried my GP 4" concealed and it is much better with the smaller factory grip.

What is the smaller factory grip? Is it on the Ruger website?

I think they are referring to the grips without finger grooves. Ruger used to ship GP100's with them.

http://shopruger.com/Rubber-Grip-w_-Black-Laminate-Inserts/productinfo/70085/

Current production GP100's come with Houge grips. They have finger grooves and and do not have wood inserts.

http://shopruger.com/Super-Redhawk-Alaskan-Rubber-Monogrip-with-internal-Sorbothane-insert/productinfo/84198/

 

[TheDude]

I'm a fan of the Gp100 / SRH grip frame for sure and for comfort and control the Hogue is a favorite. I was glad when Ruger started to ship GP's with 'em. Some will say the opposite but for my hands the Hogues do a better job of controlling the recoil.

As far as the sp101 goes, I put Trausch grips on mine and wow, best grips i've tried so far on the sp. I really like that little revolver, very well made and extremely accurate....but then again so is the GP100.

Regards,

Josh