GP100 44 Special

[n4rod105]

I just purchased a used Ruger GP100, 3-inch, 44 Special. It came in the correct matching serial number box with the manual. It came with a set Altamont wood finger groove grips installed and a Hogue rubber grip. I haven't shot it yet, and ammo is out for delivery today. I purchased a box of Fiocchi Defense Dynamics 200 gr SJHP, and a box of Doubletap DT Defense 240 hardcast LSWC ammo. I'll see if I can hang onto it with the installed, very smooth wood grips, or need to put on the rubber ones. Looking forward to shooting this nice gun.

Rod

 

[Rclark]

Nice. I have Badger grips on mine. It is a handful shooting skeeter loads out of it (240gr SWC over 7.5gr of Unique). With factory loads it should be manageable with the wood grips. Enjoy.

 

[arcticruger]

Congrats, very nice!

 

[mirglip]

I'm envious. I carry a Charter Arms Bulldog 44 special in the woods and love the cartridge and the size, but it ain't a Ruger. I would love to get my paws on one of those.

 

[hittman]

3 inch GPs are the best

 

[Rclark]

I carry a Charter Arms Bulldog 44 special in the woods

For me, my Bulldog is for town/house. Have Single Actions to open carry for the woods.

 

[contender]

Nice one n4rod150! And I'm sure it'll be fairly easy to hang onto!

 

[Lt92]

I just purchased a used Ruger GP100, 3-inch, 44 Special. It came in the correct matching serial number box with the manual. It came with a set Altamont wood finger groove grips installed and a Hogue rubber grip. I haven't shot it yet, and ammo is out for delivery today. I purchased a box of Fiocchi Defense Dynamics 200 gr SJHP, and a box of Doubletap DT Defense 240 hardcast LSWC ammo. I'll see if I can hang onto it with the installed, very smooth wood grips, or need to put on the rubber ones. Looking forward to shooting this nice gun.

Rod

NICE...would make a wonderful trail/woods platform

 

[n4rod105]

Exactly why I bought it. I live way out in the woods. Remote property in heavily forested mountains. I've had trouble with bears over the last 2 decades. And yeah, I built my house in their domain. But I'm a twice wounded, disabled Vietnam vet and just can't see coming home from that and being mauled or killed by a bear on my own property. I've been carrying a S&W 629-4, 4-inch for the past 15 years. 10 years ago I had to act in self defense against the apex black bear boar on my mountain. 7 feet 2 inches long, and weighed in at 462 lbs. One shot to the noggin at 25 feet from a Doubletap 320 grain, flat nose, hardcast lead, copper gas check round at 1,325 fps saved my life! But at 75 years old, the 44 mag is getting quite a bit to handle. And after loosing 58 lbs through a VA Diabetic Nutritionist assisted planned diet & exercise program over the past 5 years, that 629 has a tendency to pull down my pants, even after going from a size 42 to size 36. So the lighter GP100 is welcome. And hopefully the Underwood 255 grain Black Cherry SWC rounds at 1,000 fps will be powerful enough for my needs.

 

[Lt92]

wow ..that big bruin eould have killed you fer sure...dont forget buffalo bore they also make an awesome HC load for your 44
good on you for losing the weight snd thanks for your service!

 

[n4rod105]

Yep. Nowhere near the state record of 673 lbs black bear taken east of here. But big enough for me! Took 5 people from the Dept of Natural Resources to get him up in their truck. I donated it to their feed the hungry program. I kept 2 quarts of his fat and rendered it for my black powder patch lube. Best lube there is!

I live in 12 degree sloped mountains and valleys. I'm walking 5 miles a day now on dirt roads and deer trails. Just gotta be careful. I don't walk the first & last hours of daylight. That's when the big critters are out & about. We don't get cold enough here for bear hibernation, so they're around all the time.

 

[WanderLust]

I4rod, you up around the Nantahala Forest area? That's some rough wild country up there. Black bear paradise!

 

[n4rod105]

I'm surrounded by forests. The Chatahoochee to the east, Cohutta to the west, Cherokee to the N.W., Nantahala to the N.E., and the Great Smoky north of that. I live in the hole in the donut, surrounded by a couple million acres of wilderness. Bears galore! And in Blue Ridge is the Expedition Bigfoot Center and Museum where you can learn what really hangs out in the wilderness around here, that even the bears are afraid of!

 

[jimbo1096]

I love the 44 special. I have it both in the GP and in the Blackhawk and is a hoot to shoot. With the right loads, I wouldn't have a problem carrying it in the woods either.

 

[n4rod105]

The only other gun I've had in 44 Special was back in the 90s. It was a 2nd Generation Colt SAA with 6 inch barrel. I didn't shoot it much because of its collector value. But recently I did shoot some 44 Special loads in my S&W 629-4 and really liked them. The delivery service dropped off my ammo order to an unknown location and allowed someone else to sign for it. Now they can't find it. So don't have any ammo to shoot right now. I have an out of town VA eye exam today. Will see if I can find ammo in that town.

 

[gnappi]

After Ruger discontinued the Security Six I swore I would never buy a GP but I would own that .44.


Live and learn.

 

[TheDude]

Man I've waffled a few dozen times about getting one of those. I have yet to run into one locally though (small town), congrats on the purchase!

 

[John in WYO]

Good job on the bear defense.
Glad you came out okay.
Spring (black) bear opens soon here, but the grizzly bears outnumber them in Park County.

 

[Pistolero]

I bought mine from Whittakers when the first came out. I shoot hard cast Skeeter loads. It was a smooth action and it is very accurate. I carry it in a Simply Rugged cross draw holster. @Bear Paw Jack sparked my interest in them.