GP100 Closer to Perfection

[Bob R]

This is one of the 3 Inch Adjustable Sight GP100's Chambered in 38 Special +P.
It has had a Trigger Job, with Wolff Springs, and a Full Shim Pak which includes Hammer, Trigger, and Hammer Dog Shims. I added a Marble Fiber Optic Quick Change front sight. My last improvement was locating a set of NEW Old Stock Pachmayr ComPac grips.

The Holster is a Rocky Hill Pancake.
The Speed Loader is a Safariland Comp III.
The Speed Loader Carrier is a Big Creek Kydex in Black Carbon Fiber pattern.
Not a bad combination for Winter Concealed Carry.

The same GP100 with Altamont Fancy Fish Scale grips. They look good, but not the best for concealed carry. The Green Paint Dot on the top of the Comp III Speed Loader is to identify it as an L Frame/GP100 Speed Loader. Hard to tell the K and L Frame Comp III's apart. I have about a dozen of each.

A little better look at the Fiber Optic front sight.
I have Fiber Optic sights on most of my handguns anymore. Old and Blind. I can see the Fiber Optic Dot just fine however.

My SECOND Grail Revolver after rounding up my 3 Inch S&W 66-2 was a 3 Inch 686-4 SIX Shooter, with a Pinned on Front Sight. The Trick part is the SIX Shooter. Most are the 7 shot 686 Plus. The 7 shooters have a pretty dismal selection of speed loaders. I shoot Defensive Pistol, and ICORE, and I like revolvers that use Jet Loaders, or Safariland Comp III's.

This GP100 has Adjustable Sights with a Quick Change Front Sight CHECK.
It has a 3 Inch Barrel. CHECK
It is a SIX Shooter CHECK
It will reload with Jet Loaders, or the Safariland Comp III Speed Loaders. CHECK

No need to spend BIG Bucks on a 686-4 SIX Shooter with a 3 Inch Barrel anymore. This GP100 covers about all of my requirements.

The grip selection left some to be desired until I lucked into the Pachmayr ComPac grips from a S&W Forum member. Someone at Pachmayr really dropped the ball when they discontinued the GP100 ComPac Grips. My guess is the front seam did not close up tight enough to suit a large number of customers. It looks like a simple fix to me. Use 2 screws on the grips. One with a Bushing through the Grip Panel Locator Pin Hole (Like used on the SP101 ComPac Grips), and a second High on the front of the grip to close up the front seam. That should take care of any fit issues. With no source for the Lett compact grips, the Pachmayr ComPac grips should sell very fine.

The GP100 being chambered in 38 Special +P is not an issue for me. I shoot 38 Special 99% of the time. I can always load up some +P+ ammunition if I want more power. OR have the cylinder rechambered to 357 Magnum. Part of the 38 Special marked GP100's are chambered in 357 Magnum. This one unfortunately was not. An easy fix however.

I Like It

Bob

 

[Flatbush]

That is ONE sweet set-up Bob!
I agree in that your revolver fits the bill in every way possible.
I got my 1751 last week but have done nothing with it so far.
Many thanks for passing on some great ideas to make a great revolver even better!

Flatbush

 

[Laserbait]

I really wish Ruger would offer it in a 357 Mag version. It's everything I want, except in the wrong caliber!

 

[kbm6893]

I wish Ruger would stop selling their revolvers with those awful Hogue rubber grips. They are an abomination, especially in the 3" version. You gotta factor in new grips to the price of the gun.

The Lett trips were perfect. And the Lett compact ones were perfect on the 3".

 

[DonD]

I wish Ruger would stop selling their revolvers with those awful Hogue rubber grips. They are an abomination, especially in the 3" version.

I agree, my 6” barreled GP100 came with the Hogues, makes it look clunky and ugly and I didn’t like the balance with them. With the weight of the GP100, it doesn’t need the recoil absorbing feature, I switched grips back to the previous wood-inletted factory grips. Much better. Don

 

[WendyZXZ]

Looking good there, great progress!

 

[FergusonTO35]

Very, very nice. I think the .38 chambering makes it more attractive, not less.

 

[Bob R]

FergusonTO35 I do carry the lower power 357 Magnums in a couple of my 357 Magnum chambered revolvers that I conceal carry. The Golden Saber 125's and the 125 & 135 Gold Dot Short Barrels. As I have more 38 Special Concealed Carry revolvers than 357 Magnum's, I also have several brands of 38 Special +P Personal Defense ammo.

To be honest I am not sure when I fired my last 357 Magnum round. It has been a while. I have been planning on building another Fackler Water Box to play with. When I get that done, I will probably chronograph and check the expansion on the 357 and 38 Specials against my handloaded creations. I have been a reloader for around 45 years, and I like to roll my own.

I shoot ICORE, Defensive Pistol, and Reactive Steel Challenge with a revolver. As I like to shoot, I shoot 22LR, 38 Special, 40 S&W, and 45acp, so I am shooting in Multiple Divisions at a match. Thinking this over I am probably shooting about 50% or a hair more 38 Special.

The 3 Inch GP100 has had a steady diet of Missouri Bullet Company 158 Round Nose "Cowboy #11's) over 3.7 Grains of American Select, Ignited by a Federal 100 Small Pistol Primer since I have owned it. NOTE: If I ever go to a big match I will need to check this load and make sure the Power Factor is high enough.

We may have a source again after the Shot Show for the Lett Style Compact Grips. From what I have read the new GP100 in 22LR is supposed to come with the Lett Compact grips on it.
Lets hope they are the fancier ones like on a Willy Clapp GP100, only in the Compact size. I am guessing these are made by Altamont.

The bottom line is the GP100 needs some Compact grips available to choose from.

Bob R