GP100 longest barrel produced????

[benchrest500]

Hi All,

Was curious at to the longest BLUED FULL UNDERLUG barrel Ruger produced?

All I have seen is 6" in BLUE

I have an itch to build a scoped 357 and GP100 is in the possibles but if there is an 8" out there I may have to engage in a quest.

Thanks for any input!


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[BlkHawk73]

6" is the longest they made available. I for one would've liked a 8" blued model. 8)

 

[benchrest500]

Yeah I was hoping not to hear that,,,,, I like the idea of a Ruger but if I'm laying out all the cash and time I think an extra 2" on the barrel is in order.

My other viable options are Taurus and Smith,,,, then Colt. I found a Whaitetailer I can get for about $900 all original but not wild about the 4x scope,,, would want it to have a variable up to 6 or 8 maybe 9.

I think set up right and with the right loads a 357 could be quite a 150 yard shooter.

I just worry the 6" barrel dropping it down to maybe a 100 yard gun.

I saw a 12" Taurus but honestly it looked a little goofy.

Not wild about Taurus either but Smith puts me in a taller budget and Colt puts me way up there BUT it's a Colt, always gonna be worth more.

 

[41manor44]

What are you going to use this set up for? Hunting or paper punching? Taurus are O.K. but if you ever need service I've found it to be almost non existent. I would either stick with the 6" Ruger or take the step up to the Smith.

 

[benchrest500]

Most likely paper, haven't shot a deer in 15 years or so. Decided that my day always went downhill pretty fast after pulling the trigger,,,,, :wink:

That and I kinda got burnt out on venison I'm more of a chicken and seafood guy when it comes to meat.

Guess this all stemmed from deer hunting though,,,, when I started handgun hunting I'd take a vitals shot to be safe, then discovered the carnage left from being hit by a 44 mag so from that along with confidence I started taking head shots. Then I decided a 357 would be a better choice for deer hunting at least in my case. Lighter load, lighter gun and assumed flatter shooting.

As far as killing deer,,, my uncle has killed more than most men and always used a 22 magnum rifle,,, sure I know not legal but old timer and landowner gives a feeling of kiss my a$$ I guess,,,, bottom line he always used what he took never took more than needed and never lost one so I agree with him,,,,, yeah he always took good clean head shots too.

So that being said,, you can kill a deer with about anything and all anyone really needs to be a competent hunter is one handgun and maybe a shotgun

I think most of us are here for the love of playing with guns

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[WESHOOT2]

There is always the 7.5" 357 Redhawk.
I KNOW mine is a "150 yd" gun.

 

[anachronism]

The bullets aren't going to nose into the ground at 50 yards just because it's a 6 in barrel. Also, barrel length doesn't affect accuracy at any distance, a shorter barreled gun could even be more accurate that a longer barreled one. I certainly wouldn't buy a Taurus just because it has a longer barrel. Get something that'll last. There are scope mounts for GP100s. Add one & see what she'll do out past 100 yards. You may be amazed.

 

[benchrest500]

The bullets aren't going to nose into the ground at 50 yards just because it's a 6 in barrel. Also, barrel length doesn't affect accuracy at any distance, a shorter barreled gun could even be more accurate that a longer barreled one. I certainly wouldn't buy a Taurus just because it has a longer barrel. Get something that'll last. There are scope mounts for GP100s. Add one & see what she'll do out past 100 yards. You may be amazed.

Yeah I know but an extra 2" will help stabilize the bullet and get a little more feet per second. I'm pretty experienced with scoped revolvers and just prefer longer.
Check this thread for my posts. http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?p=1092000#1092000


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[WESHOOT2]

No.

A bullet only needs enough barrel length to stabilize; more length does not 'stabilize it more".

As for barrel length adding velocity, this myth demands testing using the specific ammo and gun. More length MIGHT add velocity, but NOT ALWAYS.
Just 'usually'.


And FWIW, when I take my 4" GPs to the club range I always make it a point to take on the 70 yd gongs.
(I try to make the same 'point' with every gun I bring :mrgreen: ).

 

[contender]

As noted,, the longest GP-100 is a 6" bbl,, BUT also as noted,, a Redhawk was offered in 357 AND 7-1/2" bbl.
Maybe you would enjoy getting one of those (hard to find but well worth it) revolvers,,,???

 

[BlkHawk73]

Make it a really interesting search and try and locate one of the exported Redhawks with the realllly long barrels.

 

[benchrest500]

No.

A bullet only needs enough barrel length to stabilize; more length does not 'stabilize it more".

That is IF 6" is enough to stabilize the projectile. This will vary.

As for barrel length adding velocity, this myth demands testing using the specific ammo and gun. More length MIGHT add velocity, but NOT ALWAYS.
Just 'usually'.

Yes the question is how much more velocity you gain with 2" and that will vary with the burn rate of the powder. I have not messed with 357 in target fashion so I'm not knowledgeable on decent powders for it yet. I'm guessing H110 may be in the running though.

I know one of the magazines did an article on a Blackhawk 10 or 12 inch gun where they sawed 2" off each time then fired it several times, they stopped a 2" barrel,,,, I may still have that around here but I'm not sure if they chronographed it or not. May be worth digging for that magazine,,, Probably American Rifleman. I remember nobody like firing the 2" end result as it was painful.




Anyway,,, just ordered a 6" Blue GP100 from Davidson's 5 minutes ago,,,,,,


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[FergusonTO35]

Good job!!

 

[benchrest500]

Good job!!

not so sure,,,,,

Wife don't know yet,,,,

benchrest500

 

[hutchman]

When it shows up just tell her Santa must have come early!

 

[WESHOOT2]

We find the 1 7/8" and 2" and 2 3/16" and 3" and 3 1/16" .355--.358" barrels sufficient to fully stabilize most bullets.

I have numerous 'cut barrels back and speed-check' articles dating from the mid-seventies; I have chronographed numerous and varied handguns to include matched pairs (or more); the song remains the same: "Unless you test you guess".
Ay?

 

[benchrest500]

We find the 1 7/8" and 2" and 2 3/16" and 3" and 3 1/16" .355--.358" barrels sufficient to fully stabilize most bullets.

I have numerous 'cut barrels back and speed-check' articles dating from the mid-seventies; I have chronographed numerous and varied handguns to include matched pairs (or more); the song remains the same: "Unless you test you guess".
Ay?

I have never researched it to any satisfactory level but your input does help sooth the fact I'm building a 6" gun vs. and 8" gun,,,,,,, but still would have taken the 8 had it been an option (just didn't feel Taurus was an option) Smiths (new) are just too high priced and so are Colts (used),,,, but I do have a soft spot for Colts.

In real world estimates what measurable speed loss percentage would there be between 6" and 8" 357 judging from the data you have accumulated?

I guess my worry is I like HOT heavy bullet loads that will still fly straight and in my mind I still want that longer barrel for stability and burn time. I just don't have any data to study.

 

[contender]

Nah,,, Santa delivered it late. Or,, it was a forgotten package that had to be rescued!

 

[WESHOOT2]

Testing shows the lowest "average" (ooh I hate that word when used in that context) velocity change from barrel lengths occurs in the 357 Magnum chambering between 6/6.5" and the 7.5/8(+)".
Hypothetical difference is potentially a possible 50--120fps.
Or more.
Or less.
Or not enough to materially matter.

Having some experience with the 357 Magnum cartridge, I suggest the 187g Cast Performance or the 180g Remington S-JHP or the Hornady 180g XTP-HP as sufficient for that diameter.
AA9, H110, W296, N110.