question about older GP100

[azswede]

Recently purchased a used GP100 (6" stainless). Love it. I checked the S/N and mfg date, 170-86XXX. Made in 1988.
It is in great shape and appears to have been mostly a safe queen.

Is there anything to be aware of in the older GP's?

Thanks for the help.

 

[Tellico]

I have 6" 170-58XXX. Must be a relative of yours. The only thing to be aware of is they tend to multiply like Blackhawks do.

 

[Sal1950]

They get really ticked off if you leave them in the safe too long.
Just like a good women they need regular love and attention. 1 range trip a month I'd call minimum.
Sal

 

[Ashlander]

No more than you have to be concerned about with the new ones.

 

[azswede]

Thanks for the replies.
I'm shooting it as much as I can, and love it.
Saving all my brass and will start reloading when the time frees up. That will allow me to shoot even more.
Also plan to take it deer hunting in the fall. I need to practice alot and test out a good hunting load.

 

[stantheman86]

I feel the older GP100's have a slightly better finish, especially the blued ones. I have a 1989 production fixed sight GP100, along with a few from the late 90's and early 2000's, and the polish is a little better than my newest GP from '08.

Ruger deleted the matte topstrap sometime around 2005, I believe. My 2008 production blued GP has a gloss topstrap. I could care less,one way or the other, but the matte that all of my older GP's has is a nice touch.

Also, the newest GP100's have a pin-less extractor, like the new S&W revolvers. It's a moot point to me, if nothing else it's one less point of failure. Also, if it matters the new GP's may soon have MIM triggers and maybe hammers at some point in the future. The SP's already have MIM triggers, and all the adjustable sight GP's have MIM rear sight assemblies.

 

[357phase]

If you decide to put on one piece grips or some others that require the grip locator pin to be removed,you may have to press the pin out.It may not slip out like the newer models.

 

[Mike Armstrong]

I also have a 1989 6" blued half-lug GP. It has better bluing than the current blued ones, IMO. Mine has been shot enough that the trigger has smoothed up to a very slick DA pull, too.

Seems the opposite of most GPs I see; carried little, if at all, and shot a lot. I pulled about 56 cents worth of copper out of the bore when I first got it. Once cleaned it was slick as nose lube, tho.