Safety Concers

[SmokyMount]

Hello, I'm looking into purchasing the GP100 in either a 4.2 or 6 inch barrel. I have read up on the specs, and shot similar guns in the past (S&W 686). That being said, I have little experience with revolvers. I will purchase this gun purely for defense. I hike often in the smoky mountains, and have encountered multiple black bears. While our bears are small-ish (up to 400 lbs or so), and generally skiddish, I have encountered enough that I believe I need some firepower in case of an attack. This gun would be carried in a hip holster. My question is this...Is it safe to carry a loaded GP100 in a hip holster for extended periods of time. What is to stop this gun from firing if it gets jostled or bumped? I realize the double action trigger pull is pretty heavy, but all the same, I am concerned. Any thoughts?

 

[shaffe48]

The revolver has a transfer bar which prevents the gun from firing unless the trigger is pulled to the rear. Due to the heavy DA trigger this would never happen unless you did it intentionally. Many holster I see for DA revolvers don't even cover the trigger but if you are extra concerned you could buy a holster that covers the trigger and straps down the exposed hammer spur.

One of my favorite aspects of the revolver is that you can keep it completely loaded at all times and it is uncocked and about as incapable of unintentionally firing as a firearm can possibly be. The old peacemakers were literally used as hammers to pound in nails loaded and did not (could not) fire, but these had to be carried with an open chamber. I'm not sure what your alternative would be if you were looking for something safer. Perhaps a slingshot.

 

[Buck B.]

As shaffe said the transfer bar will keep it safe from firing if bumped and what not. As a safety precaution as related to the trigger accidentally getting caught on a branch or some other thing as you hike in the woods go with a holster that covers the trigger like a Simply Rugged pancake holster. Couldn't get more safe in my opinion.

 

[FergusonTO35]

A GP in .357 with stout loads of 158-180 grain slugs would be a great choice for your needs.

 

[frank n texas]

If you are worried about the gun firing if you bump the hammer just do not have a round loaded in that chamber.

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

A fellow by the name of James Gary Shelton has written at least 3 books about bears and what you need to know to protect yourself and what you need to look for with bears. Besides having a fine revolver with a 180 hard Cast bullet the knowledge about black bears will help you considerably. In general black bears will run when they see or at least smell humans. BEWARE of the ones that seem curious about you or won't leave, but hang around in spite of being aware of your presence. Those bear have lost their fear of man, and worse yet if they are predatory they will attack and try to kill and eat you. Predatory black bears are the main ones to be concerned about. Even mothers with cubs if given room think of their cubs first. Get your self educated and learn to be accurate with that GP100. It will serve you well. A 357 and a good round will handle most black bears but more importantly you can get back on target for follow up shots quicker than harder kicking rounds. Chances are very slim it will ever be an issue, but carrying it should ease your mind should you have the opportunity to pot a spruce hen.

 

[contender]

Welcome to the Forum from another guy who lives in the Smokies area!
My job is Nuisance Wildlife. I'm a state certified Animal Damage Control Agent for NC. As such, I get a lot of calls about bears. In our area, the black bear population is still expanding, and more & more people get to see them. Yet, even with all that, human/bear actual physical encounters are extremely rare.
That said, your major question was about the safety of a GP-100.
That gun is built strong, and is a good choice for a packing gun. You can easily trust it to be safe while carrying if you use a quality holster. As explained above, it has a transfer bar that will prevent any accidental firing.
I'd worry more about the two-legged critters that prey upon folks in the Smokies than the bears. And yes, that GP-100 will be a very good choice for that purpose too!

 

[Chuck 100 yd]

Aside from the excellent advice posted by those above, a holster similar to this one will make the gun safe as well as protect it from damage. The combination of a very safe design of the gun and a holster that gives good coverage will make an accident all but impossible.


Have fun!!
OH, Welcome to the forum!!!

 

[Big Old Boy]

I carried a security six and a 101 for years as a leo. and never had one fire in the holster. Safe as safe can be.

 

[22/45 Fan]

Current Ruger, S&W and Colt revolvers are as drop-safe and accidental discharge safe as any firearm type ever made. They all have long DA trigger pulls and one form or another of blocking the hammer so a fall on it cannot fire the pistol. In terms of inherent safety and simplicity, the SA/DA revolver is far more "fool-proof" than any semi-auto.

 

[DPris]

Totally baffled about why you'd think any revolver might be un-safe to carry in a holster for extended periods of time.
People have done it for well over 150 years, including all types, and that includes various Rugers such as the GP.

If you're that unsure about revolvers firing if they get jostled in leather, you might want to re-think your idea to carry a gun.
Denis

 

[Pal Val]

Not to step on a fellow board member's toes, but to me, any question regarding gun safety (or safety in any way) is a valid question. No need for me do add an answer. There are plenty of good ones in already.

I'm with Contender on the issue of predators in the hills. The worst ones are walking on two legs.

 

[dakota1911]

Have a GP100 and the transfer bar in a DA revolver makes it about as safe as a sidearm will be right now. I would educate myself on bears also. If you are still worried just lock yourself in your house and watch nature on TV.

 

[DPris]

Val,
Normally I'd agree with safety questions, but here it should not be too hard to reason through the safety issue expressed.

Hundreds of thousands of cops, hunters, and concealed carriers have spent "extended periods" with DA revolvers in hip holsters for many decades.

It is the most common method of carrying a medium to large frame revolver.

If it were so hazardous that jostling or bumping the gun while holstered could easily cause it to fire, neither Ruger nor any of the holstermakers who provide hip holsters could remain in business in today's litigious society.

I remain baffled by the question.
Denis

 

[SmokyMount]

Thanks to all those who took the time to consider the post and provide advice. I appreciate it! To those who have such an enormous chip on their shoulder that they felt it necessary to post negative comments, thanks for the laugh. I apologize for wasting your precious time and brainpower. But thank goodness you stepped up and put me in my place, because my question was so ridiculous that someone had to. Someone who takes the time to belittle another person for asking a question regarding safety must really have alot going on in their life. The vast majority of you on here were considerate enough to answer the question, but it only takes one conceited individual to bring the negativity. Any schmuck that speaks to people in such a condescending way needs to grow up. I'm sure if you wandered into my area of expertise your inexperience would be obvious as well. I remain baffled by your lack of people skills. But then again, the internet makes everyone a tough guy.

 

[WESHOOT2]

Ensure the holster covers the trigger guard; solved.

 

[6gun]

Don't know about the bear you have back east but out west here I wouldn't carry anything less than a 44mag. to fend off our black bear.

 

[shaffe48]

on the issue of predators in the hills. The worst ones are walking on two legs.

Does anyone have any examples of anyone getting shot, mugged, assaulted, or otherwise attacked in the hills or any other secluded or wooded area?

To be honest, I used to take the woods gun as a serious defense gun. But after considering the fact that I grew up in a rural area and the most I heard was a few home invasions, I now consider my single six the best woods gun. I think most of the criminal stick to the urban areas where they belong.

Happy to be proven wrong, but I think counterexamples are about as frequent as black bear attacks.

 

[DPris]

I remain baffled, regardless of your sarcasm, and reiterate my statement that you may wish to reconsider your idea of carrying a gun.

I have no problem with lack of knowledge, I do with lack of reasoning ability.
Denis

 

[shaffe48]

I've seen in the news where a handgun discharges when being carried. Mostly pistols and mostly due to negligence. But it happens enough that someone not familiar to revolvers posting the question is far from absurd.

In fact, before the use of transfer bars a revolver discharging when dropped was a common occurrence. It famously happened to Wyatt Earp. If someone didn't know about the transfer bars or unloading one chamber then there would be a legitimate concern.

What is absurd is taking the time to answer a question just to bash it for being asked. Especially when it is a new member who came here for something constructive. Of course for some people this forum only serves the purpose of blowing your mouth. Either provide a constructive response or get lost, as far as I'm concerned.

 

[DPris]

What I see in the news involves dropped guns in restrooms or ADs from mishandling or other accidents.
What I do not see is "Holstered Gun Jostled, Three Shot", or "Holstered Gun Bumped, Owner Taken To Hospital".

Not talking about dropped guns, talking about a jostled or bumped gun during extended carry in a holster.
How else is it recommended to carry one?

What makes "extended carry" more dangerous than limited carry?
Is two hours more dangerous than one? Four more than two?
Were cops who carried DA revolvers in holsters for decades always blowing their kneecaps off via a bumped gun?
Were hunters who did the same, doing the same?
Are concealed carriers nowdays doing themselves damage by bumping their holstered revolvers?

The question asked was about one specific issue- safety regarding a jostle or a bump in a holster.
Don't extend it into other scenarios.

Even without knowing about Ruger's transfer bar, this one could have answered itself with a little more thought.
Denis

 

[rugerguy]

I'm with 'shaffe48' new guy comes on and asks a simple enough question,has 2 posts ,welcome to the Forum Smokymount, and sorry for any 'wrong' impression, heck I thought we were back on the "Old" S&W forum, where the inmates ran the farm.........maybe a wrong choice of wording, "jostled" but not being a Ruger 'revolver' person, sounds legit enough to me to cut him some slack and give GOOD advice as to what KIND of holster to use, and let him know there is NO real difference in the lockwork of a "double action" Ruger revolver and those of Colt, S&W or others...just a terminology & usage, difference in 'hammer blocks' versus "transfer bars", BOTH safe to carry ,use, in about any circumstance...its when you pull it out, and USE it ,determines the real safety issues....heck I carry MY .22 in my pocket...only thing that changes is which pocket of whatever I may be wearing that particular day................at 'work' I used a duty holster, and a 'pancake' for plain clothes............... 8)
His question brings to mind of what "may" happen when one falls over a rock, or trips on a log or falls in a stream, slides down the side of a mountain, and on and on, yessir your gun is gonna get "jostled"............... :roll:
I'd rather we did NOT tell new folks to "go home, stay in ,watch TV", gotta be some GOOD suggestions out there, THINK...
heck last ( and ONLY ) two times we had any "run ins"??? with any black bears, was fishing ,up in Canada, BOTH times I talked to the bear, rather LOUDLY, as he (she? ) was more surprised than I was, and before I could even 'think' about crapping my pants, they rambled off.........
'Smokymount' good luck, go ahead and get that Ruger and "practice", get a nice ,sturdy holster,even a good 'flap' type holster,(better to protect the gun) you're NOT going into any "fast draw" competition far as we can tell...... :wink:

 

[6gun]

on the issue of predators in the hills. The worst ones are walking on two legs.

Does anyone have any examples of anyone getting shot, mugged, assaulted, or otherwise attacked in the hills or any other secluded or wooded area?

To be honest, I used to take the woods gun as a serious defense gun. But after considering the fact that I grew up in a rural area and the most I heard was a few home invasions, I now consider my single six the best woods gun. I think most of the criminal stick to the urban areas where they belong.

Happy to be proven wrong, but I think counterexamples are about as frequent as black bear attacks.

There has been two different long horn sheep attacks on hikers not far from me in the last few years, seems like one hiker was killed if I remember correctly, there have been murders along the Appalachian trail years ago and other crimes, over all most mountain trails are pretty safe.

 

[contender]

"Does anyone have any examples of anyone getting shot, mugged, assaulted, or otherwise attacked in the hills or any other secluded or wooded area?"

Actually, there is a local (Smokey Mtn) case where an elderly couple were murdered hiking. They were from Hendersonville NC. The killer was eventually caught, but it was discovered he'd killed one or two others, and tried to kill one girl who fought back & got away. That was in the last few years.
Plus, locally, (Asheville,) I have spoken with folks I know at a popular outfitting store who have told me of other 2 legged predators in & around our area.
So, yes, the biggest critter problem seems to be of the human type.
But, as I stated, the OP did ask a question about safety & the GP-100.
Let's try & stick to discussions about that alone as much as we can. (And, at least this thread didn't get into a caliber discussion!)
Smokey,,, please excuse some of the folks here. Sometimes, they do go off in a different direction.

 

[varminter22]

Ensure the holster covers the trigger guard; solved.

I would add a word:

Ensure the holster properly covers the trigger guard.

The reason I say this? Because I witnessed a fellow shoot himself in the leg when holstering a loaded .45ACP double action revolver. And no, his finger was NOT in the trigger guard.

This was a "race" match holster. Apparently the trigger was slightly wider than the trigger guard (but was not a trigger shoe.) After using it for some months, one day (at a match), he must have holstered it slightly off from parallel with the holster. At any rate, the trigger caught and in the act of holstering, it went off sending the slug down his leg. (Thankfully, he should fully recover.) Later, the feat was duplicated (with empty revolver, of course) proving it could - and did - happen.

Bottom line: Check - and recheck - to ensure proper fit. And maybe not a bad idea to place thumb on hammer while placing a DA revolver in holster.

 

[shaffe48]

"Does anyone have any examples of anyone getting shot, mugged, assaulted, or otherwise attacked in the hills or any other secluded or wooded area?"

Actually, there is a local (Smokey Mtn) case where an elderly couple were murdered hiking. They were from Hendersonville NC. The killer was eventually caught, but it was discovered he'd killed one or two others, and tried to kill one girl who fought back & got away. That was in the last few years.
Plus, locally, (Asheville,) I have spoken with folks I know at a popular outfitting store who have told me of other 2 legged predators in & around our area.
So, yes, the biggest critter problem seems to be of the human type.
But, as I stated, the OP did ask a question about safety & the GP-100.
Let's try & stick to discussions about that alone as much as we can. (And, at least this thread didn't get into a caliber discussion!)
Smokey,,, please excuse some of the folks here. Sometimes, they do go off in a different direction.

Very well, next time I will start an entirely new thread to ask a question.

Which outfitting store was it in Asheville? It wasn't in Weaverville was it? If necessary, I will start a new thread to ask this question. I wouldn't want to be the only person on here to go off topic.

edit: BTW, I completely believe your assertion about this area. I was up the mountain by the Boy Scout Camp near Asheville and I have seen paved roads that were quite a bit less busy than that trail.

 

[sheep.dog]

Hurray new guy! Welcome to the forum. If you spend anymore time here you'll get use to sifting through the crap to get the good advice from the knowledgeable, caring members who are here.

Seems like about half of the post here are meant to put somebody down. Which is too bad because there is tons of good info about rugers and firearms to be found in this forum

 

[Pal Val]

on the issue of predators in the hills. The worst ones are walking on two legs.

Does anyone have any examples of anyone getting shot, mugged, assaulted, or otherwise attacked in the hills or any other secluded or wooded area?
.

When I was an agent, we had access to the National Park Service daily report. Their office was in the same building as ours (IRS), next door to the cafeteria, and they posted it on their bulletin board. You would have a different opinion if you ever read that little newsletter. If memory serves me well, for every animal attack in the Federal lands, there were four or five violent criminal acts.

 

[shaffe48]

When I was an agent, we had access to the National Park Service daily report. Their office was in the same building as ours (IRS), next door to the cafeteria, and they posted it on their bulletin board. You would have a different opinion if you ever read that little newsletter. If memory serves me well, for every animal attack in the Federal lands, there were four or five violent criminal acts.

Pretty well expected you to get me on the human attack>animal attack argument. I was setting the bar pretty low and, like I said, was happy to be proven wrong.

I definitely grant that major national parks and popular tourist hiking trails must be a small magnet for crime. Most people at these are yuppy dummies that certainly are unarmed and probably carry cash and valuables. Not all, but whenever I've been at a place like this I'd say they formed a majority. I doubt too many criminals hang out on the game lands and hunting areas...very, very few.

But, in the last three years, there's been 214 murders just in Columbus, a mid-sized U.S. city. Just to put all this into perspective. But I admit I still carry a .357 to the woods instead of a 22 mag if no real varmints are in season.

 

[Pal Val]

A .357 with a heavy load are good for the Eastern woods. No grizzlies or brown bears stalking the area. Definitely good enough to deal with other threats. As to the holster, just to summarize, as long as you keep the finger out of the trigger guard while holstering and drawing the gun, you will be safe.

Our friend asked a valid question, and got a variety of answers. In my way of seeing things, differing opinions prove that people here are doing their own thinking, which is good.