Guys, the bug has bitten me again. I’ve been looking at a Ruger Wiley Clapp GP100 (357-7shot)



Here’s where my little brain is getting caught. I already own a S&W 65 4” 357



They both weigh w/I a few ozs of each other,
The 3” will be a little easier to hide
Neither will be for CCW
I reload so I can make soft shooting target ammo or deep penetration bone crushers…

Anyone got any input?

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This message has been edited. Last edited by: MikeinNC,

So your asking us, basically a group of addicts, if you should own two of essentially the same gun, even though you won’t be carrying the new one nor does it offer much over what you have then one extra hole and “shiny”?

What are you stupid? Of course you should get the new shiny!!!! . . This is a place of lizard brain advice did you expect anything else. That WC G100 looks awesome!! I’d love one. It will look fantastic next to that Smith.


So ummm yeah never ask me financial advice or about impulse control techniques.

Slinger FTW! Hahaha

OK anyone have experience with the GP? (I know I can clean up the internals and slick it up)

And they aren’t the same…one has a shorter barrel and extra boom

My only thought on this is that the S&W M65 is a K frame gun which will not hold up to a heavy diet of magnum loads as well as the GP100.

The oldest gun in my arsenal is a 4 inch GP100. A pawn shop buy years ago for... $280! It is the most boringly reliable gun I own. Accurate still after 1000s of rounds and a high number of full power .357 ammo. I will never get rid of it. I also lust for the WC model too!
Buy it!
And I have a round butt 3 inch 65, too. Carries better due to smaller format but the GP100 is a far better shooter.

I have a 4" GP100. It's just a nice gun. It's big, but smaller than an N-Frame, yet plenty stout for a steady diet of magnums if you should choose to do that to yourself...which you might because it soaks up recoil pretty well.

The DA trigger is smoother on mine than the average Smith, but the SA on most of my Smiths is a little better. Instead of using a side plate like a Smith, the trigger group is a module that snaps into the frame by means of a very heavily spring plunger, and it all comes out as a unit. It's pretty easy to disassemble and polish stuff up if you want to do that, but I've found the biggest improvement is just stoning and polishing the round "ball" of the mainspring strut where it contacts the hammer socket. Supposedly you can get shims for them to tighten up the tolerances but I've never felt the need.

Like cslinger, I'll never be accused of talking somebody out of a new gun. I'd say go for it!

I had a GP100 for over 20 years and sold it for something new and shiney. For years it was my only handgun. I'm about to buy another one. A GP100 Match Champion. Everybody ought to own one. Often see them compared to the Smith 686.

Just ordered that exact same Ruger two days ago! Should be here in about a week.

I have several.
3”, 4”, 6” and a Match Champion (very slick revolver, IMO)
6 and 7 shot.
And just ordered another 4” in 7 shot and a .22LR.
They pair well with my lever action rifles.
New shooters, kids and grandkids love them.

I like them. I have owned Smiths and still have an old Colt King Cobra. But I shoot the Rugers WAY better.
Get the Wiley Clapp. If only in the interest of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in your gun safe.

Everyone should own a 4 inch GP100. The action is OK when new and slicks up fairly nicely after a couple gazillion rounds and dry fires. Mine has proven to be fairly indestructible. It's not as pretty as a vintage Smith, but it's certainly rugged and reliable.

I have this same gun. Got it when they first came out. Have had no problems with it. I find it shoots very well but not as good as my 7" SW 627 for high voloum shooting. Great woods gun either on the hip or chest holster. Get it you will enjoy it.

I agree with the others in that the GP100 is a gun that will last forever and is a great performer. I had a GP100 until my son saw it and now it is his.

I have a couple of the 6 shot WC edition GP’s. Easily my go to everything 357. I love old Smiths. Just for the extra round I would go Ruger. Add to that the GP is a pretty perfect revolver design. Stout. No sideplate is a huge win over S&W. Easy to work on. They are both great revolvers but that GP is easily my choice.

Picked this one up today. GP100 Match Champion

That is nice. I was looking at one of those today but with an adjustable rear sight. With all the stress of dealing with my elderly mom I went stress shopping. lol. I ended up with a Dan Wesson Specialist Commander. Those Match Champions were tempting though (and half the price almost)

If that were mine I would pop off those grips and put on the Compact Ruger insert style. I think these GP’s look, carry, and feel much better with the smaller compact grips. Either way you bought a great gun.

quote:

Originally posted by pedropcola:
That is nice. I was looking at one of those today but with an adjustable rear sight. With all the stress of dealing with my elderly mom I went stress shopping. lol. I ended up with a Dan Wesson Specialist Commander. Those Match Champions were tempting though (and half the price almost)



If that were mine I would pop off those grips and put on the Compact Ruger insert style. I think these GP’s look, carry, and feel much better with the smaller compact grips. Either way you bought a great gun.

You must have been reading my mind. I just ordered a set to put on it.

Nice!

I love the GP100. I picked up mine back in 1991 when I was about to attend the academy where the 686 was the duty weapon of choice. All of the agency 686’s developed timing issues from, I assume, a steady diet of magnum fodder and would spit lead at shooters on either side of them at the outdoor range. A buddy and I bought GP’s as they met the criteria for duty carry. Mine wears now very dead Trijicon front and rear sights and hogue grips. I carried it for about 4 years before the agency made the jump to Sig. when I am demised, it will go to my son.

I spent hours dry firing this beast and the action slicked up to the point where it is now silky and butter smooth; that would be my recommendation to improve the trigger pull substantially. It’s the oldest gun I own that was an original new purchase followed closely by my SP101, also a .357.

A seven-shot six-shooter! Cool!

quote:

Originally posted by vthoky:
A seven-shot six-shooter! Cool!

“Six for sure plus one more.”