Vetting Ruger GP100s for Carry/Defense Use

[Flashman]

If it functions OK when it gets hot, I would leave it at that.

[SwampDweller]

If it functions OK when it gets hot, I would leave it at that.

I spent quite a while at the range today, primarily shooting the GP100 in question but a couple of other guns in between. I put a total of 236 rounds through the GP100. I did experience the sticky cylinder opening/closing at one point, but here's how it broke down:

236rds total
-50 rounds Magnum fast (got very hot)
-followed by 30rd Special fast (very hot)
-18rds Mag (after cooling a little bit)
-6rds Special (Was sticky closing/opening after this for a little while, set it down and picked up after a minute and it cylinder swung out normal. Gave it a wipedown/scrubbing just before this happened)
-6rds Spl (it was ok?)
-122rds Mag, got hot again, ran fine

I was giving it a little wipe down/scrubbing every once in a while once I got past 100 rounds or so.
So I'm a bit confused why it seems to do it sometimes but not others, many times not doing it even when hotter than comfortable to hold. Is this potentially a problem with the gun? Or some kind of fouling temporarily in the wrong place at the wrong time? Maybe something else?

[JonInWA]

So let me get this straight: Throughout your session, the GP100 cycled and ran fine, but at the roughly 75 round point, it became a bit difficult to open and close the cylinder until it cooled down a bit (but otherwise operationally it was fine)?

Best, Jon

[SwampDweller]

So let me get this straight: Throughout your session, the GP100 cycled and ran fine, but at the roughly 75 round point, it became a bit difficult to open and close the cylinder until it cooled down a bit (but otherwise operationally it was fine)?

Best, Jon

I suppose that is the case. Last time it happened it was a bit less than 75 rounds, but I will need to check my notes. It never happened in the first 1k rounds. Maybe I didn’t get it quite as hot during that time but it did get pretty warm.

[SwampDweller]

So let me get this straight: Throughout your session, the GP100 cycled and ran fine, but at the roughly 75 round point, it became a bit difficult to open and close the cylinder until it cooled down a bit (but otherwise operationally it was fine)?

Best, Jon

Went through my notes again. Yes, you have that straight. Although I think there was a brief moment where the action was stiffer but a quick scrub/wipe in the relevant areas quickly remedied that.

So maybe I'm just reading too much into this and it's fine?

[dannyd93140]

This is my Saturday load out for one GP.

[SwampDweller]

This is my Saturday load out for one GP.

Nice. Over what period of time do you shoot it? Are those Magnums, .38s, or a mix?
Ever run into anything like I described a few posts up? How many rounds do you have through that GP?

Sorry for all the questions. I don’t get to talk to many people in my circles who shoot revolvers much, so I don’t have much real-life references to compare notes with.

[awp_101]

This is my Saturday load out for one GP.

I’d like to know more about your setup. SpeedBeez?

[dannyd93140]

Nice. Over what period of time do you shoot it? Are those Magnums, .38s, or a mix?
Ever run into anything like I described a few posts up? How many rounds do you have through that GP?

Sorry for all the questions. I don’t get to talk to many people in my circles who shoot revolvers much, so I don’t have much real-life references to compare notes with.

I use 357 cases but 38 special loads. 158 SWC or 160 RN. I am practicing for doing Revolver USPSA matches.

I have 6 GP's, one has over 35,000 rounds the between the rest 1000 thousand and 20,000 thousand per revolver depending on use. Purchased my first GP new in 1989.

[dannyd93140]

I’d like to know more about your setup. SpeedBeez?

MTM ammo crate with 4 Safariland loading blocks. I have the Speed Beez setup too.

This is my rig.