Ruger GP100 Match Champion Range Report

I ended up selling some old stuff I had in my garage and bought the Ruger GP100 Match Champion. I took it out over the thanksgiving holiday and put about 200ish rounds through it. It is a tradition that we go shooting with the extended family each thanksgiving. We had a round 10" steel plate hanging at about 35 yards that I was consistently hitting 5/6 or 6/6 times with that revolver using the double action trigger at a somewhat rapid fire rate. Some of my family thought I was 'showing off' with that revolver--but were surprised when I told them it was my first time taking that gun shooting. The trigger is lighter and smoother than the standard GP100. I LOVE the wood grips! I normally hate all wood grips because they slip and slide when my hands get sweaty. These grips have some kind of a 'stippling' texture and are really easy to hold on to. Love the gun, and unfortunately for my other GP100, I think the match champ will get all the range time from now on. I will post some pics later.

I finally got around to taking a few pics. Here they are (the gun is a little dirty--just shot it again and didn't clean it right after):






The grips that I really really like. The texturing is VERY nice.

Dang, that is a nice revolver. Interesting about the trigger being better than the std. GP100. I think I'll have to take a closer look at this. How was the sight regulation, was it on or off for point of impact?

It was on for me... and I must admit that I enjoy the fiber optic front site quite a lot. As far as the vertical aiming went, I had to place the fiber optic sight on top of my target at about 35 yards. I figure this is about right for the loads I was using and the distance I was shooting at.

Do you recall what loads you were shooting? I've heard that it's sighted in for 158's at magnum velocities. The only thing holding me back on this one is I'm usually shooting 125's

I was shooting some powder coated cast bullets from a 158 gr mold. The bullets were dropping slightly higher than 158 gr due to my alloy being a little more pure/soft lead. Powder charge was only about 5.5 gr Unique. Not sure on the velocity but it is subsonic for sure.

Very good. Thanks Corn.

Thanks!

Oh wow that's one nice firearm. I love those grips, I'll have to remember that when I buy mine.

I took a vacation day yesterday to go shooting with a buddy that has been back east (middle east) for the last few months. I put another 250-300 rounds through this gun--I really enjoy shooting it. I love how that fiber optic front site glows bright if there is any sunlight out.

I checked my load data again and need to correct my post above. The subsonic load I was shooting before was the 5.0 gr Unique--The 5.5 gr load was supersonic (at least out of the Handi). I did not chrono the 5.5 load from the revolver. The 5.0 load runs right around 950-1000 fps out of the Handi 16" barrel. The 6 gr load I did seemed to work fine in the revolver, but was not as accurate in the Handi.

I was catching up on old episodes this morning and was listening to episode 131 (pre-SHOT episode) where they discuss the GP100 Match Champion.  I can understand the sights issue where a different rear sight (adjustable) might be nice--but the grips!!!  I can't believe Grant and Doc were poo-pooing the stippled wood grips!  Those grips are probably my favorite part of that gun (besides the smoother, lighter trigger).  The grips feel AWESOME in my sweaty hands.  I usually refrain from buying any handguns/revolvers with wood grips because they slip too much in my hands.  Not so with the stippled wood grips on the match champ--they feel good and don't slip.  I wonder if Doc and Grant have actually shot the match champ with those grips or if they are just assuming that they would not like those grips.  Anyways, I guess different guns for different folks.

800 rounds through the gun so far, and still loving it!