Came out with a GP100.
Since first hearing about them last December, I have been lusting after the S&W Model 69 with the 2 ¾” barrel. I have the 4” edition and just knew that the shorter barrel version could fit very well as an EDC.
Ten days ago, I visited my favorite gun shop and asked to see what they had. He had 5 in stock. Long story short, all 5 had issues with either the trigger (rough as a cob, felt like it was dragging through the cycle), the cylinder release (stuck or very hard to activate on two of the sample guns), or with the cylinder needing a pretty good “bump” with heel of my hand to open (occurred on 3 of the sample guns). I know that the gun was designed to shoot .44 magnum and the ball-detent lockup has been reworked for this model, but the amount of effort needed to open the cylinder on the models I looked at was in my opinion, excessive. I was sorely disappointed that all 5 of the guns had at least one issue that I did not feel comfortable with.
I walked down to the other end of the counter and asked to see the 3” GP100 in .44 Spcl “just for giggles”. I could not believe how smooth the action was and how flawlessly everything functioned right out of the box. I knew that I would be shooting Specials out of the 69 anyway so I did a side by side comparison. The GP felt lighter by a hair. Both were pretty much identical as far as width. The GP had ¼” more in barrel length. The GP ran circles around the 69’s I looked at in function.
Needless to say, it came home with me. I have been to the range 3 times so far with it and I do not regret one bit my decision. Its accuracy is outstanding, easily shooting 1” to 1.5” groups at 10 yards (standing, not from a rest). I’m using two different loads: 5.5 grains of Unique under a 240 gr LSWC, and 4.5 grains of Titegroup (hey, it’s what I have the most of, OK?) under the same 240 gr pill.
It is not fussy as to either load. Mild recoil, big bullet running about 800 fps +/-, more accurate than I am. This one’s a keeper. Might have to pick me up another to boot.
Oh, and my Marlin 1894 loves the same loads. They are a joy to take to the range. Reloading makes the fun affordable, too.
First range trip, 5 shots at 10 yards (using a borrowed target):
From my range time today (5 shots at 10 yards):
And the guest of honor:
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Since first hearing about them last December, I have been lusting after the S&W Model 69 with the 2 ¾” barrel. I have the 4” edition and just knew that the shorter barrel version could fit very well as an EDC.
Ten days ago, I visited my favorite gun shop and asked to see what they had. He had 5 in stock. Long story short, all 5 had issues with either the trigger (rough as a cob, felt like it was dragging through the cycle), the cylinder release (stuck or very hard to activate on two of the sample guns), or with the cylinder needing a pretty good “bump” with heel of my hand to open (occurred on 3 of the sample guns). I know that the gun was designed to shoot .44 magnum and the ball-detent lockup has been reworked for this model, but the amount of effort needed to open the cylinder on the models I looked at was in my opinion, excessive. I was sorely disappointed that all 5 of the guns had at least one issue that I did not feel comfortable with.
I walked down to the other end of the counter and asked to see the 3” GP100 in .44 Spcl “just for giggles”. I could not believe how smooth the action was and how flawlessly everything functioned right out of the box. I knew that I would be shooting Specials out of the 69 anyway so I did a side by side comparison. The GP felt lighter by a hair. Both were pretty much identical as far as width. The GP had ¼” more in barrel length. The GP ran circles around the 69’s I looked at in function.
Needless to say, it came home with me. I have been to the range 3 times so far with it and I do not regret one bit my decision. Its accuracy is outstanding, easily shooting 1” to 1.5” groups at 10 yards (standing, not from a rest). I’m using two different loads: 5.5 grains of Unique under a 240 gr LSWC, and 4.5 grains of Titegroup (hey, it’s what I have the most of, OK?) under the same 240 gr pill.
It is not fussy as to either load. Mild recoil, big bullet running about 800 fps +/-, more accurate than I am. This one’s a keeper. Might have to pick me up another to boot.
Oh, and my Marlin 1894 loves the same loads. They are a joy to take to the range. Reloading makes the fun affordable, too.
First range trip, 5 shots at 10 yards (using a borrowed target):
From my range time today (5 shots at 10 yards):
And the guest of honor:
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[URL=http://s1137.photobucket.com/user/andyadams2000/media/GP100%2044%20Spcl/IMG_1445.jpg.html]
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