New Revolvers for 2017

[American1776]

I'm a revolver and 1911 guy.

I'm very excited for the brand new Ruger GP100 chambered in 44. spl., 3 inch barrel, 5 shot cylinder. http://www.ruger-firearms.com/produc...eets/1761.html

I'm also very excited for the brand new Smith & Wesson model 66 and model 69, both being offered with ~3 inch barrels. https://www.smith-wesson.com/firearm...-combat-magnum

https://www.smith-wesson.com/firearm...-combat-magnum

I think I'll be getting the Ruger GP100 .44 spl. Seems like a very good 'do it all' pistol. Small enough for carry, big enough for home defense, and pleasant enough for range time.

[Pilot321]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCby...ature=youtu.be

[raxar]

Why the fuck would they make the .44 spl with a 3" barrel? The fucking thing is already huge, what good is it going to do?

[American1776]

Why the fuck would they make the .44 spl with a 3" barrel? The fucking thing is already huge, what good is it going to do?

A GP100 is far from huge. The Alaskan and RedHawk are huge. An N-frame revolver is 'big'. An L-frame and comparable GP100 is *Mid-size*. Putting a 3 inch barrel on a mid-size frame makes it appeal to customers who want a carry gun and a home defense gun.

A GP100, with a comparable barrel, is the same weight and dimensions as a S&W L-frame 686. A 3-inch wheelgun on a mid-size frame, in the opinion of many wheelgunners, is the *perfect* sized revolver for both carry and home defense.

There's the reasoning behind the 3 inch tube, from my own impressions.

[R L Suehr]

A GP100 is far from huge. The Alaskan and RedHawk are huge. An N-frame revolver is 'big'. An L-frame and comparable GP100 is *Mid-size*. Putting a 3 inch barrel on a mid-size frame makes it appeal to customers who want a carry gun and a home defense gun.

A GP100, with a comparable barrel, is the same weight and dimensions as a S&W L-frame 686. A 3-inch wheelgun on a mid-size frame, in the opinion of many wheelgunners, is the *perfect* sized revolver for both carry and home defense.

There's the reasoning behind the 3 inch tube, from my own impressions.

Definitely,
I have a 3" gp100 in .357 that was my first carry gun. It's definitely a really handy package. It still accompanies on fishing and hiking trips over the summer. I just might have to pick up one of the new .44 ones also.

[TXDMERC73]

GP100 is pretty hefty to carry, weighs almost as much as a full sized 1911, SP-101 is a little bit lighter but not by much.

where on gods green earth can you find .44 special boolits? i have never seen any on any shelves in any LGS or walmart in the last 10 years? now thats really stupid making a gun in a dead caliber.

[Gunsnwater]

Why the fuck would they make the .44 spl with a 3" barrel? The fucking thing is already huge, what good is it going to do?

Why isn't it 44mag?

[raxar]

Why isn't it 44mag?

You can get a away with a smaller frame for .44spl, I have a couple of taurus .44's that are built on .357 frames.

[American1776]

Why isn't it 44mag?

That's a good question. I think Ruger tends to have a different engineering approach from S&W. Ruger tends to want revolvers to be 'overbuilt', which lends well to their long term durability over thousands of rounds. Their yoke tubes and forcing cones are thick, their lock work is robust, and there is no sideplate. S&W tends to push the limits of their designs at the expense of long term robustness (12 ounce .357 magnums, the K-frame magnum, the N-frame .44 magnum that needed 'endurance package upgrades', etc.).

Perhaps Ruger believed that heavy .44 spl. loads was all their GP100 frame and yoke-tube could stand over a similar round count as their .357 magnum design, without drastic redesign of their yoke tube, forcing cone, or lock work.

A 36 ounce 44 magnum is something that few people will be able to appreciate; .44 special will still be fun and useful for daily purposes.

[dkf]

Why isn't it 44mag?

The cylinder walls get too thin to handle the pressure of normal .44mag loads when based off a small frame revolver like the GP100. The .44 special operates at a lot lower pressures so the cylinder doesn't need as much meat. If you take a look at some of the pictures of the cylinder you will see how thin it is even with only 5 holes. For revolvers I prefer at least a 4" barrel myself.