It was not too long after I published the Ruger Super Redhawk 10mm revolver the GP 100 Match Champion came in for review, you can read the Super Redhawk review by following this link. While that review was very well received one of the reoccurring comments was that is a lot of revolver for the 10mm Auto. While the size of the Super Redhawk helped quite a lot with soaking up the recoil of heavy 10mm it is a large revolver and that can limit it’s uses. In true Ruger form, they listened to the consumer and introduced a GP 100 Match Champion in 10mm Auto. This platform is much more conducive for everyday carry, concealed carry, and home defense.
First Impressions
All stainless steel well fit six shot 10mm Auto revolver. The double action trigger pull was a smooth twelve pound pull while the single action trigger pull broke clean at four pounds with almost no take up and just a cat hair of take up.
The Houge one piece wooden stocks were ergonomic, that coupled with the texturing on the port and starboard sides helped with keeping a solid purchase even with the heavy 10.
Six shot cylinder is slightly chamfered to aid in loading. This revolver utilizes the moon clip, same as the Super Redhawk. Though you can run the handgun without the moon clips the star extractor will not catch the cases without the moon clip for extraction. You can run .40 Short and Weak in this handgun with the moon clips. If you decide to run the .40 S&W in this revolver be sure to take the bore brush to the cylinder before going back to 10mm Auto. Same principal as going from .38 Special to .357 Magnum in your .357 Magnum revolver.
The rear notch sight is outlined in white and adjustable for windage and elevation. The cylinder lock operated without issue, pressing in allowing the cylinder to fall out the port side. The cylinder rotates clockwise.
The front sight is green fiber optic, picked up light well and contrasted nicely against the rear notch.
The barrel is serrated to help eliminate any reflection while acquiring sight alignment and sight picture.
Average three shots groups from a rest were between two and two and a half inches but the Colt 180gr FMJ printed an inch and a half three shot group from that distance. Not bad at all.
Three shot groups shot from a rest at twenty five yards
Range Time
Conclusions
This revolver is a solid compromise between the Super Redhawk in 10mm and the GP 100 in .357 Magnum. What I mean by that is it more easily wielded and carried than the Super Redhawk and more powerful than the GP 100 in .357 Magnum. I have said this before and have ruffled some feathers but truthfully the 10mm Auto will do anything the .357 Magnum will do and do it better.If you approach this subject with logic you will see my side. Now this revolver would be at home as a concealed carry piece on the street or trail. If you are into camping, hiking, or mountain biking it will behoove you to have some solid reliable protection and this GP 100 in 10mm is a strong candidate. Utilizing moon clips will allow you to preload ammunition you can tailor to your situation. Have a few loaded with personal protection rounds for the street, some aggressive jacketed hollow points then have a few of some deep penetrating hard cast lead bullets for the sticks. Swapping out would be quick and simple. After some 300 rounds down range, there were no issues, as expected with a double action revolver.
Specifications
- Stocks: Hogue Stippled Hardwood
- Front Sight: Fiber Optic
- Barrel Length: 4.20″
- Material: Stainless Steel
- Capacity: 6
- Rear Sight: Adjustable
- Twist: 1:16″ RH
- Finish: Satin Stainless
- Overall Length: 9.50″
- Weight: 37 oz.
- Grooves: 6
- Suggested Retail: $969.00
Acknowledgments
Great review Hunter as always I might add. Would you considering posting this on our site? This revolver is going to be of great value for those of us who live in areas where four legged friends occupy the upper range of the food chain.
Take Care
Bob
My “feathers” are not ruffled (being a mammal I don’t have feathers) but looking at the various ballistics charts I just don’t see sufficient evidence to support a claim that 10mm is more powerful than .357 Magnum. Certainly there are some 10mm loads that are more powerful than some .357 Magnum loads (and vice versa) but overall they appear to be pretty much equivalent. The introduction of the new 10mm Match Champion removes differences in gun design from a cartridge comparison equation. I suspect that firing “apples to apples” loads out of otherwise similar Match Champions the .357 Magnum would be slightly more powerful because of its greater case capacity. But the effect of any difference either way would be more likely to be psychological than functional.
Great review and enjoyed video. Thank you for allowing me to be part of this one as I really love this gun would like to put a thought to you, my son, for a “I love you” gift this would be just perfect. Knew you would think of that too.
Keep up good work.