I remember in the late 80s buying a 1,000 round case of reloaded .38 wadcutters for $80. I never had an issue with that ammo, and can’t remember how many cases I went through.
Of course back then I thought that was a lot of money and that I was probably getting shafted on the price…
My 442 has a crooked front sight.
My Redhawk was properly made, just not what I “need”. I chose it for its cartridge, because I was already competing in CAS with that at the time and thought it’d be fun to load hotter. That was quite a while back. The Kimber revolvers I’ve shot have been top-notch, but I don’t think I can buy a RDS mount for one.
I got a 4” GP100 when I got back this summer. No real complaints. Rear sight required a lot of adjustment to hit a 3” circle at 25yds, but that got snatched off for a red dot anyway. The trigger’s heavy, but smooth enough. I don’t think I’ll mess with it until there’s a mechanical need to take it apart. I’ve put enough real, no shit, .357 through it at this point that flame cutting on the top strap is obvious, and everything still seems to be tight and functioning properly. I’ve shot about as much light-medium powered ammo through it, as well, all the way down to mild .38 wads.
From this sample of one, I think I like the GP100 a lot. JM Custom made me a RDS holster for it.
Thanks.
My relative was going to trade a GP100 to me, but couldn’t find it. I was helping him look. He has alot of guns.
So I went shopping for one but haven’t decided on one. 2.5 in, 3 in, 4.2 in, Match Champion, 6 shot or 7 shot, etc. Lots of choices.
I even considered an SP101 but some 180+ gr bullets won’t fit and the gun is lighter than my King Cobra. Too light.
The King Cobra 3 in, being between GP and SP, is a great size / weight for handling and carrying concealed. I’ll shoot mine until it breaks.
I also considered getting a 10 mm GP100 to shoot .40 from. TKCustom makes clips just for this, plus loaders & unloaders. But we’re talking $950 to get the gun, plus $180 for moon clips & clip tools.
I’m not willing to spend that on a gun that’s too big to CC long.
I’m anticipating my relative finding his GP100. I think it’s a 6 shot 4.2 inch.
Revolver quality……
My 2020 Python was a train wreck….
The crown was messed up
The trigger had milling marks all the way down one side and didn’t look symmetrical
The top of the barrel had dings in it
The cylinder had scratches on it
Where the crane meets the frame it has nasty marks that I can’t even tell what happened there.
It went back to Colt and when it came back all the issues were resolved minus the punch marks between the crane and frame.
Edit: And the damn geometry on the crane to stocks is off so my speed loaders from my original Python no longer work.
No excuse for a $1500 pistol to look like that.
The Anaconda came with the rear sight about to fall out and it was adjusted all the way you could possibly adjust it to the right side. Cosmetically, I think they got it right from learning on the Python issues.
King Cobra target. No issues.
Well I went to the range again with my 627 S&W and all went well except I friggin HATE moon clips! Whats interesting so maybe take notice when you buy the clips,some are brass specific and TK makes a generic one I guess if you have mixed brass.Those are the ones I bought and lets just say I threw 2 of em into the weeds,LOL They were loose,brass would fall out,I ended up tweaking,bending some so not very happy with my experience. Was some of it ME,probably but once the clip is tweaked its junk. I did buy in on the rd loader and empty brass tool and they work good,gotta be watchful with the loader cuz if the clip and brass aren’t level,or lined up that’s where you will have problems. These are the split clips: https://tkcustom.com/collections/627/products/s-w-627-327-38-357-moon-clips-slits I have a couple S&W clips that came with the gun and while they are tough loading and unloading they seem to be holding up so far,if I buy more it more than likely will be this style. https://tkcustom.com/collections/627/products/swn627x8-025-ss
I bought speed loaders from Speed Beez and was excited to use them,well with the standard cylinder release it gets in the way,LOL so for another $100 bucks I can get the extended release,its a bit higher and out of the way. Anyways with all my bitching out of the way the 627 shoots awesome and is very accurate so far & I like it a lot. I have shot some full house 357s and they sure bark but shoot well. I have some 38 Short Colt cases coming from Starline so those will be pipsqueak for sure but will be fun and should wear on the pistol much. Will update as I get more range time.
The only time I tried moon clips was with a 627. I didn’t care for the trigger and had some light strikes although the strain screw seemed tight. I got it used. This was also before I reloaded & knew about Federal primers. I didn’t have any specialty tools for the clips.
I use a Speedbeez with box for my LCR’s. Work with .32 Long and the longer ones. Helps the wife fire 120 rds a range trip. (The box holds 10 loads of 6)
It’s definitely the easy button for reloading at the range.
I’ve loaded .38 Colt Short, too. Fun.
I was almost ready to buy an Anaconda when they came out as a 4 in. Checked reviews and review comments and saw lots of locking up problems. I’ll hold off until they get a better rep.
Welcome to the adventure of trying to pair 38spl or 357mag with moon clips.
Unfortunately the little groove in the 38spl case is not a standardized feature like an extractor groove is for autoloaders.
Manufacturers (usually) put that groove in a 38 to assure that the cartridge headspaces properly. If an ammo maker puts a groove in their 38 brass, how wide they make the groove and how deep they make the groove is slightly different from one company to the next.
Fortunately the .025" thick clips I have from TK Custom or from RevolverSupply work nearly all the time with a lot of different brands of brass.
Here is what works and what doesn’t:
Aguila: Yes
Armscorp (A USA): No, groove is too shallow
Blazer (aluminum): No groove
Blazer (brass): Sometimes. Check before you buy Batches of this brass do not have a groove; perhaps made on the machinery they use to make aluminum shells.
Federal: Yes, occasionally I find some that do not accept clips.
Fiocchi: Yes
Geco: Yes
Herters: Frequently these do not fit.
Hornady (brass): Yes
Hornady (nickle): No Groove is too shallow
IMI: No. Groove is too shallow
Lake City (LC): Yes
Magtech (CBC): Yes, some of this brass has a generous groove width and the rounds wobble
Perfecta: Yes
PMC: Yes Brass shells work, less confident about nickle
Privi (PPU): Yes
Remington (R-P): Yes. Preferred brass for use with clips. I have found older brass where the groove is too narrow
Sellier & Bellot (new): Sometimes the groove is too shallow, otherwise the brass fit tightly
Sellier & Bellot (old): Yes, close fitting.
SIG: Yes
SPEER: Usually Yes…but you have to check before you buy. Batches of this brass do not have a groove, like the grooveless Blazer
SPEER DWM: No. Groove is too narrow
Starline: Yes, but the groove width is wide and the rounds wobble quite a bit.
…Note that TK makes special thickness clips for use with Starline brass (I don’t own any of those)
Winchester(new): I think Winchester is making the groove wider than they used to.
Winchester (old): No. The groove is too narrow to accept a 0.025" clip.
The split moonclips may be an OK idea for 6-shot cylinders but I think they weaken the clips too much for 7 and 8 shot guns.
Always use the tool for removing the brass from the clips. It is too easy to torque them out of shape otherwise. Once bent, they are never quite right even if you manage to iron them ‘flat’ again.
If you will shoot it much, I would recommend finding a Plano box to accompany your 627. Pick a size to suit your needs. The one I use (approx 10-3/4 x 7 x 1-5/8") holds about 20 loaded moon clips plus a small parts kit with spare moon clips and a sight adjuster.
Awesome info Wildcat,thank you so much! I guess its time to do a little brass sorting,LOL And yea the “split” clips were the problem,the factory S&W ones held strong,and yes I have both the loader and brass remover tool from TK,they work good.
Man, sure reading of so many Colt King Cobras breaking hammers. And trigger return springs and transfer bars. And a couple firing pins. All with low miles. Then getting the gun back & the hammer breaks again.
Mine is around 1300 rds roughly and it’s been fine.
Guys examine the insides and say the parts are all chintzy. (Undersized)
I was hunting for a GP100 but I recall how the 3" .44 round-butt I had was just on the side of “too big” to CC.
I’ve decided to get an SP101. I’ve a couple before. They are very close to the size of my King Cobra and only weigh about an ounce less. Still in the sweet spot of easy practice & carry yet tames the .357 enough.
I’ll polish up the internals & lighten the hammer spring a little.
Will get a 3". Preferably adjustable sights. A 6-shot .327 is tempting but I’m leaning to a .357 5-shot.
Please purchase a 4”, target sight, .327 SP101 so Ruger keeps selling them long enough for me to get one too.
Sorry to disappoint ya but I ordered a 3" .357 Lipsey model 15707.
I was interested in the 4" but that’s a little long to CC and it seems nobody makes such a holster for it anyway.
I’ll probably start with an 11 or 12 lb hammer spring. (I try to only use Federal primers) and then do some polishing. I’d like to leave the return spring alone.
I think the return spring is 10 lbs. There are 8’s and a 7.5 lb available but no 9 lb. I remember trying an 8 lb in a gp100 or sp101 many years ago and it was too weak. As in I’d release the trigger and sometimes feel it return afterward. Like a “hangfire” trigger return. No thanks. I understand polishing can make everything work easier, though.
The gun won’t see anything under 140gr bullets. And Enforcer powder is as slow as I go.
I am eying the Python combat elite for a boat/swamp sidearm.
JM Custom Kydex made my GP100 RDS holster, and it wasn’t listed. I agree that 3” makes more sense, and is about the same overall size as a G17, IIRC.
I got the SP-101.
Everything looks good. Cleaned it up and installed a Wolff 10 lb hammer spring. I didn’t take it down & clean it out / polish anything, though. Need to see how it shoots, first. The 10 lb hammer spring brought the trigger pull down from really heavy to just heavy. About like a typical S&W factory weight.
Cylinder ends all measure .3565" dia. best I can measure them, anyway.
Cylinder gap (checking a few points, hammer cocked me pulling cylinder rearward to hammer down me pushing cylinder forward) ranged from not quite able to get a .007" feeler in to not quite able to get a .006" in. So basically .0055 - .0065". I couldn’t get a good bore measurement.
The adjustable rear sight is nice. I painted the really tall front sight fluorescent orange on top of white. Love that tall sight!
Bonus: It fits my new model Colt King Cobra holster. Nice!
It would be cool if the hammer spur was rounded.
My longest reloads, 187 gr, fit the chambers with a little room to spare, even.
Raymond Sassia was a French cop who had trained with the NYPD when that PD still used revolvers and upon his return to France Sassia was in charge of firearms procurement for the GIGN. He ordered 500 S&W M19-3 with fixed sights and a three inch barrel and those guns did not hold up well to the daily shooting. They procured some Ruger revolvers and manufactured a slightly modified version of the SP101 with a six round cylinder, the MR88, and with the heavy influence of Sassia Manurhin developed the Manurhin MR73.
The original MR73s made in Mulhouse, Alsace are virtually indestructible.
https://i.postimg.cc/132VxrRx/MR73-Mulhouse.jpg](https://postimg.cc/5X52LvFp)
Do you know where one would get a RDS mount for a MR73? I do wish the Trauch polymer grips were more readily available for other brands, too.
I took apart my GP100 recently and cleaned up the insides a bit with a stone. I always hear about how Rugers are full of burrs. Mine wasn’t as bad as anticipated, and there were no major imperfections on any friction surface. None of which I stoned. Most or all of the important internal parts are stainless, which is great for me. Forgot to measure for shims. It seems surprisingly well-fitted for a gun that probably has little or no hand-fitting, and mass production QA/QC. So far, internal work seems unnecessary, though I did replace the springs with slightly lighter ones, to see how that goes.
There’s probably a SP101 or two in my future, since the GP100 seems to be very durable, with more than good-enough action feel, and of course the RDS helps with precision.
Shot my 2006-ish Cimmaron/Uberti fake Colt 1873 this morning. It still works beautifully.
P&S Modcast has an episode on snubbies from last year that touches on some of this, and one of the speakers seems to have inside knowledge of S&W efforts to un**** themselves for 2024. Another speaker seems to think Taurus, of all brands, is starting to get a grip on quality in a world with few experienced revolver-fitters. Hopefully Smiff’s work on the UC models has taught them something that they can apply to other models, and if Taurus really does have no-fitting revolvers figured out, maybe Smiff (and other brands) can learn something from them, as well.
I might have already mentioned that P&S Modcast has a good episode on .357, also.
I hate to say this 1168- but there is a special level of HELL reserved for those that put RDs on a Manhurin Revo. :blink::sarcastic:
Why? Revolvers are uniquely suited to high degrees of precision for a handgun, and are well suited to handgun hunting. In fact, I’d bet the first optic you saw on a handgun would have been a scoped revolver, back in the day. GIGN even had a scoped Manhurin. I’d say banging steel or murdering feral swine at ~100 yds with unmodified post-40 eyeballs is well within the fun factor of a nicely made .357.
It’s a reversible modification on most revolvers that have adjustable rear sights, such as SP-101, GP100, Blackhawk, Redhawk, and J-Frames on up through the S&W line. I also wish someone would make a plate for a Kimber K6.
Nostalgia isn’t always the way you remember it….when I was a kid, lots of Boomer-gen hunters owned scoped Smiths, and it was normal.
Nice gun. 
