GP100 vs. SP101 vs. S&W 625

KEEP which one?

  • 4" GP 100 .357

    Votes: 19 67.9%

  • 3" SP 101 .357

    Votes: 3 10.7%

  • 4" S&W 625 .45 ACP

    Votes: 6 21.4%
  • Total voters
    28
Tim

Tim

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I'm only going to keep 1. Yeah, yeah, yeah...."Keep em all"!

Truth be told, I LOVE revolvers, but just don't use them. The SP101 was my fishing/hiking gun for years and it's always been great, but the role can easily be filled by my EDC.

If you were to have a single center fire revolver in the stable, which of these would it be?

The S&W, with its .45 ACP moonclips, would make a fun IDPA gun. The GP is likely most versatile (.38, .357) and the SP is most carry friendly.

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Of the three.....GP100.

There was a time that I had seven of various barrel lengths and finishes. I'm down to only one and only one SP101 (had five at one time). If I had to keep one it would be the GP.
 
RR said:
Of the three.....GP100.

There was a time that I had seven of various barrel lengths and finishes. I'm down to only one and only one SP101 (had five at one time). If I had to keep one it would be the GP.
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Yup. I used to have a stable of S&W K and N frames, 15 of them at one time. Sold all of those off while the Rugers just seemed to stick around. The GP is the one I’m leaning toward keeping because it’s a good….wait for it….General Purpose revolver.
 
Tim said:
Yup. I used to have a stable of S&W K and N frames, 15 of them at one time. Sold all of those off while the Rugers just seemed to stick around. The GP is the one I’m leaning toward keeping because it’s a good….wait for it….General Purpose revolver.
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Exactly.
 
I took a lot of flak last time I said this, but I think there are better options for carrying than the SP101. If you're going to lug that much weight around, you might as well get 6 shots for it.
I'd have one of the S&W airweights if I wanted to carry a revolver. If I want to shoot full power 357 loads frequently a true full size is better.
If I was really determined to have a Ruger I think the Security Six is a better carrying gun than the SP101. I will acknowledge the SP101 looks better.
 
Never owned a S&W but have and have had many GP100's and SP101's. Still have one of each in .357 and one of each in .22. That one extra round puts the GP at the top, but, as @GoWolfpack has said...the
Service Six, Security Six, or even the Speed Six, would be a better carry size. I have four of those, and they will never be sold.
The GP was my very first firearm purchase when they first came out.....never forget the feel of that thing in my hand! Bill Ruger used my hand to design the grips! I swear!
 
Most of my interest revolve around carry guns, so for me it would be the SP101. I have my old SPNY (NYPD .38), a 2.5" .357 and a 3", 6-shot .327 Fed. Mag.(which gives you a 6th round, decent handgun ballistics, and less recoil).
But I also have and love plenty of 3" (incl. an NYPD GPNY) and 4" 38's and 357's - so your interests and its intended use might change my choice.
Ruger SP101's 2.jpg20171208_134950.jpg20190509_194622.jpg20190426_122153.jpg
 
For me, the smith. I just like S&W revolvers, and since its more of a range toy than anything the moon clips issue doesn't really come into play as an irritant for me.
 
If getting rid of the S&W also means no longer needing to buy that caliber of ammo, then I would keep the GP 100. If you have other stuff that uses .45, I would get rid of everything .357.

Regardless, I'm looking forward to your for sale posts!
 
Good reading for me as I don’t own any revolvers and would like to pick up a Ruger or two.
 
The 625
I don't know why everyone bashes moon clips I have revolvers that use them and.for me it's never been a problem in fact I prefer them over speed loaders.
I think the 625 would take the longest to replace and would be the one I kept
 
Jerzsubbie said:
Good reading for me as I don’t own any revolvers and would like to pick up a Ruger or two.
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2nd this

I think the GP100 is the prettiest one. Based upon that uninformed shallow concept I'd keep that one.
 
In reading t he OP,, it was quite plain that each gun had it's own niche & purpose.
The SP-101,, excellent carry gun, (despite the weight) and while "only" 5 shots,, is quite versatile.
As an instructor,, I tell students; "If your life is on the line,, you want a firearm that's easy to operate, and as infallible as possible. Unless you are going to become "motor memory skill friendly" (meaning LOTS of shooting to where you do not have to think to make it operate) AND can operate any firearm with ONLY your off hand, one handed, firing multiple shots,, then the compact DA revolver is the best option for that purpose.
The SP-101 fits the bill easily there.

Stepping up,, you have the GP-100. Basically a larger version of the SP-101,, and does have a 6th round. Again, very versatile & built like a tank. If a person can CCW a larger revolver like this over the SP, then it's a better choice. The GP-100 is a well proven, tried & true excellent handgun, with the capability of various ammo choices,,, so of the (2) Rugers,, IF,, IF,, carrying it for CCW is easy,, then it gets the nod.

Then we have the S&W 625. The largest of the (3) choices, in a fine caliber. Moon clips,, many poo-poo using moons,, (I used to be one) but they do offer a much faster reload than many understand. And, while a little bulky in carrying form, the moons pale in comparison to the size of carrying the 625 itself. The 625 is an excellent IDPA gun, and even though a little handicapped (number of rounds) it's still a fine USPSA competitor. I shoot USPSA, Revolver division, and I have a S&W 25, as well as a few other 6 shot DA revolvers. And EXCELLENT way to work on the "motor memory skills" too.

So, it comes down to the purposes for each intended firearm.
Each one of these guns serves a different purpose in general.
The SP-101, a solid CCW handgun, and easier to conceal.
The GP-100, an excellent all around, general purpose revolver.
The 625,, better as a companion gun for a 1911 or competition purposes.

So, my thoughts turn to this. What if your FUTURE desires or needs change & you find yourself in need or want of one of these guns,, and you lament; "I used to own one of those!" ??
It's called "seller remorse" and I discovered many years ago, I hated seller remorse. So, I quit selling unless I was 100% sure I'd never need that gun or desire that gun in the future. (Example; I won a Glock at a NRA event, and knew I'd never want or need it. I'm not a Glock person.)
I'd opt to keep all (3) gun, clean them, put them in a safe, use as necessary, and know that they do not eat anything, and in general, appreciate in value. Plus,, you may have a son or daughter who'd need one someday, or maybe a relative or someone who wants or needs one. Lastly, if you get to a point in life where you know your retirement needs aren't easily met,, then a slow selling of them can assist in living expenses. Or, in the case of your untimely departing of this world, your family can sell them to assist in sudden unexpected expenses.

Keep them all.
 
You stated you will keep only lne of these, so I must ask... do you have any other pistols in .45 acp? Any other arms in .357?

If you will only have one revolver and have a .45 semi, keep the 625, it will be one less caliber to keep. If not, Id keep one of the .357's.

If you have other arms in .357 well.... thats a bit sticky.
 
If only one, then it's the GP-100 as the most versatile of the bunch. The other two have their own strengths in their respective roles. All great guns. You could compromise and just sell one?

And, I too await to see whichever one(s) you sell. 😁
 
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I also have both the GP100 and SP101, and having to keep only one would be a difficult choice. I’d choose the GP100 if I could have only one as it’s an excellent all around revolver.
 
GoWolfpack said:
I took a lot of flak last time I said this, but I think there are better options for carrying than the SP101. If you're going to lug that much weight around, you might as well get 6 shots for it.
I'd have one of the S&W airweights if I wanted to carry a revolver. If I want to shoot full power 357 loads frequently a true full size is better.
If I was really determined to have a Ruger I think the Security Six is a better carrying gun than the SP101. I will acknowledge the SP101 looks better.
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Carrying a S&W Airweight is nice, but using one is quite another thing... I normally use .357 Speer GDHP 158gr in my SP-101, and would never consider using the same in an airweight revolver. The SP-101 would handle the recoil of any .38 Special or .357 Magnum better than the S&W Airweight could, allowing for any necessary follow up shots better in self defense.

That said Of the three I would suggest either the GP-100 or the S&W 625, in that order given the parameters provided my the original poster.
 
Have owned a GP for years and years. Sold my SP last year. GP has an extra round advantage over the SP. 45acp was meant to be shot in a 1911 but I do have 2 other plastic guns in that caliber. Had a lot of revolvers at one time. Never shoot em. Down to 2 now.
 
Blueridge said:
Carrying a S&W Airweight is nice, but using one is quite another thing... I normally use .357 Speer GDHP 158gr in my SP-101, and would never consider using the same in an airweight revolver. The SP-101 would handle the recoil of any .38 Special or .357 Magnum better than the S&W Airweight could, allowing for any necessary follow up shots better in self defense.

That said Of the three I would suggest either the GP-100 or the S&W 625, in that order given the parameters provided my the original poster.
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I agree with all of that. My only counter is that you'll be more likely to carry a lighter gun. The 22 in your pocket beats the 45 on the dresser, as they say. No doubt the sp-101 is a great shooter. There are other considerations for a carry gun besides shooting.
 
John said:
Sell them all. Buy a nice 3" Model 66, or a 65 if you like fixed sights. Two of the finest carry revolvers ever made.
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Love my K frames but the GP100 will take hot loads that would split a K frame wide open.
Might not need 'em for EDC but as a woods gun I fill it with 180 LBTs or JHPs loaded up HOT.
 
I've owned a few revolvers, in my time. Loved them all. But, I found some fault with all of them. The ONLY fault with the 4 inch, Ruger GP100 is it's weight. It's the LAST revolver I would trade, or sale.
 
powwowell said:
I've owned a few revolvers, in my time. Loved them all. But, I found some fault with all of them. The ONLY fault with the 4 inch, Ruger GP100 is it's weight. It's the LAST revolver I would trade, or sale.
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Like all Rugers the GP benefits from some TLC in finishing/polishing/smoothing out machining marks.
But fundamentally it is perhaps the ultimate .357 package - N frame strength in an L frame size.
 
I guess I be an outlier, and vote for the SP101.

If I'm limited to one of the three, I would choose the one that would be feasible for me to conceal. The other two are just too big for me to try to conceal. I would be willing to give up one round to gain the option of concealability.

And, I may be putting my money where my mouth is, very soon. I'm really enamored with the Wiley Clapp SP101 since in became available in a 3" version.
 
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