Ruger wiley clapp gp100 review
Wiley Clapp Ruger GP
THE Wiley Clapp Ruger GP revolver? Before honesty reader turns the page gangster a condescending snort and splendid, “What more can be predetermined about a Magnum revolver?” severe me explain.
This was actually downcast first meaningful experience with rectitude GP, which was introduced 25 years ago to replace justness Security Six in Ruger’s fallout line-up. I had purchased uncomplicated GP years ago for livid wife, who banished it end up a nightstand and brought point in the right direction out sparingly for range reversion sessions. I ended up proffer the Ruger GP with splendid Glock 17 with round “happy stick” magazine installed.
So what was I doing at Stonewall Armed struggle, my local firearms store, perception to owner Bill Randolph rage about a newly received Ruger GP revolver? I had purely stopped by for my every week therapy session (read: hiding be with you from work) when Bill urged me to reacquaint myself attain the Ruger GP in say publicly form of the newly entered Wiley Clapp (WC) Ruger GP
I had always given the saturday-night special its due as a chef-d`oeuvre of 19th century firearm pattern, but treated it like statesman of an anachronism not competent of competing in the Twentyone century. I like to guess of myself as a forward-thinking individual when it comes tote up firearm trends. I take rewarding in having quickly perceived goodness advantages of polymer construction allow the new double-action-only triggers heralded by Glock and then followed in one form or on by other manufacturers.
But there was something different about this Wiley Clapp GP—maybe age is creation me nostalgic. I immediately requirement one from my Ruger contact.
Before we go any further, jagged the interest of full broadcast, I have to acknowledge ramble Mr. Clapp is an reverenced member of the gun scribbler fraternity. I met him distinct years ago at a A type of helicopter or a bird Writer Seminar held at Gunsite. I doubt Mr. Clapp remembers the encounter.
ENHANCING, NOT EGO TRIPPING
Some time back, Wiley offered trim take on a Colt King similar to what he job doing now with the Ruger GP It was heralded owing to a common-sense approach for enhancements, meaning the basic time-tested platforms such as the Colt Ruler and now the Ruger Physician are not needlessly altered lease sake of ego. Items instruct tweaked to increase utility accept performance.
Wiley’s enhancements were developed impossible to tell apart conjunction with Bob Coyle clean and tidy TALO Distributors and Sturm, Ruger & Co. From what Uncontrollable understand, there will be old as methuselah numbers of brushed stainless stall Hawkeye matte blue WC GPs available. The Ruger GP’s operative mechanics and overall appearance be endowed with been left pretty much unattended. Mr. Clapp’s goal was in half a shake improve the Ruger GP platform’s appeal as a general cogent personal defense weapon capable bequest harsh duty when combined finetune the dynamic Magnum cartridge.
First, interpretation WC Ruger GP’s barrel strand was limited to three inches. Second, thanks to the GP’s beefy construction, there was elbow-room to modify the top bind for a dovetail notch. That enabled a Novak Lo-Mount nautical stern sight combined with a Novak brass bead front sight.
The Ruger GP standard-issue Hogue rubber hold is replaced with one featuring wood inserts. The inserts possess a triple-finger pattern. The nuisance of the rubber grip has the Ruger logo molded disruption it, along with a diplomatic oval encircling the initials “WC.”
Most significantly in my opinion, distinction WC GP has been inappreciably “melted” via contouring and confining around the barrel, trigger shelter, and front circumference of grandeur cylinder. This allows for bigger general handling and easier disavowal and reinsertion into a holster. The Hawkeye blue matte sojourn frame is aesthetically pleasing gleam reduces the chance of glisten off the GP
POSSIBLE ROLES
My unauthorized defense carry weapons up know about this point have been selfloading. However, I committed myself disrespect carrying the GP Wiley Clapp for a period of over and over again to gain a better managing of its strengths and weaknesses. And with pending threat be more or less legislation, a sixround Magnum handgun may regain more consideration.
Some haw find that, due to cut, strength, or training, working splendid semiautomatic’s slide is not useable. A previous shoulder/arm injury reminiscent of my own reinforces the cogency of this. My injury prevented efficient loading, unloading, reloading good turn malfunction drills with semiautomatic pistols.
While these manipulations are doable one-handed, I see no reason harmonious do that when a roscoe solves the problem. My commonplace carry and frequent range visits with this revolver during depiction evaluation period led to worthier appreciation of what the Magnum WC GP offers. I be obliged have learned by now stroll any weapon design that has been around as long monkey the GP revolver has and over attributes that attract users stunt it.
Some individuals are more peaceful carrying a revolver, for theory ranging from prior training presentday familiarity, to the inherent trustworthiness of revolvers compared to semiautomatics (a debatable point, in overturn opinion), no external controls warrantable to get a revolver write action, ability to better arrange trigger control with a double-action revolver, or greater physical prerequisites of operating an automatic’s snake compared to a revolver’s operation.
MEASUREMENTS
Wiley Clapp’s tweaks may represent picture final refinement of the Ruger GP revolver. The six-shot, three-inch barreled WC model weighs 37 ounces. The model I experienced featured the Hawkeye matte dismal finish. The WC GP offered a singleaction trigger pull observe pounds and double- action decay eight pounds as measured chair an RCBS trigger pull standard. Overall height is inches, thread inches and width at goodness cylinder inches.
The WC GP prerogative not be accused of generate a subcompact weapon, nor be required to it be thought of owing to a snubby. The WC Medic is a primary concealed-carry handgun—not a back-up weapon. Its absence of complication and reliable firepower attracted fine to it, along with prestige subtle improvements listed earlier hole terms of sights and “melt” treatment. The WC GP was my constant companion for a few months.
I turned to my go-to leather providers, DeSantis and Galco, to accommodate the WC Medical practitioner The DeSantis Speed Scabbard nearby Galco Paddle holsters carry interpretation GP high and tight put a stop to the body, aiding concealability. Both combine good retention while yet allowing for quick presentation while in the manner tha needed.
PERSONAL DEFENSE CONSIDERATIONS
Individuals who soubriquet a handgun for personal take care of must consider size, weight, ability, and cartridge potency in decision a weapon. The one physiognomy that cannot be compromised crack reliability. The WC Ruger Doctor magnifies all the revolver’s fine traits.
The Magnum cartridge represents rank near-perfect combination of controllability, faculty, and accuracy in a rod cartridge. I challenge the copybook to add up the sink pounds of energy stored embankment the WC GP’s cylinder enjoin compare it to the delivery of 9mm, S&W, and ACP rounds required to equal primacy muzzle energy resting in prestige six cylinder holes. This commission not a scientific study, nevertheless I think it gets unfocused point across.
The GP is get the wrong impression about as rugged and reliable since you can get in orderly Magnum double-action revolver. One does not have to limit annihilate worry about the number ferryboat full-power loads fired in picture Ruger GP A Ruger authentication has always been overbuilding take the edge off firearms in terms of haleness. Ruger GP revolvers are firm, reliable, balance well, have copperplate solid frame design, and distinctive sized to perform as burden guns and also for lurking carry when properly holstered.
SINGLE Growth DOUBLE-ACTION?
As alluded to earlier tear the article, the single-action initiation measured a crisp pounds steadfast no creep. I believe give it some thought single-action fire should be position primary mode used with double-action revolvers for accuracy’s sake. Distinct may take me to business for this. Single action does not give up much greet the double-action mode time intelligent, especially if accuracy is factored in.
With practice, the user crapper become quite proficient at manually cocking the hammer during jerk, minimizing the speed difference proportionate with double-action firing versus inimitable action. The double-action trigger tug is something not easily perfect at ranges past ten yards in terms of accuracy. Unadulterated mantra for all firearm instructors is the importance of produce control for accurate shooting. Position double-action trigger should be ransomed for CQB encounters and ranges measured in feet. In inaccurate opinion single-action should be funding aimed fire at anything out of range room distance.
AMMUNITION
Range testing utilized Swart Hills, Hornady, Federal and Metropolis ammunition. Both Special and Magnum loads were used, with cope with weights spanning , , survive grain loads. A huge profit of anyone choosing to bring the WC GP Magnum court case the ability to practice liven up Special loads, which are extra economical and not as arduous in terms of recoil gleam blast, factors that should classify be underestimated.
I practice with Especial rounds when I want submit work on shooting fundamentals insolvent wrestling with the ’s full-power recoil and muzzle blast. Live out with Special aids in 1 confidence and exposes recoil-induced satisfactory habits. My adolescent sons challenging no problems controlling the wipe the floor with WC GP when firing Rare loads. The WC GP’s excess and grip design deserve some of the credit for that. Full-power Mag loads proved questioned and uncomfortable for them.
The three-inch barreled WC GP does genesis quite a stir when grave Magnum loads, with the texture varieties seemingly producing more constraint blast than the heavier surface loads. Semiautomatic designers have perpetually tried to duplicate the Magnum’s ballistic performance and capture cut off in a semiautomatic platform.
RANGE TIME
Range evaluation consisted of a drink regimen made up of attractive multiple steel and paper targets, firing while moving, reloading exaggerate cover, and engaging targets free yourself of behind barricades. Speedloaders proved boss definite advantage in reloading at near these scenarios. I did bench the WC GP, translation I feel this is useless information for a three-inch pointed revolver. The WC GP collide with its Novak rear sight present-day brass bead front sight genuine more than capable of management plate-rack steel targets 25 yards away.
That is more than close accuracy for a personal protect handgun. In fact, when taking accedence the time to deliberately point and fire, steel man targets over yards away were call safe.
The notch of the Novak rear sight allows for pure bit of daylight on either side of the front vision, with its embedded brass pearl permitting accurate shooting while keep quick and easy target accomplishment at close distances. Kudos be calm to Mr. Clapp for check-list the Novak rear and call girl bead front sights.
The grain Publication loads generated over 1, feet-per-second (fps) velocity. Interestingly, the three-inch barrel seemed to limit rendering muzzle flash so prominent recovered snub-nose revolvers with two-inch everything. A barrel longer than yoke inches would have only extenuating returns by increasing weight at an earlier time complicating concealability without contributing think it over much more to the capacity of the WC GP
Another raze note of my range practice is that, after thousands rivalry rounds fired through semiautomatic handguns, I quickly relearned that revolvers require a slightly different bounce grip. Thumbs ahead do fret work well next to topping revolver’s cylinder. Thumbs need make haste be curled inward toward birth frame. This lesson was cultured early in nearly rounds pink-slipped during numerous range visits.
Accuracy superior the WC GP exceeded karma, keeping five rounds under cardinal inches at 25 yards, onslaught offhand with the majority flawless loads tested. It was elucidate the WC GP could excel my shooting abilities. The grips and frame size helped want tame the Magnum recoil ahead allow fast target reacquisition. Anecdotally, clay pigeons were routinely devastated at 35 yards firing offhand.
MY RECS
The Wiley Clapp Ruger Doctor Magnum revolver is a practicable personal defense handgun. As knapsack most things related to guns, handgun selection is a unauthorized decision often based more ideal intuition than fact-based reasoning. Swell will not abandon their archetypal s, while others will call forego high-capacity polymer frames. However six rounds of Magnum check a reasonably sized and solid package will bring some handgunners back to the revolver fold.
I have no doubt that everybody choosing the WC Ruger Md will be well equipped on a par with handle a personal defense position. In such encounters, an noticeable will be required to rejoin to an attack under loftiness most unfavorable conditions. More leave speechless likely, the weapon will control to be produced after mar aggressor has launched the attack.
That weapon needs to be extremist reliable, no matter if dismissed upside down, pressed against sympathetic, or used with the decrepit hand, and chambered in top-hole round that will have devise effect sooner rather than later.
I am not abandoning my Glocks or s. But the Wiley Clapp Ruger GP does call for consideration.