Ruger GP-100

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keithj
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Ruger GP-100

Post by keithj » Mon Nov 12, 2012 8:22 pm

Hello All,
Just thought I would try and get some feed back on some loads....I picked up a ruger GP-100 and try'd to use it for BE type shooting ...but really couldnt get a great load with 148gr LHBWC's 2.8 BE and 2.7 WST best I could get was like 1.5-1.74 25yds...off bags...open sights....but its all good...I did however shoot some magnum stuff the other day and Ive desided to turn this into a feild gun...coyetes...groundhogs....out to about 100yds....will have a leupold 2x eer scope on board so all should be good....here's is where I would like some feed back...I plan on useing either 125gr XTP's or 140gr XTP's ....due to the gun haveing a 18.75 twist I would guess bullets in this range would be best as opposed to 158's...The lyman 47 shows and max load of 17.7 /2400/ for the 125's and 16.5/2400 for the 140 . I current have some test ammo loaded with the 125's at a weighted 16.0 gr and 16.5 gr's and plan on 16.0 grs for the 140's as well .....anyone have any experience with this bullet powder combo's and what are your findings......yes all guns differ but it never hurts to ask what other have found....I like the XTP's but am open to other bullets as far as powder I would like to give 2400 a good try before moving on.....your thoughts....oh I kinda have a terget velocity in mind of about 1300ish with the 140's and closer to 1350 with the 125's should be a reasonable velocity for out to 100yds......

greener

Post by greener » Mon Nov 12, 2012 9:28 pm

My 4" GP100 does well with 125gr JHP w/8.3 gr Bullseye.

for .38 loads: 158 gr lswc w/2.6 gr Trail Boss or 4.0 gr W231 works well.

keithj
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Post by keithj » Mon Nov 12, 2012 9:52 pm

Ive thought of tryin some BE in mine ....Have you done any accuracy tests say at 50 and 75yds with that load ? Mine has the 6'' barrel and I plan on reaching out as far as possible ..I'm hopeing for groups of a 1'' @ 25yds and under 4'' @ 100 ....Ive always thought a fuller case lead to better accuracy . my loads of 16.0 and 16.5 of 2400 have the case very close to full , I dont imagine there is much space once I seat the bullet....

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bgreenea3
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Post by bgreenea3 » Tue Nov 13, 2012 2:09 am

I've had good luck with blue dot and heavier cast bullets out of mine, I generally shoot a hardcast 158 swc.... I had decent luck with a batch of 180 gr gc wide flat point bullets and bluedot powder. I really haven't shot much over 25 with them, and mine has a 4" bbl.
"Courage is being scared to death... and saddling up anyway."

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blue68f100
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Post by blue68f100 » Tue Nov 13, 2012 8:51 am

The XTP is one of the most accurate HP I have ever shot. I've used the 125gr XTP behind the 2400 in my 6" Python and it shot good. Make sure you use a std primer with the 2400 and a heavy roll crimp. The crimp is needed to help build up pressure and prevent setback under recoil. The mag primer seam to effect the consistency of the burn on 2400. The only powder I have seen that did not like mag primers. You may be light on your charge. Speer GD can be loaded to 17.5gr and normally the XTP go higher. It's been too long to give specific detail on actually accuracy but if I recall it was around 1.5" group at 25yrds with 2400.

But for full house mag loads I prefer W296. W296 is capable of getting 1900fps with a 125gr XTP Max load of 22gr according to Hodgdon. I think some of the older book show a higher load. W296 is one powder you do not drop back 10% from max on, they use to say 3% off max.

Hodgdon's site shows this:
125 GR. HDY XTP Winchester 296 .357" 1.590" 21.0 min 1881fps 38,400 CUP 22.0 max 1966fps 41,400 CUP
With the W296 you must use a MAG primer and a heavy crimp other wise you will not get a complete burn. The XTP will preform better (expansion) at the higher velocities.

Both of the powders are easy to meter and preform good under mag loads. The 2400 is way more forgiving and can be loaded down where the 296 should not due to pressure spikes.
David

SS MKIII 6 7/8" Fluted Hunter. Mueller Quick Shot, Bushnell 2x Scope, Hogue Rubber Grips
Custom Built 1911

keithj
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Post by keithj » Tue Nov 13, 2012 4:26 pm

Blue ,
You are correct , i could go higher with my charges but feel I'm at a good starting point . My lyman manual use's the gold dot for the loads and I figured with the XTP's longer bearing surface its better to start alittle lower.My real plan is to use the 140's they expanded at slightly lower velocity than the 125's and tend to carry better at distance as well ....I would like to have 75yd-100yds capability and I think the 140gr will do that without haveing to burn so much powder....and I'm hopeing for 1'' acuracy @ 25yds if possible......I have also heard 2400 is most likely to give the best accuracy.....do you remeber you load ?..........Keith

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blue68f100
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Post by blue68f100 » Wed Nov 14, 2012 11:32 am

Keith,

I don't recall the load at this time. I have been down on my back and unable to get to where my load books are. Once my back is to where I can move again I will take a look. If I recall with out confirming I was about 0.5gr below max. Remember if your going to shoot long distance you need the energy there for expansion. Every time I shot jacketed I was looking for true mag loads. 99% of the time I shot cast LSWC 142gr. These were my everyday plinking loads.
David

SS MKIII 6 7/8" Fluted Hunter. Mueller Quick Shot, Bushnell 2x Scope, Hogue Rubber Grips
Custom Built 1911

keithj
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Post by keithj » Wed Nov 14, 2012 8:12 pm

Blue,
I'm resonablely sure the 125xtp will expand at the velocity I'm useing . I believe I should be in the 1350 muzzle velocity range ...max is 17.5 ..the Lyman manual I have show 17.5 or 7 not sure which at 1409 from a 4'' barrel. I have a 6'' barrel ... I may bump up another .5 gr .......but I shoot them tonight and Damn ......I never expected this.....groups where 5/8-3/4 measured c-t-c @ 25yds.....each group had one rd that would move ever so slighty out of the main area...so best 4 shots where really in the 1/2-5/8 area......I only load 5 of the 6 cylinders and I load it the same every time....this gun load combo is very accurate....and if I'm right I should be in the 1350 area....load feels pretty warm....big boom and blast....but if I feel the need I will up the load to 17.0 gr....I have also considered the gold dot...but it is a bonded bullet and reports Ive read state the bonding process (soldered) has a slight efect and long range accuracy......I think the expansion would be more of a issue with the 158's .....but not sure....ne way to fingd out shoot me a coyete at 75-100yds.....I see if I can recover the bullet.....True the XTP isnt the big expander but from what ive seen in the past they do get that 1.5 x's expansion.....not hugh biut seem to do it with great regularity......I would use lead bullets but my gun doesnt like to eat lead.....I was getting 1.7 at 25yds with 2.7BE and a 148gr LHBWC....this gun like magnums......


Just looked up the bullet..on the horniday web sght...bullet will perform from 750fps-1550fps....with my load I should still be at over 1000fps @ 125yds with 300 lbs of energy....if the bullet performs as advertised it should expand to about .500+ ........should be very effective....In reality I know from past experience I can get a dog into shotgun range ..so most of my shots will be in the 40-75 yd range......so velocity will be higher....I really cant imagine a 45lb coyete walking away from a should hit with this load.....ant wait to try it out on a real target.............

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blue68f100
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Post by blue68f100 » Thu Nov 15, 2012 10:39 am

As you are finding out the XTP's are then most accurate handgun HP bullets I have found. They preform well in both my 45acp and 9mm. Don't get locked on one load. Most of time a few tents can make a big difference. If your jumping 0.5 gr at a time you will see one more accurate than the other. Once you know which works best shift each side to find the sweet spot.
David

SS MKIII 6 7/8" Fluted Hunter. Mueller Quick Shot, Bushnell 2x Scope, Hogue Rubber Grips
Custom Built 1911

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