The Grandmaster's Guide to the GP100

Рет қаралды 18,881

Күн бұрын

This is everything I know, and most of what I think I know, about tuning up your GP100, Super Redhawk, or SP101 for competition or general use. See my pinned comment for errata.
If you want to support the labor this video took to produce, consider buying some moon clip carriers, dry fire targets, or Ruger revolver tools/parts off of me at generico.ltd, or buy me a beer after a match someday.
There are very few sources that cover working on the modern Ruger revolvers, and no sources (to my knowledge) that go into this kind of depth on topics like fitting replacement parts, adjusting timing, and diagnosing and correcting common trigger flaws. I'm not a formally-trained gunsmith, but by following this process, I have all of my guns running reliably with double action trigger pulls below 7lb. I believe that you can attain the same results.
Three years of chasing the best trigger pull I can manage, 100 gigabytes of raw video, and dozens of hours of editing went into crafting this video. If you find it helpful, share it! Rugers are totally capable of winning matches, and the more legitimate options there are for revolver competition, the better off we are.
Materials referenced in the video:
• Iowegan's Book of Knowledge (the IBOK): manywords.press/other-stuff/g...
• My website, where you can find competition moon clip carriers, tools, and parts: generico.ltd
• Trigger shims: triggershims.com
I'm pretty sure I said I'd link to more things, but I didn't write them down. Remind me in the comments if you come across a missing link.
00:00 Intro
02:01 Tools
04:38 Reference Materials
05:50 Parts and Service
07:55 Initial Trigger Measurement
09:05 Disassembly
10:41 Trigger Unit Disassembly
13:50 Cylinder Disassembly
15:41 Where Does This Tiny Spring Go?
16:18 Trigger Assembly Parts Interaction
19:37 Trigger and Hammer Interaction
21:35 Trigger Job Intro
22:45 Measuring Hammer Fall Weight
24:38 Polishing Technique
25:22 Polishing: Transfer Bar
28:56 Polishing: Cylinder Latch
32:10 Polishing: Pawl
35:23 Trigger Plunger Timing Test
36:42 Polishing: Trigger Plunger
38:46 Polishing: Trigger
40:24 Trigger Guard Tasks
42:45 Trigger Guard Reassembly
46:13 Hammer Profile
47:37 Polishing: Hammer
49:05 Polishing: Hammer Dog
51:00 Polishing: Hammer Pivot
52:15 Polishing: Mainspring Strut
54:55 Mainspring Strut Reassembly
56:38 Cylinder Cleaning and Reassembly
01:01:31 Final Reassembly
01:03:16 Hammer and Trigger Return Springs
01:04:35 Shims and What They Do
01:11:24 The End of the Basic Trigger Job
01:11:53 Hammer Modifications
01:12:04 Hammer Bobbing/Lightening
01:13:26 Hammer Step Reduction
01:17:17 Hammer Dog Fitting
01:24:44 Light Tune Final Check-in
01:25:43 Trigger Return Tuning
01:26:57 How Reset Works
01:28:34 Reset Test Techniques
01:30:56 Installing Trigger Shims
01:32:16 Trigger Plunger Fitting
01:34:38 Firing Pin Spring
01:35:33 Firing Pin Bushing Removal
01:36:55 Firing Pin Parts
01:38:47 Firing Pin Reassembly
01:41:14 Firing Pin Wrench Maintenance
01:42:53 Timing: Introduction
01:44:02 Timing: Pawl Fitting
01:46:29 Timing: Adjusting Latch Pulldown
01:48:31 Timing: Effects of Changing Dimensions
01:51:45 Representative Hammer Fall Weights
01:52:50 .40 and 10mm Moon Clips
01:53:32 OEM Grip Screw Interference
01:54:57 Frame Size Parts Interchangeability
01:55:27 Transfer Bar Styles
01:56:46 Cylinder Release Replacement
01:59:46 Cylinder Latch Pulldown Wall/Hitch
02:01:43 Lubrication
02:03:27 Supporting Me

Пікірлер: 73

@JaySlaterOfMars Жыл бұрын

Errata: 1:59:50: the wall/hitch described here appears to be a hammer dog fit issue. When doing the hammer dog fitment test described in the chapter starting 1:17:21 on a 6-round gun, the wall indicator a too-short hammer dog may occur after the cylinder unlocks and begins to turn, unlike on 8-round guns.

@zee4265 Жыл бұрын

Brother. This is the absolute best Ruger GP100 video I have ever seen.

@josephwhalen1860 7 ай бұрын

This 2 hr video is the best I’ve seen for the GP100. The attention to detail is top notch. The smallest bearing surfaces were clearly defined and shown in removing only enough to smooth the action. The video is pertinent to the SRH and Sp101 in terms of disassembly and polishing. Trigger, hammer dog, and hammer shims were covered too. I while I am no master gunsmith, I have worked on guns for 50 years and know my carry gun while fishing in the Montana and Idaho will remain the SRH Alaskan 480 with a good polishing of the parts and stock hammer springs. My GP 100s in 327 and 357 mag are smooth as butter with lightened springs. It doesn’t take much to ruin a part already fitted at factory and Jay points out the critical areas. Thank you sir for a taking the time to produce this video.

@JaySlaterOfMars 6 ай бұрын

Thanks for your kind words!

@johnqpublic2718 Жыл бұрын

Dude. Im impressed. Thank you, from a smith & wesson guy.

@billbaggins7355 8 ай бұрын

This video is insanely good. Extremely comprehensive and easy to follow. Outstanding sir.

@rockylindgren5885 Жыл бұрын

This is one of the most amazing videos I've ever seen in regards to the detail and care given to each aspect as of this gun or really any gun, actually. You, sir, are one of KZfaq's greatest heroes, and I mean that quite literally

@JaySlaterOfMars Жыл бұрын

Thank you very much!

@dannyd1213 51 минут бұрын

Great Video, I have been shooting GP100 since 1989 and Jay you did an outstanding job on this project.

@mschou 8 ай бұрын

Thank you for this... I did a trigger job on my GP100 some time ago, might be time to revisit the GP100. Have been "sleeping" in the safe for far too long. Greetings from Denmark.

@JaredAF 10 ай бұрын

Dude this video is amazing! Also you have a great screen presence and it's obvious you know what you're talking about.

@JaySlaterOfMars 10 ай бұрын

Thanks! I don't know if I'd say I have a great screen presence in general, but I will say that I can do enough takes in a row until it looks like I do.

@JaredAF 10 ай бұрын

@@JaySlaterOfMars That's what it's all about. Rehearsal is key

@nsob8897 10 ай бұрын

Ive looked at the gp100 at my local shop so many times and i love the way it looks plus the guns are solid as you could ever hope for. Ive hesitated on buying one every time because the triggers are so heavy and almost sticky..not gritty or anything. Just a bit resistant for my taste. After watching this i just might have to get one. Because i love to tinker. And anything that involves goofin around with gun parts to smooth things out is always interesting to me. Damn, i think i need to get a gp100 now.

@stevendoe1555 Жыл бұрын

Buying my first gp100 tomorrow can't wait

@Zona-dw9rp 11 ай бұрын

I got a 4" GP100 (blued carbon steel) six months ago and love it! Ruger's customer service is outstanding. Enjoy and happy shooting.

@stevendoe1555 11 ай бұрын

@@Zona-dw9rp man I love mine it's a great revolver

@GiantPinhead 6 ай бұрын

Excellent! Thank you. I watched it throught to familiarize myself before starting and will undoubtedly watch it multiple times throughout the process(es).

@ShooterSway Жыл бұрын

Thanks for putting this out for other rev shooters to benefit.

@WGH-ef5ze Жыл бұрын

Thanks very much. Well done and lots of great advice and insight

@weedeater6946 7 ай бұрын

Great information, awesome descriptions and good camera work. Thank you much for sharing !

@monsoonthagoon 5 ай бұрын

Thankyou for this video, it's perfect and I don't think somebody could do it better. I've kept both my GP-100 and Security Six completely plain aside from this internal work. While the Security Six has slightly different internals, I was able to do most of it and got significant improvement after just the first try. I hated my Six trigger when I first got it, you had to use so much force to cycle and by the time you were about to feel a wall you might as well have just yanked the trigger. It still could use more work, at least I can consistently stage it now. You rock Jay

@JaySlaterOfMars 5 ай бұрын

Sure thing! The Ruger DA revolver shop manual I mentioned in the video is a great buy if you have a Security Six-all of the measurements and tolerances it gives will actually apply to that gun directly.

@chairrider2462 10 ай бұрын

This was terrific to watch! My inner eng geek is very satisfied. Thank you! Subscribed!

@TriggerShims 8 ай бұрын

Outstanding Video!

@joshjohnson3005 5 ай бұрын

Excellent video sir.

@ActionEHamshraershV 6 ай бұрын

@JaySlaterOfMars The cylinder latch "hitch" described at the 2:00:00 or so mark I believe may be trigger plunger related. My GP100 suffered from the cylinder latch snapping up very late and an excess of tension from the pawl spring. This caused a notable bind about 1/3rd through the pull until the latch snapper upward. I removed material off both the nose and the rear of the trigger plunger. This decreased the time until the latch snapped up and decreased the tension placed upon the plunger by the pawl spring. No more hitch. Hammer dog fit seems to manifest in the last 2/3rds of the pull as the hammer dog is supposed to "hand off" the trigger to the DA sear at the bottom of the hammer.

@JaySlaterOfMars 6 ай бұрын

Thanks for the tip! Timing is one of the things that's definitely different between the 6 and 8 round guns-all of my 8-rounders have pretty early cylinder latch timing, whereas I don't totally recall what the 6-rounder is like. (I could really use another one or two of them before I say much for certain.) I'll have a look and experiment some, and if I come to the same conclusion, I'll credit you in the errata.

@timfetters7471 Ай бұрын

Good video!

@JaySlaterOfMars Ай бұрын

Thanks! I have a few addenda to record one of these days, based on more recent experience-just trying to find the time to make it happen.

@ollelindskog4531 14 күн бұрын

8:24 Nice. There's the design Ruger never paid me for. I went through pictures, sketches and drawings of what I wanted to do. We agreed that they would send 2 revolvers to me for modification. I didn't hear anything for 2 years and then "my" design came out. It's flattering but not very respectful. Problem is that their model is sub standard. They obviously didn't understand all features and just copied part of it.

@ettube8686 7 ай бұрын

Amazing video ruger should hire you thanks for the video

@JaySlaterOfMars 7 ай бұрын

Ruger's pretty tight-lipped about this kind of thing-if they hired me I probably couldn't have made the video. :P

@williamnantz5604 Жыл бұрын

When you're refrencing 'mils' of dimension, i believe you are meaning 'thousandths'. Excellent information.

@JaySlaterOfMars Жыл бұрын

Correct-I have a hard time saying 'thousandths' clearly, so I borrow the US engineering shorthand in the video. (Only now do I realize that it's possibly confusing in a context where mils also can be a measure of angle.)

@williamnantz5604 Жыл бұрын

@@JaySlaterOfMars thanks for reading and responding. Yeah, some people will abbreviate milradians and/or millimeters as 'mils'. I'm sure anybody following your instructions will understand what you mean🫡

@monsoonthagoon Күн бұрын

I just wanted to add one more thing to this already great video. I was curious about a ever so slightly gritty feel I attributed to the hammer strut head (the circular shaped portion opposite of where you'd put a pin to retain the seat & spring). In addition to completely smoothing the hammer strut, I polished the channel it rides under the hammer with some sand paper, working my way up to ultra fine sand paper. I still wasn't satisfied. I took a chance on a Dremel chainsaw sharpening set, and using the 3/16" bit (which fit perfectly) to completely smooth out that channel, finishing by polishing said channel. If you try this, you don't want to remove much material, just enough to smooth out the rough, machined surface. Now, it's trigger is very comparable to my Colt. Stay safe everyone

@JaySlaterOfMars 2 сағат бұрын

That's a great tip. It's a very difficult place to get with sandpaper.

@snubnoserevival5611 Жыл бұрын

Hey Jay! Thank you for this video. I really appreciate all the effort you put into this. Some of these tricks I knew about from iowegans posts online but I just learned a lot of new stuff. I have a couple match champs for idpa but I want to try uspsa. Do you have any advice on tracking down a super gp100. I keep getting out bid by the deep pockets on GunBroker and these things are really hard to find

@JaySlaterOfMars Жыл бұрын

They're very hard to find. Both of my 9mms came to me used, and one of them on specific terms because I'm using it so actively in competition. The .357s are a little more common, and as far as I know, Ruger still intends to produce more of them, so you might be able to pick one up from a dealer at non-ludicrous prices if you keep your eye out. If you're on the Enos forum and know Michael Poggie's handle, you might try asking him. He has some certificates for Super GPs in, and intends to sell them when they arrive, as I understand.

@snubnoserevival5611 Жыл бұрын

Yeah I'm gonna try to snag a 357 one, I just got a bunch of starline short colt to load for it once I find one. I'm gonna see if I can track down poggie and dm him thanks again

@davidgoldberg 11 ай бұрын

Thanks for the detailed video. I installed the MCarbo spring kit in my SP101 and followed their polishing instructions. Everything went well. When I saw your video I decided to go back in and polish the other parts and sear engagement areas. It reduced the single action trigger from 3-1/2 to 3LB. On double action I now have a hitch in the middle of the pull. It's kind of like a wall and I can see the transfer bar jump a little. The pull was smooth prior to installing the main spring. I wonder what I did wrong and what do I need to look at specifically? I made a short Rumble video of the action.

@JaySlaterOfMars 11 ай бұрын

I'd have to see the video to say more confidently, but most hitches/gags mid-pull have to do with hammer dog fit. A wall in the middle of the pull typically happens when the hammer dog is a little too short-the DA sear surface on the trigger hits the DA sear surface on the front underside of the hammer. The quick test is to cut out a tiny rectangle of aluminum foil and tuck it in behind the top of the hammer dog in the hammer. If the issue goes away, then the hammer dog is just a hair too short. To save a bit of time, you can probably reproduce the issue by putting resistance on the hammer with your thumb, leaving the mainspring out. This part is extremely speculative, but experimentation with my GP100 suggests it's a little more sensitive to hammer dog fit than the Super Redhawk/Super GP frame size; the compact frame might be more so. I really need to get an SP101.

@davidgoldberg 11 ай бұрын

@@JaySlaterOfMars I sent the link to you on Instagram.

@davidgoldberg 11 ай бұрын

@@JaySlaterOfMars Hi just installed a replacement hammer dog, (of course I did not polish it, and it's running great! Thanks os much!

@kropekpf84 6 ай бұрын

Great video thank you a lot! Maybe you could do a video or make recommendation here for the GP 100 grip for IDPA. I have been thinking to take match champion grip but read that they do not fit well GP 100. Interesting what are your thoughts and experiences.

@JaySlaterOfMars 6 ай бұрын

All of my guns have the plain, no-finger-groove Hogue rubber grips on them, SKU 80010. I don't like wood on competition revolvers, and have run into issues with grips that are secured with a screw that passes by the mainspring strut.

@kropekpf84 6 ай бұрын

@@JaySlaterOfMars appreciate for the explanation!

@jasonbuske3093 6 ай бұрын

"I don't have any forks that I'm allowed to do that with" ie, you've learned. LOL I'm still in the learning stages, after 30 years. lol

@bonerfide208 7 ай бұрын

Thanks for the video! I’ve been looking at the Super GP100 9mm for some time now. How well does it perform and does it have issues with light primer strikes?

@JaySlaterOfMars 7 ай бұрын

I think it's a very competitive option for IPSC/USPSA-style shooting. Beyond what I say in the video-that it can be tuned down to a pretty light pull, even if not quite as light as S&Ws-it's built like an absolute tank. With the factory springs, it lit every kind of ammo I threw at it. It's pickier now with the competition tune, but it's about 99.9% reliable with my handloads. One maintenance item, if you're using light springs a lot, is to check hammer fall weight on a schedule. With a heavy dry fire schedule, pulling the trigger a lot can wear out the hammer spring over time. All that being said, the 9mm guns are extremely hard to find right now-Ruger hasn't made a new one in a couple of years. I keep hearing that they're on the way, though.

@bonerfide208 7 ай бұрын

Mate thanks for your reply and for sharing your expertise. I might know a supplier who has one and have been on the fence about making the purchase but you’ve put me at ease regarding my decision. I’m a new sub for sure!

@JaySlaterOfMars 7 ай бұрын

Much appreciated! Best of luck getting your hands on one. Feel free to leave another comment if you run into any trouble with it.

@snubnoserevival5611 Жыл бұрын

Ok so unrelated question to triggers. I notice the hogue cylinder release handle on your supers, but your 10mm has a shortened paddle thing on it I've never seen before. I run the long hogue ones on my idpa match champs and my local matches haven't said anything to me about it. But I'm pretty sure that when I show up to my first state matches (Oklahoma and Texas this year) they will tell me it's not allowed. Where did you get the short paddle one on your 10mm?

@JaySlaterOfMars Жыл бұрын

I 3D printed it. Sadly, I need to go back to the drawing board: I printed the entire cylinder release piece, but the stress of the hammer/transfer bar pushing on it caused it to break after some dry fire, in a way that suggests plastic is the wrong material. My next plan is a little extension that can be superglued onto the stock release, which I think will work for an IDPA-sized part. Failing that, maybe I try to make one that fits on the dovetail on Hogue's. My understanding, like yours, is that the Hogue long paddle is probably not IDPA-legal, which is why I went down this path. For the IDPA match in a week, I'll just have to train myself to break grip and aim very carefully for the button, I guess.

@snubnoserevival5611 Жыл бұрын

If you find one that works, cut an extra and I'll pay you for it lol

@davidb72 Жыл бұрын

Just got a .357/.38 GP100 for IDPA use (I'm primarily a USPSA semi-auto shooter). Do you know if the extended cylinder release is legal for IDPA? Also - mine doesn't seem to throw the cases out very well - is there anything I can do to help with that?

@JaySlaterOfMars Жыл бұрын

The Hogue release is not legal for IDPA, as far as I know, based on A5.7.1 in the IDPA gear rules appendix. I'm working on a part that meets those requirements, however, and should have it fully worked out by about May. For ejection, I don't have much advice, unfortunately. Even .38 Special, in a .357 gun, doesn't come fully out of the chambers on a full stroke of the ejector. From a technique perspective, when I was running moon clip .38 in USPSA, I found that a more vertical gun and an extremely authoritative slap of the ejector rod helped. (I know some guys who reload with the weak hand most of the time, but switch to a strong hand reload in ICORE Classic/IDPA Stock Revolver, because it's easier to get the gun vertical in the weak hand.) From a gunsmithing perspective, I see some people talk about running a flexi-hone, or some 400-800-grit sandpaper on a dowel, through the chambers, if you can see any machining marks in them. The IBOK doesn't say anything about it either way; Iowegan doesn't recommend anything beyond light polishing, and only then if you can in fact see machining marks. I'll try to remember to check Kuhnhausen when I get home, to see if he weighs in one way or the other.

@davidb72 Жыл бұрын

@@JaySlaterOfMars appreciate the reply - I'll be watching for an IDPA legal cylinder release!

@JaySlaterOfMars Жыл бұрын

Nothing in the Kuhnhausen manual about cylinder honing either way. rugerforum.net may have more up-to-date information, or additional advice on getting good ejection.

@davidb72 Жыл бұрын

@@JaySlaterOfMars I will check out ruger forum - again - appreciate the help!

@kropekpf84 3 ай бұрын

If I may ask what front sight do you recommend for IDPA in Ruger GP 100? Is Hi Viz Fiber Optic OK? Would you also change rear sight or leave factory adjustable sight?

@JaySlaterOfMars 3 ай бұрын

All three of my guns have the Ruger factory fiber optic front sight, which I believe is either manufactured by HiViz or copied from it, so it's a solid option. I may experiment with a narrower front sight blade this year, however. In dim or gloomy conditions, the relatively wide HiViz blade can be tough to center correctly in the notch. I shot factory adjustable rears for a long time, blacked out with a Sharpie. They weren't perfectly trustworthy in keeping zero over high round counts, in my experience. Put witness marks on them with a paint pen if you're going to stick with them. All of my guns wear Bowen Rough Country rear sights now, which have withstood an awful lot of travel and shooting now without issue.

@kropekpf84 3 ай бұрын

@@JaySlaterOfMars thank you 🙏

@kropekpf84 20 күн бұрын

I am about to start polishing my ruger. What is it that you put on the sandpaper before polishing? Water or a drop of some oil? Any alternative liquid I can use?

@JaySlaterOfMars 17 күн бұрын

It's a drop of gun oil, which I understand helps keep the sandpaper from clogging with metal particles. I don't think it's critical to use it, but each little patch of sandpaper seems to last a little longer if you do.

@kropekpf84 17 күн бұрын

@@JaySlaterOfMars Thank you very much! Now I am ready to copy you :)

@kogechaos 11 ай бұрын

Do shims have to be replaced after enough rounds or usage?

@JaySlaterOfMars 11 ай бұрын

I haven't worn any out yet! It's conceivable they might eventually need to be replaced, but I haven't hit that point yet with >100,000 trigger pulls on one gun.

@totljag1 Жыл бұрын

Do u work on other people pistols also ?

@JaySlaterOfMars Жыл бұрын

Not at the moment, but if there's sufficient interest, I may eventually start. If you're looking for someone now, Dave Olhasso (olhasso.com) is the premier Ruger whisperer, in my opinion.

@robertisaacson6259 Жыл бұрын

I’d be interested