As one of WTA's resident revolver whores I have to pass on the news of Ruger's new GP100 Match Champion. Essentially it's a 4" that's been given the sight treatment, "melted" cylinder and action job of the "Wiley Clapp" 3" but Ruger has departed from the full-underlug and went with a short ejector shroud. It's fitted with Hogue's wooden Monogrip w/o finger grooves (Thank God) and the sides of the grips are stippled.
  Quite a beauty!

http://ruger.com/products/gp100/index.html

http://ruger.com/products/gp100/specSheets/1754.html

 
I like that.

  Now that I've had time to ponder it, I'd think the reduced under lug and the slight flattening of the barrel sides would have something to do with shaving the weight down to meet some IDPA type(or other gun-sport competition) weight /dimension requirements.
  Much like S&W did with their excellent 686SSR, hence Ruger's labeling it the Match Champion?

It'd be a beauty w/ Ruger's Target Gray finish.

I like it. Grant's right, it does have that Security-Six look to it. The only thing I'm not super excited about are the Novak sights. They always look silly on a revolver to me. But it's a small gripe. This is the look I'd love to see Ruger revolvers come with from now on.

I love my GP100.  I think it's probably one of, if not the most rugged, dependable, and well-engineered service revolvers ever. 

I do prefer the full lug, though. The GP is a stout little beast, and it looks off-balance to my eye with a half-shroud. 

They used to make GP100s with half-shroud barrels, but they were dropped more than a decade ago.  I've never seen one in person.





I, personally, wish they'd bring back what they used to call "Target Grey".



Not pretty, but functional.  The GP really isn't a fancy barbeque gun.  It's a working revolver.  Ruger has tried to make nice and purdy versions before, like the Royal Phoenix.



I'm fond of the Wiley Clapp edition.  One of these could easily be an EDC for me.





Then there's the Ruger Redhawk S, which is I think a blank firing pistol or an airsoft gun.  Either way, I kind of wish they'd make a GP100 like this. 

A 3 inch, fixed sight GP100 is one of the "end of the world" guns I thought about in the late 80's/early 90's.  It and an SP101 in 9mm Parabellum as a backup to use 9mm P ammo if necessary.

Maybe a bit OT (and I apologize), but since other special editions of the GP have been brought up......

Davidson's is listing stainless .38 Special GP100's with adjustable sights in both 3 and 4 inch*. I am to understand 3" with adjustable sights is a somewhat rare configuration on the GP? I don't see these advertised anywhere else, not even under the Distributor Exclusives on the Ruger website.

http://www.galleryofguns.com/genie/Default.aspx?item=1751&&mfg=Ruger&mdl=GP100&cat=All&type=All&cal=All&fin=&sit=&zipcode=62858

http://www.galleryofguns.com/genie/Default.aspx?item=1750&&mfg=Ruger&mdl=GP100&cat=All&type=All&cal=All&fin=&sit=&zipcode=62858

Rob

*4.2" actually

The Match Champion is next on my shopping list. I picked up the Wiley Clapp this past year and Love it. Great carry gun. I'd love to have another sp101 or 3 and have it coated in that same matte.

Yeah, I held that one today. 
Woof!  It's awesome!  I need one of these.  No, really... it's a need.