I have the same gun. I ordered the MCARBO trigger spring kit, polished the hammer, trigger, and sear and went from 10.5 lbs DA to 4.7 DA! Not shims were needed on my Match model. It's ridiculous how sweet it is.
Nice review HS, thanks for taking the time. I also have the MC and also changed the grips for the Altamont rubber/wood insert type. I love the gun even more now! The wood grips do look super sharp but I can get a better grip and overall control with the Altamonts.
Thanks for reviewing this revolver. I was debating for weeks between this match champion and the S&W 686plus. For $20 more I decided to purchase this Ruger MC with factory upgrades you've mentioned. Cannot wait to take it to the range. 10 day wait period here in Cali.
You will enjoy it, we certainly enjoy ours. We will be releasing a video shortly on how to change the grip to a Hogue rubber grip. Not as beautiful as the wood grip but gentler on the hands after a long day at the range.
I have a MC It was pretty much perfect when I bought it and I had to send it back for some service .. the Ruger staff worked it over . more sprng adjustment and more shims .. no creep at all I (regretfully) sold a Python back around 1970 and this one is every bit as great at the Python (which I bought new for $125? That was retail back in 63 I like 357 (always have) and it is plenty powerful .. Ruger can handle anything but 158 grain Jacketed with 14.9 grains of H110 or W296 can handle anything ... anything (a dinosaur) So Ruger is the perfect handgun (Oh sure I have 1911s, CZs, Smiths and I like them .. will never trade any of them)
I have seen a couple of people comment that the Match Champion does not have shims on the trigger - they inky come with them on the outside of the hammer. Have you taken yours down to see if they are there? I am only reporting what others have said they found while working in their MC Gp100. Perhaps my comment would be better if asked as a question - are there trigger shims in a MC?
+Jan Reeves We have not disassembled it, but we also have not detected any slop, canting or other undesirable trigger behavior. Looking at Ruger's site it appears to use a Centering Boss on the trigger and Centering Shims on the hammer. "Polished and optimized internals, a centering boss on the trigger, and centering shims on the hammer produce a smooth double-action trigger pull and a crisp and consistent let-off." Looking at the exploded diagrams in the GP100 vs Match Champion manuals, the triggers are different. The "boss" on the Match Champion is effectively a flange on either side of a ferrule going through the trigger at the pivot point with the flanges performing the function of the shims.
I am currently debating between this Ruger GP100 Match Champion revolver and the Smith and Wesson model 66. The purpose of my pistol will be mainly range use but also backwoods/predator defense. My pistols get a LOT of range time and mainly use magnum loads. I know the Ruger will hold up, but have been spoiled by the S&W trigger. So, what should I do? S&W model 66 vs Ruger GP100? Note: I currently use the Smith and Wesson model 69 (5 shot .44 magnum). Which would be a twin to the model 66 if I got it. Just another reason to get the 66 (or not). I guess what I’m trying to say is: If the trigger is truly comparable to a nice S&W trigger, then I have to get this Ruger.
We have not tried the S&W but the trigger on the Match Champion is excellent. A friend of yours likes the S&Ws but was complaining that in more recent version they have made the triggers heavier for some reason. Personally we prefer the Ruger revolvers in general, but that comes down more to subjective personal opinion rather than something you could list on a "fact sheet". The Match Champion is a factory tuned up GP100, similar in concept to the Performance Center on the S&W side. If you find one in a LGS see if they will let you give the trigger a try, I think you will like it.
Great review, pardner! Thanks, H/S! I'm looking for a 357 Mag revolver that will match up with my Henry 357 Mag All Weather lever gun. I think I prefer this GP 100 Match over the S&W 66 or 626 Performance Center versions. I love S&W products. I love my M&P M2.0 semis, and I do love their revolvers, but this Ruger seems to have it all. I might look into a Hogue rubber grip for a better purchase, or do you feel this wood grip is more than good enough? Thanks again! 😎👍🏻🇺🇸💥
I bought the Gen1s with the fixed novak sights in the back. If I were to do it again, I would buy the regular 4inch GP100, not the match champion. 1.) I wish they kept the front sight and the rear sight the same as the regular gp100. Easier to change out and accurate. They added those target sights in the Gen2 after everyone complained. 2.) That stippled hogue grip is terrible. The angle and hardness of the wood hurts the palm, plus it gets slippery as an eel once your palm sweats a little bit. I changed mine out with Altamont Grips - much better looking and much better functioning. 3.) I refused 3 of them at the gunshop before I accepted one because all the ones before at big scarring/marring on the crowns straight from the factory. That's terrible quality control, and some of the marring was gashes right to the barrel's crown which would affect accuracy. I guess the biggest positive to me is that the "read the manual" thing is out of sight at the bottom of the barrel, there is a reduction in weight, the trigger pull is slightly better than a factory fresh regular gp100 although even a factory fresh one can have very smooth trigger if you dry fire it a lot or polish the internals.
the angle and hardness of the wood hurts your hand? what kind of weenie are you. that all they ahd back in the day was wood grips. and 357 mag is a baby round. I have 44 mags 454 casuals and a 460 smith. the 454 casual has wood grips. the wood grips on this gun are beautiful. they look very well on this revolver. im glad i bought one over a regular gp100.
Wanting good ergonomics in a gun is "weenie" to you, then everyone else must be wrong and you're always right in your world. Have fun with that. Anyways, unlike the Ruger, my Smiths have good wood grips. Plenty of people agree with me and have done the same as I posted and Ruger also got enough feedback that they have also brought back target sighting and better grips in current generation.
im just joking with you man. i just prefer a nice wood grip. i have custom wood grips on my super blackhawk 44 mag and my blackhawk 357 mag/9mm convertible.
I own the 686 Super Tuned and the trigger is quite a bit better than the MC, but I actually shoot better with the MC, so go figure. It could be the front sight on the MC maybe, or possibly the weight/balance factor.
