Guns & Outdoors Forum

Any thoughts on the Ruger gp100 match champion vs the S&W 610 mountain gun? I’ve always had a thing for the original 610’s. No real specific need, I’ve just always wanted one and it’s been somewhat of a grail gun and the originals (no dash?) are hard to find and expensive$$$. When they rereleased the newer models with the lock, they really didn’t blow my skirt up. Now I see they have released the Mountain Gun in 610 and I like it and get on list and wait. Now, at the same time my LGS says they can get me one I stumble across a deal on a GP100 Match Champion in 10mm for about $400 cheaper. The savings is nice but I have gift cards saved and neither is cash out of my pocket, but still $400 that can go elsewhere. I don’t have much experience with Ruger revolvers other than a single six. I have a couple Smith’s and like them. I like the idea of shooting .40’s with moon clips in the 610 but I don’t have a real need to. The Ruger seems like an all-around better deal but I’m waffling. Anybody with experience with either? Help me spend my free money

While I think the GP100 is a SUPERB gun, I’m a total sucker for the esthetics of the S&W Mountain Gun. It’s just a sexy beast that looks like a modern version of the .357 Registered Magnum.

I had a mind for auto cartridges in wheel guns for a bit. Until I experienced the velocity loss from the cylinder gap. Soured me to doing so.

GP100 44 special……1

GP100 .357 converted to 10mm with a 6" barrel is throwing a 180gr at 1350-1375 FPS while G40 with a 7" barrel is going 1375-1400 FPS. Same hand load in both.

While I have wanted a 610 for many years, I just couldnt justify the premium for them when a beat up example was more than it would have cost me to buy a new GP100 and pay to have it converted at that time. I have not looked for a 610 for quite a few years. The converted GP100 was found used and didnt look like it had been shot much. A Super Redhawk in 10mm is almost comical to shoot.

Zee wrote: ↑Wed Oct 22, 2025 3:54 am I had a mind for auto cartridges in wheel guns for a bit. Until I experienced the velocity loss from the cylinder gap. Soured me to doing so.

How much velocity loss were you getting? I have heard that its only 50fps or so.

By the way- this video was just posted yesterday exploring the difference on 10mm in an Auto and a wheelgun. The interesting stuff is just the first 12-15 minutes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9gUTasiQUg

To answer the OP- I would probably go for the Ruger right now. Nothing wrong with the S&W, and my brother has a 6" 610 that I love shooting... just I'm kinda on a Ruger kick these days.

Admin wrote: ↑Wed Oct 22, 2025 12:31 pm

Zee wrote: ↑Wed Oct 22, 2025 3:54 am I had a mind for auto cartridges in wheel guns for a bit. Until I experienced the velocity loss from the cylinder gap. Soured me to doing so.

How much velocity loss were you getting? I have heard that its only 50fps or so.

By the way- this video was just posted yesterday exploring the difference on 10mm in an Auto and a wheelgun. The interesting stuff is just the first 12-15 minutes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9gUTasiQUg

It varied from gun to gun. But, I wasn’t pleased.

I'll pick up and run Smiths and Rugers interchangeably. Can't really say I have a preference for one over the other.

The Mountain Gun is a much better LOOKING firearm IMO, as it hearkens back to the tapered barrels they were really big on back in their Golden Age.

But since both platforms are available in .357 or .44, the rimless 10mm in a revolver is a big steaming pile of "WHY???" I've dabbled in the moon clip universe - they're a screaming pain in the ass.

My GP100 10mm conversion works just fine with decently hot loads without using moon clips. Im sure I could work up a revolver specific load that is hotter and may eventually get to a point where I need the moon clips, but having one load that works in all I have is fine with me. I have not checked velocity on any of my .357 180gr loads in a 6" revolver yet, but I doubt they are doing 1350-1375 FPS. The 10mm load I use is a book load using Blue Dot.

I like 10mm in revolvers, it’s like shooting 180gr well mannered .44 mag loads from my S&W Mounain Gun without having to reload and it gives me the optino of sending sizzling 155gr and lighter HPs at laser speeds.