Interesting question. I would hope not since they seem to be pretty pricey as far as revolvers go (near me anyway).


On a side note, anybody know if GP-100's have MIM parts?
Chevy

 

Pretty much all production guns these days have MIM parts. I would be awfully surprised if the 2 examples above didn't.

A "what is" link:

http://www.parmatech.com/parmatech/metalinj_pimprocess.html

Properly done, MIM parts are very nearly as strong as forged or milled parts. The trick is in determining if the work was properly done...

 

you can get a bad part regardless of how it is made. end of story

 

you can get a bad part regardless of how it is made. end of story

Pretty broad statement but certainly not the end of the story. Sounds like the beginning of a story to me. I won't name names here but it is easy to know where this can go.

An owner of a 1990 vintage Anaconda responded and says no mim in his gun. He says he has spoken with a shop person from Colts who described parts manufacturing with him and the parts were machined.
It would be nice to hear from others about these interesting revolvers.

 

It's my understanding that Colt used sintered metal for hammers & triggers in some of their .357s toward the end (excluding Pythons), and the larger Anacondas. I can't quote chapter & verse on it.
Ruger says they do not use MIM or any form of powdered metal in their guns.
They do use castings extensively.
Denis

 

Colt pioneered the use of powdered metal technology in guns with the Colt Trooper Mark III of 1969.

These guns used an earlier form of MIM known as "sintered steel".
The process sounds a lot like MIM: powdered steel is injected into a mould, heated until the metal melts, and when the mould is opened you have a more or less finished part except for case hardening.

There was some problem with broken triggers in the Trooper Mark III, so when Colt brought out the Trooper Mark V, the hammer and trigger was changed to cast steel.

In the case of the Anaconda, I'll hazard to guess that parts like the bolt, cylinder finger piece, and some other small, low stress parts are either sintered or MIM.

I'm fairly sure the hammer and trigger, crane, and other parts are either cast or forged steel.

The frame definitely is forged and milled.

 

I wouldn't let this question stop me from getting one. I got one of the first to come out and she has been one of my prized pistols ever since, right alongside my Commander. I did fettle with the springs and tune though.

Don

 

...On a side note, anybody know if GP-100's have MIM parts?

I can't say for sure but I doubt it. Ruger pioneered the use of investment casting for firearms manufacturing. Just about everything on a Ruger starts as a casting.

 

I wouldn't let this question stop me from getting one. I got one of the first to come out and she has been one of my prized pistols ever since, right alongside my Commander. I did fettle with the springs and tune though.

Don

It is my understanding the first were the best.
We do not seem to be coming up with a date/serial#range. Yours being a early one, please post the serial# minus two or three digits as you deem appropriate. That would be a start.
I hope to find one I will be as happy with as you are with yours.

 

I can't say for sure but I doubt it. Ruger pioneered the use of investment casting for firearms manufacturing. Just about everything on a Ruger starts as a casting.

That's a very good point. I forgot all about that.