I HAVE OWNED THE RUGER--WHICH I PURCHASED AS A KNOCK AROUND WOODS GUN, AND LATER SOLD. IT'S A VERY GOOD GUN, RUGGED AND RELIABLE. IMHO, IT LACKS THE PLEASING LINES OF THE S&W, THE TRIGGER PULL, THE EASILY OPERATED CYLINDER RELEASE, ETC. THE 686 IS BUILT LIKE A TANK, W/O LOOKING LIKE A TANK. IT WILL HANDLE A STEADY DIET OF ANY .357 MAG LOADS THAT ARE WITHIN SAAMI SPECS. IF YOU LOAD TO HIGHER PRESSURES THAN THAT, IMHO YOU ARE LOOKING FOR TROUBLE---BUT IT'S YOUR GUN TO BLOW UP, AND YES, YOU CAN BLOW UP A RUGER. I WOULD STRONGLY SUGGEST THE 686. ITS ONE OF THE FINEST S&W REVOLVERS EVER BUILT, AND THE BEST .357 MAGNUM REVOLVER CURRENTLY PRODUCED IN THE WORLD……....

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'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.