I'm going to say something potentially offensive

[Hand Cannon]

My S&W 500 Magnum

I have a S&W 500 Magnum that was a 2003 limited run from their custom shop. It was manufactured in 2003, and I can find NO fault with it - the exterior and the barrel are flawless. I have a full custom revolver from Gary Reeder in 500 Magnum. The S&W's fit and finish is much nicer than Reeder's revolver. I'll never buy another Reeder firearm again. My next purchase in handguns will come from Hamilton Bowen. Given he has a 3-year waiting list I'd better get my deposit in. I'm not getting any younger either.

 

[DonD]

A relative has a SP101 and i know for a fact that they're built like tanks, but the gritty 20 lb pull trigger is HORRIBLE ...guess I'm used to the superb S&W trigger. Looks like they'll have to spend some money to have a gunsmith do a trigger job, or develope carpal tunnel symdrome from dry firing it a few million times to get it to smooth out

I've had two GP100s, and 1 SP101. All three have had quite decent triggers. The SP is better than the one J frame I tried and my current GP is excellent.

Seems that only the lemons get publicity anymore. Don

 

[DonD]

People still said "American cars were the best" long after the competition had proved them wrong. I believe in calling a spade a spade. If you want to be the best you have to work to stay there.

Yeah, there were plenty of turkeys in the past. Detroit is now and has for some years been producing many cars that are outstanding values for the money and some that are world class. Help our economy out by buying US. Don

 

[Sherminator]

My favorite GP. Gives my 2.5" 686 it's run for the money.

I wish I had the clap... uh, I mean the Wiley Clapp! Great revolver

 

[Jayhawkhuntclub]

I recently acquired a SP101 3" too and it has become my constant off-work companion. While the recoil with full bore .357 magnum loads is brutal, I like having the ability to carry magnum loads into coyote country when I get called in to work late at night!

Really? Well you would NOT like the 357 loads in the LCR! I can shoot my 3" sp101 with hot magnums and no problems. Not so much with the LCR. I have the Hogue rubber grips on the 101 and that helps. In contrast the LCR has probably the best out of the box factory DA trigger I have ever felt. The sp101 trigger is crappy, even after a trigger job. The LCR is crazy accurate too (sub 3" groups at 20 yards). My best group with my LCR (with 357s) is 5 shots under 2.5" at 20 yards unsupported (I can't do that on demand mind you).

So yeah, I like the Rugers too (and the Smiths).

 

[sac-gunslinger]

Not trying to stir up a hornets nest here but this is why a lot of S&W owners like me like the older S&W revolvers.

When I venture into an LGS I look at the used offerings, and only the used offerings. I did look at a new M27 6" a couple of months ago, the finish looked like the paint put on diecast cars.

Here in Kalifornia, because of our "safe gun laws," many LGS's do not carry a line of used revolvers. That is a shame because older guns are all I want to buy.

 

[Comrad]

Maybe that's why so many like the vintage Smiths so much, I know I do especially when so many LNIB are available for reasonable prices.

 

[holo]

Maybe that's why so many like the vintage Smiths so much, I know I do especially when so many LNIB are available for reasonable prices.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Very well said if you look long enough you can still find the classic for a fair price

 

[L Pete]

These days, when I buy, it's old Smiths' and new Rugers. I did buy a M642 earlier this year, and the clear finish on the frame sucks, but the gun functions perfectly. I purchased a new SS SBH a couple of months ago, and fit and finish were perfect. No complaints about Rugers these days. I do like the looks of that Wiley Clapp, but it's probably too heavy to carry for me in my old age. It'd be alright on a wide gun belt, but not IWB with a normal sized belt.

 

[0reo]

I have a brand new sp101. I've read all the trigger job instructions over on the ruger forums but a lot of the fit & finish stuff was perfect from the factory on mine. Not mirror polished but smooth. There were no burs, tooling marks or metal chips, and not even much need to shim the trigger or hammer bits. I was pleasantly surprised.

 

[AZretired]

Noting wrong with Ruger, I've owned a couple Security Sixes in my time and still would if my house hadn't been broke into a few years back. I wish Ruger still made the Security/Service Six it was a solid, if not very pretty gun and held up to magnums better than a K-Frame. I have never been a fan of the GP series mostly because of the grip stud rather than an actual frame, plus it's bigger than it needs to be, sorta like an L-Frame.

 

[sodacan]

Okay, Ruger's D/A revolvers are well made guns, but who besides me thinks they are really ugly?

 

[Mister_Smith]

To all concerned, please contact Smith & Wesson and voice your concerns about their quality control. The head of their quality control department is Mr. John Plaster and he has been kind enough to lend me his ear and his attention when it came to quality control issues with my guns.

I have his email address but I would prefer his permission to post it here, and I will contact him and ask for his permission.

I myself have had many issues with S&W quality control, and unless we respectfully bring each and every one of our problems to the attention the appropriate managers at S&W, these problems will persist.

Phone number for S&W: 1-800-331-0852 and the head of quality control is Mr. John Plaster.

Thank you.

 

[Rick_A]

Okay, Ruger's D/A revolvers are well made guns, but who besides me thinks they are really ugly?

I concur. Ugly, bulky, and heavy.

Maybe they're sending the bad ones else where, but all the Smiths I've seen here lately are still looking better than the comparable Ruger.

Ruger does make a great wheel gun, but the only light one (LCR) is twice as ugly!

To each their own.

 

[AR_Black]

Just had this new-production 3-inch GP100 worked over by Marc @ Gemini Customs. He specializes in these guns, but has also worked on S&W Revolvers. https://www.geminicustoms.com/sw-revolvers/

This GP100 now has an awesome trigger job, excellent finish & grips, new front sight, and a few other options.

I'm a FAN of the older S&W revolvers, but my first 'new' handgun was a 4-inch GP100 that I still have. I will have to take both the Rugers to the gun club for comparison.

 

[old&slow]

I have a GP100 3" Wiley Clapp. I love the looks & feel of it.
When I got the gun it had a horrible double action trigger on it. Sent it back to Ruger and they smoothed it up quite a bit. But it still wasn't great. After a little polish and some shooting the trigger is much better now.

I like my S&W triggers much better !! They are Much easier to work on. If I screw up or break a part, I can call S&W and have a new part in a few days.

Everything on the Ruger action works upside down and back assward from the S&W. Most of the parts are factory installed only. Plus you can't see how the action works works just by taking the side plate off.

Having said all that ,, since the trigger has smoothed out on the 3" WC GP100 . It is becoming on of my favorites.

 

[kozmic]

I have become a huge Ruger fan of late.

They were great to deal with after NY's safe act got ram-rodded into law. Their customer service is top notch. They are amazingly responsive to their customer's needs.

I won't berate any of the other manufactures out there but many could take a lesson from Ruger.

I have an SP101 in 4.2". It's a great piece and enjoyable to shoot.

 

[H Richard]

I think one of the reasons Ruger has improved their quality is the number of the older S&W employees that now work for Ruger. And I "assume" they were recruited due to their knowledge and ability. S&W's loss and Rugers gain.

 

[Maximumbob54]

AR Black,

That's almost like cheating!!!

 

[2ndAmendmentNut]

I agree with the OP. Ruger's new revolvers both double and single action are really nice. I only own older pre-lock, pre-MIM, S&Ws and am really only interested in buying the older ones, but if I wanted to buy a new revolver or when friends ask for a recomendation I always point to the Rugers. S&W needs to get their "stuff" together and get back on the horse they rode in on. I can overlook the frame mounted firing pin and MIM parts, but I can't overlook the lock. Gun Stores and Pawn Shops know to put the lock side down in the display case. Even S&W doesn't like the lock, just look at how all the advertisement pictures show the right side of the gun.