Pick your favorite. S&W vs Ruger

jtcarm · Jan 28, 2016

Ranger514 said:
a trigger is something that can be modified.

That sows ear will never be a silk purse.

Now matter how much smoothing is put into it, a DA powered by a coil spring is going to stack at the end. Unacceptable for good DA shooting. Even their SA pulls usually need work.

There's a reason why Rugers are almost completely absent from DA revolver competition.

kbm6893 · Jan 28, 2016

jtcarm said:
That sows ear will never be a silk purse.

Now matter how much smoothing is put into it, a DA powered by a coil spring is going to stack at the end. Unacceptable for good DA shooting. Even their SA pulls usually need work.

There's a reason why Rugers are almost completely absent from DA revolver competition.

So Jerry Miculek using a Ruger would get his butt kicked? It's the Indian, not the arrow.

One huge advantage Ruger has over smith is no side plate and the ability to take the revolver apart with a cartridge case or a coin. Smith can't do that. As I've said, a paper plate at 50 yards doesn't stand a chance with my Service Six. Can't think of needing it to do any better.

Graywolf586 · Jan 28, 2016

Smith vs Ruger

I personally like my Smith DA and my Ruger SA

jtcarm · Jan 29, 2016

Pick your favorite. S&W vs Ruger

kbm6893 said:
So Jerry Miculek using a Ruger would get his butt kicked? It's the Indian, not the arrow

Probably not, but his scores would likely suffer.

Look on the line at a USPSA or ICORE match and count the number of S&Ws vs Rugers (if you see any.).

Jerry Miculek is an exception to the rule (BTW, he shot Smiths long before he was sponsored by them.)

If you're going to compare the very best, the late Bob Munden could've smoked the majority of USPSA competitors with a single action.

I have no beef with Ruger when it comes to precision SA shooting. One of the most accurate revolvers I've ever owned is a RedHawk. But I've never shot it DA and even the SA trigger needed work. My OM Blackhawk .357 is still a favorite after 40 years.

95% of my shooting is DA, so I want the best action. An inconsistent pull and stack near the end are deal breakers for me. If Ruger could produce a DA pull as good as an S&W, I'd go for it, though I don't care for their aesthetics or vaunted "tank" like construction. If I want a tank, I'll buy the RC airsoft Leopard my son wants.

Oh, BTW, I buy guns to shoot, not disassemble.

Inusuit · Jan 29, 2016

I have both. Had the Speed Six longer than the 65. I carry the Ruger.

amd6547 · Jan 30, 2016

Since this thread has so many nice S&W pics, I figured it needs a pic of one of those "ugly" GP100's with their inferior "sows ear" trigger:

...And the first six shot fired, standing offhand at 25yds. The first three were with a six o'clock hold, the second three shots were center hold. I was shooting Federal American Eagle 158gn JSP, and had yet to switch out the grip.

Sgt 127 · Jan 30, 2016

Pretty much what I expected.

I posted in three forums. Smith, Ruger and Glock (that was my neutral choice)
Even in dedicated brand forums, there was some crossover.
A few "I'd be happy with either one". "Flip a coin".
References to the Ruger toughness. The better trigger on the Smith.

Pretty much a wash with a slight preference for the Smith overall.

Both just outstanding firearms and the pinnacle of design when revolvers ruled. And, even now in 2016, one would be well served with either.

I might have a tiny preference for the 65 just because I grew up shooting Smith revolvers.

Years ago, I looked at Rugers as the second tier. I had a S&W 27. A buddy had a 28 and another friend of ours had a Security Six. We kind of felt "Well, bless his heart...he only has a Ruger.

With time comes experience and knowledge. I'm now quite sure the Ruger is the equal to the Smith and, in some ways, superior.

I appreciate everyone's input.

Drm50 · Jan 30, 2016

Smith& Wesson = Finest double action pistols made
Ruger= Finest SA pistols made

Sgt 127 · Jan 31, 2016

GA 1911 said:
You are saying that your Ruger is better than a Smith & Wesson revolver?

I do not know why you would post in a S&W forum, and in the S&W 1961-1980 area, about how your Ruger is "superior"?

I'm realistic. I loves Smiths. I own quite a few. Even a couple Registered Magnums.

The Ruger Speed/Security Six series is exceptionally robust. The design, without a sideplate, is very good. The fact that the gun can be disassembled with no tools is very ingenious.

I give credit where credit is due.

I also own a few Colts. Perhaps we should have a thread where the Model 10 goes head to head with a Colt OP. I can list strong points for both designs. And, I think we would see some crossovers there too.

I also said "I might have a tiny preference for the 65 just because I grew up shooting Smith revolvers."

Triathloncoach · Jan 31, 2016

i do love the stainless steel Single 10. Just not as much as my 17-2, but different,

kbm6893 · Jan 31, 2016

jtcarm said:
Probably not, but his scores would likely suffer.

Look on the line at a USPSA or ICORE match and count the number of S&Ws vs Rugers (if you see any.).

Jerry Miculek is an exception to the rule (BTW, he shot Smiths long before he was sponsored by them.)

If you're going to compare the very best, the late Bob Munden could've smoked the majority of USPSA competitors with a single action.

I have no beef with Ruger when it comes to precision SA shooting. One of the most accurate revolvers I've ever owned is a RedHawk. But I've never shot it DA and even the SA trigger needed work. My OM Blackhawk .357 is still a favorite after 40 years.

95% of my shooting is DA, so I want the best action. An inconsistent pull and stack near the end are deal breakers for me. If Ruger could produce a DA pull as good as an S&W, I'd go for it, though I don't care for their aesthetics or vaunted "tank" like construction. If I want a tank, I'll buy the RC airsoft Leopard my son wants.

Oh, BTW, I buy guns to shoot, not disassemble.

Eh, whatever floats your boat. I pull the trigger on me Six, and the bullet goes where I want it to. The Ruger is tougher than the 65. There is no debating that. It's why S&W dumped the K frame .357's and came out with the L frame. The new K frame Model 66 is a completely different design than the original 66.

As for disassembling them, I guess at gun games that's not done very often. But if you carry a gun in rugged conditions where it might get dunked in a stream as you slip, it's nice to have the option of thouroughly disassembling the revolver.

kbm6893 · Jan 31, 2016

GA 1911 said:
Hey, I get it.

Nonetheless, I sure would like to see some pictures of this Speed Ruger? Please show me how to field strip it without a tool.

I still like the 12 S&W revolvers that I posted previously. They are good to go in the .357 category.

Go to YouTube and type in Fieldstripping Ruger Security Six With a Dime.

Jdavis · Jan 31, 2016

Eanie, Meanie, Minie, Moe, it doesn't matter which way you go!Both are fine revolvers and it is a subjective decision. I have both brands and like them for different reasons.

BigCityChief · Jan 31, 2016

Jdavis said:
Eanie, Meanie, Minie, Moe, it doesn't matter which way you go!Both are fine revolvers and it is a subjective decision. I have both brands and like them for different reasons.

I'm with Jdavis! Both great revolvers.

kbm6893 · Jan 31, 2016

BigCityChief said:
I'm with Jdavis! Both great revolvers.

Absolutely. I have both brands. I've owned at least a dozen S&W revolvers and they are superb. For a .38, I would always pick S&W, not that the Ruger is bad but the Smith is classier. But between a k frame .357 and a Six series revolver, I'd always pick the Six. Beefier, yet still the same size as a K frame. They even share holsters.

jtcarm · Jan 31, 2016

Drm50 said:
Smith& Wesson = Finest double action pistols made
Ruger= Finest SA pistols made

I'd have to say Korth and Freedom Arms.

But yes, you're correct when it comes to guns that most shooters can afford that you would regularly find in an LGS.

As for Ruger's vaunted toughness: this seems to be an assumption due to their beefier construction. I have never seen it actually proven, and I'm talking about empirical evidence or actual side-by-side testing of more than one specimen of each, not anecdotes or I shoot super-hot stuff in my GP100.

We all know about the forcing cone issues with the older S&W K-frame magnums. But the fact is, the Security Sixes did not have the service life and were never issued in the numbers as the S&Ws to LEOs.

kbm6893 · Jan 31, 2016

jtcarm said:
I'd have to say Korth and Freedom Arms.

But yes, you're correct when it comes to guns that most shooters can afford that you would regularly find in an LGS.

As for Ruger's vaunted toughness: this seems to be an assumption due to their beefier construction. I have never seen it actually proven, and I'm talking about empirical evidence or actual side-by-side testing of more than one specimen of each, not anecdotes or I shoot super-hot stuff in my GP100.

We all know about the forcing cone issues with the older S&W K-frame magnums. But the fact is, the Security Sixes did not have the service life and were never issued in the numbers as the S&Ws to LEOs.

Using law enforcement issue as a gauge is kind of pointless, since most police guns get sho a few hundred rounds a year.

And the Border Patrol used the Security Six, I believe.

I've owned probably 8-10 K frame .357's. 19's, 66's, 13's, and 65's. Wonderful guns, for sure. But I was never comfortable shooting more than a cylinder or 2 of .357 a year through them. An email to the S&W factory told me flat out to minimize my .357 ammo in those guns. I know some guys here have thousands of magnum rounds through their K frames, but I never had the confidence to do it very often. I do not have that feeling with the Six guns (which I prefer to the GP100's). Built from the ground up to shoot .357.

So in a K frame sized .357, I would take the Six everyday over the 65. Yeah, the trigger is slightly better on a Smith and it's not quite as pretty, but I can hit the target every time with my Service Six, and that's good enough for me.

Sgt 127 · Jan 31, 2016

GA 1911 said:
Hey, I get it.

Nonetheless, I sure would like to see some pictures of this Speed Ruger? Please show me how to field strip it without a tool.

The first post is a Speed Six and a 65. The Security Six, Service Six and Speed Six were all mechanically the same.

http://stevespages.com/pdf/ruger_securitysix.pdf

Disassembly instructions. A case rim fits the grip screw. The pin to remove the mainspring is in the grip frame. The mainspring strut is used to remove the trigger group.

sarg1c · Jan 31, 2016

I like the Smith and Wesson revolvers but like the larger Rugerautos.

Frank237 · Feb 1, 2016

Short of the 10/.22 and a few #1's I have never warmed up to Ruger.

Their Super Blackhawk single actions are the exception, but that's it in their handgun line.

Frankly a silly question to ask on THIS Forum. LOL.

Pick your favorite. S&W vs Ruger

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