2nd best revolver other than another S&W?

[Meztiso]

I was just wondering what you guys think is the 2nd best maker of revolvers out there is? Also what brand would you say is close to last on the list.

I am asking because I am new to revolvers and my favorite pawn shop has a large selection of hand guns, especially lots of revolvers. I think lots of folks have been pawning guns due to the recession? I want to get a few more now that I got me a S&W as my first revolver.

 

[Meztiso]

I was just wondering what you guys think is the 2nd best maker of revolvers out there is? Also what brand would you say is close to last on the list.

I am asking because I am new to revolvers and my favorite pawn shop has a large selection of hand guns, especially lots of revolvers. I think lots of folks have been pawning guns due to the recession? I want to get a few more now that I got me a S&W as my first revolver.

 

[RON in PA]

There was a time, many decades ago, when the argument over which revolver was best was between the S&W proponents and the Colt proponents. Colt is not making any double action revolvers anymore and many say that competent gunsmithing repairs on the used ones are hard to come by.

Ruger started making DA revolvers in the 1970s and started to cut into S&W's police business until the auto pistols took over. However Ruger still makes excellent DA revolvers and the old Colt vrs. Smith wars have become Ruger vrs. Smith wars.

My opinion is that Smiths have better triggers than Ruger, but otherwise they are very close and what is most important is which one is to your fancy. The most direct Ruger vrs. Smith comparison is the Ruger GP100 against the Smith L frame 686. Both excellent revolvers.

 

[Revolver King]

Surely my 1st choice is S&W, but I would have to Ruger builds a revolver that is equally as good as S&W. I just like the S&W trigger much better. It has a little shorter reset.

 

[jeep]

I would take a Ruger over a lock ILS SW,But a Lockless SW over a Ruger.

 

[Sammy]

Someone other than S&W makes revolvers!

 

[LoboGunLeather]

I have handled a couple of the newer Ruger SP101 revolvers and I have been favorably impressed, and this comes from a S&W revolver user since 1970.

 

[photoman]

Smith and Wesson is my favorite but I rate Ruger single actions a VERY close second.

 

[Vulcan Bob]

Look's like another vote for Ruger. I have several Ruger Security Six's and I think they compare nicely with the S&W M-19. The DA trigger pull is not as easy to shoot as a S&W though.

 

[MTAustin]

Find a Colt. No longer made, but you can find them. Actions like butter and bluing so deep it looks wet.

 

[ENH]

Colt for sure.

 

[okie john]

Current Rugers are probably second place for anything still being made. But they need the loving touch of someone like Hamilton Bowen, David Clements or Jim Stroh to be anywhere near as good as a S&W.


Okie John

 

[Meztiso]

I just watched a youtube video of a taurus revolver actually failing to fire. He pulls the trigger and the hammer goes half way and stops. He pulls the trigger several times but it just wont fire in double action! SCARY! I never heard of a revolver failing to fire but I guess if the gun is crap it can happen????

To be fair though it doesnt say if he tweaked it at all?

 

[johngalt]

My first revolver was a 4" Ruger GP100, fixed sights. Awful trigger: heavy creepy, feels like it is full of gravel. Won't shoot to POA. In an attempt to improve the trigger, I had a trigger job done and installed light springs. Now it won't reliably ignite non-Federal primers.

Shortcuts were obviously taken when built - edges are sharp and rough, the cylinder chambers are not smooth.

My 686 has light springs (14# rebound, Wolff Type-2 mainspring), is lighter, crisper, and smoother than the GP100, fires primers much more reliably. I have a 1% failure rate with CCI primers, double action. 100% reliable with CCI primers in single action.

The 686 gets used, the GP100 doesn't. Even with the lock, the 686 is by far the better. At the time, the 686 was about $100 more than the GP100. The 686 is well worth the extra $100.

I don't have any others to compare.

 

[H Richard]

I think it is hands down, Ruger. They are build stouter than any other revolver, (inc. S&W), but are not as refined. For a reliable and accurate revolver, Ruger is hard to beat. For a great trigger and accurate revolver and better handling characteristics, it's S&W.

 

[shawn mccarver]

Originally posted by Meztiso:
I was just wondering what you guys think is the 2nd best maker of revolvers out there is? Also what brand would you say is close to last on the list.

I am asking because I am new to revolvers and my favorite pawn shop has a large selection of hand guns, especially lots of revolvers. I think lots of folks have been pawning guns due to the recession? I want to get a few more now that I got me a S&W as my first revolver.

My list includes double actions only, and I may have forgotten a brand. This was quick and off the cuff, so to speak:

1. S&W
2. Ruger
3. Colt (slight edge to Ruger for second as they are still in production and repairs to Colts are a specialty that is as difficult to find as are replacement parts for Colts)
4. Manurhin MR73 series
5. Manurhin MR88 series
6. Korth
7. Charter Arms
8. Harrington & Richardson
9. Webley
10. Enfield
11. Fabrique Nationale/Astra
12. Rossi (pre-Taurus ownership)
13. Merwin & Hulbert
14. Armscor
15. Iver Johnson
. . .
And absolute last place, one rung above hell, award goes to (drum roll please). . .
Taurus.

 

[animalmother]

I like Colt. My 8-inch King Cobra is a very well made gun. Colt stopped commercial production of revolvers in 1999. They made some Pythons and Anacondas in the Custom Shop until about late 2004 or early 2005. In terms of present revolver makers, I like Ruger.

 

[Ron H.]

Sir, the non-Smith revolvers I have the most experience with are Colts and Rugers, having owned and shot several of each.

Colts are kind of a mixed bag. I like the SAA and the older DA guns--Pythons, original Troopers, etc. Yes, they have weird and somewhat delicate lockwork, but their triggers and fit and finish are usually very nice. The newer Colts such as the Trooper Mk III and King Cobra I don't care for so much. QC seems spotty on them--some are very good, and others are anything but.

Rugers aren't particularly refined, but they are sturdy and pretty dependable, and a good value for the money. Their triggers usually need help. Personally, I think Ruger does a better job with single-actions than double-actions. The Vaqueros have surprisingly nice fit and finish.

I've shot Taurus, Rossi, and North American Arms (the mini-.22s) only a little, but none of them particularly impressed me. The various Italian SAA copies are all over the board. The Cimarron and Uberti versions I've shot were nicely fit and finished, reasonably accurate. Others I've seen looked awful. [shrug]

The Freedom Arms guns are reputed to be very nice, and also very expensive. I've never shot one.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.

 

[perrazi]

best made revover-korth. not even close to anything else.
best made revolver in this country-freedom arms.
best looking revolver-s&w,with one exception
sexiest revovler-colt python
best revolver for the money-ruger,but needs help as mentioned previously

 

[Frizzman]

My old Ruger Security Six SS .357 that I bought in 1977 is my favorite "other revolver". Its strong and the trigger on mine is equal to any factory S&W I have had. I like the modular design that allows it to be stripped easily for cleaning/repair. I also have a Dan Wesson that is the most accurate revolver I have shot up to now.