Yes the new SW,s are way better than the Rugers. The ILS is fine ,just don,t use it. Going on six decades of old age I just have a thing for the old ways. And yes my time piece still ticks and is a American 1950,s Hamilton 22 wind up made in Pa. SW are all a good thing.
.357 Magnum - Ruger Or S&W?
- Thread starter conchmariner
- Start date
I would seriously try to hold off on a new S&W, in an attempt to locate a nice, used M686 (no dash to -4). They seem to be better than both the new S&W's and Rugers. If you really want a new gun, I think both the S&W and Ruger GP are fine choices. The Ruger seems to be a little overbuilt, to the point where it is kinda club-like. Of course just finding one could be half the battle. Good luck.
Lets see.....I own double the amount of Smiths as opposed to Rugers but.......I choose to carry a Ruger instead.
My advice to you is this:
Both gun makers are top notch. Find one you like shooting over the others and go for that one.
My advice to you is this:
Both gun makers are top notch. Find one you like shooting over the others and go for that one.
I am in a similar situation except I already bought my first revolver (a Smith model 65-5 3" barrel SS) Now that I have the revolver bug, I want to go back to the pawn shop that has the nice bunch of 357 mag Rugers I passed up on. I want both just like the previous post GF has. Best of both worlds I think.
I say get the Smith 1st(obviously) then build from there. Oh and try not to ever sell your guns. I regret alot of my sold guns now that the gun craze has ramped up lately.
I say get the Smith 1st(obviously) then build from there. Oh and try not to ever sell your guns. I regret alot of my sold guns now that the gun craze has ramped up lately.
I have 2 686,s, 1 model 19 and a gp-100. The smiths are definetly smoother, the model 19 more so as it is 25 years old and its safe to say its broken in, lol. The ruger is more durable, to me at least as it will take the heavier loads with less problems.
You really cant go wrong with either gun, but if i had to make the choice : 686 4 inch all the way.
You really cant go wrong with either gun, but if i had to make the choice : 686 4 inch all the way.
29Wheelgunner
US Veteran
One thing that I have discovered.
The more you shoot a S&W revolver, the smoother they get.
The more you shoot a Ruger DA, the more it's been shot.
I just love the DA feel of a Smith.
The more you shoot a S&W revolver, the smoother they get.
The more you shoot a Ruger DA, the more it's been shot.
I just love the DA feel of a Smith.
OP
conchmariner
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Thanks for the replies guys. I guess I can't go wrong either way. The reason I got interested in the Ruger was that a lot of people here have posted that Ruger .44 Magnums are more durable when handling full house loads than S&W (my 629 extractor rod loosened up after less than 50 rounds), and I was wondering whether the same thing applied to .357 Magnums.
The Security Six in its many variations is the best DA revolver Ruger ever built. My problem with the GP was only that with a high volume count of cast bullets that front lock tended to cause problems getting full of gunk and making latching/unlatching a problem and my cast to jacketed ratio is better than 99 to 1. So far the S&W's I've used have not had this problem(that's one reason I also liked the Security series!) I'm no fan of the S&W IL for cosmetic reasons but can honestly say that in thousands of rounds thru L and N frames I've never had it give me any problem. In J frames....who knows. Buy S&W.
By the way....the Security action can be easily worked to rival the best S&W action.
By the way....the Security action can be easily worked to rival the best S&W action.
Yes in CT. They were responsive, shipped next day (unlike Bud's that shipped in ten days for an in stock item with credit card). However, they over charged my card by $130, and they say I will get a credit which has not posted yet.
They answer the phone and prices are good.
They answer the phone and prices are good.
walkin' trails
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Rugers are heavier because they are made thru the process of investment casting. S&W frames are forged steel. In terms of "strength," its a wash. A heavier gun will, in theory, absorb more recoil than a light weight gun. In pitting a 686 against a GP100, there's probably not much difference. In pitting a K-frame against a Security/Speed Six, the Ruger wins out because its heavier. Whether or not it is actually stronger is open for debate. Neither is going to blow up with SAMI spec ammunition.
The S&W has an action that is second to none in terms of tunability. If you've ever handled a PPC gun based on a K-frame, or an old cop's duty Model 19 from the day when they could get away with that stuff, then you'd probably not give the Ruger another look (I always smile when a modern day gun writer talks about how smooth the trigger is on a modern high-dollar wonder gun when I handle at the same gun and feel a trigger pull that is 15 pounds of grit). I've got an 18, a 19, and a 66 that have been worked on, and have DA triggers in the range of seven and a half to eight pounds. I've handled competetion guns that were even lighter. I've owned a Colt Python with a factory action, that even though it was buttery smooth, was not as light or as smooth as my S&Ws. A Ruger can be tuned, but not to the degree of a S&W. The Security/Speed Six triggers tend to smooth out over time and are decent for an out-of-the-box gun, but they're not in the same league as the S&W. Of all of the Ruger revolvers, the Security/Speed Six was the best of the lot in terms of factory triggers.
I worked on a Border Patrol range during the last days of the revolver being the standard issue handgun for Border Patrol Agents. On the line, there were 686s, Ruger GP100s, a significant number of Security Sixes, a few Model 66s, and occasionally a Model 19 still floating around. The GP100s were the last issue revolvers the BP purchased before going to a standard issue semi-auto. On the range, I saw the ejector rods of 686s come unscrewed once in a while. That usually happened to Agents who weren't overly intersted in guns and seldom looked at theirs between quals. The GP100s, on the other hand, had a tendency to lock up after about 30 rounds on the qualification course. They'd have to cool down before they'd work again. The qualification course at the time called for something like 72 rounds of duty 110 grain JHP Federal .357 Magnum. The only Agents who got to shoot wadcutters on the qual course were the ones with the Model 66s, most of which had been shot a lot and were getting pretty loose. For some reason, the 66s were still desirable and Agents who were issued those guns would rather have fought than "upgraded," even when their guns would spit ashtray sized chunks of lead out the gap.
Like military issue 1911s, S&Ws come with enough "slop" from the factory that they aren't affected by lead or carbon buildup unless it gets really excessive. Unlike a military issue 1911, the "slop" in a S&W revolver doesn't seem to hurt its accuracy.
If you're looking for an out-of-the-box gun at a reasonable price for home defense or plinking, the Ruger is okay. If you're looking for something more, invest the money in the S&W.
The S&W has an action that is second to none in terms of tunability. If you've ever handled a PPC gun based on a K-frame, or an old cop's duty Model 19 from the day when they could get away with that stuff, then you'd probably not give the Ruger another look (I always smile when a modern day gun writer talks about how smooth the trigger is on a modern high-dollar wonder gun when I handle at the same gun and feel a trigger pull that is 15 pounds of grit). I've got an 18, a 19, and a 66 that have been worked on, and have DA triggers in the range of seven and a half to eight pounds. I've handled competetion guns that were even lighter. I've owned a Colt Python with a factory action, that even though it was buttery smooth, was not as light or as smooth as my S&Ws. A Ruger can be tuned, but not to the degree of a S&W. The Security/Speed Six triggers tend to smooth out over time and are decent for an out-of-the-box gun, but they're not in the same league as the S&W. Of all of the Ruger revolvers, the Security/Speed Six was the best of the lot in terms of factory triggers.
I worked on a Border Patrol range during the last days of the revolver being the standard issue handgun for Border Patrol Agents. On the line, there were 686s, Ruger GP100s, a significant number of Security Sixes, a few Model 66s, and occasionally a Model 19 still floating around. The GP100s were the last issue revolvers the BP purchased before going to a standard issue semi-auto. On the range, I saw the ejector rods of 686s come unscrewed once in a while. That usually happened to Agents who weren't overly intersted in guns and seldom looked at theirs between quals. The GP100s, on the other hand, had a tendency to lock up after about 30 rounds on the qualification course. They'd have to cool down before they'd work again. The qualification course at the time called for something like 72 rounds of duty 110 grain JHP Federal .357 Magnum. The only Agents who got to shoot wadcutters on the qual course were the ones with the Model 66s, most of which had been shot a lot and were getting pretty loose. For some reason, the 66s were still desirable and Agents who were issued those guns would rather have fought than "upgraded," even when their guns would spit ashtray sized chunks of lead out the gap.
Like military issue 1911s, S&Ws come with enough "slop" from the factory that they aren't affected by lead or carbon buildup unless it gets really excessive. Unlike a military issue 1911, the "slop" in a S&W revolver doesn't seem to hurt its accuracy.
If you're looking for an out-of-the-box gun at a reasonable price for home defense or plinking, the Ruger is okay. If you're looking for something more, invest the money in the S&W.
OP
conchmariner
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Thanks for all the suggestions guys. I ended up with a GP100. It was a lot less expensive, and the one I got has a real smooth DA trigger pull.
I'm going to the range later this week to try it out and will report back.
BTW since this is my first .357 Mag gun, any recommedations on ammo both .357 Mag and .38 Special?
I'm going to the range later this week to try it out and will report back.
BTW since this is my first .357 Mag gun, any recommedations on ammo both .357 Mag and .38 Special?
I also just opening my new GP 100 with 4".
I got lucky as this trigger is the nicest I have ever touched, including my S&W. No trigger job or springs needed here.
I now own a Taurus, a S&W and a Ruger and enjoy them all for what each one does best.
(My Taurus is just a .22LR for farm/livestock use and target practice and my S&W 642 is my CCW).
I got lucky as this trigger is the nicest I have ever touched, including my S&W. No trigger job or springs needed here.
I now own a Taurus, a S&W and a Ruger and enjoy them all for what each one does best.
(My Taurus is just a .22LR for farm/livestock use and target practice and my S&W 642 is my CCW).
Down South
Member
This is a S&W forum. What answer do you think you will get the most of. Go to a Ruger forum and see what other answer you will get the most of. I own both. A good GP-100 will do great especially with an Ibok trigger job that you can do yourself. The trigger on my ruger is is better than most Smith's and it shoots just as accurate as any Smith that I have.
rock n roll kid
Member
i mostly like....
smiths.
have a nice sp1o1357 ruger that is ported .... wolndt part with that gun
srtong. good shooter and fairly good triger and accuracy.
however , i still prefer smiths on balance, overall looks and especially trigger actions.
also....the sp i have is different from the portion of the gun directly behind the hammer and downward into the start of the grip.
i hate the shape of the rugers in this area on the gp 's and thwe redhawk ect. that " double hitch " area , so to speak, turns me off and i once shot a redhawk that hurt my hand much worse than a long barell m29 i used to own, nad i swear it had a lott to do with the grip section i mentioned.
both ruger and smiths are good guns .....bit in a revolver itf you want a throughbred, try to stay with the s& w brand
smiths.
have a nice sp1o1357 ruger that is ported .... wolndt part with that gun
srtong. good shooter and fairly good triger and accuracy.
however , i still prefer smiths on balance, overall looks and especially trigger actions.
also....the sp i have is different from the portion of the gun directly behind the hammer and downward into the start of the grip.
i hate the shape of the rugers in this area on the gp 's and thwe redhawk ect. that " double hitch " area , so to speak, turns me off and i once shot a redhawk that hurt my hand much worse than a long barell m29 i used to own, nad i swear it had a lott to do with the grip section i mentioned.
both ruger and smiths are good guns .....bit in a revolver itf you want a throughbred, try to stay with the s& w brand
OP
conchmariner
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Well I got to the range today, and that GP100 is one nice shooting gun. No complaints whatsoever about the trigger.
My 629 came back from S&W with the extractor rod fixed, and I got to shoot that as well for the first time since the repair, so I was going back and forth between the two guns having a great time.
My 629 came back from S&W with the extractor rod fixed, and I got to shoot that as well for the first time since the repair, so I was going back and forth between the two guns having a great time.
