686 snubbie vs. GP100 3"...

[Arik]

Im a SP101 fan. Not crazy about the GP. Has nothing to do with the gun, just me. So I say 686

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[jtcarm]

That's a no-brainer: In the medium-frame DA world, S&W wins every time with me.

I've never owned any small frames of either brand but I probably wouldn't care as much since both use coil mainsprings.

I like the ergonomics of the GP, but until Ruger starts making them with a leaf mainspring that doesn't stack like a coil, S&W will get my vote every time. The extra round is also a plus, and speed loaders are a non-issue, there is no shortage of them for the 686+.

There's a reason ICORE is dominated by S&Ws.

 

[aurora40]

My two cents, I'd go with the GP due to the barrel. A 7-shot 2.5" doesn't sound overly practical. Though the extra round and stainless finish would be more appealing to me. An IL would be less appealing, if it has one.

The GP100 is a fine gun. It doesn't really inspire desire to look at, at least not for me. But it's a great piece. Mine's a great shooter, they are smooth to use with a good trigger, and they are incredibly simple to take apart.

 

[wildenout]

I would counsel for the Smith, I went Sp101 over the Gp, and personally I think the GP is...well, ugly.

 

[ladder13]

I'm probably the odd man out, but I like fixed sight guns (my only L-Frame is a 681), and I love the GP100s with 3-inch barrels. In fact, I own two of them.

If you get one with a good trigger, or have some trigger work done on one, they are superb.

Here's one of my GPs. It has had a trigger job and wears aftermarket stocks.

Those have to be the nicest looking grips I've ever seen on a GP100. Usually they look awful.

 

[HiCap]

If you are buying new I would definitely go with a Wiley Capp Ruger GP-100 and I prefer SS. The sights are very nice on these.

I would go with the Wiley. I obtained an old style grip for the pg 100 3" and replaced the larger one that the Wiley came with. It looks as good as it shoots, and has broken in nicely.

HiCap

 

[g17]

I like my Rugers but if it were a 686-4 or earlier, the 686 is what I would buy. For current production, GP100 all the way. With that said, if future resale is a consideration, the 686 will most likely fetch a better return down the road.

 

[MikeyB]

I have a Lou Horton 2.5" 686 and a Wiley Clapp GP 100. While the 686 wins in the looks department the GP feels much more rugged and willing to take a beating.

 

[Harrison]

The Smith has a lock, that alone would be a deal breaker. The Ruger is rugged, accurate, does not have a lock and is probably less expensive. In this case I would take the Ruger. I have owned both.

 

[Murphy's Law]

I have a 686 3" Talo with a power custom s&w trigger kit. Pull is right at 3.5 on single action. Talk about smooth as silk is an under statement.

 

[old&slow]

I have a 3" Wiley Clapp GP100. Love the looks, the feel, and it is built like a tank.
But, NO where near the double action trigger pull of my S&W's.
( I almost Never use single action on a revolvers )

A 3" 686 would be the one on my list.
As far as the lock, I don't care for it. But, I have several with the lock and never
have had a problem.

 

[Bobthegod]

I have Smith's and I have Rugers. 3 GP100's, a 4" .327 Mag, a 4" .357 Mag and 6" .357 Mag. They are all tough tanks. My Smith's are great also. As you can see I like both so I got both. Get the one you can afford now. If you're still not sure which one. Blindfold yourself and hold them, play with it, dry fire it, feel the weight, then pickthe one that feels right. You're not going to go wrond with either. Then later buy the other one. Remember this is a sickness you can't have just one......you'll see

 

[spad124]

I've had both. Currently, I have a 4" GP100 and a 3" 681PC. If I were looking for greatest durability, the GP100 would definitely be my choice. For aesthetics, I'll take the S&W. Accuracy is about equal, and a Ruger, nowadays, has a very nice trigger, so that is another toss-up in my opinion.

Glad to hear that the GP100s have better triggers these days. As I stated, I've always liked the GPs, but of the ones I've handled, which were admittedly earlier production models, I thought S&Ws had smoother triggers and actions. Might have to expand the revolver collection a bit.

 

[2ndAmendmentNut]

I would take a 3" GP-100 over a 686 with a lock any day. The lock is a deal breaker for me. If I was looking for a concealed carry piece I would rather have an older K-frame in 357 just because they are significantly lighter than either the 686 or the GP.

 

[Vaman49]

Well I'll add my 2 cents. I don't think you can go wrong with either choice. The Ruger GP100 is a fine handgun. I had a four inch GP100 and it was more accurate than I am and really isn't that the whole point of owning a handgun? I did end up selling it to buy a three inch 686-8. I went back and forth about selling the Ruger but since I have a SP101 it made the decision a little easier.

 

[357-RevolverGuy]

If it's just the standard 3" GP100, go with the 686. But if it's the Wiley Clapp GP100, I'd suggest it over the 686, as it has much better trigger out of the box. Not sure what Ruger did with them, maybe polish up the internals, but the Wiley Clapp is top of the line.

 

[wproct]

Either way, you're a winner!

I own a stainless GP100 5"bbl, and a 686-4 4"bbl revolver, and honestly I love one as much as the other. Both are excellent handguns. Of the two revolvers that you are looking at, for me, I like stainless, so the 686 would have the edge. I prefer the older no internal lock Smiths, 686-4 or lower dash models. Either way, you will have an excellent classic revolver. You simply can't go wrong.

 

[Cal44]

If I were buying new guns for a self defense or some kind of security guard duty I'd buy the GP-100 just because it has no internal lock.

In fact, I have a new GP-100 4" blue target sight model on the way.

I also have an older 686 no lock.

For a range gun, or hunting, I wouldn't care about the lock as I can always just unlock it in the unlikely event it comes on spontaneously.

For a used -- not IL gun -- I'd buy the 686 Smith myself -- its a great gun, reliable, and fits my hand perfectly.

 

[TrueTexan]

Ether one would be good I have the 686+ 3 in and have no problems with the IL. Now as for the Triggers the Smith is better than the Ruger I have two Super Redhawks that have the same trigger as the GP100. They are good just not as good as the Smith. But a spring change does make them better.

 

[Redlegvzv]

I own a 4" 686+ and a 6" GP100.

I had a trigger job done on the GP100 (heck, it only cost around $60) and the GP100's trigger is now absolutely fantastic. I am more accurate with the GP100 than with any other revolver.

The 686+ is a great revolver and once the trigger gets some use it smooths out very nicely.

The 686+ has a slightly better SA trigger than the Ruger IMHO.

Bottom line is that you will not go wrong with either handgun and I seem to like best whichever one I am shooting at the moment.

The Ruger has one very nice feature: you can swap out the front sights in about 20 seconds. No staking; it is user removable.

I disagree that the GP100 is ugly. I think that it is a beautiful handgun, as is the Smith.

 

[DeafSmith]

Now for field use, I prefer my Ruger GP-100 'Canadian' 3 inch revolver. Much easier to break down to clean and very study fixed sights. The one below is my Canadian ex-police revolver.

But if I was to pack for CCW, the 686 2 1/2 'Distinguished Combat Magnum' would be the one. Real good DA pull once you do a bit of work on insides. The Rugers you can't do so much to get the pull smooth and stack free.

My 686-1 below is a real good DA revolver. And I do like the older ones. Six shots is plenty.

 

[Macinaw]

New Revolver-Not a S&W!

My vote goes to "none of the above." Wait for a 3 inch S&W.

As between the two, I prefer the 3 inch, thus would pick the Ruger.

Someone mentioned a "Wiley Clapp" GP100. I cannot possibly imagine how a Novak sight on a revolver, which requires cutting away a substantial part of the top strap, is a good idea. But, it had to have something different, otherwise the "Wiley" model would be the same as the one already in the catalog, and that's no fun.

Better the "Wiley" model be a 4 inch with a light lug (I hate the term "half-lug"). And no hacked-up top strap.

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It doesn't look like too much of the top strap has been removed!

 

[Macinaw]

It looks like the rear sight is dovetailed into the top strap.

 

[snubbiefan]

Looks like a good way to blow apart a gun to me. Am I missing something here....is this about the sights on a gun, or about a Ruger revolver.

 

[Macinaw]

Looks like a good way to blow apart a gun to me. Am I missing something here....is this about the sights on a gun, or about a Ruger revolver.

? It's about both!

 

[Hapworth]

I don't understand why this is an issue; there's plenty of excess material on the Ruger -- I highly doubt it will compromise the structural integrity of the gun to have dovetail sights cut. Bowen's been doing this with Rugers for ages, and that's an outstanding shop.

OP: I'm not a Ruger guy, but they do make a fine product, and the WC GP100's an enviable piece. Enjoy.

 

[Warren Sear]

...It doesn't look like too much of the top strap has been removed!

No, not unless you consider 50% to be "too much".

 

[snubbiefan]

I have actually considered doing something similar on an adjustable sight 22. I have this itch for a fixed sight 22 snub-nose in stainless. There aren't that many choices out there, save the 317 (which I have). I want something more rugged. I'm thinking about whacking-up a Taurus 94SS22. Never would I blemish a 63.

 

[KLYDE]

Those Wiley Clapp's are slick. Haven't heard anything negative from the owners. Love to get my hands on one.

As for the top strap, considering the strap is probably twice as thick as needed I wouldn't worry. Also factor in the usually generous steel in the cylinders=built like a tank.

 

[ladder13]

I wouldn't mind owning any 3 inch GP100