Colt, Ruger, or S&W?

[tbone2]

Ok, so I know this is a S&W forum but I really respect your guys' opinion on many things. I am looking for another carry gun. I usually carry a 642 with a hip grip. I can hit with my 642 better than my M&P and Sigma. . . Don't know why, but I can. Anyway I am looking at the following for another option: A 1974 Colt Detective Special in .38 special or a new or gently used Ruger Sp101 in .357 with a 3 inch barrel. The price is about the same if not a little less for the Colt. A friend of mine has the Colt and says he has the original box and papers and the gun has only been fired 20 -25 times. What are your opinions on these two guns? Or should I save up and buy a S&W 60 in .357 with a 3 inch barrel? I am pretty new to the revolver scene. Also, I will most likely be using this gun to teach my wife to shoot. Let me know what you guys think!
Thanks

 

[681ismyfavorite]

the sp101 is built like a tank and will out shoot and out live you both. you have the option of specials or magnums. you have no internal locking devise built in it.

since you mentioned the 3" barrels for the S&W and Ruger, pocket ccw et cetera is not the worry.

id go for the sp101 unless it was a pre lock pre MIM 3" model 60. and then only because the trigger is a little nicer.

 

[pawncop]

Well, a couple of thoughts to share with you.

1. You say you hit better with the 642. Better is a relative term. Do you hit consistiently and quickly with the 642? If so, I would suggest you stay with that gun because in the heat of gunfight, you will be better served with the gun you carry on regular basis and practice with on a regular basis.

2. If you are dissatisfied with it then by all means try the others. If not, then by all means buy one or both as they are both quality firearms.

3. If you wish to get one for your wife, let her choose the one she feels most comfortable with.

4. But whatever you do - - do not let her know which one is your favorite, cause she will steal it and bat her eyes when she does.

 

[tbone2]

I do hit quickly and consistently with the 642 but I've got the bug to buy another gun! I like the fact that these three I have mentioned are heavier and will dampen recoil slightly. Do any of you guys carry any of these? If I got another, the 642 would most likely be used as a BUG. My wife will not be carrying a gun any time soon. I am just trying to introduce her to the hobby and I figured why not get a gun I can teach her with and also be a viable carry option once I am more familiar with it.

 

[Grayfox]

My first legal carry gun was a Detective Special. Its a classic and a great shooter. If you have a chance to get one, do it!.
My wife laid claim to mine many years ago. But I do still get visitation rights.

 

[bmcgilvray]

I don't care at all for the guns that are built like tanks. I'd certainly choose the excellent Colt Detective Special.

 

[robertrwalsh]

I'd go for the Colt. SP-101s are a not exactly rare. A good Colt at a good price is a steal. If you don't like it you could always sell it, probably for more money, and guy the Ruger. Plus, the Ruger is a LOT heavier. Stronger, but heavier.

 

[Spotteddog]

The one you shoot the best, IMHO?

 

[tbone2]

Thanks for the input so far guys. I am assuming the Colt is not +p rated. Are there some good standard pressure rounds that will perform out of the short barrel?

 

[robertrwalsh]

I keep hearing that someone is making the Chief Special Nyclad load again. That was very good from a snubbie.

 

[Krull]

The SP-101 is about the same weight as a loaded Glock 26,the downside to that is some say it's heavy,the upside is you can shoot any .357 and not worry about the recoil killing you,if you can or have shot a full sized .44 Mag you can shoot the SP-101 all day.

It's also not a pocket gun,you need a holster to carry it,but that shouldn't be a big deal.

It IS bulit like a friggin' tank but that's a plus since if you can stuff it in the gun it'll shoot it.

I have a 3in SP-101 myself,nice little cannon!

 

[bmcgilvray]

I carry this 1966 Detective Special on occasion and it is loaded with 158 grain +P. It shoots such ammunition very close to point of aim, being just a hair low. The Detective Special is said to not be rated for +P but it will handle them. I think +P is overrated as to the amount of stress it puts on a quality firearm.

At any rate one doesn't have to shoot the Detective Special with large quantities of +P ammunition. Shoot a few cylinders-full to determine how the revolver hits with one's chosen load then carry it so loaded.

 

[GatorFarmer]

Colt Detective Specials were +P rated. The manual said that one could fire 3000 rounds of +P ammunition through on before returning it to the factory for service. The alloy D frames were to be returned after 1000 rds. The problem is that Colt doesn't make D frames any more....

Anyway, I actually have a 1974 Colt Detective Special. I don't like the DS as a carry gun. They're going up in price, so any wear and tear is going to cut into the value. If something goes wrong with it, it's hard to find someone to work on. The trigger pull and action just feel "funny" if one is very used to S&Ws. Plus the cylinder turns the "wrong" way.

If I were to carry a Colt revolver, it would be their J frame. Yes, Colt made a J frame, though their size J is bigger than a S&W J frame. This would be the six shot snub nosed "Lawman" revolver. Now those are a nice little cannon.

The SP101 is too heavy for what it does. You'd be farther ahead to look for a Ruger Six Series magnum snub if you want to go that route. I carried a Six series snubby for a time. Interesting gun and still to found on the used market.

I don't like J frames with 3" barrels as carry guns either. They become outsized for pocket carry, and once one is carrying one in a holster, why not just carry a K frame or decent mid size auto? Shrug.

Honestly, none of the magnum snubs would be my choice for carry. I prefer a mid size auto in .357 Sig that does about the same thing.

 

[shadowrider]

Here's a wrist watch analogy of your choices.

Colt: Like a fine Swiss watch. Will give a lifetime of service with proper care and use. Difficult to find qualified repair service in some areas. Think Rolex.

Ruger: Built like a tank. Will give a lifetime of service even when used extensively under adverse conditions and neglect. Won't need service in all likelihood. Nowhere near the refinement/sophistication of the other two, but very simple and reliable. Like a Timex, they'll take a licking and keep on ticking.

S&W: A cross between the other two. Will take a pounding but requires some care and tuning if abused. Has a very nice amount of refinement and can be serviced and tuned by almost anyone. Think Tag Heuer, not really Rolex class but close and a good smith can unlock it's full potential and bring out all of the qualities that make it the finest revolver action ever designed.



FWIW, I'd think long and hard about how it will be used. Will it be shot extensively? Most snubbies aren't, but if so go Ruger.

The steel framed Colt Detective Special will hold up just fine to limited +P shooting. Practice with regular ammo and shoot only enough +P to keep your ammo fresh. A box of +P one cylinder at a time and stretched out over a year is not going to hurt it for a very, very, very long time, if ever.

 

[cautioninc]

One thing to consider. I don't know if your wife is built like my current wife, or my ex.

If she's built like my current wife, the heavier Ruger will shoot .38 with easier to handle recoil.

If she's built like my ex-wife, it doesn't matter as much. She can shoot hot .357 mags in an airlight j frame and it'll seem like shooting a rubber band gun

 

[Trooper224]

Ok, so I know this is a S&W forum but I really respect your guys' opinion on many things. I am looking for another carry gun. I usually carry a 642 with a hip grip. I can hit with my 642 better than my M&P and Sigma. . . Don't know why, but I can. Anyway I am looking at the following for another option: A 1974 Colt Detective Special in .38 special or a new or gently used Ruger Sp101 in .357 with a 3 inch barrel. The price is about the same if not a little less for the Colt. A friend of mine has the Colt and says he has the original box and papers and the gun has only been fired 20 -25 times. What are your opinions on these two guns? Or should I save up and buy a S&W 60 in .357 with a 3 inch barrel? I am pretty new to the revolver scene. Also, I will most likely be using this gun to teach my wife to shoot. Let me know what you guys think!
Thanks

If you're looking for a carry weapon get the Ruger, the Colt is more of a collectors piece than an everyday weapon. While the Colt is a quality piece it's been out of production for a long time and spare parts will be expensive and hard to find. A gunsmith qualified to work on the Colt will be even harder to find. The Ruger will serve you for years without need of maintenance or repair, I carried one like that as a back-up for a long time. The Colt is a beautiful piece to be sure but from a practical standpoint I'd put it at the bottom of your list as a carry piece.

 

[tbone2]

Thanks for the replies guys. I think I am going to go with the Ruger.

 

[Gutpile Charlie]

Tbone2, I carry an M60 or M36 J frame Smith. These are great guns and I don't have a problem with either....however...the Ruger SP101 calls to me...if you know what I mean?

I just like the idea of a super stout, five shot .357. I do know that it is heavier and you might possibly "feel" it in your pocket. The J frames go completely unnoticed.

I don't think you could go wrong with a Ruger.

 

[nmcb3]

I packed a SP 101 around every day for 11 years straight and shot the crap out of it with 38sp, 38sp +p and 357 mag. Its a great carry gun, accurate and ultra reliable. The only downside is the weight, but its not that big of a deal. I recently switched to a Ruger LCR but it self destructed on me and Ruger is replacing the gun so I`m back to the old trustworthy SP. Probably should never have abandoned the old girl in the first place.

 

[tbone2]

Yeah, I am going to go with the 3" and will be carrying IWB so hopefully the weight won't be to hard to adjust to.