surprised by Ruger

[Cpo1944]

I was at my range today shooting my new to me Ruger GP-100 along side my S&W 686 both have 4 inch barrels and stock grips,and are about the same age and excellent condition.

Well I had a hard time dealing with my S&W favoritism and being predisposed to not liking the Ruger, I am very surprised to say-

I cant tell much difference between them they are both absolutely great shooters with the double action and single action pulls so close as to be even.

Who wouda thunk it???

I am such a S&W snob!!!

I guess I have another life time keeper , but the S&W`s still rule and outnumber everything else in the safe.

 

[sigp220.45]

Nothing wrong with a good Ruger. I don't have a GP-100, but I have a Speed Six and a Security Six, and I just bought a Vaquero. My very first gun was a 10/22 about 40 years ago, and I still have that.

 

[o3rugby1]

Gp-100s are a great gun

 

[pineappleshooter]

The Ruger will still function long after the S&W is gone and there are only cockroaches left after after a nuclear event. Seriously, they are one rugged gun!

 

[LedFowl]

Diverse household.

 

[Maximumbob54]

Don't forget the GP's little kid brother the SP. If the GP is the tank then the SP is the armored car. Almost like a Model 60 on steroids.

 

[doublesharp]

I like most all things Ruger. Here's a few favorites.

Speed Six

Fancy stock Mini 14 Ranch

9mm PC9/P95 zombie kit

sp101 .22lr 1/2 lug barrel

 

[thndrchiken]

Put a Wilson Combat spring kit in that GP100 and you'll be leaving your 686 at home more often. I put Williams Firesight fiber optics on my gp 100 and set it for a combat hold to stay with the same sight picture on my semi's, the Wilson spring kit and with my primary defensive load which are Magtech 125 gr Guardian Gold's, at 10 yds puts up 1 1/2" groups, double action opens up to about 2- 2 1/2".

 

[Old 44 Guy]

I don't know. My 686 is one Hell of a shooter. My only Ruger at present is a 10-22 & a P-95, Both are good & dependable. Never owned a Ruger DA.

 

[Bat Guano]

From what I can tell, Ruger's quality has been quietly improving. they're not so much 95% finished, slightly rough but stout guns as heretofore. I picked up a 4" GP from an estate some years back that admittedly had an action job by someone--that is scary accurate and smooth. I have always like the M28 and have a very nice one but the GP gets shot.

More recently the wife got a yen for a nickelled USFA single action, and when it came I was mightily impressed by the build quality. At about the same time I got a Ruger New Vaq gloss stainless 4 5/8" .45 Colt to essentially match an original 1882 Colt. Now I know it isn't exactly the same as the other two--but it looks fine, balances out the same, is very well put together, mikes out right on the money, shoots dead on, and cost about a third of the USFA's cost.

I spent most of my career packing Security Sixes and Service Sixes. They weren't as elegant as the K frame Smiths, but they were (and are) dead nuts reliable.

Full disclosure--I DO NOT care for their semi autos. Which doesn't pertain to their 1911 which I will probably have to have on principle.

 

[TACC1]

I picked up a GP-100 some years ago when looking for a 357.
There was a Colt Trooper next to it. The trigger on the Ruger
was better, so that's what I got.
It would be a good thing to have an S&W to go with the Ruger, though. Even if just for the looks. TACC1

 

[papajohn428]

I've owned several DA Ruger revolvers over the years, but the current pair I have are both keepers. I wanted a S&W 686 4" but couldn't find one, I wound up bringing home a 4" GP-100, and it has the best trigger of ANY Ruger I've ever seen, right out of the box. It's not in the same class as a good S&W trigger, but it's a lot closer than I ever expected. The SP-101 followed a couple years later, mostly because I'm queer for three-inch revolvers. Both get carried off-duty now and then, just to maintain familiarity with them, and the GP-100 has a VERY comforting feel to it!

 

[K.38]

Rugers are Mack trucks and Smith and Wesson are Cadilacs.

A couple of weeks ago a bought a slightly used SP101 for the shop to resell. I paid the lady a little more than usual as it was a nice gun. After she left I discovered what a nice pistol it was and it has an incredible trigger on it. I called her and told her that I owed her more money as I bought it for myself so I paid her retail for it. I asked her who did the trigger on it and I called the gunsmith to talk to him.

Next trip to Colorado Springs my other SP101 in going to him and if I ever get a SP101 .22 it will go too.

I hope this is OK to post but Todd Lockburner in the Springs did the work and it is amazing. That is the slickest trigger I have ever felt on a Ruger and it is as good if not better than most S&W.

 

[bearman49709]

I have a 66 no dash 4"and a security six ss 4", they look like twins. The Ruger has a very nice trigger but the S&W is still better. Friend of mine has 6-7 hand guns all Ruger, he admits the trigger on the 66 is better.I carry both of these iwb (one at a time) with a Colt cobra for suit carry

 

[moonclip]

My 6" GP-100 is one of the ones I regret letting get away.

......moon

 

[Cocked & Locked]

I'm a diehard S&W revolver fan. But after buying a NIB Ruger SP101 2.25" DAO .357 a couple of years ago it has become a favorite.

I put a Meprolight Night Sight on the front and it has become my most carried concealed carry handgun.

The weight to power ratio seems perfect to me...don't look half bad either.

 

[ThirtyAcres]

Heard someone say once that Rugers are the Timex Watch of the gun world.

 

[deralte]

Always remember that when you run out of ammo the GP-100 makes a fine club.

 

[deanodog]

Until S&W makes us some single action cowboy guns I have to buy these.

 

[Stu Honea]

My brother recently bought his daughter an SP101 on my recommendation. She loves it. He also bought one of the newer SR22 pistols which he left with me for a month.We have been shooting the daylights out of it with mini mags and stingers,have not cleaned it and it just keeps right on trucking along with nary a problem.
I believe it is the most consistently reliable of the new polymer framed .22's.
The Super Blackhawks that I used to hunt with have taken some hot loads over the years with no apparent damage.

I hate to say this,and really don't mean it like it may sound,but I think the company has improved and is putting out some great products since Bill Ruger passed away.Don't mean to offend anyone with that,just my observation and opinion.