[tango3065]

Im in the market for a new 9mm stainless, if you had to choose between a smith and wesson or ruger which would u choose?

[jims98z28]

The Ruger.

[Felonious Monk]

Ruger

[Handgun]

Either ... But it depends on what the pistol will be used for. Perhaps you could tell us what you intend to do with the pistol. Will it be carried concealed and if so how often? If concealed carry is the intent then the S&W 3913 would be my choice.

[Ankeny]

Neither one, seriously. I would save up for a better gun.

[JimJD]

For all around applications....
The Ruger.

[Pointblank2K]

Ruger, Never had a problem with mine.

[BluesBear]

I agree with Ankeny,

I'd save up for a Colt .45 Government Model.

:neener:

[Arub]

I have had no experience with the Smith autos, so won't comment on the. I have had a Ruger P95 (9mm) and a P944 (.40S&W) for years without any difficulties. The pistols function well and reliably and are accurate range guns out to at least 25 yards. They are priced in the low (P95) to high (P944) $300s range. They can be readily concealed with a IWB holster (Don Hume #715 in nylon works well as does an Uncle Mike's IWB). I don't think you can go wrong with one.

Lots of luck on your decision.

[denfoote]

Ruger.

P95 & P97. No problems!

[mini14jac]

If you want a gun for all-around shooting, home defense, range, etc., the Ruger 9s are hard to beat.
Excellent value, stone cold reliable.
(Is the $50 rebate still in effect?)
For most of us, they are a little large for concealed carry.

Smith autos are also very good guns.
If you want a gun for concealed carry, a small one like the 3913 is an excellent gun.

I've got a Ruger P95 that is a blast at the range.
Found several several factory 15rd mags for around $30 each.

[Dorrin79]

Ruger...

unless you're going to try and conceal it!

:D

[Brigrat]

I conceal a Ruger P95 every day all day long with no problems. I am 6'2 250lbs though, so that might help.

[Dorrin79]

Some people do conceal rugers (usually the 95/97 type), it's true.

How, exactly, they do this is a mystery to me

:)

I wasn't able to conceal my P89 except under a long jacket.

[Hawk]

I've never owned a Smith SA. I do have a Ruger 97 and it runs fine. It's also more accurate than I would have guessed.

[10-Ring]

I've owned a couple of S&W pistols. They were nice pistols, but I figured out that the grip just didn't fit me. If you have a chance, shoot the guns you're looking at and get the one that works best for you.

[45R]

Ruger- They are like the M1 Abrams tanks of the firearms industry!

[BevrFevr]

Then a smith, then a ruger. But after getting a cz you won't go back. Hell, I would get Glock along time before I would get another ruger.

-bevr

[Erich]

Well, I feel that the Smith & Wesson 3rd Gen (post-88?) pistols are every bit as good as Sig-Sauers. Prettier, too. I wouldn't say that about a Ruger. When I managed a gun store ('88-'90) before law school, Smith 9mms outsold Ruger 9mms probably 50 to 1.

[VG]

I own a CZ 85 Combat and two S&W's. There is no comparison between the quality of workmanship in a CZ and the Smith & Wessons. But CZ's are popular among gun board enthusiasts, don't cost much, and now that CZ-USA is in business you can get parts and service. The polymer (paint-like) finish isn't very attractive, the finish machining inside wouldn't be acceptable on any U.S. made pistol, and they're not particularly accurate. But for $375 used mine is OK, and CZ did fix the slide stop for free when it broke off, even though the pistol was a 1996. Had a trigger job done to remedy the long, creepy DA pull and now it's a good 4+lb SA trigger pull.

I bought a Smith & Wesson Chief's Special 9 for all-the-time concealed carry. It has been flawless - accurate, no problems.

Also have a SIG P220 and it is such a great pistol that I thought about getting a P239, their smallest 9mm pistol last year. I handled one at the gun shop, then used one for several drills at a Sigarms Academy course. It's a popular pistol for that application and it's a SIG, but I found it to be top heavy, not that small, and the grip was too short for me.

The local gun shop had some Ginsu II specials on SIGs so once agai I went down there. After handling a number of pistols there, I bought a used S&W 3913, which has an alloy frame and stainless slide. It's just a great all-around pistol. $375 including box. Great shooter and easy to handle.

Smith & Wesson has a lot of models in a lot of calibers, so there are many choices. Other than the .22, I've never had the desire to own a Ruger as they don't seem particularly accurate or as nicely finished as S&W, but others seem to like them. Good luck, it's always fun buying a new firearm and most of them work!

(no scale)
http://www.capinc.com/files/3913.jpg

http://www.capinc.com/files/cz85c_rs_nosn.jpg

[hansolo]

I bought a "Value Line" S&W 910s in January; several 1,000 rounds and ZERO malfunctions.... @ about $450.00, a pretty good deal.

[makarov1989]

I rank them about the same but if I were going to carry it, I would pick a S&W. The 3913 looks good. I had a 59 that never jammed and was about as accurate as my Ruger P-95. The P-95 is a nice pistol also. It can be carried concealed if you have a decent holster. It is actually quite light.

[Ala Dan]

Greeting's All-

While I prefer SIG's, I must admit that S&W's model 3913
is a nice design; and would serve well as a CCW. With
that said, I also prefer older Smith's; such as the old and
original model 39 and 39-2. The 3913 reminds me of the
original a little bit; so I would choose it over the very fine
Ruger P-series.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

[Andrew Wyatt]

rugers aren't my favorite design, as they're clubby and blocky. a smith 3913 would be the way to go, IMHO.

[SnWnMe]

My first square gun was a Ruger P89. It worked great, couldn't fault it for anything. But, I only had it for a few months before I decided that life is too short to be shooting ugly guns. It simply comes up short in the aesthetics department.

I don't have a Smith auto so no comment on that.

[BevrFevr]

Cz's not particularly accurate

I guess that depends alot on the shooter cause mine will hold 2.5 inches at 21 meters. As far as rough finish internally. That is sort of bs too. You will have to walk a fair peice to find a pistol with better slide to barrel lockup. The CZ has the lowest bore axis of all these pistols mentioned too. This lowers percieved recoil for many and speeds time for follow up shots. Ergonomics is the best of the pistols mentioned too.

A reason not to buy a ruger or a smith is they have the safety/decockers on the slide. YUCK! I would argue that it is not natural to push your thumb up and away on the draw

Sigs have asz backwards controls.

Smiths and sigs are the most concealable If that is what you want and are accurate and reliable.

Rugers are big, ugly, cheap, and reliable. I still say get a cz.

-bevr

[Gary G23]

I bought a Smith 910S this year. It is a nice gun.

[Gunslinger45]

Neither. I would buy a 9mm on a 1911 frame. Better, I'd buy a .38 Super instead.

[tango3065]

Thanks for the great replies I have chosen to most likely get a smith. One ? is would you guys feel comfortable carring the 3913 with one in the chamber and the safety on whether it be in a holster or just in a coat pocket?

[COK]

Both companies make good reliable 9 mm’s . You really need to get to a store /range that has them both and try them out . See what fits your grip /size requirements and features as both companies offer a number selections in 9mm.

[rde]

Have a Ruger P89, Ruger P95, and SW 6906 (compact double stack 12 round mags)--all in stalinless. All are absolutely no questions asked reliable. Like the P95 the best overall. For concealed the Smith 6906 is a much better choice because it is the smallest..unfortunately I hit pretty low with it. Suppose I should try and find a way to correct this with some adjustable sights if there are any for it. If it was dead on like the Rugers it would replace the P95 from 'best overall" for me.

[BluesBear]

would you guys feel comfortable carring the 3913 with one in the chamber and the safety on whether it be in a holster or just in a coat pocket?

I would have no problem doing that.

[Andrew Wyatt]

i would. it's a DA. leave the safety off.

[BevrFevr]

round in chamber, safety off, hammer forward. Pull gun, point at bad guy, pull trigger. Bang!

-bevr

[VG]

Thanks for the great replies I have chosen to most likely get a smith. One ? is would you guys feel comfortable carring the 3913 with one in the chamber and the safety on whether it be in a holster or just in a coat pocket?

Of course.

I have a High Noon IWB holster. like them because they're well designed, generally have quick delivery, and have the best return policy of just about any custom holster manufacturer.

CS9 & High Noon Down Under (http://www.highnoonholsters.com/Product_Line/product_line.html)

http://www.capinc.com/files/High_noon_flap_CS9.jpg

[mini14jac]

Well, the 3913 is not really what I would call a pocket gun, but if you have pockets that are big enough, then I would recommend carrying in a pocket holster.


Rugers are big, ugly, cheap, and reliable.
I'll grant you that Rugers aren't petite guns, and I have small hands.
But, I decided I was going to learn to like my P95.
Now, after 1000+ rounds, it feels as natural in my hand as any of my other guns. I even added the Hogue grip sleeve.

Are Ruger guns ugly? Uglier than a CZ?
I think that is entirely amatter of opinion.
I'm sure CZs are great guns, but the looks of them have never appealed to me personally. To each his own.
I didn't care for the looks of Glocks or Rugers, until I spent some time with them. Anything that accurate and reliable starts to look pretty good to me.
I would probably start to appreciate CZ guns, if I would spend some time shooting them.

As far as Rugers being cheap, again, I beg to differ.
They're an exceptionally good value, and you can pick one up for significantly less than other guns of equal quality, but they are not cheap by any stretch of the imagination.
Cheap would imply a gun that is not very well made, that breaks easily.
That does not describe a Ruger.

[BevrFevr]

Oops, the word police are at it again.


To some of us cheap means inexpensive.
:rolleyes:

Now if I said "cheap POS" than I think it would indeed imply that it is inexpensive and likely to break.

I don't care what it implies. Hey I own Rugers and have owned Rugers I know what they are and what they aren't. When I say a ruger is big ugly cheap and reliable. That's what I mean.

When you buy a ruger you get what you pay for. When you buy a Smith you get more and pay more. When you buy a CZ you get more and pay less.

Mini14jac, have you ever even held a cz?

-bevr

[NEtracker]

I've handled the 3913 and the 910 series. The 910 fits my hand better, but the 3913 seems like it would conceal easier. I've also had range time with Smith's full size 9's. I like the latest S&W 9's but do not own any (Two 9mm's was enough for me).
For Smiths, I have a 686 & SW1911.

We can't buy new Ruger semis here, so no comment.

[Mastrogiacomo]

Neither -- Beretta 92FS Inox or Inox Brig. :cool: