Ruger Speed Six 357 or Rossi 720 44 Special

Ruger Speed Six. Strength, fit and finish. Parts and accessories avaiability.

ruger, because it's a ruger, should not have to explain.

I like the 44 special caliber and shoot a lot of them. But to choose just one I would go with the Ruger. Utterly reliable, the 357 is more versatile and ammo is cheaper. Glad I don'thave to make the choice for real.

Jeff

Baseball
Hot Dogs
Apple Pie
&
Ruger
-----------------------------

If I had a Ruger...
I'd shoot it in the morning
I'd shoot it in the evening
All over this land
-------------------------------

I know a little bout it
I know a little bout it
I know a little bout Ruger
Baby I can guess the rest
-------------------------------------

Thank God your a rebel cause Ruger's gonna do it again...
and again.

I'd have to go with the Ruger...parts available (probably never need them). Ammo available everywhere, even though you reload both.

How well do the Pachmayr grips fit on the Rossi 720? I have a 720 also but can't get the Pachmayr grips to fit...open gap.

The Rossi is more unique, in terms of there's not a whole lot of 3" 5 shot 44spcls with good sights and in terms of much much fewer numbers of guns in circulation.

The ruger is much more common in both capability and in sheer numbers. It's a little more stout and likely to have better longevity and more parts to keep it running longer on top or that.

You can't really find much to fill that niche of handy mid framed smaller to medium frame large caliber gun. There's a bunch of great 357's in the six series size class.

If you have to keep one, I'd probably go with the 720. It's much harder to replace later. There's plenty of great choices for 357's in a similar size from Ruger, Smith, Colt, Dan Wesson and plenty others. Or you can find another used Six series, they're still around. The six is also worth more. If you're getting rid of it for money issues, the Six would get you more, meaning you're less likely to have to sell both if the 720 didn't get you quite enough.

When I had to sell some off, I got rid of my easiest to replace ones. I loved my 5" 629-6, and it was my only pistol for deer but it was one of the first to go. When funds allowed I replaced it with another 5" 629-6. It even shoots my same hunting 240gr XTP/IMR 4227 load just as well as my last 2 629-6's. I got the same $750 I paid for my first one, and paid the same $750 for my second one the same day I decided I could afford to have it back in my safe.

My 16" SS 44mag Rossi 92 was worth less, and harder to replace and I never considered selling it. While I could get what I paid for, for it, I'd have a much harder more expensive time finding a replacement.

Tough choice, but i'd stick with 44 special

357smallbore said:

What would my fellow shooter take and why.

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I would take the Rossi because, IME, it would be harder to replace.

And if you sell one, eventually you will be kicking yourself.

ruger, mostly cuz its not a Rossi...

newfalguy101 said:

ruger, mostly cuz its not a Rossi...

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I may be wrong (wouldn't be a first ) but it sounds to me like you may not be familiar with the Rossi 720, only with the scuttlebutt about the Rossi brand supposedly being a bit low-rent.

There are many of us here (.44spc guys especially) that wish they had a Rossi 720. They are sweet!

GBExpat said:

I may be wrong (wouldn't be a first ) but it sounds to me like you may not be familiar with the Rossi 720, only with the scuttlebutt about the Rossi brand supposedly being a bit low-rent.

There are many of us here (.44spc guys especially) that wish they had a Rossi 720. They are sweet!

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I will admit my limited experience with Rossi has left me cold.....

I would be happy to keep either one. Though, admittedly, my adjustable-sight Rossi 720 is one of my very favorite revolvers.

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Rossi 720 .44 special...any excuse to post a picture Most folks consider them keepers if they can do so. I looked long and hard to find this one locally.

That is really not an apples to apples comparison. Almost like comparing Hilary Clinton to a Victoria Secrets Model. I've owned both and they are both great guns for the intended purpose. Neither is a target gun and for Self Defense purposes neither would probably ever get shot enough to wear out or shoot loose, but in the long haul, I would have to bet the Ruger would outlast the Rossi. I'm a huge fan of the 44 spl and the .357 mag, but would probably give the caliber nod to the .357 just because there are so many more components and different ammo available. As far as Self Defense goes, we could discuss this for years and there is enough evidence to support either caliber. I'd hate to get shot with either. If I had to choose between the two, it would probably come down to the one I felt the most comfortable shooting.

I faced that problem a year ago. Had a Rossi and the Ruger. Which one would I be able to rely on for years? Ruger. Sold the Rossi. Kept the Ruger. Have a Bulldog 44, a 624, and a flattop 44. Nuff said.

357smallbore said:

I will stack my 720 against any S&W 696 any day of the week. Matter of fact, any 3in barreled 44 Special out there. I have the fixed sight version. I chose to install a hammer on it though. It is a better carry then the 696 due to the heavy weight of the S&W. It has an action and trigger that will rivel any S&W factory revolver. As for reliability and function. Never been an issue. Timing is perfect. Mine was made in 1994. By the way, S&W copied their basic design after the Rossi 720. I believe the Rossi 720 is the best revolver they put out.

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Not to hijack this thread, but I have a DAO Rossi 720 and would like to put a spurred hammer on it so it will have SA capability. To do this, do you have to install anything besides the hammer?

Tough call but I would go with the Speed Six. I had one years ago and it was a solid, well built revolver capable of lasting a very long time of dependable service.

I've never owned a Rossi, but I have owned a couple of Taurus 431's over the years, both a blue and a stainless. If there was a defect of any kind in either of them, I'll be darned if I ever found it. They both got traded/sold to finance other projects, or to simply reduce inventory. Great guns though.

Still, if I had to choose between the two the OP mentioned, I'd pick the Ruger. Mostly because I've got beaucoup 38/357 brass/bullets and far less 44 Special stuff squirreled away

lowercase said:

Not to hijack this thread, but I have a DAO Rossi 720 and would like to put a spurred hammer on it so it will have SA capability. To do this, do you have to install anything besides the hammer?

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Not 100% sure on a Rossi, but I'm guessing that is all. Probably the tough part is finding a hammer unless the ones on the .38's and .357's are the same which in that case, there should be plenty in parts bins. Might be able to get one from Rossi. I wound up talking to a lady there in Customer Service last week. Was looking for a Sight rail for my Rossi .357 Lever and they now don't stock them any more, but she was super friendly and gave me several sources where I could get a rail. I'm on the hunt for another Rossi 44 spl but don't want the da only

I like the looks of your fixed sight version with the hammer you installed. Nice for sure are the Rossi 720 revolvers.

I had several Rossis. (note tense...)

Ruger is my pick.