.357 recommendation for beginner: S&W 686 or Ruger GP-100?

[buck460XVR]

I too am amazed at how civil this smith vs. ruger thread is going. The kids must not be home from school yet......

Handle both, and get the one you like best. They are both good revolvers.

good, sound advice. Which ever one fits your hand and catches your eye.

A hundred bucks will be forgotten soon; how much you like the gun you got will never be.

......................truer words have never been spoken.

 

[oldfool]

you have done your research well
hold 'em, fondle 'em
whatever feels best to you, your hand
both great picks, nobody who really knows 357 revolvers will ever tell you different
(if they do, it's just "woobie warfare", including me)

PS
I voted "other" only in case you never had held a k-frame 38/357 in your hand yet, and no, it don't matter if somebody says a k-frame ain't a "real" 357, it ain't their hand/money/gun, it's your's

 

[22-rimfire]

I'd pick the one that feels best in your hand. Look at balance and pointability. Colts are great too!

 

[Fumbler]

price aside, if there are any points that really put one above the other?

The GP-100 will take a steady diet of full magnum loads better than the 686, but I imagine you'd have to shoot A LOT before that's an issue.
The 686's fit and finish is nicer and the trigger travel is a little smoother and shorter.

That's really about it. IMO there isn't a huge difference between the two.

Should I just go with whatever feels better in my hand and shoots better for me?

Price aside, that is absolutely the best thing to do.

I know you didn't ask, but I'm going to give you my two cents anyway
Considering price, get the GP-100 since it's your first gun.
Once you get more experience then you can decide if you like the 686 and want to invest in one.
I wanted a 686 but they're expensive. My friend needed some money, so I bought his GP-100 even though I wasn't really considering one. That was one of the best deals I've had; I paid him $300 and he'd only shot 12 rounds through it. It was basically new.
I ended up liking it so much that I don't have any desire to get a 686.

 

[blaisenguns]

Price aside, there are two (possibly three) .357 magnums to choose from. The colt Python, or the S&W TRR8 (Tactical Rail Revolver 8 shot) with the third possiblility being a desert eagle(thats 9 rounds in the mag+ one in the chamber). Of course if those are the two options you are set on then either one is an exceptional peice.

Blaise

 

[hddeluxe]

I have both and think either one would be perfectly acceptable for your first revolver. However, if you are not satisified with a revolver then you have the choice of reselling it or letting it become a safe queen. If you decide to resell the revlover then you will find the S&W will hold its value better than the Ruger. Just my humble opinion.

 

[Black Knight]

I'm partial to the S&W 686, that said the Ruger GP100 is just as good. When I was doing private security I carried a 686 for many years. It served me very well. I also knew a couple officers who carried the Ruger. They never had any problems with them and the Ruger served them just as well as my S&W. Try them both if you can. Which ever you choose you can't go wrong with either. Many years ago I passed on a Ruger Security Six and have regretted almost as long.

 

[wankerjake]

I voted GP100 but they are both very nice. I think the GP100 is more balanced in my hand. I know you said price aside but another point about the Ruger is that it's cheaper and a lot of guys buy revolvers and decide they don't like them. The GP100 holds a good value and is cheaper to begin with.

 

[RSABear]

I got a a S&W 686 as a gift - it is one h... of a fine gun. One this one I vote S&W!
I also have a Ruger Redhawk in 44 Mag.

 

[ArmedBear]

This may be why I'm more of a Smith guy, in general, when it comes to DA revolvers, but here goes...

I've nicked my finger on a Smith -- but it was on the extractor, not the outside of the frame!

Love my Ruger single actions, though...

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Like many have said, hold both and buy the one that feels best in your hand. Both are quality revolvers. I own a 4" S&W M686 I bought used and I'm very happy with it.

I will have to disagree with the above statements that the GP-100 will do better with a lot of hot .357 Magnum rounds than the M686. The M686 is an L frame which was designed and built to address any problems, real or perceived that the K frame had.

 

[Bishop.357]

I personaly am a S&W guy,I just 6 months ago bought a 686 and I could'nt be happier with it. I've always viewed Rugers like russian built technology,robust,functional but lacking the overall grace and flowing contures of S&W revolvers. In any respect they are both fine weapons,and you should go with the one that works the best for you. The Ruger will be cheaper,but the S&W will steal your heart.

 

[GreenTN]

I for the life of me can't see why anyone would not want a Smith and Wesson 686 with either a 4" or 6" barrel....best handgun ever...

 

[kmrcstintn]

either one is good; S&W's cost more & probably hold their value more, but ya gotta tighten down the sideplate screws occasionally; Ruger's cost less and will resell for less, but the solid frames require less finite maintenance;

I have owned both in the past on and off; I currently have 2 Ruger GP100's (one is gonna find a home with a guy in my hunting group) and 1 S&W 686 (my dad's handed down PowerPort model); I tend to lean toward the Ruger as my workhorse and I'm preserving my dad's S&W 686 PowerPort for prosperity, but it gets fired from time to time...just not as much as my Ruger

 

[ArmedBear]

I will have to disagree with the above statements that the GP-100 will do better with a lot of hot .357 Magnum rounds than the M686. The M686 is an L frame which was designed and built to address any problems, real or perceived that the K frame had.

The S&W is a tad more delicate, if you can use that term for something so beefy. I still prefer the 686. It's just a more elegant piece.

As I said, I wouldn't test my hottest handloads in any DA revolver. The crane is still weaker than the frame, and the whole design of a hand-eject revolver is inherently weaker than a solid-frame single action.

My load testing happens in a Ruger Blackhawk.

Once I know the pressure is okay, it goes in the 686. I would do the same thing if I had a GP100.

 

[greenlion]

Go look at the gear that professional DA revolver shooters like Jerry Miculek or IDPA champions are using, and see how many Rugers you see in use. You will not wear out a S&W 686 any time soon, I promise you that, and it is the choice of people "in the know".

 

[PsychoGlory]

I know function is what counts but I never seen a Ruger with out a cosmetic flaw of some sort and their trigger pull need modifying right from the box. I never had any of these problems with my Smiths.

 

[AStone]

Go look at the gear that professional DA revolver shooters like Jerry Miculek or IDPA champions are using, and see how many Rugers you see in use.

Now that's an interesting point that I hadn't considered before.

 

[Fumbler]

Go look at the gear that professional DA revolver shooters like Jerry Miculek or IDPA champions are using, and see how many Rugers you see in use. You will not wear out a S&W 686 any time soon, I promise you that, and it is the choice of people "in the know".

The revolvers used in high levels of competition get rebuilt many many times.

They use S&W revolvers because of the triggers, not because of the durability. If you shoot at that level durability means nothing. If you wear it out you simply have it rebuilt or buy another.
And those shooters aren't using full blown 357 loads are they....

 

[kmrcstintn]

yeah, my statement about the S&W 686 sideplate screws is relative to user and shooting conditions; in the past I have removed the sideplate to perform a thorough cleaning (before I started using aerosol cleaner/degreaser products to blast the action clean) and have undertightened the screws to prevent stripping out the heads where the screwdriver tip fits...subsequently I had to retighten after the next shooting session; your mileage may vary

 

[Dr_2_B]

I voted Ruger, but honestly I think you'll be fine with either of those. Or a number of others as well.

 

[ceadermtnboy]

It has been reported that Jerry Miculek carrys a Ruger GP100 as his truck gun and likes the design. Smith & Wesson does pay the big bucks to people ( in the know )!

 

[COSteve]

I prefer the 686, as it fits my hand like it was made for me, and it comes with one of the best factory triggers out of the box.



That said, I have shot GP-100's and found them to be solid performers.

My advice to you would be to pick the one you think is coolest. You'll practice more.

 

[Wishoot]

You can't go wrong with either choice. But the GP is simply built like a tank and for the difference in price, the GP is the winner.

 

[KevininPa]

I voted for the 686,........

.......but only because I own one. You really can't go wrong with either.