New revolvers: Smith vs. Ruger. Which do you prefer?

[harmon rabb]

For a NEW production revolver, which do you prefer, Smith or Ruger? And why?

Me, I'll take Ruger over Smith any day of the week. Why? Well, first, price. Looking at Bud's, a new GP100 is about $470, a new 686 is about $660, so the Smith's are about $200 more. Second, the Rugers don't have locks, and don't have MIM components. Third, the Rugers are more durable.

I can't see a single advantage the Smiths have, other than perhaps a slight increase in prettyness. What's that, you say? Trigger? Yeah, old school Smiths had nice triggers. The new ones? Not so much. I've played with a few 686's at the store, and the trigger really isn't any better than the trigger of my GP100. It's perhaps a bit smoother, but just as heavy, if not heavier. And on the topic of Smith triggers... uh, have you tried the trigger of a new production j-frame? What in the world are they modeling that trigger after, that of a Nagant revolver? They must average around 18lbs.

Now, I have fired some old school Smiths. A buddy's grandfather left him some classic Smiths in .357 and .44mag. Both are gorgeous and were a joy to shoot. Too bad the new ones aren't like that... and I think the reason I see guys in here prefer Smiths is nostalgia for those old models, and not an objective look at the new models.

So, yeah. At best, I think new Smiths are on par with new Rugers. For a couple hundred bucks more.

Opinions?

 

[45Fan]

I grew up shooting my dads Smiths, awsome pistols, but in todays world, Rugers have a more diverse line, making it easier to buy the exact revolver for any given purpose, and have comprable quality for less money. Paying for a name stamped into metal just isnt my thing.

 

[CraigC]

I've always preferred S&W's for double actions and Ruger for single actions. However, in new guns, Ruger has it all over S&W. I simply do not care for the way the new S&W's are made and the internal lock is only a small part of it. Rugers are still the affordable working man's gun and S&W is just bloated.

So for me, it's Rugers for SA's and S&W for DA's. But only the older, pre-lock, pre-MIM, pre-two piece barrel, pre-jacked-up-prices-for-underwhelming-junk ones.

 

[gunnutery]

I started out on revolvers with S&W 27's. I liked it a lot, but when it came to buying my own revolvers, I didn't have the capital to buy S&W (plus at that time S&W had signed that horrible agreement with the government). I have a Ruger GP100 and an SP101. I love Rugers. They are built to last and to take a beating.

All that being said, I've really been thinking about my next revolver being a S&W R8 or something else with 8 chambers. However, if Ruger made an 8 shot .357, I'd buy it instead.

 

[RugRev]

In new guns, I too, prefer the Rugers. I hate the locks, especially the prominence of it. When they went to MIM handfitting seemed to go by the wayside so may as well get the Ruger as it is cheaper and more durable. Interestingly, I have both a tuned 686-5 MIM/no-lock Smith gun and a GP-100 and both the DA and SA are about the same on each. The Smith does have a faster locktime, though. If Ruger were to come out with a 7 shot .357 GP and offer a few more configurations (eg., lighter barrel and top strap with adjustable sights) I think they would offer about all one would want in a medium frame. Same with the SP. As small guns go had a Colt Magnum Carry and liked the trigger on the SP better after both were tuned.

 

[snooperman]

I share Craig C opinions as well...

I have both and like both, but for hunting I prefer the Blackhawks. The older S&W that I have are fine guns, but has been noted the New rugers , I think are cheaper and a better gun than the new S&W for the money and stonger.

 

[Cosmoline]

Aside from the new plastic revolvers, which I have not yet tried out, I prefer the new Rugers to the new Smiths. S&W has added too many bells and whistles. I understand their desire to make wheelguns more "cool", but I'm not going to buy a working revolver that has those funky sights on it, and I don't need 7 or 8 or 9 or however many rounds they're stuffing in them these days. Plus, the new ones I've handled have felt more like toys than revolvers. I don't trust them to last, though that may be my prejudice against their lighter weight.

 

[18DAI]

Ruger. The S&W IL makes their revolvers unsuitable for serious purposes.

 

[Fumbler]

For me, price vs overall quality is the biggest factor and Ruger has S&W beat by a long shot.

S&Ws will be fitted and finished better for similar models. S&W aesthetic designs are better too.
I like how short the travel on DA S&W triggers are compared to Rugers. However, my two Rugers are smoother and don't stack as much as almost every S&W I've tried and all I did was a little bit of stoning (nothing that dry firing wouldn't have accomplished).

If I was filthy rich I'd own more S&W revolvers.
Actually, if I was filthy rich I'd own a lot of both makes just because I appreciate the strengths that each brand has.

 

[ClemY]

I like both and have several of both. I feel the Smiths are a little easier to work on and have easier access to spare parts that allows me to make the minor changes to get them exactly the way I want them.

Both can be very accurate, have nice triggers, etc. It is mostly a matter of personal preference.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I own both S&W and Ruger revolvers and like them both. IMO you could have added another choice to the Poll, "Both".

 

[wow6599]

I voted Ruger, but it depends......

Small frame, the SP101 wins hands down. Between a GP100 and a 686, there are positives and negatives for both. I have had a 4" GP100 and a 4" 686 Pro. I sold the GP100 because of problems that Ruger couldn't, or didn't want, to fix. I traded the 686 because I couldn't get passed that hole on the side of the gun. The fit and finish of the 686 was 10x what the Ruger had, and the 686 had a way better trigger. The large frame guns from Ruger (Super Redhawk) just look odd to me, but are said to be much stronger than a 629.
If S&W would come down on their pricing, and remove the IL, the only Ruger I would own/want would be a SP101 and Redhawk (with Hogue grips).
I have a 3" SP101 and can't ever find a new 5.5" Redhawk (not a Super Redhawk).

 

[BlayGlock]

For a NEW production revolver, which do you prefer, Smith or Ruger? And why?

On new ones:

Better Price
Better Trigger
Same great accuracy.

 

[chicharrones]

The P7 is my favorite revolver of all time.

 

[Chindo18Z]

I own lots of older Smiths and prefer them to any of my Rugers, but...

Me no likey new S&W higher price, crush fit/one-piece barrels, MIM, or IL (lock).

For a new revolver...gotta go with Ruger.

 

[contender]

talking new--------ruger.........price point, quality, ......but this is on comparing similar models such as GP100 vs 686....

smith has the advantage of a larger line with more models and offerings that ruger can not compete with such as the model 625 and 638. in such cases talking new production smith wins by default. But this is based off of my interests.

 

[Dahm]

I was just recently in a position of whether to buy the Ruger GP-100 or the S&W 686P. After literally weeks of research, I went with the S&W and I'm very glad I did. There were a few things I wasn't happy about with Ruger, and the Smith had superior aesthetics. Therefore, my choice became clear.

My father has shot a Ruger Security Six for probably over 30 years now, and it's never failed him, so I know Ruger has got it down as well. I know my S&W will do the same.

 

[DennisE]

S&W for DA, Ruger for SA revolvers! Dennis

 

[Ala Dan]

It's What Makes The World Go Around

And with that, I will take a Smith & Wesson any day of the week~!

 

[roaddog28]

Nowsdays I vote for Ruger. I like Smiths but only pre-lock pin and recessed models.

Howard

 

[BushyGuy]

I vote Ruger, better customer service and i like the Ruger Redhawk Alaskan!

the new LCR that is in .357 mag caliber is nice, u can use both .38 +p and .357 mag bullets in one gun!

 

[sigbear]

One More For Ruger

I have a Ruger SS Security Six ( bought new around 1982) and a SP101 and love them both.

Had a S&W model 637 Airweight but didn't like the trigger so I traded it for the SP101 and never looked back. I bought a Ruger LCR a few months ago and like it a lot, nice trigger and accurate with the crimson laser grips.

Sigbear

 

[357 Terms]

I LOVE BOTH!! Smiths line is more versitle soo many choices. on the other hand I shoot my revolvers hard, I now own 4 Rugers and 1 Smith. No real prefernce just think both have their own distinct advantages. Comes down to persanal preference. I have never owned a Tauras (revolver),Rossi, Charter arms I have no complaints.

 

[dashootist]

S&W. You get what you pay for. They're more expensive for good reason. Every match revolver shooters at my club shoot S&W exclusively--lock or no lock, MIM or no MIM. Have never even seen a Ruger, except once. Gunblast said S&W's action is inherently smoother. Nothing wrong with Ruger's. S&W is just better.

 

[gunnutery]

What's "MIM" ???