new Ruger GP100 or used S&W 66, 65, or 13?

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charlie echo

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Can not find any used S&W 13, 65, or 66 3" barrel 357 revolvers for sale.
Looking for a "K" frame sized six shooter for concealed carry and IDPA, thus limited to six shots.

Colt no longer makes revolvers.

Is a S&W model 19 a K-frame?

Should I just buy a new Ruger?

Who does a good action job on revolvers?
 
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The model 19 is a K Frame. A 3" barrel on the S&W is not real common. Will be easier to find 2 1/2" or 4". Of those you listed, I would get the model 66.
 
Buy the Ruger. Impossible to go wrong doing that. I have a blued GP100 6", and it is phenomenal for accuracy, and their ruggedness is legendary.
 
Smiths are wonderful, but a ruger is a work horse. I think ruger is a nearly impossible to kill revolver. You can shoot some super hot loads in a ruger. I don't think you would be let down by a gp100. I own a lot of both. When I want to fire some super handloads I ain't scared to shoot em out of a ruger
 
Get a gp and then save up/wait for smith to come around. Every body needs to have both. I lost count after 5k on my gp100 and it's still going strong. Didnt put that many rounds through smith yet, but I'm sure there wont be a problem.
 
3" k-frames with adjustable sights are very rare and priced accordingly.

Since you're interested in having an action job on it anyway, consider buying a 4" Model 66, have the 'smith cut the barrel cut to 3" and install a Weigand interchangeable sight base. That'd be a pretty slick setup, and cheaper than buying a bona fide 3" Model 66.
 
A 4" GP-100 is a good gun, but BIG for CCW and will not handle as quickly or easily for IDPA type shooting. I have one, and like it, but it is best suited for the field.

The 3" K frames are much sought after and priced accordingly. A 4" K or L frame gun is an excellent piece and easier to find.

I carried a concealed 4" Security/Service Six Ruger for work for many years and it served me very well. I prefer them to the others, actually. They're getting a little hard to find as people have figured out just how good they are.
 
Doubting Thomas beat me to it, but I would also see if you can find a Ruger Six series in your area. I own both a GP100 and a Speed Six and I find the Speed Six easier to conceal. YMMV both are great guns.
 
charlie echo said:
Can not find any used S&W 13, 65, or 66 3" barrel 357 revolvers for sale.
Looking for a "K" frame sized six shooter for concealed carry and IDPA, thus limited to six shots.

Colt no longer makes revolvers.

Is a S&W model 19 a K-frame?

Should I just buy a new Ruger?

Who does a good action job on revolvers?
Click to expand...

Colts are for sale in the secondary market. I acquired a '68 Python.

I acquired a S&W 627 8 shot 357 from a trade. Damn nice revolver.

I bought a GP100. Fine gun! Had a trigger job by my local gunsmith. Shoots as well as my Python but more accurate (6" barrel).

5 shot LCR. Great for pocket carry.

The S&W 686 is nice. The SP101 is, also. Hard to find an IDPA and CCW that's comfortable to carry.


iPad/Tapatalk
 
Find a GP-100 with a 3" barrel and the old style compact rubber/wood grips. That's what I carry concealed most of the time. Super gun.
 
If you want to run full-on hot magnum loads on a regular basis. Get a GP100. The action is easily fixed up via a Wolff spring kit and very minor polishing. Personally I find the 3" version doesn't balance as well as the 4". I like the old style grips, over the new Hog's, yuck. They fit somebody's hand, not mine.
I found I could CC it, if I had to. Not my first choice, though. More of a winter jacket proposition.

If CC is truly your intent. Get a K-frame. Especially if you can appreciate the pleasure of shooting .38 special. There's nothing wrong with launching magnum loads downrange but, .38's are so much fun. 2-1/2" & 3" K-frames are wonderfully handy and conceal well.

You could always split the difference and get one of the ''Six'' series Rugers.

No matter what, handle 'em. Get the one you want and be happy.
 
Of the 200 competitors at the International Revolver Championship, 199 shot Smiths and one a Ruger.
 
2zulu1,

Do you mean the Smith & Wesson International Revolver Championship or ICORE where most of the revolvers are 8 shot models(no eight shot Rugers).

Anyway the OP is asking about K frames I'd be interested to know how many of the revolvers used is the International Revolver Championship were K frames. I would think that they would mostly be N frames 627's and 625's.

Not hating on Smiths I just think statistics like this can be miss leading.
 
Somebody is selling LE S&W 66 4" trade-ins right now, for around 490 IIRC.

Grant Cunningham does great wheel-gun work.
 
I suppose I am a bit spoiled. I previously owned a S&W 629 and got used to that trigger. Last year I too faced the decision of what .357 wheelgun to get. After much thought and consideration I waited for a 4" S&W 66 to pop up for the right price and I jumped on it. The trigger is fantastic just the way it is. It is by no means my carry gun but it is my hunting sidearm. One thing to keep in mind with the K frame .357's, you need to shoot the heavier bullet variety in them due to the forcing cone having a flat milled on the bottom. The lighter bullets don't fill the gap between the cylinder and barrel enough and end up causing a crack to form over time (in some guns, not all). As a rule, I only shoot 158 grain though mine.
 
If I wanted a Ruger I'd get a Service/Security Six. I stopped buying Ruger centerfires when they stopped making them, and started making the GP-100.

Which was a good thing. I started buying Smith & Wessons after that.
 
My Model-19 is a joy to hold, really poetry in blued steel, shoots good too.
Makes me happy just to think about it.
 
From your choices, I would locate and purchase a used model 19. Superb revolver the likes of which evidently won't be seen again. At least from S&W anyway.

Second choice would be a used pre lock 66. I would buy with confidence from J&G Sales.

Barring those two I would buy the Ruger GP100. The GP100 is the only current production revolver I would purchase.

Good luck with your decision! :)
 
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