Smith & Wesson has cut too many corners in my opinion. And for every corner they cut, they pass the savings on to YOU!
Ha! And if you believe that, I have some land in Florida....
Actually, S&W revolvers keep going up while the quality remains fairly constant. The MIM parts work, but are unattractive, and the stainless steel frequently looks like it was sandpapered. The lock malfunctions are surprising given that most gun manufacturers hire people called engineers who are supposed to ensure that things like that don't happen. Anyway, I couldn't believe the rear sights S&W is putting into many of its top line of guns. They look like they were designed in Russia and made in China. I also don't like the pin-in front sights. The old integral front sights are much more beautiful. Oh, and let's not forget the rubber grips S&W is including with its revolvers. Yes, yes, they're comfortable and can be carried in the rain, but I always liked the wood grips I got with my 686 and 629.
This may not be the horse pistol that the Ruger is, but it's gorgeous
and the craftsmanship is top rate.
This first-issue S&W 686 is one of
the finest .357s ever produced. It is
beautiful and the craftsmanship can
be seen in a glance.
Having said that about S&W, Ruger uses investment casting and does pass its savings on to the customer. Their revolvers are exceptional and their engineers don't get their degrees from diploma mills. Gritty triggers? Perhaps, but dry fire them 300 times and they slick up in a hurry. I had an unfired Security-Six in my safe and it was grittier than the one I shot. I ended up giving it to a friend and now if you were to see it, you'd swear it's a different pistol altogether. It's as slick as mine is because it's had some attention. It's been handled a lot, dry fired and shot, and it is slicker than many of the new S&Ws I've seen. My friend can make it better by putting in a lighter spring, but the grittiness is all gone.
Rugers are fine pistols, but while the Redhawk is okay, the SuperRedhawk is a bit too big and heavy for my taste. I definitely recommend the somewhat smaller 629 for its ease of carry.
These Rugers were made back when people wanted guns that
were easier to carry. Being lighter, they could pick up on moving
targets much easier than modern production revolvers. But Ruger's
quality has remained top-notch.
Again, one of my biggest gripes is that the corners S&W cuts results in money going into the pockets of S&W, not the customer. In a day when inflation is supposed to be very modest, S&W prices have gone up like a rocket. One gunstore near where I live wanted $960 for a 4-inch 686! How much would it cost if the hammer and trigger were hard chromed, the stainless steel professionally finished and the front sight a part of the barrel?