Get it. The Ruger is getting increasingly difficult to get and the prices are catching up with them. The 4-inch is the ideal barrel length and is much better than the 2.75-inch ones that are floating around. I mean, they're good, but 4-inchers are just getting more difficult to find. I couldn't decide which one to get, so I got all three!
Skeeter Skelton, the famed gun writer and Border Patrol agent, said he knew of three Security-Sixes that each had in excess of 30,000 magnum rounds through them. All were in good shooting condition with no parts replacement. One, he said, was slightly out of time, but it still shot well. (Most likely all it needed was a new cylinder pawl/hand.)
The SS points better and carries better than the GP-100s. S&W 66s usually can shoot up to 2,500 hot rounds, but after being repaired, many have found that the frames have warped. I knew a fellow at the NRA who had tried just about every .357 under the sun. He ended up rounding the butt of a Security-Six and that was his favorite revolver. He told me that he "wore out" a Smith 19 by shooting too many magnum rounds through it and he was an unabashed Ruger fan.
He wrote an article in
American Rifleman highlighting a page full of different .357s. He clearly favored the Ruger. I also rounded the butt of my Ruger and I think he had the right idea.
Both of the bottom two guns sport rounded grips. The best way to do it is to find some
rounded Speed-Six grips, pop them on the Security-Six, score the grips and then grind
them. The new rounded grips will go on with no problem!
The solid frame makes the gun very strong. The modular design made it
a winner. The gun also has the grips that are an integral part of the gun. The
GP-100 has a stump sticking out, which I don't like.
Unlike the S&W cylinder, Bill Ruger designed Ruger cylinders to
have offset cylinder latch. You can't beat these guns for strength,
balance and looks...like me! I like the stainless. And note the
cylinder ratchet/star. It's much more robust.
Are you still reading this? Go get the Ruger and make them an offer they can't refuse! If they won't go down on the price, see what they'll throw in with the gun. See if they have some Speed-Six wooden grips lying around. Or just get some new Pacymayr grips and a box of ammo.
.