Ruger's and Smiths...

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Yup, I remember that advertising campaign. It was pretty silly. But most consumers are easily fooled by advertising. 'Murica.
 
Thanks guys, keep the comments coming!

I have had the opportunity to fire a couple of 686's... never have fired the Ruger GP100 but have handled quite a few. The 686's were just wonderful, I have to say. But, being a handloader... the beefier construction of the Ruger just appeals to me should I ever decide to "experiment".
 
"If your wife want to shoot it buy her the S&W. Happy Wife always means a lot."

Bingo!

If it is for you, buy what you want (both would be a good starting point!).

My wife picked a 686. She had a blast shooting it, until she took a course that required weak hand only work. She did not have the strength in the weak hand trigger finger to do double action shooting. Her next gun was a Kimber 1911....

I am a lucky guy :)
 
My wife sounds a bit like yours.

A friend of ours loaned us his 686+ so she could use it to qualify for her CCW. She really likes that 686+, and now she wants one of her own. She likes what she knows, and she knows the 686.

Maybe I'll get her the 686, and get myself a Redhawk...:cool: ;)
 
Drail said:
Words to live by right there....... Guns are just like a pair of shoes - if they don't fit correctly - you ain't going to like them. Rugers are heavier because they are investment cast - and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. S&Ws are more like a lightweight sports car. Take your pick. For a gun with any recoil - heavy is good. Neither is more "durable" than the other - both can be abused and damaged. Treat either one properly and they will both live longer than you will.
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The Ruger with the 4.2" barrel in stainless weighs 40 oz, the 686 Plus with the 4" barrel in stainless weighs 38.9 oz. So the weight difference is pretty minor. The 6-shot 686 which I guess is the apples-to-apples comparison, weighs a tad more than the 7-shot, 39.7 oz. Maybe some people could feel a 3/10 oz difference I guess.
 
rabid wombat said:
"If your wife want to shoot it buy her the S&W. Happy Wife always means a lot."

Bingo!

If it is for you, buy what you want (both would be a good starting point!).

My wife picked a 686. She had a blast shooting it, until she took a course that required weak hand only work. She did not have the strength in the weak hand trigger finger to do double action shooting. Her next gun was a Kimber 1911....

I am a lucky guy :)
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I can shoot mine weak hand only, but so far not a whole cylinder in a row without pausing. Your wife might want to get a gripmaster to practice on, they come in different weights, you can trade off between a light one and a lot of reps vs a heavy one and a more "normal" number of reps. I'm a fan. :)
 
I have both Smiths and Rugers, like them both. My 627 snubbie is an N-Frame, about 37 oz and has an 8 round cyl. It's a tad thicker, but no bigger or heavier than my 1911.

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I'm a no frills shooting guy. Rather shoot an old 1900 something vs a new 2016 something. Rather keep it in an old case in the tool box loaded vs in a new case in the safe unloaded.
I have more Ruger's than Smiths. I shoot the Rugers every week at the range and on the farm. The Smiths only occasionally at the range.
I like both, but the Ruger's see more action and get carried every day loaded and ready.
Hum? Did I say anything?
 
To me, the Ruger double action revolvers look frumpy. Obviously that is personal taste and not a comment on Ruger's quality or function.

I do have a Redhawk (45 Colt) and an SP101 (327 Fed mag). Great revolvers.

I'm into 38 Special these days and would buy a 38 Special GP100 in a heart beat (Shooting 38 Special in a 357 magnum gun is just not the same:))

I do like S&W revolvers. S&W has more variety to choose from and I like the S&W look.

Of course, S&W has been playing the revolver game longer than Ruger.

Flip a coin, make your wife happy, or just buy both.
 
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Rugers are not heavier built and do not have "more metal". A 686 and GP of the same length will weigh the same. Rugers are more robust and durable by nature of their design.

S&W's have always seemed more refined (despite being a much older design and Rugers being state of the art) and have had better fit & finish than Ruger DA's. IMHO, that is a thing of the past. S&W has cheapened their guns in several ways to make them easier to manufacture.

In new guns, it's a tossup. For all DA's in all chamberings up to .45Colt, I'd rather have an older S&W. Which is why I have ten older S&W's but only two Ruger DA's.
 
I'd rather have a good burger than a crappy steak any day

My new obsession is a 3" N frame in 45acp. To the best of my knowledge there isn't a comparable ruger model to this gun. Anyone care to share if there is?
 
I have a 3" gp100 and would trade it plus cash for the S&W 686 equivalent. I just don't like the trigger very much. Lots of people say that Ruger actions can be polished, stoned, and shimmed to the equivalent but I just haven't seen it, though my early lowback security six could be the exception. I do think the sp101 is better than the S&W equivalent if it fits the bill.
 
I have both, lover both, and have enjoyed shoot the heck out of both.

I've failed miserably at attempting to wear either of those brands of wheel guns out.

A conservative guess, I've probably put something like 4+ k of full throttle rounds through each of my wheel guns, Rugers and S&W's alike. I don't buy them to be safe queens, they were built to shoot, so they get shot, pretty much nothing but magnum loads also.

Maybe the best way to choose would be to rent a few different models of each, shoot them enough, and you'll know what feels good or right in your hands. Or, you might find yourself torn between multiple models, and end up going home with more than one.

That said, let your wife pick one out that she likes, and you buy the one that suits your taste. A couple grand or so later, and everyone will be happy.

GS
 
I have both. In fact I have a GP100 and a Security Six as well as J,K, L and N frame Smiths.

If I won a lottery and could pick one I would pick the Smith. If I could only buy a single revolver I would spend my money on a Smith. The Rugers just seem clunkier and more utilitarian to me.
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Paddy View Post
I'd rather have a good burger than a crappy steak any day

My new obsession is a 3" N frame in 45acp. To the best of my knowledge there isn't a comparable ruger model to this gun. Anyone care to share if there is?
There's the Ruger Redhawk in 45 ACP.



http://www.ruger.com/products/redhawk/models.html
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But those are 4.2", not 3". Is there a 3" ruger 45acp?
 
I've owned both. Several of both as a matter of fact. Oddly enough, I've never owned either a GP-100 or a 686, and have no desire to own either. I just don't care for the way they look I guess.

I like Smith & Wesson better. New or old, doesn't matter. Nothing wrong with a Ruger, but "back in the day" as they say, when I bought Rugers, I was always buying them because they were a little less expensive than a Smith & Wesson or a Colt...(You could buy a new Colt in those days, too). I always felt I was "settling" for a Ruger, and not getting what I really wanted, which was a Smith & Wesson.

Nothing logical there. Nothing to try to prove that one is "better" than the other. Just my personal thoughts.

I have always been a fan of Ruger's 22 semi-auto pistols, 10/22 rifle, and Single-Six revolver. I've recently started to become a fan of their LC9s semi-auto 9mm, so it's not that I don't like anything Ruger makes. I'm even a fan of the old Speed/Security-Six revolvers...I just like Smith & Wesson more.
 
I do think the sp101 is better than the S&W equivalent if it fits the bill.
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In terms of 357 Magnum SP101s, I believe the Smith equivalent would be the model 60, and my 60-10 is a cut about any of my (4) SP101s, (3) with action jobs. The 60 Pro has a plugged ILS and leads like crazy, but is also very accurate like the 60-10 prelock. The 60-10 makes me look like a good shot... the SP101 not so much.
 
S&W 686 ssr

I just bought a S&W 686 SSR 4" Pro-Series. This is supposed to be a cross between a stock 686 and a Performance Center custom. The trigger is supposed to be very smooth from the factory. I have always liked the Rugers, they have a similar "Match Champion" that is supposed to be nice, but I went with the S&W. Still waiting on shipping so I haven't had a chance to shoot it yet, But, I am sure looking forward to it. You can find them for a bit under $800.00 if you look around. The Ruger Match Champion should be about $100.00 less.
178012_01_md.jpg

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product4_750001_750051_765786_-1_757767_757751_757751_ProductDisplayErrorView_Y
 
Paddy said:
But those are 4.2", not 3". Is there a 3" ruger 45acp?
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No, that 4.2" barrel model is the only .45 ACP Ruger revolver at the moment.

But on S&W's website, the only .45 ACP revolvers they have at the moment have 4" barrels (the 625 and the 325). They aren't currently selling a 3" 45 ACP model.
 
I have nothing against Ruger, and have always wanted to like the GP-100, but after collecting a few Smiths, I just cant bring myself to want to buy one. To me they are clunky and the triggers leave a lot to be desired. The fit and finish on the new production guns I have seen has been very poor. But then again, I'm used to pinned and recessed Smith and Wessons.
 
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