S&W revolvers vs. Ruger revolvers--and me

[UncleEd]

Over the years, actually decades, I've flip flopped in my estimation
of S&W revolvers and Ruger revolvers, particularly in the .38/.357
variety.

Sometimes I've thought that if I had to chose just one it would be
the Smiths; then a little later the Rugers. I kept seeing and
admiring the qualities of both designs.

Now I just live with the fact that I want to own both in sufficient
numbers. I shoot almost exclusively double action and I like
both iterations.

Oh, I've also owned a good number of Colts, particularly the
Pythons and a few Diamondbacks. But they always seemed to
get sold in favor of the Smiths or Rugers. As nice as they were
and are, their innards always turned me off.

Had I been an accumulator of firearms, I'm sure a few Colts would
have been kept but they wouldn't get the workouts that the
Smiths and Ruger did and do.

As to any other revolver makers, just never bothered except one
Charter Arms snub back when Smith snubs were hard to find.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

I too like both brands.

 

[W.E.G.]

I have several of both brands.
But not one single Colt these days.
I used to have a satin-nickel-plated Series 70 Colt. It had pin-point accuracy at planting most spent cases right on my forehead, and frequently right between my eyes. Uncanny. and GONE!

But no accumulation is complete until you got a ROSCO!
I shot myself in the hand with my uncle's ROSCO by accident when I was a kid. "T'was but a flesh wound!"
Actually, the cylinder was hung up, and while ineptly attempting to clear it, I unintentionally fired it while the cylinder was badly mis-indexed. I remember the pain, and how my whole hand "turned silver" from the liquified lead. I remember the line across the palm of my hand, where some part of the bullet seared a path. There actually was no blood that I can recall. My dad, and my uncle, and my cousin were present when I pulled that stunt. Neither seemed to notice as it happened. I remember trying to play it cool so I wouldn't get in trouble, or have the gun taken away from me. I think I was about 10 years old. I was already pretty-well pig-pen dirty, because we were shooting rocks off the fence rail of the pig pen (at close range, with no earpro or eyepro). Some 40 years later, my uncle pulled out that ROSCO to proudly show it off, along with several other questionable specimens. He had no recollection of the "accident" by the pig pen in 1970.

I really kind of wanted my uncle's ROSCO as a souvenir of sorts. But I didn't have the courage to try to haggle with him when it appeared that second time. "Lucky" for me, one came available on another forum. I couldn't pass up the opportunity. When I picked it up from my FFL, the guy at the counter looked at me like I might be of questionable intellect for acquiring such a thing. But now I have it! In fact, have had it for several years now. I'm afraid to fire it. Same as my uncle's ROSCO, the cylinder doesn't index correctly. Only way it would be "safe" to shoot it would be to manually index the cylinder after each shot. Even then, I'd still wear gloves. I wouldn't trust that sucker to not jump-index, and paint my hand silver again. If I ever do shoot it, at least I'll make it a point to keep my left hand out of the way!



Meanwhile, here's a little Ruger and Smith & Wesson love.

The Security-Six was the first revolver I ever owned.
This low-back one is a replacement for the one I traded toward a Remington 788 rifle in 6mm.
I was able to pick it up for next-to-nothing when police departments were dumping them en mass in exchange for the plastic-fantastic.



And this here taper-barrel Model 10 is a replacement for the one the DC Police made me give back to them when I left the department in '86. The holster is the MPD "approved" off-duty holster. I still got that. I was wearing that holster on the day four fellas tried to rob me across Scott Circle from what was then NRA headquarters (located then at corner of Rhode Island Avenue and Scott Circle). That incident makes for a hilarious story. I think I told it here once or twice. I carried that actual Buck 110 on my duty belt. I took that 110 in trade for several cedar-shaft arrows with one of my junior high-school buddies. I'm not sure he acquired it through "legitimate" means. But oh well...




And who doesn't love a no-dash 686 and a pair of 1969 three-screw Blackhawks!







And one old 32-20 for good measure.

 

[GRIZ22]

I like both too. I'd also add Taurus. I've several Taurus revolvers and have never had an issue with any. I've a 669 I bought new in 1988. Over 10,000 rds of full magnums and still tight. Trigger is a bit heavy but smooth. Compare this to a S&W M19 I bought in the mid 70s that developed flame cutting and timing issues after about 400 rds of magnums.

Have a few Colts. They never excited me. Own a few Charters as I got them cheap. They're okay but quality is far from a Taurus. A Taurus is not far from a S&W or Ruger IMO.

 

[SDGlock23]

I'm a big fan of both the 686 and GP100, each have their merits. I like the front sight setup on the GP100 better and I think I prefer the cylinder release a bit better on the GP100. Both look good, I just think the 686 looks a little better, plus it has a better trigger on it. Can't go wrong with either, or both.

 

[MikeInOr]

I had a heck of a time deciding between a S&W (known for their triggers) vs a Ruger (known for their ruggedness) for a 44 mag. Then throw in the decision on which barrel length would suit me best and the decision got even harder. So I ended up with this:

Dan Wesson 744 with 2.5", 4", 6", 8" and 10" barrels. I like that I can easily add the EWK brake to any of the barrels in about a minute which is also about how long it takes to swap barrels. The trigger is as good as any S&W revolver trigger I have ever shot (better than most) and it is built at least as strong as a Ruger. Kind of a win all the way around for me in my eyes.

Now I just need to find a nice DW 715 in .357.

P.S. I was actually saving up for a S&W 625 in 45lc when this Dan Wesson came a long with the 8" barrel, scope mount and chest holster for $600. I couldn't pass it up!

 

[Slamfire]

Been more of a S&W guy due to the triggers. Smith and Wesson revolvers always felt more refined in the little details. Rugers are tanks. My 44 Mag Redhawk, if I could have found a smaller grip in rubber, I would have ended up keeping it.

Shot a 1974 mfgr Ruger Blackhawk in 45 LC this weekend. Used 0.454 cast bullets and it is wonderfully accurate. Ruger still makes a great single action.

 

[PistoleroWadcutterGANG]

The screaming gaping hole in the Epic Ruger SA BH/SBH line. A big bore 3-3.5" barreled .41/44spl/44Mag or 45 Colt. S.A. wanna Rosco too sometimes! I'd buy one in a heartbeat! I do love my Dan's and the one Colt I have. All time winner: Smith Mountain Gun model 57-5

 

[W.E.G.]

I have the sads that I let my .41 Magnum Ruger and .41 Magnum S&W go.

I got both of them about the time of my 41st birthday. Man,... that was a long time ago.
At least I've gotten to do a lot of cool stuff during all those years. Can't have them back.

I hope whoever has the guns is taking good care of them.
I'll try to take good care of the memories of the years...

 

[Anchorite]

Ginger, or Mary Ann? Seriously, you can’t go wrong with either choice. But variety is the spice of life, so you have to have both. Trust me on this.

 

[Pat Riot]

ROSCO

Please clarify something for me. Is a Rosco basically a cheap no name revolver like a Saturday Night Special only bigger?

 

[PistoleroWadcutterGANG]

Film noir language for a short snub-nosed / belly gun revolver

 

[Pat Riot]

For years I was only interested in S&W DA revolvers and Ruger SA revolvers. Then I bought a Ruger GP100. Now I want more.
Maybe a Redhawk in .45 Colt or a GP100 in .44 Special or……..

I really have no interest in other revolver manufacturer’s guns. I do have a Colt DS because I have always wanted one.

 

[cfullgraf]

I’m partial to S&W revolvers. They just look good and perform well.

I do have a number of Ruger DA revolvers (Redhawk, GP100, SP101). They look frumpy to me but they are well built firearms.

I also have a few Ruger SA revolvers. I like the Single Six and Single Seven revolvers that I have. But, shooting my centerfire Blackhawks do not get along with me. Not the gun’s fault. I just have not perfected a good grip yet. But, Ruger SA revolvers look good and shoot well.

I recently bought my first Colt revolvers. First, a new production Python and then two Anacondas. I’ve been pleased with them both in looks and function.

For a long time, I wanted a Colt SAA but with my shooting experience with the Blackhawks, that “want” has been put on hold.

But, what ever floats your boat. Of the mainstream revolvers, all will serve you well.

Now, I’m big into Colt 1911’s but they are semi- autos and a subject for another thread.

 

[W.E.G.]

Please clarify something for me. Is a Rosco basically a cheap no name revolver like a Saturday Night Special only bigger?

ROSCO is the quintessenntial Saturday Night Special

Companion of the Röhm

Saturday night special - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[sgt127]

There is the third player. Colt. Any one of those would still do today.



When I was younger, I always regarded Ruger as kind of the second tier revolver. I’ve since changed my mind. The Six series were fantastic revolvers.

 

[mcb]

My first revolver I bought was a Ruger Blackhawk convertible 38/357 - 9mm.

My second revolver was a S&W 610 10mm Auto and I never looked back. I am very much a S&W fanboy with all the good and bad connotation that go with it.

I can't remember the last time I took the Blackhawk to the range. The S&W 610 and than a 625 followed shortly by a 627 combined have had many tens of thousands of round through them in USPSA competition. My woods/working revolver is a S&W model 10. My hunting revolver was the 610 for a few year and has been replaced by a Model 29. My favorite CCW handgun is my S&W 442 moonclip. Moonclips Rule!

I should probably sell the Ruger as I almost never use it. In fact I have put more ammo through my two Webleys than that Ruger. Webley is a close second to my love of S&W revolvers.

I am a long time and fairly vocal Colt hater, revolvers or otherwise. I also am not much of a fan of 357 Magnum. I have less than three boxes of 357 Magnum fired through my two 357 Magnum revolvers (Blackhawk and 627). The Blackhawk has had more 9mm through it than 38/357 and the 627 lives on a steady diet of hot 38 Short Colt.

Each to his own. Ruger are fine revolvers but never did what I wanted to do with them. The configurations always seem to miss what I was looking for. They were always a step or two behind S&W as far as competition revolvers went. The only Ruger I am currently temped by is the 10mm Auto GP 100 but I have resisted due to all the issue I have heard with them not being reliable with 40S&W.

-rambling

 

[J-Bar]

I'm a trigger snob. S&W triggers in single action mode are my preference for their crisp break. S&W double action mode suits me fine. Most Rugers feel sloppy by comparison, with exception of my old Ruger Mark 1 heavy barrel target pistol. It's quite tolerable after natural smoothing by years of shooting. I keep a Ruger Old Army and a pair of Single Six convertibles for nostalgia, not for their triggers. I may buy more S&W revolvers; I have no urge to buy more Rugers.

 

[film495]

I've pulled a decent number of triggers and nothing compares to a late 70s S&W Model 10 I got a few years ago. I honestly don't really care that much about triggers and don't do trigger jobs and just use factory triggers, some of them are quite terrible. That Model 10 trigger is just so much different, it is like just different class all together of how a trigger can work and feel.

 

[Frulk]

I have both makes the OP mentioned.

My personal observations:

1: I think overall fit and finish goes to the Smiths. I’ve had to send several new Rugers back for issues straight out of the box to include early model Single 7 loading gates needing to be widened (2 separate guns). Base pins jumping on .45 Colt New model Vaqueros (2 separate guns) as well as one or two other things I can’t currently remember. Didn’t put me off on the marque. Was an inconvenience at first and guns have performed flawlessly since.

On the S/W side: I have a 6 inch 617 that I feel, regardless of ammo used, has a tendency for the cylinder to start binding WAY to early during a shooting session. To the point where trigger pull becomes noticeably harder making target accuracy difficult to attain/maintain at that point. I’ve never really warmed up to it mainly because of this tendency and the stainless finish.

2: Ditto with Smith leading the trigger pull category on average across the range…HOWEVER, a notable standout is a Ruger .45 Colt BH from the late nineties whose trigger may be the best I have in my possession.

3: Durability (sustained heavy loads) goes to Ruger. I should mention that’s my assumption as I have not subjected the Smiths to a steady diet of max rounds. That’s what I have the Rugers for. Frulks definition of max loads would be 300 grain plus in .44 Mag and .45 Colt with 296/2400 at the high end of the grain scale.

4: Accuracy. For me it’s a wash.

In the already mentioned posts above...Dan Wesson, the forgotten stepchild. Often overlooked because of its on and off again production, bankruptcies and ownership changes. I have two in .357 Mag. The oldest 6-inch (swapable barrel from Monson, Mass) version is easily the most accurate revolver I own or have shot. I also have a pistol pack (also out of Monson, Mass) that's never been shot that I'm positive would also be in the running for this honor. Surprisingly the DW also has the tendency for the cylinder to bind early in a shooting session. I have yet to try and determine if it's the powder I use as, unlike the SW 617 that only uses factory ammo due to it being a .22, the DW runs on my handloads.

I wouldn't have a concern about buying a gun from any of these three as they're established brands. Do your homework before purchasing to determine known issues of a particular model and you'll do just fine with the ownership experience.

 

[silicosys4]

Ruger revolvers were worth the money back when they were substantially cheaper than a S&W or Colt. Now that a GP100 is priced the same as a fine prelock S&W, my interest in Rugers is nonexistent.

 

[.455_Hunter]

I am equal opportunity, and like various products from most of the major revolver manufacturers.

 

[KKJ13]

My first revolver I bought was a Ruger Blackhawk convertible 38/357 - 9mm.

My second revolver was a S&W 610 10mm Auto and I never looked back. I am very much a S&W fanboy with all the good and bad connotation that go with it.

I can't remember the last time I took the Blackhawk to the range. The S&W 610 and than a 625 followed shortly by a 627 combined have had many tens of thousands of round through them in USPSA competition. My woods/working revolver is a S&W model 10. My hunting revolver was the 610 for a few year and has been replaced by a Model 29. My favorite CCW handgun is my S&W 442 moonclip. Moonclips Rule!

I should probably sell the Ruger as I almost never use it. In fact I have put more ammo through my two Webleys than that Ruger. Webley is a close second to my love of S&W revolvers.

I am a long time and fairly vocal Colt hater, revolvers or otherwise. I also am not much of a fan of 357 Magnum. I have less than three boxes of 357 Magnum fired through my two 357 Magnum revolvers (Blackhawk and 627). The Blackhawk has had more 9mm through it than 38/357 and the 627 lives on a steady diet of hot 38 Short Colt.

Each to his own. Ruger are fine revolvers but never did what I wanted to do with them. The configurations always seem to miss what I was looking for. They were always a step or two behind S&W as far as competition revolvers went. The only Ruger I am currently temped by is the 10mm Auto GP 100 but I have resisted due to all the issue I have heard with them not being reliable with 40S&W.

-rambling

I’m getting addicted to moon clip S&W’s recently. I have a 929PC and just picked up a 646PC (1 of 161 I think)

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

My first revolver was a 3 1/2" barrel S&W Model 27. I still have it along with three Ruger single action revolvers in 357/38, 44 Mag and a 22. Recently I came across a lightly used Security Six in 357 with a 6" barrel so I added it to the "collection". Now I wish I'd added one sooner...

 

[4v50 Gary]

I have all four (alphabetically) Charter, Colt (old pre-Trooper III action), Ruger and S&W.

No opinion on Charter. Never shawt it.

I like the older Colts for their superior trigger. Only the CZ-75 comes close in both the SA/DA mode. S&W is the easiest to work on (just reblued a very used M19) and its trigger may be tuned but if you have to go into the woods w/out an armorer or tools, Ruger is the toughest of them all. Besides, no screws to work loose on a Ruger (OK, there are a few but none for the frame).