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

I have a few Ruger DA guns; a 2” SP .38 and 4.2” .327, a 3” GP .44 and a six-shot 4” .357, a 7.5” Redhawk .41 and a 7.5” SRH .454. Of them all, the SP’s had a really stiff trigger, the GP .44 benefited the most from a spring change/internals polishing. I am not a huge fan of the six-shot .357!GP trigger, I find it stacky and hard to keep a consistent pull through the hammer arc. (Both of the odd-chamber smaller guns seem smoother.) Both of the big guns are ok; their triggers are nothing to shout home about but serviceable for the heavier loads these guns shoot. Finish is still pretty good.

I have a batch of S&W’s; rim and center fire J, K, L and N frames that all have a smoother and friendlier trigger pull through the hammer arc than the Rugers do. After a similar amount of trigger/doing work, the comparison tilts even more towards S&W’s system.

BUT, the newer made S&W triggers can be pretty darn hit and miss as far as initial quality while I have found the Rugers a bit more consistent. I will wholeheartedly agree that todays S&W triggers are not of the same cloth as older ones. Will years of use bring them to that level? Only time will tell, I guess. My newer blued Model 48 is nicely polished, but my more recent stainless guns aren’t as well done.

I only have two Colts, a new Cobra .38 2” and a 1920’s vintage Officers Model Heavy Barrel that was worked on by the long-deceased smiths at Kings in San Francisco (!), so the comparison of that gun to the others is really unfair. As for the Cobra, the trigger on that gun is amazing. Best newly made factory snub trigger I have shot, bar none. My new Colt is bead blasted stainless and fit looks very good.

My Dan Wessons (3, two 15-2’s and a .22 LR) are certainly versatile, as I have 5 VH barrel sets for the 15’s and 2 for the .22, but I don’t prefer their DA pulls. Their SA pulls are very nice. The Monson .357’s have been very accurate for me, the later-Monson era .22 is okaaaay but not great, no matter what I shoot.

My only other DA’s are Taurus, currently rimfire model 94 .22 LR and a 941 .22 Mag. These are okaaaay as well, with heavy triggers, decent accuracy and good portability. I also had a 1988-vintage 6” model 66 .357 that was a good gun, but I had to sell it ages ago.

I haven’t owned Kimber, Charter, etc. so I have zero honest opinion to share. (The Kimbers look good and reviews are usually very good though. I think I may be missing out!)

Getting down to brass tacks; the S&W revolver line does more for me, but the Colt and Ruger are pretty darn close so they float my boat, too. If I had to choose one, it’s S&W I guess.

Stay safe.
 
I have never owned a DA Ruger but have shot a few other, Their triggers weren't up to the Smith's. I am talking 70's, early '80's made guns. I know nothing about either of today's offerings. I was probably spoiled by my "70's Model 14 and 19 Smith's with all the factory bells and whistles.
 
film495 said:
I've pulled a decent number of triggers and nothing compares to a late 70s S&W Model 10
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70’s-80’s were very hit and miss for S&W.

My buddy was the Dallas PD Rangemaster. They went through every model 64 they got before they were issued.

He told me of one batch of 100 or so, he had to work on 50 of them. Timing..dragging…end shake…

25 were so bad he didn’t feel like tuning them or, couldn’t. They went back.

25 were good to go.

In that era, I worked Security at the SHOT show. An LE distributor showed up at the entrance with a little dolly full of S&W boxes. Each with a model 66 in it. He wanted to go to the Smith booth. Guns were not allowed in the show that weren’t deactivated and part of a display. I told him he couldn’t bring them in but, I’d get a rep from S&W to meet him. I asked what the problem was.

He unwrapped one and handed it to me.

It looked good. Timing was decent. I told him so..

He then pointed out…

The barrels were not rifled.

I got the Smith Rep for him.
 
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sgt127 said:
70’s-80’s were very hot and miss for S&W.
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sgt127 said:
I’d get a rep from S&W to meet him. I asked what the problem was.

He unwrapped one and handed it to me.

It looked good. Timing was decent. I told him so..

He then pointed out…

The barrels were not rifled.

.
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About the same time a gun store owner in Illinois showed me a Model 19 without rifling.
 
I just can't get past the looks of the Ruger DA guns. I've only owned one, an SS "Security Six" about 41 years ago. Nothing about it made me love it, and when I had the opportunity to let it go for a good price to a Ruger fan, I sold it without regret. Same went for my Python, I loved the looks of it, but other than that, I liked my DW and S&W guns a lot more. So off it went too, for a lot more than I paid for it. Now, I'm down to S&W, DW, Taurus, and SAR.
 
I really like Blackhawks. My SBH 44 magnum is one of my favorite handguns. I like Single Sixes a lot. My SRH and GP100mc have extremely nice triggers. I've learned to shoot SP101's okay despite their triggers and awkwardness. My LCR is my favorite carry piece.

But my DA Smiths are exceptional. The K22 and M28 have absolutely amazing triggers. The N-frames fit my hands better than any other handgun. My k-frames are great. The 642 is a nice pocket piece.

I would not like to give up either brand. If I could only keep one, I guess it would be Smith, but I'd sure miss my nice Rugers.

If you get lucky and get a nice one, a good Taurus can be like an okay Smith.

CA makes some nice carry pieces, but I'm skeptical about their longevity and don't put a lot of rounds through them.

My one Colt is fine. It's an Army Special. It seems just a little nicer than the pre Model 10 I have that's about the same age.

I shoot this one more than any other handgun. I didn't know it was possible for a DA rimfire revolver to have a trigger this good. It still amazes me. :)

Smith And Wesson K22

Smith And Wesson K22

 
Oh, Lord! I don't even know how many revolvers I've owned over the years, but it's been a few. At least a hundred. Mostly Smith and Wesson I suppose, but you can toss in a few Ruger, Colt, Dan Wesson, Taurus, Harrington and Richardson, High Standard, and probably a few I don't remember...Oh yea...at least one Rossi. Cartridges ranged from 22 LR, to 44 Magnum and 45 Colt, but mostly 38/357 I'm sure.

It would be hard to say which I liked best. I never really thought of any of them as "better." Just different. The oldest one I ever owned was a Colt 32 made in 1919 if I remember right. The newest are the two Colt Pythons I've got both made in 2020.

Colts, Smith and Wesson, and Dan Wesson run pretty close for me. Ruger is just a step behind mostly because I never thought their finish was as nice as the other three. Taurus...never had a "bad" one, some just had better finishes than others, but the guns themselves were good and a few of them had finishes that rivaled the best I ever saw from anyone else. That one Rossi was a nice one. The H&R and High Standards were obviously in a different class, but were good for what they were made for and what they cost.

I've only got a few now, but they're ones I've weeded out and think I'll hold onto.
 
I wish I was able to narrow my focus to one or two brands, I might be able to afford new shoes then. :p

Here we have Colt, Dan Wesson, Freedom Arms, Pietta, Ruger, S&W, Standard Mfg, Uberti and USFA. In general, I try to enjoy them for what they are and not lament what they are not. For DA's I prefer newer Rugers or older S&W's but other than that I find a place for them all.




mcb said:
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.
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Problem is the 10mm clips that come with it. All you have to do is get the .40-specific clips from TK.
 
I'm also one that owns & enjoys both Ruger & S&W revolvers. The blue finishes are so perfect on a couple of the older Smiths I won't carry them so the Rugers get the most use. My newly acquired Model 10-7 will never see the daily use the SP101 will but I enjoy owning and shooting both. IMG_2838.JPG IMG_2699 (2).JPG
 
I'm a huge Smith fan. I have a number of revolvers from them and enjoy shooting them whenever I get the chance. I have one Ruger Alaskan in 454 and a Colt Trooper in 357. Both fine revolvers but I still prefer the Smiths over them. Just an aesthetic thing for me.
 
I've owned only one Ruger Revolver, a Security-Six made like 40+ years ago. I never liked the looks of them at all, but it wasn't bad to shoot. I never loved it, so off it went, replaced by one of the many Dan Wesson 715/15-2's I've had. I still have 3, all bought since 2006. All in all, I've owned about 12-13 of them, and about an equal number of K, L, and especially N framed S&W guns.
 
I have and have had several of each brand, and I love both! Ruger never did as nice of a blue job as my 29 and 10 had, but they have a workman's durability that can't be denied. My redhawk is just a tick less accurate than the 29 was, but most would never notice, and believe it or not, my sp101 is as accurate with 38 wadcutters as my 4" model 10. Like I said, I love both. But my redhawk will be the last to leave I think. Too much history with that one...
 
I have fighting revolvers from several manufacturers. And all are good for what they are. From my Redhawk, Alaskan, Kodiak. The Kodiac with full power loads is the only one that is not something I would use as it torqued to much with full power loads to get quick second shots. I carry my Smith 5,6,7 and 8 shot shooters when needed. And my Bulldog is in my jacket pocket when I go outside.
 
I have liked both over the years, but IMHO quality control has gone south on both makers over the last 20 years. I have never been a high round count user for the double action revolver, but my past favorites have always been the - six series Ruger's . I have to admit though, that the deep rich bluing on some of the older Smith's is like fine jewelry to this man.

My assessment is that the Ruger DA's are more rugged ( built like a tank ), and the Smiths are more refined.

Of course, Ruger almost single handedly Rules the Single Action revolver Market. I have two unmodified 3 screw Blackhawks that will only leave my clutches when their pried from my Cold , dead fingers. Also have a 50th anniversary.357 flattop Blackhawk that I Revere just as highly, along with a Lipsey's exclusive flat top in .44 special that is also equally special.

As for my fighting irons, I have decided to go with the new model snake guns. I'm loving the trigger pull and build quality of the Colt/CZ New King Cobras and Pythons. Seems to me that .357 magnum is the ideal Caliber for 2 legged varmints. Being able to practice shoot with dirt cheap to reload .38 specials is the icing on the cake for me.

So, my Smiths and Ruger DA's are getting their pink slips. I want to train my trigger finger to one trigger pull type, and I have decided that the new Colts are it.
 
I own both. Given my choice of one 357 I'll take a 4" GP100 but would have no problem with a 686.
 
I think they can all be excellent. My gut says that the Ruger shines if you want to be “economy minded,” buy just one revolver, and be able to own it forever and do basically anything with it. In the past they were distinctly more affordable but that advantage seems to have evaporated for the most part. But they’re still excellent and I think if I were buying a revolver new, the Ruger would be my pick. No lock and if there was an issue I feel Ruger would handle it well.

I think almost everyone will give the preference or the crown to S&W, especially the older models. (It’s been years since I bought a gun new so… I don’t currently own any Rugers.) Older S&W has a definite leg up on Ruger in terms of fitment, finish quality, trigger… and are not enough less durable to really matter in the real world.

The thing is, when they’re both gonna be a $600-900 purchase, you can more or less save up to get the one you really want, so arguments that one is 150 more or less than the other don’t hold as much weight as they may have in another era when the Ruger was more like half the price.

There are Rugers I want (.44spl Blackhawk or GP100) but they don’t seem to be available in real life, and certainly not at any price I’d be willing to pay.
 
I got rid of my Ruger revolvers maybe 30 years ago. Too crappy finish and not well made. I have maybe 40 revolvers today a mix of Colt and S&W with one Enfield. The trigger pull on any Smith or Colt product from 35 - 100 years ago is so much better than any Ruger product. Not even close.
 

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Tall said:
I got rid of my Ruger revolvers maybe 30 years ago. Too crappy finish and not well made. I have maybe 40 revolvers today a mix of Colt and S&W with one Enfield. The trigger pull on any Smith or Colt product from 35 - 100 years ago is so much better than any Ruger product. Not even close.
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Seems a wee bit harsh. Couldn't you at least say they make good boat anchors? Paper weights? Door jambs? Barbells? Scrap steel? Drunkard's nightmare? Give the current owners at least some encouragement?
 
UncleEd said:
Seems a wee bit harsh. Couldn't you at least say they make good boat anchors? Paper weights? Door jambs? Barbells? Scrap steel? Drunkard's nightmare? Give the current owners at least some encouragement?
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Ruger Revolvers are the Timex's of the handgun world. Not the prettiest, not the best fit and finish, but takes a licking and keeps on ticking. For every 3 times a Smith has to go back timing repairs and endshake, the Ruger may have to go back for repairs one time. The prettiest girl is not always the prom queen.
 
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