Switch to Ruger?

[Maxinquaye]

I've recently started reloading and can now afford to feed my magnum shooting habit. Turns out I'm putting a couple hundred rounds of hot magnums through my Smiths every week. I have a 29-2 and a 19-3, and I'm worried about wearing them out. Loads are close to max with H110 - 240gr in the .44 and 158gr. in the .357

Do I need to buy a couple Rugers to handle this steady diet, or will my Smiths take the heat? I know there is some controversy surrounding this, so I'm gonna go with the consensous.

 

[P95Carry]

Hmmm .... contentious stuff - potentially!!!

The N frame 29 will take a fair bit of action happily IMO but the 19 ... I think that is one frame size smaller than ideal IMO.

I'll say ''YES'' to a Ruger plan ... simply to save the Smiths tending to loosen up too much, 19 in particular.

A GP-100 for your .357 will allow for lots of ''hotties'' and an SRH in .44 will satisfy all or more of your hot loads.

I am happier ''punishing'' my Rugers than my Smiths - let's say that!

 

[Preacherman]

For repeated shooting of heavy loads in .44 Magnum, yes, I'd go to the Ruger Redhawk or Super Redhawk. The Model 29/629 does tend to shoot loose on a constant diet of the heavy stuff.

In .357 Magnum, if you're shooting 158gr. loads, I think the K-frames should hold up just fine. If you're shooting lots of the lighter loads (e.g. 125gr. JHP), the additional flash and blast are very noticeable, and these are responsible for eating a lot of K-frames. For such loads, I'd go to either an L-frame S&W or a Ruger GP100.

 

[tc300mag1]

yep i would switch

 

[DHart]

I too prefer to fire the more punishing loads through my GP's,

saving my Smiths for easier work

One of the best things to do, if you can afford it or do it over time, is buy a LOT of guns! Then you can thinly spread the wear out among many of them. They'll ALL last a lot longer this way!

 

[goste]

Dhart,
I have never been a S&W firearms fan. I have NEVER wanted any of their product's, .....UNTIL...... I saw your model 13-3. Nuff said.

 

[Black Snowman]

I have a S&W, a Ruger, and a Taurus.

Rugers are solid and the SRH has particularly well designed and robust internals that should be good long after other guns have worn out of time,IMHO. Used Rugers hold their value but are still quite affordable.

The Taurus is actually another viable option. I put many many rounds through my used Taurus 669 without issue. It's still a tackdriver in the hands of it's new owner, Kamicosmos. If you like the feel of the Smiths in something you can afford to beat up look at a used Taurus. It will have already depreciated a bit and you can shoot it until you're arthritic before wearing it out with few exceptions.

 

[DHart]

goste... here's the 13's twin sister, the 65... defense revolvers don't get any better than these:

Smith & Wesson Model 65-5 .357 Magnum 3" barrel

 

[charby]

Ruger good

I bought my first Ruger handgun on Sunday, Haven't shot it yet but it might try this weekend. I was almost about to buy a 4" 686 but this revolver apeared and the price was right. Actually I am happy with it so far, it was used with 300 rounds through it, privious owner just didn't like wheel guns after purchasing it.

I compared it to my brother's brand new 686 and to be honest I can't tell the difference in SA trigger and the DA is just a wee bit stronger on the Ruger. Plus if I decide to shoot a steady diet of Buffalo Bore or Corbons for some odd freakish reason I won't worry about causing a self distruction. This thing is built like a tank.

I was all set to buy a 629 but after reading on here and few other places that it doesn't like a steady diet of high test loads I am going to purchase the Ruger Redhawk with my Tax Return. I am more interested in hot .44 loads than .357 for hunting various critters. If the Super Redhawk wasn't so damn ugly I'd think about that in .454 instead.

Charby

 

[P95Carry]

buy a 629 but after reading on here and few other places that it doesn't like a steady diet of high test loads

charby - just to be clear here - it is all very relative. The N frame is tough, very tough but - when compared with a Ruger equivalent is probably gonna loosen quicker... so for hot loads certainly, the Ruger will take the punishment better and for longer.

If the Super Redhawk wasn't so damn ugly I'd think about that in .454 instead.

My SRH resembles that remark.

 

[charby]

Just repeating what I have read, haven't owned a .44 yet to test the theory myself. I do know that heavy shotshell loads will wear out a Mossberg 835 (1000 rounds 3.5" Winchester Supreme #2, BB, BBB) prematurely.

Charby

 

[dairycreek]

Done a ton of reloading over the years!

If you are going to shoot hot loads do it in a Ruger. They may be butt ugly but they are just plain strong and tough.

 

[wanderinwalker]

I was all set to buy a 629 but after reading on here and few other places that it doesn't like a steady diet of high test loads

Depends on how much this steady diet of hot mags really adds up to. A few boxes a year? A few hundred a month? For shooters who only shoot 200-500 rounds a year, the 629 would hold up for a lifetime IMO.

I actually was thinking of buying a Redhawk until I stumbled upon an unfired, used 629-1 with a 6" barrel for a fair price. So I got the 629-1 instead! Feels better to my hands, looks better to my eyes and all-around I prefer the Smith. I'd rather shoot 1100fps 240gr ammo any day of the week, and the Smith is plenty strong enough for this level of abuse. Plus it will handle to odd heavy-magnums when I want them. A 255gr hardcast at about 1200-1300fps would be plenty of medicine for anything here in New England.

Anyway, if you want to probe the limits of sanity, get the Ruger, hands down. Having owned one and fired many, I think the Ruger revolvers are overbuilt and sturdy guns. For the joy of ownership and a gun that calls me to the safe to fondle it every night, give me the Smith.

Edited to add pic. Sorry, I don't have DHart's photography skills.

 

[happy old sailor]

get a Ruger. beauty is in the eye of the beholder. when shooting my SRHs (.44 and .45C/.454casull), i dont see the beauty of them, i feel it. need more strength, get an SBH, or just the smaller Blackhawk in .357 or .41. i happen to think Blackhawks are beautiful.

 

[goste]

Thank's DHart.

The stainless Smith's don't do a whole lot for me. I guess I'm old fashion, and like blued weapons. Am I correct in assuming, that the model 13,is the fixed sight version of the 19?

Thanks to your exemplary photo's, I may be on the hunt, for My first S&W handgun. ( Not counting a no. 3 .44 Russian)

Thank's....( I think)

 

[Bob F.]

The SRH is ugly! The Redhawk is scarce around here. All the other Ruger revolvers are Heavy!! but great guns. In stainless, I think the Rugers are better looking than the Smiths! Go figure.

I like the looks of the 13, real well; but look at the SP-101 3" or the GP-100
3"!! I hear the GP 3' has a smaller grip frame the the othe GP's, but I've never seen one. That 4" full-lug GP front sight just settles right down on target but that's in the shop, haven't shot one (darn it!)

Stay safe.
Bob

 

[stans]

The Ruger GP-100 and Redhawk or Super Redhawk will take more punishment than the S&W 19 and 29. I have a 19, a 29, a GP-100 and a Super Redhawk. The 19 is a fantastic carry gun, same goes for the 29 if you need a 44 magnum carry gun, but the Rugers do stand up better to a constant diet of maximum loads.

 

[DT Guy]

I have had Ruger revolvers, and they've always held up. More of a Smith fan, though, and that's all I own these days.

BTW, you have to be careful eyeballing the 'massive' Ruger versus the slimmer Smith-they make the Smith slimmer by forging major components, while the Ruger is investment cast. Nothing wrong, IMHO, with either method, but they do vary in strength vs. weight.


Larry

 

[charby]

All the other Ruger revolvers are Heavy!

My super web skills came up with this from the respective companies websites. Both revolvers are stainless.

686 4" adjustable sights 40 ounces

GP-100 4" adjustable sights 39.5 ounces

 

[Checkman]

The L frame was introduced by S&W in 1981 as an answer to the problems that were cropping up with the Model 19/66. The 19 was intended to be shot with 38 specials and loaded with .357 for real work. Don't forget that the 19 was introduced in 1955 - training philosophy changed alot during the seventies. The L frame can handle hot loads, but like everyone else I prefer to shoot full power loads through my GP100 and baby my 686. I'm not a 44 magnum shooter so I can't speak for the M29,but I like my 28's and 27. The N frames are strong, but remember that the N frame was introduced in 1907. The Rugers came out in the late seventies( Redhawk) and mid-eighties(GP 100 and Super Redhawk). That's many decades of technological progress between the Smiths and the Rugers. I like to shoot my Ruger and not feel guilty. I don't abuse it, but I probably run it a little harder.

 

[Marshall]

Let's cut through the bullcrap and get down to the most important reason to buy two Rugers, you get two more guns!

Obviously you have the cash yo go buy two Rugers or you wouldn't be asking so, go get them. You'll enjoy two teriffic revolvers regardless which ones you buy. I have a Redhawk and a SRH, both in .44 Mag, personally I prefer the Redhawk, the most accurate shooting gun I own.

The looks of the SRH's are sharp in my opinion. I also like them because there's not another gun that looks like them, that big ole heavy barrel looks like the finger of God pointing out there!

I don't have a GP-100 yet, though I will someday. I wish Ruger would come out with their big bores in a revolver that looks exactly like the heavy barrel/full lug GP series.

If you get a Redhawk to use in place of your M29, get Hogue rubber for it! If you hunt, they like red dot scopes!

 

[charby]

I don't have a GP-100 yet, though I will someday. I wish Ruger would come out with their big bores in a revolver that looks exactly like the heavy barrel/full lug GP series.

Amen!!

 

[Onty]

Maxinquaye, if you are willing to compromise a bit and have something that will shoot and feel as S&W, yet durable even with powerful loads, there is a choice: M57 or M657 in 41 Magnum. Just in case, I’ll select one of newer produced revolvers with “Endurance Packageâ€. As additional bonus, you will get, according to majority of gun-rag writers, probably the most accurate revolver cartridge available today. Onty.

 

[Maxinquaye]

Well, clearly the verdict is out!

I went a bit of a different direction and picked up a Dan Wesson .357 Maximum from yesterdaysyouth...don't see myself shooting that loose with much.

Looking for a Redhawk right now...see my thread in the for sale forum.

Thanks for all the input