Well, I'm torn between getting either a S&W Model 686 or a Ruger GP100

http://www.smith-wesson.com/wcsstore/SmWesson/upload/images/firearms/164222_large.jpg
Model: S&W 686
Caliber: .357MAG/.38+P
Capacity: 6 Rounds
Barrel Length: 4"
Front Sight: Red Ramp Front
Rear Sight: White Outline Adjustable Rear
Grip: Rubber Grips
Frame: Medium
Finish: Satin Stainless
Overall Length: 9 5/8"
Material: Stainless Steel
Weight Empty: 40 oz.
Suggested Retail Price: $728.00

http://www.ruger-firearms.com/Firearms/images/Products/285L.jpg
Model: Ruger GP100
Caliber: .357 Magnum
Capacity: 6 Rounds
Finish: Blued
Grip: Rubber w/ Rosewood Insert
Barrel Length: 4"
Groove: 5
Twist: 1:18 3/4" RH
Overall Length: 9 5/8"
Weight: 40 oz
Front Sight(s): Fixed
Rear Sight(s): Adjustable
Other Features: Transfer Bar Operating Mechanism with Cylinder Interlock
Miscellaneous: Full Shroud Barrel, Adjustable Sights
Suggested Retail Price: $557.00




I want a good solid built revolver in .357 Magnum and it's between this two. I would rather have a blued revolver but a stainless works too. I owned a couple of older .38 Special S&W and know how good of a trigger they have. But I have read that the new S&W have crappy triggers, nothing like the older ones. Also, I hate S&W for putting that key lock crap on their guns.

Ruger also builds good guns but I have issues with them. Mostly it comes down to what Bill Ruger did with the Magazine Ban and also how the company to this day will not sell hi-capacity magazines to non-LEOs. But they do make a blued 4 inch revolver. I have many of their products even though I have a bias towards the company. I own two MKII pistols, mini-14, M77, Bisley Vaquero, Single Action Six, and 10/22.

In the end, what do you guys think.

I'm kinda sliding over to the Ruger

Although I have both Ruger and S&W D/A Revolvers, I tend to shoot the Rugers more, as they feel best in the hand, but I would recommend that you try both before buying, to see which one has the most natural feel, Both are quality firearms.

When I was looking for a .357mag revolver these were the exact two I was looking at. I decided to get the S&W and I don't regret it at all. I have never shot a GP100 but I love my 686. If you want a blued revolver, you might want to try to find a used 586 which is the blued predecessor of the 686.

You will hear it said/written that the Ruger is stronger than the S&W. It might be, but that just means your son might have to have the S&W retimed when it gets to him. Maybe. Meanwhile, with the 686 you enjoy a much better trigger, and a mainly forged gun you can look at, fondle, and admire.

But, if you want a functional , cheaper, quite good gun, the GP will do.

I'm biased of course. I have enjoyed my 686Plus for years. The SA letoff gives you an orgasm.

Smith&Wesson still has the vastly better trigger pull over the Ruger. For factory loaded magnum rounds or reloaded to factory standards, the Smith will work out just fine. The Rugers are nice as well. I personally like the way the Smiths fit in my hand with the Houge rubber grips than those strange rubber/wood or plastic grips on the GP. Frame geometry is also better for me. But I also have fairly big hands. So as stated before, go to your local gun shop and handle them both. Give them a couple dry fires, swing out cylinders, see how they fit in you palm and buy the Smith! No, just kidding. Pick what fits you best. Wolff offers many spring kits to ease the trigger pull on those GP to Smith specs in no time. I have personally installed them before and they work great.

Now for something completely different...
Yes, the Smiths are nice.
I liked my Smith. I still like my Ruger. I have a GP100 6 inch barrel with the short lug. Wolff springs in it and a Hogue monogrip because I have large hands. I shoot it as well as I shoot my buddies Smith M28 CHiP 6" at steel plates, better at paper (tighter groups). The Smiths are good guns, just not up to what their reputation is. Quality isn't anthing to rave about any more. Take your time and take the pick of the litter of the GPs your dealer has. You'll spend less, even ordering a $6.00 Wolff spring kit for it. That way you will have more money for ammo to find the load it likes and be able to feed it more. I have a hard time paying what people want for new S&Ws because I feel you are paying for reputational quality that isn't up tp their former standards.

Kind of like buying a Harley when Victory makes better bikes for the money. I didnt know that Houge made grips for the GP. I think that Id better go and pick one up and do the Wolff/Houge upgrade!

Well, I've fired some older S&W 686s (Pre-Lock) and some newer S&W 686s (W/Lock). And I have seen a difference in the trigger.

I like the way the S&W feels and shoots (older one) but I don't know, I think the Ruger GP100 is slowly winning. I'm going to head on over to the gun range and rent their Ruger GP100 and give it a test drive this weekend. From there, I will decide which revolver to get. All I do know is this, which ever revolver I get. I'm getting new Houge Grips for it and a nice leather pancake holster and some HKS Speedloaders.

I had two Smith 19's & a 25-2 at one point and when I got my first GP-100 they soon found their way to the sale rack. I hear a lot of comments on Ruger triggers yet I've had a total of four GP-100, two Redhawks and five Blackhawks and not a one of them needed anything done to the triggers, couldn't ask for better.

On the accuracy side, with the exception of the one Redhawk (idiot who sold it to me tried fire lapping it....) the Rugers displayed accuracy equal to or better than the smith's and other brands. The remaining GP100 and Blackhawk I own both produce accuracy far above any other brand revolvers I've own over the years.

How can you ask this question? You selet two of the best revolvers and ask which is best. If price was an issue the Ruger would win. If shootability was an issue Ruger has the edge, slightly. If hanging on the wall for beauty's sake, hands down S&W wins. I have both. Chief

How can you ask this question? You selet two of the best revolvers and ask which is best. If price was an issue the Ruger would win. If shootability was an issue Ruger has the edge, slightly. If hanging on the wall for beauty's sake, hands down S&W wins. I have both. Chief


Pretty much my way of looking at it, too! For me, price would be an issue, and I would get the Ruger and never regret it. As to Ruger triggers, IMO they're not inferior to the S&W trigger, just different. If you've grown accustomed to a Smith, it takes a while to get used to the Ruger "feel".

Have the 6" Smith & Wesson 686, an early model and will never part with it. It will shoot unbelieveable groups when I do my part. Youngest son took it to the range on the 4th and shot a two handed 8 shot group at 25 yards with the bullet holes touching. Asked him why he didn't fire another two rounds into the target, he replied he "pressured out". Couldn't see how the next two rounds would possibly impact the same group so he pulled the target. Haven't tried the Ruger but hear it is a fine gun.

Boy your facing a tough decision. If at all possible you need to try before you buy. If you can find a range or friend whom has one that will let you try them out you would be ahead.

I used to be a Smith & Wesson fan with experience with the fine Model 19. This used gun that once belonged to one of the county deputies started me out reloading with one of the original Lee loaders. From there I went to a 29 and was pleased with it to no end. In the interim I owned and shot a 27 3.5 inch, a 57 4 inch and all were great guns.

I've had a few Ruger single actions and eventually ended up with a couple of Redhawks. I've only owned one sp101 and it did a fine job also, but all the Rugers needed the trigger worked over and to be truthful all the Smiths ended up with custome trigger work though the Smiths all had good triggers to start with.

Today I'm down to just a few handguns, the Smiths are gone, the big Rugers are gone and to tell the trouth theres a couple of Taurus's in the safe along with a little Rossi 22 lr and a Ruger target auto. I'm happy with them, especially for the price. A friend of mine just gave me a 2 inch Taurus stainless ultra-light for carry protection in 38 Special. I am so pleased with this little J frame copy as both the double action and single action trigger is as good as I've ever seen.

Bottom line is both the Smiths and Rugers are good guns and you might give Taurus a look, they've got one of the best warrentee's on the market. Here's a pix of my 41 mag stainless Tracker along with the little Rossi 22 that is almost the same size and only 1/2 oz difference in wieght.

While I love and own products from both companies I have two S&W 686's, one in 4" and one in 6", both with Hogue monogrips. I have had Alan Tillman perform trigger jobs on each and both guns are more accurate than I am a shooter. Heck, they make me look like a crack shot.
Not only that but they're frickin' beautiful.
My nod goes to the 686.

As far as new S&W's go I really like the old-school look of the new 620 7-shooters. This is the first I have heard of the triggers being less-than-desirable, but since they'd go to Alan for massaging anyway it's of no concern to me.

I don't have a 686, but just as far as S&W triggers go, I have a new 617, that was just fine from the factory. I did install a reduced power main spring and a 11# trigger return spring, and it now feels like a fine trigger on a bench gun. Maybe you felt one bad trigger. I have never felt anything from S&W that was like you are saying. I agree with Thomas Q on the triggers. The trigger job I did took all of 10 minutes. Both are nice guns, and you picked the best of both makers to choose from so I really don't see you going wrong either way. I like Smith, but plan on owning the Ruger when the funds permit it. Good luck on choosing. Just get the one you like the looks of and feel better in your hand. You can't go wrong with either.

Just get the one you like the looks of and feel better in your hand. You can't go wrong with either.

Copy that!

I have a 686 and it is a great gun,accurate,good trigger and handles well.I also have 5 rugers and enjoy hunting and shooting with them but the S&W is alot smoother gun.
Just my .02 :D

I would go with the GP-100. I love mine.

There will never be an end to the S&W 686 versus GP 100 question.

Yeah we hit this question once a month, at least....

Town Car, vs. 3/4 ton pickup.... you decide.

'Course, anyone who uses "Glock" as part of their login name is surely above what a gun looks like .... :p

Having spent years with both the Smith Distinguished Combat and Ruger Security Six, 4 inch modesl, I prefer the simpler lockwork and ease of dissambly of the Ruger. With little effort I have the triggers at comparable pull weight. The triggers are different, true but very very close to equal. When I upgraded five years ago to a 6 in barrel gun, I chose the GP100 simply because of its internal simplicity and shear strength. It takes some heavy hand loads and hasn't ever seemed to shoot loose as some older guns have. The only gun now that I feel as a better trigger than these is the Colt Python. If I find a colt for sale, I'd buy it, but thats the only gun I would prefer over the GP for trigger. In reality you won't go wrong with either, but be careful of the heavy loads in a Smith

my 2 cents

Well, you can close this thread because I got my gun....

Head on over to -
http://shootersforum.com/showthread.htm?p=215796#post215796