Ruger .357 or Smith & Wesson .357

Brand New, yes. nearly doubled. but I was talking about used. One member in my club just got 627 PC for $1200, right after I got mine lightly used. can't really single the number out as I bought it with a 629 together, but I would say it's less than $1200 all in. I am not sure you can find a lightly used GP100 for less than $600.



caramel said:
A 627 is twice the price of a GP100... JP.
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Thanks everyone for there feedback... Ive looked at both and am leaning towards the 686, its around $1000 and the ruger is around $800 so not too much apart and im liking the feel of the 686 alot more, the trigger is very nice
 
I personally favor Smith and Wesson. I know that the Python fan boys and a lot others will disagree but to me, the blued 586 in 6 inches is the best looking revolver ever. And I have one !!
It is very solid, good trigger and super accurate.

Gilbert
 
Bought the Smith & Wesson 686! Felt alot better to me...I might end up getting the Ruger down the road but for now its the Smith & Wesson :D Cant wait to shoot it!
 
I personally have the GP100 in 6" blued. I tried my friend's SW 686 4.2". Personally both triggers are good in single action. Dual action on the GP100 is a little stiffer but staging the trigger helps before it breaks and drops the hammer.

If you are going to get a revolver, I recommend getting a 6" as it will lesson the recoil.
 
Just to throw a wrench in the game - have you looked/held a Dan Wesson .357? I went to the shop to buy the Ruger, held the Dan, and it was over. Now they are multiplying in my safe. Robust, easy to work on, smooth trigger in both DA and SA, and interchangeable barrels makes them a lot of fun to shoot. Feel like shooting a 6" one day, then an 8" another - maybe the 10" or 15" barrel? No problem. I even have a custom and now legal 106mm barrel/shroud. Otherwise, both the Ruger and the S&W are good choices, and will always be around to purchase.
 
I help int the last few months and went with 686 and i was surprised at how accurate was right out of the box. It also went with the 686 b/c it generally fit better in my hands while at the store I am happy on my purchase and would recommend for others.
 
i picked up a Ruger GP100 couple years back.
really liked the feel of it in my hand.
liked it so much i picked up the Ruger SP101-22 when it came out thinking they would be the same, they are not, smaller.
really like both but i think id prefer the new GP100 in 22 rather then the SP i have, but for over $1000 im not gonna worry about it.

but with the prices of the GP100 getting pretty much up there with the S&W its getting harder and harder to say get the Ruger over the S&W.
my dad shoots S&W and they are super nice guns.
dont fit my hand well, except his 327 TRR8, again i think its the nice big squishy Hogue grips i prefer.
 
I have both smiths and rugers. The only revolvers i'll go out of my way to buy are smiths and dan wessons. Rugers work just fine, but are no where near as refined as Smiths. The rugers built in the last 10 years or so are better then they've ever been and have been narrowing the gap, but for the price difference i'll buy a smith.
 
I have the SW 686. It has a fantastic trigger on it. Now getting the powder off the cylinder is a little more of a challenge.
 
I personally would not buy anything online unless they will take it back on an exchange if I found the trigger to be crappy or whatever. ( within reason of course ) From many posts the last few years, Smiths are not what they used to be, Ruger quality control is lacking etc.etc. My 2 year old GP 100 is stellar. A stellar Smith and Wesson probably is better, if you find a good one. How is Smith and Wesson's warranty compared to Ruger? Where do they go? How long to get back? Can you work on Smith's or Ruger's by yourself, or know of somebody that can. I compare it to buying a new truck, you either get a good one or you don't.
 
I have a GP-100 and a 686 No Dash. Both are great guns. My Ruger has a much better trigger on it than the Smith. Sorry guys but it isn't close. All I have done is replaced the mainspring and the trigger return spring and installed hammer shims. Do that and you will not likely pull the Smith out first. The Ruger has a slightly longer barrel at 4.2" while the Smith measures 105.17MM yet the Ruger weighs slightly less than the Smith with the Lott grips installed. I use the Ruger in IDPA with the Smith as back-up. The Ruger has a better lock up than the Smith and is easier to strip and clean.

Both are great guns and there really is not much to choose between the two. Buying new maybe the quality of the Smith will be ok maybe not. The Ruger will require work. The cylinders will likely need reaming out to .358 (mine did) and spring replacement is a given. The front site on the regular GP-100 can be changed out to a FO in about five seconds if you prefer the FO front. Because I shoot a lot of lead bullets I had the forcing cone cut to 11 degrees. Lastly, if you do shoot lead you may experience barrel constriction which will cause leading just after the forcing cone. Cutting the cone to 11 degrees helps but does not eliminate the issue.

I personally don't think the new Smith 686 is worth $200 more than the Ruger. Sorry it just isn't.

I paid the equivalent of $1,100 for my 686 - no dash with it's just over 4" barrel making it restricted. It was a former US Custom gun and that run seems to have 4" barrels that were just over 105MM. Mine is the third gun I know of that has the just over barrel length. There likely is more. The late Ken Soucie has a 625 4" which measured just over 105MM. Whom ever has that revolver has a good one for sure.

Take Care

Bob
 
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