S&W 686 vs Ruger GP100(KPG-161)

I don't give 2 ####s about your guns...I am giving MY experiences.

Do I own the gun? NO...
Is it in the family safe? YES...

Do I go to the range 2-3 times a week with my father and that gun ALWAYS comes along? YES.

I've seen some fan boys who believe their favorite manufacturers guns were forged with the very hammer of Thor and can do no wrong but god damn...I think I ruined this guys day!!!

Smith and Wessons NEVER break...that is why JTF 2 uses 686's!!! They NEVER have recalls!!! Their quality has NEVER gone down hill!!!
 
Guys...a few 1,000 rounds over a few years does NOT make you a heavy shooter. I am talking 750 - 1,250 rounds or so rounds a MONTH, so after 2-3 years that a lot of lead down range. Hand loading ammo to factory specs so by no means is it "hot" ammo.

Read your first post jeffcarr88 it was a few hundred rounds a month and now it is a thousand. What will your next story be? Do you think for a second that all of the people who are posting in this tread are stupid? I don't think they are. But one thing for for sure, there is one one guy who does not know what he is taliking about. My goodness I wonder who that could be?

Graydog

A few 100 rounds a month is what killed my M-29...I do not reload it so wasn't shooting much.
 
If you look at my posts you will see I collect and shoot (with my wife IPSC and ICORE) predominantly revolvers and some pistols. Without making this personal, through my observations at matches and practices, my coleques shoot various calibres but the revolver of choice is the S&W by far. And I do shoot and compete with all of my revolvers, life is too short not to. Yap from Pythons, M27, Officer Match to 686. My wife only shoots 686 4.2" in the open class with only a set of lighter springs and little bit of polish. After thousands of rounds, not a single issue, knock on wood!

I hate to say this Bigi but we are wasting our time here this guy is not going to listen to anyone who does this stuff or knows anything. They are always the same. They know everything and no one else knows anything. It must be nice to be that smart.

Graydog
 
Lol?

Where did I say Smiths are bad and not to get them? I said they may/probably will get issues with heavy use after a few years when compared to a Ruger GP100.

Look at my threads...I have a WTB ad RIGHT now for a Smith Model 10.

Get over yourself and life will be easier.
 
"...pros/cons of either gun..." The only thing to consider is which one fits your hand best. The Ruger will fit smaller hands far better than any Smith.
"...Cast (ruger) vs. forged..." Irrelevant Internet nonsense. The Ruger is much stronger than any Smith.
"...when it comes to triggers..." It makes no difference. Both will need a trigger job. All commercial firearms require a trigger job due to frivolous U.S. law suits. Doing one on a GP is far easier than on any Smith. Smiths require a special tool(buy it from Brownell's at about $20US or make it) to get the rebound slide and spring out. No such part in a Ruger.

actually, you can remove the spring with a normal flat blade screwdriver of the proper width if your careful....but the tool does make it easier. Smith has a nicer balance due to weight distribution but thats personal preference as well. can't really go wrong with others. Smiths will go out of time with heavy shooting, but so do colts, and faster...fact of life. That was the reason for the -86 series in the first place. but most folk will never fire that many rounds loaded that hot. I know Jerry M has to rebuild his guns fairly regularly, based on comments he makes, but he's cycling the action so hard it's slamming the cylinder stops.
 
Agreed the M-29 will not take much (relatively speaking) full house loads to shoot loose. Mine shot loose on full-house loads and now I use low velocity loads (240gr SWC at 800fps) for range shooting, the paper doesn't know the difference and my M-29 thanks me for it.

Similar w my M-27 which I mostly shoot 38's out of at around 158gr/800fps or medium 357mags (158gr at 1100fps) out of.

Had a 686 a few years with few G's of +p's through it so don't think I put enough through it to notice anything.

I don't think there are many DA's out there that won't eventually shoot loose on a constant diet of full-house rounds, but feel free to correct me on this one. Now before anyone gets excited I said "full-house" (AKA magnum) rounds. If you shoot the "special" versions of the calibers exclusively, the gun should outlast the owner under normal situation. You just have to maintain your toys, its part of the sport :)

Sincerely,
on-ca

A few 100 rounds a month is what killed my M-29...I do not reload it so wasn't shooting much.
 
I don't give 2 ####s about your guns...I am giving MY experiences.

Do I own the gun? NO...
Is it in the family safe? YES...

Do I go to the range 2-3 times a week with my father and that gun ALWAYS comes along? YES.

I've seen some fan boys who believe their favorite manufacturers guns were forged with the very hammer of Thor and can do no wrong but god damn...I think I ruined this guys day!!!

Smith and Wessons NEVER break...that is why JTF 2 uses 686's!!! They NEVER have recalls!!! Their quality has NEVER gone down hill!!!

jeffcar88 I don`t mean to be rude here but do you even shoot ? It seems to me that the majority of problems are always with someone elses guns. Your few hundred rounds a month that killed your M29 is to bad. I have (2) M 29-2`s and I shoot
alot more then you have every month for the last several years, full house jaketed and full house cast. You can believe what ever you want but just remember this. Just because you think your right does not mean that you are correct. LATER jeffcar88 and enjoy your evening.
 
jeffcar88 I don`t mean to be rude here but do you even shoot ? It seems to me that the majority of problems are always with someone elses guns. Your few hundred rounds a month that killed your M29 is to bad. I have (2) M 29-2`s and I shoot
alot more then you have every month for the last several years, full house jaketed and full house cast. You can believe what ever you want but just remember this. Just because you think your right does not mean that you are correct. LATER jeffcar88 and enjoy your evening.

Well said Chris, but I fear you are wasting your time here. He has not listened to anyone else why should he start with you.

Graydog
 
IBTL...wow, (note to self, don't question the kryptonite like properties of the -86 model Smiths) 'K, so how does the GP100 stand up to "full house" loads? I'm told it's cylinder is locked/supported in 3 area's vs. (don't do it plinker!)...the 586/686's cylinder which is supported in 2 area's? To a rookie like me, it would appear "stronger" on it's face (the GP100 that is).
 
TBH I've never seen any conclusive evidence that one is stronger than the other, and I prefer the Ruger.

The Ruger frame, barrel and cylinder are much more robust than the 686, but in my experience with cars, lawnmowers, computers, power tools and kitchen appliances... it's rarely the big parts that break first.

Really the tradeoff between the GP100 and 686 should just be chalked up to cost vs. trigger pull.
 
TBH I've never seen any conclusive evidence that one is stronger than the other, and I prefer the Ruger.

The Ruger frame, barrel and cylinder are much more robust than the 686, but in my experience with cars, lawnmowers, computers, power tools and kitchen appliances... it's rarely the big parts that break first.

Really the tradeoff between the GP100 and 686 should just be chalked up to cost vs. trigger pull.

Now this is good. Well done lonesalamander. He gives his opinion without running anything down and just says what he likes.

Well Done. Others should take note here.

Graydog
 
Look at the poorly cast grip frame on a Ruger and how its attached to the rest of the gun if you want to see what kind of quality you are comparing.
 
i spend a couple of hundred dollars having a 629 put back into commission after the previous owner buggered the timing and stretched the frame shooting hot loaded 300 gn loads. total count to take if from like new to shaving, spitting and buggered was less then 300. My best friend has several thousand rounds of way over max 44 mag thru his ruger, and it's still running like a top. I've only ever seen one -86series that i considered mostly knackered, but i've seen more then a few K frame smiths. That being said, i'm a smith fan, and that's what i shoot. i have a few rugers, but they mostly stay home. just like the feel of the smiths better. And i seldom shoot max loads, no point, the paper doesn't know the difference
 
Look at the poorly cast grip frame on a Ruger and how its attached to the rest of the gun if you want to see what kind of quality you are comparing.

Hitzy do you dislike all Ruger grip frames? I've never really bothered to inspect mine but then I havent had a need to either....?
What's the problem? Do they fail? I do know that some of the Rugers are more modular in their design then Smiths and easier to maintain or replace parts if needed but I hadn't heard of problems with the grip frame.
ruger_sp101_grip_frame.jpg
 
Hitzy do you dislike all Ruger grip frames? I've never really bothered to inspect mine but then I havent had a need to either....?
What's the problem? Do they fail? I do know that some of the Rugers are more modular in their design then Smiths and easier to maintain or replace parts if needed but I hadn't heard of problems with the grip frame.
ruger_sp101_grip_frame.jpg

as stated, you will never see one fail, and why spend money machining an area 99 % of customers will never look at and doesn't affect function. I'm not the biggest fan of ruger revolvers, but they are strong, durable and shoot well. and do so at a price point more folk can afford, which is rugers marketing strategy...and it works for them.
 
Decision made

Well thanks for all the feedback guys (got a bit heated for a while - :eek:). I have made the decision and today ordered the S&W 686 6" stainless from Prophet River :rockOn:

Lets hope the transfer and shipping doesn't take too long. Pictures will get posted as soon as poss.
 
Well thanks for all the feedback guys (got a bit heated for a while - :eek:). I have made the decision and today ordered the S&W 686 6" stainless from Prophet River :rockOn:

Lets hope the transfer and shipping doesn't take too long. Pictures will get posted as soon as poss.

I am sure you will be happy with it.

Graydog
 
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