686 or gp100

Both are super nice. If you can find an older GP100 on EE it may he a good choice.
I had an older one and it felt much more solid then the new ones. Not taking anything away from the new GP100. Any ruger product is generally very solid.
 
SUPER TENERE said:
Something not mentioned that I have seen on my Steel League nite is 2 Smith 686s having their ejector rods come loose and then not being able to open the cylinder. Never happen on a Ruger. The Ruger also comes completely apart without tools. Front sight changes are easier too. The whole Ruger design is stronger. The only thing the Smith has going better than the Ruger is the trigger. These new 686s now come with that ugly trigger lock too, unfortunately. Both great guns though.
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My 586 does that also(ejector rod backing out). I just tighten it up every once in a while. Other than that it is easily the most accurate handgun I own.

I've never shot a Ruger(handgun).
 
Both are decent quality and not too much difference. The S&W might have a better DA trigger out of the box, but the Ruger trigger usually will smooth out after a few hundred rounds.

I would take the S&W simply because i still hold a grudge from when Ruger threw us under the bus to try and appease the antis.
 
686 all the way....those cylinder release buttons on the gp 100 are junk and the cylinder jams up and will not open when using certain ammo.....put 50 rounds thru mine....cylinder jammed up after 36 rounds......literally had to wrap it in a rag and beat it open with a chunk of wood at the range to get shells out.....up for sale on EE it went......my 686 has been flawless 1000's of rounds thru FLAWLESS!
 
Sounds like an ammo problem not a gun problem. Actually the newer GP100s are nicer than the older ones because all that Instruction BS engraving is now under the barrel instead of on the side. The grips on the older ones are nicer than those new Hogues though. I put a nice set of Badger Rosewood grips on my Stainless to dress it up a bit. Purty.
 
jethunter said:
Both are decent quality and not too much difference. The S&W might have a better DA trigger out of the box, but the Ruger trigger usually will smooth out after a few hundred rounds.

I would take the S&W simply because i still hold a grudge from when Ruger threw us under the bus to try and appease the antis.
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Ruger, S&W and Colt all threw us under the bus. So I wouldn't get too hung up on that.
 
Not that it matters a whole lot but it was Ruger who produced the latest run of GP-100's with a 4.2" barrel and did so to make a revolver with the shortest legal length to comply with our stupid gun laws. They even said so in their catalog. S&W followed suit a year or so later when the GP 100 sales took off. For that alone the GP-100 deserves a look. Ruger could have continued to make it with a 4" barrel. That aside both revolvers make an excellent choice. For those who want a just legal revolver some of the older 686 No Dash guns made for the US Customs service have barrel lengths just greater than 105MM. I know of three, I have one, that have been re-registered. I am sure there are others from the sam erun of guns that enjoy the "longer" 4" barrel.

Merry Christmas

Bob
 
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Picked up my GP100 due the 4.2" bbl offered. My 6" 19s are a bit of a haul to pull out of a holster.

No regrets with the GP purchase.

Some one mentioned their GP has warning scripts on the side or under the bbl? Mine doesn't?

My SP101 does (underside of the bbl).


M
 
Oh jeez. Just before Christmas I narrowly avoided a severe spousal beating when I managed to escape from Cabelas without buying a 686.

I did the same thing 20 years ago when a buddy sold his 686 and I let it go by. That friggin thing was a tack driver too.

I'm a Ruger guy but not by choice. They just seemed to be around when I bought wheel guns and back then I knew a smith that could tune them up well enough to satisfy even serious shooters like Bob and Gander. For me arguments like 'lock up' and 'cast vs forged' are so much turd polishing. If you're a serious competitor you shoot what works for you until it dies and then you get another one. Serious competitors won't even blink at replacing a burnt out gun, it's just a cost of doing business for them. All they care about are bullseyes, x-rings and medals.

Fortunately as a semi-continent/competent gun club duffer I don't have to concern myself with such nonsense anymore. That 686 is a mistake I am damn well going to make one of these days and the justifiable homicide threats from the wife be damned.

When the time comes I shall expect your full emotional and moral support in this issue, gentlemen. (And possibly a fast ride to the ER).
 
Turkinator said:
Ruger, S&W and Colt all threw us under the bus. So I wouldn't get too hung up on that.
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I don't actually care what you aren't hung up on. Ruger was the father of the philosophy that said mag limits should be 5 rds for rifle and 10 rds for handguns. I'm still waiting for the bad taste to go away. I don't actually care what anyone else thinks, do whatever you like.
 
jethunter said:
I don't actually care what you aren't hung up on. Ruger was the father of the philosophy that said mag limits should be 5 rds for rifle and 10 rds for handguns. I'm still waiting for the bad taste to go away. I don't actually care what anyone else thinks, do whatever you like.
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Ok? Lol
 
I've owned severals S&W and Ruger revolvers over the years. Enjoyed them all but since I enjoy shooting mostly in dbl action my favourite is the S&W PC 625….
 
Loving my S&W 625's too, and just picked up a 929. Be interesting to try out the new Ruger Redhawk in 45acp. They make it with a 4.2" barrel :)

johNTO said:
I've owned severals S&W and Ruger revolvers over the years. Enjoyed them all but since I enjoy shooting mostly in dbl action my favourite is the S&W PC 625….
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VanMan said:
Loving my S&W 625's too, and just picked up a 929. Be interesting to try out the new Ruger Redhawk in 45acp. They make it with a 4.2" barrel :)
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Gotta love them moon-clip revolvers! Load them up and blast away….Ruger RH 45ACP? Hmmmmm….
DSCN1567_zps8fe85f5f.jpg
 
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