A .357 for Christmas... But which one?!?!?

tactical_tech said:
Guess I should have specified. I was looking at the 608.

Since what I want is just a really nice, smooth and gorgeous wheel gun, it seems the 686 is the favourite. I've also read the 686 has a much nicer trigger than the gp100. Also read the gp100 trigger can be made as nice as the 686. However I feel why would I want something ill just have to upgrade to be on par with the 686. So I think my mind is almost made up.
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The 608 is a nice large frame wheelgun. First thing about it is if you're a finish stickler is it's not top quality in that department. The trigger can be made to rival the other well known brands, and really it's a S&W clone like the other Taurus .357's (they're apparently made at the same plant or something of the sort). It's weight makes it a soft shooter even with hot .357, and as said it's the only way into a 8 round .357 revolver under $1000. It does require a bit of a break in of about 200 rounds to become truly reliable, but otherwise after that it doesn't miss a beat.

Of course as with any other revolver if you treat it like crap stuffs going to break. The area that this is a bit more vulnerable to do so is that Taurus couldn't secure the patent on the crane/yolk of the S&W and the cylinder and frame is a large beast. Don't do the competition style reload where you support all the weight of the frame on the cylinder with your support hand, and don't allow newbs to flick the cylinder open/closed with one hand. Such treatment will cause failure on any revolver and shouldn't be done in the first place, but if competition is your game then for the extra seconds you may not mind paying for repairs due to comp reloads. The 608 is just a little heavier and has a big cylinder so will go out of time or damage the crane/yolk a little faster than other revolvers if treated like crap.

Hope that helps.
 
Ruger GP100...trigger can be cleaned up if you like it and still be cheaper then a Smith but really its not that bad, focus more on SHOOTING the trying to get a trigger to do all the work for you!!!

A Smith will get out of timing with too many .357Mag loads and that is not a cheap "fix"...never seen it happen to a Ruger!!!
 
There's no question that both are excellent revolvers--it really comes down to what you like better. I've owned a few 686s since the 1980s, including one that I shot more than 15,000 times and I've only owned a GP100 for a couple of years. As others have mentioned upthread 686s have maybe a more refined look, and usually have better triggers which makes them a bit easier to shoot well, and mine is no exception. There's something about the businesslike appearance GP100, though, that appeals to me. For competition, I'll use my 686. For revolver shooting just for enjoyment, I'll use my GP100.

I posted a thread a while ago here about my initial thoughts on my GP100:

Here's my 4" GP100
P1060143.jpg


Here's my current 686:
P1040441-1.jpg
 
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I have a GP100 and a Ruger Blackhawk Convertable in .357. The convertable will also shoot 9mm so this is a bonus, especially when the snow is on the ground. The thing about Ruger S/As is they are good guns, very accurate, strong and not expensive. They are slow to load/unload but for punching holes in paper not a biggie. Unless you practice shooting a D/A trigger in D/A a lot your going to find the trigger is too stiff to shoot even close to accurate, until you practice a ton. I just shoot mine in S/A and am happy with that. I also have a large frame S&W revolver that is great, maybe the most accurate gun I own but the Rugers are good too. I had the choice of two different 686s used or a GP100 new for the same $$ and went with a new Ruger. Now I'm a big Ruger fan revolvers and their "P" series semis.
 
I do agree that the Ruger has a more beefy look to it which I like. This is a really tough choice. Although haven't found any dealers yet that aren't out of stock of the GP100 6 inch. Maybe that's a sign to get the smith.
 
How about a S&W Model 627 .357 Performance Center Stainless with 5" barrel? I seen one on the shooterschoice.ca website the other day that was used in mint condition.
 
jackrabbit000 said:
How about a S&W Model 627 .357 Performance Center Stainless with 5" barrel? I seen one on the shooterschoice.ca website the other day that was used in mint condition.
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Ya I seen that one on their website, it's a damn good looking revolver. Might have to do some extra sucking up for it lol.
 
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Smith all the way.

I've tried a few Rugers over the years and never cared for them. The Smiths that I have owned (J,K,L and N frames) over the years have been outstanding in quality, fit and finnish. Yes, the Rugers seem more robust but I've never fed a steady diet of magnum loads to my revolvers, so that has never been a concern for me.
 
Well it looks like the 686 is the winner. Can't wait! Now all I need is a dump truck full of ammo, and the standard accessory pack. A holster,bandoleer,silencer,loudener,speed cocker.
 
johNTO said:
....You're really starting to think in the wrong direction now:stirthepot2:

Spend the $$ on the best you can get now. Or better yet, save until you get the one you want. This will save you in the long run. You will be so much happier. Been there...done that.
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Yep, save and get the one you really want. If you settle for something else you'll only end dumping it down the road for the one you wish you had. For me it's the S&W 327 TRR8. Saved and got it and was much happier for it.
 
Uberfiend said:
Yep, save and get the one you really want. If you settle for something else you'll only end dumping it down the road for the one you wish you had. For me it's the S&W 327 TRR8. Saved and got it and was much happier for it.
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Agreed. That's what I finally decided. Gf even helped push me that way. Kept thinking if I got the ruger or anything else I could imagine myself holding and looking at it all I could think was "wonder if the S&W would have been a better choice". Now I won't have to think that.
 
You'll like the Smith. I currently have two GP100s in ss, 4.2" and 6". I like them, they are rugged and you can always use them as a club if you run out of ammo, but the trigger isn't as nice as my 629 or K-22 smiths. I will say though, that when I got my Colt King Cobra, it made both the Rugers and Smiths feel like an old tractor in comparison. Maybe a tractor built in Russia or Poland even. I liked it so much, I spent half a fortune getting a minty 99% blued Python out of the US, it is currently enroute to Prophet River for importing bs.....I hope I get it before the end of January, but I can wait. The Colts are amazing, and worth the money IMO. They are only going to keep going up in price.
 
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