buying a DA revolver...

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ruger22

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I am new to handguns having just bought a vaquero in 357.
I really enjoy shooting this gun. I am having accuracy issues with it which I have posted about. Thanks to the guys who have offered some advice.
Due to the factory sights and still shooting win white box stuff till I get reloading.

I would like some advice on choice of a 2nd revolver. I want to bust clays consistantly at 40 yards. So I have a few questions.

1) All else equal should a good SA say a blackhawlk, be as accurate (or better) than a good DA, say a 586?

2) What is it with the 586/686 to justify the higher price?

3) I have heard that the 586/686 can be tuned very nice by a good gunsmith. Is the same true of the GP 100?
 
RevolverRodger said:
Everyone needs a good old S&W 686.
You can't go wrong with it and it'll last forever.
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I have two ruger blackhawks that I use for cowboy action shooting. I currently have five S&W double action revolvers. A 586, 66, 14, two model 29s, waiting on a model 10 and 2 1/2" model 19. I have not owned any Ruger DA revolvers and have had very little experience with them. I have a little experience with the Ruger Super Blackhawk. You can't compare SA and DA revolvers but this is most of my experience between the S&W and Rugers.

To me Ruger guns are plow horses where the rugers are race horses. Both do the job, the S&Ws just seem a little more refined. Aditionally I have never been impressed by the Ruger centerfire semi-autos. Most are basic guns for self defense and not a target gun. I also hate the look of them. You have to like the look of your guns.

I have never had a S&W with a bad trigger. Since I have these for target shooting that is important to me. Now I'm talking about shooting it single action. While you can get a gunsmith to improve a Ruger trigger I would rather just buy a S&W in the first place. I bought all mine used and typically at great prices from guys getting out of shooting who just want to dump their guns.

While the DA trigger on a S&W is good I have a 586 that was set up as a PPC gun and the DA trigger pull is lighter than my other S&W guns but I don't think it is much smoother.

Last year I sold a 586 to a dealer I know for $300. He thought the trigger was real good on that gun (a little blueing wore at the muzzle from a holster but otherwise a tight gun). I thought it was good but no better than any of my other S&W revolvers. Maybe I just got lucky on the guns I purchaced. Most were serious bullseye shooters so I may just be seeing the cream of the crop.
 
ruger22 said:
2) What is it with the 586/686 to justify the higher price?
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One word: quality. The 586/686 is a very well-built revolver with an excellent trigger right out of the box.
 
:p If you want accuracy and reliability, you ned to spend many CDN $! The Worlds most reliable and accurate revolvers are Manurhin (now built by Chapuis) and not Korth or some American put-together! A Manurhin comes out of the factory with a 3/4 inch outside diameter 6 shot . group with factory ammo.:dancingbanana: I have several 357 silhouette guns that will do 1 1/4 inch at 150 M with open sights. The Match 38 will do one hole groups at 25 M!
Some of these revolvers are used by Euro special forces as sniper revolvers! They are famous for "one-shot-one-kill" results on real terrorists!:p

Best regards,
Henry;)
 
I have a rock stock 686 that hasn't seen any work other than cleaning since 1988. It's still accurate and reliable. I'm glad it's one of the guns on my 'never sell' list. A suggestion to save a few dollars over the price on a new S&W 686 or even a used 686 would be to look for a M27 or M28 Highway Patrolman. I thought the trigger on my 686 was sweet until I bought a used M28....Both are on my 'never sell' list. :D
 
ruger22 said:
3) I have heard that the 586/686 can be tuned very nice by a good gunsmith. Is the same true of the GP 100?
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The 586/686 requires little or no tuning out of the box. Once they are fine tuned by a smith or yourself, the triggers are sooooooooo sweat and light!

My GP100 has a entirely differant spring system than S&W and although I have had it tuned and it definatly need a tuning from the box, it does not compare to a S&W trigger. Mind you the trigger pull is a lot better than the Ruger stock trigger it came with.
 
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Blackhawk is one of the most well known S/A revolver and is more of a cowboy gun while 586 and 686 is some of best D/A revolver out there and they are more of for duty or target shooting. Smith make extra fine revolver and 586 or 686 is very very accurate right out of box. YOu already have a single action and is good to have a D/A revolver put into your collection. I have a 686 and I love it over all my other guns.

Trigun
 
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