S&W vs Colt vs Ruger in .357 magnum revolver

Again related to prior posts the Smith and the Ruger make fantastic revolvers. I owned a 6" 686 no dash and was very impressed but my boss wanted that revolver and I had a GP. The GP stayed!

Nothing against Smiths, they are beautiful. I find them to be a show piece gun and the GP a working gun.

I am about to purchase a 5 inch Ruger Redhawk.
 
I have or have had one of each. All great revolvers. Only thing I will add is that the Rugers and Smiths have a different feel. Both are well made with the Ruger being built like a tank. Picking one over the other is like trying to pick your favorite child. It is all personal preference. One consideration, with any Ruger SAA clone (old models and non Vaqueros) you can run some very hot hand loads through them with no fear of damaging your gun. I can juice up my 45 colts to the same energy as a factory 44 mag. My 44 mags I can run real hot. That is through my Ruger SAA clones. I run hot rounds just for hunting, which we can do down her.
 
Which one fits your hand and budget best?
Colts are the most expensive. Smith's and Ruger's are close, price wise. All of 'em will require a trigger job unless you can afford a Python. So the factory trigger doesn't matter. Rugers are far easier to work on than any Smith. Colts are nightmares. Mind you, none of that matters if you're not doing the trigger yourself. Don't discount buying used though.
The .357 isn't exactly a target cartridge. However, as you know, the revolvers work just as well with .38 Special ammo or, better, .357 brass loaded to .38 velocities. Partial to the GP 100 myself, but only because it fits my hand perfectly.
 
S&W 686 4 or 5in. Best gun I have ever shot. Ruger GP100 comes in #2. I just bought the Ruger Match Champ but it is not as good as the S&W 686
 
Was it just the 70s cop shows and its external appearance that made the Python so desired? Or is there something actually unique in its lockup or internal geometry that makes it worth 4 times what my 586 is worth on the EE?
 
ffolkes said:
Was it just the 70s cop shows and its external appearance that made the Python so desired? Or is there something actually unique in its lockup or internal geometry that makes it worth 4 times what my 586 is worth on the EE?
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Just not as many of them made, and they where largely hand built and fitted in a semi-custom fashion. They have sort of a cult following. Those who own them like to describe how wonderful they are, but then, the have a large amount of cash invested, so it had better be wonderful eh? That said, they are very nice revolvers, accurate, crisp trigger, and a smooth double action. I still prefer an 60's or 70's M27, but each to their own, and if i ever got a shot at one for a good price i'd add one to the paddock.
 
ffolkes said:
Was it just the 70s cop shows and its external appearance that made the Python so desired? Or is there something actually unique in its lockup or internal geometry that makes it worth 4 times what my 586 is worth on the EE?
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Don't forget the popularization from The Walking Dead. Never underestimate the power of marketing.
 
I'd put more emphasis on the zombie shooting connection. They weren't that expensive until that show came out. The gun itself uses a different leaf spring action then S&W does. It stacks differently, the cylinder rotates in the opposite direction, and locks up differently as well. Is it better then the equivalent L frame? I think so (from a mechanical point of view), and I bought mine before they were expensive. Put a stock Python up against a tuned 27 though and things change a bit. And if you're lucky enough to get your hands on a tuned Python you'll find bliss in a trigger. Come across one done by Moran or the 300 group or Cylinder & Slide, you will understand the difference. Sadly not many of those around, the Colt lockworks is a little more complex then the S&W, and there never were that many around to begin with. The Colts heyday as police revolvers was actually back in the 50's. Through smart marketing S&W took over a big chunk of that market by 1970, which is one of the reasons there are a lot more tuners familiar with S&W's. - dan
 
I know you said revolver .. but Coonan has done another run of their 1911 chambered in .357 ... maybe something to consider ...?
 
If I remember correctly, though (which is by no means guaranteed) when new the python always sold for a hefty premium over the smith, ruger, and colt king cobra.
 
I have a 1950s made Colt Model 357. It's adjustable sights and glass-like SA trigger break is pretty much identical to a Python. But without the higher price tag. lol....It's two tone blueing is pretty darn neat and very avante garde for this era too.
 
Pythons were always more money then the equivalent S&W (which would be the Model 27), but not exorbitantly so. You paid a little extra for the handfitting, and the fancy schmancy vent rib, not to mention the tapered rifling in the bore, and the fact that there were just less of them around and (in the beginning anyway) they had a nicer polish. It's why they cost more then the leaf sprung Model 357 Colt as well. In terms of function, a good 27 or it's pre-war version are just as nice a revolver. No one's killing zombies on tv with those though, sadly. - dan
 
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