Smith or Ruger 357?

COREY

COREY

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Hello All,

I am shooting at an outside range, and one gentleman made a good point on the weekend; it is hard to find brass fro a pistol in the snow, while you just dump the cylinder on a revolver. On top of this, I shot his S&W 25-5 better than I shoot my Beretta 92 by a good margin.

I am considering purchasing either a S&W 686, or a Ruger GP100 in stainless. I have little experience with either revolver, so I was hoping for some help.

What are your experiences with either revolver?

What type of accuracy are you ringing out of whichever own you have owned/shot?

Is the extra money worth it for the Smith over the Ruger?

Thanks in advance for any experience or advice you can apss along.

Cheers,

Corey
 
I had the same debate a few years back.

Both are good, solid choices. I went with the 686, mostly because I found one for a good price ($500).

I think the general feel is that the Smith has a better trigger (out of the box, and can be better tuned), and the Ruger is 'stronger', and will take years of .357 mag loads.

Try to get your hands on both, and see which one you like better. Keep in mind that you can exchange grips for Hogues on both... and that makes them MUCH more comfortable than wood (in my opinion).
 
Both are good guns.
Ruger is cheaper but with a rougher trigger
S&W more expensive, nicer trigger.
Depends on price you want to spend. Generaly a good used 686 will cost about the same as a new gp100
 
Which one fits your hand better? Then buy the GP. I've had mine since they first came to Canada, long ago. Sold my Smith 19, trigger job and all, shortly after. Not that the Smith's are bad in any way. The GP just fits my hand better.
Any new firearm will require a trigger job. Doing one on a GP is no more difficult than it is on a Smith. Deciding between the two is a fit thing followed closely by the Ford vs Chevy comparison.
 
canucklehead said:
I had the same debate a few years back.

Both are good, solid choices. I went with the 686, mostly because I found one for a good price ($500).

I think the general feel is that the Smith has a better trigger (out of the box, and can be better tuned), and the Ruger is 'stronger', and will take years of .357 mag loads.

Try to get your hands on both, and see which one you like better. Keep in mind that you can exchange grips for Hogues on both... and that makes them MUCH more comfortable than wood (in my opinion).
Click to expand...


I agree with Canucklehead completely. Smiths have better triggers but Rugers last forever. I have over 10,000 rounds through my Redhawk and it still shoots tight groups. 75% of the loads in it have been full loads with 240 granin JHP's. Same with my Blackhawk. You can work on load development and not worry about your gun shooting loose after lots of max or near max loads.

I also have a S & W in .44 Special (624). It is awesome to shoot but I only use target or midrange loads because previous experience has shown they will shoot loose on a steady diet of max or near max loads.

That said I put a Wolf spring kit in my Blackhawk and it did improve the trigger. I believe the newer Redhawks can have their triggers improved as well.

PS: I shoot all winter too. Try putting a tarp on the ground to the right of where you are shooting when using a semi. You won't have to dig through the snow and freeze your hands off. It also gives you more time to shoot instead of searching for brass which is important on short winter days.
 
Got 'em both and like your kids, you love 'em just the same:p . While the S&W trigger may be smoother out of the box, like most guns, minor tweeking by a competent 'smith will make the Ruger trigger a sweet shooter. Truth be told, I never tuned the trigger on my GP as it settled in nicely after lots of use, but if you're not that patient you can get the work done.
Personally I find the accuracy to be about equal, limited only be the person holding on to the gun.
Either is a fine choice, BOTH is a better choice!
Cheers
dB:)
 
Owned both. the S & W has much more tuneable trigger etc. Ruger was very rough. Wolf kit only helped a little. BUT the Ruger is VERY strong. I am a guy who shoots some .357 full house loads and alot of .38 Special fun loads. For that reason I will never likely wear out a K or L frame S&W.

Cheers Darryl
 
A colt python would be my first choice , Smith a very close second, Ruger pistols just don't fit my hand very well...

My Ol' man has an assortment of .357/.38 in Colt and Smith and they are great guns. To bad they are all 12.6...
 
Ruger +/or Smith

I've got all Smiths for wheelguns these days but I'd be just as happy to own a Ruger revolver. There's a nice blued Ruger GP 100 .357 Mag 6" barrel for sale on the EE right now at an attractive price.
 
Ruger vs S&W

Like everybody else said, both are excellent handguns. At his time I have a GP 100 that I use for casual shooting at the range. If I was doing any competition (like PPC, like I used to) I would tend to go with the Smith due to it's generally smoother trigger. Having said that, I wouldn't sell the GP, I'd just buy a Smith. You can't miss with either.
 
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I went through the same process but ended up buying a Model 19-3 after all was said and done. I really like the k-frame feel and the quality of the older S&Ws is sooooo nice. Sure it isn't as strong as an L frame but this is for mostly 38sp, when I want hot loads I shoot my 454 Casull.

The feel of each is slightly different, you can't go wrong either way
Cheers
 
If you can find an older S&W, buy it over the GP100. However, if you want a new gun, get the GP100. I hate the new S&W actions!
 
Smiths are much prettier......:)
P1020351.jpg
 
i was just about to ask the same question when i sa this post i curently have a gp100 and i love it but i thought maybe i should buy a smith and sell the ruger i still might but maybe i will just keep the ruger and buy a smith
 
I went throught the same exercise. Ruger or Smith?
Got a good deal on a NIB 686 estate sale(top), shorty followed by the .44mag(bottom), and
627 Performance Centre N-frame 8rnds(middle). Couldn't resist (I'm weak);)
DSCF0271.jpg
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I have a GP100 STAINLESS. I installed a lighter hammer spring and return spring. It still needs a good detailed polishing job, but it is easy to work on. The Fibre optic sight I ordered installed easily, and needed no real adustment.
 
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