S&W vs Ruger ...

**PadreANT** · February 5th, 2021, 10:11 AM

Good morning, all. In my relentless pursuit of a decent revolver (which ahs been quite the challenge lately ... heck, even the not-so-decent ones seem to be hard to find ...), I was wondering what the overall opinion was out here on the Ruger gp100 2.5" in 357 magnum vs. the Smith & Wesson 686+ 3" in 357 magnum. If I should ever stumble on one of these out there, I was wondering which I should get. Is there that much of an advantage/disadvantage to the 0.5" differential between the two? Thanks for the input.

**eatmydust** · February 5th, 2021, 10:30 AM

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It had to be asked.

**ray h** · February 5th, 2021, 10:36 AM

The Smith is going to have more options in stocks, holsters, etc. Actually they would probably share some holster options. other than that either would be a good choice. The 3" may have a longer ejection rod, comes in handy when shooting magnums. I'm used to Smith cylinder releases. but if you dont have a preference with that I dont think it matters which one you get.

**God's Country** · February 5th, 2021, 10:39 AM

The Smith all day every day for me. Better fit, better finish, better trigger, bigger price tag.
Ruger makes a solid wheel gun, and I own a couple. But they do tend to be heavier, bulkier, and the triggers are way to heavy for me. The newer gen triggers seem better, but haven't shot too many to say with certainty. All my opinion of course. Many love their Rugers equally.

**P89** · February 5th, 2021, 10:39 AM

You will prefer the Smith's trigger over Ruger's.

**57springer** · February 5th, 2021, 11:14 AM

I own both of them . In my opinion, Both are good .

**Will3212** · February 5th, 2021, 11:19 AM

The Smith has the dreadful key lock in frame everyone complains about.

**Xringshooter** · February 5th, 2021, 12:23 PM

I'm a Ruger fan, collect the older Six serries revolvers (Security Six, Police Service Six, and Speed Six) and also display them at gun shows that the Ruger Owners and Collectors Society (ROCS) gets invited to. I also have a pretty good stable of GP100's from the early ones until now.

I will grant the the S&W's will absolutely beat the Rugers out of the box for trigger pull and finish, but you can clean the Rugers up so that they will nearly match the Smith's in both catagories. If you are going to shooth magnums a lot, the GP's strength will always beat the Smith's. If only shootig them once in a while, it really is a toss up but the Ruger doesn't have a lock on it.

Either one will do you and future generations what you want it to do.

**Rural Ruger** · February 5th, 2021, 12:43 PM

Another fan of the Ruger (big shock coming from guy with Ruger in his profile name). S&W has an edge on finish and trigger pull for sure..one of the best out of the box pulls. But the Ruger revolvers are built like a brick shithouse. Eithers a fine choice, ultimately.

**imashooter2** · February 5th, 2021, 01:38 PM

The Smith is a sleek forged steel beauty. The Ruger is an ugly chunk of cast steel. Other than that, both are solid well made handguns that will last several lifetimes.