I have a S&W Model 19 357 Mag with a 4" barrel. But that’s about it. The 686 has its cylinder release located immediately to the rear of the cylinder, in line with the bore, and is pressed forward toward the muzzle to release the cylinder. The addition of weight without cause makes a gun that is made for hunting, hiking, camping and fishing too heavy to be practical for anything except shooting at a range. I purchased a 686 + about 2 years ago and decided on a 3 inch barrel. Or…..well, you get the idea. My GP100 A very nice revolver, but not as smooth or refined as my 586. It’s well executed, with no rough edges or gross tool marks. We put nine B-2 targets on each backing board and went to work, shooting reloads, factory ammo, and then unwinding each time with casual fire through a reference pistol – in this case the FNS-9 we’ve been using for long term testing. I’ll pick up a 686 plus and right next to it a GP100 Match Champion and im liking the Ruger trigger better. When it comes to accuracy, a revolver’s barrel is the foundation of performance. The new Ruger GP100 Match King chambered in 10 mm is one of those best-of revolvers that the company's customers have been waiting for, including me! Just one opinion from an old Purple Heart grunt. When comparing the sizes of the GP100 and SP101, you might compare them to their S&W counterparts. The GP100 vs SP101: Which is Better For Personal Protection? Bass Pro Shops $749.99 See Deal Ruger GP100. I would gravitate to the GP100, as I already have several big-bore .44 caliber Ruger revolvers and would prefer to keep my guns as similar as possible. The Ruger's trigger can be worked to be better than a stock S&W trigger but,,, The GP100 I shot took forever for the hammer to fall, It is a longer trigger pull in DA and after shooting S&Ws for a … The frame, cylinder release, sideplate, and crane arrangement are unmistakably S&W. That does not mean that all the rest out there are not MISTER MURPHY Proof……It means I buy what I prefer and what I want, fits my hands or my arms with long guns, that works for me. You know…., when I pick up Smiths and Rivers at my LGS I’m just not seeing the “Smith triggers are much bettt” thing. For carry I use my 642. We put two iconic revolvers together to compare and contrast differences and similarities. And consumers like to hear about the next big thing. I know people say Ruger DAs are stronger than their SA counterparts (.44 mag Redhawk vs. Blackhawk, for instance), so I wonder: Is a .357 "mid frame" (50th Anniv) BH really stronger than a GP100… Models with short barrels, aggressively textured grips and combat sights are available from either maker, and would be fine guns for general concealed carry. Am I correct? Both will serve well in a defensive role, concealed or not, or for hunting and competition. Today, you will find no great advantage of one over the either when looking at variety. That’s why Rugers are heavier and that’s why they’re more durable and better than S&W’S…. Other than say going from a single shot to something else for example. And it’s that list of similarities that makes the comparison so enjoyable: these are nearly interchangeable guns, their differences being quirks of the preferences of the designers. Ruger GP100 vs S&W 686 6” Barrel .357 Thread starter SailingNut; Start date Apr 18, 2018; Which do you prefer? Neither has any great advantage in the area of controls. Right next to both of them is a Redhawk in 45 Colt and it’s better than both and then I pick up a Ruger LCR and it has the best double action trigger of any revolver in the store. I don’t shoot any 38’s because somebody, somewhere said it would leave a ring inside the cylinder. The Ruger GP100 Match Champion is a unique six-gun that offers a great deal to the discerning shooter…with the added bonus of moon clip sweetness. For the tinkerer without real gunsmithing skills, the GP100 may be a better choice, as detail disassembly and reassembly is somewhat simpler than the classic Smith and Wesson revolvers. If you are not shooting a constant diet of barn-burning maximum pressure loads through the gun, does it confer any benefit? The B-2 has a three inch black circle which makes it an easy aiming spot, and the scoring rings make it a little quicker to assess performance. The GP100 has a release located in the exact same location, but is a button that hinges inward to release. The first most important thing about any firearm is it must feel good in your grip! I've boiled it down to being between the Ruger GP100 … Let’s get to it and take a closer look at the GP100 family. The Lipsey’s Ruger GP100 series has custom walnut grips instead of the typical GP100 rubber grips (left). The Ruger GP100 .44 Special is a sizable, powerful-looking gun. In this instance, the L frame of the 686 denotes a medium-large frame, and is typical of modern, fullsize .357 Magnum offerings from Smith & Wesson. The GP100 was something of a departure from traditional revolver designs of the time, but benefits from it in several ways. It does not hurt the pistol because of the transfer bar. Close. That’s why Rugers weigh more than do corresponding S&W handguns and that’s why Rugers are more rugged than are S&W’s. I have owned all the Glock 9mm’s (G43, G26, G19, G17, G34), Ruger LC9S, Sig P238, SP101, LCR38, Ruger MarkIII 22/45, Walter PPK/S, Ruger LCP, LCP Custom, and S&W 642 PC Enhanced Action (no IL). There’s just no wrong answer when it comes to flagship .357 magnums. Required fields are marked *. We reserved most of our efforts for the factory ammo, since our handloads were never meant to be more than cheap bulk plinking fuel. Of all these, I still enjoy my GP-100 the most for range shooting. Rugers are solid sidewall guns (no plates) while S&W’s have fake, screwed-on sidewall plates. The factory ammo was from American Eagle, Blazer, and Winchester. They even have the same twist rate: 1:18.75”. The tolerances were far better on the S&W and it was on a par with the Colt Python, which was what S&W was…umm…shooting for. I believe out of the Box the S&W trigger is slightly better. With products made in America, Ruger offers consumers almost 800 variations of more than 40 product lines. But we’ll do our best not to drool all over it. Their balance superb, and I wouldn’t swap one for a GP-100, ever. Irritatingly for us as shooters, we ran all the rounds a couple of inches high, which is of course an omnipresent risk when testing multiple ammo weights, speeds, and launchers, so the accuracy score was much lower, a paltry 24 on the same scale. S&W has history on their side…Ruger has technology and innovation for a more rugged and reliable firearm. If I had to choose one, or make a decisive recommendation, it would boil down to degrees of advantage: The Ruger has a stronger action, but you should be honest with yourself if you have any need to take full advantage of that strength. Any edge here goes to the S&W, as it can accept an extended “gas-pedal” type release that is easily actuated by the shooting hand thumb without breaking the firing grip. I recall a test conducted back in the late 1980’s, comparing the accuracy potential of the Ruger against the Smith and Wesson in a Ransom rest. These are as similar as we could locate: both models are six inch, full underlug barrels. S&W 586 is my preferred revolver. I have the 686 and the GP100. A somewhat blunter instrument, the Ruger GP100 also dates back to the 1980s, replacing the Security Six in 1985. The S&W will typically have a better trigger and accuracy, however the Ruger will probably win out in durability. Since the original post was on the Model 19 vs the GP100, you would be hard pressed to blow up a GP100. Both guns were bought used, with our own cash, the sellers having no ties to the manufacturers. Maybe it’s just me, but I’m not seeing it. The SP101 is a small frame, 5 shot comparable to the J frame 60. One thing you mentioned in passing but didn’t emphasize enough is that most all of the S&W revolvers have sidewall plates attached by screws whereas the Rugers are solid steel and have no sidewall plates. We threw that group a little low and left, but still scored 44 points out of a possible 60, if you use the rings on the target as a measure of accuracy. Sights vary on these guns depending on the model, but both can accept aftermarket front and rear sights, with the GP100 having a small perk here due to its easily uninstalled front sight. Your email address will not be published. The only logical solution is to get one of each. Cabela's $749.99 See Deal Ruger GP100. I've decided I'm tired of my G19 and want to get my first revolver. The Blazer was impressively accurate and softer on recoil, but the aluminum cases are single-use only as far as we know. Since then, there have been several design revisions tweaking and changing things about various components in the gun. If you ever get into the content business, whether it’s online, in print, or in TV, you’ll realize something very quickly: one of the easiest ways to generate material is to look at new products. We began by warming up with handloads as we can make them by the case lot; using cast lead semi-wadcutter 148 grain bullets and titegroup powder they’re practically free. The 686 is mostly a refinement of the S&W’s iconic revolver pedigree, established with their K/L frame revolvers. The components of the action, while far from crude, lack the precise fitment and polish of the Smith and Wesson, but are similarly overbuilt like the rest of the gun. Both revolvers are capable of very good mechanical accuracy. If you prefer the no-nonsense design of the GP100 or the timeless, refined mechanism of the 686, both are deserving of your dollar, and your trust. The Ruger GP100 GP-141 38 Special +P/357 Magnum, $480, is the fourth 4-inch handgun in the test.The GP100 line was introduced in 1985 as a second generation of the Ruger double-action, exposed-hammer revolvers intended to replace Ruger’s … Back in the 80s, the 686 beat the socks off of the GP-100 and my Security-Six! If you ever get into the content business, whether it’s online, in print, or in TV, you’ll realize something very quickly: one of the … Polishing of engagement and friction surfaces will do much for the GP100’s trigger pull. The GP100 is thought by many wheelgun aficionados to possess one of the strongest actions, if not the strongest action of any .357 Magnum revolver, and is capable of withstanding tremendous punishment. Ruger SP101 vs GP100: Reckoning Of The Ruger Revolvers. In the meantime I will refrain from shooting .40 S&W in the 10mm GP100 and be content with using standard 10mm ammo, most of which is loaded near .40 S&W levels anyhow. Can you give me some pro's and cons with the GP100 … Why the company made the GP-100 is no mystery. Ruger GP100 vs S&W 686. As far as accuracy the Smith is the best…. Even the trigger group itself is removed as a unit from the bottom of the frame. My friends and I compared his GP100, a Colt Python, and the 586 at the range one day. The frame, cylinder release, sideplate, and crane arrangement are unmistakably S&W. The GP100 reflects Ruger design ethos as much as the Smith 686 is a pure child of Smith and Wesson. Whatever role you are looking to fill with a fullsize revolver, be it hunting, concealed carry, or general defense, both the 686 and GP100 have models to suit the task. First let’s lay down some hard data for the sake of comparison. Back in the day, S&W had better triggers than Ruger. This is pure independent testing and we’re excited to bring it to you. The stock 686 has a clear advantage over the GP100 here: out of the box, the trigger of the 686 is smoother, with noticeably less stacking and a cleaner break in double-action and a precise, short single-action pull. The better a weapon feels in your hands/ or arms with long guns/shotguns. When I first handled a GP-100, the first thing I thought was, this is a boat anchor! The entire gun, once the grip is removed, can be detail stripped with no sideplate removal required. The 686 is mostly a refinement of the S&W’s iconic revolver pedigree, established with their K/L frame revolvers. The GP100 was the successor to Ruger’s Security Six and Speed Six pistols, but uses a … The Ruger, on the other hand, has been shot enough to have smoothed out nicely, and the double action trigger is nothing to be embarrassed about in its own right. I replaced the original hammer spring in the GP with a light spring available from Brownell's … Like the Glock 19, it is easier to maneuver indoors. Personally, I believe the Ruger brand is top notch and at the end of the day, they are both glorious weapons. Unlike the traditionally-designed Smith 686, the frame of the Ruger terminates in a rectangular block housing a coil mainspring assembly, which is as Ruger as it gets: it’s cheaper than shaping the frame to the grip, but it also means that a grip of any shape is possible as long as it’s larger than the frame, the manufacturing shortcut thereby being turned into an advantage for the user. These two beauties are examples of some of the most popular .357 magnum revolvers ever built: Ruger’s GP100, and Smith and Wesson’s 686. Archived. Sometimes that’s very valuable: there are always new products coming out and someone has to research and test and investigate them if consumer at large are going to be able to make informed choices about how to spend their money. Components in the fire control and rest of the gun are likewise traditionally Smith and Wesson and show a high degree of refinement, and the action is significantly nicer than the Ruger out of the box, with all major components evidently smoother in operation. How they’re doing now I don’t know. It’s worth noting that the GP100 has consistently been a top-10 selling revolver over the years and peaked at number 1 in 2018 among all revolvers. Nevertheless, bone stock, the 686 is better. Ruger GP100 357 Magnum. The Ruger is a modern Revolver and the Smith a bit antiquated. To get a sense of the guns’ performance across a range of ammo, we picked up the three most common factory .357 loads, and added a couple of our own handloads. For whatever it’s worth; all four of us are at least 70 years old and are all Vietnam Combat Veteran’s. Were Smith triggers better in the past, All the guns I’m talking about are new? And I was put off by the horrible balance! Your email address will not be published. Another sidewall, more screws, a heavier plate etc doesn’t really feed the bulldog In almost every instance. Ruger SP101 22 Vs S&W 617. They’re in factory condition, although to be fair, the Smith and Wesson happens to be the old Classic Hunter model, which came with a tuned trigger that feels absolutely unreal in single action. If the sights were dialled in for that specific load and distance, it’d be a draw, with the score in the mid-forties as well. Originally built for the .357 Magnum, the GP100 incorporates a medium-sized stainless steel … After comparison, the GP100 is evaluated as the better pistol for personal protection and concealed carry. I have a GP-100 and it is my favorite range handgun. Since I’ve had my S&W 686, 3 of my buddies traded their Rugers for S&W 686. So let’s get rolling, and start feeding this brace of wheelguns a selection of rounds in .38spl and .357mag, and see which gun likes what, how, and maybe even why. For some reason, in the early eighties, there was a pervasive belief that the 110 JHP was the ultimate manstopper; later testing did not bear this theory out but it’s still a cool round and deserves a place in any collector’s heart. The somewhat rougher trigger of the GP100 is a hindrance for fast, precise double-action work, though, and makes that accuracy potential harder to realize. We all agreed to a draw. As for barrel length, the 6" is the better choice for hunting, longer sight plane, more weight … Anyone have any info on this? We started at 15 yards, and worked back to 25, using NRA B-2 bullseyes purely for the sake of convenience. Bearcat: Joined: Sun Nov 26, 2017 10:56 pm Posts: 43 From a novice doing his … Either are available in enhanced trim, with smoothed actions, accurized barrels and extended or smoothed controls, though Smith & Wesson has more custom variants available than Ruger from the factory, with their Performance Center lineup. While it is the rare revolver whose parts require no fitting and adjustment for proper function, the design of the Ruger makes repair and correction of issues somewhat easier. If one was to conceive of an excellent all-purpose fullsize revolver today, what would it look like? They’re rugged, durable and they don’t need to be strengthened to last forever. The Ruger launched four Blazer rounds into three-quarters of an inch before we (rather annoyingly) got spooked by the success and sent the last two an inch left. The bottom line with these two revolvers is that they are similar to the point of absurdity. A classic Smith and Wesson leaf spring gives the trigger a superb feel, although in theory at least, leaf mainsprings are a little more fragile than coils (in practise, we’ve never actually seen one break.) Ruger’s GP-100 revolver is a beefy magnum pistol that brings some unique capabilities to the table. In addition, Ruger dispensed with the traditional design of the grip on the frame, and instead created a sort of peg that holds the mainspring and hammer strut, and allows great flexibility in the size of grips, large or small, to be installed. The throats in Ruger’s cylinders were not on the level with S&W’s. After “about” 500 rounds of magnum 357’s, I can “usually or normally” do 3 inch groups at 30 yards. However, if you prefer a simple and lightweight revolver as a carry gun, you can opt for Ruger … At 25 yards, the differences became more apparent, although again they’re so subtle that most shooters will never see a difference. getting better…… Love both of these Revolvers!!! Ruger SP101 22 S&W 617; Conclusion S&W 617 is generally the better choice. Ruger GP100. Either one of the others comes down to personal preference. One can shoot 500-1K of rounds (like in a semi-auto) will do a lot of polishing and you do not need any gun smithing or special tools or any tools at all. It features a sideplate on the stainless-steel frame which is removed for service and disassembly, a conventional grip arrangement, and a flat mainspring. Posted: Sat Dec 16, 2017 3:17 am . At around 2.9 pounds with its attractive, unfluted cylinder, and equipped with a set of Hogue wraparound grips, the Classic Hunter is an easy-shooting middleweight. The stock Ruger is less expensive than the Smith and Wesson across most variants, usually by about a $100 or so, but if you are considering the cost of upgrading the trigger or purchasing a performance model to bring it to parity with the 686 per the above paragraph then the savings are nil. Post subject: Ruger Redhawk 8 Shot 357 vs Ruger GP100 7 Shot 357. Geordie Pickard. The Ruger Trigger is a very good trigger and can be improved with some simple DIY work. The new GP100 Match Champion is Ruger’s first direct attempt at challenging that dominance. Or two of each. I was very disappointed in Ruger’s decision to beg up a gun that already was as strong as it needed to be. I myself would have the stock GP100 trigger improved, considering that a good DA pull is essential for fast and accurate shooting with a revolver as a defensive arm. The American Eagle stuff was 158 grain jacketed soft point; the Blazer was full metal jacket in Blazer’s signature aluminum cases. The S&W 686 fired its best with the Blazer, putting all six in two and seven-eighths inches. The 686 is a highly rugged and durable gun, and will also withstand constant use of full-power .357 Magnum loads. I can place a dime on the front of the barrel behind the front site and dry fire DA and the dime does not move. The Smith 686 liked the American Eagle more, putting six rounds into one and five-eighths inches. The trigger is noticeably nicer on the 686 out of the box, but the GP100’s trigger is easily improved if you have the skills, patience, or money to see it done, bringing them much closer to parity. If comparing enhanced guns, it is a dead heat, although Smith and Wesson still has an edge, but only just. If you’re thinking of buying the new Ruger … Everyone has their opinion, and, thankfully, the gun manufacturers have produced firearms that fit most people’s preferences and needs. For my money, I could flip a coin and be entirely satisfied with either. As you are probably already thinking, this revolver is not a fantasy. Although the stainless-steel revolver features the Ruger family brushed satin finish, it’s … This gun marks an … Not that we allow manufacturers to influence our content, but you know what they say: there’s a need for justice to be done, and a need for justice to be seen to be done. 03-25 … BudsGunShop.com $572.00 - $617.00 See Deal GunCritic Score More Info. If you want to carry a wheel gun but need something that's with a bit more beef than the standard snubby, two guns that will come up in your search are the Ruger SP101 vs GP100… you only 1 special tool to fully disassemble a Ruger double action revolver. The six inch edition is virtually identical to the Classic Hunter in size and weight; with identical grips there would be no discernible difference in size and the weight discrepancy is a matter of grams. The GP100 … and that tool is a screwdriver blade with a hole EDM in it to remove the ejection rod. The Smith 686 began production in 1980; the Classic Hunter edition hit the shelves in 1988. If you don’t care to immediately start modifying a new gun in order to enjoy the benefits of a nice action, the 686 would be the better choice, or you would be best advised to purchase an upgraded GP100. That day has past. Not a tremendous advantage, but worth mentioning. The GP100's are excellent guns but they feel clunky to me, and most 686's do also to a degree. Better made and better resale value. I once had the opportunity to compare both the GP100 and 686 with 4in barrels, firing both from bench rests in single-action mode at known distance targets at 25 and 50 yards. Bottom line, S&W won the accuracy prize back when it first came out. These two icons of the American revolver are in truth so closely matched as to be two sides of the same coin. Other than say going from a single shot to something else for example located in the gun and! Loads: 110 grain jacketed soft point ; the Classic Hunter edition the! Excited to bring it to you ; Conclusion s & W 686 I ’ not... Things a little differently line with these two revolvers is that they are similar to manufacturers. We have felt the difference in the exact same location, but I ’ m not seeing it B-2... Out in durability about are new we moved on to our stacks of targets have a,. 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