Ruger vs S&W Revolvers

[t-reg]

I'm a Ruger man in my heart and in my safe.
However, were I in the .44 Magnum market, the M29 Classic would be getting a real good look.
Too many updates on the old design to write it off.
It's as if S$W hired one of Mr. Ruger's Grandkids to run the Engineering Dept on that one.

 

[KWend54]

All great points and valid reasons to buy one over another. But, for me, as far as looks …… nothing compares to the beauty of a Python!

 

[Rclark]

But, for me, as far as looks …… nothing compares to the beauty of a Python!

As for me, as far as looks, nothing beats the look of a Single Action Sixgun. All else pales in comparison. . Glad we have choices .

 

[unspellable]

Old discussion, but I'll reply anyway. Depends on what you mean by strong. Take a S&W 45 Colt and a Ruger Blackhawk 45 Colt and crank the pressure up to catastrophic failure and it's a wash at 60,000. On the other hand with really heavy loads the S&W will develop end shake and go out of time sooner than the Ruger. This due to the S&W using the yoke tail to limit forward cylinder travel. It's almost a knife edge on the bottom of the cylinder well. The Ruger limits forward travel by the cylinder neck bearing on the frame with a much larger bearing surface. As said above, it's probably more a model vs model thing than S&W vs Ruger.

 

[ceadermtnboy]

Yankee is a self proclaimed blow hard. Per one of the best revolver gunsmiths ever (Mr. Grant Cunningham) the Ruger Gp100 will never go out of time, the lock-work is solid. Unless you are competition shooter and need the quick trigger return of the S&W, then Ruger is the most reliable. I have had problems with the S&W locking up by throwing the tiny sear spring that is no longer pinned in place. That will lock it down.

 

[bisleyfan41]

Remember the Average yearly income in 1955 for men was 3400 dollars, so that was as much at one cost now or maybe a little more.

 

[dannyd]

Yep, about the same price as the Python today. It was not my favorite revolver by any means, but we used to shoot it across the border from the Peoples Republic of Maryland, but I guess Virginia is becoming that too. Sad.

 

[J. Yuma]

As for me, as far as looks, nothing beats the look of a Single Action Sixgun. All else pales in comparison. . Glad we have choices .

my SBH is like looking at a V8 flathead in a '29 ford, or a P-38 Lightning, or a '56 HD KH.
less > more

 

[Ranger]

I think the Ruger GP100 .44 magnum is much nicer than the same size S&W 69 .44 magnum... oh... wait... the Ruger is just a .44 special for some reason and my 69 is really nice... ;-)

I still remember the old S&W ads about big and thick is great for a burger but not for a gun.

I have both and like both. Wish the QA was better on both. Suspect the Spohr might be best revolver; but spendy...

 

[TommyG1960]

New here. I own both. I have a 6in GP 100 and. 6in model 57 classic smith. Both are great shooters and both go bang. Both will out shoot me. I do think that the Rugers are tanks. The Smith is really sweet to shoot. I have a Sp 101 match champion that is my carry gun that I can hit 410 hulls at 25 yds but with 357 loads it's a hand full, it's carried with 38s. 110 +p. All of them are great revolvers.

 

[contender]

"it boils down to personal preference, what feels good to you and what you can afford."it boils down to personal preference, what feels good to you and what you can afford."

As an instructor,, this is exactly what I tell students. Fit & comfort,, are keys to good shooting.

"I have a Sp 101 match champion"
I hope you meant GP-100 Match Champion. I don't recall a SP-101 in a MC design.

 

[BULL'S-EYE]

"I have a Sp 101 match champion"
I hope you meant GP-100 Match Champion. I don't recall a SP-101 in a MC design.

Ruger® SP101® Match Champion® Double-Action Revolver Models

ruger.com

 

[contender]

I stand corrected.

Thanks Bull's-Eye.

I guess I need to get my head out of the SA line more often!

 

[J. Yuma]

I just saw a 3 screw .44 SBH, for sale.
I'm thinking about it.
What's a fair price?

 

[Star43]

New here. I own both. I have a 6in GP 100 and. 6in model 57 classic smith. Both are great shooters and both go bang. Both will out shoot me. I do think that the Rugers are tanks. The Smith is really sweet to shoot. I have a Sp 101 match champion that is my carry gun that I can hit 410 hulls at 25 yds but with 357 loads it's a hand full, it's carried with 38s. 110 +p. All of them are great revolvers.

When you mention the "110" load, I think of the old "Treasury Load".....110 38 Spc. +P+.....That was a very good load. I still have quite a bit of it left over from back then from the late 80's...

 

[TommyG1960]

It's my favorite 38 load.

 

[contender]

"I just saw a 3 screw .44 SBH, for sale.
I'm thinking about it.
What's a fair price?"

We'd need more details to help in pricing.
The serial number helps identify many things. That would be the best help. After that,, it's about condition, and originality. And of course,, if it has anything special,, like maybe a brass grip frame??

 

[JiminMaine]

I just saw a 3 screw .44 SBH, for sale.
I'm thinking about it.
What's a fair price?

Whatever you are willing to pay for it.

 

[Star43]

Whatever you are willing to pay for it.

Ain't that the truth. Beauty is always in the eyes of the beholder......

 

[jakes10mm]

My very first gun - ever - was a S&W M29, 8-3/8" barrel that I bought for IHMSA Silhouette shooting. Beautiful gun.

But I bought it new in 1988 and that period of S&W was not their greatest in terms of quality. Those in IHMSA that shot revolvers (as opposed to T/C's and XP-100's) chose Ruger Blackhawks or Dan Wesson over S&W by about 20 to 1. Why? The M29's had a reputation of going out of time and of throat erosion. The common belief was that S&W designed the M29 with the thought that the average owner wouldn't put more than one box of .44 mag rounds through it in its lifetime.

As for mine, within the first 500 rounds I did see throat erosion, flame cutting of the top strap, and some timing issues if you pulled the hammer back very slowly (I always shoot single action). But now, with over 2000 rounds through it of my mild magnum loads, it shoots accurately and is not getting worse.

I do believe the Rugers overall are stronger and, back then, of higher quality. S&W has improved its quality since the 80's, however.

Have to agree with the flame cutting. I owned several S&W 610 revolvers and started noticing top strap flame cutting on the most used 610. I moved away from S&W to Rugers. I'm on the fence over whose best. I've had issues with my GP100 and have a couple 480 Rugers that had to go back for cylinder polishing. I have a new Colt Python that has been very good to date, preferred over my GP100 at this point. Overall, like S&W, Colt and Ruger, but each has their unique issues. Price-wise, they are migrating in a common direction. At this point, I have all brands on my want list but feel the fit & finish on Colt is currently ahead of S&W and Ruger.