Do you follow your head or your heart?

[Ned]

I've been trying to decide on a gun for "Distinguished Revolver" competition. This requires the use of .38 ammo.

I had all but settled on the S&W Model 686 which I'm sure is a fine piece. But: I've long had an affinity for Ruger single actions and I have found a source for the Bisley model in .357/38 - a model I believe is no longer being produced.

My head tells me the S&W is the better target gun but my heart says go with the Ruger (which probably would require some added work to match the smoothness of the Smith based on what I've read).

I don't know if there is any inherent advantage to a double action gun (using single action mode) versus a single action only?

Has anybody faced such a choice and which way did you lean? (I know the standard reply is "get both" but that's not in the budget at the moment).

Ned

[crabo]

I would go with the double action strictly because of reloading the gun.  I am not familiar with the course of fire, but if there are any reloads involved, you would spend too much of your time reloading the gun.  It would also get old if you shoot a 100 plus round match.

Craig

[Savage]

Have to say, I really like the Smith for your application. The sights, the trigger, the inherent accuracy of the 686, as well as the ease of loading/unloading. The 686 could also serve as a HD/SD or IDPA weapon/toy  if needed.  Nothing wrong with getting the Ruger later. If I could only have one at a time, the Smith would be my first choice.
Savage

[Ned]

I appreciate the replies.

Turns out the question has been resolved by a more careful reading of the rules (a good idea I failed to follow at first).

I was a little concerned as the Ruger has a barrel length of 6.5 inches and I thought the maximum allowed might be 6.0. The rulebook quickly showed that 6.5 is the maximum so I was o.k. there BUT then I noticed "Trigger - Must have SINGLE AND DOUBLE action capability..." (emphasis added). That would exclude the SA Ruger.

Using my head leads to following it, I guess.

Thanks again.

Ned

[Skunk]

Ned, don't forget about the 6" Ruger GP100.

I have the Stainless model and just love it. It handles extremely well, is very accurate, is less expensive than a 686, and it will last for many lifetimes to come. Plus, it is a very nice looking gun too. Nothing against the S&Ws except that they are way over priced for what you get, not to mention being a bit butt ugly. Of course everyone is different when it comes to aesthetic value.

Take a look at a GP100, you might find it is everything you wanted in a "distinguished" revolver.

Skunk

[Lloyd Smale]

sorry ruger fans but i like rugers too. I have more of them then all the rest of my guns combined but for a comp revolver theres just no beating a good smith. Just go to a high level match one time and see how many rugers you see the guys shooting expert class  using.

[Luckyducker]

Sounds like Ned has made his choice and I believe the right one.  I have had a couple different 357s and a single action Ruger but the Smith was hands down the most accurate, that is not to say the others weren't accurate enough but when competition shooting a little bit may be just enough.

[Graybeard]

I've done a LOT of competition shooting in multiple discplines using handguns, rifles and shotguns and read the results of many tournaments all over that I've not shot in. The one thing you seem to pretty much NEVER see is the name of a Ruger shooter in the winner's list. I've shot against numerous shooters who used Ruger guns but other than my now deceased best friend Billy Doss I don't recall ever having one of them come in ahead of me in any match with any gun in any discipline. Billy did some times and some times I beat him. We were about as evenly matched as two shooters can be.

[warrior1]

greybeard, did you come up against many colts?

[StrawHat]

Ned,

I shot in PPC competition for 15 years, I eventually replaced my Davis built PPC revolver with a S&W M686 w/ 6" barrel.

I recommend two things.

   1. Get the S&W

   2. Learn to shoot it double action.  I don't recall anyone in the winners circle (or the Governor's Twenty) who ever used the single action trigger for competition.  That beautiful straight smooth pull that S&W revolver's are know for is what wins.

Make that 3 things

   3. Practice

Good luck.

[Blackhawk44]

Don't know where you might find one, but back a zillion years ago when I took a try at PPC, my Python with its tabletop trigger job was only a hair's breadth less accurate than my S&W Velchoff custom.  Its DA trigger was just as easy to handle as a Smith and I had no problem going from one to the other.  As per Strawhat, shoot all practice and every  match double action only.  Trying to go back and forth between double and single action will only hinder your development.   

[Graybeard]

greybeard, did you come up against many colts?

Yes occasionally especially the Python but less often the Troopers. They held their own OK but seldom were the folks shooting them the caliber of shooter to take best advantage of them. Now by shooting buddy and best friend Billy Doss owned a Python and he was of the caliber shooter to take advantage of it and he did some winning with it. I remember one shoot where I was spotting for him and coaching him in a silhouette match.

Some fellow whose last name I've forgotten but first name was Herb was shooting a long barreled S&W .41 Magnum and don't right well at it. He had cleaned the first 20 targets and wasn't missing many on this second 20. Billy was on his first 20 and had 18 of them down and two to go. He turned around to me and commented that Herb didn't even realize he was right on his butt and that he was gonna beat Herb. I told him that was might bold talk for a one eyed fat man (he was both) and that he best be shooting and not talking. He proceeded to miss the last two shots and those cost him the win. Had he hit those he would indeed have won that match as his second 20 was better than Herb's.

Other than my friend Billy I can't say that I can recall anyone actually winning in the competitions I shot in with a Colt. Most winners shot TCs or S&W in those days around here at least.

[nrb]

I still have my Masterpiece which is one of the smoothest and most accurate 38s I ever used or saw. They were the top of the competition when I shot competition.

best,        nrb

[Lloyd Smale]

threres a couple guys local that do fair with a python. problem with a python is that they tend not to hold up under 10s of thousands of rounds and need attention to keep in working order more then a smith. From what i see of the guys shooting pythons is that they look pretty much like new because the owners dont want to beat them up and if you show up to a match with a nice shinny gun i can about gurantee your not taking home any masters trophys.