Author Topic: GP100 vs. 686 HELP!! (Read 5616 times)

Tn Jim · « **on:** February 16, 2009, 08:36:45 PM »

I need some advise. Both in stainless. Either 4" or 6" (haven't made up my mind. I like both.). Full underlug on both. Which would you choose and why? IF I get one it will be primarily a range gun, but would also be a bedside table gun. Relax, no kids in the house and it would be locked up if there ever were. I already have a CCW gun (SA 1911) and a woods gun ( Super Blackhawk 4 5/8"). My first handgun many moons ago was a 357 and I'm kinda partial to them, and I have been kicking around the idea of getting another. I've shot a 6" 686 and a 4" GP100 and I like them both. Decisions, decisions!

Tom C. · « **Reply #1 on:** February 17, 2009, 02:46:19 AM »

Among my handguns are a 4" GP-100 and a 4" 686SSR. Both are terrific guns: very accurate and very nice actions. The 686SSR came with a better trigger and it has gotten better the more I shoot it. The GP-100 is built like an anvil and feels like it when new. Mine needed a little internal smoothing to get it good. Now it has a very nice trigger and shoots very well. It would be difficult for me to choose between them.

I, too, use my GP-100 as my house gun. I use it for that for several reasons: it works and it is reasonalby inexpensive. If I ever have to use it, I will probably loose it. Prosecuters in my state, Maryland, will probably go after me and I probably won't see the gun again.

Graybeard · « **Reply #2 on:** February 17, 2009, 04:08:49 AM »

Kind of a personal thing really but I'd ALWAYS chose a S&W 686 over a Ruger.

jumpsteady · « **Reply #3 on:** February 17, 2009, 04:15:57 AM »

GP 100 in a 6"

teddy12b · « **Reply #4 on:** February 17, 2009, 04:31:03 AM »

I've never owned or shot a 686, but I did own a 6" GP100 with hogue tamer grips. It was very comfortable to shoot full power loads and I knew I wouldn't be hurting the gun any. It was by far one of the most accurate handguns I've ever had. The way it's built, it just feels tough.

Will_C · « **Reply #5 on:** February 18, 2009, 04:30:45 AM »

I don't think you can go wrong. Personally, I'm with Graybeard and would choose the Smith (I have a 6" 686), but I have shot my brother's GP enough to know thatit is a quality gun as well. see what fits your hand best.
Will

OLDHandgunner · « **Reply #6 on:** February 18, 2009, 05:10:49 AM »

Both are quality handguns. But I would have to go with the S&W 686.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #7 on:** February 18, 2009, 05:31:59 AM »

i generally like the Ruger as i like max loads . but the S&W comes with a better trigger . By the time you get the trigger worked on a Ruger you are close in cost . both have good sights the S&W may have a finer adjustment . for your use either would be nice , which fits your hand better ? as far as 6 vs 4 the 4 inch would be better in defence the 6 better at the range .
Why the 4 incher at the bed side ? less bbl for an attacker to grab and have leverage to wrench it out your hand .

Mohawk · « **Reply #8 on:** February 18, 2009, 06:23:29 AM »

I'm on the side of personal preference. I always liked the tapered barrels that gave the revolver more felt weight in the cylinder area rather than toward the barrel as in heavy barrel version. The S&W Models 10, 27, 28, and Mountain guns are good examples. And the S&W Models 619 and 620 are L frame(686) strength with no full underlug barrels if you prefer that.

ihuntbucks · « **Reply #9 on:** February 18, 2009, 06:18:26 PM »

I have the 686P (7 rounds).Shoots good with no problems.I feed it handloads and factory;it likes all of them

.It is my truck and jeep gun....Rick

Old Griz · « **Reply #10 on:** June 01, 2009, 03:27:18 AM »

Both are great firearms, but the Ruger comes in second when it comes to these two. Now if we were talking about .44s or .45s I'd give the nod to the Redhawk, but as far as .357s go, the 686 is the better gun.

Ahab · « **Reply #11 on:** June 06, 2009, 10:14:36 AM »

Quote from: Old Griz on June 01, 2009, 03:27:18 AM

Both are great firearms, but the Ruger comes in second when it comes to these two. Now if we were talking about .44s or .45s I'd give the nod to the Redhawk, but as far as .357s go, the 686 is the better gun.

I agree!

Shooter973 · « **Reply #12 on:** June 07, 2009, 12:13:52 PM »

I own both, but find the Ruger to be a bit more accurate than the S&W. The Ruger is also the handgun that gets shot the most, but then thats just my preferance. The factory grips on the Ruger just fit and feel bit better to me.

Old Griz · « **Reply #13 on:** June 07, 2009, 01:24:36 PM »

I really liked the old factory grips. Why in the world did they change them?

ratgunner · « **Reply #14 on:** June 21, 2009, 01:03:47 PM »

Quote from: Old Griz on June 07, 2009, 01:24:36 PM

I really liked the old factory grips. Why in the world did they change them?

Cost savings.

teddy12b · « **Reply #15 on:** June 22, 2009, 02:35:12 AM »

Quote from: ratgunner on June 21, 2009, 01:03:47 PM

Quote from: Old Griz on June 07, 2009, 01:24:36 PM
I really liked the old factory grips. Why in the world did they change them?
Cost savings.

I'm not sure if it was for cost savings so much. The hogue tamer grips sell in huge numbers. Most manufacturers keep an eye on what's selling in the aftermarket world and eventually make those options standard. Another example of this would be the marlin 1895SBL. I had a gp100 and I put the hogue tamer grips on it and it was much more comfortable to shoot with.

Three44s · « **Reply #16 on:** June 23, 2009, 04:02:37 PM »

Neither for me ..... make mine a 629 MG ..........

....... second choice ......... the Ruger Security Six in four inch!

I like the balance of tapered barrels much better.

Three 44s

ratgunner · « **Reply #17 on:** July 08, 2009, 10:31:26 AM »

For the OP, you can find either in a 5" barrel also if you look hard enough.Now you really only need to decide the brand you want.

gman628 · « **Reply #18 on:** July 24, 2009, 03:55:59 PM »

I like the Ruger myself, just a personal thing. I don't own a 686, but the neihbor does in 6" and I like it a lot, but I like my Ruger better. If you're looking for heft, look on gun broker and find a nice Ruger Redhawk in 5-1/2" barrel (they're still out there) built like a tank. I own the 7-1/2" model Redhawk. Now for length, if it will pimairly be used as a nightstand revolver, I would go with a 4" model, don't need the extra sight plain for up close and personal in-the-house use if you already have a carry gun and a hunter.

Gary

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #19 on:** July 25, 2009, 01:45:53 AM »

in 357 id take a smith hands down. Fit and finish is much better. Trigger pull is worlds better and alothough the ruger may be stouter, a 357 doesnt put much strain on a gun that big anyway and i doubt if a smith is going to ever wear out in the average guys lifetime. Only advantage i see to the ruger is price. Look at the firing line of any competitive shoot and see how many rugers you see. that will tell you which gun is more accurate and shootable.

mattmillerrx · « **Reply #20 on:** August 09, 2009, 02:04:28 PM »

I have never never shot a GP100 but I think it is a good gun. I have a 686 and love it so I can say for sure it is ok, plus it is a smith and I personally think that helps in resale, weather it does or not.

kynardsj · « **Reply #21 on:** August 09, 2009, 02:18:03 PM »

All good points and posts about the two. While never having owned a GP100, I have owned two 686's. Sweet shooters. I do own the GP100's predecessor, the Security Six and once they smoothe out they feel and shoot great. Gotta think about price too, them 686's have gone thru the roof while the GP100 is still fairly reasonable. Tough choice.

Noreaster · « **Reply #22 on:** August 31, 2009, 02:40:33 PM »

Prob to late for a reply, but I've owned both in 6inch & 4inch. S&W is a better carry gun because of weight, but my last 686 was not a shooter. Cylinder gap was terrible but within specs. I've had two GP100s and one security six and never had a problem with them. I like the old GP grips much better than the Hogue with a hump in the middle to ruin your palm.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #23 on:** September 01, 2009, 03:07:26 AM »

Noreaster, Got to ask is one oz that much ? the 4 inch GP-100 in SS is 41 ozs the S&W standard 6 shot 4 inch bbl is 40 ozs .
I see the same thing with redhawks they are often less than a mod 29 but everyone thinks they are more . when you consider the ruger has a stud not a grip frame its easy to see how they are almost = in weight . The Ruger will take more abuse though !

teddy12b · « **Reply #24 on:** September 01, 2009, 04:14:05 AM »

Maybe I'm wrong, but the way I've always looked at it is like this. A ruger with a trigger job can be as nice as a smith, but a smith will never be as stoutly built as a ruger. The weight thing to me is irrelivant since I'm a little "husky" I won't notice an ounce here or there.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #25 on:** September 01, 2009, 04:17:47 AM »

with handloading one can take advantage of the extra ablity of the Ruger to handle more power and an ounce will help !

Noreaster · « **Reply #26 on:** September 03, 2009, 05:16:24 AM »

Good one. I've never actually looked at the weight specs. The smith just felt better in a holster. Slimmer and lighter, but I guess it's really not. Anyway I love my GP100 SS 6inch, (though I miss the 4inch.) It's a gun I'm never afraid to shoot any load out of and I won't ever trade it.

M19 4inch (couldn't handled a steady diet of magnums.)
M66 4inch (no problems)
M686 6inch (not a shooter)
GP100 4inch (issued in 1990, Dept. went to 9mm a few years later.)
GP100 6inch (only one I still own!)

Gavinator · « **Reply #27 on:** October 09, 2009, 07:48:31 AM »

The 6" full lug that has a warranty.

NickSS · « **Reply #28 on:** October 09, 2009, 10:11:45 PM »

I own a GP100 revolvers and two Security sixes The security six's I have had for years and they have given me great service over the years. I also used to own a lot of S&W revolvers of different models and today only own one and that is an old model 10. Smiths have good triggers and are accurate but they are also weaker than Rugers. My two Security Six revolvers had to have spring kits and new grips installed. As I have put new grips on all the S&Ws I have owned this is not a big deal with me. My GP 100 was bought recently. It is a brand new gun and has the best double and single action trigger pull I have ever enjoyed except on one Colt Python that went through the Custom Shop I owned a bunch of years ago. It also shoots extremely well. I have never owned an un worked on Smith that was as good right out of the box. In fact the trigger is why I bought this revolver as I really did not need it.

Old Griz · « **Reply #29 on:** October 10, 2009, 05:31:17 PM »

I agree that Rugers are stronger than S&W, however, I'm just an average shooter and I'll never shoot out any of my Smiths. I thing that Rugers are fine guns, but the Smiths are smoother, and I've never had one that wasn't extremely accurate and that goes from .22LR, .38, .357, .41, or .44 Spl. I must admit, my SA Rugers in .357 are tackdrivers.

Again, you can't go wrong with either choice.