A convert to Ruger

I also sold a S&W 686 to buy a Ruger. But not because I was dissatisfied with the 686, I just couldn't afford to keep it and buy the SP101 to carry.

I do not take sides on the Ruger/S&W issue. If I had the cash available I would still own one of each.

Nor do I take sides on the revolver/pistol issue. I usually carry the Ruger, but I also own a SIG P228 and carry it when I can (translation: when my wife doesn't have it!).

Rather than play "My dad is stronger than your dad" games, I just like to shoot my guns. We all have our favorites, that is why they make so many different models.
 
I think the Ruger vs S&W is a use thing. If you are in competition you will probably prefer the S&W trigger and if you are hunting you probably just want a heavy duty revolver.

The vast majority of revolver competitors use S&W. I am sort of hedging here as I have only seen one Ruger at any of the ICORE or International Revolver Championship matches, but I didn't inspect all the revovlers to make sure it was the only one.

I didn't understand the trigger thing, either, until I had shot revolvers for quite some time. I finally got a chance to shoot a Ruger GP100 (which I had my eye on as a possible purchase) and found the trigger somewhat awkward in takeup and follow through. Sturdy enough for hunting, etc., but not something for smooth follow up shots in competition or, perhaps, combat.

For those on a political bent, Ruger has skeletons in their closet as well.
 
I'm aware Bill Ruger made comments about not putting more than 10 rounds in mags for semi autos.
I don't care for semi-autos however, so that's not a real issue with me.
I just didn't care for the way the new S&W owners just kind of started pushing the American issue, rather than just come out and say something.

And I actually think the Rugers are more visibly pleasing than Smiths.

Plus, the Rugers I have don't have the internal lock. I did not have a problem with those until I started hearing they could fail. If I could find a 686 without one, I'd likely get it.

I'll happily own older Smiths and still have a 19-3 and a 65-2 I don't plan on getting rid of.
 
PaleRyder,

Where did you hear that the S&W locks can fail? That is absurd. The locks are a total non-entity. I have left the keys to mine in the box and never touched them and have no problems. I absolutely challenge anyone to demonstrate that the locks are actually a point of failure. Note I said demonstrate, not conjecture.
 
Ruger-the GUN company that SUPPORTS gun control.

:rolleyes:

And the reason the Rugers are so 'massive' is because they're investment cast. Smith spends more to forge their frames specifically so they can be smaller and lighter.


Larry
 
S&W = Smaller & Weaker...

...and S&W kissed Clinton's A$$.

Don't be dissin' Ruger, now, DT Guy! ;) :D

This is like the classic beauty contest ---
You pick the 'hot' chick and get the job done for one night.
You pick the 'not as hot' chick and get breakfast in the morning for LIFE.

I don't own a S&W...but I've shot a few! :p
 
Nice Rugers Pale.

Re: The Agreement. One of the Directors of S&W called me to explain their position on this because I emailed Ms. Fredette (cust serv person, nice lady) about it.

Hmmm... I can't remember the name. Ken something.

Anyhoo, he explained that the reason why they haven't come out publicly to denounce it is: Harrassing product liability lawsuits encouraged by anti gun groups. Note that the Tomkins era S&W got into this mess to get out of said lawsuits, among other things.

Anyway, that's the story I know.
 
I found some stuff on the locks searching High Road and Firing Line. I've never heard of them failing from anyone first-hand.

Anti-gun groups, the epitome of mental retardation.

Just my opinion!

Oh, the other thing I had heard was the later models of Smiths are MIM now and some said they were not as good quality-wise as the earlier models. Both S&W's I traded in were later, MIM models. There probably is nothing to that either, but I'd rather find a 686-3 or older. Mine was a 686-6.


When I get some debts paid off, I may purchase a 686 again if I come across a 4 inch model.
 
Anyhoo, he explained that the reason why they haven't come out publicly to denounce it is: Harrassing product liability lawsuits encouraged by anti gun groups. Note that the Tomkins era S&W got into this mess to get out of said lawsuits, among other things.
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SnWnMe,

To give you a perspective of a person that was a staunch S&W supporter until this behaviour started, let me explain. This type of behaviour is pure cowardice and franky not what a "leader" in the firearms industry should be doing. To bow to legal pressuring and protests by the left wing minority helps to erode away at the 2nd amendment. By bowing down, S&W encouraged the anti gun groups to use these bullying tactics again and again, and they will not stop until they have tried to sue each and every gun manufacturer in every state of the union. This is why so many are angry at S&W, and why their lack of industry leadership by not stepping out and denouncing the deal is truly telling of the new management at Smith. I had great hopes for the new management, I hope they can get the S&W brand back up to it's original status of truly american. While you may hear me rant when someone attacks Ruger, it is because Ruger (as well as Taurus and Browning) is in court almost every day fighting to protect themselves and through this, our rights. These companies did not bow down and took the lead in fighting this unjust attempt to put them out of business, thereby removing your ability to buy a new gun. Just a little perspective on what S&W's actions are doing to their rep among the populace. I can enjoy a Big Mac, but if McDonalds supports terrorist actions am I going to shop there once I find out? Good luck and have a great day, this was truly not meant to be mean or anything.

.44mag
 
Avoiding the political correctness debates about Ruger and Smith and Wesson, I'll just say that I like Ruger revolvers better for me and for my purposes . My experience has been that Smiths generally seem a little better finished as a rule . I'm one that generally likes the Ruger trigger (maybe I'm just used to it). Rugers look and feel better to me and I like the design better. That said, there is not a thing wrong with Smiths and probably most folks think they're a little "better". A guy should just buy what he likes, shoot it, and forget about it.
 
Also, if any of you have the time to read the whole agreement. I think it's still on the ILA site. It's pretty ridiculous. No, it is ridiculous. There is no way any company can adhere to all it's demands without going out of business.

Sometimes I still wonder what might've happened if Kerry won. He might hold S&W's feet to the fire over the agreement. (shrug)That will be a money loser for the present owners. Saf-T will probably sell the company, somebody else takes over, probably rescind the agreement so they can operate, then they go back to making revolvers, life goes on.
 
SnWnMe,

I have to agree, I am personally baffled that they would ever sign the thing. All I can think is that they were hurting for money and the management was already thinking of abandoning the ship. I do know that they were expecting more support from the Law enforcement sector and never got it. They also did not expect the industry to turn on them like they did. I personally enjoy Smith revolvers along with my Rugers and Taurus', but this situation really turned me off.

.44mag
 
To be fair-

I would love to buy a Ruger with a clean conscience again. The day they release rifle hi-caps to the public, I'll be out buying a Ruger.


Larry
 
The day they release rifle hi-caps to the public, I'll be out buying a Ruger.
Click to expand...

The day they introduce a Blackhawk, Redhawk, or Security Six that accepts such a magazine will be the day that such a thing matters to me. I've never wanted a Mini-14 with or without a "high cap" so I really don't care. And I'm not going to let it stop me from buying a "totally different kind of gun" like the 50th Anniversary Blackhawk.

The man is dead people! God help us if we say something stupid in the last ten years of our lives. People might just ignore everything good we ever did in favor of the "senior moment." I keep hoping to find some quote some where in which John Browning said that civilians didn't really need magazines over ten rounds. I fully expect all the Ruger naysayers to promptly dispose of any and all Browning designs and to refuse to ever buy any more!

As for me, I'll keep my nose in place, thank you.

Gregg
 
Just because Ruger doesn't release hicaps to public doesn't mean there unavailable. LEO mags are available fairly easily. I bought 6 when the ban ended with 1 phone call. The GB rifles can be had new too, seek and you shall find. Many makers are going this route to limit lawsuits. Makes for good business and keeps our prices down. Remington does the same thing with their LE line. Does this mean everyone should stop buying 700's, 870's, 11-87's? Colt doesn't ship the LE stuff direct either. There are a hell of a lot of people that count on paychecks from these manufacturers to feed their children. Foriegn makers aren't as concerned because their in it for the quick buck. US makers have been HERE from the beginning and see their bottom line getting worse from expensive unnecessary lawsiuts.
 
I really don't know much about the politics that get sprayed all over gun forums concerning Ruger AND S&W... all I know is that Ruger makes STRONG, accurate firearms that I can afford. I think they look fantastic to boot, so why would I hunt for Smith guns when I'm perfectly happy w/ Ruger?
 
I found a posting at www.sixgunners.com citing Shooting Magazine, quoted here:

"Anybody else read the latest issue of (I believe) "Shooting" magazine. There is one sidebar where the author mentions three different guns at his range where the intergal locks have malfunctioned. In two they jammed up the gun. In the third pieces of the lock (the little flag) came flying out the back of the gun, but it continued to function.

In all cases the guns were lightlweight versions (the Scandium in at least one of them) firing mag loads. "

The same thread also said Mas Ayoob reported the same thing in American Handgunner late last year.

And I must be weird, but I prefer the trigger pulls in general on the Rugers.
 
I don't take sides on S&W vs. Ruger because I own both and enjoy both for their own merits. I don't buy new Smiths because I prefer not to have locks in them, but I sure buy a lot of "lightly" used Smiths! The slightly used and older LNIB Smiths are fabulous guns which will hold value and appreciate over time, that's for sure! I can't keep away from them in the models I prefer.

I also like the GP and SP lines. Especially my 3" GP-100's. They're not finished nearly as nicely as Smiths and out of the box actions aren't great, and I'm NOT impressed by the long and somewhat funky feeling trigger reset on them... but with a lighter set of springs and a little use, you can get a really nice trigger on a Ruger!

As far as accuracy and reliability goes, they both are fine. As for durability, both brands have all the durability I desire in a handgun. I'm not into beating myself or my guns up with constant use of the heaviest loads possible, so this is a non issue for me. Mostly, I don't like beating myself up with the heaviest of loads! A little here and there is ok, with most of my shooting using more moderate loads. All of these guns will out last me.

I would never choose to go all one brand or all the other... there's room in my safe (barely) for Smiths AND Rugers... even if I do give a slight nod to the pre-lock Smiths! ;)
 
Yeah, I should clarify. Having "S&W" stamped on the side wouldn't keep me from buying a nice gun if the price was right. I have no problems with Smiths, I know they're great firearms. I've just been around Rugers all my life and I know they're quality guns as well, and they're a little less expensive usually.

The trigger thing...
I've shot Rugers so much that they feel great to me - I'm familiar with them. I honestly don't know how they compare to a Smith.
 
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