Final Decision - S&W 60 3" or SP101 3"

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Blade37db

New member
I've read most of the posts on the subject (great information here), shot a shorter version of the SP (2") and had a chance to hold and dry fire the 60. Since buying both isn't an option, someone please tell me something I don't know about one of them so I can make a decision on my first home defense/CCW revolver.
Ruger: +: solid build and quality. I like the grips. -:Trigger pull is way too heavy for my liking and the gun is a little heavier than I'd like.
Smith: +: SMOOTH trigger and I like the grips as well. Adjustable sights are a plus. A little lighter than the SP -: Internal lock & price. J frame not as solid as the SP's (?).

I appreciate your feedback.
 
Trigger pull is way too heavy for my liking.
Click to expand...
I had an SP101, 3", Ditto! Traded it! Some have described it as the trigger from hell. My GP-100 is too heavy for what you're looking for, but a great gun, with a great trigger. Go figure... :rolleyes:

Can't help you with the 60...

Good Luck
 
A hard choice

For me the Ruger is a stronger gun, but the smith is more refined.
The investment casting that Ruger uses to make there guns is one of the reasions there cheeper, but never cheep.
In my 30 years of shooting and 20 working in a gun store in Indiana I have never seen a ruger trigger that could beat a Smith out of the box.
And once you have had a good gunsmith work over a eather the ruger trails even further back.
Again both are good, no very good guns, but if the trigger is your deciding point, then the only way to go is with the 60.
 
My 3" SP101 is damn accurate. If you've read my "SP101 dumb question" thread, you know my gun was delivered with a missing part. My smith had it fixed in a jiffy and I couldn't be happier. He, in his 30 years of experience, has NEVER seen a Ruger shipped with a missing part before. The SP101 is stiff at first, but that's one of the things I like about it. I don't have a problem with the trigger at all. Very solid, and did I mention ACCURATE?

I have a Hogue grip on order for it because the factory grip seems small for my hands. No experience with S&W, but I really don't like the integrated safety lock feature.

Doing some heavy research, as I did, I'm sure you'll be happy with either model.
 
I just went through this same decision!

Dear Blade37db :)

I just went through this same decision making process about 2 months ago. First, you have your facts just about 100% :D My friends who own the Ruger (and there are a bunch) say that, over time and with use, the trigger of the SP101 will smooth out and you could also have some work done on the trigger if you choose.

Since my major concern was choosing a gun for concealed carry the weight of the Model 60 was 24 oz. (for the 3" revo) while the weight of the SP101 was 27 oz. Not much difference but it was of come concern to me.

The Ruger was about $60.00 cheaper than the Smith.

Although the Ruger is most definitely a "tougher" weapon my question was
what practical difference did this make to me. I do not intend to reload and as far as factory ammo is concerned both are plenty "tough" :cool:

Finally, I chose the Model 60 because it just plain felt better in my hand. So much for rational choices. Both are really great choices I hope you make that one that satisfies you best. :D
 
Ive had both the sp101 and I now carry the S&W model 60. They both had their plusses I liked the sp101 because it was a 357 mag while the 60 is just a 38 spec. I really like the trigger on my 60 compared to the sp101, and it is considerably lighter than the sp101. The sp101 is a great carry gun but for myself I really prefer the 60.
 
A 10 dollar trigger kit will make the Ruger trigger just as nice, if not nicer than the smiths....


Now before any of you "conservative" types bash me for putting a trigger kit on a self defence gun at least hear me out. I dont have a gun that i havent done some form of trigger work on...CCW or not. I shoot better with a better trigger...plain and simple. You can get mis-fires or light strikes by going with a spring too light, but its an easy solution...dont go so light that your getting malfunctions and function test(fire) the snot out of it before you carry the thing. I wont carry a gun without it firing several hundred rounds flawlessly. Anything that i think will fail to defend my life stays in my safe.

My SP101 and my GP100 both have triggers that would put any box stock Smith to shame....a simple cleaning up of the internals and carefully selecting a correct set of springs was all it took. The SP will take much more of a beating than the 60 will...especially if you feed it a steady diet of full house magnum loads....and to be honest, ive never seen a 60's trigger that was what i would classify as "smith" good.
 
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