Security-Six vs. GP 100

M

makarov

New member
All other things being equal (price etc...) would you think that the Security-Six or the GP-100 is the better gun. Did the changes they made to the design make the GP inferior in quality to the older design? Looking to get a 6" revolver .357 for target shooting. Will shoot mostly .38's but may want to shoot .357's sometimes too. Also looking at a 27 and model 28 too (and a Colt Trooper 1st series). Actually, looking is half the fun.

-Makarov
 
GP100 is stronger, close to (possibly equal to) the S&W N-Frame in strength, remarkable because the GP100 is roughly equal to the L-Frame in size.

The Security/Service Six series (same frame, different sights) is closer to K-Frame in both size and strength, with a slight edge to the Ruger for strength but not that much - like the Ks, excessive diets of hot 125grain .357s will wear 'em some.

The GP100 will eat those or heavier no sweat :).
 
GP-100 hands down!

The first gun that I ever own was Ruger Secuity Six. I will say that the Secuity Six was a very sturdy gun, but the trigger was another story. The double-action trigger on the Security Six was far from being a smooth trigger in fact it SUCKED! Go with the GP-100 the double-action trigger on this model is very smooth.
Makarov also take a look at the Smith & Wesson Model-686plus now this is truly a great .357MAG revolver! ;)
 
triggers and more

Of the examples I've shot the Security Sixes had the better DA pulls, maybe due to the earlier vintage or just use.

The smaller frame offers two things, lighter carrying weight and a standard gripframe. The standard gripframe is an advantage if you like to dress a gun up with some nice wood, antler, or ivory. To me it is a classier gun, but magnums aren't any fun to shoot in it.

The GP with its rubber grips and more weight is much more comfortable with the hotter loads, and probably more accurate on average with all that barrel steel.
 
I'd prefer the GP100 if the barrel is to be 6" or greater, simply because the weight aids steadiness for longer range and when accuracy is the priority.

I think Ruger gave up too much in the ease of carry and speed departments when they abandoned the Security-Six. The GP100 is heavier and less handy than the older model. In double action fire, I feel the extra weight in the cylinder every time the next chamber clunks into alignment. I do prefer the appearance of the GP100, however. That front sight on the Security-Six was always ugly to me.
 
I greatly prefer the Security Six. The GP100 balance ( or lack of, IMHO) feels clunky.

As far as strength ands durability , the Securituy Sixes are, I believ, comparable to the "L" frame S&W models. I've had one for 26 years, have fired it a lot, and it does not show unusual wear, or erosion. An acquantance had to replace a minor part in his Security Six, but only after 10K rounds of a load which is 10% over max in current manuals. This is with a handgun that can use the same leather as a "K" frame S&W.

From the box, the Spoeed Sixes or Security Sixes were in need of tuning, but tuning one by polishing a few points, and perhaps replacing the mainspring takes less than 1/2 hour.
 
Another vote for the Ruger Security Six. I have owned two
over a period of years. Quite often used them to test my
own handloaded ammunition. Had 0 problems; even with
hot handload's. All Ruger centerfire handguns are "proof
tested" by the factory with loads that are 30% above norm.
According to a Ruger rep, this is standard procedure.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
 
The GP100 is built like a bank vault door. Do you really want to go around toting a bank vault door?

The S-6 will handle just about any factory load I can think of, no sweat.
 
I'm not concerned about size. I want a nice target type revolver mostly. Am looking at N-frame smiths too. Would even consider a .357 Redhawk, but they are scarce. 6" barrel minimum, adjustable sights. I actually like the partial lug better than the full uderlug. The GP's come with a partial lug too, just not as popular. I guess my real question is not one of strength, but of quality of manufacture. Were the older Rugers made *better* - did they cut costs on the GP design that affected the quality of the gun compared to the older design? I know the GP's are solid - there have been some posts that indicate some have endshake problems, but overall they get excellent reviews here at TFL. I will probably shoot mostly .38's and am wavering about buying a Smith 14 instead (or first).

- Makarov
 
I have said this on numerous other threads but I would have to say that my 4" stainless GP-100 is my faviorite handgun. Ironically I own a Model 28 4" (N-Frame), a Model 27 6" (N-Frame), a 686 8 3/8" with scope (L-Frame), a Model 14 8 3/8" (K-Frame), two Model 19s one 4" and one 6" (K-Frames), a .357 Redhawk 5" (?), and have owned a Security Six stainless 4" although I only shot it a couple times. I bought the Security Six from a co-worker who couldn't make her rent and sold it soon afterwards, why, I have no idea now. My most frequent shooting buddy has a Security Six 4" stainless that he loves. He recently bought a 6" 686 and says he much prefers the Security Six. I have shot his Security Six quite a bit and it is a fine revolver. You wouldn't be doing yourself any harm in buying one. I personally love the look of the GP100, I like the size and weight of it. I like the way you can disassemble it. And it fits nicely in a holster designed for the N-Frame Smiths. It is rugged, and accurate. Mine has a great trigger pull especially on double action. My second choice would be the 4" Model 28. This is everything you could ask in a revolver but I think I am prejudiced because I see Smiths as more of a work of art and really baby mine for fear of putting the slightest blemish on one of them, so I never carry one. The action on my model 28 is unbelievable. Smooth as silk. The model 19 is probably all you would ever need, but I like the added strength of the N-Frame or the Ruger GP. Forget the Redhawk, it is way too heavy to enjoy shooting much. I haven't spent too much time with the 686 I bought. I got it, shot it a couple times and sent it away for some custom work so I can't comment on it. For me, the question would be am I going to buy new or used. If I was going the used route, I would see what was out there. If I found a nice Model 28 or 27, I would buy it. If I came across a Security Six, I would consider it. If I was buying new, it would definitely be the GP100 over anything else out there. Obviously I like everything you named, I guess you will have to look and try them out to see what YOU like best.
 
I have had two Ruger revolvers bind up so badly the cylinders couldn't be opened for more than twenty minutes. Both guns were Ruger Security Six's. In both cases the guns were being fired in over 100 degree heat, but that's normal for an Arizona spring, summer or fall. The first one bound up after only five of the first six rounds loaded had been fired that day (It was a used gun, checked out by Ruger and found to be in good order both before and after that day.). Ruger claimed there was nothing out of spec upon receiving it the second time. That gun was never used as a carry gun again.

The second gun belonged to a guy I met at the Rio Salado range. He said he bought it used, but it looked new. He had fired almost 50 rounds before it bound up. The RO was not happy that it couldn't be cleared for the cease-fire. Maybe I just have some kind of bad Security Six Karma or something. I've fired a couple of GP-100's without any problems though.
 
if you are looking at carrying it, i'd have to go with the security-six...much handier and not much less sturdy than the gp-100.

if you like/need a bigger/stronger gun, i'd go with the smith 27/28...better balance and more graceful than the gp-100
 
If you are looking toward a 6" .357, I'd say go for the KGP-161; the stainless full underlug version. Really nice gun. Mine is high polish stainless in the same format. Easily one of my favorites.
The full underlug does help a bit with keeping the nose down.
The rangemaster at the pistol range said my stock trigger was pretty nice, so, I'm not going to do anything to it (like I'd know the difference :p ). I'll take his word for it for now, and next time have him teach me what to look for.

My Security-Six snubnose bound up once, too.
It was the ejector rod that had become unscrewed...
I bent it a bit popping out the cylinder. Ooops.
I took it to a gunsmith who said I did a nice job of pounding the ejector rod back into round :rolleyes: and he proceeded to check everything out, including Loc-Tite on the rod...
He said it was a good revolver and pronounced it fine for anything I wanted to use it for.
 
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