Wheelgun Survey

Q

Quantum Singularity

New member
What DOUBLE ACTION brands do you all like? I think Ruger and Smith & Wesson both make excellent DA revolvers. I have owned both. Everything else is second tier IMO. In general S&W's have better actions/triggers than the Ruger, but I personally like the Ruger design better: such as the recoil reducing bulk, longer durability than S&W, double locking system (foward and back), better grip, and push button style cylinder release--much easier than the sliding release on S&W's. The Ruger is also much easier to disasemble IMO. I have found accuracy to be the same in Rugers and S&W's for the most part.

Here is how I rank them:

Excellent Revolvers
1. Ruger (I like slightly better than S&W)
2. S&W (also an excellent choice)

Fair to Good Revolvers
1. Taurus (most good, some not so good)
2. Colt (use to be good, quality control lacking of late)


[This message has been edited by Quantum Singularity (edited September 22, 2000).]
 
Of the ones I have experience with, here's my favorites:

S&W - Best out of the box triggers w/ decent accuracy. I wish they hadn't of sold us out
Ruger - More accurate (In my experience) and durable than the S&W and would rate them higher
after a good trigger job is performed.

No experience with the other manufacturers of revolvers so I'm not qualified to comment on them..

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Rick




[This message has been edited by Bandit (edited September 23, 2000).]
 
My primary is a Ruger Security Six, a sweet, chunky thing I adore. Shoots very well and I like the push button as well since I can open the cylinder with my left hand easily.
My back up is a S&W 642, quite a gem. My first day with it I shot the bullseye out at 7 yards.
For my money, these are the two brands in which I place my trust.
 
1. S&W Models, 10, 13, 19, 36, 49, 66, 629
2. Colt Python 4 inch
3.Ruger Security six, Service six
4.Original Charter Arms .44 Bulldog

I have owned all of these models. They were all reilable weapons that you could bet your life on in a pinch!

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***Torpedo***
It's a good life if you can survive it!
 
S&W (pre sellout and preferably 70s and before) all the way. I think their quality control has gone down in the last thirty years. Down to the level of the better of the others.

I do not think the extra strength of the Rugers is applicable except when using extremely hot loads. No reason why a Smith with reasonable care will not serve faithfully for hundreds of thousands of rounds.

The out of the box trigger on the average Smith is better than most other brands after rework.

Sam...old enough to know better, but don't
 
1) pinned barrel S&W's
2) unshrouded ejector rod colts or earlier I frames ( pythons, official police, 357 or first generation Trooper )

3) non-stainless Rugers

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"A fear of weapons is a sign of retarded sexual and emotional maturity." Sigmund Freud
 
S&W head & shoulders above the rest.

None of the others matter, as far as I'm concerned.

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Beware the man with the S&W .357 Mag.
Chances are he knows how to use it.
 
Quantum,

In order:
1) Smiths, particularly "N" frames
2) Colt ('60s and maybe early '70s), particularly the Python
3) Ruger, particularly the GP100 series

These manufacturers (and perhaps Taurus) make other fine revolvers; however, IMHO, the above are the very best.
 
1) Older S&W sixguns, especially those with "5 screws". (Anybody got a LNIB/NIB 5 screw K38 they'd like to part with?)

2) Colt's lovely Python in Royal Blue

I never could really get interested in Ruger's DA revolvers. Never found them pleasing to me aesthetically, although functionally they are fine guns.

------------------
Just one of the Good Guys
 
I have or had Colt, S&W, Ruger, Taurus and Carter Arms revolvers. Of these, I think in general S&W K-frame has the best action but personally I shoot Colt revolvers better. My favorite revolvers from my collection are S&W model 10 with 5" skinny barrel (50's), Colt 6" Python (early 70's) and Colt 4" Diamondback in 38 Special (Mid 70's).
 
Pre-sellout S&W, Colt, Ruger. Taurus in a pinch. A friend of mine likes his Rossi, but I don't have any experience with those.

-10CFR
 
I actually shot a French (yes, French) .357 revolver about ten years ago that kicked the snot out of anything I've seen made in the US. Fit, finish, action and balance were far superior to S&W, Ruger, and Colt (and that's hard to do) and it seemed a strong bugger too. You could use the blued metal as a shaving mirror and the DA pull was damn near friction-less. It seemed to be pretty much S&W in design. This probably doesn’t fit in with your comparison, but I really want someone to remind me what it was called.
 
If it was French it was probably a Manhurin model 73. The better be better than anything over here, they cost 3 times as much. The Korth is nice too, but it is German and also expensive. My main .44 mag is a Ruger Redhawk, but in all other calibers I have about a dozen S&W's.
 
Yup, that was it. Don't recall the model# but it definately was a Manhurin. Boy how I'd like to find one.

To keep playing the game, I have to put S&W on the top of my list (sigh). Ruger's are probably tougher, but in the same way a '79 Dodge 1-ton is tougher than a Ferrari.

Colts are beautiful and often have nice actions, but for me they've always been too delicate for any serious comfort. I've never had one go more than 1000 rounds without a trip to the gunsmith.
 
I have seen only one of them, but a highly respected firearms teacher told us that there was a japanese revolver that was totally up to snuff. As he said, "If it works, it's a Miroku". The one sample I saw convinced me he was right.

Come to think of it, I regret not buying one from the final commercial run of 38 S&W Webleys made.
 
I wouldn't part with any of the 3 revolers I own and they are 3 different brands. My 6"686 makes me look like I can really shoot. I had the trigger slicked up and I can do no wrong with it. My SP101-(really the wifes) is one hell of a carry gun. On both of these I had my smith round the trigger over for double action shooting. My nickle 4" 38cal ColtDiamondback was owned by a dear friend and I shoot it least of all but its real purdy and goes capming with me from time to time. If I was asked what wheelgun to buy new today it would be a Ruger.
 
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