What would you choose?

[n3twrkm4n]

I'm in the market for yet another gun... woo hoo paychecks keep rollin in! It's great to be young and not have lots of liabilities...

I was looking for a .357 mag/.38spcl type wheelgun.

I had my eye on a snubby but have had a hard time finding one for around $600 that I liked the looks of. I like the Smith's Scandium? ones but they run about $800 I think.

My two ideas were either the Ruger GP100 in 4" or the Smith and Wesson 620 (4" also).

Wondering if anyone has had experience with them, or could recommend a different solution.

I'm all for traditional looks, I like the old style blueing but prefer a newer stainless look instead of the new style bleuing (just doesn't catch my eye like a classic wheel gun). Price range is $600 and less.

Websites are good I haven't looked at other manufacturer's but I stuck with smith's and rugers cause I know how they work reliably because I've used them before.

Opinions are greatly appreciated.

 

[WillBrayjr]

I would have to vote for the Ruger GP-100. More durable than the Smith, just as dependable and accurate without the cost. Ruger's customer service is second to none.

 

[Ichiro]

Gp-100

Get a 4" blued GP-100 and $200 worth of ammo.

 

[n3twrkm4n]

Smith and Wesson markets their .357's as being able to shoot .38 spcl +p ammo but Ruger does not make claims of that on their website...

Do the Ruger 357's allow you to use .38 spcl +p as well? or just plain .38spcl?

Nevermind Answered my own question....

Ruger allows .357, .38 spcl, .38 spcl +P+, and .38spcl +P

 

[Bullrock]

I don't have a M620, so I can't comment. I do have a M629jm, M29-2, M625 & M66. All are nice shooting guns with great mechanics. All are very smooth and I would speculate the M620 would be as well.

I do have a GP-100, 3". The mechanics are not as smooth as my smith's but it is a very nice revolver. I don't think you can go wrong with either the smith or the ruger. If I were young with no responsilities and paychecks rolling in I'd buy a Colt Python and really show off...woo hoo!!!!!

 

[n3twrkm4n]

Well maybe I have some responsbilities , I could dream though...

I can find Ruger GP100's around here in blue for about $390... I haven't looked into the Smith's yet...

wait I just did (thank God for highspeed internet)

$516 seems to be the lowest M620 around here...

 

[Jkwas]

let's see....

Probably get two. GP100 in stainless, 3in barrel, half lug, and maybe a Bisley Vaquero single action in stainless. Then I'd look around for an old used snub in good condition.

 

[FullEffect1911]

Looks like i get to be the dissenting opinion here.

Go for the smith. IMO smiths are more "refined" then the comparable rugers, however not quite as tough when feed a steady diet of hardcore magnum rounds. From my own personal experiences smith triggers feel smoother in double action. Single action trigger is similar on both rugers and smiths. S&W revos are more refined, less sharp edges, smoother extracor rod action, stuff like that. And like i said Rugers are tanks, a real "working man's" gun. The differences here are not huge mind you, but enough to sway someone to one side or another.

The model 620 according to S&W is pretty much a 686 with a semi lug. It replaced the 66 (K frame) with the stronger L frame.

Don't get me wrong i love both ruger and smith, but for example i own a ruger redhawk .44 and a Smith 686.

I say smith.

 

[Bullrock]

Also you could try a used smith they are quite elegant as full effect just described. I own a M66, 2 1/2" beauty I just bought on the Internet for $420.00. I also own a M34, 2" I also bought on the Internet for $400.00

Here's the M34...

 

[bk83gold]

You mentioned a snubby are you going to use the gun for carry? Or are you going to use the Gun for target shooting.

If you are going to carry then I say save up the money and get the scandium Smith 357. I have a 386 scandium mountain light and it is perfect for carry.

On the other hand I own a GP100 4" that I use for target shooting. This gun is much heavier and is not so fun to carry around all day long, but I can shoot 357 hot loads all day long with it.

Good luck in your search

Brandon

 

[n3twrkm4n]

I'd like it for carry but also for shooting targets, cause I have an XD 5" and that is sometimes too much to carry. My dad owned a Smith and Wesson snub nose which he loved but he had to get rid of it for $$$... that was a long time ago.

I like the looks of the one mentioned above.

Those airlite smith's are they rough to shoot?

 

[n3twrkm4n]

Well I gave in today... I felt a Ruger GP100 and I loved the grip of it and the feel and it drew up perfect for me...

So I ordered the 6" version... can't wait to get it in, currently outa stock at the distributors but the guy said 2 weeks or so then I gotta wait another week for the judge to sign my pistol permit ammendment.

In the mean time, anyone recommend some good holsters? I appreciate holsters with a softer feel to them that form well. I was looking at bianchi, haven't looked at Galco's yet but wondering if someone had some oddball company that maybe isn't quite as popular but makes great products!

thanks guys!