[G. Green]

Just to pick it up and shoot it I like the Colt, BUT personally I believe that the Ruger is a bit better in the area of toughness and simplicity of design.

[big shrek]

Quote:       Originally Posted by utahvarminter

Smith and Wesson 686 6"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you can find one in good condition - a Model 27. Got a trigger job done on mine, and it shoots like a dream.

I agree, the old S&W's were far superior to anything else for decades...until the Anaconda & Python...which are THE premier pistols.


Ruger has peeved me off...too many trigger & timing issues with the revolver's I've bought from 'em. Although, after an extra $200 worth of gunsmithing, my twin Vaqueros now work perfectly. But I've got more in 'em than they'll ever be worth, now.

[DaTeacha]

I would have to go Colt, if only because the one I had shot very well, was nicely finished (nicer than my current Redhawk), and served me well for many years. I once hit a groundhog at 135 yards with it and could regularly hit standard clays out at 75 yards or more. Mine took some outrageous overloads and came back for more. Some of those loads destroyed the crosshairs in a Bushnell Phantom scope (replaced FREE by Bushnell with a Magnum Phantom) but didn't harm the gun a bit.

The Colt will be a better investment gun in the long run, too. I think you will find the Colt to be better finished. Both are great guns, but I think the Colt is a nicer gun.

[Midas]

Security Six for me, never had any of the bizarre timing issues alluded to earlier in the thread, with any Ruger revolver.

Colts are just too "cute" for me to use as a serious working gun.

[ke4sky]

Only timing problems I've ever seen in Ruger revolvers were the single actions where the owners couldn't leave them alone, took them apart and tried to do a trigger job or swapped with after-market parts, messing up the assembly which was done at the factory. My Ruger Police Service Six, Security Six, Colt Official Police, Police Positive, Detective Special and Cobra have all out lasted a half dozen S&Ws I've since gotten rid of, but the Colts I've had since the 1970s and Rugers I got in the 1980s just keep on working.

"Smart shooters are willing to pay more for a good old gun that works than they will for a new gun that doesn't." - Frank Marshall, Jr.

[big boomer]

I have owned both and I like the Colt better but I kept the sec. six because i could get more money for the Colt both are ex. guns if they are the same price go for the Colt if cheaper go with the Ruger.

[DaTeacha]

Quote:       Originally Posted by Midas

Security Six for me, never had any of the bizarre timing issues alluded to earlier in the thread, with any Ruger revolver. Colts are just too "cute" for me to use as a serious working gun.

The Trooper is named that because it was intended to be a service revolver. The Highway Patrolman is essentially the same gun with less polish on the outside. Originally the H.P. was cheaper than the Trooper, but I don't know about the values now. I think there were more Trooper Mk. IIIs made than the H.P. so the values might be reversed. At any rate, the satin finish on a Highway Patrolman might remove it from your "cute" designation.

[Midas]

Quote:       Originally Posted by DaTeacha

The Trooper is named that because it was intended to be a service revolver. The Highway Patrolman is essentially the same gun with less polish on the outside. Originally the H.P. was cheaper than the Trooper, but I don't know about the values now. I think there were more Trooper Mk. IIIs made than the H.P. so the values might be reversed. At any rate, the satin finish on a Highway Patrolman might remove it from your "cute" designation.

Ok, let me rephrase that, I would not want to ding up, or wear the finish off of a gun like a Colt, that is very much sought after, and will appreciate in value.

I would much rather use a Security Six to do the dirty work, since they do not have the resale value, or historical prowess of a Colt.

[728shooter]

My only input is from the SS-Security-Six that I purchased about 6 months ago. A nice shooter, a bit heavy but they're built like "tanks" so they will take anything that's put in them. I just saw one like the one I have a a gun show today for $275 -- nothing against the Colts and Taurus but I don't think you can buy a better .357 pistol for less....

Just MHO.......

--728shooter

[KW Gary M]

Of the two mentioned I like the Security Six. Ruger makes a tough, solid revolver. Colt is a great gun but gun for the dollar you can't beat Ruger. I have a GP 100 .357 and I wouldn't trade it for anything. Colts, in my opinion, are overpriced.

As a couple others have mentioned, Taurus or Rossi are also a tough revolver at a budget price. I have a Taurus .357 Titanium Snum and a Millennuim .45 Taurus. I love them both.

[addabazay]

Dan Wesson .357 magnum with a 6" barrel is the most accurate revolver I have ever owned. That's my 2 cents.

[ryleez]

My grandfather was born and bred in the ranchlands of wyoming and carried a smith and wesson his entire life in the .357 caliber. He carried a model 19, which is now discontinued, for both hunting in moutain lion and bear country and also as the chief of police. I spent my younger years learning how to shoot on this pistol. Smith and Wesson makes very solid firearms and boy do they age well! If you cant get your hands on a reasonbly priced classic like the Models 19 or 27 you should definitely consider. They are tried and true. Newer models like the model 327 are also very well made and dependable firearms. I highly recommend Smith and Wesson; Smith and Wesson is the manufacturer that created the .357 magnum to replace the .38 SW for security forces in America. Buy American made firearms!!!

[glove]

I voted other I really like the S&W 686 4" barrel.
Dave

[rascaldog]

S&W 66 4". I have a no dash (first year)all stainless including sights that I absolutely love. I have a lot of handguns but if I had to give them all up but one, this would be the one.

[G. Green]

The Ruger is a tough tool. The Colt Trooper is a precision firearm.

[Steve S]

Get the Ruger, put a spring kit in it yourself for short money (about $20 now if I remember right) if you want a better trigger. All kinds of different grips available for it too. Tougher than the Colt too. But the Colt is fine from the get go and will have more resale.

Yup, you guessed it--still have my first pistol, 1978 6" Sec. Six in stainless.

So you know, I did have a jam issue--cylinder wouldn't rotate when hot, after about 10 yrs and 1000 rounds of 357 and 2000 rounds of 38 spl; Good news I sent it back to Ruger and got it back in 3 wks NO CHARGE after 10 years, works like a charm ever since and still use it for bullseye matches today (after some home brew single action trigger work and an overtravel screw too)

By the way, if the stainless ever gets scratched you can bring it back to new with some 600 and 1500 grit wet or dry sand paper and maybe a little 0000 steel wool. Can't do that with a blued gun (unless they made the Colt in stainless too)

Now, if you were looking for a pretty gun, ask me about a Python I never bought with that deep blue and I'd get a little misty eyed