March 2, 2011, 06:38 PM | #1 |
Member
Join Date: March 21, 2010
Location: ft worth, tx
Posts: 22
|
gp100 vs s&w 686
im new to revolvers and have be browsing the revolver forum quite a bit getting various opinions on these two models, one of which will be my first full size revolver. with price not being a factor in the decision, which of these two revolvers would be a better purchase regarding longevity, ease of maintenance, quality and, i hope it never comes to it, resale value?
thanks for the input |
March 2, 2011, 06:44 PM | #2 |
Senior Member
Join Date: January 3, 2006
Location: Brockport, NY
Posts: 3,723
|
Here's a bit of reading material:
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=185376 Personally, I own both and the smith has a better trigger, but otherwise both are excellent 357 revolvers.
__________________
You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth. |
March 2, 2011, 06:57 PM | #3 |
Senior Member
Join Date: February 12, 2005
Location: North central Ohio
Posts: 7,486
|
Both are good revolvers and have their individual advantages and disadvantages. Like mikejonesgkd opined, imo, the Smith&Wesson has the better trigger. Also, the Smith will probably have a better resale value over time.
What is your planned use (i.e., a self-defense carry weapon, a home defense gun, a range/target gun, a hunting gun, a camping/plinking gun or an everything in-between gun?) for the revolver? If you plan on carrying it, the Smith is larger and heavier. On the other hand, you can get the "plus" version of the model 686 and get a seven round capacity, nothing to sneeze at if your intended purpose is for self-defense. Once you decide what you want the gun for, the decision of which one to buy becomes a little more rational.
__________________
ONLY AN ARMED PEOPLE CAN BE TRULY FREE ; ONLY AN UNARMED PEOPLE CAN EVER BE ENSLAVED ...Aristotle NRA Benefactor Life Member |
March 2, 2011, 07:02 PM | #4 |
Member
Join Date: March 21, 2010
Location: ft worth, tx
Posts: 22
|
usage
it will be a plinking/range toy as i carry a colt defender for ccw and keep an hk usp 45 in the night stand
Last edited by goonie76; March 2, 2011 at 07:32 PM. |
March 2, 2011, 07:17 PM | #5 |
Registration in progress
Join Date: November 1, 2008
Location: I can be found on a number of other forums.
Posts: 1,333
|
Consider a used Security/Speed/Service Six.
|
March 2, 2011, 07:34 PM | #6 |
Senior Member
Join Date: November 16, 2010
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 996
|
If price is no factor I'd say the S&W 686 or even the 686+. Both the S&W 686 and the Ruger GP-100 are excellant guns. I'd say you can't go wrong on either of your choices. The S&W will have a higher resale but you pay more up front so it works out about the same. I never let resale affect my purchace up front.
|
March 2, 2011, 09:12 PM | #7 |
Senior Member
Join Date: March 15, 2009
Location: Escondido, CA
Posts: 961
|
Hi,
These two revolvers have been compared many times. There is not a clear cut advantage. I will give you some features on both. I own both a 686 and GP100. First the S&W 686. 1. Smooth double action pull. 2. Very accurate. 3. Good looking as most S&W are. 4. Better resale value than the Ruger. 5. Will shoot a steady diet of factory 357 magnums. Ruger GP100. 1. Probably the strongest medium frame 357 magnum made now. In my opinion the GP100 has the stronger trigger group and will last long than the 686. 2. A person can field strip the GP100 without any special tools. 3. Like the Smith this revolver is very accurate. 4. The trigger on most is good. Maybe not quite as good out of the box as the S&W. But the good thing is a gunsmith can slick up the trigger to be just as good as a S&W. That is what I did. 5. Too me the best value in a 357 magnum revolver. I love both of these revolvers. It really comes down to a personnal decision. Best thing to is rent and shoot both revolvers. Good luck, |
March 2, 2011, 11:53 PM | #8 |
Senior Member
Join Date: October 26, 2008
Location: Northwest Ohio
Posts: 265
|
I found myself considering the same two revolvers several years ago. After collecting all of the same information here, I chose the 686 with a 4" barrel and never looked back. Since then, I've come home with several more Smiths. They really grow on you!
|
March 3, 2011, 12:25 AM | #9 |
Senior Member
Join Date: July 16, 2005
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 888
|
For all practical purposes, they are the same. Pick one and go for it.
|
March 3, 2011, 07:37 AM | #10 |
Senior Member
Join Date: April 12, 2006
Location: NKY
Posts: 12,463
|
The S&W costs more but has a slightly better trigger. As far as resale value, the S&W will likely resale a little higher. For every thing else, the two guns are basically the same.
Pick the one you like the best and you'll end up with the best gun out of the two. Both of them with proper care will last your lifetime trouble free. I own a 686. My buddy owns a GP100. I prefer my S&W but if I ever had to replace it, I'd look long and hard at a Ruger before I automatically bought another S&W.
__________________
"He who laughs last, laughs dead." Homer Simpson |
March 3, 2011, 07:56 AM | #11 |
Senior Member
Join Date: November 15, 2007
Location: The Alamo!
Posts: 2,056
|
Great guns:
The downside: Smith, the price. Ruger, the looks. Upside: It's all good! |
March 3, 2011, 10:26 AM | #12 |
Member
Join Date: September 28, 2009
Location: Paradise, Ca.
Posts: 71
|
I have a 4" bbl S&W Model 586 and a 686 powerport with a 6" tube. I also have a GP-100 with 4" barrel. Of the four pistols the Model 686 powerport is the easiest to shoot full house loads through. If I had to walk off into the woods I would be happy with either the S&W 586 or the GP-100. If I was going to go after black tailed deer in the coastal range, I'd take the S&W 686 and mount a very good red dot sight on it. The Colt Python is the ~same frame size as the GP-100 and S&W 596.686, but I never enjoyed the clunky and stagy trigger pull of the Python or the Trooper.
LafeHubert |
March 3, 2011, 11:01 AM | #13 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 30, 2007
Location: Al.
Posts: 196
|
I like the single action on the 586/686 better and the double action on the GP-100 better, but both are excellent guns. If you can, you should really handle both of them to see which feels good to you.
Hard to go wrong either way. |
March 3, 2011, 11:07 AM | #14 |
Senior Member
Join Date: November 19, 2010
Location: North Florida
Posts: 253
|
Get the S&W 686!
I was just talking about my S&W 686-5.... check out the thread for helpful info and pics!
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=442851 |
March 3, 2011, 12:07 PM | #15 |
Member in memoriam
Join Date: August 13, 1999
Location: In The HOT, Humid, and Mu
Posts: 6,116
|
S&W Model 686
At the recent IRC, all but one revolver shooter was shooting a Smith & Wesson;
with most being the 8-shot model 627. This has gott'a tell you something~! |
March 3, 2011, 12:08 PM | #16 |
Senior Member
Join Date: December 10, 2005
Location: Central , OR
Posts: 1,888
|
I would get the GP-100 over a S&W with the internal lock and MIM parts.
|
March 3, 2011, 01:09 PM | #17 |
Senior Member
Join Date: February 12, 2005
Location: North central Ohio
Posts: 7,486
|
I take it then that you prefer investment cast over forged steel . Uh oh, Pandora's Box has just been opened a crack.
__________________
ONLY AN ARMED PEOPLE CAN BE TRULY FREE ; ONLY AN UNARMED PEOPLE CAN EVER BE ENSLAVED ...Aristotle NRA Benefactor Life Member |
March 3, 2011, 01:17 PM | #18 |
Senior Member
Join Date: October 14, 2009
Location: Sunshine and Keystone States
Posts: 4,461
|
When I was buying my first handgun I had the same choice, a new GP100 vs. a used S&W 686-4 at exactly the same price (both 6" barrels). I chose the S&W and have never been sorry that I did since I have never seen a similar S&W at the same shop since. I got lucky, since I didn't know it at the time, but the -4 is the last one they made without either ILS or MIM parts.
|
March 3, 2011, 05:01 PM | #19 |
Junior Member
Join Date: April 15, 2009
Location: Fredericksburg, VA
Posts: 8
|
S&W
Look at a S&W on one of the auction sites if you are price conscious. Both are good guns. I hate to see the debate back and forth from owners trashing one or the other (but not in this thread).
I just made the S&W choice and couldn't be happier, but I got the half lug older versions. Classy. |
March 3, 2011, 05:18 PM | #20 |
Senior Member
Join Date: February 20, 2011
Location: M'burg WV
Posts: 332
|
I have had both as many here have, and found that with much dry firing, the Ruger trigger surpasses the Smith. My agency converted to Semi's in the mid 90's and up til that point, we carried the 686. I carried my own personal GP100, and found it superior to the Smith in every way. Every other officer that handled my GP was amazed at the smooth, grit free trigger. Did I get a one in a 100,000 gun? I don't think so. Again, dry firing it extensively seemed to self polish the inner workings to a smoothness the 686's could not match. A coil mainspring probably helped as well, compared to the Smith's flat one.
My 2 rounds worth. |
March 3, 2011, 06:10 PM | #21 |
Senior Member
Join Date: June 9, 2009
Posts: 230
|
it all depends on what it will be used for.if i am just looking for a gun to use for a truck gun boat gun or woods gun. that well basically be beat to heck.then for the right price I'd maybe get a ruger. if i was looking for one for any thing else it would be a s&w. that I'd be proud to pass down to my son...that's just me.
|
March 3, 2011, 06:57 PM | #22 |
Member
Join Date: March 24, 2010
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 97
|
686
I liked my 4 inch barrel SW 686 so much I bought the 3 inch barrel modell too.
|
March 3, 2011, 07:10 PM | #23 |
Junior Member
Join Date: March 13, 2009
Posts: 13
|
I have a 686 no dash 4" in good shape... I'm wondering if this model is seen as a positive or negative in terms of the 'no dash' in comparison to other versions.
I'm asking to help guide me whether to hang on to it or to look at as an option to trade in the near future. Thanks! |
March 3, 2011, 09:59 PM | #24 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: December 10, 2005
Location: Central , OR
Posts: 1,888
|
Quote:
I have a S&W with a lock and it doesn't bother me at all http://thefiringline.com/forums/atta...0&d=1142700996 |
|
March 4, 2011, 07:44 AM | #25 |
Senior Member
Join Date: August 19, 2010
Posts: 1,118
|
Its too close to call because both are excellent revolvers. The Smith just has a bit more love.
|
Tags |
gp100 , revolver , s&w 686 |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|
|