S&W 686 vs. Ruger GP100 Match Champion - Range review
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- čas přidán 5. 09. 2024
- We shoot two great .357 Magnum revolvers. The classic Smith and Wesson 686 and the Ruger GP 100 Match Champion. Both guns delivered good results shooting reloads and factory ammo. I can't decide which I like better.
Like you I like them both. Revolvers rock.
Absolutely LOVE my Match Champion !!!
I have the GP100 MC and love it. I did take the beautiful wood grip off though and replaced it with a Hogue rubber grib. That hardwood would literally beat the webbing between my thumb/forefinger when shooting .357 loads in it and my hand would get very sore there ... .38 didn't bother me. The softer Hogue grip 'fixed' this only problem I had with this wonderful wheel gun.
I like your shooting channel by the way and I like your " locations " because those are similar to locations in my neck of the woods. It is April of 2022 and am watching this video once again. I own a number of .357 pitsols, but alas they are currently all in 4 inch barrels or less. I have been yearning for a longer barreled .357 pitsol for some time now. I have owned a number of them years past, however, I have that " itch " once again. I got real lucky and found a primo [ read as new ] example of a Ruger GP100 SS 5 inch barreled version that was a limited offering from Davidson's at a wonderful little gun shop in my town. Well I will tell you that this 5 inch version satisfies my " itch " for a " longer " barreled .357. Have yet to put some of my cherished reloads through it yet but am going on a camping trip with some good friends in the near future, uh, in the woods ya know, and I will be launching some 125 gr. XTPs down range with this beautiful pitsol..........Oh, I can't wait !! I am giddy just relating the experience. I will add that I do own a number of S&Ws in various calibers but have recently been tuning in to the Ruger revolvers. And wanting " more "..........if you catch my drift. Good shooting, Doug.
Hey Doug, thank you so much for your kind words. Like you I happen to really appreciate fine revolvers. Glad to hear you picked up a 5 inch barrel. I on several 357 wheel guns but none of them have a longer barrel than 4 inches. That seems ideal for me for the type of shooting I do. However there is something inherently fun about shooting a 5 or 6 inch 357 magnum!
If you haven’t already I hope you will subscribe. Thanks again for commenting. Stay safe!
good having you back on youtube! as a fellow new Englander we hate to see ya leave, but wish you much prosperity in OR!
Thanks for your kind words. Appreciate you watching
👍 I would be happy to own either one, but the 686 looks better.
Both are fine revolvers!
Thanks for the range review on those two fine revolvers. You're right! They're both nice pistols. I'd be happy to own either one or both. I like the staging of the trigger in double action on the S&W more, but I prefer the sights (with the adjustable ones) and the grip (with Hogue rubber grips) more on the Ruger.
😎👍🏻🇺🇸💥
Love the security six six inch
Both are great. My son bought a 686 a few years ago and the first time I shot it I shot one of my best groups ever. Earlier this year I bought a Ruger GP100+ and my son shot better groups with it than his 686. He liked the sights better.
Own both, love both!
I know Ruger team members James McGinty and Dave Olhasso. Their competition revolvers are insanely smooth!
I bet very cool to know those guys
This vid doesn’t get old! 👍🏻
Thank you.
I’ve shot both and they are both great choices. However, the 686 felt better in my larger hands. Nothing a different grip on the Ruger wouldn’t fix. Both are great. Tough to judge the better.
Agree, both are really great handguns
When comparing revolvers the best choice will always be Ruger!!
No BS, No gimmicks, just durable reliable heavy duty Revolvers
I think Ruger makes a very good product. I also feel the same way about Smith and Wesson. I’ve never been particularly hung up about brand or model.
I agree with you that Rugers are incredibly durable. So are Smith & Wesson. As I said, I’ve owned both and, prefer the older Smith & Wesson revolvers. I have a 15-3 and a 19-3. Also have a Performance center model 29. It has the Best double action trigger I’ve ever had in a revolver.
The great thing about being in our country, at least for now, is we have options for the types of firearms We want to own and use to protect ourselves with. I appreciate you taking the time to comment and hope you will consider subscribing and sharing the channel with friends and family.
158's with around 5.0 gr Titegroup is a good load, probably just shy of 1,000 FPS. Personally I feel that the S&W is a better revolver because of the hammer block and sleek lines. That being said, Ruger has mastered their steel so transfer bars made by Ruger are good and their frame size is unavoidable with it being cast steel. At the end of the day they are pretty comparable, like a 51/49 kind of thing, both pretty good.
Agree I like both
I love my GP100 .357 SS 6" 7 shot. It gets a little bulky after a long shooting session, and the thin chambers walls, to fit 7 rounds, bother me. Even though I practice mostly with .38. I haven't given up on finding a 5" 6 shot, and wouldn't turn up my nose at a 686.
Both are very nice. Thanks for commenting.
I like them both too 😎
While the the factory trigger on the GP100MC is better than on the standard GP100, Ruger did nothing more than tumble polishing some of the internal parts before assembly. My own GP100 MC responded TREMENDIOUSLY to some traditional internal polishing and spring changes. That said, any 686 I've owned, (including pro and PC versions) also benefited with the same treatment. Bottom line: If you get either of these great revolvers, give the trigger some TLC and it will pay off big time in the areas of double action accuracy and overall shooting experience. There are plenty of video's right here that show you how.
Sir, thanks so much for commenting. My 686 has extensive trigger work and it is absolutely the best of a action trigger I’ve ever used with the exception of my model 15 Smith & Wesson 38 special. I really am a fan of the Ruger GP 100 series as well. And I agree that after some trigger polishing they are exceptional performers! Thanks so much for coming and watching I hope you will subscribe to the channel.
The real question is, how would either stack against the lcrx 3 inch with traditional work? I would definitely love to see that video!🥰
Love the GP👍
I have both and the S&W is way smoother action and more accurate. Love them both but the 686 is my favorite.
I agree with you there.
I am a S&W guy.....have a 586 and 620 both are excellent
I have a 4" S&W 681 with fixed sights that I like a lot and shoot well. My other revolver is a 6" Dan Wesson 15-2 made in Monsoon CT with a really sweet trigger.
Nice video,great shooting also.They are both very nice guns to.Thanks.
Nice content. Would have a hard time picking my favorite
Hi from Russia!
I like S&W)))))
I have bought nothing but old smith and wessons oldest one 50 years old very smooth and new ruger revolvers every ruger revolver has had issues with the triggers or nasty burrs in the metal that prevented smooth action
I am now a smith fan
I agree that the old smiths are exceptional. I own a model 10 and a model 19-3.
Great video, I have the S&W 627 PC it's a awesome gun, but I need to change out the front sight,my older eyes don't see the orange ramp so well.
I have to go with the 686.
why?
Well I have several older 686 models. One with a 3” and one with a 4” barrel. The 4” is at least 30 years old and shoots like the day I bought it. The 3” is a 686+ with 7 shots and I have put maybe 1000 rounds of my home made ammo through it with zero problems. So as I have limited experience with other brands and as a matter of personal preference I vote for the 686.
Great guns. I use to carry a 4" 686 in the 90s. One of best shootering handguns I've ever owned. I also carried a 4" GP100 for a bit after I sold my 686. Great handgun but sold it within the year. Finicky with handloads...my bad. Good shooting.
With Smiths Q.C. issues, I prefer the Ruger!
I have seen QC issues with both. Currently, half of my Rugers are back at the factory because they began to disassemble themselves upon firing (not as convenient as it sounds). However, the Ruger problems seem more correctable (we shall see). The big annoyance with Smith's is their press-fit barrel that they only seem to get right 1/4 of the time or so. Paying that much for a revolver with a barrel not aligned to the frame would just aggravate me to no end. My Smith's are mostly old and have the pinned barrels.
@@michaelr.1709 I've got 5 Ruger wheel guns and haven't had a problem with any. My old Smith is a work of art compared to the new models that everyone says are better but I don't see it either
@@michaelr.1709 yes! The pinned barreled vintage Smith's are as good as it gets. The older pre lock 686 is fantastic. I have the no dash and it's just great. Couldn't ask for a better wheel gun. The new ones are where the quality goes way down on Smith's. Most of the prelock Smith's are great guns. Rugers are good too.
686 for me. Primary because it looks way nicer than the ruger. Both good guns. Also think the Smith has a better single action (I primary shoot single action)
I happen to love the 686 as well, but the more I shoot the Ruger the more I like it. Thanks for commenting.
I went back and watching the shooting sequence with the factory Fiocchi .357 loads a couple of times. It sure looks like the S&W is jumping a lot more in your hand after each shot, compared to the Ruger. They both weigh essentially the same, so I have to wonder if it's the difference how the weight is distributed?
Your hypothesis makes sense to me. I think both guns are beautiful examples of what a true wheel gun is all about!
@@GunsGearOnTargetTrainingLLC Can't argue with that - I love my GP100 MC! Thanks for the vid!
Had two of the 686+ and miss both of them. Ruger didn't feel that well in hand but it shot well.
I hear you, different guns fit differently and you know when one fits just right.
Love em both
Right there with you!
I have been trying so hard to decide between these two.. I just cannot decide
Riley Reneau i just bought a Ruger GP100 MC yesterday so theres your answer 😂
This is hilarious bc I just had another person message me and say GP100 Is amazing but I went with the 686 😂😂😂
Riley Reneau lmao hey either way you’re good! Lol
The Ruger is better built.
@@bugs7442 ive been told Its just bigger. Differnt molding styles.i went with the 686
I wonder how these will hold against the new colt python. I want to get one but only enough for one gun
So hard to say. Really more about what feels best in your hand and what aesthetics are most appealing to you.
I really wonder how the Ruger match champion compares with the S&W 686 SSR version, both stock out of the box? Rugers Custom Shop vs S&W’s Performance Center showdown.
Agree that would be a better comparison!
Your second 686 group was way better than your first. The Ruger trigger can never be as good as an S&W.
Thanks for your input.
Never?
If you have a upgraded trigger S&W yet use a stocked Ruger; What kind of fair comparison are you trying to make? I’m confused?
Very fair point! As I noted the Ruger is an excellent out of the box revolver and this version is an upgrade from the standard GP100. I believe with a trigger job it would be just as good / or better than the 686. The Ruger is one of my favorite .357 magnums. Thanks for commenting and watching!
Isn't the Ruger GP100 Match Champion "slicked up a bit" at the factory (mentioned in the video as well) while the Standard GP100 is the "box" version?
Ruger all day everyday ! And Rugers customer service is 2 nd to none
Both are excellent revolvers. Thanks for watching and commenting. Hope you’ll subscribe!
From your shooting I felt sw trigger is better
The S&W had a trigger job doine to it, so yes it's a better trigger but the stock trigger of the Runger is really good!
You shoot the 686 better. Stick with that.
Thanks for watching. The 686 is a gun that has had a exceptional trigger job and I've shot a great deal. The Ruger has a factory stock trigger so it's not really a fair to compare the two. That being said, I'm grateful to have both.
Shakes way too much when shooting.
Thanks for commenting. That might be because of my handicap.
686 all day long
Old smiths not the new key lock 🔐 ones 😂
these are revolvers not pistols