5 shot 44: S&W 69 or Ruger GP-100?

[Elkins45]

I know the Ruger is a Special and the Smith is a magnum, but I would be shooting handloads in either, so that’s not a big distinction. Are there any factors that would make one a better choice for a woods gun, plinker and range toy?

I’ve never seen either in person but I own an L frame Smith and a GP-100, both in 357 so I’m familiar with the basic platforms.

 

[Riomouse911]

I have the GP. It's a nice gun; chunky and easy to handle .44 Spl. recoil. The factory rubber grip seems a tad long to my eye, but it does make it easier to hang onto with stout loads. Mine has been accurate and fun to shoot. I don't hot-rod it too much, I'm maxing my ammo out with 240 gr LSWC over 7 gr Unique.

It's not as ammo-versatile, and in all honesty as nice looking to my eyes, as the .44 Mag M-69 tho...



30 rounds DA @ 10 yds If I recall correctly...

Stay safe!

 

[reddog81]

S&W gets my vote. Limiting yourself to .44 Special doesn’t make sense to me. I reload and having the ability to use .44 Magnum or .44 Special brass makes the the S&W much more appealing even if your going to only shoot .44 Special level loads.

My .357 GP100 is a great gun and has a trigger on par with most S&W’s however the GP100 required much more work to get that good of a trigger. With a S&W I just change out the trigger rebound spring and it’s usually good to go.

 

[troy fairweather]

i would go ruger

 

[Deanimator]

Ruger. I wouldn't buy any S&W with the lock.

 

[dickydalton]

I think I'm going to go with the 2 3/4' S&W 69. It's a tiny bit smaller than my Mountain Revolver and I don't really need it but, I Want It.

 

[Elkins45]

Ruger. I wouldn't buy any S&W with the lock.

The locks aren't hard to remove. It's a non-factor to me.

 

[Alaskan Ironworker]

The only thing I dont like about my 69 is the blued hammer/trigger/ cylinder release on an otherwise stainless gun. Oh and the dumb lock which I will be removing. One other thing, the factory grips are very narrow and didnt fit my hand well which kinda hurt with hotter loads. I put a hogue tamer x frame grip from brownells on it and now its a pleasure to shoot. Cant really go wrong with either choice!

 

[joneb]

I was interested in the GP-100 chambered in 44 spl until I checked one out. The cylinder throats measured .433-.434" What’s up with that Ruger?
My S&W 696 ND throats measure .429" as they should.
If you get the GP in 44 spl good luck shooting lead bullets

 

[Catpop]

I think you may find the RUGER 44 SPECIAL needs larger cylinder throats for a very specific reason.
Jmho

 

[gotboostvr]

I think you may find the RUGER 44 SPECIAL needs larger cylinder throats for a very specific reason.
Jmho

What would that be?

 

[eastbank]

+1

 

[RevolvingGarbage]

I had a S&W 69 with 4.25 barrel for several months before I traded it for something I like better. The gun had an amazing trigger on it, which maybe is why it was so easy to shoot accurately. The comment above about the stock grips echos my experience. Replacing them with the X frame grip made it a very comfortable gun to hold and fire, even with full power 240gr ammo. I didn't like the blued cylinder release so I ordered a stainless replacement and I thought it was a very good looking handgun, aside from the lock.

 

[CajunBass]

I found a bag of 44 Special brass I'd forgotten I had. I could have used it in my 629 S&W, but that didn't give me an excuse to buy another gun. A Model 24 would have been perfect, but they're out of my price range these days.

So, I found this Taurus 431, a five shot, 44 Special, about the same size as a K-frame Smith and Wesson. These things have an almost cult following. Well made, the fit and finish are well done, 3" barrel, fixed sights, and about the most comfortable grips I've ever used. About half to a third the price of a Smith and Wesson. Long out of production, you almost have to hunt for one unless one just happens to turn up, as this one did.





As to the two choices the OP asked about, I know nothing about Rugers. I haven't looked at one for years, but I did have a Model 69. Nice gun, good shooter, that I really liked. But I didn't like it enough to keep me from selling it to finance some other bright shiny thing.

 

[farm23]

I have heard the Ruger has thin forcing cone, is that the reason for the large cylinder throats? Not sure why a throw away statement is made. Much better to say what is meant.

 

[Catpop]

This is old news, and there are many High Road threads explaining this; but since you asked, I’ll offer a simple explanation.

My actual shooting tests show revolvers produce less leading and are more accurate when shooting conventionally lubed boolit if the bases seal the bore. PC lubed can mask this fact.

My 357 and 44 magnum tests show boolits need .002 to .003 oversized to bore (and flat bases) to properly seal the gases.
If a cylinder has bore diameter throats (.357 and .429 etc.) the boolit will be swaged to a smaller size before entering barrel and hence not seal the bore.

Also a lot of factory ammo for 44 Spc is offered in lead boolits whereas 44 mag is not. Ever wonder why all commercial lead boolits are at least .001 oversized (.358 and .430) to jacketed?

“My guess” is RUGER took this into account with the 44 Spc.

But what do I know, I’m just an old “blind squirrel!” Hope this helps

 

[BSA1]

The S&W Model 69 is a totally useless gun.

Lightweight will make shooting Magnum ammo brutal, five rounds is not enough for self-defense, two piece barrel will probably give horrible accuracy, MIM parts will break and the lock will engage and permanently freeze the gun up.

Whew! Now that I have that rant out of my system I choose the Model 69. I like the L-Frame and have decided the lock is a non-issue as I will just replace or disable it. As I am also a handloader I will probably work up some hot Specials or low-end Magnums.

As for only 5 rounds bear protection is a concern...

There are no bears in Kansas. Or maybe so. Kansas Fish and Game said there were not any Mountain Lions in Kansas for many years until so many trail camera pictures proved otherwise. I have had big cat tracks only a mile from my ranch and they were not from my kitties. So it will be practical big cat medicine when I am riding down by the river that is only 1/2 mile away.

I am hoping to buy a Model 69 later this year as a reward to myself for paying off some big bills and after completing a big remodeling project.

 

[CraigC]

The 69 is a nice sixgun and it's the only currently made S&W that has tempted me. I like how they beefed up the frame in the crane/barrel shank area and increased the size of the barrel shank so the forcing cone isn't paper thin as it was on the 696. That said, I really don't want to shoot full bore .44Mag in any double action that is lighter than the 629MG. However, I really DO want to shoot .44Spl in something as light and packable as the 5" blued GP. For me, it is one of the best and most perfectly proportioned .44Spl's ever marketed.

As far as being "limited" to .44Spl, what a shame. Go handle the .44Spl GP in one hand and a Redhawk in the other. That right there will clearly illustrate 'why' the .44Spl has such appeal.

IMHO, people make way too much of throat sizes. Mostly casters who love to obsess about associated minutiae. I have never measured the throats in a .44 of any kind and I handload for 26 different guns that use .430" cast bullets. Scratch that, I did see if my Uberti .44-40 was setup for .430" or .427" bullets before I loaded any. Other than that unique example, why would I?

 

[Elkins45]

Just to add another factor to the discussion: does the Charter Arms Bulldog even rate a discussion in comparison to the other two? New ones can be had for under $400, but do you even get what you pay for? My one experience with a Charter Arms in 38 special 20+ years ago was less than stellar.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Just to add another factor to the discussion: does the Charter Arms Bulldog even rate a discussion in comparison to the other two? New ones can be had for under $400,

Personally I don't think so. There's a reason for the price. Others will disagree and I'm sure I'll take heat for this comment. I've handled Charter Arms guns, and am not impressed at all. Maybe they shoot, but I don't care. I'll spend the extra money to get a gun I actually want.

To the original question, since I have no desire to shoot 44 mags out of a L frame, the 69 doesn't really do much for me. But since you load your own, maybe having the capability is important. It isn't to me in that size gun. I'd sooner go with the 5" GP and load some moderately warm stuff. The 5" barrel will likely get you all the velocity you desire. If you want greater range, or are dealing with angry nibbling critters, the 69 may be a better choice.

 

[DPris]

Ruger screwed up with those throats on early GP releases.
The first sample .44 GP I had here had throats all over the place, after discussions with a product manager there over the issue the second sample sent has better standardization at .430.

My early Flattop Lipsey's .44 Special Blackhawk runs tighter at .427.
Denis

 

[reddog81]

This is old news, and there are many High Road threads explaining this; but since you asked, I’ll offer a simple explanation.

My actual shooting tests show revolvers produce less leading and are more accurate when shooting conventionally lubed boolit if the bases seal the bore. PC lubed can mask this fact.

My 357 and 44 magnum tests show boolits need .002 to .003 oversized to bore (and flat bases) to properly seal the gases.
If a cylinder has bore diameter throats (.357 and .429 etc.) the boolit will be swaged to a smaller size before entering barrel and hence not seal the bore.

Also a lot of factory ammo for 44 Spc is offered in lead boolits whereas 44 mag is not. Ever wonder why all commercial lead boolits are at least .001 oversized (.358 and .430) to jacketed?

“My guess” is RUGER took this into account with the 44 Spc.

But what do I know, I’m just an old “blind squirrel!” Hope this helps

But nobody makes a .44 Special bullet with a .434 diameter! The .434 throat is completely out of spec and won’t work very well with anything but jacketed and maybe powder coated bullets if you're lucky. The ideal throat diameter for a .429 bore would be somewhere around .4295 to .4305 and you'd would be using a lead bullet with a diamter .430 to. 431.

 

[Catpop]

My New RUGER SBH leads badly with anything less than .432. (I started with .430, then .431, then .432)
My throat is .4315 measured with pin gauge. When I questioned RUGER they said it was in their spec.
I shoot brn 7 range scrap lead up to 1315 fps with minor leading.
I want to go to .433, but my .4315 throat will not allow this.
I will end up with .433 throats before I finish.
Just my hands on experience

 

[paul105]

I have M69s in both barrel lengths (4 ¼” and 2 ¾”). Have shot them quite a bit – around 12,000 rnds thru several guns.


Current favorite is the 2 ¾” version. Compact, accurate, easier to shoot than might be imagined and recoil handling qualities always surprise favorably. It fits comfortably in the right hip pocket of my Carharts – don’t even notice it.


This is my carry load – shot at 50yds rested on my range bag and verified on another day to make sure it wasn’t a fluke.

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One of my favorite practice loads, 265gr SWCGC (Lyman Thompson 429244) deep seated and crimped over the front drive band on top of 17.5gr 2400, – 25 yds rested on carpet squares.

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Light load – 5.0gr WST under 250gr Keith (429421) deep seated and crimped over the front drive band. 25 yds rested on carpet squares

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I use the Hogue Tamers (S&W 500 X Frame grips) – here’s a set modified by removing the finger groves and rounding the butt – used a Dremel drum sander and sanding block.

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I have no experience with the Ruger GP100 .44 special, so can’t make any comparison.


The L Frame M69 is just works for me and is one of my favorite Double Action platforms.


We are all different, so it’s difficult to recommend a specific gun for someone else. Good luck with your quest.


FWIW,


Paul

 

[SwampWolf]

Another option might be a Taurus Model 415, a s/s, five-shot, .41 Magnum having a 2 1/2" ported barrel. Mine has been very reliable and accurate.