Sort of planning a purchase... 357 Magnum

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goon

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So far in my life I have owned two .357 magnums. One was a S&W 686 and the other was a M-28. The 686 was a good serviceable gun that I put about 5K rounds through before I traded it toward another gun. It was starting to develop timing problems at that time. The M-28 was a disappointment from the start.
Lately I have felt the urge to get another 357. I am thinking that I want a 4" revolver that would serve as a GP outdoors gun, a plinker, and an HD gun.
I would also like something that is as durable as a revolver can get. I am thinking that a Ruger GP-100 would be a good choice. Are they any more durable than a S&W as far as timing problems and wear?
I have also thought about finding a Security Six since I read about them on here and handled one at a local shop. Were there any issues with them? How do they stack up to the S&W L-Frame and the GP-100? I have seen them on auction sites in pretty good shape for around $200-250.
Right now all I own are automatics so any input that you revolver guys can give me would be appreciated.
 
My question concerns YOUR Smith & Wesson 686.
Was this gun purchased NIB by you? The reason
I ask, its very unusual for a model 686 to get out
of time so easily! I've owned two since their debut
back in 1980; a) an early 4" model, and b) currently
a 6" model 686-5 (without the intergal lock). Both
have functioned flawlessly. I traded the 4" 686 in
on a S&W model 459 9m/m about a year after I got
it. I won't even think about trading the 6" 686-5, as
I've put a WOLFF spring kit in it; and its fabulous!

The Ruger GP-100 series are fine weapons also. I
have never owned own of these; but I did own 2X
Ruger Security-Six'es which was its predecessor.
Very fine firearms indeed!

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
 
I am thinking that a Ruger GP-100 would be a good choice.
Click to expand...

You said it yourself... There ya go! I consider the GP100 the best .357 mag bargain going. You can pick up a used one almost anywhere for about $325, and in my area they go for $399 new.

Seriously, you CAN NOT go wrong with a GP100. They are fine shooting handguns. They are also built like a bank vault! I have owned a few of them and every single one of them has been great.

The Security Sixes are also good guns. They seem to be built a lot like the GP's. Beside a couple of cosmetic differences, The only difference I can think of is the ejector rod spins with the cylinder on the Security Sixes (like on a Smith). On the GP100, it's independent.

Bottom line, you will be very happy with either Ruger wheelgun.
 
Both choices are good. You need to check any revolver before the purchase and know to reconize potential problems.
L-frames seldom come out of time without a lot of abuse and you didn't mention the problem of the N-frame. Just take your time and observe everything on any revolver you choose. Most repairs aren't that expensive.
 
The M-28 I had was bought used a few months ago. It was in 99% shape cosmetically and it pointed perfectly. I liked the feel and heft of the N-frame so I bought it. I soon found that it was out of time on single action fire on a couple of chambers but not all. I suspect that is how it got past my check and I will tell you that one won't happen again. It also didn't extract as it should have. Both factory loads and handloads stuck in the chambers. Anyhow, I took it back because it was store policy to repair anything that needed it within 30 days of a purchase.
Back to S&W it goes. When it got back, I ran out right away to try it out. It misfired on 15 of the 18 rounds that I tried in it. On the last round the trigger stayed stuck back on a misfire, which left the firing pin resting on an already much more sensitive cartridge. I couldn't get the cylinder open to unload it and it appeared that I was screwed. I had to fire the gun by pulling the hammer back and releasing it and allowing it to fall and fire the round. Even this took three tries.
That shook things loose and the trigger returned forward. I unloaded it and returned it for a refund. It may have been something simple, but I had lost my confidence in it by then and I won't own a gun that I can't trust.
The 686 was bought used. I don't really fault it because most of the rounds I shot through it were full power handloads and I don't know how much it was shot before that. It was a good gun IMHO and I wouldn't have a problem with buying another.
 
I have a six inch stainless full underlug GP-100. Had it for years and I would part with my Pythons before I let the GP-100 go! Mine is accurate, reliable and built like a tank. The factory stocks fit me like a favorite pair of gloves. All around it is a fantastic revolver.
 
I have several handguns, especially revolvers (several S&Ws and Rugers). My favorite of them all is a 4" S&W Model 28. It is accurrate, and handles anything I put through it with ease. It still locks up extremely tight with absolutely no cylinder wiggle.
 
S&W Revolvers

I own quite a number of S&W .357s ranging from one made in the second year of production in 1937 thru the little J frame carry guns.

The big N frame S&W were made like Tanks... but like any revolver can be caused to go out of timing. The good thing is timing is easy and cheap to fix.

If your M28 came back not correctly fixed, call S&W and speak to the service manager. S&W has really excellent customer support. I'd bet if you give them a chance to make the work right you will be delighted.

Another nice thing about S&W is they give a life time warranty on guns made in about the last 20 years or so. They also offer a "tune up" which mechanically returns your revolver to original factory specs. The charge for this is only $55 unless major parts are needed... If you are lucky... or think to ask Vito will do your work... and his work is absolutely outstanding.

For heavy use a 581; 586, 681 or 686 is a good compromise...though I prefer the N frame revovlers... particularly the M27 series. You can still buy good used M27s in the $400 +/- range... there is no better revolver made... the workmanship is exceptional, accuracy is incredible as well.

FWIW

CHuck
 
I have five GP-100s (three 4" stainless, two 6" blued, all full underlug) and one SP101 (Target Grey, 2 1/4"). I have yet to have any problems whatsoever with any of them. Each (except the SP101 which is new) has withstood thousands upon thousands of dry fires. I typically practice, and carry, with .38 Special +P. Accuracy at 25 yards is very good and I'm sure the gun is capable of better than I can perform.

All of these revolvers have very nice triggers and the older ones have only gotten better . . . except that last GP100 (late 2003 production) has an AWFUL trigger but over several thousand dry fires and light range use it has gotten better.

I am a Ruger fanatic but I will caution you to check the trigger action on the GP100s before you buy. I have found a wide variance on recent production models, from "very smooth" to "box of rocks."
 
cxm- The M-28 is long gone. The gun went back to Smith and Wesson to get fixed and came back in a condition that was unsafe. Trust me when I tell you that something like that doesn't exactly inspire confidence in their abilities. I returned it as soon as I got it unloaded and I haven't looked back.
Having said that, I have owned four Smiths in my lifetime: a M-18, a M-60, a 686, and that M-28. Three out of four were good so I would be willing to get another Smith if the right one presented itself.
 
S&W Service

I can only say I have had great results from S&W repair... maybe you sent yours during the "English" years.

FWIW

Chuck
 
cxm - when did the new management take over? I sent it in about three or four months ago, give or take.
 
New Management

Nope, you sent it post English.

If you will send me a private mail I will give you a good contact as S&W who will want to help you with the problem... they are great people...but everyone makes a mistake at times.

One thing sure, they will make it right and I'm sure at no cost to you.

V/r


Chuck
 
While I'm sure it's true that any revolver can be MADE to go out of time. I can't recall ever hearing of anyone complaining that their GP100 was out of time. I also can't recall ever hearing of anyone breaking one.

On the other hand, a friend of mine shot his new 686 out of time twice in just the first year he had it--S&W fixed it under warranty both times.

Just checked my GP100 for cylinder gap and endshake. I bought it in the early 90s and have put a few thousand full power loads through it. Cylinder gap is .006 and there is no measureable endshake--even pulling the cylinder to the rear I can't get a .007 feeler in the gap. I have not replaced any parts nor have I had any problems with the gun. I can see no wear on the rifling. There is a tiny line of flame cutting on the topstrap that developed years ago--I can't tell that it's progressed appreciably since it first showed up.

I recently bought a second GP100 that has been shot very little. Cylinder gap on it is .007--again with no measurable endshake. So, the GP with thousands of full power rounds through it actually has better specs than the one that's hardly been shot at all.

That makes me think that all the shooting I've done with the first one hasn't put any appreciable wear on it.
 
Model 28

I just purchased a 28-2 4" and I hope i won't have any problems. I am sending mine to Teddy Jacobsen for an action job and I am sure he will find anything that could be wrong with it. I'll know for sure that I have a solid performing older Smith. My first one but not my last N frame.
 
cxm- I appreciate that but I don't own that gun anymore.
I would buy another N-Frame if one presented itself under the right circumstances, but that M-28 is long gone. It is back in the display case at the store where I bought it. I don't know if it is fixed or not.
They offered to send it back to get it looked at again when I took it back in but my mind was made up. I simply had no interest in owning a gun that I couldn't trust 100%.
I have bought other guns that disappointed me from other companies like Kimber and Springfield Armory. I am strange about guns because I look at it like this.
See, I own a SIG and a CZ-75 and both of them have been utterly reliable. The only problems I have ever had with them were due to ammo. If they can make a gun and make it work right the first time then why can't other companies?
What is worse yet is that my M-28 was sent back to people who presumably knew what they were doing and it came back in a less safe condition than when it left. If that is all the more care they take when they intentionally work on a gun, what kind of shortcuts do they take when they just cram them down the assembly line?
I know that things do go wrong and that it could happen with any maker, but I am just funny about things that I bet my life on.
One thing I know about shooting is that it is an activity that leaves no margin of error. It has the potential to be alot more dangerous than a game of ping-pong and I recognize that. In my mind, there is no room for a gun that I can't trust.
That is just how I see it.
That M-28 was gone as soon as it acted up. If S&W wanted to display their commitment to customer service, they should have just fixed it right the first time it came through their door for repairs. If I ever have another Smith and it acts up, it won't go back to them unless it is under warranty.

Sorry for the footnote and I apologize if I have offended any of you.
 
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