Which 3" .357: GP100 or S&W Model 60?

[Dollar An Hour]

I've got a 3" GP100 and a female shooting buddy wants one, loves the balance of the 3". There's a sale on S&W 60 putting the Smith about $50 more expensive. Is it worth it to just get the S&W?

My thinking is the 60 will likely have a better trigger out of the box, but will be less fun with full power .357's.

The gun will be primarily home defense and range gun, probably will see mostly .38's.

I do prefer the Ruger's lack of internal lock.

Any other intangibles my friend should consider? She looked at the SP101 but found it a bit smaller than what she's after. The S&W 60 seems to be a good medium size revolver.

 

[Nightcrawler]

The Model 60 is a J-Frame, isn't it? A 5-shot? It's a bit smaller than an SP-101. You don't have a Model 66, do you? That's a six-shot K-Frame.

 

[454c]

The model 60 and sp-101 will be closer to the same size.

 

[Tiny in Ohio]

For all out full house loads, the GP100 will weather the storm for eternity. The S & W will not like too many before it loosens. The Sp101 being a 5 shot is more for personal defense at close range, where the GP100 is a six shooter, and all around more stout gun. I will be adding a GP100 to the arsenal before the end of summer. I would spend the $60 savings on ammo, and let her get a revolver that she can pass on to her kids. My $.02.

 

[JNewell]

As others said, 60 vs GP100 is really apples and watermelons.

One thing to consider: AFAIK, none of the 3" Rugers are available with fully adjustable sights. If you shoot a variety of loads, that may be a factor to consider, and that will point you toward the Model 60 which will, however, be a handful with full-house .357Mag loads.

 

[RON in PA]

Stay with the GP100, it's a much more enjoyable gun to shoot and will last a lifetime or two.

 

[dbarale]

That's an easy one. If she likes the GP100, that's what she should get.
Being a house gun the smaller size of the M60 is going to be a problem, not an advantage. The GP100 will be a lot easier to shoot with hot .38+P. I would wait a bit to introduce her to full loads .357.
You could always spend that extra 50$ to get an action job to smoothe out the trigger a bit...

 

[MK11]

The S&W Model 65LS would be a better comparison. I like the Ruger myself.

 

[Dollar An Hour]

She preferred the six-shots and more comfortable platform for shooting .357s of the GP100 so she went ahead and ordered it.