help deciding on a revolver

[bapple]

I had a chance to shoot a GP100 for the first time yesterday. A nice gentlemen in the lane next to me was shooting some .38 through it and he offered to let me shoot it (of course I traded his ammo for a mag through my 1911!).

Man! That thing was buttery smooth! The single action of course was about a pound and very crispy. But that double action was also great. There was no grittiness, no catching, just a smooth trigger all the way. And he said that's how he got it from the factory.

If you don't want to pony up the money for a SW686, Ruger's GP100 is a great option.

[mr surveyor]

wow... a 1 pound trigger on a stock Ruger???????? They spec at 4.5 to 5 pounds in SA, and 12-14 DA from the factory, and all the Ruger revolvers I've owned have been in the 5 pound to 12 pound range. Even after polishing all the internals and installing reduced power springs I only get it down about a pound or so.

[jocko]

I woulde suspect one can get close to a pound with single action. I have never put a gauge on my tuned J frame Model 60. . Just never thought of it really7 as 1#or 3# in SA IMO one ca't jtell any difference.

[JFootin]

I woulde suspect one can get close to a pound with single action. I have never put a gauge on my tuned J frame Model 60. . Just never thought of it really7 as 1#or 3# in SA IMO one ca't jtell any difference.

My S&W 628 Airweight had a very light SA trigger from the factory. Maybe a pound. The action was smooth but very stiff in DA. My gunsmith got it down to 4.25 pounds DA and about one hair SA. I love it! But when in SA mode, I keep it pointed down range and keep my finger well clear of the trigger until ready to fire.

[mr surveyor]

big differences in design/construction of Ruger and S&W triggers

[Barth]

Double action on my S&W 342 ti is 10 lbs, 640-1 is 8.5 lbs,
Sig Sauer P220 is 8.5 and Sig Sauer P239 7.0 lbs.

I haven't had my new to me S&W 65-3 weighed.
But DA is way lighter than the 640-1 and lighter than the P239 as well.
Can't be more than 6.5 lbs.
SA is ridiculous, and I'm used to light SA triggers.
But the first shot still got away from me!
Next 5 went in one hole.
This thing is a tack driver for sure.
My S&W 629-2 was my most accurate gun.
Those days are officially over.

The Siles grips look good but give a slightly different grip angle.
And don't have as big a hand swell as the Bantams on the 640-1.
They hurt a bit.
Ordered some Bantams for the 65-3.
That should do the trick!

[JFootin]

Double action on my S&W 342 ti is 10 lbs, 640-1 is 8.5 lbs,
Sig Sauer P220 is 8.5 and Sig Sauer P239 7.0 lbs.

I haven't had my new to me S&W 65-3 weighed.
But DA is way lighter than the 640-1 and lighter than the P239 as well.
Can't be more than 6.5 lbs.
SA is ridiculous, and I'm used to light SA triggers.
But the first shot still got away from me!
Next 5 went in one hole.
This thing is a tack driver for sure.
My S&W 629-2 was my most accurate gun.
Those days are officially over.

The Siles grips look good but give a slightly different grip angle.
And don't have as big a hand swell as the Bantams on the 640-1.
They hurt a bit.
Ordered some Bantams for the 65-3.
That should do the trick!

Barth, I think you've earned one of these!

[les strat]

Double action on my S&W 342 ti is 10 lbs, 640-1 is 8.5 lbs,
Sig Sauer P220 is 8.5 and Sig Sauer P239 7.0 lbs.

I haven't had my new to me S&W 65-3 weighed.
But DA is way lighter than the 640-1 and lighter than the P239 as well.
Can't be more than 6.5 lbs.
SA is ridiculous, and I'm used to light SA triggers.
But the first shot still got away from me!
Next 5 went in one hole.
This thing is a tack driver for sure.
My S&W 629-2 was my most accurate gun.
Those days are officially over.

The Siles grips look good but give a slightly different grip angle.
And don't have as big a hand swell as the Bantams on the 640-1.
They hurt a bit.
Ordered some Bantams for the 65-3.
That should do the trick!

I was going to ask you about the grips. Thinking about replacing them?

[Barth]

I was going to ask you about the grips. Thinking about replacing them?

The grips look good, but I have Bantams on both my J-frames
and really prefer them.

So Yes,
Special K gets Bantams too.
Probably by Friday or early next week.

[Yogi 117]

Ruger man here, can't go wrong with either the GP-100 or SP-101. For packing in the woods, I would go with the larger framed GP-100. A good 180 gr .357 round should be enough. Spendy, but worth it for protection against animals of various sizes! Exactly the round I carried when we went horseback riding in the Oregon wilderness!

Here they are. Both great revolvers!

[jg rider]

D@mn this brings back fond memories. I had IIRC a 4" Security six that I cut the hammer spur off of and serrated or checkered the top of the hammer for SA cocking, that was my car gun. And a 4" Model 19 that I turned into a round butt. Never could match the back strap serrations on that one, but what a nice balance and pointability.
Never took pictures to post back then. Al Gore hadn't invented the Internet yet.

[Wolffire99]

Well I'm always telling people to "buy both", I guess it's time I took my own advice. I stumbled on this unfired ruger speed six government issue and I knew it was coming home with me. I love everything about this gun, even they more grey-ish bluing compared to s&w's deep black and the trigger is surprisingly good.

[Barth]

Well I'm always telling people to "buy both", I guess it's time I took my own advice. I stumbled on this unfired ruger speed six government issue and I knew it was coming home with me. I love everything about this gun, even they more grey-ish bluing compared to s&w's deep black and the trigger is surprisingly good.

Nice Ruger.
Looks like a real shooter.

That's always been my advice with difficult choices.
Choose both!
It's worked out well for me so far - LOL!

[jg rider]

Well I'm always telling people to "buy both", I guess it's time I took my own advice. I stumbled on this unfired ruger speed six government issue and I knew it was coming home with me. I love everything about this gun, even they more grey-ish bluing compared to s&w's deep black and the trigger is surprisingly good.

That looks just like the one I had that I cut the hammer spur off of. If you bob the hammer and recontour the curvature, IMHO it looks sweet. And I could still cock it.
What lenght barrel it, 31/2", 4"?

[Barth]

That looks just like the one I had that I cut the hammer spur off of. If you bob the hammer and recontour the curvature, IMHO it looks sweet. And I could still cock it.
What lenght barrel it, 31/2", 4"?

I was thinking about the same thing?
Thought it was a 3", but just didn't look quite right too me.
Looks like it might be 2.75"?

This is my new to me 3" S&W 65-3 357 heavy barrel