Which revolver to purchase?

[Dagga Boy]

I had forgotten about the 686 SSR. Do you think my concerns about the lock are overblown? The gun will almost certainly never be carried. That said I have not been impressed by the build quality of newer smiths. Thoughts on that? I agree that otherwise the Ruger seems like the gun for me based on my criteria.

edit: I should emphasize that my primary criteria is that the gun I buy is *nice*. I want to be happy owning it 20, 30 years down the line.

The 686 SSR is really the gun that got me back into revolvers, and it is sort of a love hate relationship. First, the hate. Hate that it has the lock and a hole where it's soul leaks out. I Hate that it is full of MIM stuff that doesn't look right (including a transfer bar instead of a hammer nose...those come on Ruger Tanks ;-) ).
Now the rest....I shoot the crap out of it and it just goes bang. I changed to a front Fiber optic in a couple of minutes with no tools, it hits where I point it and feels like an extension of my hand (the very expensive Nill grips help in this department). I dry practice with it more than anything and the action just keeps getting better. It is cheap to shoot and runs almost exclusively on easy to find USA or American Eagle 130gr jacketed round nose. It would make a great carry gun and feels more like a 3" K than a 4" L frame. Overall, the thing is a winner even if it is really the "Souless" revolver in my very large armory of bad ass wheel guns.

[Jared]

You could just look at the plain old GP100. The newer GP's seem to have much better out of the box triggers than the old ones that I remember from back in the day. I'm liking mine a lot, and this is coming from a guy that, like 5 years ago, wouldn't touch a Ruger DA revo.

[Lon]

More votes for the 686 SSR of the WC II. I liked my SSR. I just disabled the lock. Had an OK trigger to start with, after a trigger job it was great. I replaced the front sight with a FO. Woulda replaced the rear with a extreme duty rear if I kept it.

I'm seriously thinking about adding a WCII to my collection.

[mtnbkr]

Honestly, if you're going for "heirloom quality", I'd look for an N-frame S&W (Models 28 or 27). They can still be found for less than $800 if you're patient.

You can buy a GP100 any day of the week, this is a special occasion.

Chris

[RevolverRob]

Honestly, if you're going for "heirloom quality", I'd look for an N-frame S&W (Models 28 or 27). They can still be found for less than $800 if you're patient.

You can buy a GP100 any day of the week, this is a special occasion.

Chris

There is a lot of truth to this. I would even look for a .38/44 Heavy Duty as an alternative too. All the Smiths made before about 1960 are really impressive for the checkering and finishing.

Unfortunately, I don't think I would run a M27/28 or .38/44 HD in competition. At least not regularly.

[Wheeler]

There is a lot of truth to this. I would even look for a .38/44 Heavy Duty as an alternative too. All the Smiths made before about 1960 are really impressive for the checkering and finishing.

Unfortunately, I don't think I would run a M27/28 or .38/44 HD in competition. At least not regularly.

As soon as I get some decent speedloaders and holders, I plan to run my M28 just for the heck of it. ;-)

[JHC]

Honestly, if you're going for "heirloom quality", I'd look for an N-frame S&W (Models 28 or 27). They can still be found for less than $800 if you're patient.

You can buy a GP100 any day of the week, this is a special occasion.

Chris

That's what hit me last year when I came across a 4" Model 28 no dash last year and snapped it up.

[Wondering Beard]

Ruger GP100

Match Champion: SS, FO front sight, Novak plain rear and 4" tube

Wiley Clapp I: SS, FO front sight, novak plain rear and 3" tube

Wiley Clapp II: blued, gold bead front, Novak plain rear and 3" tube



WCII / SP101 WC / WCII



Gold bead Novaks

What load are those WC Rugers sighted in for?

[Nephrology]

What load are those WC Rugers sighted in for?

and how readily available are they?

The suggestion of getting a model 28 is very tempting. The B&M gun stores nearby are not the best for selection or prices so I will surely be buying online. Lucky to have a good tabletop FFL nearby. Besides classifieds/gunbroker, are there any distributors that get surplus Smiths in stock on a semi-regular basis? Otherwise the 686 SSR or Match Champion seem like really solid choices. It'd be nice to stick with Smiths for consistency of ergonomics, but I am originally from CT so the Rugers hold some sentimental appeal as well

Wish I could just buy all of em!

[Hizzie]

The sights are closer with 125's but shoot pretty close to POA with 158's.

Clapps are readily available. Apparently Talo and Ruger decided to ignore the initial 2000 and 2500 unit limits on the SS and blued Clapps. If I were a collector I'd have been pissed off that they seem to have double (at least) the advertised production.