686 or GP100??

[paratroop]

Ive shot the ruger a bunch! But my 686plus is my all time favorite! To echo almost everyone else, you cant really go wrong with either choice.

[paultakeda]

I have a 686+ 5.5" and an SP-101 3" rather than a GP-100. The 686+ suffered from light strikes and after a round trip to S&W it is more reliable -- but still has the occasional light strike. The good thing is you can just press the trigger again, and it definitely has a really sweet trigger. The bad is I can never be certain about it firing.

The SP-101, meanwhile, has gone boom every single time. And even as the little brother to the GP-100 it looks beefier than the 686+. The stock grip is painful but that was resolved with Hogue grips. The trigger was a little on the gritty side and a bit heavy but all you need is this kit and it's much smoother and lighter -- and still goes boom every single time (Wilson Combat has a spring kit for the GP-100 as well).

I like my 686+. It takes 7 rounds and can take them in a moon clip to boot. It is a thing of beauty and the trigger is fantastic. But when 1 out of 50 rounds goes click, even after S&W replaced the firing pin and whatever else, it sort of puts a damper on things.

[Mayor McRifle]

686, no question.

[Pally]

I have the 4" 686+, so does my shooting partner. We both love it and everyone always wants to shoot it!

[nikki#2]

686 for sure. Why settle for 6? When u can have 7?

Why settle for 7 when you can have 8?

^^^ Well... First of all, the OP wants to have the option to convert the revolver to 9MM and mentions the Korth 9MM cylinder conversion announced at ShotShow this year.
This is the only 9MM conversion kit that I'm aware of (???). No pricing yet, but nothing from Korth is cheap. However, judging from this video, it would seem simple enough
for someone to duplicate it and price it reasonably, or at least this is your best shot and what you should be praying for...

The Korth conversion kit only fits S&W L-framed revolvers.

- That eliminates Ruger right off the bat.
- To my knowledge, S&W does not make an 8-shot L-frame (???)
- S&W does make a 7-shot L-frame, but the Korth 9mm conversion cylinder holds 6 rounds. If I was a betting man, I'd say the timing on a 7-shot 686 is going to be off.

Really, your only option is an S&W 6-shot L-frame, and it's mighty difficult... if not downright impossible... to beat a 6-shot, pre-lock, 686. It's what Korth uses in the video.
No, it's not on roster, so you would need to PPT a pre-lock version or look into SAE. If you never plan to use it for HD, the model on roster with lock will suffice.

Hopefully in the near future both of us will be shooting .38 spl, .357 mag AND 9MM !!!!

[rogervzv]

People describe the Ruger as "a tank", because of it's bulk. Because of its bulk, it appears "better".

I actually prefer the actual strength of the 686 forging, versus the GP100's casting construction, which requires bulk to compete with the 686.

686 wins.

BTW, I have both Rugers and Smith's. Rugers are good, but not always better.

I doubt very much that the difference in bulk is due to Ruger's investment casting process. It simply is in line with Ruger's design philosophy.

As far as investment casting goes, I've never heard of any metallurgy issues with Ruger revolvers and I am pretty sure no one else has either.

[deephouse]

Hmm 9mm conversion? SW makes a Model 986 which is 9mm. You might have to SAE it, not sure.

I don't know about caliber changing a revolver though... For me that falls into the "if it aint broke don't fix it" category

[nikki#2]

I don't know about caliber changing a revolver though...

Sounds like you need to add a Ruger Single Six to the arsenal.

.... or perhaps a Phillips & Rodgers Model 47 Medusa, designed to fire 25+ cartridges including .38 Special, .357 Magnum, .380, 9x19mm, .38 Super, etc.
(any non-bottlenecked pistol bullet, rimmed or not, in the .355-.357 bullet diameter range). Still in use by the Navy SEALs as they can be fired underwater.

[RedFord150]

I have a 4" GP100 with a fantastic trigger job. It is over 25 years old and has never failed once and still looks new. I would make the same choice today.

[John I.]

Have both, 686 wins in my book trigger is way better. Gp100 has locked up on me several times during qualifications and the cylinder doesn't always index immediately after reloading.