Six Shooter Showdown: Ruger GP100 vs. Smith & Wesson 3" Model 686

Six Shooter Showdown: Ruger GP100 vs. Smith & Wesson 3" Model 686 – A Head-to-Head Revolver Battle

In the world of wheelguns, few debates spark as much passion as the classic Six Shooter rivalry between Ruger and Smith & Wesson double-action revolvers. Today, we’re putting two legendary .357 Magnum six shooters through an old-school shootout: the Ruger GP100 (6-shot, 3-inch barrel, stainless) versus the Smith & Wesson Model 686 Distinguished Combat Magnum (6-shot, 3-inch barrel, stainless). Both are built for serious work—concealed carry, trail defense, home protection, or just punching tight groups at the range—yet they approach the task in very different ways.

This isn’t a spec-sheet comparison or a sterile bench review. Over the course of two range days and roughly 600 rounds of mixed .38 Special and full-house .357 Magnum ammunition, we ran these revolvers side-by-side in timed drills, accuracy testing, recoil management evaluation, and real-world handling scenarios. Let the six shooters speak for themselves.

Six Shooter Showdown Fit, Finish, and First Impressions

The Smith & Wesson 686 needs no introduction. The L-frame 686 has been the gold standard for medium-frame .357s since its introduction in 1981. Our test gun is the relatively rare 3-inch “no dash” pre-lock version with a round-butt frame, beautifully polished stainless finish, and factory checkered wood combat grips. Out of the box, it simply looks elegant—like a revolver that belongs in a glass case until you remember it was designed to be carried daily by law enforcement.

The Ruger GP100, introduced in 1985 as Bill Ruger’s answer to both the S&W L-frame and the demands of constant .357 Magnum use, takes a more industrial approach. Our sample is the current 3-inch half-lug 6-shot model (catalog 1773). The GP100 wears Hogue Monogrip rubber grips standard, has a matte stainless finish, and that distinctive full underlug barrel with the recessed crown. It’s chunkier, heavier (by about 4–5 ounces), and immediately feels bomb-proof. Where the 686 whispers refinement, the GP100 shouts overbuilt toughness.

Ergonomics and Trigger

This is where opinions diverge sharply.

The 686’s grip frame and factory wood grips fit most hands perfectly. The legendary Smith & Wesson double-action trigger—smooth, predictable, and stacking cleanly at the end—averaged 10 lb 12 oz on my Lyman digital gauge across ten pulls. Single-action broke at a crisp 4 lb 2 oz with virtually no creep. Shooting the 686 fast in DA is almost meditative; the trigger just flows.

The GP100’s factory Hogue grip is excellent for recoil control but fills the hand differently—some love it, some immediately swap to wood or aftermarket panels. The double-action pull is heavier and longer, averaging 12 lb 8 oz, with a slight staging feel that many shooters actually prefer for deliberate work. Single-action breaks at 5 lb 6 oz—still excellent, but not quite in the same league as the 686. Ruger triggers have improved dramatically in the last decade; this one is smooth, but the Smith still owns the trigger crown.

Recoil Management and Shootability

Here’s where the extra weight and seventh round of the GP100 start to pay dividends.

With full-power 158-grain .357 Magnum loads (Buffalo Bore 180 gr hard-cast and Underwood 125 gr XTP), the 3-inch 686 is snappy—borderline unpleasant for extended sessions. Muzzle rise is pronounced, and the narrow wood grips concentrate felt recoil into the web of the hand. Recovery between shots in double-action pairs is noticeably slower than with its longer-barreled siblings.

The GP100, by contrast, feels like it was born to eat magnums. The extra 4–5 ounces of weight, lower bore axis created by the unique grip-frame-to-barrel relationship, and cushioned Hogue grip soak up recoil in a way that has to be felt to be believed. Follow-up shots come faster, and hand fatigue after 100 rounds of magnum is dramatically lower. The seventh round is just icing on the cake—16% more capacity in the same size package.

Accuracy Testing

Both revolvers are capable of far better accuracy than most shooters can extract, but bench-rest groups at 25 yards told an interesting story:

• Smith & Wesson 686 (3-inch): Best five-shot group with Federal 130 gr HST .38 +P measured 1.65 inches. With Buffalo Bore 158 gr .357, groups opened slightly to 2.1–2.4 inches—still outstanding for a snub-length magnum.
• Ruger GP100 (3-inch, 6-shot): Best group with the same Federal .38 +P load was 1.90 inches; with 158 gr .357 it hovered right around 2.0–2.2 inches.

The 686 edged out the GP100 in pure mechanical accuracy, but the difference was small enough that shooter flinch under magnum recoil likely accounted for most of it. From a practical standpoint, either revolver will stack bullets into a pie plate at 50 yards all day long.

Reliability and Durability

This isn’t even a contest.

Smith & Wesson revolvers are wonderfully made, but the L-frame under constant .357 Magnum diet—especially in lighter 3- and 4-inch configurations—has been known to experience timing issues or forcing-cone erosion over thousands of rounds. The pre-lock guns are better in this regard, but the design still has limits.

Ruger built the GP100 with a stronger triple-locking cylinder, beefier top strap, and a frame that was literally designed from the ground up to shrug off a lifetime of heavy .357 and .44 Magnum loads (remember the Super Redhawk borrowed much of its DNA from the GP100 platform). I’ve personally seen GP100s with over 25,000 full-house magnums still timing perfectly. If you plan to actually shoot your six shooter—a lot—the Ruger wins.

Carrying Your Six Shooter: Our Amazing Holsters we offer for these fine revolvers

Once you’ve chosen your GP100 or 686, the next question is how to carry it comfortably and accessibly in the field. At Just in Case Holsters, we offer three distinct lines specifically designed for these medium-frame revolvers:

1. Classic Pancake – Our traditional pancake strong-side belt holster. Crafted from 8-8.5 oz. leather, featuring a 2-2.5oz liner leather all obtained from Wickett and Craig. Provides superior concealment under a jacket while maintaining a full firing grip.
2. Outdoorsman Line – Built a little tougher with thicker leather, reinforced mouth, and optional crossdraw and paddle style. The Outdoorsman excels when you’re wearing heavy belts and need absolute retention during strenuous activity—climbing, horseback riding, or bushwhacking through alder thickets.
   
3. Kodiak Chest Holster – Our most famous design, and for good reason. When you’re wearing a backpack or heavy parka, a hip holster becomes unreachable. The Kodiak places your six shooter high on the chest with adjustable harness. It has carried countless GP100s and 686s safely through Alaska brown bear country, Montana elk hunts, and Idaho wilderness pack trips. If you spend serious time in the backcountry, the Kodiak Chest Holster is the gold standard.

All three holsters are made in the USA, wet-molded to your exact revolver model, and backed by our unconditional satisfaction guarantee.

Whether your six shooter wears Ruger or Smith & Wesson markings, we have the leather to keep it close at hand and ready when the moment of truth arrives.

Carry and Practical Considerations

Both revolvers disappear surprisingly well in an inside-the-waistband holster given their power level. The 686’s round butt and slightly sleeker profile give it a small edge for concealed carry. The GP100’s square-butt frame and thicker grip are a touch harder to conceal, though many owners simply swap to round-butt wood panels or aftermarket grips and solve the problem.

The Verdict – Which Six Shooter Reigns Supreme?

It depends entirely on your mission.

• Choose the Smith & Wesson 686 (3-inch) if you value:
  • The smoothest double-action trigger on the planet
  • Classic aesthetics and a slimmer profile for carry
  • A revolver that feels like fine craftsmanship in the hand
  • You primarily shoot .38 Special or moderate .357 loads
• Choose the Ruger GP100 (3-inch 6-shot) if you want:
  • A revolver that laughs at full-power .357 Magnum all day long
  • Lower felt recoil and faster follow-up shots
  • One extra round and legendary Ruger durability
  • The confidence that your wheelgun will outlast you

For me, after putting both through the paces, the GP100 wins by a nose. That combination of softer recoil, seventh round, and bomb-proof construction makes it the ultimate “do-all” .357 six shooter in a compact package. The 686 is still one of the finest revolvers ever built—elegant, accurate, and soulful—but the GP100 is the one I’d stake my life on in bear country or keep loaded by the nightstand for the long haul.

Whichever you choose, you’re holding a piece of revolver history that will still be running strong long after the polymer wonder-nines have been forgotten.

Stay safe, shoot straight, and keep the cylinders turning.

  www.youtube.com/@ChukesOutdoorAdventures