S&W model 69 vs GP 100 44 Special

[gtojim]

Thinking of getting one with the 2.75" barrel. Primarily for 44 special. The Ruger GP 100 seems to have a thinner forcing cone. I plan on shooting mild to hot loads. Leaning toward the Smith. What are your experiences...good and bad. Thanks!

[needsmostuff]

Good luck finding one.
Been unobtanium round here for quite a while.
If you see one grab a 4" as they are quite useful also.

[joepb]

I have a 2.75 in. 69 and love it. I shoot 44 sp most of the time, but in bear country I can put in some mags. It came with a good trigger and shoots good.....Joe

[potatojudge]

Ruger DA guns make me pull the trigger further than is comfortable. When the trigger should break, it still has a little ways to go. That alone has warded me off of acquiring more Ruger DA guns aside from the few I already had.

I also think the bang for your bulk is poor with the Ruger 44 Special.

If you get along with the S&W grip and don't need a grip stud, then that's the way to go.

[Encore64]

I have both and neither is for sale. The S&W had grossly undersized throats. Clements corrected that and the cylinder will be back tomorrow.

Pick whichever one fits you the best. Good luck on finding either one right now.

[gtojim]

I have a line on the 69...expensive. Found the Ruger to be hard to come by. Going to go for the 69. Thanks for your input.

[bula]

I had a 4" M69 and then went to a snubby. It can be packed in similar places and ways as my Bulldog 44spec. but more horsepower on tap, heavier bullets can be used. When wanted. It was followed by an Alaskan. The short barrel bug bit me hard. Wise words from ColdTriggerFinger have stuck in my head though, and I regret letting that 4" go. The Alaskan has gone. His warning in that going too far in the direction of ease of carry, convenience, not truly in your best interest for accurate field shooting in hectic circumstances. A 4" M69 on short list for the future. For 2 legged threats I'd use Spec brass, they eject free just that little bit easier. For general use I'd use mag brass and deep seat yourself back to spec levels. While back to big furry thang deterrence, had fun working up the use of 300gr "Hammers" in Spec brass. Again, for the most serious of uses, in theory at least, like the idea of spec length brass. A mag length cartridge has some advantages for me, as it pays off in more payload for my odd ball loadings and experiments ! Shotshells, rice loads, etc.. Encore64 correct, XTP's can't be pushed thru(.430"), nope nope nope. Gold Dots(.429") take a nudge. Sooo..my usual question to the OP, what is the intended use. Dial that in, before buying. 

[bula]

When in hand, search here for the vast info given by Paul105 and the threads that ensued. 

[akray]

The 69s I've seen on tables or websites in Alaska have been under eight in either barrel length but the 4" seems more common.

[ezekiel38]

I have both the 2.75 and the 4 inch 69s. Just purchased the 2.75 best lockup on a new Smith in a long time. Still playing with loads for it but I want a 210-215 grain at 1,050 as my goal. The 4" is extremely accurate and it is a great field piece. The 2.75 is very packable and easy to shoot for a L Frame 44. I wear a size 9 glove and I find I shoot better with the L frame than with my N frame 44s.

The 69 4" I've owned and shot since shortly after their introduction, 2014 IIRC, and it is just a sweetheart. I'm betting the 2.75 turns out to be the same as preliminary load testing is very promising with a 200gr XTP and a healthy dose of Herco or HS-6. Enjoy your new Smith.

[callmaker]

I’ve got a 2.75” model 69, and it isn’t leaving.
It’s fired quite a bit of full power .44 Mag, 240 grain to 300 grain bullets.
However most of its food has been 250 grain cast hollow points running “mid power” in magnum brass. Mighty pleasant in that zone. Accuracy is better than I would have expected given it’s a snubbie as well.

[gsokk]

Mar 1, 2022 15:14:21 GMT -5 gtojim said:

Thinking of getting one with the 2.75" barrel. Primarily for 44 special. The Ruger GP 100 seems to have a thinner forcing cone. I plan on shooting mild to hot loads. Leaning toward the Smith. What are your experiences...good and bad. Thanks!

I have the GP 100 done by Gemini Customs. My favorite mid size, Buffalo Bore 255 grain Keith loads for bumping around the outdoors and 200 grain silver tips for social work, cowboy loads for plinking. Awesome gun, even before the modifications. I have a SW629 PC in 44 mag with with 2,65 inch barrel. Not quite the model 69 but close enough. I would go with the GP 100 unless you want to shoot the 44 mag.standard 240 grain magnum loads are not fun in the little guns, at least for me. 44 special is fine for NE PA wildlife.

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[aciera]

Cabelas in Albuquerque has a Ruger 100 in 44......don’t know if it’s a good price or not