Inline FabricationMidSouth Shooters SupplyLoad DataLee Precision
Reloading EverythingTitan ReloadingWidenersRotoMetals2
Repackbox
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 39

Thread: 686, 586, gp-100

  1. #1
    Banned
    Join Date
    Jan 2023
    Posts
    23

    686, 586, gp-100

    I wont lie, the only revolver i have played with was for but a single cylinder at a not defunct gun range.

    This was a 7 shot taurus 66.

    Im looking at either a now unavailabe/out of production ruger bolt action in 357 magnum, an impossible to find lever action in 357 that may not work with my shoulder now, or a hand gun.

    The 686 and 586 are supposed to have a nicely pinned in front sight that is "really hard to replace", but every gun website online sells replacements for them and claims "its awfully easy".

    GP 100 DOESNT have an easy to replace front sight. EVERY website claims it is easy to replace, but the only guns that appear to have a replaceable front sight are the stainless 7 shots. the blued ones all seem to have a drift adjustable front sight.

    This whole gun is for target shooting and short range deer hunting. I liked the taurus 66 grips, but not the guns crappy spray paint finish.

  2. #2
    Boolit Grand Master
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    Northern Michigan
    Posts
    8,899
    Unless you are using an extremely light or heavy load, I doubt you will need to replace the front sight of a revolver with adjustable sights.

    As to the Ruger 77 bolt guns in .357, there were a number of reports of poor accuracy with some of them. I wanted one and that killed for me. They are not cheap either. I came close to getting a baby rolling block but it did not come ready for scope mounting. The other option was the Henry single shot but I do not like break open guns off a bench.

    Just did a quick search on GunBroker and there are over 50 lever actions in .357. I have two Marlins and an Uberti 1873 clone. They have performed well. I like the Marlin 1894's as they are easy to scope. My 1873 has an after market tang sight and it works well. Others will chime in with their experience with Rossi's and Henry's.

    Good luck.
    Don Verna


  3. #3
    Boolit Master Shawlerbrook's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2015
    Location
    Central NY
    Posts
    2,916
    I know some will disagree, but the Taurus is not in the same class as the Ruger or S&W. The GP100 is probably the strongest , but the S&W, especially older ones are fine revolvers.

  4. #4
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Sep 2022
    Posts
    266
    I have the gp100 stainless 7shot

  5. #5
    Boolit Buddy 414gates's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2017
    Posts
    357
    Why is the front sight replacement on a GP100 not easy ?

    It takes 60 seconds if you don't know what you're doing, otherwise it's a 10 second job.

  6. #6
    Boolit Master Sasquatch-1's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Martinsburg, WV
    Posts
    3,211
    If you get the S&W, you can get Weigand Scope Mount made for Smith & Wesson K, L, N, and X Frame. This replaces the rear sight and allows you to mount a red dot sight with NO additional drilling. It comes with what you need and is easily accomplished by a novice. The biggest problem with this mount is you no longer have the iron sights to fall back on if the red dot fails.

    https://www.jackweigand.com/Smith-We...ini-Mount.html
    A vote for anyone other then the conservative candidates is a vote for the liberal candidates.

  7. #7
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Posts
    1,071

    686, 586, gp-100

    Quote Originally Posted by 414gates View Post
    Why is the front sight replacement on a GP100 not easy ?

    It takes 60 seconds if you don't know what you're doing, otherwise it's a 10 second job.
    Not always. The tenon can be oversized and may require a bit of file work to fit.

    Pinned S&W front sights can be replaced by anyone with average mechanical skills, or pay a gunsmith $40 to install it.

  8. #8
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    WNY
    Posts
    2,502
    Quote Originally Posted by Sasquatch-1 View Post
    If you get the S&W, you can get Weigand Scope Mount made for Smith & Wesson K, L, N, and X Frame. This replaces the rear sight and allows you to mount a red dot sight with NO additional drilling. It comes with what you need and is easily accomplished by a novice. The biggest problem with this mount is you no longer have the iron sights to fall back on if the red dot fails.

    https://www.jackweigand.com/Smith-We...ini-Mount.html
    Totally agree and will add that in forty years of using red dots on handguns I have never had one fail in the field….and I hunt a lot.

  9. #9
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    SE Michigan
    Posts
    451
    I have a six shot GP100 and the front sight is easy to replace.
    Why do you need to replace the front sight with adjustable sight at the rear?

  10. #10
    Boolit Grand Master FergusonTO35's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    Boonesborough, KY
    Posts
    6,925
    FYI, my 1982 Marlin 1894 and late model Rossi 92 .357 have been great and I wouldn't hesitate to use them for deer. I'm a recoil wimp, and have put some pretty stout loads through my 1894 and never had any discomfort. 'Nother thing to think about. You say you have only had experience with one revolver. Handguns in general have a pretty long learning curve, especially if you are going to use one for hunting. The carbine is going to be alot easier to hit with at typical hunting distances and the longer barrel provides a velocity boost. A Rossi should be pretty easy to find, right now alot of shops have them here.
    Last edited by FergusonTO35; 02-01-2023 at 04:40 PM.
    Currently casting and loading: .32 Auto, .380 Auto, .38 Special, 9X19, .357 Magnum, .257 Roberts, 6.5 Creedmoor, .30 WCF, .308 WCF, .45-70.

  11. #11
    Boolit Master
    contender1's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Lake Lure NC
    Posts
    2,412
    Welcome to the Forum!

    I wonder why the worry about replacing the front sight? Can you enlighten us?

    First off,, get a handgun with an adjustable rear sight. Easier to regulate to YOUR loads at YOUR preferred distances.
    Second,, if the front sight (factory one) isn't to your liking,, both the S&W's and the Rugers are replaceable. Depending upon which model & such,, the Ruger GP-100 has a VERY easy spring loaded replaceable front sight. Others,, require a little different work, after Ruger changed the design.
    Since target shooting & short range deer hunting is the goal,, I'd look at the GP-100 for such purposes. Strong, well made, and very dependable. And if the desire to replace the front sight pops up,, it's not hard for most who possess a little mechanical skill.

  12. #12
    Boolit Grand Master


    Join Date
    Apr 2017
    Location
    Aberdeen, South Dakota
    Posts
    7,136
    I replace most front sights, as most often the ones they come with are at best a compromise.

    The GP100 standard sight is the easiest to replace there is. You just push a plunger and the sight comes out. I've never had a new one not fit right in. You are mistaken, the vast majority of GP100s use this style. The other GP100 front sight is a Novak dovetail. I've only seen these on dealer exclusives. It is no easier or harder to replace than any other dovetail sight. It is as easy a job as there is on a handgun. If you have ever replaced a dovetail sight, this is no problem.

    The S&W can be non removable, pinned, or a DX. Old ones were fixed, and the only option is to mill it off, and cut a dovetail. I'm not sure I've seen a 686 new with a dovetail. Most are pinned. It is an intermediate difficulty job. You will need a center punch to mark the hole, a punch to drive the pin out, and a drill bit to drill it. They are tiny and hard to work with. Some hand drills will not chuck the tiny bit. Once drilled it's just a matter of putting the sight in, and putting the pin in. It's not a difficult job, but it is easy to mess up. The DX style is way better, it is almost identical to the GP100/Redhawk style.

  13. #13
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Posts
    1,152
    I personally prefer the 686 over the GP100.
    I have owned a 686 Silhouette model for many years and is incredibly accurate.
    I have never owned a GP100 but have shot one owned by a friend extensively and believe the 686 to be superior. I will agree wth those who say that the Ruger is a bit more robustly built, I don't know that most shooters would ever push a 686 to its limits strength wise.

    My 686 has had many thousands of rounds both cast and jacketed fired through it and it still provides excellent accuracy and locks up as tight as a bank vault. At one time, I shot a large number of book maximum loads through my 686 on a fairly regular basis. I eventually ratcheted those loads back a bit as I acquired larger caliber revolvers, but the gun is fully capable of digesting thousands of those loads with no ill effects.

  14. #14
    Boolit Grand Master
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    Northern Michigan
    Posts
    8,899
    Quote Originally Posted by NSB View Post
    Totally agree and will add that in forty years of using red dots on handguns I have never had one fail in the field….and I hunt a lot.
    I am going to assume something about you....I bet you are not using $75 red dots...LOL
    Don Verna


  15. #15
    Boolit Grand Master FergusonTO35's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    Boonesborough, KY
    Posts
    6,925
    Quote Originally Posted by dverna View Post
    I am going to assume something about you....I bet you are not using $75 red dots...LOL
    I bet so. A cheap red dot is about the most useless thing ever. I knew a guy in college who bought an S&W AR when they first came out and were fairly expensive. He then proceeds to install a Tasco red dot that had previously been on his SKS, meaning every round fired would shake it like 007's martini. The first few rounds he fired missed the paper and went into my target stand. I don't recall him ever getting it even close to sighted in. I advised him to buy a $20.00 GI style sight which would at least hold zero but he wouldn't hear of it.
    Currently casting and loading: .32 Auto, .380 Auto, .38 Special, 9X19, .357 Magnum, .257 Roberts, 6.5 Creedmoor, .30 WCF, .308 WCF, .45-70.

  16. #16
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    WNY
    Posts
    2,502
    Quote Originally Posted by dverna View Post
    I am going to assume something about you....I bet you are not using $75 red dots...LOL
    That would be a big Roger Dat. I don’t buy the most expensive, but I know what’s worked for me and many of the hundreds of competitors I’ve met over the years. The ultra cheap ones I call a “light in a tin can”

  17. #17
    Boolit Master elmacgyver0's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Posts
    1,970
    Quote Originally Posted by NSB View Post
    Totally agree and will add that in forty years of using red dots on handguns I have never had one fail in the field….and I hunt a lot.
    Red dots around for forty years?
    God, am I that old?
    I guess so.
    Time Flies.

  18. #18
    Boolit Master

    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    State of Denial
    Posts
    4,212
    ALL the .357's under the GP-100 tab on Ruger's website (not the Match Champion one) with adjustable rear sights seem to have the quick-change front sight.

    If your intent is to REALLY hunt, pick up a stainless 6" and don't look back. They really are excellent.
    WWJMBD?

    In the Land of Oz, we cast with wheel weight and 2% Tin, Man.

  19. #19
    Banned
    Join Date
    Jan 2023
    Posts
    23
    Easily replaceable front sight is important. I did use that taurus, and the front sight has that crappy half assed slope on it that i kept trying to use the TOP of the sight to line up with the rear sight. I think it took a whole cylinder before i had it figured out.


    Im only talkin current production guns. I had an email chat with smith and wesson customer support about people who buy a used SW and need factory support. The phrase "without a paddle" was a good representation of what the person told me.

    I like the lines of the X86 family as much as ruger but the ruger manual makes it out that if you can load the cylinder you can take the gun apart and put it together again. THAT is important as i plan on running 90% cast through it.

  20. #20
    Boolit Grand Master



    M-Tecs's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Minnesota
    Posts
    9,452
    Quote Originally Posted by elmacgyver0 View Post
    Red dots around for forty years?
    God, am I that old?
    I guess so.
    Time Flies.
    Hate to tell you this but Aimpoint started selling them in 1975. In two years it will be 50 years. The reflector sight was invented in 1900 by the Irish telescope maker Sir Howard Grubb. Aimpoint claimed to be the first to mass produce a reflector sight that was an electronic red dot sight that used an LED for illumination.

    https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/...ectronic-1980/

    https://aimpoint.us/history/
    2nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. - "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."

    "Before you argue with someone, ask yourself, is that person even mentally mature enough to grasp the concept of different perspectives? Because if not, there’s absolutely no point."
    – Amber Veal

    "The Highest form of ignorance is when your reject something you don't know anything about".
    - Wayne Dyer

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check