Given equil design strength, in "high recoiling" handguns the heavier gun will take more "heavy loads", meaning it will stay in time longer. If you compare S&W's lightest 44 mag. ever made to Ruger heaviest, the Ruger will stay in time longer. Reverse that with S&W's heaviest, and Ruger's lighest and the S&W wins...

This is with the heaviest loads, anything less than that and there's no advantage to the extra bulk when it comes to "long lasting".

At this point, your splitting hairs, and you have to compare "model for model", NOT make a blanket statement that Rugers are stronger or S&W is stronger...