I've had several S&W's and it is true, the fit and finish is a slight bit better and the action can be smooth as butter and they shoot well, but don't short change the GP's, they are very well made, super strong and every bit as accurate as a .357 should be, plus, the little touches like the included take down pin and the fact that the front sight is a push button quick release in order to change to a different sight, are well thought out extras not found on other guns. I will definately hang on to this one and possibly supplement it with a model 19 or 686 sometime in the future--Ruger and Smith are both top-of-the-line, completely reliable revolvers and either one is a good choice---John