Compare the 357 LCR and sp101 for me please

What is this 640 and 649 weakness of which you speak??

rc

A J frame is smaller than a K frame, and has a smaller forcing cone

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Yes, but a J-Frame forcing cone is not under-cut half way through for gas ring clearence like it is on a K-Frame.

And it is almost totally enclosed inside the frame, also unlike a K-Frame.

You may hear a lot of things about J-Frames, but cracked forcing cone problems isn't one of them.

rc

Never had issue one with my KCLR, and it has seen lots of magnum loads. SP101's are built like a tank, so plenty of strength there. The SP101 is going to be heavier, but the LCR has the polymer frame that makes it recoil like a much heavier pistol. I suggest you shoot them both with full house loads before deciding. IMO if you are going DAO anyways go with the LCR it has a better trigger.

The good news is both guns should be available for rental at most ranges that offer rentals, you may get to try before you buy. For me personally the SP101 was more accurate at any distance than the LCR. It's been while since I've owned either, but I can safely say that today, I find more accuracy with my 640.

The LCR is considerably lighter and will recoil a lot more. The SP-101 is going to be easier to shoot accurately with magnum loads. It's also likely to last longer with frequent practice, though the jury is still out on that one. Nobody really knows how the LCR's are going to fare in ten years time. But they seem pretty tough.

Overall I'd say the LCR's are easier to tote and conceal while the SP's are better for practice and for use with magnum loads.

Cosmoline said:

Overall I'd say the LCR's are easier to tote and conceal while the SP's are better for practice and for use with magnum loads.

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Basically how I feel about it. I've shot an SP but never owned one so I'm far from an authority. Seems you can't find anyone that hasn't owned one a long time that doesn't rave about the durability of it even with full power magnum loads. I recently purchased two Ruger LCR .357's. One for me and one as a gift for my mother. I bought mine to shoot .38 special ammo in though. I like it over the .38 version since it has a SS vs. aluminum frame. The little bit of extra weight seems a non-issue. Firing .357 magnum ammo in it was exactly what I expected. Too much recoil for too little gain IMO. I hardly consider myself recoil sensitive either. If you want something capable of shooting .357 but don't intend to shoot it much with .357 then the LCR is a good choice. If you can live with the extra weight then I'd recommend the SP.

The wife has a 4" Sp101 for her beside gun, she loves it but the 4" is not much for cc. She's recoil sensitive and I would think the LCR would ruin her on revolvers. She doesn't cc anyhow..... yet. I'm working on that.

Both are just about as accurate as anything. Neither has an advantage.

It is how YOU shoot them that will factor into the equation. You might do better with the LCR trigger or the SP-101 weight may help more with your stability.

...lots of 357 loads

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I enjoy practicing a lot with my guns and I will want to shoot it a lot.

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Then, it's the SP101 that would serve you best.

If you want accuracy at the range you need a 4 inch model. The 2 inch models are difficult to shoot much further than 10 yards. Every mistake, no matter how small is amplified. If you can take a 4 inch barrel and hit an air rifle target every time at 15 yards you can use a 2 inch barrel at the range. Some people are blessed with unnatural talent. They can shoot tiny guns and look better than most good shooters with a service revolver.

I think my KLCR handles .357 recoil as good or better than my SP101? maybe it's the polymer soaking it up...........

The LCR-357 has 2 things going for it shooting 357 Magnum ammo. The Hogue Tamer Grip, as well as the Polymer Frame soaking up recoil.

The SP101 in my opinion needs a Trigger Job to put a smile on my face.

For belt carry either will work in a good quality holster. For pocket carry the LCR-357 is right on the border line of Too Heavy. The SP101 is Past Too Heavy for pocket carry.

Really no wrong answer. The LCR-357 needs an XS 24/7 Tritium Sight ($60) to round it out. The Grips and Trigger are just fine.

The SP101 needs a front sight change to an XS 24/7 Tritium, as well as a Trigger Job in my opinion to make it ideal.

SP101 Barrel Length??? I would carry it in a Lobo Pancake at 4 O'Clock. I would prefer the 3" for the edge in sight radius. A slight gain in velocity would not hurt anything either. The 2" would probably be prefered for apendix carry.

I have owned an LCR-357, as well as an SP101 9mm.
I am now carrying a 3" Model 66-2, and a 442 Pro Moonclip.

The lite weight of the LCR-357 makes for a very handy carry gun. I find that I am wearing my nylon fishing shorts all the time this Summer in the 100+ Heat. I find my K Frame to heavy in the shorts unless I tighten the belt up to uncomfortable. The SP101 is in the same weight range as the snub K Frame.

I really like the SP101, as it is a very robust design. I do not have any doubts it will stay together forever. The LCR-357 is nice and lite, and appears to be designed sturdy enough to hold up to a great deal of shooting.
I guess the real issue is Weight. If you can put up with the weight of the SP101 I would move it ahead of the LCR-357.
On the other hand if you need to keep it lite, the LCR-357 gives the most Bang for your Bucks when you need 357 Power and Lite Weight in the same package. Bottom Line, They are both good guns, only different. The LCR-357 compairs to the S&W 340 M&P in mission very well for a lot less money.
The SP101 357 Magnum compairs to the 2" K Frame S&W 65 more closely than anything else.

Decisions, Decisions

Bob

I have and carry both guns daily. I shoot both guns. I like them both but, I think if I had to pick one it would be the LCR357. They both handle 357 well. I seam to shoot the LCR a little better and I like it's grip better. I probably should try a little bigger grip on the SP but, just never got around to it.

I only have the SP101, and for many reasons I love it. Mine is loaded up with the very hot Underwood 125gr. Gold Dots. Out of my 2.25" barrel I'm getting velocities averaging around 1320 fps. It's a stout load with a devastating report, however, I don't think I'd want to set one off in the lighter LRC.

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...lots of 357 loads

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I enjoy practicing a lot with my guns and I will want to shoot it a lot.

Then, it's the SP101 that would serve you best.

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I'd have to agree with this. If nothing else, the weight of the SP101 will help with recoil. I carry one at 3, 4, and 9 o'clock IWB and it works fine with a good holster and I have the 3" version. I think appendix carry would be uncomfortable though. LCR has an advantage there.

The LCR handles the 125G. 357 just fine. I feel no pain and shoot for about an Hour at the Range. This adds up to around 200 rounds. It's the Grip it's very comfortable.

My take on this:
The LCR is a very light revolver and will not be comfortable at all to shoot and we all know you must practice with your carry gun. Many complain about the S&W Airlite for the same reason.

The SP101 is in my opinion too heavy for what it is. It's larger and heavier than it should be for a small revolver. If you are willing to carry an SP101 you should carry a S&W K frame or Ruger Six-Series snub nose instead and get the 6th round.

There is nothing at all wrong with the all Steel J frames. They are smaller and lighter than the SP101 yet heavy enough to make shooting full power magnum ammo possible. If you're looking for a small .357 Magnum carry revolver I would go with the all Steel S&W J frame. If you want a .38 Special the S&W J frame Airweight, Ruger LCR or S&W Bodyguard 38 are all good choices.

I own a M640 and have shot thousands of full power magnum rounds through it. It's as tight now as when I bought it. I also use it for practice with .38 Special +P ammo and finish up the range session with 10 or 15 rounds in my M442 carry revolver.

PLEASE, before you buy an SP101 go to the store and hold one and especially check the trigger.

There are trigger spring change videos on Youtube for the SP101, at least there were when I did my wife's 4". That made a huge difference in the enjoyability of that revolver for both of us.

I immediately went through 300 rounds (various off the shelf stuff) afterwards and have no doubts about the reliability with the ammunition it is currently loaded with. As I mentioned above she does not carry this piece but at least she has something she is confident with when I am not around.

If I was personally going to tote wheelgun all day I would probably opt for the lighter LCR.

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...lots of 357 loads

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I enjoy practicing a lot with my guns and I will want to shoot it a lot.

Then, it's the SP101 that would serve you best.

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I agree.