LCR vs 442/642 vs SP101 for ccw

Which Revolver for CCW

  • Smith 442/642

    Votes: 63 46.7%

  • Ruger LCR .38

    Votes: 36 26.7%

  • Ruger SP101 (DA Only)

    Votes: 22 16.3%

  • Other

    Votes: 14 10.4%
  • Total voters
    135
  • Poll closed .
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J

Jabr0ney

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Dec 9, 2010
Messages
94
Tomorrow I'm joining the world of revolvers and I can't for the life of me decide which of the three I want

442 is cheapest (price wise), great for pocket carry, and has lots of grip options. Cons are not so great trigger compared to lcr as what I hear.

LCR has an excellent trigger, heard it's very accurate. Sticky grips might make pocket carry difficult and could catch on close hip carry. although I like the ability to swap sights without a gunsmith.

Sp101 (DA only) excellent track record, shoots .38s like .22s, option for 357 magnum, lots of grip options. Heard It can be pocket carried with eagle secret service grips, excellent hip carry gun. Cons are it's the most expensive and heavy.

Price is a big factor for me since im a college student and Christmas is coming up, so is ease of concealing. Please help me make a decision!
 
I have a no lock S&W 442 that I love. It's light and accurate, and it's a S&W. Need I say more?:D

Tmygun
 
Price is a big factor for me since im a college student and Christmas is coming up, so is ease of concealing.
Click to expand...
That criteria would lead me toward the 442. Less expensive than the SP101, and easier to conceal; plus better grip & holster availability than the equally concealable LCR. The LCR would be my very close second choice. Really 1a and 1b between the x42 and the LCR for your intended use.

When you're ready for a small-ish dedicated belt carry revolver the SP-101 is an excellent choice.
 
I've shot my friend's S&W 340 M&P Lightweight Centennial revolver with both .38's and .357's, and it is by no means a pleasant gun to shoot in either caliber. Now... the 340 is 13.3oz. The 442 is 15oz. But I still can't imagine it'd be much nicer to shoot. But a little suggestion, if I may: put some bigger grips on it to reduce the recoil punch a bit. The stock grips on the 340 were downright painful when shooting .357's.

I'd opt for the SP101, simply for the better shootability. The extra weight (26oz for the 2.25" model) means it won't punch your hand nearly as hard as the S&W, which in turn means you're more likely to practice with it. It's my choice for my next revolver, and would be on my list of possible carry guns. It's a solid choice.

But you'll have to make up your own mind here. There are advantages and disadvantages to each gun on your list. Basically, do you want lightweight? Or do you want a gun that's more pleasant to shoot?
 
Concealment: Any of the three are concealable.

Pocket carry = lightweight. 442/642 and LCR win.

Belt carry = any of the three takes up about as much space on the belt as the others, with a good belt, shouldn't be a great burden to carry the SP101 even at over ten ounces heavier than the others. SP101 gives woods carry options (.357 capability) that the other two can't really match. If you hike/hunt, if you might carry somewhere instead of the pocket, then get the steel gun. If you will carry sometimes in one place and sometimes in another, then you might just get the lighter one for the times you don't want the gun in the pocket to drag down your jammies.

Trigger: any of the three can have an acceptable to excellent trigger. I like the LCR trigger, but not enough to put up with one of the ugly little things. :D JMHO. J-frame triggers have mechanical realities that make them a bit heavy, but they can be very smooth and they are durable and reliable.

Recoil: SP101. No doubt, it will be more fun/pleasant to shoot. But the j-frame is fine, if you will avoid +P and heavy bullets. Shoot light, standard-pressure bullets, and you'll have a good time shooting it, too. Haven't shot an LCR to compare, but it's lighter than the j-frame, so even if they've managed to engineer it to be as comfortable as possible, it's still a flyweight shooting fighting caliber bullets.

I have a 642. I could see me getting an SP101, except I also have a S&W 13-3, so I already have a nice all-steel 3" .357. I can't see me getting an LCR, unless someone lets me shoot theirs and I fall all over in love with the trigger.

I doubt that will, I like S&W. Been carrying them a long time, they're what I'm used to.
 
I recently got a 442 and I love it, it's a breeze to conceal in a pocket. Spend some time with snap caps, the trigger ain't that bad. The recoil isn't bad either, it definitely doesn't kick like a .22LR but I have no problem shooting standard loads in it, and +P loads are manageable.

If you're on a budget and you said the 442/642 is the cheapest, I think it's a no brainer. Not that the other guns aren't fine choices, but the Jframe is the classic snubbie, you really can't go wrong with it.
 
I settled on the 642. It's priced right and only 1oz. heavier than the LCR.
The LCR may be a great gun but I have yet to warm up to it's aesthetics.
The Smith is just a functional, time proven work of art IMHO.
 
Thanks for all The input! Quick question about the x42, is the finish a problem for most of you? I've heard of how the coating starts to peel fairly quickly
 
I had a LCR and kick myself frequently for selling it.

I had 2 SP101s and don't sweat that loss. For carry, they are very heavy. Not impossible to carry, but you feel it sooner than later.

I have no beef with the xx2 S&Ws, but I would personally opt for the LCR for a carry gun. The cushy grips might snag, and might not. Mine weren't a problem. A friend put some electrical tape on the sides of his grip to add a little "slickness" for the draw from his pocket. Part of why I liked the LCR was the grips - make the gun very comfortable to shoot. Or, for just a little more money, opt for the model with the CT grips.

Q
 
442

I have a 442 that I sometimes pocket carry. Five shots of +p.38 for CCW. I practice with 148g WC behind 2.7g of Bulls eye.

My 442 is the locking variety. I have never found a reason to use the internal lock. IMHO it is as useless as teets on a boar. I have other ways of securing.

What I don't understand is why many are upset with the internal lock.

IMO the lock has no effect on performance, and I don't buy the argument that the lock will engage itself when most needed.

I am under the impression that the locks were S&W's way of meeting some legal agreement. Like it or not we all live in a society that is controlled by the threat of often frivolous litigation.
 
I think you should tell us how you plan on carrying.

If you plan to carry IWB or OWB then absolutely get the SP101. 27 ounces on the belt isn't very heavy, especially with a good gun belt and a good holster. It will give you more ammo options.

However, if you plan on primarily pocket carrying, I'd probably lean towards the 642. Recoil is NOT bad in the 642 TO ME. It carries VERY well IWB or front pocket in a pocket holster. It is invisible, even in gym shorts and a T shirt. I would bet that the LCR is similar, but I have not shot or carried an LCR. I have dry fired it, and I think that I would prefer my airweight trigger.
 
I'm voting S&W.
I'm a Ruger fan, but have no experience with the LCR. I do have an SP101 with a nice little Don Hume JIT holster,love 'em both, but I still got tired of the hunk o' steel on my belt, plus having to alter what I was going to wear if I wanted to carry.
I ended up getting a 642 with a little nylon pocket holster,it's small and light, and I mostly prefer pocket-carry, so I can carry this in everything from gym shorts to jammie bottoms !!
I hear nothing but good about the LCR, and had I stumbled onto the deal I got on the Smith, I might've just as happily gotten that, but still, it's pretty ugly, and I think the somewhat more traditional look and name of S&W gives it a bit better re-sale value ( something always worth factoring in, especially considering the frequency we "gun-nuts" like to wheel-n-deal. :D)
 
I love my 642 s&w for pocket carry. I purchased the classic wooden grips and that made it a much better pocket carry for me..If you get a 642 then be sure it can shoot +p ammo.. If you go with the lcr or sp 101 then go with 357 so that you can shoot 38+ p too. I didnt vote cuz i like all three
 
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Some are built for comfort.. Mine is built for speed:neener:
 

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Thanks for all the input guys! I'm going to the gun store now and should be leaving with a 442! I'll post pics when I get home
 
I haven't actually messed with a 442. I've had a 642 for a number of years, and yes, the clearcoat over the anodizing on the aluminum does wear off and seem to peel in spots. It's not a problem, just not ... pretty. It's aluminum. It doesn't canker with rust from sweat regardless, so ... I find myself not worrying about it.

If you have this happen, and want it fixed, S&W can refinish it.
 
For your first one I'd suggest 642/442. You can carry it all the time except to the airport, etc.

For your second one I'd go with the SP101. It's more fun to shoot at the range.

I don't have much use for the LCR. JMO, YMMV.
 
I used to own a Ruger SP101 DAO.
I loved it for belt carry, but traded it in order to get my Smith 66 snub back!

I now own a 340 M&P (a souped-up version of the 442/642), and for your requirements of affordability and deep concealment...I would say the Smith Airweight is your best bet.

For range use and belt carry, the Ruger is great...but for pocket carry, the 442/642 is king.

the only thing about a snub is...great for carry, but most people do not put in the range time to become proficient with them....
If used as a "get off me" gun, at belly range...you are good to go.
But for "gunfighting" use...better keep up with your skills!
 
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