need help with new gun buy???

[old fart]

i took my ccdw test the other day, i passed and outshot everyone there with my ruger service six, yes the same service six i at one time thought of trading or selling because of a little rust and a few tiny pits. not anymore as at 7yds double action 20rds tore a hole in the plyboard that my fist would go through. i was the only one there with a revolver, now to my question. i have a safariland 568 for my service six, and will use it till i get another gun, but now it seems i can get another gun in about two months. i want a revolver and a ruger if i can, what do ya'll suggest? the 357 lcr or the 357 sp101? mabe something else? i know it's two months but i like to plan ahead, thanks

 

[Twiki357]

Whichever one is the most comfortable in your hand.

 

[funklord12]

I am leaning toward the LCR for a carry gun.

First, it is roughly 10 oz lighter than the SP101. Great for CCW day in and day out.
Secondly, it reportedly has a nice DA pull. In a defensive scenario, you will be using DA exclusively.

Get a SP101 if you want a revolver that will pull double duty as CCW and range gun. The extra weight will help out on the range.

 

[RealGun]

They are both lousy as 357, unless you're a big guy with a grip of iron. You'll back off to 38 Special, so you might as well buy a nice 38 Special or something heavier to handle the 357. You already have the best 357 for carry, assuming 357 caliber and 4" barrel. Buying a 357, knowing you will shoot 38, doesn't make sense to me. If you reload, then you can make it work, but it will shoot like a 38.

An LCR looks appealing in 38 for a backup or deeper concealment gun. Buying the 38-only version, with or without an exposed hammer, would be an option within Ruger. I don't care for the SP101 in 38, because the cylinder window is sized for 357 Magnum. It is easier to forgive that in the smaller. lighter LCR with superior DA action.

 

[moxie]

Ditto what RealGun said.

The .38 +P LCR is a great pocket gun in an Uncle Mike's #3 or a Nemesis holster. Nice sights and trigger. .38+P is all you want out of these light guns, IMO.

 

[old fart]

RealGUN: You already have the best 357 for carry, assuming 357 caliber and 4" barrel.

yes my service six is 4 inch barrel 357, it shoots the best i have ever seen. outshot everyone there at the class, i've shot out to 20yds with it and can keep all shots in a saucer size area shooting a double grip offhand. i just thought mabe a smaller gun in summer would be easier but i also know there is no way i'll get another gun new or used that shoots as good as my ruger service six. i for sure want a 357 and something different from the service six, one poster has told me just use it and get the best holster and ammo. thanks

 

[RealGun]

They cost a premium in many cases, but how about a Speed Six with a shorter barrel? The round butt grip frame conceals a little better than the Service Six square butts. Note that you will be giving up your adjustable sights with all these guns.

 

[mcappys]

I like the LCR in 357, easy to carry, shoot 38's or 357's
they even come with a small hammer on some now if
you want.

 

[mooosie]

My opinion and 2 bucks will get you a cup of coffee most places I think a carry gun should be small and light personally I carry a keltek p3 at not because I think it is the most wonderful gun in the world but because it is light and small I live in Florida and wear shorts and golf shirt 95 percent of the time gun hides fine in front pocket of shorts some say 380 is not enough gun I say it is better than a 45 at home nobody wants to leak another consideration if you ever use the. gun in self defense there is a strong possibility the police will take if as evidence and you will be without it for a long time I don't want a high dollar gun tied up that long I would have probably bought the. Little 380 ruger at the time I bought the keltek but ruger didn't make it back then

 

[Onward Allusion]

Seems like you're 357 kind of guy. A LCR in 357 will be painful with full house loads. The SP101 would be much better, as it weighs twice that of a LCR. Personally, I would go with a S&W 627 or 327 - eight shot 357. I mean, if you're gonna carry a 357, might as well carry as many rounds as you can in a similar sized package.

 

[Manny]

A .357 KLCR w/ CT grips is my go to carry gun and the only way I can think to improve it is with a better front sight which I will attend to shortly. I do NOT shoot full house .357's in it however. 125 gr .38+p Remington Golden Sabers work just ducky and keep recoil within tolerable limits. I give it two solid thumbs up.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

If you have a Service six and shoot it well, I wouldn't bother with a SP101. The SP with a 3" barrel is an IWB or OWB gun. The 2" DAO variant would be more of a pocket gun, but I think the LCR would be even better.

They are both lousy as 357

I disagree. I argee that the LCR probably isn't a lot of fun with .357's, and you likely lose a lot of velocity out of a barrel that short. But I shoot my SP101 with factory defense ammo regularly, and it performs well IMO. I carry it on my hip quite a bit.

 

[S&Wfan]

All of 'em launch bullets accurately and will do the job . . . if you have it in your hand if/when that moment comes quickly, sandwiched into the middle of decades of peace.

The key is what handgun can you always expect to have on you IF that moment of need suddenly surprises you . . . the big gun in your safe, the medium weight version in the nightstand, or the little paperweight pocket rocket that you almost forgot was in your pocket?

 

[Lucky Derby]

They are both lousy as 357......

Not much experience with the SP101 I see.



You have the Service-Six. The SP101 really isn't that different. It isn't a lot smaller and is still a belt gun. I'd go for the LCR. It is a pocket gun and between it and your Service-Six you will have most needs covered. Service-Six & and SP101 will simply be duplicating each other.

 

[RealGun]

Not much experience with the SP101 I see.

So first, let's poison the well, and then go on about someone who dares to not love the gun unconditionally.

I have two of them, both 3+", one in 327 and one in 357. I load down in 357 cases rather than opt for 38 Special, which would be too light in a gun supposedly a 357. The 327 is the ideal caliber for that gun and makes it a six shooter...important in my mind.

The Service Six and SP101, both of which I have in 357, are not redundant. The Service Six in a 4" barrel is big enough and heavy enough to handle real magnum loads, given a grip upgrade from the crude originals that left the knuckle so vulnerable to punishment by the trigger guard.

As far as the LCR, it's fine as a 38 but is absurdly rude as a 357. My pocket gun is a S&W 637 Gunsmoke 38 Spl +p. I also have and like the heavier Interarms Rossi Model 88 snub in 38 Spl. That one is in my go-bag. The LCRx might be fine for me, but I like what I have.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I load down in 357 cases rather than opt for 38 Special, which would be too light in a gun supposedly a 357.

So really, it's the recoil impulse of the .357 in a gun that size that you don't like, correct? I'm talking the SP101. That is subject to preference and tolerance for punishment, and certainly no one can tell you what you should enjoy shooting. It makes more sense though than your earlier statement that the SP is lousy as a .357.

The 327 is the ideal caliber for that gun and makes it a six shooter...important in my mind.

Darn right! I had a chance to buy one years ago, and like a fool I didn't.

 

[Ohio Gun Guy]

I would get the .357 LCR. You can still shoot .38 & .38 +P if you want. A buddy has one and we found the point of aim with the +P and Mag. rounds to be the same.

SO, you can carry .357, and practice with .38 +p. The magnum rounds were manageable with the soft grip on the LCR. Not that you would go to the range and shoot boxes of shells in magnum....but very manageable for a carry gun.

With a magnum gun, you have choices (For a few dollars more).

 

[RealGun]

It makes more sense though than your earlier statement that the SP is lousy as a .357.

Perhaps I should underline that the SP101 is not popular as a .357 Magnum. So many times when the gun is mentioned, it comes out that the owner shoots 38 Special in it, begging off after giving 357 a try. I am in between because I reload and choose loads that are somewhere above 38 Spl +p but not full house magnums. Carry ammo is Speer Short Barrel Gold Dot HP.

On that same subject, those that practice with 38 and carry 357 are in a for a rude shock, if they ever get in a gunfight or need so much as a second shot.

The 357 is just not a good carry caliber, unless one is willing to carry a gun big enough to properly handle the round. In these times, when so few dress to conceal a "real gun", the concealed guns are just little 38s for the most part. I like that type of gun but more as a backup or go-bag gun.

 

[AABEN]

The 357/38 will sale better than a straight 38 SP.

 

[RealGun]

The 357/38 will sale better than a straight 38 SP.

That's an oft repeated hypothetical.

 

[back40]

realgun, how many gunfights have you been in? what is this rude shock you speak of for those that practice with .38+p and carry .357?

as far as .357/.38 having better resale value, you can call it hypothetical, but it's oft repeated because it usually pans out. people value the versatility.

i have not had the chance to fire an LCR, but it seems those that have and have done so with full house .357 don't seem to find the gun unmanageable.

i'd opt for the LCR in .357.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

realgun, how many gunfights have you been in? what is this rude shock you speak of for those that practice with .38+p and carry .357?

Yes, he means the recoil impulse difference between the two cartridges. And he is right, there is a big difference. I think he means the folks who only practice with 38's and then carry .357's though.

Perhaps I should underline that the SP101 is not popular as a .357 Magnum. So many times when the gun is mentioned, it comes out that the owner shoots 38 Special in it, begging off after giving 357 a try. I am in between because I reload and choose loads that are somewhere above 38 Spl +p but not full house magnums. Carry ammo is Speer Short Barrel Gold Dot HP.

Hmmm. I guess I wasn't aware of that trend. I practice with at least a box of 50 target .357's on each range session with my SP, and I assumed others did similar. But my perception may not be correct. The only time I down load to 38+p's is if I'm going to be in an urban setting, and I'm concerned about overpenetration potential. I also try to practice with at least two cylinders of my carry ammo too at each range session. Gotta know what it's going to feel like if you're going to use it.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy 38's as well and still think they are perfectly viable for SD. I guess the recoil impulse doesn't bother me much and am used to it. I have meaty palms so they soke up recoil nicely, and my SP was my first handgun.

Anyway

 

[back40]

i'm quite aware that the recoil impulse is different. however, practicing with .38+p doesn't mean you never fire .357, much the same as one doesn't practice for deer hunting with a .22 and intend to use a .30-06.

you practice with a lesser round to improve overall skill and focus on fundamentals and at a reduced cost typically. you also run practice sessions with your carry load regularly.

again, if someone likes the .357 as a carry round, i haven't seen or read anything that leads me to believe that it's poor idea for the LCR. i'm not what i would consider recoil sensitive, perhaps realgun is.

plenty of guys carry .357 snubs, and the LCR sure seems to be a good one.

 

[AABEN]

I ran a gun store for 6 years and it was hard to sale a 38 SP!

 

[back40]

sounds as though we're on the same page, 460.